Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension-Chapter 314 - 244 Heart Refining Road and Tao Character Stele_2
Chapter 314: Chapter 244 Heart Refining Road and Tao Character Stele_2
“To crave a beauty’s hand, it’s still too early.”
“At the end, who will have the last laugh remains a mystery!”
The sun was already high when the Dong Family’s daughters arrived late.
The seven-colored clouds dispersed, revealing more than thirty beautiful women, each one more charming than the last, before everyone’s eyes.
Some were coy and demure, others bold and passionate, some enchanting and cool, while others were forthright and cheerful…
After spending a day together, both men and women had gained a preliminary understanding of one another.
The majority of them were moved and had found someone they admired, with several pairs already exchanging tender glances in secret.
Everyone had been informed yesterday that today’s main event would be the climb of Guardian Peak.
The Guardian Peak was no more than a hundred feet high, its scenery rather unremarkable, with only a green stone path, two yards wide, leading straight to the summit.
However, this seemingly insignificant Small Mountain was actually quite famous in the outside world, with the reputation of having “two of the Wutong Ten Sceneries”.
There were two wonderful sights on Guardian Peak—one was Heart Refining Road, and the other was the Tao Character Stele at the peak.
Heart Refining Road referred to the green stone path leading straight to the mountaintop. It was comprised of a thousand steps and was lined with layers of Illusion Realms meant to test a Cultivator’s Taoist will.
Only those who passed the test of a thousand steps and reached the summit were granted the chance to glimpse the Tao Character Stele.
As for the failures, naturally, they had no fortune of witnessing it.
The history of the Tao Character Stele was a mystery. It appeared like both stone and jade—naturally carved with the essence of the Tao, offering insights to those who contemplated it.
There were rumors in the Tianzhu Realm that the Tao Character Stele was brought here by a being of Great Ability from beyond the heavens and was eventually placed on Guardian Peak.
Many believed the rumor, but even more were skeptical.
If it were so, how could the Dong family manage to keep such a Treasure, and even openly allow others to visit it?
…
At the base of Guardian Peak, Dong Miaozhen stepped forward and surveyed the crowd before speaking plainly, “Heart Refining Road at the top of the peak is not something external forces can assist with; everything depends on one’s own heart!
I represent my sisters in wishing every Young Master and Taoist friend success in overcoming the trial of the heart and reaching the top of the peak.”
At this moment, Ying Tianlong suddenly spoke up in agreement, “Miss Dong has spoken the truth. I have heard that the Heart Refining Road is incredibly miraculous, and I have long wished to experience it. Today presents a rare opportunity; what if we made a bet? I wonder if certain people dare to accept?”
His words were too transparent, making the crowd secretly anticipate another round of excitement, their heads turning to look at Zhao Sheng.
Ying Tianlong’s defeat had been too bitter the day before; today he definitely wanted to regain his dignity.
This was not just about himself; it was about the face of the entire Ying Family.
Zhao Sheng naturally understood the implicit challenge and nodded immediately, “Mr. Ying, how do you wish to bet? Please outline your terms. Zhao will accept them all.”
“Well spoken!” Ying Tianlong, overjoyed, immediately laid out his plans: “Let’s see who can reach the peak first. The loser will have to bow down and admit defeat.”
My goodness, that’s harsh!
The others did not expect Ying Tianlong’s vengeful heart to make such a malicious request.
If that were actually carried out, the eventual loser would no longer be able to show their face.
Zhao Sheng glanced at the people around him and then smiled suddenly, “This bet is interesting; I’ll take it. Does anyone else want to join in?”
No sooner had he finished speaking than Song Xingyun, dressed in plain clothes and wearing a simple hairpin, unexpectedly spoke, “I wish to join as well. But this bet is too mean-spirited for my taste. I don’t like it. Why not change it to something else? Perhaps the winner can ask the loser a not too excessive request.”
Th𝓮 most uptodate nov𝑒ls are publish𝒆d on ƒreewebηoveℓ.com.
“An excellent suggestion. If so, count me in,” Jin Wulin from the Vast Sect promptly agreed.
“Me too!” Jian Shisan said sternly.
Zhao Sheng found it quite surprising; was the allure of the Dong Family’s Weavers really that strong?
Apart from the one who fled, Li Feixuan, not one of yesterday’s defeated had given up, and they all came today.
Seeing someone take the lead, others naturally did not want to appear weak, and they eagerly joined the bet.
Dong Miaozhen and Dong Yuyi did not find this surprising at all.
Betting on who could reach the top of Guardian Peak first was a major tradition of the Phoenix Meeting, having spanned countless editions.
The stakes varied in nature, covering all kinds of bets, with some even harsher than what Ying Tianlong proposed.
Centuries ago, it had even caused several major upsets.
Otherwise, why would the Dong Family schedule the climb to Guardian Peak on the second day?
After everyone made their stance clear, Zhao Sheng turned around, his gaze playfully fixed on Ying Tianlong’s face, which was changing like the weather.
“Mr. Ying, what do you say?”
“Hmph, the bet between you and me remains the same, others can do as they please,” Ying Tianlong said resolutely, his voice severe.
Zhao Sheng nodded noncommittally.
Then he lifted his head and asked, “Who will go first?”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Ying Tianlong suddenly dashed out at high speed, taking the lead on the Heart Refining Road before anyone else.
He whisked through the first hundred steps as if the initial hundred trials had no effect on him at all.
Only after completing a hundred steps did he change from running to walking up step by step.
Seeing Ying Tianlong act so impatiently, Zhao Sheng smiled indifferently. Even if he let the other take a five-hundred-step lead, he was still confident in winning.
At this point, Jian Shisan, Jin Wulin, Song Xingyun, and Kong Lang also moved forward and began their ascent on Heart Refining Road.
Before long, only Zhao Sheng remained at the foot of Heart Refining Road, yet to make a move.
Dong Miaozhen caught sight of him standing alone and her eyes flickered, but she did not approach to ask.
Instead, a few daring Dong Family’s daughters approached and struck up a conversation with Zhao Sheng.
“Brother Zhao, why haven’t you set off yet?” Dong Yuyi blinked her large eyes innocently and asked curiously.
