Advancing to Human Immortal

After dealing with everything, the Kunlun Mountain God turned to Xiao Yun and the others. Gratitude filled his eyes as he gave a slight nod. "Everyone, you helped me escape the Abyss's corruption. I must repay this favor."

As the words fell, the mountain god raised a hand and waved. A contract formed from ancient Runes appeared in the void, Golden Light flowing across it as it radiated a solemn, sacred aura.

"My Kunlun Lineage has always distinguished clearly between gratitude and grudges." The mountain god's voice was deep and resonant. "Today, I shall form a contract with Lord Xiao Yun. From this day onward, the Kunlun Divine Palace shall provide White Jade Capital with resources every day, aiding your cultivation and strengthening your forces."

Xiao Yun then received a system notification:

[You have subdued the Kunlun Divine Palace. You may obtain experience, Spiritual Power, Gold Coins, 400 Breakthrough Stones, 4,000 Bounty Points, and 15 sets of Bright Moon Equipment every day.]

Xiao Yun thanked the Kunlun Mountain God on behalf of everyone, then asked, "Lord Mountain God, do you know where the passage to the next stage is?"

The Kunlun Mountain God did not answer directly. Instead, he waved his hand. Xiao Yun's vision blurred, and when he opened his eyes again, he was already atop Kunlun Mountain. Chu Yinge, Xuan Huaying, Xi Zhaoyue, Wangliang, Xiangliu, and the others had also appeared beside him.

Before Xiao Yun could ask another question,

the Kunlun Mountain God gestured for Xiao Yun and the others to look toward the mountaintop, where an ancient stone gate shrouded in clouds and mist stood. He said slowly, "Ahead lies the Ascension Road of the Great Wilderness—the entrance to the Nine Heavens. That will be the next place you must subdue. The others should be fine, but with your current realm, little friend, you cannot yet set foot upon the road to immortality. You simply cannot enter the Nine Heavens, nor can you withstand the pressure above. You must increase your strength as soon as possible."

Xiao Yun clenched his fists. Though unwilling, he understood that the Refining Void and Merging with the Dao realm was still within the bounds of mortals. Before true immortals, he remained as insignificant as an ant. Yet he did not despair. After all, in only two days, he had risen from an Ordinary Person to the Refining Void and Merging with the Dao realm. He should soon be able to break through into the lowest Human Immortal realm.

Just then, Xiao Yun saw a crystalline immortal herb suddenly appear in the mountain god's palm. Its nine leaves were like jade, while its slender, lustrous roots resembled dragon whiskers. It emanated an intense vitality, and merely breathing in its scent made Xiao Yun feel as though his life was ascending.

"This is the divine medicine nurtured by Kunlun Mountain for ten thousand years—the Immortal Flying Immortal Grass. It can transform your body and bones, allowing you to ascend directly to the Human Immortal realm!"

Before Xiao Yun could thank him, the mountain god flicked a finger. The immortal herb transformed into a streak of light and entered Xiao Yun's body!

In an instant, Xiao Yun's entire body shook, and the Spiritual Power within him erupted like a volcano! The Flying Immortal Grass's medicinal power was gentle yet vast, like Spring Wind Transforms Rain, nourishing his flesh, Bones, and Primordial Spirit. His realm began to soar wildly. The Refining Void and Merging with the Dao realm he had only just stabilized actually shattered its shackles in an instant!

"Boom—!"

A vast Immortal Spirit Qi burst from his body. Faint golden immortal patterns emerged around him, his skin becoming like jade and his eyes like stars. Even the slightest movement now carried an otherworldly grace.

The Human Immortal realm had been achieved!

The Kunlun Mountain God smiled in satisfaction as his figure gradually faded. "The road ahead is perilous, but... you now possess the qualifications to tread upon the Nine Heavens."

Xiao Yun took a deep breath, feeling the surging Immortal Power within him. His gaze fixed firmly upon the stone gate leading to the Nine Heavens—

The true challenge had only just begun!

Xiao Yun looked back at Sovereign of Destiny Chu Ying'e, Nine Heavens Profound Maiden Xuan Yinghua, Rain Master Divine Monarch Xi Zhaoyue, Lord of Hundred Weapons Wangliang, Great Sage of the Demon Race Xiangliu, and the others beside him.

Seeing everyone nod lightly at him, expressing their support for every decision he made,

he no longer hesitated. He strode forward, pushed open the stone gate before him, and arrived at the starting point of the Ascension Road. Looking up, he saw a heavenly stairway formed from ethereal clouds and rosy mist. It had a total of nine hundred and ninety-nine steps, each glowing with different spiritual light like a river of stars cascading from the heavens, stretching straight into the highest skies.

"So this is... the Ascension Road?" he murmured.

Clouds rose beneath Sovereign of Destiny Chu Ying'e's feet, and in the blink of an eye, she stood atop the clouds. Her skirts fluttered gracefully, making her seem like a true celestial maiden. She smiled faintly at Xiao Yun. "The Ascension Road brings one tribulation with every step and one realization with every stair. Lord, having just entered the Human Immortal realm, you must use this path to temper your control over Immortal Power before you can truly enter the Nine Heavens."

With that, the clouds beneath her and the other War Spirits suddenly soared into the sky, transforming into streams of light. In an instant, they flew to the end of the Ascension Road, leaving behind only her cool voice echoing through the air. "Lord, we will wait for you above."

Xiao Yun took a deep breath and stepped onto the first cloud stair.

"Boom—"

The clouds beneath his feet sank slightly, sending ripples outward like the surface of water. He immediately realized that these cloud steps were not solid, but formed from pure Immortal Spirit Qi. Their load-bearing capacity was extraordinarily delicate—if he circulated his Immortal Power too fiercely, he would step into empty air; if his control was insufficient, he would be unable to borrow enough force to climb.

At first, he staggered along, every step as precarious as walking on thin ice. Sometimes, the slightest leak of Immortal Power would cause a cloud step to vanish abruptly, forcing him to gather his Immortal Power again and try once more.

"So that's how it is..." Xiao Yun's eyes gradually brightened. "Immortal Power must be like flowing water. It can neither stagnate nor overflow. It must move with the heart and adapt to the situation."

He began adjusting his breathing, allowing the Immortal Power in his body to flow naturally like a stream. Rather than forcing it forward, he followed the changes in the cloud steps. Gradually, his movements became lighter, as though he were walking on the wind.

When he reached the five hundredth step, the cloud stairs' load-bearing capacity suddenly plummeted. Each step could bear only half as much weight as the last. Xiao Yun had no choice but to compress his Immortal Power to the extreme, even beginning to imitate the structure of the cloud steps in order to provide sufficient support.

"This is no longer merely a test of Immortal Power. It is also a test of comprehension, and even more so, a tempering of one's state of mind..." He closed his eyes and focused. The immortal light around him withdrew, and his entire body seemed to merge with the cloud stairs. With every step he took, a cloud stair formed beneath his foot.

At that moment, he recalled the inheritance of Li Bai, the Sword Immortal and sword master of the human world— the sword Dao was simplicity at its utmost, and the immortal Dao was the same. True control did not lie in the strength of one's power, but in being "just right."

When Xiao Yun stepped onto the nine hundred and ninety-ninth stair, the Immortal Power around him moved as naturally as his own limbs. The final cloud stair solidified steadily beneath his foot without producing the slightest ripple.

"Success!" He let out a long breath and looked up. The entrance to the Nine Heavens was close at hand, where Chu Yinge and the others stood smiling.

"Congratulations." Chu Yinge lightly brushed her sleeve, praise in her eyes. "To reach the summit in three days... no, a quarter of an hour, Lord, your talent truly is extraordinary."

"A quarter of an hour?" Xiao Yun was stunned.

Chu Yinge smiled. "The Time Flow Rate within the Ascension Road differs from that of the outside world—one day outside is one year here. Though you comprehended the path here for three days, only an instant passed in the outside world."

Xiao Yun suddenly understood, then smiled bitterly. "No wonder you weren't worried at all..."

At the end of the Ascension Road, the gates of the Nine Heavens slowly opened, and vast Immortal Qi poured forth like a tide.

Chu Yinge stepped aside to make way and said calmly, "What comes next is the true trial."

Xiao Yun clenched his fists, battle intent blazing in his eyes. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

He immediately took the lead and entered the Main Gate of the Nine Heavens.