Lucius glanced toward Raveena and met her eyes. He did not speak, but the look he gave her carried a clear question—are you ready?
Raveena hesitated, her fingers tightening around the hem of her robe as she looked ahead. Other participants were already moving, stepping onto the staircase one by one. Seeing them start made her heart beat faster, and doubt flickered briefly in her eyes.
The stairs looked ordinary at first glance, but the moment the first few candidates climbed them, it became clear this test was anything but simple. After only a few steps, faces twisted with strain.
They clenched their fists and their knuckles turned white. Some slowed to a crawl, their breathing heavy and uneven, while others dropped to one knee, sweat running down their faces as if they were carrying an invisible mountain on their backs.
Raveena swallowed and took a small step back without realizing it. The pressure radiating from the staircase felt suffocating even from a distance.
Lucius watched carefully. He did not rush forward like some of the others. Instead, he observed the way the pressure affected them. The higher they climbed, the worse it became. He noticed that those who forced themselves upward too quickly suffered the most. Their bodies trembled, as their balance faltered causing their movements grew clumsy.
After a moment, understanding dawned on him.
For those already struggling, pushing forward blindly would only exhaust them faster. It would be better to stop and allow their bodies to adjust to the pressure little by little. Willpower alone would not be enough, since their body still was adapting to Qi.
Lucius turned back to Raveena and spoke seriously. "Take it slow, Raveena." He then pointed at the participants on the stairs. "Don't fight against the pressure like them, but let your body adapt to it."
Raveena took a deep breath and nodded in return, some of the tension easing from her shoulders.
"Thanks Lucius. I'll do my best."
Lucius nodded and stepped forward toward the staircase. The closer he got, the heavier the air felt, as if the space itself resisted him. Standing at the base, he lifted his gaze and looked up. The hundred steps stretched endlessly upward, disappearing into a thin veil of mist.
He raised his hand and hovered it just above the first step.
Instantly, a crushing sensation pressed down on him, like gravity itself had doubled. It was not painful, but it was overwhelming, pushing against his hand. His breathing slowed as he felt the weight settle over him.
Lucius did not panic.
Placing his foot onto the first step, Lucius felt the weight increase slightly, but his posture remained steady. He continued to walk up the stairs slowly and steadily
He adjusted his stance, grounding himself, and let the pressure wash over him instead of resisting it. Qi stirred within his body, flowing naturally through his skin and muscles, reinforcing him from within. The pressure was strong, but it was not unfamiliar. He had endured far worse on battlefields soaked in blood and despair.
Behind him, the noise of strained breathing and quiet groans filled the air. Lucius climbed a few more steps before he noticed someone beside him.
The man was tall and broad-shouldered, with a solid muscular build. Unlike many others, his movements were steady and showed no visible sign of struggle. He climbed the stairs as if the crushing pressure barely existed.
Lucius slowed slightly, walking alongside him. He realized this guy reminded of his best friend, who was the tank of the party.
After a brief glance, Lucius spoke. "You don't seem to be struggling."
Lucius thought since the man had such muscular build, his overall strength combined with Qi would make this exam easy.
He could only sigh inwardly, because he worked hard in his last life along with his friend who egged him on to train and exercise his body frequently.
The man let out a short breath that almost sounded like a laugh.
"It's heavy," he said, "but I've felt worse."
"Are you a martial artist?" Lucian asked.
The man nodded. "Yes. I've trained since I was young. My body is used to pressure like this."
"I see," Lucius replied. "My name is Lucius."
The man turned his head slightly and gave a firm nod without breaking his rhythm. The two of them continued walking up the stairs as if it were a normal stroll. "Damion," he said.
They climbed together, step by step, while the pressure grew heavier as the stairs rose higher.
Lucius glanced back and noticed Raveena only a few steps behind them. Compared to the other participants, she was not struggling much. She had taken Lucius's advice seriously, moving slowly and allowing her body time to adjust to the pressure.
Damion glanced at him. "You don't seem to be struggling like the rest. Are you a martial artist too?"
Lucius shook his head lightly. "No. I use the sword."
Damion raised an eyebrow. "A swordsman, then?"
"Yes," Lucius said. "But I have a close friend who fights with his body. We sparred often, so I learned enough martial arts from him."
Damion gave a small grin. "Then you're not bad at hand-to-hand combat."
"I'd say I'm decent," Lucius replied honestly.
As they climbed, Lucius felt the pressure grow heavier. The weight pressed against his shoulders and spine, sinking deeper into his muscles. With each step, it became harder to move freely.
That was when a familiar thought surfaced in Lucius's mind.
This pressure… it's not so different.
During his battles against demons, he had often fought while injured, exhausted, or crushed beneath overwhelming force. Back then, he had learned to reinforce his body with mana, coating his flesh to keep moving when it should have failed.
Qi could do the same.
Lucius slowed his breathing and focused inward. He guided qi from his body, spreading it outward through his muscles and skin. Instead of forcing it, he let it settle naturally, wrapping his body like a second layer beneath his flesh. The qi flowed along his arms, down his legs, and across his back, strengthening every movement.
Instantly, Lucius felt the pressure around him fade. Or rather, the pressure was still there, but his body no longer felt weighed down by it. He had reinforced himself from the outside.
The qi around him formed a thin shell, wrapping his body in a steady layer of strength. With that protection in place, the pressure was no longer strong enough to press him down.