Mu Qingqing saw this, shook her head, and walked up the stairs.
Watching Mu Qingqing's retreating figure, Xuan Kong narrowed his eyes slightly, a sinister arc curving at the corner of his mouth.
Mu Qingqing walked all the way up the stairs to the ninety-ninth step.
At this moment, there were already thousands of people on the stairs, all doing their best to ascend.
Looking at the dense crowd above, Mu Qingqing understood why the Heavenly Ascent Stairway was given ten days.
After every ninety-nine steps, the pressure on the stairs would increase.
This pressure could cause cultivators to bear a heavy load, making it difficult for them to proceed.
The geniuses who were full of confidence at the beginning could not withstand the immense pressure after climbing less than three hundred steps and had to give up the Heavenly Ascent Stairway.
It seemed that the first level of the Heavenly Ascent Tower alone would eliminate a large number of geniuses, which showed its difficulty.
However, the pressure on the stairs at this moment was a piece of cake for Ji Yuanlong and other heavenly prodigies.
Each of them competed for the first place at an extremely fast pace, their footsteps as light as if they were walking on flat ground, seemingly unaffected by the pressure.
Among them, Ji Yuanlong's speed was the fastest, climbing in a straight line while his feet had already stepped onto the nine hundredth step.
And a figure was closely trailing behind him, that was Nan Yunting.
He was unwilling to be ranked second, so he desperately wanted to surpass Ji Yuanlong and regain his honor.
Xue Qianwu, the white-haired woman with bandages, Tie Liefeng, and Wan Shuwen followed closely behind.
This outcome was also within everyone's expectations.
After all, the combat power of these heavenly prodigies far surpassed that of geniuses of the same level, making it almost impossible to defeat them.
Outside the Star Gazing Tower
Tens of thousands of people watched the scene in the light screen, their expressions varied, but they were all filled with excitement.
"Ji Yuanlong truly lives up to his reputation as the number one on the Eastern Continent's Heavenly Prodigy Ranking. He is also the only genius to have reached a thousand steps so far."
Someone couldn't help but exclaim.
"Nan Yunting, Xue Qianwu, Tie Liefeng, and the others are also performing well, all nearing nine hundred steps."
Someone else praised.
"And that white-haired woman with bandages, although only in the late Heavenly Realm, her strength should not be underestimated. To be able to contend with these heavenly prodigies and reach the nine hundredth step."
People chattered.
"However, that young man on the hundredth step, isn't he a disciple of the Four Symbols Academy?"
"Although the Four Symbols Academy only sent four people this year, they are still a top-tier force, and their disciples should not be weak."
"Why is this guy only at the hundredth step, while the other three from the Four Symbols Academy have already reached eight hundred steps? This is too strange!"
These people were discussing Mu Qingqing.
Liu Yuanhao, who also noticed Mu Qingqing stopping at the hundredth step, was filled with confusion.
What is that kid Xin Ci doing?
With his strength, he shouldn't be stuck at the hundredth step.
Mu Qingqing was unaware of their thoughts. At this moment, she was standing on the hundredth step.
"This Heavenly Stairway is no ordinary item. Its grade is likely that of a top-tier True Artifact, and there is a special power imbued upon it," Elder Han explained from the side.
"A top-tier True Artifact, and imbued with a special power? That's quite unusual."
Mu Qingqing nodded secretly upon hearing Elder Han's words.
However, the special power on the Heavenly Stairway could be absorbed by her Myriad Phenomena Star Wheel Scripture and converted for her own use.
Since her consciousness space was inaccessible, and her Myriad Phenomena Star Wheel Scripture had not been improved for a long time, this was a perfect opportunity.
She wondered how much this special power on the Heavenly Stairway could help her improve.
As Mu Qingqing thought of this, her eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a smile.
As for ascending the Heavenly Stairway, it was a trivial matter for her to reach the summit anyway.
Thus, Mu Qingqing walked unhurriedly, maintaining a steady pace, leisurely moving upwards.
With each step, she converted the power above into her own use.
As Mu Qingqing slowly climbed upwards, the crowd became increasingly astonished.
At this moment, they felt as if Mu Qingqing was a monster that continuously moved forward.
Two hundred steps, three hundred steps, four hundred steps...
Mu Qingqing's footsteps never ceased.
Others, seeing that Mu Qingqing was not only not falling behind but was getting closer to them, were all shocked.
"Is this kid so strange? The higher the steps, the greater the pressure the body must bear, yet he is acting as if nothing is wrong?"
"Look, he's still ascending, and he's getting closer to us. What kind of spiritual medicine did this kid eat?"
Someone couldn't help but curse.
The others fell silent.
They all knew clearly that the higher they went, the more difficult it would become.
At the eight hundredth step
Two young men occupied this step, blocking others from passing.
They were Nalan Qianhe, ranked twentieth on the Eastern Continent's Heavenly Prodigy Ranking, and Nalan Qianqiu, ranked twenty-third.
Both of them were at the peak of the Heavenly Realm.
"Nalan Qianhe, Nalan Qianqiu, what are you two doing! Why are you blocking our way!" someone roared angrily.
"The Young Lady is breaking through on the ninth hundredth step. No one is allowed to disturb her!" Nalan Qianhe glanced disdainfully at the person in front.
The person who had just spoken was furious upon hearing this.
"Hmph, what if I insist on passing?"
This man in a green robe roared, his figure flashing as he charged directly at Nalan Qianhe, his right fist smashing fiercely towards Nalan Qianhe's chest.
"You're seeking death!"
A hint of coldness flashed in Nalan Qianhe's eyes.
He slightly raised his arm and waved his palm, a surge of immense power emerging.
Bang!
A loud explosion echoed, the man in the green robe spat out blood and was sent flying backward.
He tumbled down the Heavenly Stairway in a rather pathetic manner.
Seeing this, the others' faces changed, and they dared not step forward.
"Do you still want to come and seek death?" Nalan Qianhe looked coldly at the crowd.
"Nalan Qianhe, Nalan Qianqiu, don't go too far. This Heavenly Stairway doesn't belong to your Nalan family. Why aren't you letting others pass?"
Another young man in green clothes glared at the two.
These two dandy members of the Nalan family were truly going too far!
The Heavenly Ascent Stairway had a time limit. Who knew how long their Nalan family's Young Lady would take to break through!
Moreover, the Heavenly Stairway was clearly wide enough.
Even if they passed, it wouldn't affect the Nalan family's Young Lady's breakthrough.
"Hmph, a bunch of trash, how dare you challenge the Nalan family's prestige!"
Nalan Qianhe snorted coldly.
Then, he took out a bead, injected spiritual energy into it, and a blue barrier enveloped the ninth hundredth step.
Outside the Star Gazing Tower
Seeing that the Nalan family had used this method to prevent others from reaching the ninth hundredth step, everyone was stunned.
"The Nalan family members are indeed arrogant and overbearing!"
Someone shook their head.
"The Nalan family is a prominent clan in the Eastern Continent, so why do they act so barbarically and unreasonably! It's truly shameful!"
Everyone began to discuss, looking at the scene in the light screen with dissatisfaction.