The moment Ethan placed his foot on the 20th step, the change was immediate and brutal.
The pressure that had been steadily increasing on his Spirit suddenly doubled.
It was no longer a gradual burden that could be ignored with sheer willpower. This time, the weight crashed down on his Spirit like an invisible mountain, forcing Ethan to halt his advance instantly. His body trembled slightly, not from physical strain, but from the oppressive force pressing directly against his consciousness.
Earlier, the pressure had been mild—almost negligible. It felt like walking against a gentle current in a shallow stream. But now, it was as though the stream had suddenly transformed into a raging river, threatening to sweep him away at any moment.
Ethan clenched his fists tightly.
"So this is where it truly begins…" he muttered under his breath.
He remained standing on the 20th step, unwilling to take even a half-step forward. The pressure was not unbearable yet, but it was heavy enough to make him understand one thing very clearly—recklessness here would mean death.
Earlier, Ethan had already deactivated Heavenly Gaze.
Despite the recent improvement in his Spirit, he knew all too well that Heavenly Gaze consumed an enormous amount of Spirit Energy. Using it continuously would only accelerate his exhaustion. And now, with his Spirit already being oppressed by this mysterious force, activating Heavenly Gaze again would be nothing short of suicidal.
For the first time since entering the mansion, Ethan was truly on his own.
No enhanced vision.
No hidden assistance.
Only his Spirit, his willpower, and his judgment.
Ethan stood there silently, sweat slowly forming on his forehead. He did not rush. He did not panic. Years of gaming experience—and the brutal reality of this cultivation world—had taught him an important lesson: haste was the fastest path to death.
He took a slow breath.
Then another.
"I can't force my way through this," he thought. "If I do, I'll die."
Despite the cruelty of the trials so far, Ethan refused to believe that the Soul God was heartless enough to design a test that guaranteed death for every challenger. There had to be a method. A hidden logic. A way to adapt rather than resist.
This was not a test of brute strength.
It was something else.
Just as he was deep in thought, a familiar system notification appeared before his eyes.
[Detected: Spirit Energy Pressure]
[This pressure is extremely beneficial for increasing the User's Cultivation Spirit]
[User is advised to remain patient and absorb the Cultivation Spirit Energy]
[Doing so will enhance both Heaven Cultivation Spirit and Spirit Cultivation Spirit]
Ethan's eyes widened slightly.
For a split second, disbelief flashed across his face. Then, it was replaced by relief—and finally, excitement.
"So that's how it is…" he murmured.
Just moments ago, he had been standing at the edge of despair. He had even briefly considered abandoning the mission entirely. After all, no treasure was worth dying for. With the System by his side, he could grow stronger over time. Given enough missions, enough experience, and enough patience, becoming a powerhouse was only a matter of time.
But now…
Now he understood.
This staircase was not merely an obstacle.
It was an opportunity.
A rare one.
The System's timely guidance instantly reignited Ethan's confidence. His heart, which had been wavering just moments ago, stabilized. Instead of resisting the pressure, he now understood that he needed to accept it.
Without hesitation, Ethan sat down directly on the 20th step.
He crossed his legs, straightened his back, and closed his eyes.
The pressure on his Spirit did not vanish. If anything, it became more apparent the moment he stopped moving. But instead of pushing it away, Ethan followed the System's instructions and opened himself to it.
He began absorbing the Cultivation Spirit Energy embedded within the pressure.
At first, the sensation was strange.
The pressure felt sharp, almost abrasive, as though countless invisible needles were scraping against his Spirit. But as time passed, something remarkable happened—the sharpness dulled, and the oppressive weight slowly transformed into a steady, controlled force.
Minute by minute, Ethan could feel his Spirit adapting.
Strengthening.
Evolving.
Ten minutes passed in what felt like mere seconds.
Gradually, the pressure that had once forced him to stop completely began to fade.
When Ethan finally opened his eyes, he let out a slow breath filled with relief.
"I made it…"
At that exact moment, the System confirmed his progress.
[The User has trained under Spirit Cultivation Pressure]
[Heaven Cultivation Spirit increased by +0.1]
[Current Heaven Cultivation Spirit: 5.1]
[The User has trained under Spirit Cultivation Pressure]
[Spirit Cultivation Spirit increased by +0.1]
[Current Spirit Cultivation Spirit: 5.1]
Ethan stared at the notifications with undisguised excitement.
Just ten minutes.
That was all it took.
Not only had the pressure disappeared completely, but both of his Cultivation Spirits had improved. This was no ordinary training environment. Even Spirit Stones or low-grade Spirit Pools would struggle to produce such results in such a short time.
"This place is insane…" Ethan muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.
After allowing himself a brief moment of satisfaction, Ethan quickly calmed down. He knew better than to get carried away. The staircase was far from over, and he had already learned one important lesson—every milestone would be more dangerous than the last.
Rising to his feet, Ethan cautiously resumed his ascent.
For a while, the steps felt almost normal.
The pressure returned gradually, just as before, increasing little by little with each step. But compared to what he had experienced on the 20th step, it was negligible. Ethan advanced steadily, conserving his energy and maintaining a calm state of mind.
Twenty-first step.
Twenty-fifth.
Twenty-ninth.
Then—
The moment he placed his foot on the 30th step, his body stiffened.
The pressure surged violently.
This time, it wasn't merely doubled—it was three times stronger than before.
Ethan groaned softly as the weight slammed into his Spirit. His knees bent slightly, and sweat poured down his face almost instantly. His breathing grew heavy, and a sharp ache formed behind his eyes.
"So this is the next threshold…" he muttered through clenched teeth.
Without hesitation, Ethan sat down again.
If he had not trained at the 20th step earlier, he was certain he would have collapsed instantly upon stepping onto the 30th. The realization sent a chill down his spine.
Once again, he entered meditation.
This time, the process was far more difficult.
The pressure resisted him fiercely, as though testing whether he truly deserved to proceed further. Every breath felt heavy. Every attempt to absorb the Spirit Energy felt like trying to drink water while being crushed underwater.
Time stretched painfully.
Ten minutes passed.
Then fifteen.
Finally, after twenty full minutes, Ethan opened his eyes.
He felt exhausted—but stable.
The pressure no longer threatened to crush his Spirit.
And once again, the System acknowledged his progress.
[The User has trained under Spirit Cultivation Pressure]
[Heaven Cultivation Spirit increased by +0.3]
[Current Heaven Cultivation Spirit: 5.4]
[The User has trained under Spirit Cultivation Pressure]
[Spirit Cultivation Spirit increased by +0.3]
[Current Spirit Cultivation Spirit: 5.4]
Ethan exhaled deeply, his heart pounding with excitement.
"So that's the pattern…"
For every ten steps, the pressure didn't just increase—it multiplied.
As for the steps in between, they applied gradual pressure meant to prepare the cultivator for the next threshold.
Understanding this, Ethan continued upward with renewed clarity.
He advanced carefully.
Thirty-first.
Thirty-fifth.
Thirty-ninth.
Then he stopped.
The 40th step loomed before him.
Ethan stared at it for several seconds, mentally preparing himself. When he finally stepped onto it, the familiar crushing pressure returned.
Once again, he sat down.
Once again, he trained.
The cycle repeated.
At the 50th step, his body trembled uncontrollably before he forced himself into meditation.
At the 60th step, even sitting down felt like a monumental struggle.
At the 70th step, his eyes turned bloodshot, and a dull pain pulsed through his head like a hammer.
At the 80th step, he screamed in agony, veins bulging as streaks of blood seeped from the corners of his eyes.
Yet—he endured.
By the 90th step, his mind was nearly numb.
At this point, only the System's assistance kept him from collapsing completely. True to its promise, the System alleviated a portion of the pressure—just enough to keep Ethan alive. This was a V-Rank mission, after all. The System would help, but it would not carry him through.
Finally, after absorbing the Spirit Energy on the 90th step, Ethan forced himself to stand.
His vision blurred.
His limbs felt heavy.
But he took a step forward regardless.
"Only ten more…" he whispered.
Only ten more steps separated him from the first floor.
Only ten more steps stood between him and the Soul God's Inheritance.