Madam Shen picked up the teacup in front of her, taking a gentle sip, with a somewhat leisurely expression on her face.

"Back then, how long did it take Ye'Er to walk through the first layer?"

Hearing this question from Madam Shen, Madam He couldn't help but show a trace of pride on her face.

"Madam Shen, you've really stumped me. I only remember that back then, Ye'Er walked through ten layers in less than a quarter of an hour.

The steps at the front must have been crossed in just a few breaths."

Madam He wasn't deliberately praising Shen Ye; her son, Shen Ye, did not need to be extolled.

All of this had indeed happened back then.

Upon hearing this, Madam Shen nodded slightly.

"You've all heard about Shen Han's status in this Stepping into the Thousand Autumns. Can you feel at ease now?"

At these words, Madam He still had a trace of worry on her face.

"It did take him half a quarter of an hour to get through the first layer, which is indeed a bit lacking. I'm just afraid he won't want to return to the Shen Family after this Thousand-Autumn Grand Gathering..."

Madam Shen's old face, however, remained leisurely.

"Don't worry, the Deputy General of Third Son's army is in Heyang City. I have also arranged for experts.

After the Thousand-Autumn Grand Gathering, he will naturally be brought back to Shen Mansion."

After saying this, Madam Shen even lost interest in listening to the events on-site at the Thousand-Autumn Grand Gathering.

She let Cai Xue, beside her, help her back to her room to rest.

Heyang City, Thousand-Autumn Steps.

Shen Han noticed that those who had ascended the steps after him had already moved ahead.

The crowd watching the Stepping into the Thousand Autumns were now discussing it with smiles.

Spending so long on the first layer was indeed rare.

The reaction of those around him did not affect Shen Han.

Holding his breath and calming his mind, Shen Han began stepping onto the second layer of steps.

Upon setting foot, his consciousness indeed stepped into another realm.

A fierce tiger leapt out from the woods, attacking him.

Shen Han easily dodged it.

Defeating this beast was simple, but Shen Han wanted to experience the mysteries of this realm.

Previously, while looking at that painting, he was also drawn into a realm.

Yet in that realm, although he felt he had been there a long time, only a moment had passed when he came out.

If he could understand the mystery within, it would be of supreme benefit to his cultivation.

The second layer took Shen Han a full half a quarter of an hour to step onto the third layer.

Meanwhile, those at the forefront had already stepped past the seventh layer.

Watching this scene, the crowd found it somewhat comical.

One Shen Ye from the Shen Family had ascended over ninety layers alone.

And now Shen Han, also a member of the Shen Family, appeared greatly inferior.

Compared to others' quick ascents, Shen Han's steps seemed slower.

Each time he entered that consciousness realm, Shen Han gradually felt the mystery within.

With each step upward, the time taken grew shorter.

In reality, Shen Han perceived the time spent in that realm as the same.

This was the wonder of the law of consciousness, a progression of the mind's realm.

Shen Han finally felt the essence conveyed in that painting.

Third layer, fourth layer, fifth layer...

Every subsequent step was faster and steadier.

Yet this speed was still far behind others.

Young Master Shan at the forefront had already stepped past ten layers.

In the pavilion.

Su Jinyu looked indifferently at Shen Han, noticing that he was just stepping onto the fifth layer...

The next moment, she drifted gracefully inward, toasted a drink to Immortal Heyang, and stepped onto the Thousand-Autumn Steps.

Watching Su Jinyu step onto the Thousand-Autumn Steps, those waiting hesitated briefly before also stepping up.

These latecomers were all self-proclaimed geniuses.

Starting later, yet surpassing others.

Su Jinyu walked the Thousand-Autumn Steps as if strolling on level ground.

In just over ten breaths, Shen Han was overtaken.

As he passed by Shen Han, Su Jinyu inadvertently glanced at him indifferently before continuing upward.

In the betting area outside, a group was gambling on who would be the next to fall from the Thousand-Autumn Steps.

With Shen Han as the one lagging behind, many placed their bets on him falling.

Yet on the Thousand-Autumn Steps, Shen Han was gradually comprehending this state of mind.

With each step up, the scenes he saw were reflections of his thoughts.

They were his thoughts, as well as his desires.

One thought could span over a thousand autumns, a lifetime could be a mere instant; this was the essence of the mind's realm.

Suddenly opening his eyes, on this fifth layer, he had leisurely spent an hour in that realm, but outside it had not even been half a quarter of an hour.

This was the ultimate truth that Immortal Heyang intended to teach the young generation about the mind's realm!

With newfound understanding, Shen Han began stepping upwards.

Sixth layer, seventh layer, eighth layer...

Unlike others' expectations, Shen Han, who had trailed last, did not fall from the Thousand-Autumn Steps.

Each step grew more stable and firm.

The prides and talents of each family at the forefront were nearing the fifteenth layer.

3:00 PM passed, 5:00 PM passed.

The sky gradually darkened, yet the crowd around the Thousand-Autumn Grand Gathering remained.

Lanterns were lit, and Heyang City was illuminated brightly.

On the Thousand-Autumn Steps, Shen Han, despite being underestimated, had reached the tenth layer.

"This young master from the Shen Family does have some perseverance."

"He does possess perseverance, but nothing else beyond that..."

A group of onlookers watched Shen Han, their gaze filled more with sympathy.

Among the crowd, a nobleman with a mustache, upon seeing Shen Han reach the tenth layer, hurriedly took up the Sound Transmission Magical Artifact to relay the news.

At the Shen Mansion, as the household servants received the news, they rushed to report it.

Hearing the news, Madam Shen and the others frowned slightly but soon relaxed.

"No matter, just keep watching. Passing the tenth layer is also good, it'll save the Shen Family some embarrassment."

End of Winter Month.

By 7:00 PM, the sky was completely dark.

For a prodigy like Su Jinyu, the first fifty layers posed only minor hindrances.

In just over three hours, Su Jinyu climbed to the fiftieth layer, living up to her prodigy title.

This is Su Family's Pride, the woman Shen Ye wholeheartedly admired; indeed, she was exceptional.

Not only was her appearance stunning, but her talent was also top-notch...

As time passed, some seemed unable to persist.

Those in the realm of consciousness, defeated by the phantoms within, descended the dozens of steps in a daze.

Elders of various families naturally protected their younger generations from harm.

Many heirs of these families found it hard to persist after the thirtieth layer and began to fall.

Yet Shen Han at the rear increased his pace.

Unnoticed, he had passed the twentieth layer.

The time had reached midnight.

Madam Shen and the others had long since rested.

But on the Thousand-Autumn Steps, Shen Han's progress grew smoother.

After passing the twentieth layer, each step entered the Void Realm, where his opponents grew stronger.

But for Shen Han, they posed no threat.

Focusing his mind, the Sword Shadow coalesced.

With a single Sword Shadow of Flying Sword Sky-Filling Momentum, he could vanquish his foes.

Twenty layers passed...

Thirty layers passed...

The rooster crowed, 7:00 AM.

Always lagging behind, Shen Han stepped onto the fortieth layer.

Arranged by Madam Shen, the person in charge took up the Sound Transmission Magical Artifact, transmitting again.

All night, he had not stopped.

His expression had become somewhat grim, yet throughout the night, there had been no response from the Shen side.

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