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[Stairway Hall]

This great hall was situated deep within the Inner Mansion, atop a relatively isolated, floating mountain.

The entire structure was built from massive, dark cyan stones, giving it a simple, heavy, and ancient appearance, devoid of excessive ornamentation.

Only the eaves, like upturned swords, projected a solemn and imposing air.

The entire hall seemed faintly separate from the surrounding Cosmic Jade, emitting a stable and profound spatial fluctuation.

Countless thick, heavy, radiant halos, like iron chains, stretched from behind the hall into the depths of the void, their destination unknown.

Arriving at the square before the hall, Qi Yun raised his head slightly, his gaze calmly sweeping over this gateway to many perilous lands and fortuitous opportunities.

He then stepped under the sole greenstone archway in front of the hall.

Just as he passed through the archway, a faint yet incredibly precise ripple silently swept over his entire body.

It was like the finest-toothed comb, probing his cultivation aura.

The ripple vanished as quickly as it had appeared, offering no resistance.

Beyond the archway was the main entrance to the [Stairway Hall].

Before the entrance, two men with identical faces, wearing uniform gray robes and sporting shiny, bald heads, sat cross-legged on Meditation Mats.

Their auras were linked, their breaths synchronized.

As Qi Yun approached, one of them seemed to sense his presence and slowly opened his eyes.

At first, his eyes held the lazy, scrutinizing look common to those on duty. His gaze lingered for a moment on Qi Yun’s young, unfamiliar face before he spoke in a low, muffled voice:

"Hm?

A new face. You new here?"

As he spoke, he placed a hand on his knee, preparing to casually stand up and conduct the routine questioning and registration, just as he usually did with newly arrived Qi Refining Middle Late Stage disciples.

But just as he flipped his hand over to produce an ancient Copper Mirror inscribed with complex runes and habitually aimed it at Qi Yun...

The smooth surface of the Copper Mirror didn’t display complex patterns or a blurry halo. Instead, four ancient, eye-catching words clearly appeared:

[Qi Refining Ninth Layer]!

The moment he saw those four words, the bald man’s arm, propped on his knee, suddenly went limp.

His upper body swayed involuntarily, and the Copper Mirror nearly slipped from his grasp!

The laziness and casualness on his face were instantly replaced by shock and terror.

His previously condescending attitude vanished without a trace.

He hastily steadied himself and, almost instinctively, plastered on an incredibly brilliant, almost fawning smile, bowing repeatedly to Qi Yun.

"S-Senior Brother, please don’t be offended! Please forgive me, Senior Brother!

This little brother has only been on duty at the [Stairway Hall] for two years. My eyes are clumsy; I failed to recognize Senior Brother’s esteemed self and was negligent. I beg for Senior Brother’s forgiveness!"

He spoke extremely quickly, his attitude so respectful it bordered on servile.

Qi Refining Ninth Layer, the Realm of Divine Soul!

Among Inner Mansion Disciples, this was the pinnacle of power—a prodigy who could reach the Great Perfection stage at any moment and then attempt to break through to Foundation Establishment.

Such a figure was absolutely not someone a common disciple on duty like him could afford to offend.

The slightest misstep, and he might not even know how he ended up in a world of misfortune later.

Qi Yun’s gaze shifted between the two seated, bald figures with their linked auras, and he raised an eyebrow with intrigued interest.

"The Two-Heart Skill?

You certainly have some guts. You actually dare to practice such a dangerous and strange Dharma Gate?"

His tone was calm, yet with a single sentence, he had exposed the root of the other’s technique.

The [Two-Heart Skill] was an extremely strange and unorthodox Magic recorded by the Wuji Holy Sect.

Its core required the Caster, with immense willpower and precise control, to forcibly sever and evenly divide their own physical body and soul essence into two, forming two independent bodies.

Thereafter, the two bodies could cultivate in sync, each accumulating their own insights and Cultivation.

Their progress would be twice that of an ordinary Cultivator.

When the time was right, they could merge back into one. The two portions of Cultivation and insight would then stack, allowing for an instantaneous surge in Cultivation—a shortcut that was practically a single step to heaven.

However, while this method sounded heaven-defying, it actually had enormous hidden dangers.

First, the pain and risk of forcibly splitting one’s soul were extraordinary; the slightest mistake could lead to the soul’s complete annihilation.

Second, with the two bodies existing independently for a long time, it was very easy for them to develop separate consciousnesses due to different experiences and insights.

At that point, who would be the primary, and who the secondary?

When it came time to merge, whose will would prevail?

A misstep could lead to a conflict of consciousness, ending in self-destruction.

Finally, and most fatally,

if one of the bodies was destroyed, it was equivalent to instantly losing half of one’s life essence and Cultivation Foundation.

Not only would their path of cultivation be severed, but it would become extremely difficult to even maintain their current Realm, turning them into a complete cripple.

For this reason, very few in the Holy Sect dared to truly attempt practicing this Magic.

Unexpectedly, Qi Yun had encountered someone who did, right here before the [Stairway Hall].

Hearing Qi Yun expose his Dharma Gate in a single sentence, the bald man showed no surprise. After all, the technique’s characteristics were obvious, and it was no secret to a knowledgeable Peak Qi Refining Cultivator.

A helpless, bitter smile appeared on his face, tinged with self-deprecation.

"Senior Brother’s insight is like a torch.

Sigh... It can’t be helped. This little brother’s aptitude is mediocre, and my comprehension is hopelessly dull.

Back then, I was lucky enough to pass the assessment and enter the Inner Mansion. I thought I would soar to the heavens, but the reality is...

Compared to my prodigiously talented fellow disciples, my cultivation progress fell further and further behind.

Seeing the gap grow ever wider, my path forward seemed bleak."

He sighed, a flash of resentment and resolve in his eyes.

"For me, the ordinary path holds almost no hope.

Only... only by taking a desperate risk, by cultivating this Evil Skill that others dare not touch and betting everything, might I have a sliver of a chance to glimpse the scenery of a higher Realm."

Listening to the bald man’s bitter and resolute confession, Qi Yun was silent for a moment before slowly nodding.

When he himself had first set foot on the path of cultivation, his own aptitude had been just as poor, perhaps even worse than this bald man’s.

It wasn’t until he underwent the complete rebirth from the Crimson Cicada Embryo Storage and the purifying sublimation of the Buddhist Merit in the Earth Temple that he was transformed.

"The Great Dao is arduous, and each has their own way. Do as you see fit."

Qi Yun didn’t comment further, merely offering that one calm sentence before falling silent, his gaze turning to the deep, dark entrance of the Stairway Hall.

Seeing that Qi Yun had no intention of prying further or showing disdain, the bald man breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly bowed again.

"Thank you for your understanding, Senior Brother."

Beside him, the other "him" who had been cultivating with his eyes closed, as if by telepathy, gave a slight, synchronized nod.

"You’re going to [Milo Mountain]?" Hearing Qi Yun calmly state his destination, the respectful expression on the bald man’s face was instantly replaced by a hint of bewilderment.

He was clearly taken aback for a moment, then a hesitant look crossed his face as he lowered his voice.

"Senior Brother, things at [Milo Mountain]... they might not be too peaceful lately.

If you don’t have urgent business, it would be best to wait a while before going."

"Oh?"

The bald man’s words made Qi Yun’s gaze flicker. He stopped and looked at him.

"Not peaceful? Explain."

Seeing Qi Yun’s interest, the bald man quickly scratched his shiny pate and organized his thoughts before speaking.

"The specifics... this little brother isn’t too clear on them. After all, that’s a place only Senior Brothers at the Peak of Qi Refining and Great Perfection can enter. It’s a level too high for me.

However, I did overhear a few senior brothers who came out of there mention something...

It seems a place inside called [Burning Karma Valley], for some reason, started to ’erupt’ about a year ago. The environment inside has become extremely unstable, and the danger level has skyrocketed.

Several senior brothers came out injured, some of them quite seriously."

He paused, a puzzled look on his face.

"But it’s strange. Even though it’s getting more and more dangerous inside,

over the past few months, the number of senior brothers applying to enter [Milo Mountain] has actually increased quite a bit..."

Halfway through his sentence, the bald man abruptly stopped.

He wasn’t an idiot; he understood in an instant.

’This isn’t some eruption,’

’This clearly means some treasure has appeared in [Milo Mountain]!’

A flicker of understanding passed through Qi Yun’s eyes as he gave the bald man a meaningful look.

This man had a quick mind and was reasonably well-informed. He knew how to size up a situation, who he could afford to offend, and who he should befriend.

With a flicker of a Heart Thought, he flipped his hand, and a piece of Upper Grade Refining Materials appeared in his palm.

"Your disposition isn’t bad, and you have some guts, daring to cultivate the Two-Heart Skill."

Qi Yun held out the precious material, his tone calm but carrying an undertone that brooked no refusal.

"How about we become friends?"

Staring at the valuable material offered to him, a hint of hesitation flashed in the bald man’s eyes.

He knew very well what accepting the "friendship" of a Peak Qi Refining Senior Brother for no reason entailed.

But to refuse? He didn’t dare.

Facing Qi Yun’s calm yet implicitly pressuring gaze, he hesitated for only two or three breaths before immediately extending both hands and respectfully accepting the material.

"Of course! It is this little brother’s honor to be acquainted with Senior Brother!"

"Heh, good." A smile touched Qi Yun’s lips.

"Since we’re friends, we should help each other out, don’t you think?"

"O-Of course..." Beads of sweat appeared on the bald man’s forehead. He knew the real matter was at hand.

"You’re on duty here, so your words carry some authority." Qi Yun’s smile faded, his tone shifting to one of command.

"From now on, if anyone else wants to enter [Milo Mountain], especially those at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer or Great Perfection, you find a way to persuade them to leave, or at least delay them for a while.

For every person you successfully turn away, I will have a reward for you when I come out.

How about it?"

Hearing this, the bald man’s heart jolted.

The risk was not small. If other senior brothers with powerful backgrounds found out, he would definitely be in for more trouble than he could handle.

But looking at the heavy, precious material in his hand, and thinking back to Qi Yun’s earlier attitude toward him, as well as the promise of "another reward"...

He deliberated for only a moment before gritting his teeth and nodding heavily.

"Don’t worry, Senior Brother!

This little brother knows what to do!

I will definitely do my best!"

"Good. I’ll be counting on you, then." Qi Yun nodded in satisfaction.

Then, his right hand moved imperceptibly within his sleeve.

An extremely faint Thousand Crane Talisman, almost one with the air, was silently released. Like a speck of dust, it quietly attached itself to the shadows of the Stairway Hall’s doorframe.

This was a customary precaution, a way for him to monitor the situation afterward.

Having done all this, Qi Yun lingered no longer and strode toward the great doors of the [Stairway Hall].

Light and shadow stretched out behind him. He took a step forward,

and his figure vanished into the ripples within the doorway, on his way to [Milo Mountain].

...