Entering the Realm

Behind this enormous sculpture is a row of wooden bookshelves. The species of wood is unknown, but these trees have endured countless years without decaying, instead exuding a heavy, ancient aura and a metallic-like texture.

On the bookshelf, there are rows of dusty jade slips.

Upon seeing these jade slips, everyone suddenly realized that the jade slips in the secret realm easily reminded them of cultivation techniques Secret Manual.

If it is a cultivation Secret Manual left behind by Ancient Empress, its value is self-evident.

However, although people coveted the bookshelf, they dared not rush forward to take them, fearing there might be some kind of restriction. Yet, until they reached the bookshelf, nothing had changed.

Some people mustered their courage, picked up a jade slip, and carefully immersed their Spiritual Sense into it. However... what they saw greatly disappointed them.

The texts on these jade slips are all classics and historical records, and have nothing to do with the inheritance of martial arts.

Too much time has passed, and people can only vaguely understand many of the words on the jade slip. Nevertheless, people can still roughly deduce some things from a few words.

"Was this what it was like in ancient times...?"

Yi Yun was engrossed in what he was watching when, just then, the cold voice from the Empress Secret Realm rang out again. "Now, cultivation begins!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the bookshelves in front of them slowly parted, and a beam of strong light shone in. People squinted slightly to look, and in front of them was a space that had been isolated and sealed off for a long time. In this space, there was a long stone staircase leading straight to the sky.

The stone steps meander like a long snake. At the end of the steps, there is a door that looks no bigger than the palm of your hand, and the light shines from this door.

The many trial participants exchanged glances, all curious about what lay behind the door at the end of the stone steps.

"There's more than one portal; there are more portals higher up!"

Someone said something, and people looked up and sure enough, they saw that the long staircase extended to a higher place, where there was a door that was shining.

Because of its high position, the door appears to be only the size of a fingernail.

And this door was not the end. The trial participants had excellent eyesight, and they could see another door higher up, which had already become the size of a pinhole.

This staircase is like a divine bridge leading to Heavenly Court, seemingly without end, with a glittering door at each specific point.

Some of the trial participants couldn't resist and cautiously began to climb the steps.

These stone steps are simply rectangular stones floating in the air without any support; in fact, people can feel the steps swaying when they walk on them.

The stone steps were long, but when some of the trial participants reached a certain height, they felt resistance.

This force made it difficult for them to move forward.

Huh? What's going on?

People were startled. Was this yet another test? Could they only move forward by overcoming this resistance?

However, only a few people, such as Yi Yun, Lin Xin Tong, and Shentu Nantian, encountered resistance and smoothly rose through the ranks.

Many people don't understand why.

Just then, the cold voice from the Empress Secret Realm rang out. "The God Descending Tower has six levels! The higher the level, the more cultivation opportunities you can obtain!"

"To enter the God Descending Tower, or to reach higher levels, you need the God Descending Tower's approval!"

"This recognition comes from the results of your cultivation. Or perhaps, it comes from your rating in the inner demon trial!"

"Trial participants who obtain the 'Scholar' rating can directly enter the first level of the God Descending Tower!"

Those who obtain the 'Master' rating in the trial can enter the second level.

"Trial participants who obtain a 'Soul' rating can enter the third level."

"And so on!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was somewhat dumbfounded; this...

They looked at each other, especially the "second-rate" trial participants, who didn't know what to say.

So, even though they passed the trial of their inner demons, they still can't even get through the door!?

"The God Descending Tower has six levels, and the Empress Secret Realm also awards six titles. 'Godhood' corresponds to the top level!"

Yi Yun muttered to himself, looking towards the top of the stairs. But no matter how good Yi Yun's eyesight was, it became blurry for some reason after the third step.

"Those who have been granted the title of 'God' can enter the highest level of the God Descending Tower, but those who enter the highest level of the God Descending Tower through the God Descending Tower's approval may not necessarily have the strength to be 'God'."

Beside Yi Yun, Lin Xin Tong transmitted her voice.

Yi Yun nodded. He suspected that someone with the title of "God-Conferred" could directly inherit all of the Empress's legacy and treasures, which was beyond their imagination. They wouldn't need any further trials or assessments, nor would they need the approval of the God Descending Tower.

Since the God Descending Tower has set up an assessment, and passing it allows one to advance to the next level, Yi Yun believes that both he and Lin Xin Tong have the potential to advance to a higher level through cultivation.

At that moment, a rumbling sound came from behind them. Their path out of the tower had been blocked, and it seemed that the path would not reopen until after their cultivation was over.

They couldn't say for sure when that would be.

However, since this trial assesses cultivation, it will probably take at least a few months; otherwise, how can the effectiveness of the cultivation be measured?

It might even take longer...

For a time, many of the trial participants who were deemed "unqualified" were filled with anxiety. If they couldn't get out or enter the first level of the God Descending Tower, were they just supposed to wait foolishly in this confined space for so long?

"Look, there are paintings on the steps!"

Suddenly someone spoke up, and everyone looked down. In the dim light, they saw that, sure enough, there were stone murals at intervals along the steps.

These murals may not seem remarkable at first glance, but once you notice them, they are hard to look away from.

More and more people walked up to the mural and gazed at it intently.

The murals depict figures in various poses.

"Is this... a cultivation diagram?"

After staring at the mural for a while, a boy spoke up.

The figures in the mural are not clearly depicted; they have different appearances and include both men and women.

"Could these people be disciples of the Empress?"

Someone suddenly said that the Ancient Empress seemed to have founded a large sect, but there is no clear record of what happened to that sect in the end.

Since there is a sect, it must have recruited many disciples. Although these disciples are not the Personal Disciple of the Ancient Empress, they must have learned something from Ancient Empress. (To be continued~^~)