"What? Is it hard to say?"
Sensing the Old Flood Dragon's hesitation, Jiang Yuechu turned her head and questioned him.
Scarlet Sun Demon Venerable spoke weakly, "Uh... Mas... Master, please understand! It's not that your old servant is withholding information, it's just..."
He looked up with a face full of woe, "It's just that my lineage is too disappointing."
"The records in our clan's ancient texts regarding the Dragon Ascending Platform are mostly hearsay, just fragments picked up from other lineages..."
Jiang Yuechu's brow furrowed slightly. "It's fine. Speak."
Scarlet Sun Demon Venerable shrank his neck, not daring to play the victim any longer.
He could only brace himself and rack his brains, pouring out the few remaining rumors in his head.
"Yes... yes."
"Though the True Dragon is dead, its residual prestige remains."
"This Dragon Ascending Platform has a total of nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine steps."
"With every step up, the True Dragon's residual prestige grows heavier."
"Those who ascend must resist this great power, and the higher one goes, the more terrifying the pressure becomes. By the end, it's no different from carrying ten thousand mountains on one's back."
"If one's Physical Body is not strong enough, their bones will be crushed and their tendons snapped before reaching the halfway point, turning them into a pile of mashed meat. If one's will is not firm, even a slight lapse will cause their Divine Soul to be shattered by the True Dragon's resentment..."
After hearing this, Jiang Yuechu nodded slightly.
So it was a test of strength and courage.
That was simple enough.
"Oh... then I'll try."
Having said that,
She prepared to step forward.
"..."
Scarlet Sun Demon Venerable had a look of constipation on his face.
Wait, what?
You're going to try just like that?
Do you think this is a game?
He was terrified that trying would lead to dying... Of course, he didn't dare say that aloud, only speaking up to remind her, "Um... Master."
"What is it?"
"Your old servant must say one more thing... I truly don't know what the situation is like inside the Dragon Ascending Platform. After all, my Southern Abyss lineage has only ever hovered around the outside... If something goes wrong later, or if there's some unexpected danger..."
As the Old Flood Dragon spoke, he actually knelt down and kowtowed three times to Jiang Yuechu with loud thuds.
"It's because this place is inherently sinister!"
"It is by no means your old servant intentionally hiding things to harm Master!"
"Please understand, Master. If something happens... please do not take your anger out on these old bones of mine."
These words were spoken with such sincerity and pitiableness.
He was terrified that if Jiang Yuechu's ascent didn't go well, she would turn around and chop him up to vent her anger.
Jiang Yuechu was somewhat speechless.
This old thing didn't have much ability, but his survival instinct was incredibly sharp.
"Get up. As long as you don't have any ill intentions, why would I kill you?"
"Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master, for your mercy!"
Jiang Yuechu ignored the comical Old Flood Dragon.
She stepped forward, walking toward the towering platform.
Since she was here,
She might as well go up and take a look.
To see what good things this so-called True Dragon had left for its descendants.
Jiang Yuechu lifted her foot and stepped down.
Buzz—
She only felt her shoulders sink slightly.
As if she were wearing an extra layer of somewhat heavy clothing.
That was all.
Jiang Yuechu's brow arched slightly.
Is that it?
She didn't stop and continued walking.
The second step.
The third step... the hundredth step.
Jiang Yuechu's pace didn't falter.
The five-hundredth step.
Her speed remained unchanged.
The thousandth step.
Jiang Yuechu finally stopped.
Scarlet Sun Demon Venerable watched from far below, feeling puzzled when he saw Jiang Yuechu stop.
Is she... unable to hold on?
However,
In the next second,
Rolling black Qi suddenly erupted from all around the young girl.
Under Scarlet Sun Demon Venerable's terrified gaze,
The girl's body arched slightly, and she exerted sudden force with her feet.
Bang!
The dark-clad figure was like an arrow released from a bow, instantly tearing through the mist that filled the sky.
With one stride, she cleared dozens of steps.
She was actually sprinting on the Dragon Ascending Platform!
Very soon,
The dark-clad figure disappeared into the clouds.
There was no longer any trace of her.
Below the Dragon Ascending Platform, there was dead silence.
Scarlet Sun Demon Venerable craned his neck, a dazed look on his face, unable to snap out of it for a long time.
What... what is going on?
"Could it be... the rumors are false? Or has too much time passed, causing the Divine Power of the True Dragon's Remains to mostly dissipate... and this so-called pressure is just for show?"
At this thought,
Scarlet Sun Demon Venerable's dormant Heart of the Dao actually rekindled, thumping twice.
If that's the case... although he had already acknowledged her as his master and didn't dare compete with that Killing Star for the meat, surely following behind and having a sip of soup wouldn't be too much?
Even if he just brushed against the Immortal Qi of this Dragon Ascending Platform, extending his Lifespan by a few years would be good.
The Old Flood Dragon swallowed hard.
He looked left and right, seeing no one around and no Restriction blocking the way.
Finally, he gritted his teeth.
"If I don't even dare to try, then I'm destined to die of old age this lifetime."
Scarlet Sun Demon Venerable took a deep breath, straightened himself up, and walked to the first step with heavy strides.
He lifted his foot,
And stepped down.
Buzz—
His shoulders sank slightly.
Scarlet Sun Demon Venerable's brow arched slightly, a look of joy appearing on his face.
"As expected!"
Although it had some weight, it was like carrying a bag of rice or flour. To his demon body in the Mountain Gazing Realm, it was practically as light as a feather.
His heart settled, and his courage instantly grew.
Since the first step was so easy, the rest shouldn't be a problem.
He no longer hesitated and immediately took the second step.
The third step.
The fourth step... the first ten steps were taken as if strolling in a courtyard. He even put his hands behind his back, looking quite like an Old Ancestor.
But by the twentieth step,
A layer of sweat broke out on Scarlet Sun Demon Venerable's forehead.
Although he could still hold on, his breathing had unconsciously become a bit heavier.
"It's fine... I can still go."
The Old Flood Dragon gritted his teeth and continued upward.
The thirtieth step.
His originally straight back had no choice but to hunch over slightly.
The fortieth step.
The Old Flood Dragon's body was already trembling slightly.
At this moment,
If he still didn't understand the danger involved, then his tens of thousands of years of life would have been lived in vain.
But looking at the mist-shrouded heights above, the greed in his heart ultimately gained the upper hand.
Just a few more steps.
Just a few steps!
Scarlet Sun Demon Venerable's eyes turned red, and he let out a low growl, revealing a bit of his Flood Dragon True Form. He forced himself against the heavy pressure and lifted his leg again.
The forty-fifth step.
Crack.
A crisp sound.
Scarlet Sun Demon Venerable suddenly spat out a mouthful of old blood, his legs giving way as he could no longer hold on.
Boom!
Scrambling and crawling, the Old Flood Dragon tumbled down from the steps in a pathetic state.
He rolled all the way to the flat ground before finally coming to a stop.
He lay on the ground, gasping for air in large gulps.
After a long time,
Scarlet Sun Demon Venerable finally caught his breath.
He tremblingly raised his head, looking at the steps that disappeared into the clouds with no end in sight.
Where was the slightest hint of greed left in his eyes?
There was only shock!
He had risked his old life and only managed to climb forty-five steps... but that master of his,
had sprinted up in one go without even losing her breath!
What kind of terrifying Physical Body was that?
What kind of overbearing Blood Vitality was that?