After walking up 20 flights of stairs, Yuan and his small group finally reached the 21st floor. On this floor, there existed only three doors made of stone that were eventually distanced from each other and a stone tablet right beside each door. Two of the three stone tablets already had a key inserted into the hole, signaling that it was already occupied.
Therefore, Yuan and the others walked to the stone tablet that had an empty keyhole.
After inserting the key into the keyhole, the stone door began to tremble before it started opening. However, it was unlike any normal door, and it opened by levitating off the ground.
Once they walked into the empty room, the stone door closed itself, sealing them inside.
A few moments later, the empty room began filling with rich and dense spiritual energy, and a large drawing resembling a magic circle appeared on the floor that spread throughout the entire room.
"Wow, this feels entirely different from the Spirit Qi from the outside," Yuan expressed his surprise after feeling the spiritual energy in the room.
"There's a special array in the room that attracts Spirit Qi and increases its quality." Xiao Hua explained to him.
"Array? What is that?" Yuan continued to ask her.
"Arrays are also known as formations and they are techniques with an area of effect created by Array Masters, and anything inside that formation will have to obey the law set by the formation master within the array. For example, if one were to set a movement restriction array inside this room, we would have our movements restricted in some way until we leave this room."
"I see… So that's what these weird symbols on the floor are..." Yuan said as he looked at the massive magic circle on the floor.
"Arrays circles usually reveal themselves after activation, hence why they are often used as traps by Array Masters," Xiao Hua said to him.
"Anyway, I am going to start cultivating now." Yu Rou suddenly said as she sat down in the middle of the room in the lotus position.
A few moments later, her breathing calmed down and became somewhat rhythmic.
«You have cultivated for the first time, unlocking Qi Experience»
A notification appeared before her as she absorbed her first Qi.
«Due to Qi Gathering Array, your Qi absorption rate has increased slightly»
1/5,000
3/5,000
4/5,000
6/5,000
7/5,000
9/5,000
While Yu Rou cultivated in silence, Yuan mumbled to Xiao Hua in a low voice to not distract Yu Rou.
"Xiao Hua, do you think you can let my sister learn the Divine-grade technique, too?" he asked her.
However, Xiao Hua quickly shook her head and said, "Because Xiao Hua is not from the Lower Heaven, Xiao Hua cannot help those in the Lower Heaven, or she will be punished by the Heavens."
"Huh? Then why are you helping me?" Yuan looked at her with a baffled face.
"Because Xiao Hua has chosen Brother Yu— Brother Tian to assist her with the Supreme Heaven's Legacy, and Xiao Hua can only help those who are participating in the Legacy."
"I have heard this before, but what exactly is the Supreme Heaven's Legacy?"
"The Supreme Heaven's Legacy is a mission given to Xiao Hua by the Heavens that she must fulfill, and Xiao Hua's mission is to find someone who can climb the Stairway to Heaven and reach the Supreme Heaven."
"Why are you burdened with this mission? And what happens if you fail?" Yuan raised his eyebrows in a puzzled manner, feeling more confused than in the beginning.
However, Xiao Hua did not immediately respond to him, even looking hesitant on speaking, almost like she was afraid of something.
"If you don't want to tell me now, you don't have to. Tell me whenever you feel ready, I'll always be willing to listen," Yuan said to her a moment later.
"Thank you, Brother Tian…" she nodded with a relieved look on her face.
"Then can you tell me about this Stairway to Heavens?" he continued to ask.
"Yes. The Stairway to Heaven is a path that will lead one to a higher realm if they manage to pass the challenges on that path."
"Oh, I remember you saying something about defeating the Realm Guardian before we can ascend to a higher realm." Yuan suddenly recalled his conversation with her around the time he defeated the Jade Frog.
Xiao Hua nodded and continued, "There are multiple Stairway to Heaven in this world, and there is a Realm Guardian at the end of every stairway before one can ascend to the next realm."
"Then where is this Stairway to Heaven? I would like to see it."
"Brother Tian is still too weak to challenge the Stairway to Heaven— he'll only die if he went right now," Xiao Hua spoke to him with a serious expression on her face.
"At what level should I challenge it, then?"
"Spirit Grandmaster… that's the lowest requirement for climbing the Stairway to Heaven even if you are a genius," she quickly replied.
"Spirit Grandmaster… that's quite far away…" Yuan sighed.
"With Brother Tian's talent, he'll reach Spirit Grandmaster in no time," Xiao Hua spoke in a confident voice.
About an hour later, Yu Rou opened her eyes and spoke in an excited voice, "Brother! I have entered the First Level Spirit Apprentice and became a Cultivator!"
«You have succeeded in breaking through your mortal shackles, becoming a Spirit Apprentice!»
«All stats +50»
"Congratulations, Yu Rou," Yuan said to her with a smile on his face.
"Un! I am going to cultivate some more before we start our adventure! Please be patient with me just a little longer, Brother Tian!" she said.
"Take as long as you need, I won't complain no matter how long you make me wait…" Yuan said with a bittersweet smile on his face.
If Yu Rou has the patience to take care of him nearly every day for the past five years without uttering a single complaint, he definitely won't complain about a few mere hours.