Chapter 152 (2/2): Climbing the Heavenly Stairs, Succeeding as the Grand Elder

The Second Elder’s grand voice spread through the entire small world.

Countless people held their breath and concentrated, silently gazing at the peerless girl in front of them. Her dress, woven with countless gold threads, was lifelike, and the nine golden dragons upon it seemed as if they had truly come to life, ready to soar into the clouds and roar at the sky in the next moment.

Everyone was remembering this moment.

This was a shift in power sufficient to influence the historical course of the entire world.

The girl’s bright and city-toppling face, originally soft in its features, appeared somewhat assertive against the backdrop of the golden dragon phantoms.

There was nothing wrong with being assertive.

Youth should be unrestrained, should be bold, and should display its own elegance.

No one could forget this scene.

The smile on the girl’s lips and the brilliance about to burst from her eyes were like flames ready to look down upon the world, burning continuously in everyone’s hearts.

Someone stared blankly. “The world knows that this generation of the Su family has a little phoenix. In my view—this is a true Divine Dragon. Once she takes flight, she will suppress an entire era.”

“The word ‘phoenix’ is an understatement.”

Countless people were waiting for the girl to walk toward the sea of clouds, waiting for her to step up the stairs that had no visible end, moving step by step toward the highest seat representing power.

She did not take a step forward; instead, she made a decision that was inconceivable to everyone.

Her figure, which had been facing away from the crowd, slowly turned around.

The girl moved toward the sea of people. Her steps were light, yet they felt as heavy as a thousand pounds. Each time a light step fell, a heavy echo landed in everyone’s hearts.

I watched Su Liumeng approach me step by step.

People were widening their eyes, guessing what shocking thing this newly appointed Grand Elder was about to do.

Su Liumeng slowly stopped her pace, halting before another girl of equally peerless beauty, and slowly reached out her right hand toward her.

This was—

Was she inviting her Dao companion to climb the Heavenly Stairs with her?

Some people were already shocked into silence by this bold move.

“This humble girl is untalented, and I wonder if I might have the honor of inviting my beauty to climb the Heavenly Stairs together.” Su Liumeng smiled charmingly.

My smile was becoming hard to suppress, and my heart felt warm.

An uncontrollable emotion surged in my chest, making my head spin with a bit of dizziness.

I had already assumed I would be like everyone else, acting as a background character, silently watching today’s protagonist, Su Liumeng, complete the entire ceremony.

I never expected that Su Liumeng would perform such a rebellious act, inviting me to climb the Heavenly Stairs with her on this day, the most important day of her life.

This was no longer just departing from tradition; it was forging a new path.

In the entire history of the Su family, there had never been anyone like Su Liumeng who, at their most important succession ceremony, invited their Dao companion to complete the ritual together.

“As you wish.”

My red lips parted slightly. Under the shocked gazes of countless people, I slowly placed my fair hand upon hers.

Elegant and confident.

There wasn’t a single flaw to be found.

Su Liumeng had given me face; naturally, I couldn’t embarrass her.

The entire Su family procession suddenly became a bit noisy.

Someone was about to speak out to berate Su Liumeng for this bold behavior.

How could you bring your Dao companion up there too?

In the next second, an aged voice spread through the entire square.

“Rules are made by people. She is now the Grand Elder; naturally, she has the qualification to make the rules.”

It was the voice of the former Grand Elder.

Countless people silently lowered their heads.

The old man’s prestige remained, and no one dared to raise a dissenting voice.

Someone instinctively looked toward the middle-aged “scholar” at the very top of the crowd.

The Head of the Su family was resting with his eyes closed, as if the matter had nothing to do with him.

This was already the best form of tacit approval.

Su Liumeng gave a light laugh, the confidence in her eyes infectious.

I admitted it.

She was just such a charismatic person.

Like the protagonist of the entire world, she could always influence others with her unique charisma, and always made others feel ashamed of their own inferiority in the face of her peerless grace.

Being born in the same era as her was already a desperate thing.

“I said it before.”

“My success cannot be separated from you.”

“You deserve to stand on the throne of power with me and receive the worship of all living beings together.”

“To hold your hand and grow old together.”

“The oaths I swore in the past—how could I forget them?”

Her words were like the tolling of a great bell, echoing continuously in my mind.

Before I could react, Su Liumeng led me by the hand toward the Heavenly Stairs.

Si Zhiruo also jumped up. “I want to go too, I want to go too! Take me with you!”

One Dao companion had already been added, and the rules were completely broken.

Now, no one would care if one more little dumpling was added.

My gaze was complex as I looked at the place where the girl held my hand.

Warmth was flowing through my heart.

It seemed as if another reason for my existence had appeared in my blood.

Back then, I hadn’t fully taken her words seriously, yet she truly kept them in her heart and had been acting on them all along.

Everyone swears oaths when they marry.

How many people can remember them for a lifetime and truly practice them?

To hold your hand and grow old together.

Sharing honor and disgrace, never abandoning in life or death.

These two short sentences—some never speak them lightly, but once they are said, they are practiced for a lifetime.

While many more people just follow the ritual and say them casually.

I looked at Su Liumeng’s figure, and a hint of self-mockery suddenly appeared in my eyes.

Silly girl.

If she isn’t a fool, then what is she?

She clearly knew from the beginning that my initial approach was to use her.

How could someone not care about the motive at all and instead choose to move me with their own way?

Love never has a progress bar.

At this moment, a person with such a strong personality as mine actually felt somewhat willing to admit I had been won over by Su Liumeng.

I don’t really like to talk.

But.

If it were her, I would be willing to give everything.

Love has its order of arrival.

Late-arriving love can still be intense.

Even more fiery.

Rumble—

The massive dragon shadows of nine true dragons suddenly appeared.

They appeared at the very bottom of the Heavenly Stairs. From a distance, it looked more like stepping on true dragons to ascend to the heavens.

Su Liumeng was not just a true dragon; she was the Lord of True Dragons.

Born with the nine-dragon bloodline, all nine were at the ultimate level.

This was an unprecedented achievement.

Even the most powerful true dragons of legend could only be stepped under her feet now, becoming the stepping stones for her to reach the absolute peak.

Some were dazed, unable to understand this scene.

This was a scene that had never appeared in previous Grand Elder succession ceremonies.

At most, the nine dragons would encircle the body; how could they be willing to act as stepping stones for the path ahead?

This was simply too inconceivable.

Only Su Qinghe’s eyes were clear. “What is meant to appear will eventually appear after all.”

“I wonder how much longer it can be hidden.”

“A dragon trapped in the shallows is still a true dragon.”

“How could it be as dim as a firefly?”

I held my daughter’s hand with my left and Su Liumeng’s with my right, walking steadily step by step.

Invisible energy continuously expanded, nourishing my broken body. This was the True Dragon power of Su Liumeng’s complete eruption.

It was the result of her bloodline, which was comparable to the Extreme Yang Physique, undergoing Yin-Yang reversal.

Since performing dual cultivation with her, the feedback that had shown a hint of a sign last time was uncontrollably manifesting its power again today.

I subconsciously wanted to interrupt this reversal.

Because I was worried it would damage Su Liumeng’s foundation.

She, however, gripped my hand a bit tighter.

“It will be fine. Today is the day my bloodline fully awakens.”

I watched as a mark slowly emerged on her forehead.

It wasn’t a mark belonging to a Dao companion, but rather looked more like nine dragons intertwining with each other.

This was—

My pupils shrank as I looked at the True Dragon phantoms submitting below, deep in thought.

“Mama, that is the Dragon Lord Mark. Su Liumeng has become the Lord of True Dragons.”

“The accumulated ancient aura has reappeared; of course, it can also provide you with some feedback.”

The process of climbing the Heavenly Stairs continued.

I looked at my own fair palm; my shackled meridians were functioning again, and even more smoothly than before.

I—

I can practice cultivation again?

There were ninety-nine thousand steps on the Heavenly Stairs.

The crowd of observers gazed at the girl above, who was leading her Dao companion and daughter, walking step by step toward the highest point.

A white-haired old man had already been waiting at the finish line for a long time.

Seeing the girl’s arrival, he slowly held out a seal symbolizing power.

Countless people held their breath, seemingly wanting to remember this scene that witnessed history.

The girl’s black hair flew in the wind.

At the same time she gripped the seal, she swept her golden robe and brought her Dao companion—

Her wife and her daughter—to sit together upon the throne at the highest point. Facing the life below, the natural majesty in her eyes was like an innate aura of dominance.

At this moment, she was like a true sovereign.