"Sign In twelve times."
Han Xuanji did not hesitate for a moment; with a thought...
In the next second, a series of System notification tones rang out in his mind one after another, never-ending. Each notification brought another bit of joy to his heart:
[Congratulations Host for successfully Signing In at the nine-star Sign In location "Five Elements Heavenly Ladder," obtaining "Five Elements Dao Principle Insights".]
...
The twelve notification tones fell one after another, bringing twelve portions of "Five Elements Dao Principle Insights." These were the insights of the twelve most outstanding individuals among those who had successfully ascended the staircase throughout the ages.
Such a reward could be described as simple and crude, yet incredibly precious.
For other Cultivators, gaining insight into these Five Elements Dao Principles was as difficult as ascending to the heavens. Those who could comprehend the dao rhyme within this Five Elements Heavenly Ladder were all Prodigies who had expended a great deal of effort.
Yet Han Xuanji had obtained twelve portions all at once. This Opportunity was enough to drive countless Cultivators of the Way of Laws into a frenzy. These twelve portions of Five Elements Dao Principle Insights happened to solve his urgent need.
Although he had previously dabbled in the Five Elements Dao Principles, he had always found it difficult to touch the core, let alone condense the Five Elements Eternal Dao Principle. With these twelve portions of insights as a guide, he could avoid countless detours and quickly grasp the essence of the Five Elements Dao Principles.
Han Xuanji was secretly ecstatic, but he still suppressed his emotions, not letting the slightest abnormality show on his face. Instead, he walked slowly on the heavenly staircase while simultaneously digesting these insights one by one.
Twelve portions of insights were too many; he didn't claim them all at once but took them one by one.
Han Xuanji's actions, however, appeared differently in the eyes of the crowd.
The surrounding discussions still hadn't ceased; in fact, they became even more intense because of Han Xuanji's action of stepping onto the heavenly staircase.
"Look, he really stepped up! He seems quite bold, but it's only the first step. What's there to be proud of? He might not be able to hold on by the next step!"
"Exactly. The higher you go on the Five Elements Heavenly Ladder, the greater the pressure. Even a Cultivator at the Peak of the Chaos Realm can withstand the pressure of the first step. If he, an Eternal Dao Lord, couldn't even step onto the first level, that would be a real joke!"
Standing not far away, Hun Hao watched Han Xuanji step steadily onto the first stair and said disdainfully:
"It's just the first step, what's so special? It won't be too late to be proud once he reaches the hundredth step! Wang Lin, just you wait, I will definitely beat you today!"
Wang Lin glanced at him indifferently, his tone calm:
"What's the rush? The good show has only just begun. Whether you can win is not yet certain."
His gaze fell upon Han Xuanji, his eyes filled with a bit more scrutiny.
Han Xuanji's composure when stepping onto the heavenly staircase was definitely not faked. Such a state of mind didn't seem like the "unworthy of the reputation" from the rumors.
At this moment, high upon the Five Elements Heavenly Ladder, a young man dressed in black was leaning against a railing and looking down. His gaze fell upon Han Xuanji, and a hint of thoughtfulness flashed in his eyes. His face was handsome, his temperament cold and detached. His aura was restrained, and a faint fluctuation of Laws vaguely lingered around him.
The black-clad youth slowly turned his head to look at a middle-aged Cultivator in grey robes beside him, his tone flat and somewhat casual:
"Uncle Wang, someone else has come to brave the Five Elements Heavenly Ladder."
The middle-aged Cultivator called Uncle Wang had a steady face and sharp eyes. His aura was as deep as an abyss, clearly indicating he was someone of profound cultivation. Hearing this, he shook his head helplessly, his tone carrying a bit of reproach and worry:
"What I regret most now is agreeing to your mother's request to protect you and follow you away from the Holy Dynasty.
I didn't expect that after leaving the Holy Dynasty for so long, you would still be unwilling to return. Your mother in the Holy Dynasty worries about you every day."
Pausing for a moment, Uncle Wang's tone became increasingly solemn:
"You possess the Saint King Bloodline, a Bloodline talent rarely seen in a thousand years in the Holy Dynasty. Your Bloodline is incredibly noble, yet you choose not to follow the easy path of the Way of Bloodline and insist on stepping onto the Way of Laws. I knew you had no small ambition and weren't content to just be a disciple of the Holy Dynasty who relies on Bloodline."
At this point, he softened his tone again, offering some advice:
"However, you might as well listen to me. First, take the Way of Bloodline to its limit and condense the Saint Dao Bloodline. After becoming a Saint, then switch to the Way of Laws. At that time, possessing both Bloodline Power and Law power, you will certainly reach a higher level, far surpassing your peers."
Hearing this, the black-clad youth shook his head slightly, his eyes full of disdain and his tone carrying a hint of pride:
"Uncle Wang, do you know why I am unwilling to walk the path of bloodline cultivation? The path of bloodline cultivation is so simple; it's nothing more than secluded meditation to accumulate resources and relying on Bloodline talent to crush others. Even a pig, as long as it has enough resources piled up, could become a Saint.
But such Saints are all extremely mediocre. They can only rely on their Bloodline and have no personal insights of their own. They simply cannot go far, nor can they become truly powerful experts."
"Having taken such a shortcut, how could one settle their mind to walk the Way of Laws?"
He raised a finger and pointed at the nearby Five Elements Heavenly Ladder, his tone becoming a bit more serious:
"Look at this Five Elements Tower Master. Although he is only an Eternal True God, he does not rely on Bloodline Power but cultivated purely through the Way of Laws. Back then, he once fought a Saint who practiced the Way of Bloodline and retreated unscathed. That battle was astonishing. This is what a truly powerful expert should look like.
Relying on one's own insights to break through the shackles of the Great Dao, rather than relying on innate Bloodline advantages."
The middle-aged man nodded slowly upon hearing this. The helplessness in his eyes gradually dissipated, replaced by a bit of praise and recognition:
"You're right. Although the Way of Bloodline is fast, it is ultimately a shortcut and difficult to sustain in the long run. The Way of Laws, though arduous and difficult, can temper one's Dao Heart and allow one to comprehend the Great Dao Origin. Once something is achieved, it is by no means comparable to a Bloodline Cultivator."
After a pause, his gaze fell on Han Xuanji, and a hint of scrutiny flashed in his eyes:
"However, this kid is quite interesting. He seems to invite controversy yet dares to brave the Five Elements Heavenly Ladder. He's either overestimating himself or truly has some skill.
You're paying such close attention to him; have you perhaps noticed something?"
The corner of the black-clad youth's mouth curled into a slight arc. His gaze remained locked on Han Xuanji, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes:
"Whether he's overestimating himself can be known by seeing if he can ascend the Five Elements Heavenly Ladder.
I actually hope he has some ability, so that I might have one more noteworthy opponent in this world."
That being said, the black-clad youth didn't care too much. There had always been many people coming to brave the Five Elements Heavenly Ladder, but very few succeeded.
And without exception, none of them were as good as him.
...
Fang Xuanhe stood at the foot of the staircase, watching Han Xuanji, his eyes filled with surprise.
He could clearly feel that the aura around Han Xuanji and the dao-rhythm of the Five Elements Heavenly Ladder were slowly merging. Although not yet proficient, it already had a bit of a prototype. This level of comprehension far exceeded many Core Disciples of the Five Elements Tower.
By now, Han Xuanji had long since cast aside the surrounding discussions and ridicule. His entire mind was immersed in the insights of the Five Elements Dao Principles.
With every step he took, he digested another bit of the Five Elements insights rewarded by the System. The aura around him was also quietly undergoing a transformation.