Chapter 38: Ascending the Stairs

The appearance of Youyou left Mo Fan utterly astonished. He had never expected that anyone on Panlong Mountain would be willing to lend him a hand.

He came to a halt, revealed his true form, and cast a look of gratitude toward the young girl. Youyou, however, remained indifferent. Without even glancing at him, her cold gaze turned toward the blue stone stairs that wound their way up the mountain. Mo Fan, unfazed by her dismissal, also turned his attention to the stone steps.

He had not originally intended to climb them, but the words of the youth in green had stirred him. Furthermore, he harbored a flicker of hope; perhaps his destiny had arrived, and he might truly find a secret method to open up the desolate realm.

"Mo Fan, you..."

Chen Dong, who had been sent flying by Mo Fan’s fist for the second time, scrambled to his feet. With fists clenched, he prepared to charge back, whether to spew curses or to continue the brawl, it no longer mattered. Before he could even stand, Youyou uttered a single word, "Noisy," and with a wave of her hand, a surge of primordial energy struck him, sending him flying once more, unable to rise again.

Having disposed of Chen Dong, Youyou, her face wreathed in coldness, spoke without looking back. "Boy, I heard that fellow praise your skills as miraculous, and the movement technique you just displayed was indeed mysterious. Now that I have cast aside your despicable opponent, do you dare to wager with me to see who can ascend these Panlong stairs first?"

It was a formal challenge. Mo Fan’s brows furrowed. He had not expected that by getting rid of one pest, Chen Dong, he would attract an opponent far more troublesome.

He remained silent. She had helped him, and he had expressed his thanks, but he had no intention of agreeing to such a demand.

"What? Will you not agree, or are you afraid?"

She was as arrogant as Chen Dong, if not more so. Her words dripped with provocation.

"I thank you for your kindness, miss, but I am merely an insignificant character. In this chaotic scene, it is hard enough to even reach the stairs, let alone compete with you." Mo Fan swallowed his pride; he did not wish to cross her. Firstly, he was grateful for her help, and secondly, a young genius with her level of cultivation likely had a formidable background. He had already made enough enemies; he did not want to add another.

"When I say something, it stands. You will compete with me today, whether you want to or not. If you refuse, I will ensure you never see the summit."

Intimidation—blatant and naked. Mo Fan realized that this girl was not only arrogant and overbearing but also coercive.

"Oh? Is that so?"

Mo Fan had a peculiar temperament: he would always yield to those who were peaceful, only resorting to force when absolutely necessary. But when faced with the arrogant and despotic, he preferred to meet them head-on. Chen Dong had been a prime example. He had not expected this girl to be even more headstrong than he was.

"You don't believe me?" she asked coldly, standing still. She was someone who, when angered, feared not even herself. Since this boy dared to disrespect her, she decided to show him.

"I don't," Mo Fan replied with matching coldness.

"You have backbone, but in the face of strength, backbone only makes you die faster," she said. A surge of hidden energy erupted from her hand, striking the ground where Mo Fan stood, causing it to explode instantly. Mo Fan was quick; he dodged, leaping several meters back to avoid the blast.

Humph!

The girl snorted and vanished, reappearing behind him. With a light tap, she sent Mo Fan tumbling across the ground. She landed gracefully, standing before him like a noble queen, and said with disdain, "Well? Can you compete with me now?"

Mo Fan burned with rage, but after her strike, he lacked even the strength to stand. He could not understand why such a powerful cultivator would fixate on him. Was winning such a foregone conclusion truly that important to her? He could not fathom it.

"I will!"

Mo Fan summoned his resolve, forcing the invading energy out of his body, and stood up against the immense pressure. His tenacity caught Youyou by surprise; she felt a flicker of admiration.

"Good. Let us begin."

The girl beamed. No sooner had she spoken than she shot forward like a bolt of white light, weaving through the crowd. Mo Fan’s lips curled into a slight smile. He unleashed his footwork, following her like a phantom.

"This fellow is truly not simple. With only footwork and raw strength, he does not lose to the famous young mistress of the Flower Realm," observed Ghost Shadow, watching from a large reef in the woods.

"Hua Youyou?" Mu Qingfeng gripped his fists, his charming eyes fixed on the girl with a glare. He muttered, "Flower Realm, after this, my Siyin Pavilion will seek its vengeance. Wait until our forces shatter your weak barrier."

"Not bad for the boy who turned Undead Peak upside down. To keep pace with the young mistress using only raw strength... alas, it is a pity the Flower Realm never recruits male disciples. Otherwise, I would have taken him as my apprentice," sighed the elderly woman leading the Flower Realm delegation.

They were not the only ones watching. The three great families of Dongyang County and the various factions from Gancheng Prefecture, who had remained hidden, all observed the scene.

Mo Fan and Hua Youyou surged through the chaos, covering half the distance in mere moments. The closer they got to the stairs, the more intense the fighting became. Some managed to break through, only to find that the stairs required one to withstand a crushing pressure to even set foot upon them. A youth of the Body Refining Realm had barely placed his foot on the first step before he was repelled by the force, crashing to the ground and losing his life in vain.

Boom!

With a flash of light, the fierce and domineering girl stood upon the first step. She was the first to ascend. Standing there like a wild tiger, she blocked all those who wished to follow, a one-woman garrison against an army.