Gu Qingshan sized up the monk statue.
Once the dust had been cleared from the figure, it revealed a plain monk's robe. Yet a pair of pitch-black shackles bound his feet, which were buried in the ground. He was pinned in place, unable to move at all.
Gu Qingshan had never seen anything like this before, and couldn't help but feel a measure of caution.
This guy was definitely no ordinary person.
"Amitabha. The evil ghosts will arrive shortly. Benefactor, you must ascend at once if you hope to escape with Kunlun World," the monk said.
Gu Qingshan glanced at the black line on his arm.
The black line that extended into the void tugged faintly, as if trying to warn him of something.
The pursuers were almost here.
Gu Qingshan nodded to the monk. "I'll find a way to ascend. Farewell."
"Wait!" the monk called.
"What is it?" Gu Qingshan asked.
"The seven great academies each have a path of ascension, with eighty-one trials in all. You must pass every one before you can reach the Ascension Platform and travel to the Immortal Palace in Jade Pool. But the pursuers will be here at any moment. I'm afraid you don't have time to go through those trials."
"Then what should I do?" Gu Qingshan asked.
"I am the contingency plan the immortals prepared back then, meant to handle all kinds of emergencies. Benefactor, I'll send you to ascend right now."
Gu Qingshan asked skeptically, "I've heard that ascending is exceptionally difficult, with trial after trial to overcome, no easier than facing a heavenly tribulation. You're trapped here, yet you can send me to the Heavenly Palace?"
It was no wonder he was suspicious. They had only just met, and the other man was sealed inside the great hall, unable