Liu Xiu'er chuckled and said gently.
"Junior Brother Han, do you think a celestial being like Master would care about insignificant matters like aptitude?"
Aptitude is an insignificant matter?
Heh, you really dare to say that!
If anyone else said that, they would have been flamed to death!
Is a cultivator's aptitude not important? Then tell me, what is important?
Looks? Demeanor? Or body measurements?
Nonsense!
But Liu Xiu'er, the "Son of Destiny," the Master's senior disciple, everything he did was flawless, as if guided by fate, making people unable to doubt him.
Han Mo, the "thousand-year-old schemer," was also infected by Liu Xiu'er's aura. He stared blankly at Liu Xiu'er and couldn't help but ask.
"Senior Brother Liu, what does Master value most?"
Liu Xiu'er chuckled, pointed to Han Mo's heart, and said.
"The Dao Heart! As long as your Dao Heart is firm enough, Master will be moved by you!"
A firm Dao Heart?
Han Mo lowered his head and pondered for a while.
A minute later, he raised his head again, his eyes filled with determination. His entire being seemed to have been reborn, his essence and spirit highly condensed, exuding an extraordinary aura.
He solemnly bowed to Liu Xiu'er.
"Thank you, Senior Brother, for your reminder. I understand!"
After the bow, Han Mo turned to face the golden celestial steps leading to the heavens, and said with unwavering resolve.
"I will ascend all forty-nine celestial steps to prove my Dao Heart to Master!"
With that, Han Mo took a firm step forward, beginning his climb on the second celestial step.
The "Dao's Aura" on the second celestial step was more than ten times stronger.
As soon as Han Mo's foot landed, he staggered violently, almost being blown away.
Don't give up!
I will never give up!
Han Mo gritted his teeth, holding onto his core intention. He managed to stand shakily, not being blown away.
This… is amazing!
The entire crowd was in an uproar!
It was unprecedented for a "minor cultivator in the Qi Refining realm" to even reach the first celestial step, and now he could stand firm on the second.
This is too exaggerated!
The elite disciples felt their faces burning!
No, we must regain our dignity!
The elite disciples began to act, ascending the celestial steps!
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
A spectacular scene unfolded.
Countless elite disciples could not withstand the "Dao's Aura" and were blown away.
The vast majority were immediately sent flying the moment they stepped onto the celestial steps, with no power to resist.
Some managed to withstand the first wave of "Dao's Aura," but as their back foot followed, they were blown away before they could even steady themselves.
Out of eight hundred elite disciples, only thirty or so successfully reached the first celestial step.
The battle was brutal!
The Golden Core magnates gathered around the periphery sighed.
Logically speaking, with over thirty of the eight hundred elite disciples reaching the first celestial step, this was an excellent and impressive achievement!
These thirty-plus individuals had "firm Dao Hearts" and had the potential to reach the "Nascent Soul realm" in the future.
If this news spread, the "Eastern Desolate Mountain Range Cultivation World" would be greatly honored!
But now, the Golden Core magnates couldn't feel proud at all, because…
Just moments ago, Han Mo had successfully ascended to the second celestial step and was already attempting the third.
Han Mo, a minor cultivator at the "second level of Qi Refining," was attempting the third celestial step.
When over thirty elite disciples had only reached the first step, how could they afford to be proud?
Boom!
Han Mo's foot landed on the third celestial step, and an even more terrifying and powerful "Celestial Dao Aura" surged forth.
Han Mo's body trembled more violently, his legs shaking uncontrollably.
Cannot bear it!
I truly cannot bear it!
Just as everyone thought Han Mo was about to fail, he somehow held on.
Han Mo gritted his teeth, resisting the overwhelmingly powerful "Dao's Aura," and his other foot followed.
Success!
He had successfully ascended to the third celestial step!
At this moment, Han Mo's appearance was disheveled, his body drenched in cold sweat.
However, his figure appeared remarkably tall and majestic.
For a "minor cultivator in the Qi Refining realm" to achieve this, it was truly awe-inspiring!
The thirty-plus elite disciples who had successfully reached the first celestial step all looked up at Han Mo ahead.
At this moment, their faces were devoid of mockery or ridicule, replaced by genuine admiration and respect!
They no longer looked down on Han Mo from their privileged position as "elites."
Instead, they became Han Mo's "followers," tracing his footsteps, discarding all distractions, and with the most devout faith, began to ascend the second celestial step!
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
The "Dao's Aura" on the second celestial step was more than ten times stronger. Many elite disciples couldn't withstand it and were blown away.
In the end, only nine elite disciples reached the second celestial step!
This achievement…
It's fantastic!
Much better than expected!
Under normal circumstances, not a single one of the eight hundred elite disciples would have been able to reach the second celestial step.
Their "Dao Hearts" were not strong enough to carry them that far!
True Master Qingfeng: "Heavens, Xiao Liu actually reached the second celestial step, this means his chance of successfully breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm is ninety percent…"
A ninety percent chance, as long as Xiao Liu doesn't perish midway, he will almost certainly become a "Nascent Soul cultivator"!
The "Water Moon Sect" had not seen a Nascent Soul cultivator in thousands of years. If Xiao Liu could break through to the "Nascent Soul realm," it would bring immense glory to the sect, true glory!
True Master Qingfeng: "...Xiao Liu has good aptitude, but unfortunately his Dao Heart and will are not that firm. He shouldn't have been able to achieve this!"
Finally, True Master Qingfeng's gaze fell upon Han Mo, who was attempting the fourth celestial step, and a thought struck him.
I understand, this is all due to Han Mo's "role model inspiration"!
If Han Mo hadn't been there as a role model, Xiao Liu wouldn't have been able to surpass himself and reach this height!
The Senior is truly formidable!
True Master Qingfeng exclaimed from his heart.
Even one of the Senior's disciples, well, a half-disciple, not a formal one, could be this powerful, tsk tsk tsk…
True Master Qingfeng felt his reverence for the Senior surging anew!
"The Senior is light, the Senior is lightning, the Senior is the only legend…"
Han Mo's "strong rise" attracted everyone's attention. Even the Little Spirit Monkey King, who had already reached the ninth celestial step, couldn't help but turn its head to observe Han Mo's situation.
"Jiji ji…"
The monkey bared its teeth and let out an encouraging cry to Han Mo.
At this moment, Han Mo had already reached his limit. He was no longer responsive to the outside world. He couldn't even acknowledge the Little Spirit Monkey King's encouragement. He used all his strength to resist the "Dao's Aura" on the fourth celestial step.
Han Mo swayed precariously, as if he could be blown away at any moment. Yet, he was incredibly tenacious, always holding on at the last second, refusing to be swept away…