Ruan Tang's response made Huang Zhongtian's expression inexplicable, his lips parted as if wanting to call back the stubborn woman.

In the end, no sound came out.

"Daoist Huang, as for the second transaction, let's not proceed."

Ruan Tang's voice still echoed in his ears, yet while the sound lingered, the person had already stepped onto that broken Immortal Path that had claimed the lives of countless cultivators.

Huang Zhongtian lay despondently in the boat, somewhat dazed for a moment.

"Someone's ascending the Immortal Path again!"

"It's a female cultivator. Which Holy Land's Immortal Venerable Realm expert is this?"

"The Immortal Path stretches endlessly, yet another unfortunate soul will perish without a trace, with no chance of reincarnation."

"..."

Around the White Jade Stairway.

Only a few cultivators' gazes were fixed on Ruan Tang.

Because there were always people stepping onto the Immortal Path at every moment, generally only managing to ascend ten to fifty steps before their bodies exploded into blood mist.

Only those Quasi-Emperor Realm powerhouses who crossed over a hundred steps would attract the attention of most cultivators.

Listening to the discussions of nearby cultivators.

Huang Zhongtian suddenly felt a pang of regret, his lips trembled, and he shouted loudly, "Don't pick the fruit!!!"

"A madman? Let's keep our distance."

"Likely, who sets foot on the Immortal Path without longing for eternal life, without wanting to pick the Immortal Fruit?"

"..."

Disdainful voices could be heard.

But Ruan Tang couldn't hear them; in her vision was only a road emanating holy white light, a stairway that seemed truly capable of leading to the Immortal Realm.

Six hundred and seven steps remained of the White Jade Stairway.

From a distance, the White Jade Stairway appeared enormous, but with her feet on the six hundred and seventh step, Ruan Tang found the stairway was only a meter wide and ten centimeters high.

Yet the stairway stretched ten meters long.

The fruit was there at the end of the path, its fragrance wafting.

"Hoo."

Nervous breathing echoed nearby.

Ruan Tang turned her head, spotting an old man with red hair exuding a decayed aura, standing trembling on the stairway.

"Huh?"

The old man with red hair furrowed his brows deeply, staring at Ruan Tang incredulously, "Venerable?"

"Yes."

Ruan Tang nodded somewhat sheepishly.

"..."

The old man with red hair drew a sharp breath.

He was from the Great Luo Holy Land, an Immortal Venerable named Luo Song, observing near the Immortal Path ever since it appeared.

There were many cultivators of lower boundaries like Venerables and Celestial Venerables, yet all evaporated the instant they set foot on the Immortal Path.

Yet this one before him was unscathed!?

But Luo Song was only momentarily astonished and didn't pay much heed; after all, everyone who stepped onto this path would die, the only difference being the order.

Luo Song clearly sensed his lifespan and vitality rapidly depleting, his eyes full of bitterness.

He had less than a year of life left, if he stayed unmoving, he'd likely fall within thirty breaths.

"I'm going for it!"

Luo Song took five steps in one breath, intending to catch his breath to continue upwards, when he saw the young Venerable step to his left.

Seeing himself being observed, she even smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.

In his amazement, Luo Song discovered the little Venerable maintaining a steady pace, as if strolling through her backyard.

"..."

Luo Song stood frozen, rubbing his eyes hard, doubting if he was seeing things.

"Old Luo, why are you rushing ahead without waiting for me?"

A hearty laugh sounded behind him, from a massive stone giant about ten meters tall who clapped Luo Song on the shoulder.

This was a sprite born of the Heaven-Bearing Stone, also an old Immortal Venerable nearing his end, whom Luo Song had known for only two months but got along well with.

Today they decided to take on the Immortal Path together, to die together rather than alone.

"Cheng Tian, how many steps can a Venerable take..."

"Are you daft?"

Cheng Tian's voice boomed, "A Venerable melts the moment they step onto the Immortal Path, a Celestial Venerable might manage three to five breaths."

"Right."

Luo Song relaxed his brow, annoyed, "That girl actually tricked me!"

"Who?"

"Her, in front."

"Hahahahaha, let's catch up to her."

Cheng Tian laughed heartily.

But as they laughed, Cheng Tian's laughter ceased.

Even though he and Luo Song gave it their all, they couldn't catch up to the seemingly fragile figure ahead, always lagging three to five steps behind.

Ten steps.

Fifteen steps.

Twenty steps.

Twenty-five steps.

Thirty steps.

Ten breaths passed, Cheng Tian panted heavily, his body showing signs of cracking, and Luo Song despaired witnessing this sight.

Cheng Tian, Cheng Tian.

This was a miraculous stone capable of bearing the heavens!

Yet it couldn't withstand this killing Immortal Path.

Luo Song smiled bitterly, "Do you still have strength? I'm about to... collapse."

Cheng Tian nodded firmly.

"Then go on, I'll stop here."

Luo Song's full head of red hair turned white, barely able to stand, he slumped onto the steps with difficulty, weakly saying:

"I hope you can... achieve immortality."

"Immortality?"

Cheng Tian cracked a smile, reaching a large hand toward Luo Song who had little combat ability left, the latter offered no resistance.

Was he going to be eaten?

Luo Song wasn't surprised.

Many bloody incidents occurred on this Immortal Path, he had witnessed many cultivators devouring their companions to endure a few more breaths.

Being eaten by Cheng Tian wasn't too bad.

However, Luo Song wasn't swallowed but seated on Cheng Tian's shoulder.

Luo Song froze completely, not understanding why.

In the next moment.

Cheng Tian stepped forward, his ten-meter-tall body no longer straight, gradually bending, he said heartily:

"Old Luo, in truth, we old folks know, stepping onto the Immortal Path now won't yield the Immortal Fruit, it's preparing for those who come after, but... we can't wait any longer."

"So go on your own!"

Luo Song seemed to understand something, his voice trembling as he tried to jump off Cheng Tian's shoulder, but to no avail.

Because a coarse, colossal hand held him down.

This Immortal Venerable from the Great Luo Holy Land couldn't help cursing, "You stupid stone, can't you see? This is the Immortal Path, you fool for self-sacrifice!"

"Didn't we agree outside? To die together, not alone on the road."

Cheng Tian transferred most of his remaining lifespan to Luo Song, then strove to continue climbing the White Jade Stairway.

Luo Song said nothing, his eyes moist, lips trembling before he cursed, "Drunk promises hold no weight."

"Hahaha."

Cheng Tian laughed twice, continuing to climb the steps.

One step.

Another step.

Yet another step.

Upon reaching the sixty-seventh step, Cheng Tian's ten-meter large body wilted down to less than three meters, his back bent.

"Bang!"

A loud noise.

Cheng Tian's knees slammed heavily onto the steps, struggling several times but unable to stand, he leaned back on the steps.

His eyes gazed into emptiness staring down, "Old Luo, I can't move anymore."

"You should've stopped ages ago."

Luo Song used his last bit of strength to lean beside Cheng Tian, gazing at the path they came.

A mere sixty-seven steps were their entire lives.

"I truly wish for immortality."

Luo Song turned with difficulty, looking toward the end of the Immortal Path.

"Stop dreaming, have a drink?"

"Sure."

"Smash!"

The wine jar shattered on the White Jade Stairway, Cheng Tian's hand fell limp.

Luo Song's expression stiffened, not looking at Cheng Tian's remains, he closed his eyes and murmured, "Well, save that wine for our journey."

```