On surveying heaven and determining the epoch, and the gathering of the Purple Pole Imperial Heaven Chart

Clouds scattered in all directions beneath a clear blue sky.

Jiang Yi was wrapped in warm, radiant light, like a magnificent pillar thrust across the heavens, sweeping aside wave upon wave of Azure Firmament astral winds as he sped toward the Xiantian Sect's mountain gate.

How vast the Southern Continent was-yet they crossed ten thousand miles in an instant.

Only a Sect-tier Dharma Lineage could possess such means.

The white-haired elder carrying an eight-foot bronze drum looked thoroughly pleased with himself as he asked:

"Dao Child, how do you like this 'Heaven-Climbing Ladder'?"

Jiang Yi looked out. His field of vision rose higher and higher, somewhat like when his Divine Sense had leaped into the Great Void, as though he stood in an entirely different world. Above the Azure Firmament, astral winds surged mightily.

The magnificent pillar of light gradually narrowed into a lustrous ring several feet across, enclosing him, Qiao Yu, and the Great Kui Mysterious Drum's Artifact Spirit. All manner of solidified Yang Astral essence Qi struck the outside of the ring with sharp cracks, yet could not shake it in the slightest.

"Heaven-Climbing Ladder?"

Jiang Yi turned toward the white-haired elder and thought:

Being guided up like this really does feel like climbing a long ladder to the utmost heavens.

The Great Kui Mysterious Drum's Artifact Spirit was clearly a chatterbox. Delighted at the chance to get acquainted with the future Dao Child, he immediately began:

"Let me explain, Dao Child. Our Eight Sects of the Demonic Dao rule the Southern Continent. This 'rule' does not mean intimidating the various Dharma Lineages into paying tribute and taxes. The authority that truly takes concrete form is 'Heaven-Measuring Origin-Determining.'"

Jiang Yi savored the words carefully. Merely hearing that last phrase, he felt its astonishing weight.

But he asked no