CHAPTER 117: TEST OF WILL

High above the ten thousand Dragon Stairway, several figures emerged onto the edge of a cloud-wreathed cliff. They stood like ancient statues. They were men whose presence alone could silence mountains.

Each of them bore a terrifying aura, deep as the abyss and sharp as swords unsheathed. Their robes fluttered in the thin mountain wind, embroidered with symbols of divine beasts and celestial laws.

At their center stood a man with long grey-black hair, eyes like a storm. He was the Sect Master of Soaring Dragon Sect: Fang Tianhai.

His gaze was cold, fixed on the tiny figure steadily climbing the endless staircase below.

"Elder Hao. Elder Kai. I truly hope you’re not wasting the time of the Supreme Council by calling us here... just to watch a boy climb stairs." he said calmly, but the edge in his voice was unmistakable.

His words echoed like thunder.

Beside him, the Five Supreme Elders nodded. Three old men and 2 old women.

Each one carried powerful aura of a Martial Cultivator. But they wore an expression of doubt, their brows furrowed and lips sealed.

"I’ve heard the reports," muttered one of the Supreme elders, his eyes glowing faintly. "A boy with no Martial Core climbing the Dragon Ascension Stairs. A curious rumor... but hardly enough to summon us."

"Indeed. We’ve seen countless geniuses try and fail. What makes this one so special?" said another Supreme elder.

Elder Hao stepped forward quickly, hands clasped in a respectful bow. Beside him, Elder Kai did the same, both their expressions taut with tension.

"Please, honored Sect Master, honored Elders," Hao began respectfully. "I know what it sounds like. But this boy... he’s different. I swear it upon my name."

Elder Kai added, "Yes. He has no Martial Core, no Qi. And yet, he has climbed over 1,000 steps purely through physical will and spirit alone. He’s showing no signs of fatigue. And... I believe he’s not even using his full strength."

There was a brief silence.

Then Sect Master Fang turned back toward the staircase, his eyes narrowing slightly. He raised one hand, and his voice boomed across the sky.

"Then let us see what kind of monster this ’Yuhan’ truly is."

Far below, still unaware of the weight his actions carried, Igaris continued upward step by step. His every movement composed, calm, and full of hidden power.

One of the female Supreme Elders finally spoke, her voice low and intrigued.

"Let us watch. If he can cross five thousand steps... then perhaps this generation has brought forth a new dragon after all."

Below the clouds, Igaris stood firmly on the ancient stone steps, sweat clinging to his brow, his breathing steady but heavy. The air grew thinner, heavier. Not just with altitude, but with pressure that weighed down on his very soul.

He narrowed his eyes.

Above, hidden behind layers of drifting mist and divine formations, he could see them — the Elders, the Sect Master with perfect clarity.

Thanks to his Architect’s Eyes, the clouds were nothing but a curtain he could peel away at will. He zoomed in on their expressions. They were curious, doubtful, and expectant.

A faint smirk touched his lips.

"So, they’ve gathered already," he murmured. "They want to see if the boy without a Martial Core can climb the Dragon Stairway..."

He looked up at the towering staircase. The stone glowed faintly with a divine pulse, each step humming like it held the will of ancient dragons.

"If I cross 5,000 steps, I’ll earn the title of Outer Disciple," he whispered to himself. "But that’s not enough. I don’t have the time to crawl my way up the ladder slowly. I need more. I need power and resources... now."

His eyes sharpened.

"I must reach beyond 7,000. At least."

But now he truly felt the toll. It wasn’t just his body aching. His soul felt like it was being peeled apart. Each step tested the very foundation of his will, his conviction, his identity.

"This staircase... it’s not about physical strength. It’s testing my spirit and will."

His foot trembled for just a moment, but he forced it forward.

"But, I’ve survived hell," he muttered. "I’ve walked through ruin. I’ve lost everything once already..."

His fists clenched.

"And I will not lose again."

He lifted his head to the heavens and roared — a roar not of despair, but of raw, absolute defiance.

"MY WILL IS UNPARALLELED!!"

His voice exploded outward like a thunderclap. The clouds trembled. The steps beneath him cracked slightly under the surge of his will. A distant falcon circling the peaks screamed and veered away.

High above, the Sect Master’s eyes softened as he muttered.

"My will is unparalleled. What a conviction to have. His words alone making my blood boiling again."

"Indeed, Sect Master," added the younger female Supreme elder who wore an expression of serenity. "There’s definitely something special about the young man. Let’s wait and see how many steps he can cross."

Meanwhile, The Dragon Stairway trembled faintly beneath Igaris’s feet as he pushed forward. Each stone radiated pressure, trying to bend his knees, crush his spirit, and silence his thoughts. But he kept moving. One step after another.

At 4,800 steps, his legs began to shake.

At 4,900, a phantom pressure clawed at his spine, whispering thoughts of failure and worthlessness into his ears.

By the time he reached 5,000, the golden rune beneath his foot shimmered.

A low hum resonated across the entire staircase. The clouds above parted slightly, as if acknowledging the birth of a new disciple.

"He passed the outer disciple threshold," one of the Supreme Elders remarked.

"But he’s still moving," said another in disbelief.

Elder Hao chuckled softly. "Of course he is. Yuhan isn’t here to become just another disciple. He’s aiming higher."

Back on the steps, Igaris felt the resistance multiply. Every step beyond 5,000 was a war against his very being. His bones creaked, his muscles tore and healed, and his soul felt like it was being pulled apart and reforged.

But he kept climbing.

5,200.

5,600.

6,000.

Blood leaked from the corner of his lips, yet his eyes remained steady.

At 6,500, visions assaulted his mind. He saw his ruined House, the ashes of his home, the lifeless body of his father.

He gritted his teeth and pressed on.

6,800.

A burning pain shot through his chest. The staircase was no longer just a test. It was a battlefield where the weak were consumed.

7,000.

As his foot landed on the step, the sky shook violently. A blinding ray of light erupted from beneath him, shooting straight into the heavens.

Gasps echoed above.

"He reached the inner disciple threshold."

"And that too without Martial Core. This is unheard of."

Sect Master Fang, arms crossed, finally let out a low sigh. "Send someone to prepare his Inner disciple robe."

Elder Hao’s smile brightened