Alien Science Cultivation

Zhang Qiang was lost in thought when the captain's voice echoed again in his ears: "Xiaomei... you must be a person of great luck... you'll definitely have a chance to reach the summit. Keep going... Next up is a test of affinity for the ten elements: gold, wood, water, wind, fire, earth, lightning, ice, light, and darkness. After that, a test of strength. Don't worry, just climb the stairs with all your might. The last 66 steps are crucial. Last time, I only climbed 29. The higher you go, the stronger the gravity becomes... Let's go..." The three of them followed closely behind the captain and ascended the stairs. They climbed 500 steps in one go, seemingly unaffected except for fatigue. The captain glanced back and led the others onward. The higher they climbed, the fewer other cultivators there were on the stairs. It didn't take much to guess that more than half of the people had already been eliminated in the next few levels. Since the steps were built against the mountain, they twisted and turned. There were few other cultivators in sight. Another 500 steps, and the three of them remained unchanged, save for a touch more fatigue. "Xiaomei, you're a water elemental. You should take these 500 steps first..." "Okay..." Everyone's eyes fell on Xiaomei's feet. "Hmm... no reaction..." Zhang Qiang asked, puzzled. "Hehe... a reaction on the first step is a once-in-a-millennium feat. Elemental affinity... keep going... Xiaomei," the captain explained. Her breathing became noticeably more rapid, and Xiaomei took each step with great solemnity. When she reached step 107, a visible vapor of water surrounded her. She seemed quite pleased with her affinity for water, and she turned back with an excited smile. "Not bad... A clear water elemental sense after 107 steps. You'll definitely achieve great things in the future..." "Thank you, Senior Sister... Oh, no, Captain..." The girl, seemingly a little overexcited, addressed the captain as "Senior Sister," and she covered her mouth to correct herself. "Hehe...it's okay...With Brother Zhang's keen sense, he probably figured out we're from the same sect. If our sect wasn't being hunted by our enemies, and Master hadn't forced us here, we wouldn't be here...I'm sorry to bother you, Brother Zhang..." The captain explained, looking at Zhang Qiang. Zhang Qiang glanced at the three of them, their eyes filled with guilt and sadness. Although Zhang Qiang had long suspected they were from the same sect, he naturally didn't ask since they didn't mention it. "Since ancient times, it's been difficult to be both loyal and filial...Don't blame yourselves...Reaching the top of the mountain is the best way to repay your master and your sect..." Zhang Qiang offered sincere words of comfort. Compared to the other disciples he'd encountered along the way, who displayed such brazen behavior, these few truly impressed him. With the development of society, amidst the lure of money and profit, how many can still maintain the bonds of family and friendship? "It's difficult to be both loyal and filial...Brother Zhang, you have great literary talent..." The captain's praise made Zhang Qiang scratch his head awkwardly. After all, Zhang Qiang had only borrowed the words. "Haha... Let's keep going." The captain seemed to sense something was wrong with Zhang Qiang and called for everyone to continue climbing. As they climbed higher and higher, the water element around Xiaomei grew stronger and stronger, until her entire body was enveloped by it. The captain's eyes changed from joy at first to excitement, and finally to a fiery passion.

"Senior Sister... Senior Sister... Look at that mortal girl..." Everyone looked up the stairs, only to see a ragged young woman enveloped in a gentle breeze. "Only three steps... No, it couldn't have reacted on the first step, otherwise how could the third step have such a strong wind affinity?" the captain exclaimed. Zhang Qiang had naturally seen it too, even faintly sensing a shadowy presence in the air above the steps. "This girl is truly extraordinary! She's even attracted those old monsters from the Qingshan Sect to come personally... She's even so excited that she can't control herself, causing the air around her to vibrate." Zhang Qiang pondered, admiring the ragged girl. Her clothes were now tattered and tattered, blood silently seeped from her slender arms, and her hair was a mess. Zhang Qiang and the other two were captivated by this scene, and unknowingly followed the girl, stepping onto the steps to test her wind affinity. The water element in Xiaomei's body also silently receded. As if she had noticed someone behind her, the girl tugged at her torn sleeves a few times, trying to hide the marks on her arms. Or perhaps she was shy because she felt her arms were too exposed, so she sat quietly on the steps, as if she was waiting for the people behind her to pass first! Zhang Qiang shook his head with a wry smile. Looking at her confused eyes, it was estimated that this girl didn't know her current situation, let alone how many old monsters were staring at her. Zhang Qiang and the others seemed to understand what the girl meant, and their pace quickened. When passing by the girl, Zhang Qiang finally stopped, took off his clothes, squatted down and put them on the girl!

Then, he could hear the girl's constant thanks: "Thank you, immortal... Thank you..." In the girl's eyes, even a cultivator at the first level of Qi Refining was a celestial being. Zhang Qiang smiled helplessly and said, "As long as you reach the top of the mountain, you will be a fairy in the eyes of the immortals. Don't underestimate yourself. Your so-called immortal was born from a mortal, and you will become more beautiful." Although Zhang Qiang was not good at encouraging others, he knew that every woman could not escape the natural love of beauty. With that, Zhang Qiang stood up and continued on his way.

Soon, the captain's junior brother also condensed wind elements within his body. However, starting at the 500nd of the 202 wind element steps, despite his friendly presence, he was overshadowed by the radiance of the ragged girl. The others stopped exchanging pleasantries and simply hurried onward silently. The ragged girl behind, seemingly inspired by Zhang Qiang's words, quickly wrapped Zhang Qiang's clothes tightly around her. Her lips moved slightly, as if she had made a bold decision, and she followed Zhang Qiang and his men, moving at a pace no slower than theirs, leaving a trail of blood on every step they passed.

"Up ahead... is the Fire Element... Affinity Test... Let's wait for that girl..." The captain panted, glancing back at the girl wrapped in Zhang Qiang's robe. "Girl... what's your name... I'm the captain of this team, Wang Ling..." the captain asked the girl with a smile. "I... I... I'm Lin Ling..." the girl replied timidly, seemingly tired and nervous. "Zhang Qiang..." "Wu Min..." "Xu Chao..." As if moved by the girl's spirit, they politely introduced themselves, leaving Lin Ling bewildered. "Haha... Miss Lin, don't be nervous... Right now, you're the most likely to reach the top... Let's go together..." Captain Wang Ling smiled and gestured for her to go. The girl, still timidly lowering her head, was the first to step onto the Fire Element Steps. A wisp of sparks instantly enveloped her. "Ah..." she cried out in surprise, swatting the sparks away with her hands. "It's okay... Miss Lin, those sparks won't hurt you..." Zhang Qiang, though shocked, recovered quickly and gently explained. The girl stopped her hand doubtfully. The captain and her fellow apprentices were completely stunned. Zhang Qiang also sighed, this is what is called God chasing after the one who feeds him! "Dual elements of wind and fire... top affinity... Miss Lin... Fairy Lin... I am honored..." The captain and his three companions saluted respectfully. "No... no... Fairy, you are embarrassing me." Lin Ling turned around and saluted hurriedly, then hurriedly climbed up again. As she climbed higher and higher, the flames gathered more and more, and finally her whole body was covered. Except for Zhang Qiang, several people followed behind Lin Ling, and their shocked expressions could not fade for a long time.