"The Myriad Tribulations Dao Ancestor is the second Dao Ancestor of our Immortal Court," Golden Resonance Daoist said, his expression turning solemn.
"Over three hundred years ago, the Pure Yang Dao Ancestor descended into the world and established Pure Yang Mountain."
"Since then, three more Dao Ancestors have emerged in the Immortal Realm."
"Lingxiao's Tai Cang Dao Ancestor, our Age Candle's Myriad Tribulations Dao Ancestor, and Zhenyuan Dao Ancestor, who hasn't established an Immortal Court."
"Tai Cang, Myriad Tribulations, and Zhenyuan—these three Dao Ancestors didn't descend into the world simultaneously."
"Tai Cang appeared first, roughly three hundred years ago. Legend has it that he was the disciple of Lingxiao Dao Ancestor, but the truth remains unknown."
"The Myriad Tribulations Dao Ancestor descended into the world 130 years ago."
"You should be familiar with Myriad Tribulation Heaven. The Myriad Tribulations Dao Ancestor is its ruler, having endured myriad tribulations to attain the status of Dao Ancestor."
"As for Zhenyuan Dao Ancestor, he appeared 40 years ago. He hasn't established a major power, but it's rumored that his Boundary Heaven is called Five Villages Temple. No other information has spread beyond that."
"Of course, the descent of these three Dao Ancestors is currently known only to Immortal Monarchs and higher."
"Han Yi, you're not an outsider here. Now that you know this, do your best not to spread it, lest one of the Dao Ancestors take offense."
Han Yi quickly agreed.
He took a deep breath, his expression turning solemn. "The three Dao Ancestors couldn't have emerged without reason. Could there be another crisis unfolding?"
"Speaking of which, there's also the Pure Yang Dao Ancestor. The timing of his founding Pure Yang Mountain is rather coincidental."
"Four Dao Ancestors... what could possibly drive them to enter the world within just three centuries?"
Han Yi recalled Taiyuan's explanation: the Pure Yang Dao Ancestor's emergence was likely to cultivate the Chaos Sword Embryo and contend for the position of Sword Dao Heavenly Venerable.
But the other three were different. Tai Cang and Myriad Tribulations both served in the Immortal Court, essentially its second-in-command figures. Zhenyuan, however, had only made a fleeting appearance, establishing no power base, and his entry into the world remained largely unknown beyond a few Immortals.
Golden Resonance Daoist shook his head. "I don't know," he said calmly. "This question... even Immortal Sovereigns like Dao Ling might not know the answer. Perhaps only the Dao Ancestors themselves understand the full story."
As they conversed, they were already at the Primal Art Dao Field, where they activated a Transmission Formation and teleported to the northernmost reaches of the Age Candle, arriving at the North Pole Immortal City.
The North Pole Immortal City and the South Pole Immortal City within the South Pole Immortal Domain, which belonged to Pure Yang Mountain, formed a complementary pair. Together, they were the Immortal Cities at the two poles of the Great Luo Immortal Realm.
After leaving the North Pole Immortal City, Golden Resonance Daoist led Han Yi through the Northern Endless Void using the Escape Technique. After three days, they arrived at a mysterious location.
From the outer void, this mysterious place appeared as a cluster of dozens of Immortal Fortresses, forming a fortress group. Immortals from the Sui Zhu Immortal Court patrolled the perimeter.
Han Yi knew that although the Expedition to the Wisdom Realm had failed, it indirectly brought an end to countless millennia of warfare between the two realms, giving the various powers of the Great Luo Immortal Realm a chance to recuperate.
Following this, numerous Immortal Fortresses in the Outer Void—both the few remaining massive fortresses from the Expedition to the Wisdom Realm and the original smaller fortresses—were organized by the Immortal Court into nine fortress groups. These groups patrolled the void at the borders of the Sui Zhu Immortal Court's territory.
This strategy had two purposes: to prevent remnants of the Wisdom Realm from regrouping, and to prevent the Demon Race from bypassing the borders by traveling through the void and landing in the northeastern territories of the Age Candle.
The place Golden Resonance Daoist had brought Han Yi to was one such fortress group.
The Immortal Fortresses were massive, and when unfolded, each resembled a small world.
After identity verification, they passed through three connected small worlds formed by unfolded Immortal Fortresses. Ahead of them, instead of empty void, stood an ethereal Heavenly Ladder, towering into the void.
Around the Heavenly Ladder, countless massive bolts of thunder stretched from the surrounding Immortal Fortresses, connecting to the ethereal structure.
Though constantly flickering, the thunder seemed tangible, resembling enormous chains.
At first glance, Han Yi knew these were no mere chains, but genuine bolts of thunder. Their aura matched the Divine Thunder of Law he had faced during his Primordial Divine Tribulation in Myriad Tribulation Heaven.
However, these were not formed from ordinary laws, but from Dao Principles—more fundamental and powerful cosmic rules.
At that moment, the countless bolts of thunder connected one end to the surrounding Immortal Fortresses and the other to the ethereal Heavenly Ladder, as if anchoring the ladder that might vanish at any moment.
The Heavenly Ladder was illusory, and so were the ends of the thunder.
As Han Yi gazed upward into the void, he could only vaguely see the Heavenly Ladder piercing into Void Space before vanishing.
"So... this is the Ancient Vault Dao Ladder!"
Han Yi took a deep breath, his heart pounding with awe.
"Correct. This ladder has remained here for ten years. According to Myriad Tribulations Dao Ancestor, he temporarily stabilized it, but it can only last thirty-six years. When that time is up, the Heavenly Ladder will vanish again, and even he will struggle to locate it."
"That's why I sent you a message ten years ago, summoning you here to try your luck," Golden Resonance Daoist explained, his eyes shining with divine light. It wasn't just Han Yi; he too wanted to attempt the Heavenly Ladder.
He had spent years in secluded cultivation, achieving some progress, but he knew his foundation was still insufficient. Though only a single step separated him from Immortal Monarch status, he saw no immediate way to cross that final barrier.
Perhaps within the Ancient Vault Realm Heaven that the Heavenly Ladder led to, there lay a supreme treasure that could help him take that final step.
Even if the chances were slim, he refused to let even the slightest possibility slip through his fingers.
Han Yi looked down and around the illusory Heavenly Ladder. Countless Immortals were already seated in meditation in the surrounding void, most looking disheveled with tattered or burned Profound Robes, or soaked with water, their conditions varied.
Among them were some Immortals who appeared less disheveled, who continuously stepped onto the illusory Heavenly Ladder. As they did so, their figures gradually faded into transparency before swiftly disappearing, never to be seen again.
Only when they failed would they reappear at some height in the void, plummeting down before attempting to climb again.
Immortals continuously climbed the illusory Heavenly Ladder, disappearing, while others continuously reappeared at various points on the ladder, then were forced off, sustaining injuries of varying severity.
Han Yi now witnessed the spectacle of immortals vying to ascend the Heavenly Ladder.
Among them were not only True Immortals, Profound Immortals, and Golden Immortals, but also several dozen Immortal Monarchs, and two Immortal Sovereigns.
Han Yi recognized both Immortal Sovereigns: Immortal Venerable Wan Chuan, who had led them against the Eastern Emperor Demon Clan, and Immortal Venerable Hongwu, whom he had encountered before the Primordial Boundary Wall.
Though neither Immortal Sovereign appeared injured, they frowned gravely at the Heavenly Ladder. Their expressions suggested they had encountered challenging light cards within, ones that posed significant difficulty.
"Each step of the Heavenly Ladder presents a unique challenge: Formation Arts, Pill Refinement, Artifact Refinement, Talisman crafting, Spirit Treasure identification, and even the recognition of supreme treasures."
"Failure to pass a challenge results in punishment, but it will never exceed the challenger's cultivation realm, nor pose a threat of death."
"The immortals sitting cross-legged around the perimeter are likely those who have been expelled multiple times."
"The total number of steps on the Heavenly Ladder is unknown, as no one has ever reached the end. Legend has it that reaching the summit grants the inheritance of the Dao Ancestor."
"However, passing ten challenges allows entry into the first layer of the Ancient Vault Realm Heaven, where treasures can be obtained."
"Passing another ten challenges grants access to the second layer."
"As far as I know, even Immortal Venerable Wan Chuan, who has cleared the most layers so far, has only passed through seventy-six layers and entered the seventh layer of the Ancient Vault Realm Heaven."
"However, judging by Immortal Venerable Wan Chuan's expression, he seems far from satisfied with this achievement, or perhaps discontent with the treasures he found."
After explaining this, Golden Resonance Daoist paid Han Yi no further heed. He focused solely on the towering Void Dao Ladder rising into the void. With a swift application of his Escape Technique, he stepped onto the Dao Ladder and vanished, as if entering another world, completely beyond Han Yi's Immortal Sense.
It wasn't just Golden Resonance Daoist's presence that eluded Han Yi's Immortal Sense. In his perception, all that remained were countless bolts of thunder emitting terrifying auras. The illusory Heavenly Ladder he saw with his eyes was completely different from what his Immortal Sense revealed: the Dao Ladder itself seemed to vanish entirely.
Han Yi observed for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, then scanned the surroundings. His Immortal Sense detected no trace of Myriad Tribulations Dao Ancestor. Perhaps the Dao Ancestor was in secluded cultivation within an Immortal Fortress, or perhaps he had left the area entirely.
But that didn't matter. Han Yi resolved to wait twenty-six years, until the Heavenly Ladder vanished. When that happened, the Dao Ancestor would undoubtedly appear. After all, these massive bolts of thunder contained terrifying power. Even Immortal Sovereigns might not be able to handle them; they would likely require the intervention of a Dao Ancestor.
He strode toward the Heavenly Ladder.
As he approached, Han Yi realized its immense size. Even if tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of immortals were ascending simultaneously, there would still be ample space for all.
He and a True Immortal stepped onto the Heavenly Ladder almost simultaneously.
!
The space before him suddenly transformed, the sensation akin to being teleported through a Transmission Formation.
When the space stabilized, Han Yi found himself in a room suffused with swirling Pill Aura. A quick survey confirmed it was a Pill Refinement workshop.
The familiar Pill Aura washed over him, but Han Yi remained vigilant. He held his breath, and a faint, dark gray glow emitted from his skin, radiating an aura of profound durability.
Simultaneously, in the depths of his consciousness, he understood his mission: to refine a First-Rank Immortal Pill called the Ascension Pill.
Han Yi was puzzled. He had never seen such an Immortal Pill before. He picked up the Pill Formula from the table before him and scanned it with his Immortal Sense. Instantly, he understood.
This Ascension Pill didn't grant immediate ascension upon consumption. Instead, it provided immortals with a profound understanding of ascension, temporarily enhancing their comprehension abilities.
It was a medicinal pill to aid cultivation.
Is this Pill Formula from the previous epoch, or did the Ancient Vault Dao Ancestor obtain it from other realms within the Chaos?
Han Yi harbored some doubts about this Medicinal Pill.
After all, if consuming such a pill had no side effects, wouldn't it mean that anyone could quickly master all Immortal Arts and Skills simply by popping pills?
He had only witnessed this kind of cheating method on himself. Under normal circumstances, the Immortal Realm Rule strictly prohibited such 'special cultivation methods'.
However.
Regardless of the Pill Formula's authenticity, he was merely here to clear the trial. He didn't dwell on it further.
Alchemy was his expertise.
Han Yi smiled faintly, first organizing the Medicinal Pills in the alchemy workshop, then inspecting the Pill Refinement Furnace. He then used Immortal Power to ignite the Immortal Wood, a crucial material for refining Immortal Pills, which maintained the necessary temperature in the furnace.
Following the sequence outlined in the Pill Formula, he began adding auxiliary materials and the main ingredient.
Three breaths later.
The Pill Furnace exploded.
Han Yi casually waved his hand, suppressing the flying debris and molten materials. But before he could react further, a fierce Pill Fire erupted from the shattered furnace, hurtling toward him.
In that split second, Han Yi was just about to dodge when he found himself rooted in place. The Pill Fire brushed past the edge of his forehead, singeing a small tuft of hair.
With his current cultivation, his hair was comparable to an Immortal Artifact. Yet this Pill Fire could burn through it with a mere graze—how terrifying.
His perspective shifted, and Han Yi found himself at the edge of the Heavenly Ladder, hovering in the Void. He felt an irresistible gravitational force pulling him downward. When he tried to resist, he realized the rules here were completely different from anywhere else. Recalling how those who failed to ascend the Heavenly Ladder had all plummeted from the Void, Han Yi ceased his resistance and fell.
He landed steadily at the base of the Heavenly Ladder, somewhat disheveled but unharmed.
But then doubt crept in: "I can't even pass the first stage?"
After all, he was at the peak of the Profound Immortal realm. When the time was right, with his Immortal Power reaching the pinnacle of the third stage, he could undergo the Golden Immortal Tribulation and ascend to the Golden Immortal realm. Moreover, he had consistently ranked first on the Profound Immortal Ranking.
Such formidable strength and revered glory, yet he couldn't even clear the first stage?
How could this be...?
Suddenly, Han Yi glanced sideways. A few hundred meters away, Golden Resonance Daoist, his sleeves torn, had just risen from where he had fallen.
Han Yi's resentment vanished instantly.
Well, even Golden Resonance Daoist had been eliminated.
That settled it.
Several hundred meters away, Golden Resonance Daoist glanced at Han Yi, his expression calm. Yet his hurried return to the Heavenly Ladder betrayed the agitation he tried to conceal.
Han Yi briefly reviewed his previous attempt before stepping back onto the Heavenly Ladder.
Pill Refinement was his expertise. Though his last successful attempt had been during his Transformation God Stage, his skill remained intact. Even in his lowest moments, he could rely on this art to regain his footing.
Even a First-Rank Immortal Pill should be within his grasp. With his current Immortal Power and past experience in Pill Refinement, success should come easily.
His previous failure had simply been due to channeling too much Immortal Power. Avoiding that mistake this time would ensure success.
He refused to believe he could fail again.
Immortal Power ignited the Immortal Wood, warming the Pill Furnace. He then added the auxiliary materials, the main ingredient, and continued to channel Immortal Power...
Seven breaths later.
Bang!
The Pill Furnace exploded again, its fierce Pill Fire scorching Han Yi's robes and burning a hole in the sleeve of his Profound Robe.
Space shifted, and he was once again expelled, falling down the Heavenly Ladder. When he landed, he met gazes with Golden Resonance Daoist, who had failed earlier and was now several hundred meters away. Their eyes met calmly, and they tacitly averted their gazes.
Then, both men stepped back onto the Heavenly Ladder.
Entering the Pill Refinement Furnace for the third time, Han Yi first calmed his mind.
He had to admit that his Alchemy Technique was now far behind his cultivation realm. Even at the peak of the Profound Immortal stage, he couldn't refine a First-Rank Immortal Pill.
After acknowledging this, he didn't immediately begin refining. Instead, he simulated the process using Immortal Fire, countless past images of Pill Refinement flashing before his eyes.