Chapter 49: White Jade Stairs

As soon as Qu Yi entered the cave, he discovered that it was actually another realm. This realm was boundless, with square continents floating among the stars. Qu Yi, Wu Yuan, and Qing Wu Gui all landed on one such square continent at the same time. The other cultivators, however, landed on different square continents. It seemed that depending on when they entered the cave, they would end up on different ones.

Qu Yi looked around and found that the nearby square continents seemed close, but his spiritual sense could not detect them, indicating that the distances between them must be extremely great. After landing on different square continents, all the cultivators were initially confused. Suddenly, a beam of white light descended from above, illuminating the entire space. With the appearance of this white light, white jade stairs appeared between adjacent square continents—seemingly formed from pure light—connecting the two continents.

Undoubtedly, these floating white jade stairs showed all the cultivators that they could use them to reach the various square continents and continue their search for the legendary artifact. Qu Yi, Wu Yuan, and Qing Wu Gui immediately flew to the white jade stairs on their continent and began climbing up, aiming to reach the continent above. At the same time, cultivators on other continents also climbed up the stairs, heading toward the higher continents.

No cultivator was foolish. As they climbed upward, they found that the primordial energy there was even stronger and more beneficial to their bodies. Thus, after trying a few white jade stairs, all the cultivators chose to climb directly up to the higher continents.

It took a full month for Qu Yi, Wu Yuan, and Qing Wu Gui to reach the upper square continent.

“Ugh, it took so long to climb one step. Is there anyone to fight? Climbing like this is so boring,” Wu Yuan complained as soon as he stepped off the white jade stairs onto the land.

All the cultivators, now on various square continents, continued to climb upward. With less than ten thousand cultivators in this realm, there was no chance for them to meet, let alone find someone for Wu Yuan to fight.

“Alright, Wuyuan and Qingwugui, you two enter the Inch Realm Sphere, while I’ll climb alone. I have a feeling that that peerless divine artifact is likely right at the top of this space,” Qu Yi said with a smile.
Wuyuan and Qingwugui immediately nodded.
Soon after, Qu Yi went alone to the white jade steps of this continent and began climbing up them rapidly toward the square continent above.
A full hundred years passed.
By then, Qu Yi had arrived on a square continent and found that quite a number of people had gathered there, including Guo Huo, Liu Shi, Mu Rong, and Pang Shu.
These people were all gathered around the white jade steps, but no one else was climbing higher.
“Hey, Qu Yi is coming,” Guo Huo said as he spotted Qu Yi.
There were over fifty people in total, all looking at Qu Yi.
Qu Yi flew over quickly, glanced at the white jade steps, and saw nothing unusual. Curious, he asked, “Everyone, why aren’t you climbing up?”
The crowd laughed.
“Qu Yi, if you have the strength, climb these white jade steps and take a look,” Guo Huo said with a faint smile.
Immediately, everyone stepped aside to make way for Qu Yi to climb the steps.
Qu Yi glanced at them without saying a word, stepped forward to the white jade steps, raised his right foot, and stepped onto the first step.
Whoosh!
The moment Qu Yi’s right foot touched the steps, the entire white jade step was engulfed in the Ink Wave Divine Fire, turning it into a platform of flames.
The Ink Wave Divine Fire couldn’t harm Qu Yi, so he quickly pulled back his foot.
“I see. You’re all afraid that your divine energy will run out, so you dare not climb these steps,” Qu Yi said with a smile.
The crowd merely smiled, accepting his explanation.
“Well, since you’re worried about insufficient divine energy, I’m not at all concerned. I’ll go up first by myself,” Qu Yi declared with a chuckle.
Sure enough, under the astonished gazes of everyone, Qu Yi stepped onto the white jade steps with both feet, unafraid of the Ink Wave Divine Fire surrounding him, and climbed upward swiftly.
When his body reached the hundredth step, the Ink Wave Divine Fire on the lower hundred steps suddenly disappeared.
“Wow! The Ink Wave Divine Fire is gone! We can climb now too!” The crowd cheered excitedly at this miraculous sight.
Immediately, over forty cultivators stepped onto the white jade steps.

Guo Huo, Liu Shi, Mu Rong, and Pang Shu were still on the ground, their eyes fixed on Qu Yi above them, their minds racing with various thoughts and emotions.
“This Qu Yi has an unpredictable strength. I feel that in the competition for this peerless divine weapon, he poses the greatest threat to us. So, what if we follow him now and strike while he’s not looking to kill him?” Guo Huo transmitted his thoughts to Liu Shi, Mu Rong, and Pang Shu for their advice.
“Agreed,” replied Liu Shi, Mu Rong, and Pang Shu. They had already heard that Gongye Bo was likely dead at Qu Yi’s hands, so they were also worried about Qu Yi’s strength. They wanted to use their combined strength to eliminate him.
This divine weapon, which even the Divine King would envy, couldn’t be taken away by other cultivators. Anyone who tried to stop them from obtaining it would be mercilessly killed.
Soon, Guo Huo, Liu Shi, Mu Rong, and Pang Shu joined the other cultivators and climbed up the white jade steps.
It took Qu Yi three months to climb all the steps and reach the square continent. Naturally, the cultivators who wanted to take advantage of the situation also arrived at the continent successfully, filled with laughter.
Upon arriving, Qu Yi didn’t stop but flew straight to the white jade steps, intending to continue climbing upward.
“Qu Yi, wait a moment,” Guo Huo called out as he flew over.
Hearing the call, Qu Yi stopped immediately and smiled at Guo Huo, as well as Liu Shi, Mu Rong, and Pang Shu, who had also rushed over.
“What is it?” Qu Yi asked calmly.
But then, as Guo Huo, Liu Shi, Mu Rong, and Pang Shu gathered around Qu Yi, their kind smiles suddenly turned savage.
“Qu Yi, you must have some powerful treasure on you. Hand it over to us,” Guo Huo demanded abruptly.
In fact, after observing Qu Yi spending three months in the Mo Lan Divine Fire, these four had realized that he must possess a formidable divine weapon that allowed him to continuously replenish his divine essence, preventing his body from being burned by the fire.
With that, Guo Huo, Liu Shi, Mu Rong, and Pang Shu simultaneously drew out their own divine weapons and unleashed fierce spells at Qu Yi.
“You…” Qu Yi was shocked.
Guo Huo’s red long sword emitted a “Heavenly Fire Meteor,” and his golden fire spirit transformed into a red flame beast that lunged at Qu Yi.

With the crystal-yellow staff in his hand, Liushi delivered a powerful strike, unleashing “Invincible Staff,” which summoned earth and water spirit entities to form a long staff carrying a space-tearing dark wind, aiming at Qu Yi.
Mu Rong took out a green branch and swept it lightly, activating “Sweeping Leaves in the Courtyard.” Wood and earth spirit entities created dozens of tornadoes that swept through the space where Qu Yi was.
Pang Shu threw five red beads, forming “Five-Bead Fire Cloud.” Rockets created by wood and fire spirit entities shot out from the fiery clouds, all targeting Qu Yi.
Qu Yi took out his divine weapon, the Black Staff, and blocked with all his strength, creating a black sphere around his body. This black sphere actually condensed four million gold and earth spirit entities.
The four attacks struck the defensive sphere Qu Yi had formed at the same time, instantly shattering it. However, these attacks could no longer reach Qu Yi’s flesh.
“Four million spirit entities!” Guo Huo, Liushi, Mu Rong, and Pang Shu all exclaimed in astonishment.
The four of them had seen Qu Yi’s strength before; back then, he only had three million gold and earth spirit entities. Now that they saw him summon four million, they were naturally shocked. After all, even the strongest among them, Guo Huo, had only four million gold and fire spirit entities in his body. Now, Qu Yi’s strength was on par with Guo Huo’s.
“Qu Yi, you truly hid your true strength. The entire divine realm has been deceived by you,” Guo Huo shouted, his eyes wide.
Qu Yi, in turn, glared angrily at Guo Huo, Liushi, Mu Rong, and Pang Shu, saying resentfully, “You four are truly despicable for trying to assassinate me by surprise. Very well, you’ve forced me to reveal my true strength. From now on, you four will be my greatest enemies. Today, with you all together, I can’t do anything to you, but remember—you’ll face my revenge at any moment.”
After saying that, Qu Yi flew away directly, heading to a white jade staircase on this continent, which led parallel to a nearby square continent.
Guo Huo, Liushi, Mu Rong, and Pang Shu tried to chase after him but found they couldn’t keep up with Qu Yi’s speed. They could only watch as his figure rushed up the white jade staircase, unable to pursue him.
“Qu Yi has escaped. He will become a major threat to us in the future. But as long as we obtain this legendary divine weapon, we need not fear his revenge,” Guo Huo shouted angrily.

As expected, Liu Shi, Mu Rong, and Pang Shu reined in their murderous gazes and nodded calmly. Meanwhile, as Qu Yi ran down the white jade steps, a secret smile appeared on his lips as he murmured, “Let the four of you enjoy yourselves for now; soon, you’ll face my revenge.” Earlier, Qu Yi deliberately only summoned four million spiritual entities, avoiding exposure of his true strength, with the intention of using Guo Huo, Liu Shi, Mu Rong, and Pang Shu against him. Otherwise, with his ten million spiritual entities, he could have easily killed the four of them.