Up on the southern VIP terrace, Gu Changsheng watched Ye Xiao set a wooden school desk squarely across Step 998. Turning the final step of an immortal trial into a compulsory math and ethics checkpoint, Gu Changsheng thought, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter. That is definitely my eldest son.
THUD!
Right across the center of the 1,000th Step of the Heavenly Stairway Secret Realm, eleven-year-old Ye Xiao , at Rank 4 Peak. Set down his heavy walnut [Portable Headmaster’s Podium] directly in front of the shimmering golden exit portal!
To his left, ten-year-old Gu Nian , at Rank 4 Early, stood beside the chubby Black-Granite Stone Pony. Rolling up the sleeves of his yellow cartoon bunny apron and cracking his small knuckles with a series of thunderous POP-POP-POP sounds that echoed off the jade pillars.
To his right, eight-year-old Su Nuannuan , at Rank 4 Early. Held up her [Fused Pink Watering Can] in one hand and uncorked a small porcelain jar buzzing with twenty plum-sized Rank 4 Golden-Striped Itching Honey-Bees in the other.
And sitting right on top of the walnut podium’s side-shelf with her short legs swinging, seven-year-old Jiang Tuntun. At Rank 4 Mid, held her giant wooden soup spoon in one hand and [Dad’s Giant Fire-Slurping Bamboo Chopsticks] in the other. Licking the last drop of spicy ramen broth off her lips as she eyed the shiny spirit-steel belt buckles of the one thousand nineteen-year-old sect prodigies below!
