Heavens' Laughter

"Sorryyy~ everyooone forrr the waiiit! I had to giiive ya all a break... jusss kiddin', I wazz takin' a piiisss! Nowww, it's tiiiime for the fiiinal trialll, where afterrr, theee instrucctiooons willll pickkk whooo theywannna teachhh!"

The Trial Overseer emerged once more, a full bottle of alcohol in hand, the sharp scent of it still lingering in the air as he took another swig.

His steps were steady, though his movements had a slight edge to them.

The instructors stood silently behind the Trial Overseer, their faces grim and unreadable.

Each one wore a serious expression, their postures rigid and controlled. After all, they were the best of the best for teaching young ones.

Of course, the Trial Overseer gave no time for anyone to process his slurred words.

Without warning, he pulled the bottle away from his lips, and in a single, careless motion, the contents spilled, splashing onto the ground.

"I'llll seeee youuu kidddooos thereee~"

▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

Suddenly…

Everyone present found themselves standing upon a soft, drifting cloud.

Before them loomed a colossal, cloud-stone staircase that stretched upward, its steps wide and long, vanishing into the endless expanse above.

The staircase seemed to ascend infinitely, disappearing into a realm beyond sight, as though it were a path leading toward something far greater than what the eye could comprehend.

"Listen up, kiddos... hic... the higher ya go... the tougher it's gonna get... hic the pressure... it's gonna crush ya if ya ain't ready... but don't back down, no no... the higher ya gooo, the betterrr! It's a test of yer mental strength, yer will to... pushhh forward, no matter how muchhh it hurts, ya feel me?"

The Trial Overseer took another swig, his throat working as he gulped the alcohol down in one long, steady motion.

As the last drop disappeared, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and, without missing a beat, continued speaking:

"The instructors, they'll be watchin', an' they'll pick who they wanna... teach, based on whatcha show 'em. Soooo... get movin'! Show 'em whatcha gottt!"

Immediately, many participants surged toward the stairs, racing up them without a second thought.

They showed no regard for anything except reaching the top.

Some participants shoved others aside, pushing their way through with brute force, while others dragged people down, throwing them off the steps in a frantic bid to gain an advantage.

Watching this, Feng Shen let out a weary sigh.

"Are they all stupid?" He muttered.

Feng Shen couldn't quite understand why they were acting this way—after all, it wasn't a race.

But, as he observed the frantic scramble, he found himself oddly indifferent.

In fact, Feng Shen welcomed it.

There was something satisfying about seeing the darker nature of these participants surface so quickly.

It was good to see that beneath their facades, some of them were already showing their true colors.

"Oh my~ it seems everyone has left us behind…" Yùn Yì remarked with a light laugh, casting a quick glance at the Second Young Master.

She was no longer down in the gutters; instead, a renewed determination radiated from her.

Yùn Yì had steeled herself for the final trial, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

After all… She needed to secure a place in the same class as the Second Young Master.

"Should we get moving, Master?" Cai Xiu asked, her gaze fixed on the steps ahead. Her tone was steady, yet there was a quiet urgency behind it.

She was ready to take action, fully aware that the instructors were watching every participant closely.

Cai Xiu had no intention of showing any weakness, not in front of the others—and especially not in front of her Master.

Feng Shen waved his hand dismissively, a languid yawn escaping his lips as he stretched his arms above his head:

"Yeah, yeah, go on ahead. I need to stretch a little."

Feng Shen's golden eyes briefly flickered to the steps before turning away.

He could tell that the trial wasn't going to be one that required his constant supervision.

There was no immediate threat to his personal servant or little maid's lives, no peril that demanded Feng Shen's attention.

Plus, this wasn't the kind of trial that called for his intervention.

And in truth, there was little Feng Shen could do to influence the outcome here.

Both Yùn Yì and Cai Xiu nodded obediently, without a hint of hesitation or question in their actions.

They knew better than to challenge his words.

Yùn Yì and Cai Xiu understood their roles well enough to follow without protest.

With synchronized movements, they turned toward the steps as they began their ascent.

'Good… Now I can have some peace and quiet,' Feng Shen thought to himself, a rare moment of contentment washing over him.

He preferred solitude when it came to the social aspect of life.

People were an annoyance to Feng Shen—constant noise, constant chatter, constant distractions.

Yet, he tolerated it, understanding the necessity of interactions in the long run.

Feng Shen had grown used to putting up with others, even if it grated on his nerves.

But now, with his personal servant and little maid moving ahead, he finally had the space he craved.

As the minutes ticked by and everyone else continued to ascend the steps…

Feng Shen glanced around, noting the shifting expressions of the participants and the watchful eyes of the instructors.

None of it concerned him.

"Well… I guess it's time to start moving…" Feng Shen told himself.

And so he started making his way toward the stairs.

The moment Feng Shen's foot touched the first step of the staircase, he felt nothing.

No surge of energy, no pressure pushing against him, nothing that would suggest the beginning of any sort of challenge.

Feng Shen continued walking, hands tucked behind his back in his usual relaxed posture.

As he climbed higher, reaching the 50th step…

Around Feng Shen, some participants had already begun to falter.

They were sprawled out on the steps, drenched in sweat, their bodies limp and defeated.

Their faces were contorted with strain, eyes wide and unfocused, as if the mental strain had been too much for them to bear.

They couldn't move, their limbs too heavy with fatigue, their wills shattered by the invisible force that grew stronger with every step they took.

'Weak.' Feng Shen passed them without a second glance, his expression as indifferent as ever.

To be honest, he had no idea how these weaklings, who couldn't even pass the 50th step, had made it this far into the trials.

Their inability to even endure the mental pressure of the stairs was laughable.

By the time Feng Shen reached the 100th step, he spotted familiar figures.

His personal servant and little maid were sitting down on the steps, their bodies weak and drained, unable to continue.

Their faces were pale, eyes glassy with exhaustion. They weakly turned their gaze toward him as he approached, their expressions a mixture of frustration and defeat.

"It's fine, it's fine. Don't talk. You made it farther than most." Feng Shen said, his voice casual, as he watched his personal servant and little maid's expressions.

Both Cai Xiu and Yùn Yì felt deep shame, as they had never anticipated that this trial would be so arduous.

However, the moment they reached the 20th step, everything began to unravel.

Their Sea of Consciousness trembled violently, sending sharp waves of pain through their minds.

Their bodies screamed for them to stop, as relentless headaches plagued them, making every movement feel like an insurmountable burden.

At that moment, Cai Xiu and Yùn Yì were so overwhelmed by the pain that they couldn't even force their mouths open.

On the other hand, Feng Shen didn't feel any of the mental fatigue that had clearly overwhelmed them, and a faint smirk tugged at the corners of his lips.

To him, so far, this trial was nothing.

"You both rest here. I'm going to keep going." Feng Shen's voice carried no hint of hesitation as he turned his back on his personal servant and little maid struggling figures behind him.

He didn't offer them any further encouragement; their weaknesses were theirs alone to bear.

And so, Feng Shen began ascending once more, his pace steady and unaffected.

As he climbed, he passed more defeated participants along the way—some lying on the steps, others slumped. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire

The further Feng Shen went, the more desolate the scene became.

Those who had once been confident now lay broken, their spirits crushed by the pressure.

Feng Shen reached the 110th step, then the 120th, and beyond.

The steps grew steeper with each passing level, but the discomfort was nothing more than a passing thought in his mind.

Feng Shen was used to pushing his body/mental past its limits.

At the 130th step, another participant—panting heavily—collapsed in front of him, blocking his path.

"Tsk~ so annoying." Feng Shen muttered, his expression twisting into one of irritation.

He didn't even break his stride as he lifted his foot and kicked the man off.

Without a second glance, Feng Shen continued upward, his pace undisturbed:

"These idiots are always in my way! I don't get it—why do these weaklings insist on blocking those who are stronger? It's like they have a death wish or something."