Cultivation Begins with Daily Intelligence Reports

284: Ladder to ImmortalityEveryone looked up and saw an old man, clad in a cyan Daoist robe, with an ancient face and an unfathomable Aura, who had appeared on the platform at the very bottom of the ascending immortal ladder.

His gaze swept over the thousands of Cultivators below. Although he had no sharp Aura, everyone felt an invisible pressure.

Lin Jingyu’s heart trembled. This person was extremely powerful; even if he used all his methods, he probably couldn’t injure him in the slightest.

”I am Xuan Yunzi, an Outer Sect Elder of the Qinglan Sect. Today marks the first trial of the Qinglan Sect’s recruitment assessment—the ascending immortal ladder!”

Xuan Yunzi’s voice was not loud, but it clearly entered everyone’s ears:

”This ladder has ninety-nine steps, containing its own Cosmos and mysteries. Those who climb it must rely on their own perseverance, Foundation, and Comprehension Ability to proceed.

Those who pass ten steps may become Utility Disciples; those who pass twenty steps will directly enter the Outer Sect; and those who can climb forty steps can directly become Inner Sect Disciples...”

”Trial rules: You must not use any external aids such as Magical Artifacts, Talismans, or Medicinal Pills. Violators will be immediately disqualified! Malicious interference with others is forbidden, and violators will be severely punished! Now, let the trial begin!”

As Xuan Yunzi’s voice fell, the young Cultivators, who could no longer hold back, surged toward the starting point of the ascending immortal ladder like a flood breaking a dam.

”Charge!”

”Just ten steps, easy peasy!”

”I must enter the Outer Sect!”

However, reality is often crueler than imagination.

When the first batch of Cultivators stepped onto the first White Jade Steps, many of their expressions instantly changed!

A heavy pressure suddenly descended, as if they were instantly burdened with hundreds of pounds of weight. Furthermore, an invisible force began to impact their state of mind, causing them to generate various illusions and distracting thoughts.

”Ugh... so heavy!”

”What’s going on? My spiritual energy circulation has slowed down!”

”These illusions... stabilize your mind!”

”Ah, ghosts!”

Exclamations and muffled groans rose and fell continuously.

The crowd, which had just been full of aggressive Aura, immediately slowed down.

With every step up, the pressure increased slightly, and the impact on their state of mind became more intense.

Having only reached the fifth or sixth step, those with weaker cultivation or unsteady resolve were already pale, sweating profusely, their legs feeling like they were filled with lead, making it difficult to move.

Furthermore, some were misled by the illusions, lost control of their minds, and screamed as they tumbled down the steps, only to be quickly escorted away by Qinglan Sect Disciples waiting nearby.

Lin Jingyu did not rush forward; he calmly observed the performance of the crowd ahead.

He saw that most Cultivators were relatively smooth before the fifth step, but after passing the fifth step, their speed clearly slowed, and every subsequent step seemed extremely difficult.

Only about half of them were able to reach above the tenth step.

Less than ten percent of the Cultivators were able to reach above the twentieth step, and they were all individuals with steady Auras and solid Foundations.

”A bit interesting,” Lin Jingyu mused internally.

The ascending immortal ladder was indeed not simple; it wasn’t merely a competition of deep spiritual energy, but rather a comprehensive tempering and screening process.

At this moment, a sudden commotion arose within the crowd.

They saw a youth in brocade robes with an arrogant face, his spiritual energy surging around him, his footsteps steady. He seemed to take continuous steps effortlessly, quickly surpassing the crowd ahead and stepping onto the twentieth step.

His speed was so fast that it drew everyone’s attention.

”It’s Wang Ling from the Wang Family! It is said that he is already at the Peak of the eighth layer of Qi Refining, possesses a Metal-attributed Variant Spiritual Root, and has extraordinary combat power!”

”As expected, he’s formidable! At this speed, he might be able to rush up forty steps! To directly become an Inner Sect Disciple is truly enviable.”

Immediately after, another figure attracted attention.

It was a girl wearing a plain white dress with a cold expression. Her steps seemed slow but flowed like moving clouds and running water.

Every step was just right, seemingly harmonizing with the rhythm of the immortal ladder. She also easily stepped onto the twentieth step, keeping pace with Wang Ling.

”That’s Bai Susu from Liuyun City! She has Dual Water-Wood Spiritual Roots and extremely high Comprehension Ability!”

”Genius figures are indeed emerging in great numbers this year!”

Lin Jingyu withdrew his gaze from these attention-grabbing Geniuses, hesitated no longer, and stepped toward the ascending immortal ladder. His Aura was restrained, his steps composed, making him inconspicuous within the crowd.

When he stepped onto the first step, he indeed felt a pressure settle upon him, and at the same time, subtle distracting thoughts attempted to invade his Sea of Consciousness.

However, pressure of this degree was almost negligible for his formidable Physical Body, which had been tempered by the Sea of Thunder.

As for the impact on his state of mind, before the mental barrier of the second layer of the Spirit Refining Art, it was like a gentle breeze blowing over a mountain ridge.

His steps were steady, neither fast nor slow, one step per tier, as he walked upward.

Five steps, ten steps, fifteen steps... his speed was consistent. He was neither as rapid as Wang Ling nor as graceful as Bai Susu, moving with the ease of someone strolling in their own backyard.

However, this ’ease,’ contrasted sharply with the increasing number of Cultivators around him who were stumbling and looking pained, making his movement appear especially strange.

Soon, he also arrived at the area of the twentieth step.

The pressure here was already considerable, equivalent to the full Spiritual Pressure of a Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivator. The impact on the mind also became more intense, with illusions sprouting up, attempting to shake the Dao Heart.

Many Cultivators stopped here, sitting cross-legged to regulate their breathing, finding it difficult to move forward.

Wang Ling and Bai Susu had now stepped onto the twenty-fifth step. Their speed had also noticeably slowed, and their expressions were serious, clearly feeling the true pressure.

Lin Jingyu felt the increasing pressure around him and the illusory power attempting to shake his mind, yet the corner of his mouth curved into a slight smile.

This slight pressure was worlds apart from the destructive power of the Thunder Mountain Origin Sea of Thunder.

As for those illusions, before his Divine Soul, which was as clear as a mirror and incomparably resilient, they were like the moon in the water or flowers in a mirror—shattering upon contact and utterly unable to affect him.

He didn’t even fully circulate his spiritual energy, relying only on the strength of his Physical Body and powerful Divine Sense to continue stepping upward.

Twenty-first step, twenty-second step, twenty-third step... his speed remained unchanged. He easily surpassed the Cultivators struggling near the twentieth step, steadily approaching Wang Ling and Bai Susu ahead.

At this point, someone finally noticed his anomaly.

”Huh? Who is that person? Why does he look so relaxed?”

”He’s already at the twenty-third step! His footsteps aren’t disordered at all!”

”He looks unfamiliar. Which family’s Genius is he?”

”Could he be a Genius Cultivator from outside Chiyan Prefecture? Otherwise, how could he be completely unknown?”

Meanwhile, Feng Xixi, in the crowd below, had sparkling eyes, knowing that this was far from being considered pressure for Lin Jingyu.

Even Wang Ling and Bai Susu, who had reached the twenty-ninth step and were fully resisting the oppressive pressure, sensed the approaching Aura behind them and couldn’t help but glance back.

When they saw Lin Jingyu’s calm, unperturbed expression and steady, consistent pace, a hint of surprise flashed in their eyes.

Wang Ling snorted coldly, a flash of Battle Intent in his eyes. He seemed to regard Lin Jingyu as a competitor and accelerated his ascent.

Bai Susu, on the other hand, had a flash of brilliance in her beautiful eyes. She nodded slightly to Lin Jingyu and continued moving forward at her own pace.