Du Gu Shiling

Gu Changyuan did not linger on the streets with Gu Xing'er. With a mere thought, his figure vanished once more.

The next moment, holding Gu Xing'er in his arms, he appeared atop the spire of the tallest tower in the center of Tianren City.

The vantage point here was excellent, offering a panoramic view of the entire city.

The city was meticulously planned. The central area was a bustling commercial and administrative district, while the surrounding areas were filled with expansive, tranquil residential and cultivation zones.

He had learned from Su Tianhui that disciples who joined the Sacred Land would have their own residences within their respective peaks.

The residential areas here were likely for those disciples to purchase or acquire through missions, serving as a secondary home or a place to settle their families.

After all, non-disciples were not allowed inside the Sacred Land. Cultivators with families would probably choose to buy a residence here to be closer and have peace of mind.

Gu Changyuan nodded slightly, once again acknowledging the Sacred Land's governance capabilities.

Gu Xing'er leaned against his chest, curiously looking down and letting out a gasp of amazement. Her little finger pointed toward a distant building emitting savory aromas and displaying a massive banner with the word Food, looking up at Gu Changyuan with eager eyes.

Gu Changyuan chuckled and rubbed her little head.

I'll take you to eat later.

He did not stay on the tower for long. Having seen enough of Tianren City's scenery, he took a step forward.

Space shifted.

The scenery before his eyes instantly transformed.

The noisy clamor of the marketplace abruptly faded away, replaced by a solemn, majestic, and boundless aura.

They were no longer in Tianren City.

Beneath their feet lay a gigantic plaza, unimaginably vast.

A sea of people covered the plaza.

At a rough glance, at least several thousand cultivators had gathered here, yet perhaps less than one percent of them would successfully gain entry.

Gu Changyuan looked up and clearly saw that on the far right of the testing grounds on both sides of the plaza, there was a three-tiered white jade staircase extending upward.

The end of the stone steps connected to three different pavilions, corresponding respectively to the three trials: Testing Spirit, Asking the Dao, and Questioning the Heart.

This was the testing point for the Three Celestial Trials that the majority of cultivators chose.

Currently, long lines formed beneath each set of stone steps. Cultivators stepped forward in turn to undergo preliminary verification by the Sacred Land's disciples. Only after passing the verification could they step onto the stairs and begin the trial.

On the far left of the plaza, a bizarre, pitch-black high platform rose from the ground. It was the Immortal Ascension Platform.

At this moment, dozens of figures were struggling forward at various heights on the Immortal Ascension Platform, looking as if they were climbing. Every step up appeared extremely strenuous.

Surrounding the two staircases were endlessly lush spiritual plants, brimming with vitality.

At the very top sat a row of high viewing seats, occupied by ten elders and one supreme elder.

They gazed calmly at the testing grounds on both sides, waiting for the disciples who passed the trials to come forward for the final assessment and selection.

The changes are truly immense.

Gu Changyuan's gaze swept across the entirety of Tianyuan Mountain, and a photograph visible only to him appeared before his eyes. It was an image of how this mountain peak looked a thousand years ago.

In the past, keeping his old habits, he had used the system to take photos and record these scenes, wanting to see the changes later on.

He never expected that the once dilapidated mountain peak would now be so lush and flourishing.

Look! That person is almost at the 80th step!

Right then, a sudden exclamation rang out from the direction of the Immortal Ascension Platform, instantly drawing the eyes of all the cultivators present.

Following the crowd's cries, Gu Changyuan also cast his gaze toward the Immortal Ascension Platform.

There, on the eightieth step of the pitch-black platform, a slender yet perfectly straight figure stood firmly.

It was a young woman who appeared to be about twenty years old. She wore a simple cyan martial outfit that outlined her agile figure.

Her long hair was tied up simply with a wooden hairpin, revealing a smooth forehead and a face that, though devoid of makeup, was exceptionally beautiful and refined.

At this moment, her face was slightly pale, fine beads of sweat seeped from her temples, and her chest heaved slightly. Clearly, reaching the eightieth step was no easy feat for her.

However, her eyes were astonishingly bright, filled with unyielding will and firm conviction.

She did not pause for long. Taking a deep breath, her gaze shifted to the eighty-first step above. She leaned forward slightly, preparing to continue her ascent.

The eightieth step! She actually reached the eightieth step!

It's only the morning of the first day! And a monstrous genius capable of reaching the eightieth step has already appeared?!

Looking at her, she seems to still have energy left! Is she going to push for eighty-five? Or even ninety?!

On the plaza, exclamations and discussions rose like a tidal wave. Countless burning gazes focused on the young woman in cyan.

Even the eyes of the eleven Sacred Land higher-ups in the viewing seats lit up.

In particular, the supreme elder seated in the center stroked his long beard and nodded slightly, revealing a rare look of approval.

Name: Dugu Shiling

Talent: Grade Nine

Physique: Profound Ice Jade Bone Physique

Cultivation Base: Early Nascent Soul Stage

The system's information timely floated before Gu Changyuan's eyes.

Profound Ice Jade Bone Physique... quite a good seedling.

Gu Changyuan nodded slightly, giving his evaluation.

With Grade Nine talent, coupled with this special ice-attribute mutated spiritual physique and a rather resilient will, she was indeed qualified to be called a genius.

Watching the young woman named Dugu Shiling climb the Immortal Ascension Platform with difficulty yet determination, and feeling the amazement and anticipation of the surrounding cultivators, a thought suddenly arose in Gu Changyuan's mind.

Although this Immortal Ascension Platform was granted by the system back in the day, he had never personally experienced its specific testing rules and details.

Why not... go up and try it out himself?

Gu Changyuan had absolute confidence in his own strength and foundation.

He actually wanted to see what was so profound about this legendary hundred-step Immortal Ascension Platform, and what exactly it could test out.

It would inevitably cause a sensation, and his disciples who had now become patriarchs would naturally show up.

Without hesitation, Gu Changyuan shifted the posture of Gu Xing'er, who was curiously looking around in his arms, holding her securely in the crook of his arm.

Then, with a light step, his figure instantly appeared on the first step of the Immortal Ascension Platform.

Huh? Someone else is going up the Immortal Ascension Platform?

No! Look! He's holding a child in his arms!

Is he trying to... undergo the Immortal Ascension Platform trial while carrying someone else?!

Gu Changyuan's highly unusual action instantly attracted the attention of the surrounding cultivators, causing cries of alarm to erupt!

The Immortal Ascension Platform tested an individual's aptitude, will, and potential, strictly forbidding any form of trickery or outside assistance.

If someone attempted to join forces or carry another person, the special restrictions of the Immortal Ascension Platform would activate, superimposing the pressure meant for two people onto them.

Therefore, no one had ever dared to attempt climbing while carrying someone else; that was tantamount to seeking death.

Even the Sacred Land deacon disciples responsible for maintaining order and registration were stunned, momentarily unsure of how to handle the situation.

The rules did not explicitly forbid bringing someone along, simply because no one had ever thought anyone would actually do so.

The moment he stepped onto the first step, Gu Changyuan indeed felt a slight pressure acting upon his body.

It might hold some weight for an ordinary Qi Condensation cultivator, but to him, it did not even count as a tickle.

"Nothing more than this," Gu Changyuan thought to himself.

Since the pressure was so slight, he couldn't be bothered to slowly experience it step by step.

Thus, under the astonished gazes of countless onlookers, Gu Changyuan, holding Gu Xing'er in his arms, raised his foot once again.

This time, he did not merely advance a single step.

Instead, with one stride, he stepped directly onto the fourth tier.