The hundred faces of all living beings

As soon as he said that, others immediately chimed in.

"Chen Family is right. Why would Bai Clan need to use the Slanting Moon Token to summon us from a mere Floating World? Don't you all agree?" The man sitting on the left had a handsome face and looked to be only in his early twenties. He was lounging lazily in his Chair, and even his voice was languid.

An elderly woman with white hair, holding Dragon-Head Cane, caused the entire hall to tremble. She said in a deep voice, "Tong Family's words are surprising. Since it can trigger World Conflict, it means that this Floating World may challenge us. This matter is of great importance and we must not take it lightly."

Sitting at the head of the table, Bai Changbi spoke up, "Fairy Ji is right, esteemed clan heads. According to ancient teachings, when the World Conflict begins, the Floating World Heaven-Connecting Stele will descend upon the Floating Realm, the Heavenly Ladder will open, and various divine objects, Cultivation Method, and Law Treasure will be bestowed. Even the most barren heavenly materials and earthly treasures."

The lazy man took a sip of tea and said languidly, "So what? Do you think my Exquisite World lacks these things? But how many people have actually reached the Divine Platform stage? In the Floating World, even the Peak Cultivator are only at the Dao Fire Realm. If there are truly promising talents, they've probably already taken the Heaven Ascending Path and entered the Cultivation World. A hundred years will pass in the blink of an eye. Even if a few people are exceptionally talented and reach the Divine Platform stage, how can they compare to the countless years of accumulation within my within the Exquisite World?"

The elderly man in fine clothes calmly said, "Not to mention that the Floating World is becoming increasingly dilapidated, even according to Ancient Records records, who has ever succeeded in World Conflict? There's no need for such a fuss. Could it be that Patriarch Bai Clan has other plans?"

Bang!

The elderly woman slammed her cane heavily on the ground and said coldly, "Patriarch Chen Family, watch your words. Bai Clan is taking precautions. This is World Conflict, not a trivial matter. It concerns the safety of our entire Slanting Moon World. If we lose, our origin will be seized by the Floating World, and this realm will fall into the Demon Realm, never to rise again. Not only will our major Lineage be wiped out, but even Countless Living Beings could be easily destroyed. Can you bear this responsibility?"

"Ji Yuhuan, stop with the accusations. I, Chen Tongming, won't fall for that Bai Clan, just say what you have to say. If there's nothing else, I won't keep you company." The richly dressed old man snorted coldly.

"In the face of World Conflict, no amount of caution is excessive; we must ensure absolute safety. Therefore, I plan to use the Slanting Moon Token to activate the Five Directions Great Formation, cross the Heaven-Connecting Stele, and glimpse the Heaven Ladder Rankings."

The moment this person appeared, some people's expressions changed.

"No, activating the Five Directions Great Formation requires each of my families to consume five High-grade Spirit Vein. Your Bai Clan is wealthy and powerful, so it doesn't matter to you, but my Chen Family doesn't have that kind of surplus."

"Even my Tong Family can't afford to waste time. Five High-grade Spirit Vein can support five Divine Platform Cultivator."

Bai Changbi ignored the two men and instead looked at the silent old man on his right. The man was dressed in black and had an indifferent expression.

Brother Wang, what do you think?

"Yes, but the time is set for ten years from now. At this point, the Floating World will be of no use to us," the Black-Robed Elder said calmly.

Upon hearing this, Chen and Tong immediately fell silent, their brows furrowed.

Bai Changbi smiled and said, "That's exactly what I was thinking. If the Floating World really poses a threat, we might have no choice but to exhaust the resources of the Slanting Moon World and resort to some measures."

The Black-Robed Elder was slightly surprised. "It is said that even Celestial Person are helpless beneath the Heavenly Heaven-Connecting Stele. Brother Bai, you actually have other methods?"

Bai Changbi said calmly, "In the Outer Realm, let alone Celestial Person, even immortals would find it difficult to break through the domain of the Heaven-Connecting Stele. However, the Floating World and the Exquisite World are of the same origin, and my Bai Clan has been passed down for tens of thousands of years. We happen to know some methods that others do not know. The key now is whether we can find and locate this Floating World, and we also need to figure out whether it is worth using these methods, after all, the price is quite high."

The descent of the Heaven-Connecting Stele brought about tremendous changes for the people of the Floating World.

A wave of cultivation swept through the entire realm, and this path, which was almost completely closed to Ordinary Person, seemed to have suddenly opened up.

Climbing the Heavenly Ladder takes almost no time, and even people in their seventies and eighties are willing to give it a try. If they can obtain a reward, even if they don't use it themselves, they can give it to younger generations or sell it for a considerable amount of money.

However, this also caused problems. The illusion was just like real life. Entering it once or twice was fine, but if one entered it too often, it would disrupt one's original memories.

Many people have been affected by this and become mentally unstable, and it is not uncommon for some to undergo drastic changes in their personality.

There were many who angrily denounced the government and claimed to be the emperor.

The Great Qian Imperial Court quickly issued an official document and the government issued a public notice, which barely brought the matter under control. However, there were still many people who took the risk for the reward.

There was nothing that could be done about it. Under the influence of the Heaven-Connecting Stele's domain, one could enter the Heavenly Ladder without any external objects; one only needed to think about it to step inside.

Some people even lived in poverty, yet they were willing to die in order to enjoy themselves in that illusion.

In the North Spring Mountain, Gu Yuanqing couldn't help but fall silent as he looked out at the Heaven and Earth. This was the Human Heart, the myriad aspects of all living beings, with different desires. For some, the outside world was a lifetime, and so was the illusion.

However, compared to these older, more experienced individuals, the younger ones have an advantage. Their simple minds make them less susceptible to illusions, and they benefit greatly from the illusions.

That day, Gu Yuanqing came to the courtyard below and, seeing Ji Dai's haggard appearance, frowned and said, "Senior Ji, you can't go in anymore."

At this moment, Ji Dai lay on the Chair with a withered face, his body disheveled, and he reeked of alcohol. He didn't look like a Dao Fire Realm Cultivator, but rather like a drunkard, his eyes dull and lifeless.

Facing Gu Yuanqing, he could only manage a forced smile, "Thank you, Young Master Gu, but this is ultimately my mental tribulation. If I can't overcome it, my cultivation might only reach its limit. Now that I have such an opportunity, how can I give it up?"

Li Shi'an sighed and pulled Gu Yuanqing outside the courtyard.

"Fellow Daoist Friend Ji was born into wealth and his wife was his childhood sweetheart. However, he was framed and killed in bed with his own hands. He only learned the truth afterward, but it was too late for regrets. Before she died, his wife only asked one question: Why didn't you believe her? And this question followed him for the rest of his life, and even now he still can't get over this knot in his heart."

Gu Yuanqing then asked, "And you, senior? I've noticed you've been acting a little strange lately."

"I dare not enter the Heavenly Ladder Illusory Realm again for now. Once inside, my memories are obscured. Although I can still break through the illusion each time, my mind has become restless these past few days." Li Shi'an's expression was complicated. Some things are still an obstacle even in the past.

Gu Yuanqing nodded slightly. "As long as Senior understands."

Back in his courtyard, Gu Yuanqing once again entered the Heavenly Ladder Trial.

Beneath the Heaven-Connecting Stele domain, the Heavenly Ladder Trial can be entered once a day. One can either start again from where they failed or start from the beginning. The illusionary realms of the first three steps are like fierce tigers blocking the way, standing in the way of countless people.

However, unlike others, with the illusory image of Spirit Mountain present, the illusion could not obscure his memories, and naturally could not impact his mind.

Gu Yuanqing started from scratch every day, just to farm the rewards of Phoenix Gold and Seven Colored Cloud Iron.