288: Horror Rumors

However, the moment Lin Jingyu stepped onto the summit, an anomaly suddenly occurred.

The ninety-ninth white jade step beneath his feet, without any warning, erupted with dazzling and incomparably brilliant nine-colored light.

This light, as if alive, rapidly spread downwards.

The ninety-eighth step, ninety-seventh step, ninety-sixth step... all the way down to the very first step.

The entire majestic ascending immortal ladder, like a nine-colored beacon tower instantly ignited, lit up with glorious and splendid light from bottom to top, one after another.

An immensely thick nine-colored pillar of light, containing indescribable auspiciousness and Dao rhyme, shot up from the top of the ladder, piercing straight through the clouds, dyeing the clouds in the sky a kaleidoscopic color.

A vast yet gentle pressure permeated the air, illuminating the entire Immortal Greeting Valley, enveloping it in a sacred, auspicious, and vibrant glow.

“Immortal Ladder Resonance! Nine-colored Auspiciousness!”

“Oh my god! The legend... the legend is actually true! Someone reached the summit!”

“A millennium phenomenon! This is an auspicious phenomenon unseen in a thousand years!”

“Ancestral Master’s blessing! Our Qinglan Sect is destined for greatness!”

The entire Immortal Greeting Valley completely erupted!

Everyone was uncontrollably excited, and many Disciples even had tears in their eyes, kneeling on the ground and prostrating themselves towards the Immortal Ladder.

Even the Elders high in the sky completely lost their composure, their faces filled with shock, ecstasy, and disbelief.

Elder Xuan Yunzi’s voice trembled, and he wept tears of joy, so excited that he was almost incoherent:

“Nine-colored Auspiciousness! A sign of reaching the summit! Heaven has shown mercy! Ancestral Master’s blessing! This is a sign of our Qinglan Sect’s great prosperity! The beginning of its revitalization!”

However, at this moment of universal attention and auspiciousness, when everyone was immersed in immense excitement and glory, Lin Jingyu, standing at the top of the ladder, enveloped in the nine-colored light, slightly furrowed his brow.

He looked down at the ninety-nine steps beneath his feet, where light flowed as if connected to his own Bloodline, and a hint of deep doubt and solemnity flashed in his eyes.

Because, at the instant he stepped onto the summit, relying on the keen perception far exceeding those of the same Realm brought by the second layer of the Spirit Refining Art.

He clearly sensed that the end of this ascending immortal ladder was not the true “summit”!

Above the ninety-nine steps, amidst the swirling clouds, there seemed to exist... an invisible, even more difficult and profound set of steps.

It was a continuation that transcended the current spatial dimension, formed by even more profound and unfathomable Laws of Heaven and Earth.

It was a higher level of test, perhaps only perceivable and accessible to those whose cultivation had reached a certain Realm.

“Ninety-nine steps... not the end?”

A storm surged in Lin Jingyu’s heart.

“How many steps does this ascending immortal ladder truly have? And where is its real end?”

He tried to condense his Divine Sense, cautiously probing towards the invisible “hundredth step.”

However, he immediately felt a boundless and immense repulsive force, as if facing the entire Universe. With his current ability, he couldn't even touch a fraction of it, and his Divine Sense felt a sharp pain as if hitting an iron wall.

He instantly understood that the “summit” recorded in the Qinglan Sect’s ancient texts merely referred to stepping onto these ninety-nine manifest steps.

Perhaps cultivators in the Qi Refining stage could only perceive and climb these ninety-nine steps. However, the mysteries and trials contained within this enigmatic Immortal Ladder were far from limited to this! Its true limit, perhaps even the ancestors of the Qinglan Sect had not fully explored.

However, the mysteries and trials contained within this enigmatic Immortal Ladder were far from limited to this! Its true limit, perhaps even the ancestors of the Qinglan Sect had not fully explored.

The immortal path is long, and the Dao journey is boundless, far exceeding his previous imagination!

Thinking of this, the faint trace of self-satisfaction and arrogance that Lin Jingyu had felt from reaching the summit,

instantly vanished, replaced by a deeper reverence and a yearning for higher Realms. The Dao has no end; there is always a higher mountain to climb!

He slowly composed himself, the fatigue on his face rapidly fading under the nourishment of the nine-colored light, restoring his calm and unruffled demeanor.

The soaring nine-colored light pillar gradually receded, finally transforming into a soft and pure energy halo. Like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, it enveloped his body, then slowly merged into his limbs, Dantian, and Sea of Consciousness.

Immediately, an indescribable sense of comfort spread throughout his entire body.

The spiritual energy and Mental Energy damage consumed during the climb were instantly replenished, and even improved.

His Physical Body seemed to have undergone a baptism, becoming more transparent and resilient, and the prototype of his perfect Dao foundation solidified slightly.

He even felt his own Luck increase by a few points.

This reward for reaching the summit far surpassed ordinary Spirit Pills and miraculous medicines.

At this moment, Elder Xuan Yunzi’s figure instantly appeared at the top of the ladder, standing before Lin Jingyu.

He looked at Lin Jingyu with extremely complex emotions: irrepressible admiration, heartfelt shock, and even a fervent anticipation, as if he saw the future hope of the Sect.

“Child, what... is your name?” Xuan Yunzi’s voice carried a hint of imperceptible tremor, the afterglow of extreme excitement.

Lin Jingyu bowed, performing a standard Disciple’s salute, his tone calm yet respectful: “Junior Lin Jingyu greets Elder Xuan Yun.”

“Lin Jingyu... Jingyu... Good! What an outstanding Lin Jingyu! Reaching the absolute peak, astonishing everyone with a single feat, ascending to immortality!”

Xuan Yunzi heavily patted his shoulder, the force of which revealed his inner turmoil.

“Climbing the Immortal Ladder and triggering the nine-colored auspiciousness! This is one of the very few grand events in the history of our Qinglan Sect! Unseen in a hundred years!

You no longer need to participate in any subsequent stages of this trial! After the trial ends, you will come with me for a direct audience.”

As soon as these words were spoken, although those below had already anticipated it, it still inevitably stirred up another wave of envy and exclamations.

For the Sect Master and Head to meet a new Disciple — what an honor! What importance!

Lin Jingyu’s heart stirred slightly, knowing that this was both a great opportunity and meant he would bear more attention and expectations, with even more challenges in the future.

But his Dao Heart was firm, without the slightest fear, and he calmly replied: “Yes, Junior will obey Elder’s command.”

Meanwhile, the trial on the ascending immortal ladder continued, with Wang Ling, Bai Susu, and others still struggling to climb.

But today, and for a long time to come, one name will be deeply etched into the hearts of all Qinglan Sect Disciples — Lin Jingyu!

And his incredible, legendary ascent to the summit of the Immortal Ladder!

The situation had exceeded expectations and become serious and tricky!

Feng Xixi took a deep breath.

She never expected Lin Jingyu to successfully reach the summit of the Immortal Ladder.

This unprecedented achievement was enough to shock the entire Chiyan Prefecture and even the Eastern Spirit Nation.

But her brows were tightly furrowed.

Her eyes held a complex expression.

She was no stranger to the ascending immortal ladder, having heard many legends about it.

The most terrifying and horrifying one was that anyone who reached the ninety-ninth step.

Would not live past a hundred years!

Regardless of what Realm they reached, they would silently disappear or die.

Of course, this was just a rumor.

After all, the Qinglan Sect hadn't seen a peerless Genius reach the summit in several centuries.

And whether this was a blessing or a curse for Lin Jingyu, she didn’t know.

Feng Xixi could only sigh.

Now that Lin Jingyu had entered the sights of the Qinglan Sect’s high-level figures, it was no longer something she could influence.