Immortality and cultivation begin with full comprehension.

Chapter 654 Ascending the Heavenly Ladder, Fifth Level of Golden Core (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
They could probably create a clone with a single thought and it would have the cultivation of the Nascent Soul Realm. Why not go to the "Far North" themselves?
This left Li Yunjing completely baffled!
"Then what did you mean by 'three thousand years' just now?"

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Li Yunjing, and he grasped the key point.

"Three thousand years ago, when I was still a Nascent Soul cultivator, I had the honor of meeting that senior once."

Xiao Xuan smiled bitterly: "Back then, she was already an unattainable figure, but now..."

He shook his head and didn't continue.

Li Yunjing felt his mouth and tongue were dry.

Why would someone like that target someone as insignificant as himself?

Li Yunjing was even somewhat panicked.

It's like a Qi Refining Realm cultivator who, upon entering the world of cultivation, is tricked by a Nascent Soul Realm expert who does something to him.

In this situation, how could a junior cultivator not be terrified and have a multitude of thoughts running through his mind?

"Senior, what's wrong with me?"

Li Yunjing swallowed hard, calmed down a bit, looked at Xiao Xuan, and asked.

Now, he just wants to get more information and figure out why that senior is manipulating him.

Li Yunjing really didn't want to be a puppet on a string!
No matter if the opponent is a master of the Returning Void Realm or an even higher Integration Realm expert!

No one can control him!
Give me liberty or give me death!
"Tell me about your situation."

Xiao Xuan did not answer, but instead asked a question.

Clearly, in Xiao Xuan's eyes, Li Yunjing's importance was only reflected in his acquaintance with that senior!

As for the rest?

Whether Li Yunjing is a genius or not, or the deputy sect leader of the "Shenxiao Dao Sect", he is nothing in front of a Nascent Soul Realm True Monarch!
Still like ants!

"Is such that……"

Without hesitation, Li Yunjing recounted his past experiences in detail, emphasizing his mission to go to the "far north" to fulfill the task entrusted to him by his predecessor.

"It's weird!"

After hearing this, Xiao Xuan remained silent for a long time, then revealed a strange expression.

"Is something wrong?"

Like a patient facing a doctor, Li Yunjing asked nervously.

"hey-hey!"

Xiao Xuan looked deeply at Li Yunjing and smiled, seemingly puzzled.

Li Yunjing felt a chill run down his spine at that smile. What was going on?
"I……"

Li Yunjing spoke again.

"No need to ask any more questions!"

Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Xuan interrupted Li Yunjing.

"but……"

Xiao Xuan suddenly changed the subject, "The restriction within your body is not a simple constraint, but rather contains a great opportunity."

"Look here, this 'Mysterious Yin Lock' may seem like a restraint, but it is actually a protection."

As he spoke, he gathered purple light at his fingertips and traced the patterns of the Ice Lotus Restriction in the air: "What that senior planted in your body was a 'Mysterious Yin Protector Seal'!"

Li Yunjing looked closely and indeed found that there was a faint life force flowing at the core of the restriction.

"This seal has three functions: protecting the path, transmitting skills, and guiding the way."

Xiao Xuan explained, "Protecting the Dao can avert three certain deaths; the transmission of power will activate at a specific time; as for guiding the way..."

He gave Li Yunjing a meaningful look, "It is precisely to lead you to the 'far north'."

Li Yunjing's heart was in turmoil.

He suddenly remembered what the hazy figure had said in the East China Sea ruins. Li Yunjing could no longer figure out what the meaning of those words was!
Such a master must have profound meaning in every move he makes.

What is this for?
"Does the senior mean... this is actually a stroke of good fortune?"

Li Yunjing looked at Xiao Xuan expectantly and asked.

"Good fortune and misfortune are intertwined."

Xiao Xuan shook his head: "'The far north' is extremely dangerous. Even with the protective seal, it's still a matter of life and death. I don't know why that senior took a liking to you!"

He paused, then suddenly lowered his voice: "However, I am willing to mentor you and forge a good relationship."

Why did you help me, senior?

Li Yunjing's eyes lit up, but he immediately became wary.

"Everyone takes what he needs."

Xiao Xuan said frankly, "You are the deputy sect leader of the Shenxiao Dao Sect in the Southern Heaven Continent, and you are someone that senior has taken notice of. I will help you. If you achieve something in the future, you should repay me. If you die, then forget about it."

"I see!"

Li Yunjing suddenly realized.

"Very well! If I can successfully complete the mission and return safely, I will certainly do something for you, senior, to repay your kindness!"

Li Yunjing made a solemn promise.

In the world of cultivation, acts of forming good relationships are not uncommon.

Many wise people, upon recognizing the potential of younger generations, are willing to mentor them, hoping that the younger generation will achieve success in the future and repay their kindness.

Xiao Xuan made his thoughts clear, and Li Yunjing felt no resentment at being used. Instead, he breathed a sigh of relief and his goodwill towards this senior increased greatly.

Being honest, upright, and consistent in word and deed is a good quality!

Li Yunjing also admires this kind of person!

To be taken advantage of?
Li Yunjing didn't care. In the cultivation world, being used by others is a sign of ability. The real danger is being like mud, ignored by everyone, which is when you're truly doomed!

This happened to Li Yunjing, but he felt no discomfort. He had also mentored others, giving them a glimmer of hope in the hope of repaying them in the future.

His disciple, Lin Xuan, is such a person!
His extraordinary abilities piqued Li Yunjing's curiosity, which led him to put Lin Xuan to a test before accepting him as a disciple!

This is exactly the same as Xiao Xuan's actions!
Xiao Xuan nodded in satisfaction: "In that case, I will lend you a hand."

"Thank you for your guidance, senior!"

Li Yunjing bowed deeply.

"Don't thank me yet."

Xiao Xuan's expression suddenly turned serious. "The true inheritance is a treasure land and an opportunity, but how much you can gain depends on your own ability. If you gain nothing, don't blame others."

With that, he waved his sleeve, and a deafening roar suddenly echoed from the depths of the secret realm.

"The Path to Heaven has nine thousand steps. Those who can ascend three thousand steps will receive benefits; those who ascend six thousand steps will receive a portion of the inheritance; those who reach the summit..."

Xiao Xuan looked at him meaningfully, "'The Purple Cloud Divine Sword' is yours!"

Li Yunjing took a deep breath and looked at the staircase leading to the purple palace. He immediately understood what the test was!
Climb the ladder to heaven!
Li Yunjing bowed to Xiao Xuan and stepped onto the first step without hesitation.

In an instant, a vast and overwhelming pressure descended like a mountain, but a fierce fighting spirit ignited in his eyes.

This time, he not only wants to seize the opportunity for himself, but also to uncover the secret of the restriction within his body!
As Xiao Xuan watched his retreating figure, a hint of expectation and calculation flashed in his eyes.

The moment Li Yunjing stepped onto the second step, his bones creaked under the strain.

The pressure of this ladder to heaven far exceeded my imagination, as if the entire world was pressing down on my shoulders.

"Such intense pressure!"

He gritted his teeth, and veins bulged on his forehead.

The pressure from this second step is already comparable to the full pressure exerted by a seventh-level Golden Core cultivator!
In other words, the starting point of these nine thousand steps is the pressure of the mid-to-late stage of the Golden Core realm!

"This staircase is called the 'Steps of Seeking the Way,' and the pressure increases with each step you take."

Xiao Xuan's voice came from behind: "If you can't take it, you can quit at any time."

Li Yunjing did not answer, but instead took a deep breath and activated the Divine Firmament Dao within his body.

This is no longer the time to hide our strength.

Moreover, there's no need to hide anything in front of a Nascent Soul Realm True Monarch!
After all, they could even see through the restrictions imposed by the experts of the "Moon Palace," so what else could they possibly hide?

At this moment, faint arcs of electricity erupted from Li Yunjing's "Thunder Divine Body," spreading throughout his entire body. Rays of lightning coursed through his meridians, helping him resist the oppressive force of heaven and earth.

Three steps, four steps, five steps.
By the time Li Yunjing reached the hundredth step, he was drenched in sweat.

The pressure here was comparable to the oppressive aura of a Golden Core cultivator at the Great Perfection stage. His protective spiritual light flickered constantly, seemingly on the verge of shattering at any moment.

With a crisp "crack," his Taoist robe suddenly ripped open at his right knee.

Fine beads of blood seeped from the skin's surface, but were quickly evaporated by the power of lightning.

"Can't stop!"

Li Yunjing roared inwardly.

He knew that once he stopped, he would lose his strength, and it would be extremely difficult to muster up his power again. Failure was imminent, and he would be teleported directly off the Heavenly Ladder.

This is not the result Li Yunjing wanted!

"Go! Go! Go!"

Level 200, Level 300
When Li Yunjing reached level 500, blood began to seep from all seven orifices.

His vision blurred, and his ears rang as if a million bees were fluttering in his mind.

Just as he was about to give up, his mind suddenly trembled slightly.

The rolling power of thunder flowed through his body, instantly clearing his mind.

"We must charge forward!"

Li Yunjing already understood what was going on.

Under the influence of the restriction, his magical power and spirit were compressed to the extreme, breaking through the limit of the fourth level of the Golden Core Realm! "Then I'll break through my cultivation level!"

He had a sudden inspiration and immediately adjusted his breathing rhythm, entering a state of "unity with nature".

Instantly, the rich "Purple Cloud Spiritual Energy" surged into his body like a tide.

"Boom!"

His spiritual energy suddenly surged, and the boundary of the fourth level of the Golden Core realm shattered at that moment!
His cultivation level directly broke through to the fifth level of the Golden Core stage, and his aura surged!
"Good boy!"

A glint flashed in Xiao Xuan's eyes from afar, "To actually break through at the 'Inquiry Stage,' this level of comprehension is truly remarkable!"

After the breakthrough, Li Yunjing felt the pressure decrease significantly.

His cultivation level improved by each minor realm, a difference as vast as heaven and earth.

Li Yunjing's "Thunderous Divine Body" has been strengthened once again, and is now comparable to the body of the ninth level of the Golden Core Realm. His divine sense, which manifests as spiritual matter, radiates for eighty miles, comparable to the eighth level of the Golden Core Realm.

And the magical power within his body became increasingly abundant.

This comprehensive upgrade increased his overall combat strength by 30%!

Such power even gives one the chance to directly fight a Nascent Soul Realm Level 2 cultivator!
"Push it to me!"

With his cultivation level still improving, Li Yunjing seized the opportunity and climbed three hundred steps in one go, directly reaching the eight hundredth step!

But at this moment, something strange happened!

Countless purple phantoms suddenly appeared on both sides of the steps, each radiating a powerful aura.

There were ferocious monsters, sword-wielding cultivators, and even several figures who looked exactly like Li Yunjing!

"Heart Demon Tribulation?"

Li Yunjing's pupils contracted.

These phantoms pounced without warning, unleashing a barrage of attacks.

What's even more terrifying is that every attack is aimed directly at the flaws in one's Dao Heart; the slightest carelessness could lead to utter destruction!
"boom!"

A flash of sword light swept across, and Li Yunjing's chest was instantly covered in blood.

He groaned, but dared not pause for a moment. He formed hand seals and unleashed the "Five Thunder Orthodox Method" from the Divine Firmament Thunder Technique.

Amidst flashes of lightning, he fought and advanced, carefully observing the attack patterns of these phantoms.

"wrong."

In the midst of the fierce battle, Li Yunjing suddenly noticed something strange: "The attacks of these phantoms all seem to resonate with some kind of Daoist principle."

In a moment of inspiration, he began to mimic the phantom's attack methods during the battle.

Gradually, his movements became more and more fluid, and he could even predict the phantom's next move!
"I see!"

Li Yunjing suddenly realized, "This is not a test, but a passing down of knowledge!"

Having figured this out, he stopped focusing solely on defense and instead actively engaged with the illusion.

Each encounter deepened his understanding of the "Divine Firmament Path".

When they stepped onto the thousandth step, all the illusions suddenly vanished.

A purple beam of light descended from the sky, enveloping Li Yunjing.

Within the pillar of light, countless mysterious runes danced, eventually coalescing into a purple jade slip that floated before him.

Xiao Xuan's gratified voice rang out: "A thousand-tier treasure bestowal, this is your reward."

Li Yunjing reached out and took the jade slip. He scanned it with his divine sense and was overjoyed.

The jade slip contained a special method of mental training!
"Thank you, senior!"

He solemnly put the jade slip away, his gaze fixed firmly on the higher steps.

At this moment, he was covered in blood, but his fighting spirit was even stronger.

"continue!"

Li Yunjing took a deep breath and stepped upwards again.

This time, his steps were more steady, and his body was faintly intertwined with lightning and purple aura, forming a unique aura.

Li Yunjing's every step felt like carrying a mountain on his back. Starting from the thousandth step, the pressure on the steps had undergone a qualitative change.

Not only was their physical body under terrifying pressure, but even their consciousness was being torn apart by an invisible force.

"This is already... comparable to the pressure of a second or third level Nascent Soul cultivator."

He gritted his teeth, and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

The electric arcs of the "Thunder God Body" pulsed wildly on the surface of his skin, yet they still could not withstand the power of heaven and earth.

When Li Yunjing reached the 1,500th step, his leg bones made a cracking sound as they could no longer bear the weight.

He had no choice but to take pills; handfuls of pills to replenish his mana, mental strength, physical strength, or to heal his injuries were all swallowed down by him.

The surging medicinal power erupted within his body, and Li Yunjing was like a furnace, his body bursting with the power of thunder, the power of the five elements, the yin and yang energies, and even the Azure Dragon and White Tiger Dharma forms, yet he still struggled to move forward!

"I'll do anything to reach the three thousand steps!"

He lifted his foot, trembling, and stepped down to the next step.

……

When they stepped onto the two thousandth step, a sudden change occurred!
The steps suddenly transformed into a sea of ​​lightning, with purple lightning pouring down like a torrential rain.

These lightning bolts shared the same origin as the lightning techniques Li Yunjing cultivated, but were far more violent, each striking his vital meridians with pinpoint accuracy.

"Great!"

Li Yunjing was secretly delighted, but a painful growl escaped his face.

This lightning not only struck the physical body, but also directly burned the soul.

But this is not a threat; rather, it is a benefit.

The power of thunder resonated deeply with Li Yunjing. He felt his injured body rapidly healing, his strength growing ever greater, and his spirit becoming more vibrant.

"The 'Quest for Knowledge' challenge will adjust the trials according to the characteristics of the challenger!"

Xiao Xuan, standing some distance away, frowned deeply: "This kid is in trouble."

Within the sea of ​​lightning, the lightning power within Li Yunjing's body circulated throughout his entire being, slowly absorbing the raging purple lightning!
"Hahaha! My magical power is growing stronger and stronger; I'm about to reach the fifth level of the Golden Core Realm!"

Li Yunjing suddenly realized.

Gradually, the raging thunder became docile, eventually forming a purple-gold thunder pill in the dantian.

At this moment, his cultivation also reached the perfect state of the fifth level of the Golden Core Realm!
"boom!"

A surge of new life power swept through his body. Li Yunjing let out a long roar and continued climbing against the sea of ​​lightning.

By this time, he had figured out the pattern.

The test changes every thousand steps.

Two thousand five hundred steps!
Two thousand seven hundred steps!
Two thousand nine hundred steps!
As we approached the 3,000th step, the pressure increased again.

Li Yunjing's skin began to crack, and the blood evaporated into a mist before it could flow out.

His tall and upright figure gradually became hunched over, like that of an old man nearing the end of his life.

Two thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine.

The last step was so close, but Li Yunjing could no longer lift his foot.

His spiritual power was exhausted, his "Thunder God Body" reached its limit, and even his mental energy was extremely lacking, making him feel drowsy.

"Is that the end?"

He smiled bitterly, his consciousness fading, and subconsciously took a step...

Just as he was about to fall, a gentle force suddenly caught him.

In a daze, Li Yunjing saw Xiao Xuan appear beside him, gently waving his hand to lead him away from the steps.

"Three thousand steps, not bad."

Xiao Xuan's voice was filled with admiration, "With your cultivation level, being able to reach a level comparable to the fifth level of the Nascent Soul Realm is completely beyond my expectations!"

Li Yunjing weakly opened his eyes and found himself lying in front of a purple palace.

His injuries were healing rapidly, and his depleted spiritual energy was also recovering quickly.

"Senior...I..."

Li Yunjing wanted to say something.

"No need to say more."

Xiao Xuan raised his hand to interrupt, "You have proven your potential. As agreed, these are your rewards."

With a flick of his sleeve, three treasures floated in the air: a bottle of elixir shrouded in purple mist, a token engraved with the character "Xiao," and a fragmented jade slip.

"The Purple Cloud Pill can help you stabilize your cultivation level; the token allows you to enter and exit the outer perimeter of the secret realm at any time; as for this jade slip..."

Xiao Xuan said meaningfully, "These are some of my insights about the Nascent Soul Realm, which should be of great use to you!"

"Thank you so much for your kind offer, senior!"

Li Yunjing struggled to his feet, solemnly accepted the treasure, and said with a smile.

"No need to thank me."

Xiao Xuan gazed towards the higher steps and said softly, "If you can form your Nascent Soul within a hundred years, perhaps you'll have a chance to challenge even higher levels. At that time..."

"Senior, do I still have a chance?"

Li Yunjing perked up and asked curiously.

"Friends of the Xiao clan, you can still try your luck here again and reap some rewards!"

Xiao Xuan emphasized the word "friends" very much!

(End of this chapter)