159: Chapter 159 Nine Questions for Refining the Mind, The Path to the Summit

Grey light shrouded the area, and the scene before Lin Wan shifted instantly.

He appeared in a void-like, white, boundless space. It was empty all around, save for nine ancient Stone Steles floating in front of him. They were lined up, each engraved with a massive, twisted rune that seemed to contain some profound truth of the Dao.

"The Nine Questions of Heart Refining, a knocking upon the true heart. For every question answered, the Dao Heart becomes one part clearer. Pass all nine questions, and your Heart-Nature will reach Perfection. Any hesitation, doubt, confusion, or retreat will be deemed a failure, and you will be teleported out of the tower. Begin."

A grand, indifferent, and seemingly emotionless voice echoed throughout the space.

Lin Wan took a deep breath, his expression solemn as he walked to the first Stone Stele.

The rune on the stele lit up the moment his gaze touched it, turning into a stream of light that submerged into his glabella.

In an instant, Lin Wan's vision blurred, as if he had been pulled into an illusion.

In the illusion, he returned to Blue Star, that modern society of advanced technology and rampant materialism. He was no longer the powerhouse who stirred the world of cultivation and ascended to the Immortal Realm, but an ordinary, mediocre office worker struggling to survive. Mortgage, car loans, work pressure, social obligations... all kinds of worries came rushing at him. His past feats of flying through the skies, moving mountains, and overturning seas seemed like nothing more than a distant dream.

"If you could return to the Mortal World, live a stable life, free from disaster and tribulation, with a Lifespan of a hundred years, would you be willing?"

A voice resonated directly in the depths of his Soul. This was the first question. It seemed simple, yet it struck directly at the deepest weakness and laziness within his heart. The path of cultivation is filled with thorns and immense danger. If one could return to an ordinary, stable life, free from disaster and calamity, even with only a hundred-year Lifespan, wouldn't that be a kind of happiness? How many people Cultivate just for longevity, for power, for transcendence? But if the path of cultivation is full of suffering, wouldn't it be better to go back?

Lin Wan looked at himself in the illusion, worried about the trivialities of life yet possessing simple joys, and fell silent for a moment.

Then, he slowly shook his head, his eyes firm as iron.

"I am not willing."

"The path of cultivation is to go against the heavens; it is like sailing against the current, where not advancing means retreating. Stability means stagnation; it means giving up. Since I have had the fortune to step onto this path and glimpse the profound mysteries of the Dao, I must advance bravely, overcome thorns, and pursue that supreme Realm. The joy of the ordinary is not what I desire. A hundred years of Lifespan is but a fleeting moment. My Dao is longevity, is freedom, is controlling my own destiny, and is witnessing the splendor of the myriad worlds!"

With his firm words, the illusion before him shattered with a boom. A cool stream of Qi surged into his Sea of Consciousness, making his mind clearer and his Dao Heart firmer. The first question, passed.

He arrived at the second Stone Stele.

The rune lit up, and light entered his body. The illusion reappeared.

This time, he became a True Disciple of a top sect in the Immortal Realm, with a noble status, countless resources, and a limitless future. His Revered Master was an Immortal King, his Dao Companion was a Saintess, and he had friends everywhere. He only needed to Cultivate step-by-step to easily become a Heavenly Immortal, and even had the hope of peeking into the Realm of an Immortal King. But just as his path of cultivation was bright, he discovered a shocking secret of his sect—the sect was secretly colluding with extraterrestrial demons, harming their own kind, and using billions of living beings as sacrifices to practice a Demonic Technique. Would he choose to expose them, becoming an enemy of the entire sect, ruining his reputation, and possibly even dying? Or would he choose silence, continuing to enjoy the glory and resources brought by the sect, pretending to know nothing?

"Your path is smooth, with infinite brightness. Yet your sect is unrighteous; what will you do? Will you speak up for justice, even if it means perishing together? Or will you collude with them and survive in disgrace?"

The second question tested the choice between morality and one's true heart. Was it to uphold inner morality, or to betray one's conscience for personal gain? This was sharper and crueler than the first question.

In the illusion, the kindness of his Revered Master, the tenderness of his Dao Companion, the loyalty of his friends, and the terrifying consequences he might face after exposing them crashed into Lin Wan's mind like a tide. He could seemingly see that once he chose to expose them, he would immediately become a public enemy of the entire sect, be pointed at by thousands, be hunted down by the Revered Master he once respected, be betrayed by his beloved Dao Companion, be spurned by his dear friends, and ultimately die with everything coming to naught. Yet, if he chose silence, he would remain that glorious True Disciple with a bright future ahead.

Lin Wan closed his eyes, and a moment later, he opened them, no longer harboring any confusion.

"The Dao is different, so we cannot conspire. I dare not forget the kindness of my sect. However, to act as a tiger's accomplice and harm the innocent—this is not my Dao! I, Lin Wan, Cultivate the Dao; I do not feel ashamed before the heavens, nor before the earth, and in between, I can face my own heart! If seeking the Dao requires committing unrighteous acts, then this Dao is not worth having!"

"I choose to speak out for justice, even if it means we all perish!"

The voice fell, and the illusion shattered again. Another cool stream of Qi flowed in, making his mind more transparent, and his Dao Heart, like a wiped mirror, was unstained by dust. The second question, passed.

The third Stone Stele.

In the illusion, Lin Wan became the emperor of a Mortal Empire, possessing ten thousand miles of territory, three thousand beauties in his harem, and countless descendants. He enjoyed the ultimate power, wealth, and beauty of the Mortal World. However, a sudden war between Immortals and demons spread to the Mortal World. When an Immortal is angry, a million corpses are left behind. Demons ravage the land, turning the world into a purgatory. His Empire, his subjects, his concubines, and his descendants all vanished into ash in the struggle between Immortals and demons. Only he, because he possessed a strange treasure, was saved by an Immortal, brought to the Immortal Realm, and allowed to step onto the path of cultivation. But because of this, he bore endless guilt and self-reproach. If he had been stronger back then, perhaps he could have protected his subjects...

"Power and wealth are like passing clouds. Beloved friends and family eventually turn to dust. The road to longevity is paved with withered bones; do you regret? Do you resent? Do you fear?"

The third question interrogated his realization of the loneliness, loss, and regrets on the road to longevity, and the weighing of "emotion" and "Dao."

Watching the prosperous Empire in the illusion turn into scorched earth, watching the once smiling faces turn into withered bones, Lin Wan's heart felt as if it had been fiercely pinched. A deep sense of sorrow, powerlessness, and anger surged in his heart.

But he quickly suppressed these emotions, his eyes becoming firm again, even carrying a touch of the vicissitudes of life.

"Regret? Resentment? Fear? All are present. I am not one who has forgotten all emotion; if I lose what I love, how can I not regret? If fate is unjust, how can I not resent? If the Great Dao is difficult, how can I not fear?"

"However, regret is useless, resentment is futile, and fear is of no help. The dead are gone, and the living must go on. What I can do is carry these regrets and sorrows and continue moving forward. Let the dead rest in peace, and let the living move on. The road to longevity may be lonely, or it may be cruel, but precisely because of this, the value of protection and the brilliance of the path are even more apparent. My Dao is not to forget emotion, but to keep my true heart in the long passage of time, to protect what I cherish, and to let those departed smiles live forever in my heart."

The illusion shattered, and a cool stream of Qi cleansed his Divine Soul. The third question, passed. Lin Wan's eyes were deeper, as if he had experienced the vicissitudes of time, and his Dao Heart was firmer, unmoved by external objects.

The fourth Stone Stele.

In the illusion, Lin Wan became a peerless Devil Head, killing without blinking, bloodthirsty by nature, using billions of living beings to practice a Demonic Technique. His strength was Heaven-Defying, and even Immortal Kings could do nothing to him. He enjoyed the ultimate power and the thrill of controlling the life and death of others. But in the end, he was besieged by the Righteous Path and died. Before dying, he looked back on his life; apart from slaughter and destruction, there was not a trace of warmth, not a single memory worth lingering over. Did he regret it?

"If you can prove the supreme Dao through slaughter and plunder, would you do it?"

The fourth question interrogated his understanding of "power" and "Dao." Is it the pursuit of absolute power, by any means necessary? Or is it adhering to the bottom line in one's heart?

Lin Wan was silent. Power is what every Cultivator craves. For the sake of power, can one really use any means? The thrill of controlling life and death and slaughtering all living beings in the illusion was so real, so tempting.

But in the end, he shook his head.

"The Dao is different, so we cannot conspire. My Dao is not slaughter, not plunder, but protection, exploration, and transcendence. Proving the Dao through slaughter will eventually lead to being devoured by slaughter. Using plunder as a Foundation will eventually lead to having nothing. Power is merely a tool to protect the Dao, not the root of the Dao itself. My heart has its own measure, and my actions have their limits. There are things I will do, and things I will not do."

The illusion shattered again. The fourth question, passed. His Dao Heart was firmer, and the boundary between "power" and "Dao" was clearer.

The fifth Stone Stele.

In the illusion, Lin Wan became a Loose Cultivator with average Aptitude. After going through all kinds of hardships, he finally cultivated to the Peak of the Human Immortal Realm, but due to the limitations of his Aptitude, he was trapped in this Realm for hundreds of years, unable to advance an inch. Seeing that his Lifespan was about to end and his path of cultivation was hopeless, he accidentally obtained a Demonic Technique that could devour the cultivation, Foundation, and even the Lifespan of others to quickly break through Bottlenecks, with the potential to reach the Earth Immortal or Heavenly Immortal Realms. But practicing this technique required harming the innocent and would damage the Heavenly Dao. Should he practice it, or not?

"The path is cut off, and your Lifespan is running out. A shortcut is before you, but the price is your conscience. How do you choose?"

The fifth question tested his choice in a desperate situation, his persistence in the "Dao" and his adherence to the "bottom line."

Lin Wan seemed to feel the despair and unwillingness of his Lifespan running out and his path being cut off. That Demonic Technique was like a lamp in the darkness, emitting a tempting light.

He closed his eyes, and after a long time, he opened them, his eyes calm.

"The path being cut off is a tribulation, but it is also an Opportunity. Running out of Lifespan is fate, but it is also destiny. I, Lin Wan, would rather die upright on the path of cultivation than live a wretched, ignoble life. A shortcut? That is merely drinking poison to quench thirst, destroying one's own Foundation. My Dao is beneath my feet, not elsewhere. Even if the path ahead is a sheer cliff, I will carve out a path with my own hands!"

The illusion shattered. The fifth question, passed. His Dao Heart was like iron, unyielding.

The sixth Stone Stele.

In the illusion, Lin Wan became an ordinary farmer, working at sunrise and resting at sunset, marrying an ordinary wife, having children, and living a simple and happy life. No cultivation, no fighting, no longevity. Until he was old, surrounded by children and grandchildren, and passed away peacefully. Looking back on his life, it was ordinary, but fulfilling. Did he envy it? Did he regret choosing to Cultivate?

"The ordinary is the truth, and indifference is a blessing. If you could do it over again, would you be willing to abandon the Dao and return to the fields?"

The sixth question interrogated his cognition of the "ordinary" and the "splendid," an ultimate counter-question about his own path.

Looking at the calm, peaceful, and mundane life in the illusion, a ripple appeared in Lin Wan's heart. Wouldn't such a life be a kind of happiness?

But in the end, he smiled and shook his head.

"You are not a fish, how can you know the joy of a fish? I am not him, how can I know his aspirations?"

"His life of peace and joy is a blessing. My life of magnificence is also a blessing."

"Do it over again? Why do it over? Every step I have taken is me. Every event I have experienced is me. Whether ordinary or splendid, it is all scenery. My Dao is to walk my own path, to see the scenery I want to see, regardless of whether it is ordinary or splendid."

"I have no regrets."

The illusion shattered. The sixth question, passed. His Dao Heart was perfect and harmonious, not stuck on objects, not trapped by emotions, not regretting the past, and not fearing the future.

The seventh Stone Stele.

In the illusion, Lin Wan stood at the pinnacle of the Immortal path, becoming an Immortal Emperor, overlooking the myriad worlds, controlling the life and death of billions of living beings. With one thought, the world would move; with one anger, the galaxy would be extinguished. He possessed eternal life, supreme power, and the highest authority. But what followed was endless loneliness. Old friends withered, beauties turned to ash, all things rose and fell, eras changed, only he remained, eternally unchanged. He looked down upon all living beings as if looking down upon ants, no longer able to feel joy, anger, sorrow, happiness, love, or hate. He had become a part of the "Dao," but he had also lost the emotions of a "human."

"If you reach the pinnacle and enjoy eternity, but lose the true heart of being a human, would you be willing?"

The seventh question interrogated his understanding of "Dao" and "human," the choice between "forgetting emotions in the Supreme Dao" and "not forgetting one's original intention."

The loneliness of an Immortal Emperor was real. That state of mind of overlooking the ages and disregarding all living beings made Lin Wan feel a palpitation. Was that the end of cultivation? To become a cold, high-and-mighty "Dao" for the sake of eternity and power?

No!

Lin Wan's eyes erupted with brilliant light.

"I Cultivate the Dao to control my destiny, to protect what I cherish, to witness splendor, to... become a better 'me'!"

"If reaching the pinnacle requires forgetting emotions and cutting off one's nature, then this pinnacle is not worth having! My Dao is the 'human' Dao, it is 'my' Dao! Even if it is eternal, I am still me! Even if it is lonely, I have no regrets!"

"I would rather roll in the Mortal World, tasting all the flavors of the human experience, than be a heartless Heavenly Dao at that cold pinnacle!"

The illusion shook violently and shattered with a boom. The seventh question, passed. His Dao Heart was even more brilliant, as if a sun had risen in his heart, illuminating the path ahead and warming himself.

The eighth Stone Stele.

No illusion, only one question resonating directly in the depths of Lin Wan's Soul:

"Can your Dao attain longevity? Why do you seek longevity?"

The eighth question was more direct and fundamental. Can your Dao allow you to attain longevity? Why do you seek longevity?

Lin Wan was silent for a long time, as if he were questioning his own Soul.

"My Dao is Chaos, Reincarnation, existence, and the end. Chaos encompasses all, Reincarnation rotates ceaselessly, existence is truth, and the end is also a new beginning. This Dao possesses infinite possibilities, and longevity exists within it."

"However, longevity is not the goal, but the process. I seek longevity, not for immortality, but to explore the wonders of the Great Dao, witness the marvels of the world, protect what I cherish in my heart, and experience the beauty of life throughout the long years. Longevity is a boat that carries me across the sea of suffering to see the scenery of the other shore. It is a road that allows me to walk further and see more. It is a fire that illuminates the path I tread and warms my lonely heart."

"Longevity is for the sake of 'living' better, 'existing' better, and 'experiencing' better."

"My Dao does not seek eternity, only freedom from regret. It does not seek invincibility, only protection. It does not seek transcendence, only freedom."

As these words fell, it was as if a great bell tolled in the depths of his Soul, his Dao Heart became clear, and there were no more obstacles. The eighth question was passed.

The ninth stone tablet. There was still no illusion, only the final question, resounding in the void like a final judgment:

"Where is the Dao? Where are you? Between you and the Dao, which is real?"

Where is the Dao? Where are you? Between you and the Dao, which one is real?

This final question, seemingly simple, contained the profound principles of the Great Dao, pointing directly to the relationship between 'self' and 'Dao'. Is it 'I am the Dao', or is there 'a self outside the Dao'?

Lin Wan closed his eyes, his mind sinking into the Chaos Reincarnation Divine Kingdom. He looked at the blurred phantom of that world, watching the evolution of Chaos, the rotation of Reincarnation, the establishment of existence, and the looming of the end...

He saw the 'Dao', and he also saw the 'self'.

After a long time, he opened his eyes, which were clear and bright, as if reflecting the entire Universe.

"The Dao is under my feet, the Dao is in my heart, and the Dao is in all things."

"I am here, I am there, I am everywhere."

"I am the Dao, and the Dao is me. Without self, there is no Dao; with the Dao, there is a self."

"I walk in the Dao, I witness the Dao, and I am the Dao."

"I am the truth."

As his voice fell, the nine stone tablets vibrated in unison, erupting with brilliant light! That light was not gold or silver, but a grayish radiance representing the beginning of Chaos and the encompassing of all things, enveloping Lin Wan completely.

An indescribable, vast, and cool power, seemingly originating from the Origin of the Great Dao, poured into Lin Wan's Sea of Consciousness like a baptism, cleansing his Divine Soul, tempering his Dao Heart, and sublimating his will.

Lin Wan felt as if his mind had been cleansed thousands of times, becoming unprecedentedly clear, transparent, and firm. His comprehension of the Great Daos of 'Chaos', 'Reincarnation', 'existence', and 'the end' also skyrocketed at this moment! Many previously obscure and difficult points suddenly became clear.

The phantom of the Chaos Reincarnation Divine Kingdom manifested automatically behind him, becoming more solid. The Chaos Qi within it grew richer, the shadow of Reincarnation clearer, the light of existence more brilliant, and the darkness of the end more profound. The scope of the Divine Kingdom seemed to have expanded as well.

Although his cultivation was still at the Peak of Human Immortal, his Foundation was more solid, his Immortal Qi was purer, and his control over power had reached a brand new level. He even felt that he could trigger the Earth Immortal tribulation at any time and break through to the Earth Immortal Realm! However, he forcibly suppressed it because it was not the best time to break through.

"Nine Questions of Heart Refining, questioning the original heart. All nine questions passed, Heart-Nature at Perfection, Dao Heart clear. Evaluation: Perfect. Time taken: One stick of incense. Points obtained: 100,000. Additional rewards: One Dao Heart baptism, three days of Dao comprehension time (can be used inside the tower). Final points obtained: 200,000."

"Current total points: 500,000. Current ranking: First place!"

500,000 points! In one fell swoop, he left the second-place Qin Wushuang far behind! Moreover, the gap with the second place had widened to nearly 200,000 points! This was a despair-inducing gap!

Outside, on the golden leaderboard, the name "Lin Wan" hung high at the top like the sun. The number 500,000 points glittered with golden light, stinging everyone's eyes.

The entire square was deathly silent. Everyone, including those Heavenly Immortal experts, had their mouths wide open and eyes wide, looking at that number in disbelief.

500,000 points! What kind of concept was this? Qin Wushuang, Saintess Ye Qingxue, and Xiao Zhan had struggled to reach around the 70th floor, and their points were only around 300,000. Yet Lin Wan, just by passing the "Nine Questions of Heart Refining" on the 70th floor, had suddenly obtained 200,000 points! His total points reached 500,000! This was simply crushing!

"Fi... 500,000 points?"

"My heavens! What on earth did he do on the 70th floor? How could he possibly get 200,000 points?"

"Nine Questions of Heart Refining... Perfect evaluation... Dao Heart baptism... Three days of Dao comprehension time..."

"Perfectly passing the Nine Questions of Heart Refining? This... how is this possible? It is said that the Nine Questions of Heart Refining is one of the most difficult tests in the Ascension Tower, pointing directly to the root of the Dao Heart. Those who can pass are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns, and those who can obtain an 'Upper Grade' evaluation are even fewer. A perfect evaluation? Unprecedented!"

"This Lin Wan... could his Dao Heart have already reached the Perfection Realm of 'heart like glaze, unstained by dust'?"

"Monster! Prodigy! Freak! This can no longer be described as a Genius! This is... a Dao Child! An existence destined to become an Immortal ancestor!"

"Do Qin Wushuang and the others... still have hope?"

"Hope? How can they catch up? The gap is nearly 200,000 points! Unless Lin Wan fails all the subsequent floors, this first place is already set in stone!"

On the high platform, several Heavenly Immortal experts were also completely losing their composure at this moment.

"Perfectly passed the Nine Questions of Heart Refining... 500,000 points..." The Elder of the Donghua Immortal Sect's voice trembled slightly, and his gaze towards the Ascension Tower was filled with burning intensity. "This child must join my Donghua Immortal Sect! At any cost!"

"My Yaochi Immortal Palace is willing to offer the position of Saintess to treat him!" The Fairy of the Yaochi Immortal Palace also lost her usual calmness, her beautiful eyes shimmering with strange brilliance as she said this resolutely.

"This child... perhaps truly has the potential of an Immortal Emperor!" The Sword Cultivator of the Divine Weapon Pavilion no longer had any contempt, and his gaze towards the name "Lin Wan" was filled with shock and... a trace of awe.

Immortal Lord Tianhua also stood up at this moment, standing with his hands behind his back, looking at the Ascension Tower with burning eyes. A trace of gratification flashed in his eyes, along with a trace of solemnity.

"Nine Questions of Heart Refining, perfectly passed... Chaos, Reincarnation, existence, the end... the embryonic forms of four supreme dao rhymes, Dao Heart at Perfection... This child might truly be the future hope of my Donghua Immortal Domain, and even the entire Immortal Realm... However, a tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. Such a Prodigy, I fear..."

He did not continue, but a trace of worry flashed in his eyes.

Inside the Ascension Tower, Lin Wan did not know what kind of sensation he had caused by perfectly passing the "Nine Questions of Heart Refining", obtaining 200,000 points, and reaching a total of 500,000 points. At this moment, he was immersed in the benefits brought by the "Nine Questions of Heart Refining".

The Dao Heart baptism made his mind more transparent, his will more firm, and his comprehension of the Great Dao clearer. He even felt that his control over the "Chaos Reincarnation Divine Kingdom" had improved by a level.

And the reward of "three days of Dao comprehension time" made his heart race. This meant that he could have three days of absolute safety inside the Ascension Tower to comprehend the Great Dao and improve his strength! This was simply timely help! What he lacked most right now was time!

"However, there is no rush to use the Dao comprehension time. Let's first see what the 71st floor is."

Lin Wan calmed his excited mood, felt his more rounded and solid Dao Heart, and stepped into the entrance of the 71st floor.

The 71st floor was still a choice.

"71st floor, path of choice. There are three paths ahead. Golden is the 'Path of Combat Strength', with an Earth Immortal Peak Late Stage Puppet as the guardian. Silver is the 'Path of Comprehension', requiring the repair of a damaged Medium Grade Immortal Artifact within a limited time. Gray is the 'Path of Heart-Nature', requiring one to experience the 'Hundred Tribulations of the Mortal World' illusion. Please choose."

"Earth Immortal Peak Late Stage... Medium Grade Immortal Artifact... Hundred Tribulations of the Mortal World..." Lin Wan pondered slightly. Path of Combat Strength, Earth Immortal Peak Late Stage, he was likely not an opponent for it right now, unless he used the "the end" dao rhyme, but the consumption was too great, and the gain would not make up for the loss. Path of Comprehension, repairing a Medium Grade Immortal Artifact, although he had dabbled in Artifact Refining, Medium Grade Immortal Artifacts involved Laws, and the difficulty was extremely high. Path of Heart-Nature, Hundred Tribulations of the Mortal World, he had just experienced the Nine Questions of Heart Refining, and his Dao Heart was at Perfection, so this path was the most suitable.

"I choose the Path of Heart-Nature."

Gray light enveloped him, and Lin Wan was once again teleported to an illusion space. This time, he had to experience a hundred lifetimes of Reincarnation, experience the various states of the Mortal World, go through birth, old age, sickness, and death, love, hatred, grievances, and enmity, joy, and sorrow... all kinds of tribulations to hone his Dao Heart.

But for Lin Wan, who had just perfectly passed the Nine Questions of Heart Refining and had a Dao Heart at Perfection, this "Hundred Tribulations of the Mortal World", although realistic and capable of stirring the seven emotions and six desires, could no longer truly shake his Dao Heart. He was like a bystander, and also like a participant, walking, experiencing, and comprehending through the hundred lifetimes of Reincarnation, but he always maintained a Dao Heart as clear and firm as glaze.

It took only half an hour for Lin Wan to see through the "Hundred Tribulations of the Mortal World" and walk out of the illusion. Evaluation "Perfect", obtained 22,000 points, total points reached 522,000, continuing to rank first, leaving the second-place Qin Wushuang further behind.

On the 72nd floor, he chose the "Path of Comprehension" to comprehend a damaged Formation. Relying on the profundity of the "Chaos Reincarnation Divine Kingdom" and his newly improved Comprehension Ability, he easily comprehended it. Evaluation "Perfect", obtained 24,000 points.

On the 73rd floor, he chose the "Path of Combat Strength" and fought fiercely with an Earth Immortal Late Stage "Golden Armored War Puppet". This time, he did not use the "the end" dao rhyme, but instead used Divine Abilities like the "Chaos Return to Void Fist", "Samsara Tribulation Finger", "Void Shift", and "Wall of Chaos" with pure proficiency. After fighting the Golden Armored War Puppet for three hundred rounds, he finally defeated it by relying on more exquisite tactics and his application of the power of the "Chaos Reincarnation Divine Kingdom". Evaluation "Superior", obtained 26,000 points.

74th floor, 75th floor, 76th floor... Lin Wan advanced triumphantly, like bamboo being split. Based on his own advantages, he cleverly chose different paths, obtaining the highest evaluation and points with minimal consumption. His points, like a rolling snowball, grew bigger and bigger, and the gap with the second place also widened further and further.

When Lin Wan passed the 80th floor and his points reached a terrifying 800,000, the second-place Qin Wushuang's points had barely reached 400,000, not even half of Lin Wan's! Saintess Ye Qingxue, Xiao Zhan, and the others only had 300,000-plus points.

The gap had become so large that it was despair-inducing.

Outside, everyone was already numb. Everyone looked at "Lin Wan", who hung high at the top of the leaderboard with points far ahead of everyone else, and there was no longer the initial shock or uproar, only deep awe and... powerlessness.

"800,000 points... How can we still compete with this?"

"Qin Wushuang, Saintess Ye Qingxue, and Xiao Zhan are already peerless Prodigies, but in front of Lin Wan... it's simply like fireflies competing with the bright moon."

"This is no longer a dark horse; this is a True Dragon! A True Dragon destined to soar into the sky!"

"It seems that the first place of this Ascension Conference is already without suspense. I just don't know which floor this Lin Wan can eventually reach? And how many points can he reach?"

"It is said that the 100th floor of the Ascension Tower is the legendary 'Dao Origin Palace', which contains a trace of the power of the Origin of the Great Dao. If one can pass the 100th floor and obtain the Dao Origin baptism, that would be a tremendous Opportunity! However, since ancient times, very few have been able to pass the 100th floor. In the last ten thousand years, only three have done it."

"Lin Wan... perhaps he has hope?"

On the high platform, Immortal Lord Tianhua looked at the name that was far ahead on the leaderboard, a trace of expectation flashing in his eyes.

"800,000 points... already surpassing the final results of most tower climbers in history. This child might truly be able to reach the 100th floor and obtain the Dao Origin baptism... If that really happens, my Donghua Immortal Domain will add another future pillar of support!"

Inside the Ascension Tower, Lin Wan stood at the entrance of the 81st floor, looking at the deep passage ahead, a flash of keen light in his eyes.

"It's the 81st floor... According to the pattern, starting from the 81st floor, every ten floors is a major checkpoint, and the difficulty will soar. I don't know what kind of test this 81st floor will be."

He did not hesitate and stepped into the 81st floor.