2273 Dao Heart Stairs Su Zimo turned around slowly and looked in the direction of Perfected Immortal Jade Toad. A mocking look flashed through his eyes as he asked loudly, “I’ve just joined the inner sect and have never met you before, Senior Brother Jade Toad. How did you know that I’m from the lower worlds?” Although Su Zimo had no intention of leaving, he was not reckless enough to confront or fight Perfected Immortal Jade Toad directly. He was only a Grade 1 Heaven Immortal and could be killed by a single finger of a Perfected Immortal. There were rules in Heaven and Earth Academy. Even Perfected Immortal disciples could not attack their fellow sect mates casually after a casual conversation or verbal conflict at the cultivation ground! If Su Zimo were to attack rashly and give Perfected Immortal Jade Toad a chance to retaliate, he would truly have a death wish. Perfected Immortal Jade Toad knew that his statement earlier on revealed an opening but he was not bothered. This was merely a Grade 1 Heaven Immortal who had just joined the inner sect. Even if he was the top of the Earth Ranking, Perfected Immortal Jade Toad did not take him seriously. “I’m asking you if you’re indignant!” Perfected Immortal Jade Toad did not reply to Su Zimo’s question at all. He merely glared at Su Zimo with a burning gaze and asked word by word. Every single word caused the void to tremble and a might surged towards Su Zimo like a tsunami! Everyone could tell that Perfected Immortal Jade Toad was truly enraged by Su Zimo’s rebuttal! At that moment, Su Zimo was not only enduring the pressure of the tens of thousands of Heaven Immortals on the cultivation ground, but also the wrath of Perfected Immortal Jade Toad! “Zimo, let’s just go.” Elder Zhong whispered with a pale face. Although he was an inner sect elder, he had to bow down in front of legacy disciples and did not dare to go against them. “Yes, I’m indignant.” Su Zimo had a fearless expression as he met Perfected Immortal Jade Toad’s gaze and asked indifferently, “Senior Brother Jade Toad, are you going to attack and suppress me?” Private fights were not allowed in Heaven and Earth Academy. No matter who it was, they would have to fight on the Sword Discourse Arena! As a legacy disciple, if Perfected Immortal Jade Toad were to attack Su Zimo on the Sword Discourse Arena, he would be the one embarrassed instead. It was like an adult taking the initiative to challenge a three-year-old child. If he were to announce it smugly in public, it would only attract ridicule from others. Su Zimo was certain that Perfected Immortal Jade Toad could not afford to lose face like this! Indeed, Perfected Immortal Jade Toad suddenly laughed and retracted his terrifying might. “My cultivation realm is far superior to yours. If I attack you, you’ll be even more indignant and others will say that I’m bullying the weak.” “What I mentioned earlier on involved the Dao Heart. The strength of one’s Dao Heart has nothing to do with their cultivation realm. Since you’re indignant, follow me to the Dao Heart Stairs.” “Dao Heart Stairs?” Su Zimo frowned slightly. He had just joined the inner sect and had not heard of the Dao Heart Stairs. When Elder Zhong saw Su Zimo’s puzzled expression, he explained softly, “The Dao Heart Stairs is an extremely special cultivation ground in the academy and can only be used to cleanse one’s Dao Heart.” “There are a total of nine steps to the Dao Heart Stairs. Every single stone step was left behind by the strongest person in the history of the academy with a strong Dao Heart. The strong Dao Hearts caused the world to tremble, resonating across the Great Dao so that they could be formed with supreme wills!” Su Zimo asked, “Does that mean that the nine stone steps are not corporeal?” “That’s right.” Elder Zhong said, “Although they are incorporeal, every single step truly exists.” “Everyone who steps onto the Dao Heart Stairs has to endure the supreme will left behind by the owner of the stone step. If their Dao Hearts can’t withstand it, they will fall from above.” “One can only ascend to the second stone step after withstanding the impact of the first stone step’s Dao Heart. Every year, cultivators will head there to baptize and temper their Dao Hearts, attempting to ascend higher stone steps.” Su Zimo understood. In other words, the stronger one’s Dao Heart was, the higher they would climb the Dao Heart Stairs! The strength of one’s Dao Heart had nothing to do with their cultivation realm. It depended on whether their Dao Heart was resolute and how much temptation they could withstand. Birth, aging, illness and death, the seven emotions and six desires… each of them was a form of tempering for one’s Dao Heart. No matter how high one’s cultivation realm was, it was difficult for them to break free from those attachments. Su Zimo asked again, “How many people in Heaven and Earth Academy can reach the ninth step?” “How many people?” Elder Zhong was shocked. “Hahahaha!” “Indeed, those who ascended from the lower worlds know nothing. They’re just frogs in a well.” “The ignorant are truly fearless!” Many Heaven Immortals burst into laughter when they heard Su Zimo’s question. In the crowd, Yan Bingying could not help but laugh. “Senior Brother Qingyun, Su Zimo is bound to lose.” “He won’t just merely lose!” Fang Qingyun shook his head gently. “If his Dao Heart collapses and he can’t cultivate in the future, that can console Junior Brother Pang Yu’s spirit in heaven.” “How should we achieve that?” Tang Peng asked. Fang Qingyun smiled indifferently. “That will depend on Senior Brother Jade Toad’s capabilities.” Elder Zhong pulled up his sleeves and wiped his sweat. “Every level of the Dao Heart Staircase is not an ordinary stone step. It’s not that easy. From what I know, apart from the Sect Master, no one in the academy can ascend to the ninth step.” “It’s already not bad if you can reach the second step, let alone the ninth.” ... “Most disciples of the academy, legacy disciples included, have difficulty surpassing the third step.” At that point, Su Zimo understood why the surrounding Heaven Immortals laughed. Perfected Immortal Jade Toad’s suggestion was rather fair. However, since he dared to make this suggestion, he definitely had immense confidence in himself. However, Su Zimo had never ascended the Dao Heart Stairs before and had no experience. Naturally, he could not compare to Perfected Immortal Jade Toad in this aspect. “Su Zimo, do you dare?” A mocking look appeared on Perfected Immortal Jade Toad’s face. “If you don’t dare, apologize to me respectfully here and get lost. Don’t let me see you again!” “Cut the crap. Lead the way.” Su Zimo replied indifferently. Elder Zhong was about to stop him when it was too late. He sighed internally and pondered for a moment before sending a voice transmission with his spirit consciousness, “Su Zimo, that’s good as well. There’s no harm in you agreeing to it. However, don’t force yourself on the Dao Heart Stairs. If you can’t hold on, retreat immediately and you won’t be injured.” ... “Su Zimo, you’re way too sharp.” Elder Zhong lamented, “If you want to survive in the upper world, there are times when you have to endure. Just like earlier on, we were scolded and embarrassed. It’s nothing much and we didn’t lose anything. We can just leave directly. There’s no need to act rashly.” “Elder, you’re right.” Su Zimo did not refute and merely smiled. “We merely seek different Daos.” There were countless cultivators and all of them sought different Daos. Perhaps the Dao of some people was to restrain themselves and be careful. If they were told to scram, they would. If they were told to kneel, they would. There was nothing wrong or superior about the Dao that these people sought. However, those were not the Daos of Su Zimo or Desolate Martial! The moment Su Zimo entered the cultivation world, he wanted to fight against the heavens, exact revenge and repay gratitude as he pleased! It was better to live a spectacular life than to live an ignoble existence! What was the point of seeking longevity if he merely wanted to lead an ignoble life? 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦 If not for his Dao Heart and persistence, he would not have been able to reach this point! Without such a Dao Heart, he would not have dared to accept the challenge and ascend the Dao Heart Stairs with Perfected Immortal Jade Toad!