Chapter Five — The First Step
When Xiao Chen opened the golden scripture, he froze.
There were no words.
No diagrams.
No runes.
No explanations.
The first page was completely blank.
Xiao Chen stared at it with widened eyes, disbelief slowly turning into despair. His fingers trembled as they brushed over the smooth golden surface, as if the words might suddenly appear if he looked hard enough.
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
His heart sank.
So this was it?
All his hopes—his only hope—had been placed on this Heaven-Devouring Emperor Scripture. He had endured five years of pain, humiliation, and silent perseverance for a chance like this. Yet after opening it, all he was met with was emptiness.
A hollow laugh escaped his lips.
"So… even this is a lie?"
He tried to turn to the second page, unwilling to give up so easily. However, the moment his fingers touched the edge, an invisible force blocked him. No matter how hard he tried, the page would not budge, as if it were sealed by an unfathomable power.
Xiao Chen clenched his teeth.
Locked.
Everything was locked.
Just as he was about to retreat—when his heart finally accepted defeat—
BOOM!
A brilliant white light suddenly erupted from the blank first page. Before Xiao Chen could even react, the light expanded violently, swallowing his entire vision.
"—!"
He didn't even have time to scream.
The world spun.
Space twisted.
And in the next instant—
VROOM!
Xiao Chen vanished.
When he opened his eyes again, blinding brightness greeted him.
He found himself standing in a vast space filled with light. Before him stretched countless stone steps, stacked one above another, ascending endlessly into the sky. Each step was enormous—wide enough to hold several people—yet they felt ancient, heavy, and solemn.
Strangely, everything beyond the staircase was pitch-black.
Not shadow.
Not mist.
But absolute darkness, as if the steps alone were allowed to exist.
Xiao Chen took a deep breath.
Teleportation.
At this point, he wasn't even shocked anymore.
After everything he had experienced, appearing in strange places had almost become… normal.
Still, irritation bubbled up inside him.
"What kind of messed-up fate is this…" he muttered bitterly. "Always being thrown around like this."
He wanted power.
He wanted control.
Not to be tossed into unknown places like a leaf caught in the wind.
Just then—
A deep, booming voice echoed from the sky, shaking the space itself.
"Hello, contestant."
Xiao Chen stiffened.
"You have unlocked Pan Gu's inheritance."
Xiao Chen's face instantly darkened.
"Pan Gu…?" he muttered.
The name felt familiar—strangely so—as if he had heard it somewhere before. Yet no matter how hard he tried, his mind refused to grasp it, as though something was deliberately blocking the memory.
Before he could dwell on it, the voice continued.
"To be deemed worthy of the inheritance, you must climb one hundred steps."
Xiao Chen's brows furrowed.
"One hundred steps?" he repeated softly.
If it was merely climbing, then anyone with a body should be able to do it. There was no way an inheritance test would be that simple.
Sure enough, the voice continued, cold and emotionless.
"Failure to comply will be met with death."
Xiao Chen's heart skipped a beat.
"What if I can't finish climbing them?" he asked instinctively.
The response came immediately, filled with disdain.
"Failure shall also be met with death—just like the contestants before you."
There was no hesitation.
No mercy.
Only contempt.
"If you have any questions, ask now."
Xiao Chen took a deep breath and looked around.
"Where… is this place?"
"This is a small world created by my master," the voice replied, pride lacing its tone.
"It serves as your testing ground. I am the spirit of this inheritance."
The voice paused briefly before continuing, its contempt now unmistakable.
"For countless years, I searched for an inheritor. All I encountered were failures."
As it spoke, the ground not far from Xiao Chen suddenly split open.
A deep pit appeared.
Within it lay countless bones—human bones—stacked upon one another. A rancid, decaying stench wafted upward, making Xiao Chen's stomach churn.
Skulls with hollow eye sockets stared back at him in silence.
The pit slowly closed.
"They were all too weak in will."
Xiao Chen's fists clenched.
He finally understood.
This was not a trial of strength.
It was a trial of resolve.
"If you have no more questions," the spirit said flatly,
"the trial will begin."
Before Xiao Chen could reply, a powerful gust of invisible wind slammed into him. His body was pushed forward uncontrollably until he stood at the base of the steps.
He raised his head.
The staircase towered above him, disappearing into the sky.
Each step felt like a mountain.
His heart pounded.
He hesitated.
Then the disdainful voice echoed again.
"Unable to complete the trial shall be met with death."
Xiao Chen exhaled slowly.
Fear drained from his eyes.
If death awaited him whether he tried or not, then there was no reason to hesitate anymore.
He stepped forward.
The moment his foot touched the first step—
"You must not fall, kneel, or lie down," the voice announced coldly.
"Violation will result in heavenly lightning."
"Trial begins."
BOOM!
An incomparably heavy pressure descended from above.
Xiao Chen's knees buckled instantly.
It felt as though the sky itself had pressed down upon his shoulders.
Blood rushed to his head. His vision blurred.
His body screamed at him to collapse.
To kneel.
To surrender.
But Xiao Chen gritted his teeth and forced himself upright, veins bulging across his neck. His legs trembled violently, muscles screaming in protest.
He straightened his back—slowly, painfully.
Standing.
Still standing.
With labored breaths, Xiao Chen began to move forward.
Each step felt like dragging a mountain.
His back hunched, sweat pouring down his face, his bones creaking under the pressure. It took everything he had just to lift his foot.
One step.
Another.
Three full steps forward—
Only then did he finally reach the edge of the second stair.
His breathing was ragged.
His vision swam.
Yet his eyes burned with stubborn resolve.
No matter what awaited him above—
He would not stop here.