Lin Bai walked to the mountaintop, where a cloud-shrouded plaza lay ahead.
A group of elders stood amid the clouds like immortal gods from the heavens. Seeing Lin Bai approach, they said, "Congratulations on passing the second trial. The heavenly ladder is behind us. As long as you can step onto the third step, you'll have passed the Eternal Devil Sect's disciple assessment and can become one of the Eternal Devil Sect's inner disciples!"
"The heavenly ladder behind us has nine steps in total. If, after stepping onto the third step, you still have the strength to continue forward, then keep going. This is a reward for you assessed martial artists. Do your best to climb as many steps as you can."
"As for the benefits atop the heavenly ladder, you'll naturally understand once you step onto it."
Lin Bai cupped his hands. "Thank you, Elder, for enlightening me."
"Go." The elders stepped aside, making way. Lin Bai started forward, and just as he passed Elder Li, Elder Li quietly said to him, "You can't swallow the Myriad Formation Banner. Return it to the Heng Province Alliance as soon as possible. Otherwise, if you displease Wu Shanyu, I'm afraid you won't escape calamity either."
Lin Bai froze, then frowned and pondered for a moment. After cupping his fists to thank the elder, he continued toward the heavenly ladder.
Arriving before the first step, Lin Bai looked up. Just as Li Yumen had told him earlier, each step was nine thousand zhang long and a hundred zhang wide, with a thousand meters between each step. They coiled above the clouds like enormous beasts, and only at the end of the nine heavenly steps stood that immortal-god palace.
Each step of the heavenly ladder was as smooth as white jade, suffused with