Sara Desert of the North-East Zone.

Zhao Luo with Si Chen and Rose were on their way to the Xin Mountain Range, being led by Si Chen.

They were sitting on top of Bimba the leader of the sand lion head that Zhao Luo, Si Chen, and Rose had defeated previously.

Now Bimba acted as their transport through the desert.

It was a very comfortable trip as Zhao Luo's new pet was very fast and his posture while running through the desert was amazingly balanced so his back felt like the seat of a luxury sofa chair. Except the chair was only missing its handle.

As their effortless journey towards the Xin Range had started, Rose and Si Chen took turns in explaining the condition of the World to Zhao Luo.

Zhao Luo was completely astonished after learning the state of the Current World.

The new World was a combination of two Worlds.

One was the World from which he was from and the other was the World which joined with theirs through the gates of dimensions.

'People of the Earth called it Cracks.'

Then a trial was left by the voice of a certain diety which had to be completed by the people of Earth to survive in this new World.

'Climbing the stairs.'

Then the ones who had survived had entered the society of the people of the other World that is the people of the Mountain ranges.

From the people of the Earth, intel about their World was acquired. One of which was very heart throbbing for Zhao Luo.

'So I have been sleeping for more than a century. Goddammit.'

Zhao Luo thought. Then he felt a little sad.

'Takuma may as well be dead now. Sigh. If only he saw me now, he would be going crazy over his research success.'

Zhao Luo thought about the man who was the reason behind Zhao Luo's long sleep.

'Just how did I pass the trial without climbing the stairs?'

Zhao Luo questioned himself.

Rose continued explaining the current situation of the World to Zhao Luo.

"Since the two worlds had joined, a new era had begun."

Rose told Zhao Luo about how it was the 10th year of the New Era now.

Zhao Luo was thinking about the World he used to travel and now it was completely changed while he was sleeping. 

As they were moving closer to the Xin Range, they could see fog covering an area miles away from the mountains of the Xin Range.

"Remember till we reach the central mountain, don't fight with anyone."

Si Chen warned Zhao Luo as they would be reaching the entry mountain soon.

"Why would I even fight someone?"

Zhao Luo thought about how Si Chen's advice was unnecessary.

'Do I look like a dog going around biting anyone I see?'

Zhao Luo questioned in his mind. He couldn't ask it directly as Rose was there too.

"There may be some things that you may find hard to accept. Even though you may want to take action against it, just try to control your emotions then."

Si Chen explained a little but Zhao Luo was still confused.

"Whatever, you will know soon, just remember to control your actions."

Si Chen said to Zhao Luo seeing the confusion on his face.

Rose also looked at Zhao Luo and thought about something.

"Do you have any interest in joining a sect?"

Rose asked Zhao Luo. She continued before Zhao Luo could even answer her question.

"With your strength, you can easily pass the Xin Sect entrance examination set by the Sect elder."

Rose explained to Zhao Luo.

"It will be beneficial to you if you join the sect and we will help you too."

Rose then pointed at Si Chen and herself.

Zhao Luo listened to Rose and thought about joining the Xin Sect for a while.

"I will tell you my decision after we enter the Xin Range."

Zhao Luo answered while smiling. He thought about how this encounter with this duo was greatly helpful for him.

They had brought Zhao Luo along with them and the three also fought the beasts together.

They already shared a little bond of comradeship. 

Now the girl with the beautiful eyes and a veil covering her even more beautiful face was telling him to consider joining the Xin Sect for his benefit.

He felt happy knowing that he already met someone who was caring for him and being his guide.

'I miss you, master.'

Zhao Luo thought about his master. He couldn't help but remember the old man who he had met in his mind and was guided by the old man for such a long time.

The old man wasn't here yet he still had Si Chen and Rose with him. 

While Zhao Luo was thinking about the old man and how he wasn't lonely because of his new companions, they had entered the fog surrounding the Xin Range.

He could somewhat see a very big mountain in from of him. 

"That is the entry mountain of our Xin Mountain Range."

Si Chen told Zhao Luo.

He was from the Xin Range and he felt proud about that.

'Nod'

Zhao Luo nodded and focused in front of him. With Bimba's speed, it only took them a few minutes to reach the base of the entry mountain.

Si Chen and Rose jumped down from Bimba's back and looked at Zhao Luo.

"Well let's go."

Si Chen said to Zhao Luo as Zhao Luo was still mounted on Bimba.

Zhao Luo looked at the stairs of the entry mountain. 

He kept on looking and the stairs never ended even as they a cloud could be seen covering the highest visible stairs.

He looked at Rose and said.

"It looks like more than a hundred thousand stairs are leading up there."

Zhao Luo said while smiling weirdly. Just thinking about climbing that many were giving an ache in his legs.

"Yes to be accurate, the number of stairs is 999,999."

As Zhao Luo was hearing the number of stairs from Rose, he was baffled.

'Nine, nine nine nine nine-"

His head started spinning and he looked towards the leading stairs again.

"Can't we take Bimba with us?"

He meant to ask if they could ride Bimba up there.

"No, beasts aren't allowed if you don't have permission from the Sect Bureau."

Si Chen answered but then he looked at Rose. Rose knew what this look meant.

"Sorry I can not help you with this."

Rose already declined without even listening to what Si Chen had to say.

Zhao Luo could understand a little as Rose was using a nickname.

He already got to know about how Rose was from the Royal family and why she was using a nickname instead of her elegant name from Si Chen.

'Sigh, guess I will exercise a little.'

Zhao Luo thought.

He dismounted from Bimba by jumping from his back and landing between Si Chen and Rose.

Zhao Luo went over to the stairs and right after climbing on the first one, he looked at Rose and Si Chen who were right next to him, and said,

"Why don't we race to see who reaches the top first?"

Zhao Luo pointed upwards where the stairs were leading right towards the clouds.

"How childish."

Si Chen commented as he would lose.

Even though his wound had already been somewhat treated, the pain was still there.

"The losers will do one thing told by the winner."

Rose added.

Zhao Luo looked forward and started running up the stairs. 

Rose followed him with Si Chen screaming behind them.

"Hey, that's cheating."

"Wait for me"

"At least let me get ahead first."

"Bastards"

Si Chen ran as fast as he could.

With Zhao Luo being in the lead they kept on climbing the stairs for hours.

Finally, the cloud which was covering the stairs that Zhao Luo had seen while being on the ground was in sight.

Even though it felt close, it was still many many stairs away from them.

"Hah"

"Hah"

"Hah I said wait for me."

Si Chen was breathing heavily. He was right behind Rose but because of the pain in his legs, he couldn't keep up with them anymore.

Rose looked at Si Chen and thought about turning around to help him.

'Ah I will lose like this but if I don't help he may fall.'

But before she could even turn around while thinking, Zhao Luo had already passed her.

Si Chen almost lost his balance as he had lost a lot of blood before and all this running caused him to be short on breath. 

Above all the pressure because of the height they were at, all factors included caused him to faint.

But before he could faint he felt a strong grip on his shoulder that caused his eyes to open widely.

"You didn't have to."

Si Chen said to Zhao Luo.

'So he would lose a request from a member of the royal family for some guy he met not too long ago.'

Si Chen thought about how Zhao Luo came for him. 

His eyes moved towards Rose and saw her stopped there too. 

'I am trash for thinking badly about them.'

"Ahh."

While he was thinking Zhao Luo pulled him in his arms and picked him up so fast that he could react and instead cried unconsciously.

Rose had also started running again.

Zhao Luo with Si Chen in his arms was following her closely.

Even with the embarrassed Si Chen in his arms, his speed wasn't any slower than before.

Soon they entered through the cloud and after passing the cloud which was covering their sight, Zhao Luo saw that they had only covered half stairs till yet.

'Ha, I am just getting started too.'

So the race between Zhao Luo and Rose on who will reach the top first continued.