I have Taoism and can understand other worlds

Chapter 678 Heavenly Palace
The second heaven is far superior to the first heaven.

Many people couldn't even withstand the tenth level before coughing up blood and being thrown back by the immense pressure, landing in a sorry state on the first level platform.

Even those who could barely manage struggled, sweating profusely, and each step forward felt like a major battle.

Above the jade steps, the rosy glow was no longer just a beautiful sight, but had become a tangible obstacle.

The flowing golden-purple light sometimes coalesced into an invisible barrier, requiring immense force to break through. At other times, it transformed into lingering silken ribbons, binding the body and slowing movement. Still others directly impacted the soul, triggering demonic illusions.

Jiang Wen and the other two steadily ascended. Liang Yuan's forehead was already covered in sweat, and her breathing was heavy, but her eyes were stubborn, and she gritted her teeth and persevered, constantly circulating her internal energy to adapt to this terrifying environment.

Jiang Wen would occasionally slow down and wait for her for a moment, or when she could no longer hold on, he would lightly tap the ground with his wooden whip, creating a circle of clear light to temporarily relieve some of the pressure on her.

After crossing about 600 steps, Liang Yuan's speed slowed down significantly. Her face was pale and her body was trembling slightly, clearly indicating that she was nearing her limit.

"Brother Jiang, I'm afraid I'll have to stop here." She gasped for breath and said with a bitter smile. The difficulty of this second level far exceeded her expectations.

Jiang Wen stopped and glanced at her. Confirming that she was indeed unable to continue, he said, "The pressure here is already extraordinary. To comprehend and cultivate here is a rare opportunity. There's no need to force it."

Although Liang Yuan was unwilling, he knew it was the truth. He nodded, found a relatively flat step, sat down cross-legged, and began to circulate his internal energy to resist the pressure, while sensing the rich Daoist charm and spiritual energy around him.

At this moment, fewer than a hundred people remained climbing upwards, all of them the true elite warriors of their respective races. Yan Ming, Xuan Jue, and the others had already retreated, no longer daring to ascend.

Jiang Wen and Jiang Su exchanged a glance and then left.

Jiang Wen's body shone brightly, and his pace suddenly quickened. Jiang Su also sped up, and the two of them, like two wisps of smoke rising against the current, weaved through the immense pressure and the dazzling yet deadly glow, quickly overtaking the struggling figures ahead.

When the Dragon Elder saw Jiang Wen surpass him so easily, a complex look flashed in his eyes, which then turned into an even stronger will. He let out a low roar, and his dragon-shaped energy surged again, striving upwards.

The Hundred Barbarian Saintesses gritted their teeth as they watched Jiang Wen's retreating figure, trying to catch up, but the immense pressure made it difficult for them to move. They could only watch helplessly as he disappeared into the distance, their eyes filled with shock.

When Jiang Wen and Jiang Su stepped onto the 999th jade step and officially entered the second heaven, the pressure around them suddenly disappeared, replaced by an indescribable lightness and comfort.

The sight before him moved even the well-informed Jiang Wen.

If the first heaven is magnificent and solemn, then the second heaven is the ultimate splendor and vastness.

Looking out, the sea of ​​clouds is no longer simply white, but is painted with endless rosy light, with a riot of colors including red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple. It evolves into countless phenomena such as the sun, moon, stars, mountains and rivers, flowers, birds, insects, and fish, as if condensing a complete world into one place.

The rosy clouds are not inanimate objects; they possess spirituality. Sometimes they condense into magnificent phoenixes and luan birds that dance gracefully, sometimes they transform into majestic celestial dragons that roam the four directions, and sometimes they scatter as a rain of light that showers down spiritual energy that enhances one's cultivation.

The celestial palaces and temples are even more magnificent and exquisite than those in the first heaven. They are not statically suspended, but move slowly with the flow of rosy light, connected to each other by rainbow bridges, forming an incomparably complex and mysterious three-dimensional array.

These celestial palaces seemed to be formed entirely from the purest spiritual energy, with glazed tiles and gold and jade bricks, engraved with ancient and profound Dao runes, exuding an aura of eternity and immortality. A single glance was enough to make one's soul tremble.

The rich innate spiritual energy has transformed into spiritual liquid, converging into streams and rivers that flow between the palace complex. Floating in the rivers are points of light like fragments of stars, and with each breath, it seems to be devouring the most primal power.

However, within this magnificent and vast landscape, there is a chilling sense of antiquity and silence.

Aside from these newly arrived intruders, there seemed to be no other signs of life, only the silent echoes of the Great Dao. Following them, more than ten figures laboriously ascended, including the Dragonmen, the four Hundred Barbarian Saintesses, and other top heroes from various tribes who had persevered to the end. They had long since reached the Heroic Realm, far surpassing Liang Yuan, a newly arrived Dao Palace cultivator.

Even so, everyone was breathing heavily and had injuries, clearly indicating that the process of reaching the summit was extremely difficult.

Seeing Jiang Wen and Jiang Su already standing there calmly, everyone had different expressions, but most of them were deeply wary of and acknowledging their strength.

"Each of you should seek your own opportunities. This place is no small matter, so please be careful," the dragon elder said in a deep voice, taking a deep breath of the almost liquid spiritual energy.

Once here, even those of the same clan mostly act independently, as opportunities are limited.

Everyone nodded and then dispersed in all directions, heading towards the celestial palaces and temples, each shrouded in rosy light and possessing a unique aura.

Jiang Wen said to Jiang Su, "The Heavenly Palaces here seem to have many mysteries; you can explore them on your own."

Jiang Su nodded slightly, her cool gaze sweeping over the most dazzling core area of ​​the rosy light. With a flicker, she vanished like a startled swan, disappearing instantly into a palace surrounded by billions of ice crystal-like rays of light.

Jiang Wenze stood still, slowly spreading his divine sense, carefully sensing. The wooden whip in his hand trembled slightly, as if it were sensing something in a certain direction.

His gaze was fixed on the most ancient of the many mobile celestial palaces, a huge celestial palace that was entirely dark yellow and seemed to be formed from the condensation of dark yellow energy.

Unlike other celestial palaces that radiate dazzling light, it possesses a profound and majestic quality that reflects a return to simplicity.

Without further hesitation, he took a step forward, and auspicious clouds rose from beneath his feet, carrying him straight to the Xuanhuang Heavenly Palace.

Passing through the portal that seemed to be made of flowing, primordial energy, the scene before one's eyes suddenly changed.

No longer was it a house full of gold and jade, no longer was it a place of flowing rosy clouds, but a boundless, extremely dense white fog.

The fog was icy cold, completely blocking out sight and sound, and seemed to devour all energy and consciousness.

With Jiang Wenzhi's spiritual strength, he could only extend a few feet outside his body before disappearing without a trace, like a mud ox sinking into the sea.

All was silent, absolutely silent. Even the sound of his own heartbeat seemed to be absorbed by the eerie mist.

The ground beneath my feet felt hard, like stone, but its exact shape was completely hidden behind the thick fog.

Jiang Wen frowned, gripping the wooden whip tightly. The warm sensation emanating from the whip was the only solace in this deathly mist.

He could clearly sense that the fog was very strange, capable of shielding all kinds of magic.

Standing still, I calmed myself and sensed for a moment, confirming that the mist was not an illusion array, but rather a strange space shrouded in special laws.

Jiang Wen knew he had no way out but to move forward.

He chose a direction guided by his intuition, took a step, and his figure was slowly swallowed up by the endless pure white mist. All around, there was only a silence that seemed to freeze time and space.

(End of this chapter)