Starting with the titmouse, seventy-two transformations

Chapter 268 Heavenly Ladder Race

The Heavenly Palace stands majestically, its celestial light dazzling.

On the stone steps, the greenish-blue light floated like water, reflecting the jade-like color onto everyone's faces.

A powerful aura, subtly fluctuating, surged and undulated.

Despite previous constraints, the atmosphere in the arena remained tense, with a standoff.

Prince Jin's heir, Xie Bao, and others looked nervously at Wu Song and Liu Sheng, their muscles tense and their attention focused.

“My master has been traveling the world for decades, and he always keeps his word. He is a man of his word.”

Liu Sheng lowered his gaze and smiled meaningfully:
"please!"

"go!"

Without hesitation, the Prince of Jin's heir led Dugu Ba to the front and rushed up the stone steps.

A flash of jade light, and the two of them immediately froze in place, their faces showing a look of realization. Then, they obediently walked up step by step.

It's just like an ordinary person climbing.

The same was true for Xie Bao and the other two who followed. Xie Bao, who was known for his cunning and treacherousness, actually climbed the ranks honestly and obediently.

They showed no intention of speaking!
"Is there something strange about these stone steps?"

Liu Sheng frowned. The Prince of Jin's heir hadn't mentioned the stone steps before.

"Let's go too!"

A cold glint flashed in Wu Song's eyes. He leaped onto the stone steps first, his body trembling slightly as he quickly climbed upwards.

"Be careful."

Liu Sheng followed closely behind, and as soon as he stepped onto the stone steps, a grand celestial sound resounded in his mind:
"The Heavenly Ladder has three passes. Those who ascend it may enter the three palaces of the Heavenly Palace. Attacks, killings, and conversations are forbidden. Violators will be expelled!"

At the same time, the surrounding air tightened, pressing down on him like a mountain, making him appear several sizes shorter.

But all the added talents are still effective!
"This Heavenly Palace can talk? Is it the divine thought left behind by the original owner... or is it mechanical communication?"

Liu Sheng raised his eyebrows, seemingly lost in thought.

No wonder Master and the Prince of Jin remained silent after climbing the stone steps; that's what happened.

Moreover, judging from the previous situation, their true energy should have been sealed, and they could only climb the ladder by relying on their physical strength.

But why does this Heavenly Palace give me a strange sense of familiarity?
The earlier calls have turned into the homesickness and trepidation of a traveler returning home.
It was as if a voice was babbling in his ear, telling him about a past he couldn't remember at all.

Could this place really have something to do with me?

Liu Sheng's breath hitched, his eyes darted around, and random thoughts arose in his mind.

At the same time, the delusions lurking in the blood also began to surface silently.

Fortunately, he sensed something was wrong in time and activated his level 5 Blade Heart talent, extinguishing and suppressing all delusions, thus purifying the concentration of true blood in his body.

We are one step closer to achieving our true form.

He looked around and noticed that everyone's positions on the stone steps had changed.

Leading the charge was Master Wu Song, followed by Dugu Ba, and then the mysterious swordsman surnamed Yang, who appeared to be dead.

Prince Jin's heir is still ahead of Xie Bao.

Black Wind King moved unhurriedly, intentionally synchronizing with the avatar of the Sky-Splitting Sparrow, seemingly a predestined connection within the Heavenly Palace of No Heart.

Du Bingyan was the last to step onto the stone steps.

In this way, everyone's physical strength is on full display.

"However, given Bingyan's physique after being tempered by the Dew of Willow Branches, it's a certainty that she will surpass Xie Bao and the Prince of Jin's heir, so there's no need to worry."

Liu Sheng withdrew his gaze, immediately stopped lingering, and strode quickly upwards.

With his current terrifying physique and various talents, this Heavenly Ladder level is only slightly difficult for him.

Then... he regretted his naive idea!

Each section consists of ten stone steps, with the added weight increasing from low to high.

For example, after climbing more than thirty stone steps, the weight he was carrying had quietly doubled.

And the number of steps on this stone staircase... is at least tens of thousands!
"Okay, okay, is this how you play it..." Liu Sheng sniffed, a smile appearing on his face.

When it comes to strength, with the power to "move mountains," what has he ever been afraid of?

This little bit of weight... is nothing.
So he sped up again and quickly climbed four or five hundred steps, overtaking Xie Bao and the Prince of Jin in one go.

Amidst their astonished gazes, they continued upwards, catching up with Dugu Ba and the mysterious swordsman surnamed Yang at around level two thousand.

He was second only to his master, Wu Song.

Only then did he begin to pant slightly.

After reaching level 6,000, Wu Song was covered in sweat. He glanced at his disciple, who was keeping pace with him, and his competitive spirit was ignited.

So the master and apprentice climbed one after the other, one level apart, silently gaining a significant lead over the others.

After the 8,000 steps, the added weight on each step far exceeds that before.

It was truly a difficult journey, with each step fraught with hurdles.

Even though Wu Song had the sweet dew of willow branch to cleanse his marrow and transform his body, making him physically strong, he lost his composure at this point and could only climb step by step, sweating profusely.

Each step up required almost all of my strength, resulting in a huge physical drain.

Liu Sheng has a talent for "standing on the ground," which allows him to continuously absorb the earth's energy to restore his strength and maintain his condition.

Therefore, after climbing more than 8,000 stone steps, he surpassed his master Wu Song and became the leader, launching a sprint towards the end of this level.

"Why does the talent enhanced by the incarnation continue to work while climbing the ladder?"

Liu Sheng had some doubts, but he quickly put them out of his mind.

After all, many things in this world don't need to be thoroughly investigated; as long as it benefits oneself, that's enough.

Anyway, being far ahead is the key!

I do not know how long it has been.

Liu Sheng suddenly felt his feet sink into the ground. He felt as if he were floating on clouds, as if he were about to take off.

"After completing the first stage, you can enter the outer hall to choose your destiny in the immortal realm, or accumulate rewards from all three stages to enter the inner hall and compete for your destiny in the immortal realm..."

At the same time, that grand celestial sound resounded in his mind once again.

The information given by the Prince of Jin was relatively simple, only stating that the main body of the Heavenly Palace was divided into three halls: outer, middle, and inner.

The celestial connections within each hall are not all the same.

The outer hall mainly contains ordinary spiritual weapons, magical artifacts, elixirs, and superior martial arts techniques.

The items in the central hall are of a higher grade, and the techniques are mostly secret and transmitted.

As for the inner palace, he was vague, only guessing that it might contain legendary treasures or unparalleled martial arts techniques.

"Why is the Prince of Jin so familiar with the Heavenly Palace? Has he been here before? Or perhaps a descendant of a descendant left and cooperated with the Prince of Jin's mansion..."

Liu Sheng's eyes flickered, and he couldn't help but think of the "master" that Huo Ya had mentioned before, who had gone out to visit friends a long time ago and had not returned since.

He had previously guessed that the person was either colluding with the imperial court or with the Prince of Jin's mansion. Based on what he had seen before, he believed that the person had sided with the Prince of Jin's mansion.

As for whether to go to the outer hall to receive the reward immediately, or to accumulate three trials to enter the inner hall and seek immortal destiny...

Of course, it's about accumulating three levels!
For Liu Sheng, ordinary weapons, martial arts techniques, and magical artifacts are now of little value.

He urgently needs a primary cultivation technique to suppress the various forms on his body and completely refine his bloodline.

Of course, one should enter the inner hall to try and gain a chance at immortality.

But what aspects will the next two Heavenly Ladder trials test?

After a short rest, Liu Sheng set off again.

"Om~"

The moment he stepped onto the second stone step, his vision blurred and he heard a beast's roar.

"Roar!"

(End of this chapter)