Chapter 97: 97. Upgraded Thousand-layer Stone Steps!

“Congratulations to the host for possessing a territory, disciples, and attire, all of which are unique, making the Immortal Sect a fledgling Super Sect, completing the ‘Perfect Sect’ achievement.”

“Is there a reward?” Holding the Immortal Clear Wind Robe in his hands, Wen Ping was secretly delighted and quickly set it aside, asking aloud.

The system replied, “Yes, the achievement reward is a free building renovation. However, it is specific; the host does not have the power of choice and can only have the renovation target selected via a roulette.”

Upon hearing the first half, Wen Ping was immediately pleased. Just as he thought he could save tens of thousands of gold, the system’s next sentence made him somewhat uncomfortable. He had no choice, but he only wanted to renovate the Tingyu Pavilion right now.

The next renovation for Tingyu Pavilion requires a hundred thousand gold, and without a free upgrade chance, he estimated it would not be completed anytime soon.

The stronger the Evil Spirit Knight, the more reassured he felt.

Wen Ping said helplessly, “Why has this reward changed?”

The system said, “There’s no need for the host to be disappointed. Although you don’t have a choice, the abilities brought by the subsequent renovation of the sect will only be better. So, does the host want to start the random renovation roulette now?”

Forget it, better than nothing.

“Start.”

As soon as the words were spoken, a roulette appeared in front of Wen Ping, then started to spin frantically.

The red pointer whizzed past the restroom, the servitor building, the stables… finally settling in front of the Thousand Layers Steps.

The system immediately asked, “Upgrade?”

“Upgrade.”

[Time remaining for the Thousand Layers Steps upgrade: three hours.]

[Randomly acquired special ability: Inch of Heaven and Earth.]

As always, Wen Ping asked, “Inch of Heaven and Earth, what is this special ability?”

“Boundless sky, limited space. As a future Super Sect, the steps naturally can’t be merely tall and long. The Inch of Heaven and Earth ability can transform a thousand layers into one or turn a thousand layers into boundless.”

After hearing the system’s explanation, Wen Ping looked up at the light screen ahead, scrutinizing the detailed explanation of the steps’ special ability.

Inch of Heaven and Earth, as described in the introduction, he had the ability to transform a thousand layers into one.

Stepping onto the first stone step, a step further up, and it’s the mountaintop!

At the same time, he could transform a thousand layers into the boundless, having walked a thousand layers yet just standing at the beginning of the infinite.

Wen Ping had little expectation for the latter but was quite eager for the former; he wouldn’t need to trek the long stairs anymore.

The other day, he complained about the steps being too long; he didn’t expect the opportunity to change this situation today.

Moreover, the material used to craft the thousand-layer steps was particularly formidable–three words: Hell Rock.

Then images of hell began to float through Wen Ping’s mind.

Blazing fire.

Fierce ghosts.

Minotaurs and horse-headed spirits.

…

After a long three hours passed, Wen Ping stepped into the night, arriving at the edge of the square. His gaze fell on the stone steps under the moonlight, seemingly no different from before.

He walked a distance forward, then turned back, noticing that the places Zhao Yi hadn’t swept were cleaner.

No other changes.

Where’s the promised Hell Rock?

“System, you…”

The system responded, “Hell Rock is fiery red, constantly burning with flames and too conspicuous, so during the renovation process, color and flame concealing treatment was conducted. Still, it retains all Hell Rock characteristics–indestructible. Time cannot leave a trace on its surface.”

“Is it just hardness, nothing else?” If that’s the case, then the stone steps crafted from Hell Rock are understatedly formidable?

And he happens to dislike flamboyance.

Opposite in nature.

At this time, the system’s reversing words came, “Of course not. When the host activates Hell Mode, by walking up the steps, the Hellfire will transform you, and upon reaching the top layer, the Hell Rock will grant you an Anomalous Vein, thereby opening a unique Meridian Gate.”

“Anomalous Vein! Just two steps to evolve into an Anomalous Vein?”

Wen Ping’s expression changed upon hearing this.

“No, when a person walks the full thousand layers, that’s when they receive the Anomalous Vein. Without the ability to gain an Anomalous Vein, at the moment you’re unable to continue, the steps will prematurely teleport you away.”

“I really struck gold this time.”

The two words Anomalous Vein may seem plain, but for someone well-versed in Meridian Gates like him, he knew what an Anomalous Vein represented.

If the rarity of the Profound Realm means it’s unlikely to have one in a city, then an Anomalous Vein–the legendary variant Meridian Gate–has barely a few across East Lake. They are all people of illustrious reputation.

According to what he pointed out, the leader of the East Lake Hundred Sects Alliance, the Meridian Gate he opened was the variant one, belonging to the Five Elements. When the Meridian Gate opened, it seemed as if the earth and he became one.

Without cultivating the Vein Technique, he could control rock and soil.

Such people are naturally much stronger, directly invincible in the same realm, unless encountering a variant Meridian Gate stronger than his. Otherwise, there’s no losing to someone with a normal Meridian Gate in the Profound Realm.

The system noticed Wen Ping’s astonishment and said, “A variant Meridian Gate isn’t easy to obtain. The host can try; you might get it.”

“Let’s give it a try.”

With reverence for the steps, Wen Ping stood at the 1000th layer, stepped out, activating Inch of Heaven and Earth, and after one step, the view changed, finding himself at the Yunlan Mountain’s foot on the first stone step.

This is transforming a thousand layers into one.

After a brief surprise, Wen Ping told the system, “Activate Hell Mode.”

The system’s voice rang in his ear, “Single or fully open?”

Without much thought, Wen Ping responded, “Single.”

“Hell Mode activated.”

This time, after the system’s voice faded, the scene before him suddenly changed. The bright moon in the sky stopped shedding white light; the black night covering the sky was no longer black.

The blood moon shed scarlet light.

The blood night dyed the world Wen Ping stood in red.

The stone steps no longer looked like bluestone but turned into black rock burning with red flames.

However, when Wen Ping tried it, the flames seemed to have no temperature; when the fire snakes coiled around his fingertips, it didn’t cause a burning pain.

“The host can walk upward; the flames of Hell Rock attack not the body but each person’s fragile soul.”

“Soul?”

Wen Ping, somewhat understanding, took a step up, and as he steadied himself, a surge of anger welled up.

But around him, and within him at this moment, there was nothing worth getting angry about.

Another step upward, as steadied himself, a wave of sadness suddenly welled up, inexplicably feeling his nose twitch.

Seven steps later, joy, anger, worry, sadness, fear, surprise–all these emotions had passed through Wen Ping’s heart.

The system explained, “The emotions and desires torment repeatedly, and when reaching the peak, that’s when the Anomalous Vein is acquired.”

Wen Ping nodded, even though this repeated emotional torment was difficult, for the sake of the variant Meridian Gate, he had to push through.

An hour later.

Soaked in tears and sweat, Wen Ping looked down the mountain after returning to the top of Yunlan Mountain, feeling countless emotions.

The emotions and experiences felt in that hour were richer than what he experienced in a year.

Just as he was sighing, a blue pop-up appeared before his eyes.