The Great-Fortune Bearers Gather and Enter the Immortal Palace

At Northern Jade Mountain, the sky was just beginning to lighten.

On the steps leading to the Immortal Palace, Wang Baole and Nie Xiuyuan, the two fellow disciples, walked side by side with the Northern Abyss Crown Prince, the Golden Cicada Buddha Child, and the Emotion-Forsaking Holy Maiden. Behind them were several cultivators from the Holy Land.

At this moment, the people walking at the very front were only ten steps away from the celestial palace.

But everyone was already covered in sweat, and the scenes before them were all different.

What appeared before the Golden Cicada Buddha Child was an endless hell, filled with countless demons and monsters.

He looked at these demons and monsters, then closed his eyes, chanting Buddhist scriptures, and stepped forward.

When the demons and monsters saw the high monk descend, they pounced on him, tearing at his flesh relentlessly.

Even so, the Golden Cicada Buddha Child continued chanting sutras, but after only a few steps, all the flesh and blood on his body were devoured by demons and monsters.

Even with only his soul remaining, the demons and monsters did not let him go and continued to devour it.

For a moment, in the illusion, the only sounds besides chanting were the sounds of gnawing.

On the other side, the Northern Abyss Crown Prince saw an endless stream of enemies, while the soldiers of the Northern Abyss Holy Dynasty around him had already fallen into pools of blood.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

The Northern Abyss Crown Prince roared angrily as he charged into the enemy ranks, wielding a broken sword.

The Emotion-Forsaking Holy Maiden saw countless men, including celestial beings, handsome Devil Race, and the man she admired when she first fell in love.

As these men approached her one by one, the Emotion-Forsaking Holy Maiden remained calm and unperturbed, continuing her journey without being affected.

In contrast, a paradise appeared before Nie Xiuyuan, where he could live Xiaoyao life, drinking and eating to his heart's content.

Nie Xiuyuan lived leisurely in this idyllic paradise, riding a white horse, his only thought being that the world was so big and he wanted to see it for himself.

Before Wang Baole lay countless delicacies. He savored each dish as he walked, convinced that even more delicious food lay ahead.

Time passed by, minute by minute.

The five finally determined a winner on the last ten steps.

Wang Baole and Nie Xiuyuan were the first to break through the illusion and arrive at the flat ground outside the celestial palace.

The two looked at the celestial palace before them, their lips curving slightly upwards. They exchanged a smile and were about to walk towards the palace when a familiar voice came from behind them.

"Amitabha Buddha, this humble monk thought Benefactor Nie would be able to pass through this Heavenly Ladder, but I never expected that there would be a master like Fellow Daoist Wang in the Dao-Seeking Academy."

"Great monk, you're not bad either. Although you're covered in sweat, you're much faster than those two."

Wang Baole said with a smile.

"Thank you for your praise, fellow Daoist. Shall we wait for those two fellow Daoists, or shall we go in together?"

Golden Cicada Buddha Child asked with a smile.

Nie Xiuyuan took a sip of wine. "As the saying goes, meeting is fate. Let's wait for them. We brothers are hungry too."

He certainly didn't want to hand over the opportunity to someone else; it was just that the monk's suggestion reminded him that the celestial palace was likely fraught with danger, and having another expert to share the burden would provide more protection.

After saying that, he gave Wang Baole a look.

Wang Baole took out the food he had carefully prepared, along with tables and chairs, and placed them in front of the Immortal Palace gate, inviting the Golden Cicada Buddha Child to join him, "Great monk, come together."

The Golden Cicada Buddha Child, smelling the delicious aroma wafting from the food, smiled and said, "It would be impolite of me to refuse such a kind invitation, benefactor. Thank you."

"Master, stop with the formalities. Even my junior brother Xu, a scholar, isn't as pedantic as you. Go on."

As he spoke, Nie Xiuyuan took out a flask of wine from his storage ring and tossed it over.

Without a second thought, the Golden Cicada Buddha Child took the wine jug and walked toward the two of them.

The three of them soon sat around a table and began drinking and discussing philosophy.

Half an hour later.

When Leng Qingqiu passed the Heavenly Ladder test, she saw the three of them drinking and eating heartily, and she was slightly taken aback.

The three of them also felt the gaze upon them, and they all turned their heads to look, only to see that the person who had come was Leng Qingqiu.

Golden Cicada Buddha Child spoke first, "Emotion-Forsaking Holy Maiden, since Northern Abyss Crown Prince has not yet arrived, why don't you come and discuss the Dao with us?"

"No need."

Leng Qingqiu refused without even thinking. She found an open space and sat cross-legged on the spot.

Although she didn't know why the three of them hadn't gone in yet, she knew that it might not be a good thing for someone to rashly enter the Immortal Palace now. Not only would they fail to obtain the opportunities within the Immortal Palace, but they might also end up benefiting others.

Huff, huff, huff...

A heavy breathing sound came from the ladder, drawing everyone's attention.

The Northern Abyss Crown Prince stood on the stone steps, looking as if he had been through countless battles.

Seeing Nie Xiuyuan and the others drinking heartily, the Northern Abyss Crown Prince felt an inexplicable displeasure.

"You lot are certainly in high spirits, drinking and making merry right in front of this celestial palace."

Nie Xiuyuan smiled and said, "Aren't we waiting here for Your Highness to enter the Celestial Palace together?"

"Oh?"

Northern Abyss Crown Prince sneered, "Are you all afraid to enter this celestial palace?"

Before he finished speaking, the tightly closed gates of the celestial palace suddenly opened automatically, and an ancient and majestic voice came from within.

"The chosen ones have all arrived. The Celestial Palace is now open, and cultivators outside the palace can receive its blessings."

Upon hearing this, Nie Xiuyuan took a sip of wine and said, "Your Highness, that senior has already given the answer. Do you still wish to continue the debate?"

"Snort!"

Northern Abyss Crown Prince snorted coldly and fell silent, but he also began to be wary. How could that person in the Immortal Palace see that the five of them present were all people of great fortune, and even wait for him specifically? Could it be that he wanted to strip them of their fortune?

Nie Xiuyuan didn't continue mocking the Northern Abyss Crown Prince. He casually picked up the wine jug in his hand and said to Wang Baole and the Golden Cicada Buddha Child, "Fellow Daoists, now that everyone is here, let's go inside together."

"No problem."

Golden Cicada Buddha Child also had doubts, but having already arrived at the treasure mountain, he naturally wouldn't back down here.

After tidying up, the three of them headed towards the gate of the Immortal Palace. Northern Abyss Crown Prince pondered for a moment and then followed in their footsteps. The Emotion-Forsaking Holy Maiden remained silent and followed behind the group.

Soon they arrived at the main gate, and they exchanged glances.

The Golden Cicada Buddha Child asked, "Which fellow Daoist would like to enter first?"

Nie Xiuyuan, "Let's go together."

"Can."

"OK."

"..."

Each of them had their own agenda. They were afraid of danger and that their opportunity would be taken away by someone else. The best way was to enter this celestial palace together.

After exchanging glances, the five of them strode into the celestial palace in unison...