The next moment.
Something astonishing occurred!
In the center of the martial platform, a stone staircase about ten meters wide slowly manifested!
It was ancient, weathered, and emanated a profound, mysterious aura.
This stone staircase started from the platform, stretched upward into the sky, and extended all the way into the clouds!
One step after another, the stone stairs, marked by the vicissitudes of time, reached high into the air, giving people a profound sense of temporal weight.
High up on the stone ladder, white clouds drifted around it, illuminated by rays of colored light.
There were even faint, illusory images of the four divine beasts – Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise – materializing, an extremely divine and wondrous sight.
"So that's it!
The layout of the five main peaks at the Tianyuan Sect headquarters follows the pattern of the Tianxuan Five Elements Divine Mountain Formation.
And this Heaven Ascension Ladder is the key to activating the Divine Mountain Formation!
Right now, I suspect there is not a single person left in the Tianyuan Sect who knows how to control this Heaven Ascension Ladder.
Therefore, the Tianxuan Five Elements Divine Mountain Formation has been shut down for a very long time.
Consequently, the five main peaks have declined, their spiritual nature gradually fading.
To restart the Divine Mountain Formation, one must gain control of this Heaven Ascension Ladder.
Whoever controls this Heaven Ascension Ladder essentially controls the entire Tianyuan Sect and becomes an invincible existence within the sect!"
As he gazed at the stone ladder reaching into the clouds upon the martial platform, Ye Yunfei instantly understood.
As a former Heavenly Emperor, he had witnessed countless grand formations and complex terrains of all kinds, no matter how mighty or intricate.
Now, the moment he saw this Heaven Ascension Ladder, he immediately grasped its significance.
At this moment, on the martial platform.
"Esteemed disciples, it is said that our sect's Heaven Ascension Ladder was personally forged by our founding ancestor.
It has been passed down to this day.
The Heaven Ascension Ladder is a symbol of our sect's prosperity and flourishing, possessing profound significance!
Now, it is officially activated!"
The Tianyuan Sect Leader declared, his voice trembling.
Everyone's gaze, filled with shock and reverence, was fixed on the stone staircase soaring into the clouds at the center of the platform!
"Everyone, please observe. On both sides of the Heaven Ascension Ladder, there are a total of fifty crystal mirror surfaces.
These correspond to the steps from the fifty-first to the hundredth!
For the steps below the fiftieth, they are clearly visible to the naked eye, so crystal mirror surfaces are unnecessary.
Very well, I now announce that the Ladder Climbing Competition officially begins!"
His voice resonant, the Sect Leader swept his gaze across the entire assembly.
Then, both the Sect Leader and the Hidden Elder lightly tapped their toes on the ground, soared into the air, and flew back to the high platform on the east side of the square to take their seats.
The moment the Sect Leader's words faded.
The great square fell into absolute silence for an instant.
Then.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…
Figures shot toward the martial platform one after another.
They began to climb the ladder.
However, upon careful observation, one would notice that this first batch of charging disciples was not particularly strong in cultivation.
Most were at the Body Tempering Realm.
Surprisingly, these disciples with lower cultivation levels were the most impatient.
It was understandable. Within the Tianyuan Sect, their status was low, and they received little attention. They were the group most eager to prove themselves and elevate their standing.
Those who were genuinely skilled, on the other hand, appeared much calmer.
Generally speaking, the truly powerful often made their entrance last!
In the blink of an eye, a large group of disciples rushed onto the martial platform and started climbing.
Then.
An awkward scene unfolded.
Some disciples, the moment their feet touched the first stone step, felt a tremendous surge of energy erupt from the staircase, violently blasting against them.
Bang, bang, bang…
Immediately, dozens of disciples were sent flying by the shockwave, tumbling to the ground, groaning in pain.
They couldn't even ascend the first step!
Many other disciples successfully stepped onto the first stone step.
However, their expressions drastically changed; their legs began to tremble as they felt an immense pressure.
The backs of some disciples were even forced to bend, as if they were carrying a massive boulder, making it impossible to take another step forward.
Yet, there were quite a few disciples who arduously climbed onto the second stone step.
Witnessing this, the disciples who hadn't gone up yet all showed slight changes in their expressions.
Evidently, the difficulty of climbing this Heaven Ascension Ladder exceeded everyone's expectations!
Of course, there were also many disciples who gritted their teeth and climbed upward step by step, reaching past the tenth step!
Those who could climb past the tenth step were all relatively outstanding disciples.
In fact, a few disciples managed to climb all the way to the fifteenth step in one go, drawing cheers from the entire crowd.
Gradually, more and more disciples rushed onto the martial platform to participate.
Generally speaking, those disciples ranked at the bottom in terms of innate talent within the sect could climb at most four or five steps before being forced to stop.
Those with slightly better martial talent could climb to the tenth step, or even the fifteenth.
"Look! Someone has reached the twentieth step!"
Suddenly, a loud shout rang out.
Sure enough, a young man in green robes had climbed to the twentieth stone step, a look of pride on his face as he glanced back down.
"It's Liu Jintian from Earth Peak!
He ranks tenth in strength on Earth Peak. Indeed, his reputation is well-deserved!"
Shouts of admiration erupted within the square.
Amidst the cheers, Liu Jintian gritted his teeth and pushed himself all the way to the twenty-second step in one breath!
Then, he could climb no higher.
He had no choice but to turn back.
As time passed, more and more disciples were eliminated.
More outstanding disciples also began to emerge and take their turns climbing.
"Senior Brother Ye Yunfei, I'm going up first," A Niu said to Ye Yunfei.
"Go ahead.
While climbing, try not to go too fast. It's best to focus on comprehending as you climb.
That will yield better results."
Ye Yunfei reminded him.
"Alright. I'll remember your words, Senior Brother Ye Yunfei," A Niu nodded.
Currently, A Niu followed Ye Yunfei's instructions without question.
A Niu's appearance on the platform drew quite a bit of attention.
Especially from the Water Peak disciples.
Because, two days ago, Ye Yunfei's major disturbance at Water Peak was precisely due to this A Niu.
Thus, those Water Peak disciples had a very deep impression of him.
Now, the moment A Niu stepped up, a chorus of jeers and boos immediately erupted from the Water Peak disciples' side.
"Gold Peak trash, get lost!"
"Scum! Seventeen years old and only at Body Tempering Eighth Level? With talent like that, if he can climb past the fifth step, I'll kowtow to him!"
...
The Water Peak disciples targeted A Niu with wave after wave of derision.
A Niu couldn't help but flush red, glaring angrily in the direction of the Water Peak faction.
"A Niu, ignore them.
Calm your mind and focus. Strive to prove them wrong with your results."
Ye Yunfei's voice suddenly sounded in A Niu's ear.
It was a secret Sound Transmission technique, something Ye Yunfei's current Soul Power allowed him to perform easily.
"Don't worry, Senior Brother Ye Yunfei. I won't disappoint you!"
A Niu took a deep breath, paying no further heed to the Water Peak disciples. He started his climb, steadily stepping onto the first stone step.
Remembering Ye Yunfei's advice, A Niu didn't pursue speed. After each step, he would close his eyes and spend a moment calmly contemplating.
Of course, he didn't really comprehend anything profound. Yet, this action inexplicably calmed his mind and body, and the pressure he felt seemed to lessen a bit.
Seeing A Niu climb so slowly, the Water Peak disciples mocked him even more fiercely.
Each of them shouted loudly, demanding that A Niu immediately get down.
However, soon enough.
A Niu climbed to the fifth step, then the sixth, the seventh…
He continued upward all the way to the fifteenth step!
Then.
Silence fell over the Water Peak disciples' faction.
Not a single person dared to mock A Niu anymore.