The Immortal Palace Appears, Ascending the Immortal Stairway

Do you know where you went wrong?

Leng Qingqiu looked at her disciple with a very serious expression and asked.

Qing'er said, "This disciple shouldn't have been so arrogant and domineering."

"No."

Leng Qingqiu said, word by word, "You shouldn't have invited them to join my Emotion-Forsaking Palace without verifying their identities. Remember, my Emotion-Forsaking Palace has requirements for accepting disciples."

Qing'er was taken aback upon hearing this, then respectfully said, "Disciple will remember Master's teachings. Master, are you alright?"

Leng Qingqiu waved her hand. "I'm fine. I was just caught off guard in the battle and suffered some minor injuries. I can recover in a moment. However, I must not act rashly if I face any cultivators from the Dao-Seeking Academy again."

"Promise."

The disciples of the Emotion-Forsaking Palace responded respectfully. They weren't fools; after witnessing Nie Xiuyuan's power, continuing to provoke him would only be asking for trouble.

Nothing happened that night.

All the factions spent the night peacefully in their respective camps.

The next morning, the disciples of the Dao-Seeking Academy continued their journey into the Northern Jade Mountain.

Wang Baole followed behind Nie Xiuyuan and asked, "Senior brother, there is clearly vegetation in this Northern Jade Mountain, but we can't see a single demonic beast. Isn't that too strange?"

Nie Xiuyuan smiled and explained, "Actually, this is easy to explain. Every demon beast has a very strong sense of territory. Although the Taotie is an ancient divine beast, it is also a type of demon beast."

"Let alone demonic beasts, even we cultivators will be expelled just before the Northern Jade Mountain closes."

Wang Baole nodded slightly and murmured, "I wonder where that Taotie essence blood is?"

Nie Xiuyuan said calmly, "No rush. As long as the demon beast's essence blood is in this mountain, we will definitely be able to obtain it."

Wang Baole Fist Dao, "Then I'll have to trouble you for help, Senior Brother."

Nie Xiuyuan: "It was nothing."

Over the next few days, the two continued to gather disciples from the Dao-Seeking Academy.

Finally, seven days later, all the disciples of the Dao-Seeking Academy who had entered Northern Jade Mountain gathered around the two of them.

After having Elder Huang count the troops and confirm that no one had perished, Nie Xiuyuan led the group toward the main peak of Northern Jade Mountain.

As the disciples of the Dao-Seeking Academy drew closer to the main peak, the number of cultivators around them also increased.

Along the way, cultivators from other factions instinctively made way for the group from the Dao-Seeking Academy.

Nie Xiuyuan and the others didn't stand on ceremony, since they entered Northern Jade Mountain to compete for opportunities, and naturally they wouldn't be polite to anyone.

The main peak of Northern Jade Mountain is surrounded by clouds and mist, and is rich in Spiritual Qi. From a distance, it looks like a fairy mountain.

Upon entering the main peak, the abundant Spiritual Qi made many people want to sit down and cultivate on the spot.

But the more this was the case, the more everyone wanted to see what was on the main peak.

The group climbed along the narrow mountain path, and after passing through the clouds, a magnificent and imposing palace, resembling a celestial palace, came into view.

A stone staircase made of white jade leads directly to the palace, appearing like an endless ladder to heaven amidst the surrounding clouds and mist.

Nie Xiuyuan and Wang Baole subconsciously used their divine senses to look towards the mountaintop, but they soon discovered that their divine senses were blocked by a terrifying force as soon as they reached the outside of the stone steps.

hiss...

Wang Baole gasped, muttering, "There's something strange about this celestial palace."

Nie Xiuyuan, "I sensed the power of the Great Dao."

Wang Baole: "Senior brother, are you saying that this celestial palace is the Daoist temple of that ancient Demon Saint?"

"Good."

Nie Xiuyuan explained, "Only Saint could use the power of the Great Dao to create such a magnificent heavenly ladder. Let's go and see what kind of test that person has left for us."

"Good."

Wang Baole, having arrived here, naturally would not back down again.

Led by the two, the disciples of the Dao-Seeking Academy gradually made their way up the stone steps.

The moment everyone stepped onto the stone steps, they felt a terrifying pressure enveloping them.

Nie Xiuyuan and Wang Baole exchanged a knowing smile and said in unison, "So this Saint also enjoys this kind of thing."

They had encountered this kind of test before and hadn't taken it to heart.

As the group walked further and further up the stone steps, some cultivators gradually began to fall behind.

At the same time, cultivators from Great Sage also arrived at the foot of the stone steps one after another, and they all went up the mountain.

One day later.

Only Nie Xiuyuan and Wang Baole remained in the Dao-Seeking Academy's group; they had only just climbed halfway up the stone steps of the Heavenly Ladder.

Behind them, the Golden Cicada Buddha Child, the Northern Abyss Crown Prince, and the Emotion-Forsaking Holy Maiden also caught up with their entourage.

In addition, disciples from other Great Sage also caught up one after another.

Nie Xiuyuan the sky and smiled at Wang Baole, saying, "Junior brother, it's getting late. How about we have a few drinks and grab a bite to eat on these stone steps?"

He spoke softly, but the people behind him could hear him.

In an instant, several pairs of eyes fell on Nie Xiuyuan and Wang Baole.

Noticing the strange looks from everyone, Wang Baole smiled and said, "Okay, let's eat something and rest for a bit, and continue tomorrow."

As they talked, the two made way for each other and sat down on the stone steps.

One person took out a wine flask from their storage ring, while the other took out some food, completely ignoring the strange looks from the people behind them as they began to eat and drink.

Before long, everyone smelled the fragrant aroma of wine and delicious food.

Gulp

Even though the people behind them were at least Nirvana Realm cultivators, they still couldn't help but swallow hard when they smelled the aroma.

The commander of the Black Dragon Army of the Northern Abyss Holy Dynasty said with a look of disdain, "Show-off. If you can't get up there, just say so. Don't act like it doesn't matter."

However, his words were not echoed by anyone. The three Half-Saint Realm experts present still acknowledged Nie Xiuyuan's strength.

None of the three of them felt any pressure when they got here, and Nie Xiuyuan was probably no exception. However, his actions puzzled everyone.

Could it be that Nie Xiuyuan intends to give up the opportunities within the Sacred Palace?

The group ignored the two and continued walking up the stone steps.

Two hours later.

After a satisfying meal, Nie Xiuyuan and Wang Baole continued their ascent along the stone steps.

After walking down only a few dozen stone steps, the two saw the Black Dragon Army commander who had mocked them earlier. He was covered in sweat and radiating a holy light, as if he was activating his Saint Physique to resist the pressure from the stone steps.

Neither of them spoke; they simply smiled and continued walking.

Such a nonchalant disregard instantly broke the Black Dragon Army commander's guard. Before he could even utter a word, his foot slipped, and he tumbled down the stone steps with a thud.

Seeing this Nie Xiuyuan and Wang Baole smiled, shook their heads, and continued on their way. A short while later, they spotted the figures of the Northern Abyss Crown Prince and his entourage...