"Senior brother heard that the Heavenly Ladder of the Azure Cloud Sect is about to open, so he came to try his luck and see if he can gain anything."
Qin Changsheng hadn't expected Chen Erniu to recognize him.
After all, Qin Changsheng and Chen Erniu had only spent a few years on the Miscellaneous Service Peak.
And during those years, the two hadn't had much interaction.
The only person Chen Erniu had interacted with was his avatar, Hu Nan.
Upon hearing this, a knowing glint flashed in Chen Erniu's eyes, and he nodded with a smile: "I see. The Heavenly Ladder of the Azure Cloud Sect does indeed offer some opportunities."
"Junior Brother Chen, why are you wearing the outer sect robes of the Azure Cloud Sect?" Qin Changsheng asked.
"Sigh!" Chen Erniu sighed, then said, "I didn't have any opportunities in the Heavenly Sword Sect, so I came to the Azure Cloud Sect to cultivate!"
Chen Erniu's answer was watertight, explaining why he was in the Azure Cloud Sect without revealing any secrets about himself, as if he were merely recounting a trivial matter.
Qin Changsheng knew perfectly well that Chen Erniu was a reincarnation of a Nascent Soul cultivator, and his joining the Qingyun Sect must have some purpose.
Moreover, it was related to the Qingyun Sect's Heavenly Ladder.
Otherwise, Chen Erniu wouldn't have rushed to register as soon as the Heavenly Ladder opened.
However, Qin Changsheng didn't want to press him for details.
Asking too much would only arouse Chen Erniu's suspicion.
"Senior Brother Qin, there's something I'd like to ask you," Chen Erniu suddenly asked.
"What is it?" Qin Changsheng asked.
"I wonder how Senior Brother Hu Nan, who won first place in the competition back then, is doing now?" Chen Erniu inquired.
Qin Changsheng wasn't particularly surprised that Chen Erniu was asking about Hu Nan.
After all, in Chen Erniu's mind, Hu Nan was also a reincarnation of a Nascent Soul cultivator.
Qin Changsheng composed himself and said, "Uncle-Master Hu Nan successfully established his Foundation Establishment four years ago!"
"However, after achieving Foundation Establishment, he secluded himself in seclusion to cultivate diligently and has not shown his face since. To this day, no one knows his specific situation."
Hearing Qin Changsheng's words, Chen Erniu's smile instantly faded, his brows furrowed slightly, and his eyes were filled with doubt and confusion.
"Thank you, Senior Brother Qin. It's getting late, and I need to register for the Heavenly Ladder!" Chen Erniu exchanged a few pleasantries with Qin Changsheng before taking his leave.
"No problem, Junior Brother Chen, please feel free." Qin Changsheng nodded.
As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Erniu said no more and turned to walk towards the registration area.
Qin Changsheng watched Chen Erniu's hurried departure, his smile gradually fading.
...
Several days passed in a flash.
On this day, the Heavenly Ladder Plaza was already packed with people.
"In another hour, the Ascending Heaven Ladder will officially begin. Fellow Daoists, how do you all plan to challenge it?"
"I've heard that the pressure on the first hundred steps of the Heaven Ladder is relatively mild, suitable for getting used to the pace and climbing steadily. Don't rush."
"I think the one with the best chance of climbing higher this year is Ling Xiao of the Qingyun Sect. He's already at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment, with a powerful physical body. Last year he climbed over two hundred steps, and this year he might even break through three hundred!"
"Senior Brother Lingxiao is indeed formidable, but I think those disciples from the Heavenly Sword Sect shouldn't be underestimated either. They've cultivated there year-round, their physical bodies are extremely well-developed, and they might bring some surprises."
"I wonder what the highest level is!"
"The highest record is held by the first sect leader of the Heavenly Sword Sect; he climbed eight hundred steps!"
On the plaza, cultivators stood in twos and threes, or sat together, and without exception, their conversation revolved around the soon-to-open Heavenly Ladder.
Some looked solemn, whispering strategies for climbing the Heavenly Ladder;
Some gazed intently, their faces full of anticipation at the towering Heavenly Ladder;
Others looked anxious, comforting each other to ease their tension.
Climbing the Heavenly Ladder was both an opportunity and a test; a slight misstep could result in serious injury or even a regression in cultivation.
Shortly after, an extremely terrifying pressure swept down from the heavens without warning, instantly enveloping the entire plaza.
This pressure was immense and heavy, like a towering mountain pressing down, instantly causing all the cultivators present to hold their breath.
Fortunately, this pressure arrived and dissipated quickly, without harming any of the cultivators.
The cultivators immediately stopped talking and turned their gazes to the heavens.
The next instant, a dazzling white light burst forth from the clouds. As the light dissipated, an elderly man dressed in a simple blue Daoist robe slowly appeared in mid-air.
The old man had white hair and beard, a ruddy complexion, and eyes as deep as ancient wells. He was surrounded by a dense aura of a Golden Core cultivator. Although he didn't deliberately release his aura, he possessed an inviolable majesty. Simply hovering in mid-air made the atmosphere of the entire plaza even more solemn.
"Elder Wen Xuanli!"
A low exclamation rippled through the crowd, the tone filled with awe.
Wen Xuanli was a core elder of the Qingyun Sect, possessing profound cultivation, having reached the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm. He oversaw all matters related to the opening of the Heavenly Ladder and rarely appeared in public, only personally presiding over its opening.
Wen Xuanli hovered in mid-air, his gaze sharp and unwavering, slowly sweeping over every cultivator in the plaza. His gaze was calm yet carried an undeniable authority. Without uttering a single word:
"The time has come. The Qingyun Sect Heavenly Ladder challenge officially begins!"
The instant his words fell, Wen Xuanli raised his hand, unleashing a beam of golden light that shot straight into the heavens.
The golden light pierced through the clouds, exploding instantly into a sky full of golden rays, enveloping the entire Qingyun Sect's sky.
Immediately afterward, a breathtaking phenomenon quietly appeared.
High above, golden light converged, slowly condensing into a magnificent staircase that descended from the depths of the clouds, reaching the center of the plaza and seamlessly connecting with the ground.
This was the Heavenly Ladder of the Azure Cloud Sect, even more majestic and imposing than anyone had imagined.
The staircase was constructed of ancient bluestone, each stone smooth as a mirror, engraved with mysterious ancient patterns, radiating a rich spiritual energy and an overwhelming aura.
Layer upon layer, the staircase pierced the clouds, stretching as far as the eye could see, seemingly connecting the two ends of heaven and earth, sacred and awe-inspiring.
As the celestial ladder appeared, another extraordinary phenomenon arose: a faint, seven-colored glow enveloped the ladder, within which ancient runes flowed and shimmered, emanating a mysterious Daoist aura;
The spiritual energy of heaven and earth converged upon the ladder like a tidal wave, forming a dense vortex of spiritual energy around it;
Fragments of celestial music drifted from the depths of the clouds, intertwining with the imposing aura of the ladder, inspiring awe in all who beheld it.
The cultivators on the plaza, gazing at the magnificent celestial ladder that had appeared out of nowhere and the awe-inspiring phenomenon, were utterly dumbfounded, their faces filled with shock and longing, even the fatigue from resisting the oppressive aura dissipating considerably.
"This is the Heavenly Ladder of the Qingyun Sect! It truly lives up to its reputation!"
"This is an ancient treasure!"
"It's just a pity that no one has ever been able to reach the top!"
"The pressure from this Heavenly Ladder is so immense that even a Nascent Soul cultivator couldn't withstand it!"
Qin Changsheng stared intently at the magnificent Heavenly Ladder, a glint of wild joy flashing in his eyes.
He could clearly sense a faint yet familiar aura emanating from the top of the Heavenly Ladder.
Qin Changsheng knew that it was a fragment of the Heavenly Dao.
However, the fragment of the Heavenly Dao was at the very top of the Heavenly Ladder. To obtain it, Qin Changsheng had to climb the ladder.
"Begin the challenge!" Elder Wen Xuanli announced.
As Elder Wen Xuanli's words fell, several cultivators reacted first, a hint of urgency flashing in their eyes. Holding their challenge tokens, they quickly walked towards the foot of the Heavenly Ladder.
The moment their feet touched the Heavenly Ladder, a powerful pressure swept over them, causing them to pause.
Several people even fell before reaching the second step.
Qin Changsheng didn't rush to ascend the Heavenly Ladder. Instead, he slowly retreated to a high platform on one side of the plaza, finding a spot with a clear view to observe.
His sharp gaze swept over each cultivator on the Heavenly Ladder, observing their performance while silently sensing the increasing pressure of the ladder, accumulating experience for his future challenges.
The first few Qi Refining cultivators to ascend the ladder initially managed to climb steadily, barely resisting the pressure with their own spiritual power. However, when they reached the thirtieth level, the pressure became extremely intense, far exceeding their limits.
Their faces turned pale, their bodies trembled, their spiritual power circulated chaotically, and they could no longer maintain their balance. With a muffled groan, they were blasted away by the pressure of the ladder, crashing heavily onto the plaza, their auras weak, clearly suffering minor injuries.