My little sect, which disappeared a thousand years ago, has become a sacred site!

"Thump—!!!"

A clear and resonant bell, seemingly capable of cleansing the soul, echoed from the depths of Tianyuan Mountain, reverberating throughout the entire plaza and announcing the birth of yet another peerless genius who had ascended to the ninety steps!

Dugu Shiling collapsed on the ninetieth step, her whole body as if she had been pulled out of the water, she didn't have the strength to move a single finger, and her consciousness hovered on the edge of clarity and confusion.

But a faint yet incredibly satisfied and proud smile appeared on the corners of her lips.

She did it.

Although the process was incredibly difficult, and although she was nearly exhausted, she climbed to the ninetyth step!

She can wait for the people from the Holy Land to come and guide her.

However, although the square was in an uproar because of the bell, everyone's attention was not entirely focused on Dugu Shiling, who had just created a miracle.

Because there was another person, an even more outrageous being, who came to her side.

Looking at Dugu Shiling's all-out effort and the final burst of light, Gu Changyuan's eyes flashed with approval.

"Well done," he said softly.

The sound was very soft, yet it seemed to contain some strange law, penetrating the restrictions of the Ascension Platform and the barriers of space, and clearly reaching Dugu Shiling's ears.

As Dugu Shiling struggled against boundless exhaustion and weakness, she felt a gentle, water-like, and vast, star-like power quietly brushing against her body and soul along with that voice.

In an instant, the extreme exhaustion that almost overwhelmed her, the stinging pain in her soul, and the burning sensation in her meridians were as if gently soothed and cleansed by a gentle hand!

She felt completely comfortable and her mind was clear. A warm current even surged in her previously parched dantian!

Although his strength had not recovered much, the despairing negative state was completely swept away!

"?!"

Dugu Shiling's beautiful eyes widened suddenly as she looked to the side in disbelief.

The man in the long robe who was holding the little girl nodded slightly to her, and then he took a step forward.

I stood firmly on the ninety-first step.

"..."

Dugu Shiling was completely stunned.

She risked everything, nearly dying, to reach the ninety steps, and the other person... just took one easy step and went up? And with a child in tow?

Gu Changyuan didn't notice her shock.

Upon reaching the ninety-first step, he finally felt a different kind of pressure.

The pressure here is no longer just directed at the physical body and spiritual power, but has begun to erode the soul, incite inner demons, and even simulate various extreme environmental illusions, testing the climbers' all-round qualities.

The pressure was indeed more than an order of magnitude greater than that below.

But... it still didn't work on him.

"The talent and potential corresponding to the 90th rank are indeed well-deserved."

Gu Changyuan's internal assessment.

Those who can climb up here by their own strength truly deserve the title of "prodigy".

After the experience was over, Gu Changyuan no longer hesitated.

He looked up at the summit of Dengxiantai, hidden in the clouds and mist.

Then, under Dugu Shiling's blank gaze, and under the almost numb stares of hundreds of thousands of cultivators, holy land elders, and even more high-ranking officials who had rushed over—

Gu Changyuan, holding Gu Xing'er, took a step forward.

This step covered the remaining nine steps.

next moment.

His figure stood firmly atop the Ascension Platform, on the hundredth step.

"Thump—!!!"

The first chime of the bell, like a thunderclap in spring, resounded from the core of Tianyuan Mountain and instantly spread throughout the entire periphery of the holy land.

"Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!"

Then, nine more bells rang out, each one more magnificent and awe-inspiring than the last!

The ten tolling bells, continuous and unending, were like the sound of the Great Dao, cleansing the universe and announcing the birth of a miracle worthy of being recorded in the annals of the Holy Land and even shaking the entire Xuanhuang Great World!

Someone has reached the summit of the Ascension Platform!

The bell tolls from the hundred-tiered tower, its sound resounding throughout the heavens!

At this moment, the entire Celestial Holy Land was in complete uproar!

No matter where they are in Tianyuan Mountain, whether they are in seclusion or handling affairs, all the disciples, deacons, elders, and even those supreme elders and ancestors who live in seclusion deep within...

Everyone was startled by the ten tolls of the bell, which had not been heard for a thousand years!

It should be noted that the current record for the Ascension Platform is ninety-eight floors, and the record holder is none other than the current First Ancestor, Ye Qingxue.

She was a top-tier expert in the Tribulation Transcending Realm, ranking among the top ten in strength throughout the entire Nine Heavens Realm.

The emergence of a prodigy who has reached the top indicates that the opponent's strength will completely surpass that of the previous one.

Countless powerful divine senses surged into the sky from all parts of the holy land, carrying shock, ecstasy, and disbelief, sweeping towards the Ascension Platform.

Gu Changyuan stood atop the Ascension Platform, looking down at the countless beings below, as insignificant as ants, and at the majestic and sacred ten spiritual peaks that surrounded Tianyuan Mountain in the distance.

The wind howled, whipping his dark robes and unbound black hair, causing his garments to flutter wildly.

Sunlight shone on the gold thread embroidery on his robe, reflecting glittering light like scattered gold, adding to his otherworldly and unapproachable majesty.

At this moment when everyone was focused on the event and the atmosphere was almost frozen—

"Buzz—!"

A surge of divine soul energy, more powerful and vast than any before, and imbued with a unique spiritual charm, suddenly erupted from the direction of the third peak of Tianyuan Mountain—"Tianxuan Peak".

All the disciples, deacons, and elders present, regardless of what they were doing, bowed in unison towards Tianxuan Peak the instant they sensed this fluctuation, kneeling on one knee. Their voices were unified and filled with heartfelt reverence.

"Greetings to the Third Patriarch—!!"

The sound waves surged like a tide, echoing across the square.

With this salutation, a graceful figure silently appeared in the void above the Ascension Platform.

She was a woman who looked to be around twenty years old, wearing a light purple flowing cloud-sleeved fairy dress.

She was extremely beautiful, with skin as white as snow and black hair like a waterfall, loosely tied up with only a simple white jade hairpin, the rest falling over her shoulders.

What is most striking about her are her eyes, clear and bright, with a captivating gaze that seems to see through people's hearts and understand the ways of the world.

It was Bai Ling'er, one of the three ancestors of the Heavenly Sacred Land. She was born with a keen and intelligent mind, and could learn any skill, technique, or supernatural power in no time.

The myriad laws are exquisite, and the seven orifices are clear.

Upon seeing this familiar face, Gu Changyuan couldn't help but take a closer look, a gentle smile appearing on his lips.

Her face has hardly changed compared to a thousand years ago.

After all, Gu Changyuan had stayed here for fifty years before leaving the Nine Heavens Realm. By then, Bai Ling'er had already grown up, and her beauty was frozen in her most beautiful years.

But Gu Changyuan could clearly sense that Bai Ling'er had gained so much more than she had a thousand years ago.

That is the maturity and composure accumulated over a thousand years, the majesty and demeanor cultivated by holding a high position, in charge of a peak, and shouldering the heavy responsibility of a sacred place, and the profundity and insight gained after experiencing storms and witnessing rise and fall.

Those once lively eyes, always filled with curiosity and laughter, now held a calm yet unyielding air as they gazed down.