This Brat Finally Didn't Disappoint Me

As the words fell, everyone quickly retreated.

A few with lower cultivation levels weren't as fast and were enveloped by the Nine Nether Blood Qi before they could react. The next moment, their bodies began to decay, and they fell to the ground with screams.

That mass of Nine Nether Blood Qi also dissipated somewhat.

Seeing this, Ye Yu looked up at the last remaining light on the mountaintop. This Nine Nether Blood Qi was merely overflowing; there was no further supply.

The true Nine Nether Blood Spring must be sealed at the summit.

"So this is the Nine Nether Blood Qi. It doesn't seem as terrifying as the rumors claimed," Liu Ruyan mumbled.

Then, as if discovering something new, she looked at Ye Yu with a knowing expression.

"As expected, the terrifying tales of the Nine Nether Blood Spring were fabricated by those with ulterior motives."

Not just Liu Ruyan, but everyone present frowned as they looked at the mass of Nine Nether Blood Qi before them. Some of them had actually seen the Nine Nether Blood Spring before.

This Nine Nether Blood Qi was indeed a bit weak.

However, no matter how weak the Nine Nether Blood Qi was, it was blocking the mountain gate, preventing them from ascending.

"This is just a small wisp of Nine Nether Blood Qi. Everyone, let's join forces and disperse it," Ye Xuan quickly said.

Immediately, many people joined hands. Spiritual energy surged before the mountain gate, gradually pushing the mass of Nine Nether Blood Qi aside and revealing the entire gate.

Seeing the Nine Nether Blood Qi resolved so easily, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a sense of having survived a disaster.

If this Nine Nether Blood Qi had been any larger or denser, not only would obtaining opportunities in this secret realm be impossible, but surviving to leave would have been questionable.

A long stone staircase gradually appeared before everyone's eyes.

Many people eagerly began to ascend.

When someone stepped onto the stone staircase, the entire staircase trembled violently. Immediately, accompanied by a dazzling golden light, the outer shell of the staircase began to peel away.

It revealed pure white, jade-like steps, leading all the way to the summit.

"This is the Ascending Heaven Staircase from the records," Qin Ruoxian exclaimed in surprise.

Ancient texts stated that to be accepted as a disciple of the Sacred Pill Sect, one had to undergo the trial of the Ascending Heaven Staircase. This was also a method the Sacred Pill Sect used to test a disciple's aptitude; the higher one climbed, the better their talent.

Only those recognized by the Ascending Heaven Staircase could enter the Sacred Pill Sect.

Within the secret realm, while everyone was still marveling at the Ascending Heaven Staircase, the outside world had already descended into chaos.

Major powers, having received the news, had already gathered. Experts like Situ Guang, who were in the middle Nascent Soul stage, were now considered low-tier.

Emperors of various dynasties and Sect Masters had all arrived.

After all, a cave dwelling suspected to belong to a cultivator in the Void Refining stage was enough to drive them mad.

"Everyone, the situation is unclear at the moment. It would be best if we work together to investigate thoroughly. What do you think?" Ye Fan looked around at the people present and asked.

"I agree. After we clarify the situation inside, we can discuss the distribution," an emperor from an imperial dynasty in Leizhou said.

With the situation inside unknown, acting this way was indeed the best course of action. Many people immediately agreed.

Seeing that most people had agreed, Ye Fan nodded. "It is rumored that the Qingyun Sect possesses a secret treasure that can observe the situation inside, ignoring restrictions and spatial barriers. I wonder if the Qingyun Sect Master would be willing to lend it for use?"

Sect Master Leng Qianqiu of the Qingyun Sect nodded. With a flip of his palm, an ancient bronze mirror appeared in his hand.

"This item is called the Sky-Gazing Mirror. It requires an immense amount of spiritual energy to activate. I hope everyone can lend their strength."

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.

In the current situation, anyone who claimed they could power the Sky-Gazing Mirror alone would be a fool.

Ye Fan's gaze swept over the Sky-Gazing Mirror, a flicker of greed in his eyes, before he spoke, "In that case, please, Sect Master Leng, activate the secret treasure."

Leng Qianqiu nodded and formed hand seals. A golden light flashed across the Sky-Gazing Mirror, and it floated up, hovering in mid-air. "Now, please infuse it with your spiritual energy."

The leaders of all the factions acted together, pouring boundless and powerful spiritual energy into the Sky-Gazing Mirror.

The light from the Sky-Gazing Mirror grew stronger, and with a hum, a massive light screen appeared before everyone.

Once the light screen stabilized, the situation within the secret realm was exposed to everyone's sight.

"Sacred Pill Sect!!!"

Someone immediately exclaimed.

The fame of the Sacred Pill Sect was not limited to Qingzhou; Yun and Lei states also had records of it. They never expected that this secret realm was actually the ruins of the Sacred Pill Sect.

"Is that the Ascending Heaven Staircase?" Everyone's gaze was drawn to the long section of stone steps.

Then, Ye Yu and the others at the mountain gate were also revealed to everyone's sight.

Seeing that the few of them were safe, Qin Wushuang breathed a sigh of relief.

"I see that your descendants or disciples are all attempting to climb the stairs. If we forcibly break the seal now, it might cause spatial disturbances and endanger those inside. How about we observe for now?" Leng Qianqiu suggested.

As he spoke, Leng Qianqiu secretly crushed a jade talisman and sent a message back.

With the emergence of the Sacred Pill Sect ruins, a struggle was inevitable. Without absolute certainty, it was best not to act rashly.

Leng Qianqiu was not the only one with this thought; several factions with strong foundations nodded in agreement.

Although other factions were unwilling, they could only accept.

"Look, someone's climbing the stairs!" someone suddenly exclaimed, and everyone else, forgetting everything else, stared intently at the light screen.

Each of them inwardly hoped that someone from their own faction would be the first to enter the Sacred Pill Sect, as the benefits gained then would undoubtedly be the greatest.

"Let's go, we'll try climbing the Ascending Heaven Staircase too," Ye Yu said to Qin Ruoxian, then followed the crowd onto the stairs.

The moment he stepped onto it, Ye Yu felt a pressure surge towards him, and the spiritual energy within his body seemed completely sealed.

"It seems the Ascending Heaven Staircase doesn't allow us to use spiritual energy," Qin Ruoxian said, surprised.

"Perhaps they believe this is the only way to better test talent," Ye Yu shrugged indifferently and continued to climb.

At first, everyone's progress was roughly the same, but gradually, the gaps widened.

Many stopped at the three-hundredth step, unable to move even one step further.

By the five-hundredth step, only a third of the people remained.

Those outside watching through the Sky-Gazing Mirror were full of admiration.

Those who entered the secret realm were, if not the top talents of their respective factions, then at least the cream of the crop.

Yet, merely five hundred steps had eliminated more than half of them.

This demonstrated the extremely high threshold for disciples accepted by the Sacred Pill Sect, truly worthy of being the former overlord of Qingzhou!

"Someone has reached seven hundred steps!"

As someone exclaimed in surprise, all eyes fixed on the figure at the very top.

After clearly seeing his face, Ye Fan's lips curved upwards slightly, and he said proudly, "Not bad, this brat finally didn't disappoint me."