Chapter 46: Climbing While Weeping

Upon hearing this, Xia Jiuxuan turned his gaze toward the towering ladder a hundred feet high. In the middle of the staircase, a tiny figure was struggling upward, climbing with determination while wiping tears from her eyes.

Xia Jiuxuan's expression darkened abruptly.

"Master... you, you have arrived," Li Luoyan sensed Xia Jiuxuan's presence and hurried over to stand by his side.

"Luoyan, what is happening here?" Xia Jiuxuan's voice carried a chilling murderous intent, and Li Luoyan dared not lift her head to meet his eyes.

"Master, the academy required Miss to undergo the entrance trial before accepting her. Since you had not returned for so long, I dared not make decisions on my own. Miss insisted on taking the trial herself, so I allowed her to participate. But rest assured, I have been vigilant throughout. If Miss had faced any danger, I would have rescued her immediately."

Li Luoyan explained as briefly as possible, her heart filled with anxiety as she awaited Xia Jiuxuan's response.

Xia Jiuxuan's eyes never left the small figure ascending the heavenly staircase. "Miss insisted on going herself?"

Li Luoyan nodded quickly. "Yes. A teacher named Yang from the academy said everyone must pass the trial to be admitted. Miss was delighted upon hearing this, saying she had grown up and could certainly pass. No matter how I tried to dissuade her, she insisted on participating."

Xia Jiuxuan finally nodded slowly. "You are not at fault. The little one has a mind to stand on her own; that is admirable."

Li Luoyan stole a glance at Xia Jiuxuan and, seeing his anger had abated, felt a measure of relief. "Master, now that you are here, shall I go and bring Miss down?"

Xia Jiuxuan waved his hand at once. "With her constitution, as long as she persists, she is certain to reach the top of the staircase. Let her train herself; she will feel a great sense of accomplishment, haha."

"Yes, Master."

Thus, Xia Jiuxuan and Li Luoyan quietly watched from the crowd as the tiny figure struggled upward, crying loudly as she climbed.

Meanwhile, Yao Yunya and Yang Yi were still embroiled in their quarrel.

Yao Yunya looked furious. "I've already informed the head of the institute that this little girl is my special recruitment—she doesn't need to take the trial. You are not a teacher of my Azure Lotus Sword Institute, so what right do you have to force her into the trial? Answer me!"

Yang Yi glanced at Yao Yunya indifferently. "You claim special recruitment, and it is so? Do you think you're the academy's director?"

Yao Yunya's face turned cold. "Are you deaf? I told you, I have already asked the head of the institute for approval."

Yang Yi refused to yield. "You're the deaf one. Did you not hear me mention the academy director? I have already consulted the director—all who wish to enter must pass the trial."

Yao Yunya pointed at Yang Yi, her tone icy. "You! You're simply abusing your authority for personal vendetta. You know she's Xia Jiuxuan's niece, and you deliberately sought approval!"

Yang Yi sneered. "And what if I did? Let me be honest, I am targeting that brat! But everything I do is in accordance with the academy's rules. What can you do about it?"

Yao Yunya, enraged, drew her sword at once. "If anything happens to her, I will challenge you to a life-and-death duel!"

Sensing her murderous fury, Yang Yi's brows furrowed deeply. "You're a lunatic, woman. To duel me over a little girl?"

Yao Yunya snorted coldly. "Just you wait."

She then ignored Yang Yi and focused her attention on every move atop the heavenly staircase.

Xia Ran trembled as she climbed, sitting to cry after each step. Alongside her, over a hundred boys and girls were undergoing the trial.

"Wow, this little one is amazing—she's already reached the four hundred and fifty-eighth step," a passing girl remarked in awe.

"She's so adorable! Little one, do you want big sister to help you?" another girl offered.

"Li Xiaoyun, don't meddle. If you help her, you could lose your qualification," a boy beside the girl cautioned.

"Oh, that's true. The rules forbid it. Sorry, little one, big sister can't help you," the girl sighed and continued climbing.

The heavenly staircase had a total of nine hundred and ninety-nine steps. With each step, the invisible pressure increased.

To complete the trial, one had to reach the nine hundredth step; the remaining ninety-nine steps measured the quality of one's talent.

Xia Ran watched anxiously as the older boys and girls overtook her, making her even more desperate. She cried louder and climbed faster.

This scene became a spectacle unseen in the Taixuan Academy for many years, amusing and entertaining the crowd below.

Half an hour later, most participants had reached the nine hundredth step, finishing the trial. Only about a dozen remained below, struggling.

"Ah!" With a cry, a boy lost strength and, unable to withstand the pressure, fell. He would likely be crippled from the fall.

Xia Ran was the last, still thirty steps short.

She wiped her tears and pulled a yellow, six-pointed star-shaped fruit from her pocket, taking a big bite. Instantly, courage returned.

She climbed and climbed, her tiny arms and legs working tirelessly.

Finally, after fifteen minutes, she reached the final step.

The little one broke into a smile through her tears, a bubble of snot bursting from her nose.

To reward herself, she took two hearty bites of the sweet fruit.

Then, imitating the older boys and girls, she rolled up her sleeves and kept climbing.

"Hey, little one, you've already passed the trial. Don't go any higher—the steps above are too dangerous," a girl hurriedly warned.

"You're amazing, little one. Even I admire you. Hurry down," a boy said, unable to bear seeing her continue.

"No, Ranran wants to join the academy. Teacher said Ranran is amazing, and Ranran will climb very high, hmph."

Xia Ran pouted, determined to be the best—only then could she grow up and protect Second Father.

Her small heart held unwavering resolve.

"Sigh, this little one is so stubborn. Whose child is she, sent here to suffer so young?"

"Exactly. The rules forbid us from stopping her, but the pressure above is much greater. If she falls, what are we to do? Poor kid."

Most of the boys and girls were worried for Xia Ran.

Below, seeing Xia Ran continue, Li Luoyan grew anxious. "Master, the pressure above is several times greater. I'm afraid Miss can't endure it. Should I go bring her down?"

Xia Jiuxuan was silent for a moment, then spoke: "No, let Ranran continue. I support her choice."

Li Luoyan was a little surprised—he had always treated the little one as his precious treasure, untouchable by others, and now he was willing to let her suffer? Truly unpredictable.

"Hmph."

On the other side of the square, Yang Yi's face darkened as he saw Xia Ran continue to climb.

"Someone, increase the pressure—triple the difficulty!" Yang Yi ordered.

"Teacher Yang, that's not possible. With triple pressure, no one will pass the talent trial, and the risk will increase greatly," a staff member responsible for the trial protested.

"Spare me your arguments. The director instructed me that if necessary, I could increase the difficulty. If you doubt me, do you dare doubt the director?" Yang Yi said coldly.

"No, no, Teacher Yang's orders," the staff member replied, heading toward a secret chamber.

On the staircase, Xia Ran had climbed ten more steps. She had felt herself growing stronger, but the steps ahead became harder, pressing her down painfully.

"Woo... woo..."

Xia Ran cried again, harder than before. Even the fruit rewarded by Luoyan Sister was almost gone. She wanted to give up, but her heart would not allow it.

If Second Father knew she hadn't climbed to the top, he would be unhappy. Woo...

Thinking this, she summoned all her courage and continued upward.

"Waah, Second Father, I want to enter the academy. Look, Second Father, Ranran has grown up! Ranran is stronger now, woo..." Xia Ran cried loudly as she climbed another step.

Boom!

Suddenly, the heavenly staircase shook, and an overwhelming pressure descended!

Xia Ran was stunned by the force, unable to withstand it, and tumbled downward.

"Xia Ran!"

Yao Yunya, standing at the base of the staircase, leapt up instantly, so fast she blurred to the naked eye.

Fortunately, Xia Ran had only fallen about thirty feet before Yao Yunya caught her.

Meanwhile, Xia Jiuxuan and Li Luoyan also flew up simultaneously.

The three landed together, while little Ranran was so frightened her face turned pale, unable to utter a word—until she finally broke into tears.

"Second Father, I want Second Father, woo..." she reached out her small hand, and Xia Jiuxuan immediately cradled her in his arms, soothing her gently.

"There, there, don't cry, Ranran is amazing and very brave."

While gently patting her back, Xia Jiuxuan scanned the crowd with a grim expression. He had sensed that the pressure on the staircase had suddenly multiplied—something was amiss.

Yao Yunya's expression was equally grim. "Could Yang Yi be behind this?"

Xia Jiuxuan frowned. "Teacher Yao, you suspect Yang?"

Yao Yunya replied, "I'm not entirely certain, but he is highly suspicious. That wretch wants to curry favor with the Feather Transformation Sect and target you, and Xia Ran is the focus of his malice."

A murderous light flashed in Xia Jiuxuan's eyes. He gritted his teeth and uttered two words: "Courting death!"

Nestled in Xia Jiuxuan's arms, Xia Ran finally felt safe. She looked pitifully at Yao Yunya. "Teacher, can Ranran join the academy now?"

Yao Yunya's heart ached for the little one, and she quickly replied gently, "Of course. Even if you hadn't passed the trial, I would have taken you as my disciple. But you were brave and completed the trial, and I like you very much. When you officially enroll, I will reward you in front of everyone."

"Ah?" Xia Ran's eyes widened with joy. "Teacher, you are so kind!"

On the staircase, most of the boys and girls who wanted to climb higher had given up. Only two reached the nine hundred and ninety-eighth step, but ultimately retreated, unable to withstand the immense pressure.

This time, the trial ended, and no one reached the summit.

"Now, with the trial complete, I announce the list of failures. These people will not be admitted to Taixuan Academy."

Yang Yi, as the chief examiner, announced the results.

"Li Wei, unqualified—eliminated."

"Zhou Wenwu, unqualified—eliminated."

"Wu Xiangshan, unqualified—eliminated."

...

"Last, Xia Ran, unqualified—eliminated."

As Yang Yi finished, he deliberately glanced toward Yao Yunya, a smug smile on his face.

Xia Ran, hearing her name among the unqualified, was stunned—unable even to cry.