This place is fun

Chapter 197 Mountaineering
Su Daoshan stood in front of the stone tablet.

The stone tablet is white, eight meters high, two meters wide, and about half a meter thick. Apart from cloud patterns on the edges, it has no other carvings and looks simple and unadorned.

The monument is titled "Monument to the First to Conquer." The golden characters inscribed on the monument clearly list the names and records of the first hundred people to ascend the first level of Heavenly Dao Mountain since the opening of the Spirit Realm.

The first entry reads: "[In the 66th year of the Yuanqi era, the student of military strategy, Chi Zongshi, ascended the first level of the Heavenly Ladder on Tiandao Mountain, broke through two barriers, and completed the task in three quarters of an hour. He received a score of B+ and ranked first on the top three list.]"

The Spirit Realm world opened at the end of the cataclysmic catastrophe. Yuanqi is the era name for the opening of the Spirit Realm, and it is now the ninety-first year of Yuanqi.

Su Daoshan thought to himself, "One quarter is fifteen minutes, and one character is five minutes. That means it only took the first person fifty minutes to reach the first level of Tiandao Mountain."

Continuing on, the second entry reads: "[In the 43rd year of the Yuanqi era, Tianquan, a student of the Craftsmanship School, ascended the first level of the Heavenly Ladder on Heavenly Dao Mountain, broke through two barriers, and completed the task in three quarters of an hour. He received a score of B+ and ranked second on the top three list.]"

Continuing down, the third place is: [In the 71st year of the Yuanqi era, Leng Shan, a student of the Agricultural Academy, climbed the first level of the Heavenly Ladder on Tiandao Mountain, broke through two barriers, and completed the task in three quarters of an hour. He received a score of B+ and ranked third on the top three list.]

【…】

Su Daoshan grew increasingly curious. Seeing someone explaining something nearby, he quietly moved closer. After the person finished speaking with the others, he clasped his hands and said, "Brother, I would be grateful if you could enlighten me..."

"Please speak, brother," the other person replied, showing kindness.

Su Daoshan asked curiously, "What are the two levels on this stele, and what are these top three lists? Does ascending the Heavenly Ladder of Inquiry involve different levels and lists?"

"Of course..." The man scanned Su Daoshan with his spiritual sense and said with a smile, "Brother, you are a newcomer to the Spirit Realm, so it's no wonder you don't know. Each level of Tiandao Mountain has a Dao Inquiry Tower. The reason you and I are breaking through is actually to enter this Dao Inquiry Tower... Enlightenment within the tower allows you to capture the spiritual energy of enlightenment. If you can digest and integrate it, you can enhance your extraordinary power, strengthen your extraordinary characteristics, and comprehend more extraordinary techniques."

Su Daoshan nodded. He had heard Niu Er, Ao Jiu, and others mention these things before when they were chatting.

Reaching the first level of Heavenly Dao Mountain is merely an advancement in one's realm. Just like climbing to a high place to see a wider view, only when your basic realm meets the requirements can you learn more extraordinary techniques and master stronger supernatural powers.

However, how much a specific Dao seed can grow, how much extraordinary power it can enhance, how much extraordinary characteristics it can strengthen, and how many extraordinary techniques it can comprehend, depends on how much enlightenment it can encounter and digest within the Tower of Inquiry.

The extent of growth and improvement depends on the different opportunities gained.

But the man said, “What novices don’t know is that the Tower of Inquiry actually has four floors. When ordinary people climb the mountain, they only pass one level. They only reach the first floor of the Tower of Inquiry. If you want to obtain more spiritual energy, you have to continue to go up. The higher you go, the more profound and abundant the spiritual energy you will obtain.”

"The more mysterious, the richer?" Su Daoshan blinked.

After thinking for a moment, the man said decisively, "To put it this way, a mid-stage Human Realm cultivator who has emerged from the second level of the Human Realm possesses extraordinary power and mastered extraordinary techniques that are not necessarily much weaker than those of a peak Human Realm cultivator."

Su Daoshan's pupils trembled slightly. Breaking through the second level meant he could challenge a peak Human Realm cultivator while only at the mid-stage?
He quickly asked, "What if I break through all three barriers?"

"I don't know about that." The man smiled and shook his head, pointing to the stone tablet. "In the past hundred years of Yuanqi, no one has ever broken through the three barriers."

"No?" Su Daoshan was taken aback.

"No." The man shook his head again decisively, then pointed to the stone tablet and said, "Look, this list of names is right here..."

As he explained, Su Daoshan learned that the list of successful candidates was divided into three lists: the top three lists for those who passed the second level of the test, the top two lists for those who passed the third level of the test, and the top three lists for those who passed the fourth level of the test.

The ranking list is a manifestation of the will of the spiritual realm, and the rankings are constantly updated according to changes in the order of appearance. Over the past hundred years, many people have passed the second level, some rising and some falling, and countless people have been eliminated and replaced. However, to date, no one has passed the third level.

This is why the top-ranked character, [Red Mane Lion], only received a B rating, ranking first in the top three.

If someone were to pass through all three levels and make it onto the second-best list, the top spot would have already been taken by someone else.

Just as the two were talking, suddenly, a white light shot into the sky.

“Perfect timing, let’s begin,” the man said, clapping his hands and laughing at Su Daoshan. “Seeing is believing, so why don’t you see it for yourself, brother?”

This white light was incredibly magnificent. From Su Daoshan's perspective, one end seemed to be embedded in the endless abyss beneath Tiandao Mountain, while the other end shone through the mountain peak. It was so bright that it seemed to illuminate the entire mountain.

As the white light shot into the sky, it transformed into a gigantic circular curtain of light, as if a door had opened in the heavens. Within it were mountains and waterfalls, pavilions and towers, and even figures moving about.

When Su Daoshan looked closely, everything suddenly seemed to come closer.

In a mere blink, Su Daoshan found his vision had become incredibly clear. He felt as if he had entered a world of light, high above, looking down upon all living beings.

Su Daoshan turned his head and found that countless spectators had appeared in the void around him. Although everyone was pointing and chatting, they all seemed to be used to it and nothing out of the ordinary.

"This is..." Su Daoshan's mind stirred, and he withdrew his gaze from the world of light and asked in astonishment.

"This is the Gate of Heavenly Dao," the man said with a smile, having anticipated Su Daoshan's reaction. "Every time the Heavenly Dao Mountain opens, the Gate of Heavenly Dao will open, projecting the illusionary scene of the challenge to the entire Spirit Realm."

As he spoke, he looked at Su Daoshan with a half-smile and said, "Brother, it's probably been less than a month since you entered the Spirit Realm, isn't it?"

Su Daoshan, having been seen through, could only awkwardly cup his hands in acknowledgment.

The man laughed and said, "That's not hard to guess. Tiandao Mountain opens once a month. Anyone who has experienced it before won't find the scene strange. This is the event that everyone is most looking forward to each time. Regardless of whether you climb the mountain or not, and regardless of your results, you have to see this rare spectacle."

As he spoke, he pointed to the light screen and said, "In this illusion, the Heavenly Dao Mountain, from the first level to the twelfth level at the summit, is clearly visible. Anyone attempting to pass through it can see it clearly. But the hottest topic right now is Long Bai of the Eastern Academy's third attempt to break through to the second level... Look, it's on the sixth level..."

"The sixth floor..." Su Daoshan refocused his gaze on the light screen, and soon he found himself back in the illusionary world.

Counting up from the bottom of Tiandao Mountain, each level is filled with climbers preparing to attempt the challenge. However, the number decreases as you ascend. The first level has hundreds, even thousands, of people, but by the sixth level, there are only thirty to fifty.

What's truly astonishing is that, aside from the climbers on the first level, from the second level onwards, as soon as you look at these climbers, their names naturally come to mind.

Thus, Su Daoshan immediately spotted the "Dragon Cypress" that the man had mentioned.

"Climbing to the sixth level corresponds to advancing from the lower Earth Realm to the lower Heaven Realm. In other words, in the real world, Long Bai is already a powerhouse on par with Elder Wang Li and Uncle Xie..."

Su Daoshan asked curiously, "Is this dragon juniper famous?"

The man was already used to Su Daoshan's ignorance, so instead of answering directly, he asked in return, "You know about the academy, right?"

Su Daoshan grunted and awkwardly cupped his hands, saying, "I only know a little bit about it."

The man shook his head helplessly and patiently explained, "In the Spirit Realm, one can climb mountains and seek the Dao, and each profession has its own path. The Academy is the guide to the Dao in this world. It holds a supreme position. The academy's teachers are not only responsible for teaching and imparting knowledge on a daily basis, but also, on the day the Heavenly Dao Mountain opens, they are in charge of the Dao Inquiry Tower and have the power of examiners."

As he spoke, he asked, "What do you think the status of such a person would be in the Spirit Realm?"

“Naturally, we hold you in the highest esteem,” Su Daoshan said.

Although he had only been in the Spirit Realm for a short time, he often heard the name of the academy's teacher when he chatted with Ao Jiu, Niu Er, and others.

Especially in the eyes of Mr. Qi and other spirits and demons, the academy's teachers were practically like gods.

“Knowing this makes things easier,” the man said. “The academy is divided into four major academies: East, South, West, and North. Students in each academy have their own titles. The Eastern Academy is named after flowers, plants, and trees. The Western Academy is named after birds and beasts. The Northern Academy is named after constellations. And the Southern Academy is named after years, months, and solar terms…”

As he spoke, he pointed to the first-ranked [Red Mane Lion] and the second-ranked [Tianquan] on the stone tablet and said, "The first one is a student of the Western Academy... and the second one is a student of the Northern Academy."

"I see." Su Daoshan suddenly realized. The Crimson Lion is the name of a beast, Tianquan is the name of a constellation, and the Dragon Cypress is named after a cypress tree, so it must be a student of the Eastern Academy.

But the man continued, “Since the apocalypse, the world has fallen apart, and the inheritance of civilization has been almost severed. We are now just barely surviving. The opening of the Spirit Realm has given humanity a way to fight against the external demons, but to save the world, it is not about the number of people, but about who can ultimately fight their way out and reach the top.”

He gave a bitter smile and said, "But there are only so many Spirit Seals. The higher you go, the narrower the path becomes. In the end, among scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants, and soldiers, only one person from each of these groups can reach the upper eleventh level of the Dao Realm. And only one person can ultimately inquire about the Dao and reach the peak of the twelfth level of the Heavenly Dao. "Therefore, although in the eyes of ordinary people you and I are extraordinary professions, mysterious and powerful, in reality, we are nothing more than Gu worms raised in a jar, killing each other."

"For this reason, the competition among the four academies is fierce. Each of them has students they have painstakingly trained, and each believes that the path they have chosen is the most correct one."

"And this Long Bai is a genius cultivated by the Eastern Academy in the last ten years. Previously, he passed the second level of each level from the first to the fifth level. He was unstoppable and was the talk of the town. Who knew that he would fail to pass the sixth level twice in a row?"

"On the path of seeking enlightenment, one should not attempt more than three times. If Long Bai fails to pass the second level of the sixth stage this time, he will only be able to advance to the lower tier of the Heavenly Realm with the score of the first level. This means that his future achievements will stop here."

He chuckled and gestured to the crowd watching, "Look, everyone's waiting to see the result..."

Su Daoshan asked curiously, "Brother, which academy are you a student at?"

The man was both amused and exasperated, waving his hands repeatedly and saying, "How could I be qualified?"

He pointed to the stone tablet and said, "Only those who have passed the second level are qualified to become formal members of the academy. To pass the second level, one must have a Dao seed of at least the seventh grade. Ordinary people like you and me are just auditors in the academy."

At this point, he suddenly sighed, "This is another benefit of passing the second level. With the academy's status, even just being a student brings endless advantages... If the academy's teachers hadn't never intervened in the struggles, where would the status of the four major organizations come from?"

Having heard this, Su Daoshan basically understood. He thanked the man and then quietly watched the mirage of the mountain.

As his divine sense entered and his field of vision broadened, Su Daoshan felt as if he were looking down on Tiandao Mountain from an omniscient and omnipotent perspective.

From the foot of the mountain to the summit, layer upon layer, every pavilion, every tree and blade of grass, and every martial artist preparing to climb the mountain are clearly visible.

While they were talking, the dragon cypress on the sixth floor didn't move, but the hundreds of newcomers on the first floor and some extraordinary martial artists on the second and third floors began to climb the mountain.

Because the first level is a basic level and is not within the scope of the illusion observed by the spiritual realm's will, the climbers appearing in the illusion at this moment are all people who have passed the first level and are starting to challenge the second level.

This is why the elimination rate is particularly fast. Especially for the newcomers on the first level, many of them had only taken two steps when they were already sweating profusely and pale-faced. They stood there, as if they had encountered some kind of nightmare.

Immediately, several of them turned into white light and disappeared on the spot.

Su Daoshan heard the sneers of the crowd: "There are always some fools who overestimate their abilities. They don't even know their own strength, yet they dare to challenge the second level. Well, this is another waste of two hundred spirit essences and a month of time."

"Exactly! Let's not even talk about the eight- or seven-rank system, you should at least have a six-rank system. And these guys with only four or five ranks dare to try and climb up..."

Listening to the laughter and chatter of the crowd, Su Daoshan narrowed his eyes slightly.

"It seems that the second level of the first layer can be passed as long as the Dao Seed has an eight-level grade. Even a few with a seven-level grade can pass. Once you break through, you can go up to the second floor of the Dao Inquiry Tower and obtain more enlightenment opportunities."

"To possess extraordinary combat power comparable to the peak of the Human Realm at the mid-stage is incredibly tempting. No wonder those at the fourth and fifth grade levels also want to try."

Thinking of this, Su Daoshan silently calculated the time in his mind, then turned around and walked into the light gate leading to the Heavenly Ladder of Inquiry.

The situation in Beizi Town is dire, and I don't have much time to waste.

As soon as he passed through the dazzling light gate, Su Daoshan found himself all alone in the world. Before him lay a wide and quiet staircase.

The Heavenly Ladder is about five meters wide and paved with bluestone. It looks no different from the steps of Qingcheng Mountain in my previous life. The bluestones underfoot are even more uneven, with some large and some small, pitted and bumpy.

The steps weren't high, only about a hundred in total, leading to a platform. On the platform, a tall tower was faintly visible.

Upon seeing the tower, Su Daoshan felt a sudden boom in his mind, and all his distracting thoughts vanished, leaving only the tower in the entire world.

Su Daoshan could not describe the tower before him in words. It seemed both real and illusory. It seemed both close at hand and far away. It existed between heaven and earth, yet it seemed to be heaven and earth itself. It stood atop Tiandao Mountain, yet it seemed as if the entire Tiandao Mountain was its appendage.

Su Daoshan sensed an indescribable yet undeniably real aura emanating from it. This aura was so vast, so full of life, so approachable, and yet so awe-inspiring. It was omnipresent, like mercury spilling across the ground.

In its presence, Su Daoshan felt as simple as a single cell, as if his entire being, even his deepest secrets, had been seen through.

"So this is the Tower of Inquiry." Su Daoshan stared at the towering structure before him, mesmerized by its mysterious aura. For some reason, at this moment, he suddenly felt as if he were standing before a deity.

It seems that all the answers to this strange and mysterious world are contained in this tower.

It took Su Daoshan a while to come to his senses.

"These steps are the first level of the Heavenly Ladder for Asking the Way. Once I climb the steps and reach the platform at the top, I can enter the first floor of the Tower of Asking the Way. However, if I want to enter the second floor of the Tower of Asking the Way, I cannot stop at the platform; I must continue to overcome the challenges ahead."

Thinking about the information that person had given him, Su Daoshan's heart raced. He was eager to know how many levels his twelve-grade Dao Seeds could support him in ascending.

Su Daoshan took a deep breath, calmed himself, and climbed the steps.

As soon as Su Daoshan stepped onto the Heavenly Ladder of Inquiry, he discovered that the world he was in had completely changed.

The steps were still the same steps, but the surrounding area was no longer lush forest, but had become an endless, desolate wilderness. Above, leaden black clouds pressed down heavily, and flashes of lightning flickered and danced through the gaps in the clouds. A voice rang out like a thunderclap in my ears.

"How is your Dao heart?"

Four words, seemingly a question but not a question, spoken with a dignified and captivating tone.

The Dao Heart?

Su Daoshan was completely bewildered. He originally thought that almost anyone could pass the first level of the first stage. Even someone with trash talent like Ao Jiu hadn't said it was difficult. So, with his twelve-grade Dao Seed, passing this stage should be a piece of cake for him, right?

But he didn't expect that he would be hit with a powerful attack as soon as he stepped onto the first step.

That sound almost made his soul fly away.

Besides, asking about other things is one thing, but Dao heart? What kind of bullshit Dao heart do I have? The four lines of Hengqu that I wrote to establish my Dao heart were less a reflection of my own Dao heart and more like the standard answer that a small-town test-taker instinctively gives when faced with an exam question.

Who would be so foolish as to establish a moral compass for heaven and earth and a destiny for the people?

As a student who followed the old Taoist priest in swindling and cheating, and was like an ant in the bizarre and bustling world, Su Daoshan was always very clear about his own position.

I am just an ordinary citizen, I can't see too far ahead, and I don't have such noble sentiments.

Having a stable job, living comfortably, having some free time, having the means to support small hobbies, having a girl who isn't too beautiful but is kind-hearted and simple, and having a child who isn't unintelligent—that would be his ideal life.

So how could someone who came from a world where people wouldn't even dare to help an elderly person who had fallen on the street have such a grand Dao heart?

That was just a lie!

However, in that original world, no one would expose you. Everyone was even telling the same set of lies, a systematic whole.

Now, it seems that this lie has been exposed in the face of Heaven's will!
Su Daoshan wanted to open his mouth, but he found that the will in the sky did not want his answer at all; it was asking his true heart!
"boom!"

It seemed that no answer had been received, or perhaps the answer had already been found in Su Daoshan's heart. The next second, dark clouds surged across the sky, plunging everything into darkness.

Then, a bolt of lightning as thick as a water vat burst forth from the leaden clouds, like a whip of light, heading straight for Su Daoshan's head.

(End of this chapter)