<h4>Chapter 253: How Powerful Could This First ce Be?</h4>


    "<i>Huff... huff...</i>" Xu Ziyang felt his blood racing in his chest, powered by his inner energy. As he tapped into his cultivation with fervor, a misty aura surrounded him, like a cloak of flickering mes.


    With his fists clenched tightly, Xu Ziyang pushed himself to take each step forward, each one a struggle, but he persisted nheless.


    Standing on the fifteenth level of the Stairway to the Heavens, Xu Ziyang knew he was among the elite few who had reached this height. Each step he dared to take was a personal challenge, a testament to his own determination rather than apetition with anyone.


    Upon the towering mountain, along the steep stone pathway, Xu Ziyang''s solitary figure stood like a stalwart banner. Despite the relentless force he faced, his back remained resolute and unbowed.


    <i>Bang!</i>


    With each determined step, he shattered the rocks beneath him.


    Just as his vision started to blur, a glimmer of dawn appeared in front of him.


    <i>Finally... Is that the end of the path?</i> He wondered.


    He gnashed his teeth and charged forward with all his might.


    <i>Whoosh—</i>


    With a sh of brilliance, he emerged atop Heaven-Reaching Peak, standing before the shadows of the stone obelisk.


    As Xu Ziyang lifted his gaze, the towering stone obelisk greeted him, and one name on the very top of the obelisk stood out prominently, seeming as if it had been etched into the very essence of the stone, immutable and resolute.


    The name was Chu Liang... Beneath it, Xu Ziyang''s own name was engraved.


    <i>I lost again?</i>


    As Xu Ziyangid eyes on Chu Liang''s name, disbelief washed over him. Despite severing all attachments and pushing forward relentlessly, he still lost?


    Lowering his gaze slightly, Xu Ziyang spotted Chu Liang standing before the stone obelisk. It appeared Chu Liang had arrived not long ago and was still taking in the surroundings.


    Chu Liang appeared much moreposed than Xu Ziyang, exuding an air of elegance and calmness, as if he hadn''t exerted much effort at all.


    <i>How is this possible? </i>Xu Ziyang wondered as he furrowed his brows.


    Xu Ziyang wasn''t the only one taken aback. Even the sects in the Divine Nine and the Terrestrial Ten, observing from the high tform, were equally astonished.


    Previously, only a few had paid attention to the name Chu Liang. Most of those gathered at Mount Shu for the ceremony had focused more on Xu Ziyang and Jiang Yuebai''s names.


    But at this moment, a junior disciple, who wasn''t really famous, hadpletely stolen the spotlight from Xu Ziyang and Jiang Yuebai, boldly securing first ce in this preliminary round!


    How powerful could this first ce be? The representatives of the immortal sects, realizing this btedly, turned their gazes towards Chu Liang. Seeing his innocent and harmless smile, they all made a mental note of this figure.


    Wang Xuanling''s expression, in particr, grew even more solemn.


    Having watched the entire process, he could clearly see where Xu Ziyang had lost to Chu Liang.


    In terms of cultivation, his own disciple was undoubtedly stronger.


    However, from the very beginning, Xu Ziyang had severed all attachments and advanced without any lingering ties. Chu Liang, on the other hand, had indeed carried all his attachments forward, facing difficulties at every step of the way.


    As climbers reached the midsection of the Stairway to the Heavens, the external pressure intensified, and attachments transformed into powerful support, aiding their progress.


    At this point, Xu Ziyang started to fall behind.


    Chu Liang, propelled by numerous illusions, found thetter half of the climb almost effortless, smoothly reaching the highest point of the Stairway to the Heavens.


    Since he was the first to reach the peak, his name naturally remained unchanged on the stone obelisk, securing the first ce.


    It wouldn''t be entirely urate to say that Chu Liang won purely by luck.


    Other disciples, like Lin Bei, also chose to hold on to their obsessions. However, theycked the strength to carry their attachments to the midsection of the stairway.


    Chu Liang secured first ce due to abination of capability, intelligence, and a bit of good luck.


    Wang Xuanling quicklynded beside Xu Ziyang and ced his hand on his shoulder. Immediately, Xu Ziyang felt a warmth flow through his body, washing away all his tiredness.


    "Esteemed Teacher..." Xu Ziyang said, his expression filled with shame.


    "It''s alright," Wang Xuanling said, seemingly understanding what was on his mind. He shook his head gently. "As long as you gain some insight from today''s Test of Dao Heart, winning or losing doesn''t matter."


    "I''ve always told you that winning or losing doesn''t matter, haven''t I? How could you casually snatch the first ce?" Di Nufeng flew over to Chu Liang, speaking loudly. "What about the person who worked so hard to earn second ce? What happens to their pride?"


    "<i>Hmph</i>," Wang Xuanling snorted coldly, brushing his sleeve dismissively.


    ...


    In the dimly lit room, the apparition of the figure in white was once again having another meeting with the figure in ck.


    "The Mount Shu Summit has finally started," the figure in ck remarked with a smirk. "I imagine it''s quite lively up there, right?"


    "It''s only the first day of the preliminary round, and Chu Liang has already imed the top spot again. It''s infuriating to watch," the figure in white said, gritting his teeth in resentment.


    "No rush. When we execute our n, Mount Shu will be thrown into chaos. You can deal with him then," the figure in ck said.


    "Let''s just forget about it," the figure in white replied after some thought, shaking his head. "There''s something eerie about that kid. Even the Dual Wielder failed to kill him several times. I don''t have that kind of confidence."


    "<i>Heh</i>, you''re actually afraid of a kid who''s barely out of diapers," the figure in ck chuckled.


    "Have you noticed the peculiarities surrounding him?" the figure in white retorted.


    After a brief pause, the figure in ck replied, "Nevertheless, he won''t be able to change the oue of our boss''s grand n."


    "When does he intend to execute the n?" the figure in white asked. "He still hasn''t given me an exact time."


    "Because we''re still waiting updates from the Dark King Sect. The Mount Shu Sect is not any ordinary sect, and there are certain preparations we''re relying on them to manage," the figure in ck exined. "The closer we get to this pivotal moment, the more patience we must exercise."


    "You aren''t in a rush, but I can''t wait to leave this ce," the figure in white said grudgingly. "Do you know that the Alchemy Master finally chose his sessor[1]?"


    "<i>Oh? </i>The one who will inherit his legacy?" the figure in ck asked. "I thought you were eyeing this position for a long time. Has someone with even greater talent emerged after all?"


    "Yes," the figure in white nodded as he answered, "And that person is Chu Liang."


    "Again?" The figure in ck was astonished.


    Suddenly, he realized that this name had appeared too frequently.


    <i>Why is he always mentioned? </i>The figure in ck wondered.


    "Not only does this dude''s cultivation progress feel diabolical, he can also refine pills?" The figure in ck could not believe what he had just heard.


    "It took him only a month to refine the high-grade Green Pill, which caught the Alchemy Master''s attention. The most infuriating part was that..." the figure in white gritted his teeth as he continued, "He rejected the offer."


    The Alchemy Master had been seeking an official sessor to inherit the position of head alchemist of Mount Shu upon his passing. His disciples were well aware of his intentions and had been diligentlypeting for this title in recent years.


    The figure in white was no exception.


    To everyone''s surprise, the Alchemy Master ended up choosing a disciple from outside the Hall of Alchemy. Adding to the shock, this individual then declined the offer!


    The disciples of the Alchemy Master had spent yearspeting for this title, only to see it being offered to someone who didn''t even care about it. This naturally stoked even more fury than anything else.


    "It seems I should inform the boss and emphasize the importance of this individual over Xu Ziyang and Jiang Yuebai," the figure in ck muttered to himself.


    "A genius in alchemy is undoubtedly more worthy of attention than a mere cultivator."


    ...


    "<i>Ahhhhhhhhhh-choo</i>." Chu Liang sneezed again, but he shrugged it off. He had grown used to being the subject of gossip.


    Moreover, he had more pressing matters to attend to at the moment.


    Before him stretched a vast open square, with hundreds of tables arranged at intervals of several yards. This time, it wasn''t just the disciples from various peaks participating; even the peak masters and some elders were personally present, seated at the tables with serious expressions as they prepared for action.


    In front of Chu Liang, three individuals sat with serious expressions, their attention fixed on the table before them. Spread across the surface were numerous white jade mahjong tiles, tightly packed together.


    It was now the second day since he had won first ce on the Stairway to the Heavens event and the Mount Shu Mahjong Tournament was happening today!


    The atmosphere felt even livelier than the Stairway to the Heavens event that took ce yesterday!


    On Mount Shu, many would tolerate remarks about their weak cultivation energy, but they couldn''t ept any criticism of their mahjong skills.


    In the first round of the Mahjong Tournament, participants were randomly assigned to tables of four. Each table yed sixteen rounds, with the yer holding the most chips at the end advancing to the next round, while the other three were eliminated.


    The other three disciples were unfamiliar to Chu Liang, whom he had never met before. However, it was clear that these three were familiar with Chu Liang. Following the Mountain God Memorial Ceremony and the Stairway to the Heavens event yesterday, Chu Liang had be a well-known figure on Mount Shu.


    "Senior Brother, you are here to attend the Mahjong Tournament too?" a disciple greeted.


    "I''m just here to check things out," Chu Liang said with a faint smile. "I don''t know how to y."


    Upon hearing this, the other three immediately broke into smiles.


    One of them reassured him, saying, "No worries. Beginners always seem to have the best luck."


    Chu Liang widened his eyes innocently and asked, "Really?"


    1. We''ve tranted 关门(close-door) 弟子(disciple) as "sessor". It literally means the teacher will "close their doors" and stop epting new disciples after this disciple. This disciple is the teacher''sst disciple, the teacher will impart all of his knowledge, skills, and techniques to the sessor. The sessor has a special status among the other disciples of the teacher and enjoys privileges the others don''t. ?