First of the Four Kings
The disciple, eager to have been called on by John, stepped forward and answered his question. While the disciples of the other sects were incredibly wary of John, those belonging to the Heavenly Lightning Sect were not worried.
"This staircase leads to the temple above, and there is a mysterious energy covering it. As soon as one steps on the staircase, a type of pressure pushes down on them. The higher one goes, the greater the pressure."
John looked back towards the staircase, and noticed the few disciples on it were struggling quite a bit.
"Can't one just go around it?" John asked.
"Sure, some have already done that, and there's no pressure going that way. But those who have successfully ascended the staircase have said that they gained great cultivation benefits from it, and so those daring enough are seeking out those benefits," the boy clarified.