North Jade Mountain, the sky was just beginning to light up.

On the steps leading to the Immortal Palace, the brothers Wang Baole and Nie Xiuyuan, along with the Crown Prince of North Abyss, the Golden Cicada Buddhist Son, and the Heartless Palace Saintess, were advancing neck and neck. Behind them were several cultivators from the sacred grounds.

At this moment, the few people walking at the front were only ten steps away from the Immortal Palace.

But everyone was already drenched in sweat, and the scenes before them were all different.

What appeared before the Golden Cicada Buddhist Son was an endless hell, filled with countless demons and monsters.

He looked at these demons and monsters, then closed his eyes and began chanting scriptures, stepping forward one step at a time.

Seeing the eminent monk arrive, the demons and monsters pounced on him, relentlessly tearing at his flesh and blood.

Even so, the Golden Cicada Buddhist Son continued chanting. After only a few steps, all the flesh and blood on his body had been devoured by the demons and monsters.

Only his soul remained, but the demons and monsters did not let him go, continuing to devour his soul.

For a moment, within the illusion, aside from the sound of chanting, only the sounds of devouring could be heard.

On the other side, the Crown Prince of North Abyss saw an endless sea of enemies, while the soldiers of the North Abyss Sacred Dynasty around him had already fallen into pools of blood.

"Kill, kill, kill!"

The Crown Prince of North Abyss let out angry roars, holding a broken sword as he charged into the enemy army.

The Heartless Palace Saintess saw countless men. There were immortals from the heavens, incomparably handsome members of the demon race, and the man she had admired when her heart first awakened to love.

Watching these men walk toward her one by one, the Heartless Palace Saintess's state of mind remained calm and undisturbed, completely unaffected as she continued to advance.

In contrast, what appeared before Nie Xiuyuan was a paradise, where he could be carefree, drinking wine and eating meat in large gulps.

Nie Xiuyuan rode a white horse, living leisurely in this paradise, his only thought being that the world is so big, he wanted to see it properly.

Before Wang Baole was an endless amount of delicious food. He tasted all kinds of delicacies as he moved forward, firmly believing that there must be even better food ahead.

Time passed second by second.

On these final ten steps, the five finally determined the victor.

Wang Baole and Nie Xiuyuan were the first to break through the illusion, arriving on the flat ground outside the Immortal Palace.

The two looked at the Immortal Palace before them, the corners of their mouths slightly upturned. They exchanged a smile and were just about to walk toward the Immortal Palace when a familiar voice came from behind them.

"Amitabha, this little monk thought that Patron Nie would be the one to pass this heavenly ladder, but I never expected there to be a master like Friend Wang in Wendao Academy as well."

"Great Monk, you're not bad either. Although you're drenched in sweat, you're much faster than those two."

Wang Baole said with a smile.

"Thank you for the compliment, Friend. Should we wait for those two friends, or enter together?"

the Golden Cicada Buddhist Son asked with a smile.

Nie Xiuyuan took a sip of wine: "As the saying goes: to meet is to have fate. Let's wait for them. Besides, we brothers are hungry anyway."

He naturally didn't want to hand the opportunity to others, but the great monk's suggestion reminded him that this Immortal Palace was likely full of dangers. Having one more expert to share the burden would provide an extra layer of security.

After speaking, he gave Wang Baole a look.

Wang Baole took out the delicacies he had carefully prepared, along with a table, chairs, and benches, placing them in front of the Immortal Palace. He then invited the Golden Cicada Buddhist Son: "Great Monk, join us."

The Golden Cicada Buddhist Son smelled the fragrant aroma of the food and said with a smile: "Since you have so graciously invited me, Patron, it would be rude to refuse. Thank you."

"Great Monk, don't be so formal and literary. Even Junior Brother Xu, that scholar, isn't as pretentious with his words as you are. Here."

Nie Xiuyuan said as he took a jug of wine from his storage ring and tossed it over.

The Golden Cicada Buddhist Son caught the wine gourd without a second thought and walked towards them.

The three of them quickly sat around a table and began drinking and discussing the Dao.

An hour later.

When Leng Qingqiu passed the heavenly ladder test, she saw the scene of the three of them drinking wine and eating meat in large gulps, and she couldn't help but be slightly stunned.

The three also sensed they were being watched and turned their heads to look, seeing that it was Leng Qingqiu who had arrived.

The Golden Cicada Buddhist Son spoke first: "Heartless Palace Saintess, the Crown Prince of North Abyss has not yet arrived, why not come over and discuss the Dao with us?"

"No need."

Leng Qingqiu refused without even thinking, finding an open space to sit down cross-legged on the spot.

Although she didn't know why the three were delaying their entry, she also knew that rashly entering the Immortal Palace alone now might not be a good thing. Not to mention failing to obtain the opportunities within, she might just be paving the way for others.

Hoo, hoo, hoo...

A series of heavy breathing sounds came from the heavenly ladder, drawing everyone's attention.

They saw the disheveled Crown Prince of North Abyss standing on the stone steps, looking as if he had experienced countless battles.

The Crown Prince of North Abyss saw Nie Xiuyuan and the others drinking freely, and felt an indescribable displeasure in his heart.

"You all are certainly in high spirits, drinking and making merry here in front of the Immortal Palace."

Nie Xiuyuan said with a smile: "Are we not here waiting for Your Highness, the Crown Prince, to enter the Immortal Palace together?"

"Oh?"

The Crown Prince of North Abyss sneered: "Don't tell me you are all afraid and don't dare to enter this Immortal Palace?"

Before he finished speaking, the originally closed gates of the Immortal Palace suddenly opened on their own, and an ancient, majestic voice came from within.

"The great fortune bearers have all arrived. The Immortal Palace is open. Cultivators outside the Immortal Palace may receive blessings."

Hearing this, Nie Xiuyuan took a sip of wine and said: "Your Highness, that senior has already given the answer. Do you still wish to continue debating?"

"Hmph!"

The Crown Prince of North Abyss snorted coldly and said no more, but he also became vigilant in his heart. That person inside the Immortal Palace could actually tell that the five of them present were all great fortune bearers, and had even waited specifically for him. Could it be that he wanted to strip them of their fortune?

Nie Xiuyuan did not continue to mock the Crown Prince of North Abyss. He casually picked up the wine gourd in his hand and said to Wang Baole and the Golden Cicada Buddhist Son: "Two friends, since everyone is here, let's enter together."

"Fine by me."

The Golden Cicada Buddhist Son also had doubts in his heart, but since he had already arrived at the treasure mountain, he would not retreat here.

After the three of them packed up, they walked towards the Immortal Palace gate together. The Crown Prince of North Abyss thought for a moment and followed their steps. The Heartless Palace Saintess did not speak, silently following behind the group.

Soon, their group arrived at the main gate, and everyone looked at each other.

The Golden Cicada Buddhist Son said: "I wonder which friend wishes to enter first?"

Nie Xiuyuan said: "Let's go together."

"Alright."

"Okay."

"..."

Each of them had their own little calculations. They were afraid of the danger, but also afraid of the opportunities being seized by others. The best way was to enter the Immortal Palace together.

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