Chapter 54: Chattering Struck by Lightning

“Is it possible?” For once, the system fell silent, no matter how Ji Jiuxuan questioned it. She quietly tucked her suspicions away in her heart. In any case, the bond between her and the system was unbreakable—she had plenty of chances to catch it in a slip.

On her second attempt, what had initially been strenuous slowly became easier as Ji Jiuxuan adapted. She grew increasingly adept at using her cultivation technique to regulate her state. By the time she reached the top of the Heavenly Ladder, she was almost caught off guard.

Sweat drenched her body. She meant to wipe her brow with her sleeve, but the sour stench rising from herself nearly made her retch. Born and raised in the Xuantian Sect, Ji Jiuxuan had always been meticulously cared for by Wen Ying, who ensured she was as pure as possible. She rarely expelled impurities during her cultivation, and never during ascension. Yet this time, merely climbing the Heavenly Ladder had left her reeking.

Thankfully, what came out was only clear sweat—had she been coated in black sludge like the new disciples, it would have been terrifying. She skillfully cast a cleansing spell, feeling the sticky discomfort vanish and the foul smell dissipate.

Refreshed, she skipped toward the ordinary staircase, her spirits soaring. So this task was meant to supplement her body-refining technique! Her luck wasn’t so ill after all; it seemed her streak of misfortune had turned. After climbing the Heavenly Ladder, Ji Jiuxuan found that her cultivation, which had jumped three levels, was no longer so hollow, and her internal spiritual power grew ever more solid.

Once the task was done, she planned to seek out more techniques to learn, and to practice what she already knew, striving to maximize their effects. She never worried about having too many skills—as long as she could master them, she welcomed them all.

Upon seeing Ji Jiuxuan return, the Moonwhite Rabbit sensed her delight and grinned foolishly, “Xuanxuan, you play here as you wish. I’ll wait for you.”

Ever since meeting Ji Jiuxuan, whenever she asked the Moonwhite Rabbit to carry her, it never failed to take her wherever she wanted and wait for her, no matter how long it took.

Looking at the soft, adorable giant bunny, Ji Jiuxuan happily hugged its forepaw. “Moonwhite, you’re so good.”

Disciples who’d received word of her feat gathered nearby, watching. Few had ever attempted the Heavenly Ladder more than once, and certainly not with such ease. They couldn't help but talk amongst themselves.

Disciple A: “Why does Junior Sister Ji keep climbing the Heavenly Ladder? Is there some great benefit to it?”

Disciple B rolled his eyes, responding disdainfully, “Oh please! Didn’t you hear what she said to the Moonwhite Rabbit? She’s just bored and climbing stairs for exercise.”

“You believe that? Maybe there really is some hidden advantage,” Disciple A rested his chin on his hand, contemplating whether he should try it himself. If there were real benefits, it would be worth it.

“Dream on! Junior Sister Ji isn’t the only one to repeat the climb—look at how others suffer! If there were some great reward, it would have shown itself by now. Besides, given her usual behavior, taking a walk for digestion is entirely believable.”

Disciple B recalled the recent rules in the sect forbidding any disparagement of Ji Jiuxuan, yet couldn’t help his resentment. So lazy, just lucky to be born well.

“But why does she show no reaction? From the first climb, she was unaffected, as if truly walking for exercise,” Disciple C interjected, unable to resist.

Such situations were exceedingly rare since the creation of the Heavenly Ladder.

“Ha! Perhaps she’s just foolish, with no inner demons,” Disciple A speculated, growing more convinced with each word.

This guess left others bewildered. Emboldened, Disciple A continued, “I think the rumors about her laziness are because she’s foolish—so much so she doesn’t know to take cultivation seriously.”

He grew arrogant. Suddenly, a massive formation appeared overhead, and a bolt of lightning struck him, leaving him charred and smoking.

The spectacle drew everyone’s attention. The other disciples who’d been chatting with him hurriedly moved away, afraid of being implicated.

Ji Jiuxuan, standing on the Heavenly Ladder, was drawn to the scene. She recognized the scorched disciple as one from Wangchen Peak, one who had blocked her entry and insulted her previously.

Hmph! Jiyue? Just wait.

A wicked smile curled her lips, hidden as she bowed her head.

Feng Hanxiao is Feng Hanxiao, and Jiyue is Jiyue—she would never let these debts go unpaid.

Ignoring the others, Ji Jiuxuan continued forward. With her prior experience, she entered the Heavenly Ladder more slowly, properly circulating her cultivation technique before stepping in. This time, she wasn’t nearly as disheveled.

Yet standing there, the pressure felt even greater, as if a thousand pounds weighed upon her. Each step was a struggle.

And so, Ji Jiuxuan persisted, repeatedly enduring the initial discomfort until she could traverse the entire Heavenly Ladder with ease.

On her seventh climb, her grandfather Qi Shuoyuan and her junior uncle Nie Xingyuan arrived, though her second uncle was nowhere to be seen—she guessed he was handling matters at the Hammerstone Sect.

Standing on the steps, just a few away from completing her seventh pass, Ji Jiuxuan smiled at Qi Shuoyuan. “Grandfather, what brings you here?”

Qi Shuoyuan was amazed, mingling disbelief with excitement at how easily his little Ah Jiu stood there. “Ah Jiu, do you not feel uncomfortable inside?”

It had been uncomfortable at first, but she’d adapted. Besides, she still had three climbs to go.

Worried that saying she felt unwell would make her grandfather stop her, she replied breezily, “Not at all, Grandfather! This staircase is really fun—I never realized there was such an entertaining place before.”

Her words were childlike, and to those unfamiliar with her, seemed perfectly normal—after all, Ji Jiuxuan was still young.

But Qi Shuoyuan and Nie Xingyuan thought otherwise.

Their little Ah Jiu would never repeat something just for fun. There must be a reason.

Yet with so many people present, it wasn’t the time or place to speak in detail.

“Will you keep climbing?” Qi Shuoyuan asked with a smile as Ji Jiuxuan reached his side.

“Of course! I’m not tired of it yet. I’ll do it a few more times.” She skipped toward the ordinary stairs, reminding them, “Grandfather, Junior Uncle, you two head back. I have Moonwhite Rabbit here. When I’ve had my fun, it’ll carry me home.”

Nearby, disciples influenced by rumors muttered inwardly—was she really foolish? What was so fun about the Heavenly Ladder? Such idiocy.

After Nie Xingyuan took away Disciple A, the area fell silent. Some didn’t dare to linger, hurrying off.

Nie Xingyuan looked at the little figure atop the Heavenly Ladder and smiled helplessly. To Meng Jiao, who had just arrived, he said, “Wait here for your junior sister.”