Starting with being handed over to the Imperial Concubine, building a family with a thousand-year hi

A single elemental attack is dangerous enough, but the combined force of water and fire, representing the clash of opposing poles, multiplies the destructive power, making it far more terrifying than a simple ice or fire attack.

After being repeatedly tempered and torn apart by ice and fire, Su Mu, who was already physically strong, had fine scars on his body and his bones and muscles were slightly damaged after climbing only five thousand floors. He had suffered real injuries.

But Su Mu quickly realized that this extreme trial of ice and fire was not a dead end for him, but rather an unparalleled opportunity.

The body is tempered by extreme ice and fire, and its original essence is repaired accordingly.

Destruction and rebirth cycle endlessly, destruction and repair alternate. Under the repeated scouring of the polar energies of water and fire, and the ultimate nourishment of the wood element, his physical body and bones are constantly being broken down and reshaped, and his physical resilience and strength are steadily improving and continuously transforming.

Having traversed six thousand steps without incident, Su Mu's physique had been comprehensively strengthened, and his physical foundation had surged once again, far surpassing his previous peak state.

From the 6001st to the 8000th floor, the trials have been upgraded once again.

The raging forces of water and fire have completely receded, replaced by an even more terrifying force of yin and yang. This chaotic energy, a reversal of extreme yin and yang, is filled with ultimate destructiveness, far exceeding the danger of the fusion of water and fire.

The energies of Yin and Yang repeatedly wash over, tear, and crush the physical body, creating terrifying destructive power. Even a physique tempered and greatly strengthened by ice and fire would find it difficult to withstand such an onslaught for an extended period.

During the 2,000-step climb, Su Mu's body was torn apart by the power of Yin and Yang several times, his flesh and bones were rolled up and exposed, and his injuries were extremely horrifying.

But every time the physical body is torn apart and destroyed, the vast and boundless source of wood will surge forth instantly, rapidly repairing all injuries, and the shattered flesh and bones will be regenerated and healed in an instant.

Break, destroy, repair, rebirth, a cycle that repeats endlessly.

The extreme pain and the exhilarating transformation intertwined, making Su Mu experience both agony and joy. He could clearly sense that his physical strength, resilience, and bone hardness were all increasing rapidly at a visible rate, constantly breaking through constraints.

At the same time, as the number of layers increases, the energy of the wood element becomes more powerful and pure, and the essence of the wood element's fundamental laws becomes clearer.

At this moment, Su Mu is only a thin veil away from completely understanding the fundamental laws of the wood element. It is clearly within reach, within arm's reach, but no matter how he tries to comprehend and grasp it, he is always missing the last step, like someone who is blind, unable to completely break through and integrate it.

In order to thoroughly explore the truth of the laws and seize this supreme opportunity, Su Mu did not stop for a moment. No matter how rampant the power of Yin and Yang was or how damaged his physical body was, after each baptism, he would step upwards without hesitation, continuing to climb, continue to temper, and continue to comprehend.

Su Mu's increasingly amazing and extraordinary performance along the way brought extreme shock to the eyes of Duer and others, completely subverting their understanding.

"Seven thousand five hundred floors already! How is that possible? This kid is only at the Heavenly God Realm, yet he has reached such a height?" someone exclaimed in disbelief.

"What kind of monstrous talent, and what kind of powerful figure, could cultivate such a freakish descendant!"

"Hiss! We were too optimistic before! The person behind Su Mu is definitely more than just a mid-stage Saint Realm cultivator! Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to temper a Heavenly God Realm cultivator into such a heaven-defying physique and withstand the trials of over seven thousand Heavenly Ladders!"

"Moreover, I have observed for a long time that Su Mu's ability to steadily climb more than 7,000 floors is not simply due to his strong physique. The defensive treasures he carries must be of extremely high grade!" Dor stared intently at the figure on the Heavenly Ladder, a fierce greed suddenly appearing in his eyes, which he made no attempt to conceal.

Possessing a treasure is a crime—an age-old truth.

Previously, the Apocalypse Puppet had always been in everyone's sight, possessing combat power comparable to the Saint Realm, which made everyone wary and dare not act rashly. But now, in the eyes of Dor and others, the Apocalypse Puppet has fallen, and Su Mu, who has lost his protection, possesses a high-level treasure and a heaven-defying physique, but only has the cultivation of the Heavenly God Realm. He is now a lamb on the chopping block, ready to be slaughtered.

This sentiment wasn't unique to Dor; all the Saint Realm experts present harbored greedy thoughts.

The number of core treasures in the third stage of the secret realm is unknown, and even if one manages to seize them, the rules stipulate that they must be handed over to the sect. However, stealing Su Mu's treasure is entirely different. It's a rare and precious opportunity belonging to a Heavenly God Realm cultivator; there's no risk in stealing it, and once obtained, it's immediately one's own—no need to hand it over, and no one will hold one accountable. Who wouldn't want to take advantage of such a tremendous bargain?

At this moment, Su Mu has surpassed the treasures of the secret realm and become the most coveted and desired opportunity in everyone's eyes.

Su Mu, on the Heavenly Ladder, was completely unaware that he had become the target of everyone's criticism.

Of course, even if he knew, he wouldn't care at all.

The world's greatest treasures are coveted by all. But whether one has the strength to snatch them from his hands is another matter entirely!

Su Mu faced numerous dangers along the way, but ultimately made it safely across the eight thousand steps.

What seemed like a series of perilous steps and multiple serious injuries was actually deliberate. Under the premise of ensuring his absolute safety, he deliberately did not activate his treasures or use his trump cards, allowing the trial power of the Heavenly Ladder to temper his body. He used the extreme destructive offensive to hone his physique, break through his limits, and maximize the absorption of the opportunities from this trial.

When your feet firmly land on the 8,001st step, the ultimate test of the ladder to heaven finally arrives.

Rumble—!

A deafening thunderclap suddenly erupted, echoing throughout the entire secret realm's sky.

Su Mu's heart skipped a beat, and he abruptly looked up at the sky.

A bolt of jet-black lightning, as thick as an arm, carrying a violent force capable of destroying everything, ripped through the sky and slammed into his body!

The first layer of lightning attacks was not particularly strong, and when it struck Su Mu, it did not cause him any injury or any abnormality.

But Su Mu's expression instantly became extremely solemn.

Thunder is the energy that cultivators across the heavens fear most and are most unwilling to confront directly. It represents ultimate destruction, domineering judgment, unparalleled killing power, and utterly devastating force.

He looked up at the top of the sea of ​​clouds that the ladder to heaven led to, and his mind was clear.

Passing through the eight thousand levels smoothly is merely a warm-up trial. The remaining two thousand levels of the Thunder Road are the true danger and ultimate test of the Heavenly Ladder.

Facing the imminent imminent danger, Su Mu showed no fear in his eyes. Instead, his eyes blazed with fighting spirit and shone with extreme excitement.

Judging from past trial patterns, the more violent and dangerous the attacks of the Heavenly Ladder, the more powerful and pure the corresponding primal force.

If one can completely break through the law barrier and comprehend the fundamental law of wood in the final two thousand layers of thunder trials, this adventure will be an unparalleled and highly profitable one!

Compared to living people who are unpredictable and have their own schemes, puppet butlers will always rigidly execute orders, making them worry-free, safe, and absolutely controllable.

This is the fundamental reason why the master of the secret realm ultimately chose to leave the puppet Mu Bo to guard the immortal abode, rather than cultivating a living confidant.

After introducing himself, Uncle Mu didn't exchange any pleasantries and immediately changed the subject.

"Now that you have passed the test specially left by the master, you are qualified to come with me to see the master."

Before he could finish speaking, Mu Bo turned around and walked slowly down a long, secluded corridor in the southeast of the palace, without waiting for Su Mu's reply.

Su Mu composed himself and silently followed behind, his mind racing as he reviewed and pondered Mu Bo's words.

A test deliberately left behind?

Su Mu frowned slightly, a guess forming in his mind.

Could it be referring to the Heavenly Ladder Trial that was just now, which had become strangely difficult and far exceeded the difficulty of previous trials?

If so, then his previous conjecture would be completely confirmed.

This secret realm, this ten-thousand-layered ladder to heaven, and the progressively challenging trials are never just empty treasure troves for inheritance.

Everything the master of the secret realm set up was done with a strong purpose from beginning to end.

Besides that, there was something else that puzzled Su Mu.

Uncle Mu still insisted on taking him to see his master.

According to information that Yu Sheng knew and that circulated throughout the universe, this supreme powerhouse of the Wood Clan had already perished countless ages ago, his body and soul vanished.

How can one meet the dead?

Filled with doubt and a barely perceptible unease, Su Mu followed closely behind Mu Bo, traversing a series of crisscrossing, ancient, and secluded corridors. The corridors were lined with ancient wooden runes, exuding a heavy aura of age and bearing witness to the vicissitudes of time.

A moment later, the two arrived at the door of a quiet and elegant secret room.

Uncle Mu raised his hand to push open the door, turned to the side and raised his hand, pointing to an antique crystal on the table inside the room.

"Open the memory stone; inside is an image that the owner specially left for you."

As Su Mu stepped into the secret room, Mu Bo gently closed the door but did not leave. The faint shadow cast through the window indicated that this puppet steward was quietly guarding the space.

Su Mu suppressed the distracting thoughts in his mind, slowly walked to the table, and stared down at the image stone on the table.

This object has a unique shape and strange function, which is similar to the recording equipment of technologically advanced planets. It can preserve images and sounds for eternity.

Su Mu's fingertips condensed slightly, and a wisp of pure spiritual energy slowly flowed into the crystal.

hum-

A dark green light instantly swept across the entire recording stone, and amidst the flashing light, a tall and slender illusory figure slowly condensed and took shape in mid-air within the secret chamber.

The illusory man was exceptionally handsome, dressed in an embroidered bamboo robe, with a warm and translucent dark green jade pendant hanging at his waist. He had an outstanding figure and elegant demeanor, resembling a refined gentleman.

But his eyes alone were cold and indifferent, devoid of warmth, filled with a distant and icy aura that kept strangers at bay, forming an extreme contrast with his refined appearance, revealing a chilling indifference and obsession.

After the illusory figure appeared, it took the lead in introducing itself. Its background, cultivation experience, and other information were almost identical to the information Su Mu had heard from Yu Sheng before, without any discrepancies.

After a brief self-introduction, the man changed the subject and got to the point, his voice carrying a weighty, ancient feel.

"You who come after me, your ability to reach this point proves that you have passed the trial of the Heavenly Ladder that I specially reinforced. You are qualified to know the greatest secret of my life."

Sure enough!

Su Mu understood completely.

The sudden increase in the difficulty of the Heavenly Ladder was not due to the disorder of the secret realm's formation or random opportunities, but rather a screening threshold set in advance by this powerful member of the Wood Saint Clan.

Only those who can withstand such extreme and dangerous trials, survive and reach the top are qualified to touch the legacy and secrets he left behind.

Seeing the unprecedented solemnity on the phantom's face, Su Mu knew that the secret spoken of by this half-step Great Saint Saint was no ordinary matter and must involve a shocking secret.

The illusory figure in the photograph slowly spoke, recounting its life story.

He is the third-generation direct descendant of the Wood Saint Clan. Although his bloodline foundation is not as good as that of the first and second generation ancestors who founded the clan, he still possesses the top original bloodline in the universe and his talent is unparalleled among his peers.

Having cultivated for less than 100,000 years, he made rapid progress, breaking through layers of shackles to reach the peak of the Saint Realm, only a step away from the position of Supreme Great Saint.

Such a cultivation speed, placed among all the races in the universe, is enough to make countless geniuses and powerful figures envious and crazy, which can be described as extremely heaven-defying.

But he knew perfectly well that while his bloodline talent allowed him to have a smooth path and rapid breakthroughs in his early cultivation, it also had a fatal flaw.

The Holy Race's original bloodline has a predetermined upper limit, making it impossible for them to reach the ultimate, supreme realm of the universe in their lifetime.

This is the balance of the natural order; there is no perfect Dao in the world.

If Heaven bestows upon you unparalleled talent and an early advantage, it will deprive you of the possibility of reaching the pinnacle.

Just like the natural difference between humans and demons.

Humans have short lifespans, but they possess fully developed intelligence and exceptional comprehension, making it extremely easy for them to comprehend the great principles of heaven and earth and break through realms at lightning speed. Demon beasts, on the other hand, have long lifespans and powerful physiques, but their intelligence is closed off. Even if they do develop intelligence, their understanding of the laws of heaven and earth is far inferior to that of humans, and their cultivation progress is incredibly slow.

Having seen through this constraint of the Heavenly Dao, this powerful member of the Wood Clan began planning his future long ago.

Is it true that one's original bloodline can never break through its limits in a lifetime?

Over the past billions of years, countless geniuses and sages of the eight primordial holy races have tried to break through the bloodline stagnation, but all have failed in the end, and none have succeeded.

With countless lessons learned from the past, no one dares to easily cross the forbidden zone.

However, he conceived a heaven-defying idea that shocked the entire Holy Clan and could be described as insane.

Since the potential of a single source of wood is limited, then we should fuse multiple sources!

If one isn't enough, then combine two or three!

If that's still not enough, then merge all eight fundamental forces of the universe into one!

He was not the first person in the history of the universe to have such an idea, but he was the only madman in countless years who dared to put it into action.

No one had trod the road ahead, and no one had proven the path forward; in the end, he failed.

After a dramatic upheaval, he met a tragic end, dying and vanishing in the secret realm.

In the video, he did not elaborate on the tragic process of trying to merge with the origin or the earth-shattering changes he encountered, but only briefly mentioned the ending.

"This photographic stone was a backup plan I had laid out beforehand."

"If anyone can activate this image, it will prove that my path to merging with the origin has completely failed. At that time, Mu Bo will take the entire Immortal Mansion away from the control of the Mu Clan and wander the universe, searching for a successor who can inherit the Great Dao and fulfill my unfulfilled obsession."

After a slight pause, the illusory figure fixed intently on Su Mu with burning eyes.

"I left a drop of the essence of wood in this secret chamber. If you refine and absorb it, although you will not be able to possess the orthodox bloodline of the Wood Saint Clan, you will be able to directly control the pure power of the essence of wood."

The eight fundamental origins of the universe are the foundational principles of the highest Dao at the beginning of the universe.