“How… How can he walk up so fast?”

“It's like the Mental Staircase does not affect him at all.”

“What the h*ll's going on here?”

At the entrance of the Sage's palace, everyone was dumbfounded by what they had witnessed. The speed and ease in which Chu Kuangren ascended the Mental Staircase had greatly shocked them all.

One thing to note was that among the cultivators in that crowd, even the Honorable who went up the stairs the fastest took one whole hour to do so!

However, Chu Kuangren took no breaks as he went up the stairs, step by step. It only took him around twenty or thirty breaths to ascend as if the Mental Staircase was a normal flight of stairs with no illusion at all.

At that moment, the cultivators who had gotten past the Mental Staircase looked at Chu Kuangren fearfully with vague hints of dread.

'With a Daoist core like that, is he even human?'

A person's Daoist core was linked and interweaved together with their past experiences, the strength of their will, their desires, and their emotions. With that, the Mental Staircase would conjure illusions to test a person's Daoist core on a case by case basis.

That was why everyone was extremely suspicious when they saw how Chu Kuangren walked up without stopping. 'Does this guy even have desires and emotions at all?'

'Is he even human?'

'Don't tell me he used to be a piece of rock!'

Buzz…

At that moment, the Mental Staircase suddenly shook violently and cracks started to form. In the blink of an eye, the white jade Mental Staircase was already filled with cracks as it began to fall apart.

The surge of illusion-generating energy started to dissipate and one by one, the cultivators who were originally trapped in their illusions immediately came back to their senses. They first stared at the surroundings blankly before they hurriedly ran up the Mental Staircase upon noticing that something was happening to it.

Not long after, the finely-crafted and exquisite Mental Staircase had crumbled into a pile of rubble.

“d.a.m.n, what happened to the Mental Staircase?”

“Crumbling just when we were wondering if it's broken or not, what's the meaning of this? Is the Mental Staircase constructed that poorly?”

“That can't be?”

The little Daoist boy who was at the foot of the Mental Staircase was so shocked that his mouth was wide open.

His figure disappeared in a flash and then appeared in front of the palace entrance. He sized Chu Kuangren up with a weird look on his face. “Big brother, how did you manage to do this?”

“Huh, what do you mean 'how did I manage to do this'?”

Although slightly puzzled, Chu Kuangren could vaguely guess why that question was asked.

The other cultivators had also figured out what the little Daoist boy meant and so an Honorable went to ask him, “Little boy, do you mean that Brother Chu is related to the collapse of the Mental Staircase?”

The little Daoist boy nodded and replied, “I once heard my teacher said that the Mental Staircase can test a cultivator's Daoist core. But once it encounters someone with an indestructible and powerful Daoist core, it'll somehow be affected by it that it'll even collapse.”

Hiss…

Everyone gasped upon hearing what the little Daoist boy said.

'What does this mean?'

'Does this mean that Chu Kuangren's Daoist core is so strong that it can collapse the Mental Staircase?'

“Is there an example of this happening in the past?” one of the Honorables asked.

The little Daoist boy shook his head. “Nope, but my teacher told me that it is possible for the Emperors of Old's Daoist core to cause something like this.”

'Only the Emperors of Old can do it?'

That sentence was like a grenade, exploding before everyone's ears.

'F*ck me!'

'Chu Kuangren's Daoist core is comparable to the Emperor's of Old?'

'What kind of freak is he!'

“No, no, no, it can't be. How can such a thing happen right now? I believe that the Mental Staircase has malfunctioned.”

“Yes, yes, I agree. I think so too.”

“The Mental Staircase has existed for so many years and has tested the Daoist cores of many people. I suppose it's normal for it to malfunction if it's out of repair for such a long time.”

“Yeah, I guess this makes sense.”

Some of the cultivators babbled on, trying to make sense of the situation, and others agreed with them too. Everyone soon started to accept that explanation.

'Comparable to the Emperors of Old?'

They would not dare imagine such a thing, nor want to believe it.

Chu Kuangren was already too overpowering for them to handle. If he could stand shoulder to shoulder with the Emperors of Old, it would be just too scary.

“Is it really out of repair though? This Mental Staircase is a Sage Weapon.” With a frown, the little Daoist boy mumbled as his cute little face twisted.

Meanwhile, the cultivators who did not manage to ascend the Mental Staircase could not be bothered.

Since the Mental Staircase was destroyed, they all took it as an opportunity to attend the Sage's Daoist teaching without undergoing the Mental Staircase's trial.

Those cultivators then dashed towards the palace entrance.

However, an invisible force suddenly spread from the palace and sent all of the opportunistic cultivators flying.

“The cultivators who have walked up the Mental Staircase shall enter the palace. As for the ones who did not, all of you can return now.” An old voice came from within the palace.

It was the Whitelock Sage's who spoke.

The cultivators who did not manage to ascend the Mental Staircase looked unwilling. However, since the Sage had spoken, there was nothing they could not do but leave the area obediently.

“These cultivators tried to take the easy way in despite having no guts to walk up the Mental Staircase? Do these people even deserve to listen to the Sage's Daoist teachings?” one of the Honorables snorted coldly.

After that, everyone walked into the palace.

The interior of the palace was very s.p.a.cious, and inside, on a futon sat an old man in a white robe.

The old man's hair, beard, and even eyebrows were white. Although he was sitting there, it gave everyone a feeling that he was ethereal and untouchable.

Chu Kuangren activated his Eye of Revelation and the information gathered before his eyes.

“Whitelock Sage, Sage Manifestation Realm — early stage, cultivation physiques — Meritorious Body Technique…”

The early stage of Sage Manifestation Realm?

Merit Karma Physique?

Those two keywords appeared in Chu Kuangren's eyes.

The Sages could be grouped into strong and weak ones as well. Those who were in the early stage of the Sage Manifestation Realm were known as a normal Sage, while those in the middle-stage were known as a Great Sage, and those who were in the last-stage and beyond were known as a Sage Ruler.

As for the Meritorious Body Technique that was mentioned last, it was a very rare cultivation technique that used acc.u.mulated good merits to increase the user's cultivation level!

“No wonder the Whitelock Sage is always spreading his Daoist teachings. It's to acc.u.mulate merits, which will increase his cultivation level in return.”

Chu Kuangren mumbled.

At that point, he noticed that someone's gaze was on him.

It was the Whitelock Sage himself.

Chu Kuangren's heart started to pound. 'Can it be that the Sage is displeased that I broke his Mental Staircase?'

Fortunately for Chu Kuangren, the Whitelock Sage only glanced at him before he s.h.i.+fted his gaze. The Sage then said towards the other cultivators, “Everyone, the Daoist teaching session is about to begin. Please find a good place to sit.”

With that, everyone went to look for a good spot and sat down. Most of the Honorable who had attended the Daoist teaching before rushed and sat at a spot that was three feet away from the Whitelock Sage.

That spot was the closest to the Sage and was at the best distance to hear the Sage's Daoist teaching.

Chu Kuangren did not fight for a good spot. Instead, he just sat down at a random spot at the back with Lan Yu.

Once everyone had found a spot, the Sage started his Daoist teachings.

He spoke of the cultivation realms, gradually increasing it from the most basic to his experiences in becoming a Sage. He took good care to explain every cultivation level in great detail…

As the Sage gave out his Daoist teachings, an incredibly mysterious surge of Daoist Rhyme was emanated throughout the entire palace hall. Then, a large amount of spiritual qi gathered towards the Daoist Rhyme before it rained down like falling flowers and transformed into a golden lotus that sprung from the ground.

Listening at the back, Chu Kuangren did gain a little knowledge. “It's no doubt that this is a well-deserved Sage. His Dao techniques and cultivation levels truly are advanced.”

He looked at the others and noticed that everyone was deeply immersed in the Sage's Daoist teachings. Every one of them looked as though they were obsessed, and that included the Honorables as well. Even an Honorable Supreme like the Seventh Forefather had a similar look on him.

Chu Kuangren could not help but turn speechless. “This is a bit too exaggerated.”

Although he was inspired by the Sage's Daoist teaching, he was not as mesmerized as everyone else.

Moreover, the longer the teachings went on, the lesser the Whitelock Sage inspired Chu Kuangren. In the end, he did not even feel anything at all.

Could it be that he was just an idiot and could not understand what the Sage was saying?

That would be a joke.

If he had the apt.i.tude of a fool, there would be no geniuses in the world then.

Upon mulling over it, Chu Kuangren suddenly realized that it was not him who had the apt.i.tude of a fool. On the contrary, his qualifications and understanding of Daoism were just too good!