Chapter 555 - 401: Yu Qianxue, Master of the Immortal Palace; Heaven-Reaching Peak; Library

"Quickly, come with me to the Great Hall! The Sect Leader has been waiting for you for a long time!"

Liu Feng said with a smile, then pulled Lin Chang’sheng along toward the Immortal Palace’s Great Hall.

Both Gu Shan and Xiaonan followed closely behind.

It seemed Xiaonan didn’t much like being watched by so many people, and directly slipped into Lin Chang’sheng’s Spirit Beast Bag to keep Xiaobai company.

Now Xiaobai was hardly lonely, for there were quite a few Demon Beasts inside the Spirit Beast Bag.

Apart from Xiaobai and the Three-headed Ice and Fire Python, there were also the Fire Qilin, Double-headed Fire Phoenix, Lightning Thunderclap Eagle, and others.

All these Demon Beasts had awakened their intelligence and were able to speak.

Yet no matter how many Demon Beasts there were, not a single one dared to provoke Xiaobai.

They all kept a certain distance from Xiaobai.

Following Elder Liu Feng’s guidance, Lin Chang’sheng passed through several floating mountain ranges, finally arriving before a massive mountain.

This mountain seemed bathed in golden light, radiating ten thousand rays of dazzling brilliance, making it appear like a Divine Mountain that filled onlookers with awe.

With Elder Liu Feng leading the way, Lin Chang’sheng proceeded unhindered right to the hall atop the summit of this great mountain.

"Sect Leader, Lin Chang’sheng has returned!"

Even before entering the Great Hall, Elder Liu Feng called out impatiently, as if eager to relay this good news to everyone at once.

Following Elder Liu Feng, Lin Chang’sheng entered the hall.

Inside, the hall gleamed with gold and jade, every bit as splendid as an Imperial Palace Hall, embodying pure luxury.

At the uppermost end of the hall, there was not a grand throne, but instead a golden canopy bed where a person reclined sideways, her appearance obscured, dressed in a robe of gold.

Through the hazy veil, it was faintly discernible that the person was a woman.

This surprised Lin Chang’sheng somewhat—so the Sect Leader of the Immortal Palace was actually a woman?

The woman, upon hearing Elder Liu Feng’s words, immediately sat upright, her gaze falling upon Lin Chang’sheng.

At once Lin Chang’sheng felt a powerful pressure descend, as though the weight of the entire mountain pressed upon him.

He found it difficult to even move.

"You are Lin Chang’sheng?"

A low, gentle, and mature woman’s voice came from behind the golden curtain.

The voice sounded somewhat like Xiaobai’s—purely an ice-cold beauty—but carried even more authority.

"I am,"

Lin Chang’sheng replied, neither arrogant nor humble.

If the other party harbored ill intentions, he could simply leave—there was no shortage of sects willing to keep him.

So Lin Chang’sheng saw no need to be overly deferential.

"I’ve already heard your story from Elder Liu. After you went missing, I issued the Immortal Palace Order, mobilizing the whole sect to search for you. The fact that you survived such calamity is proof enough of your rare talent—a once-in-a-millennium Celestial Pride. If you need anything, just say the word, and the Immortal Palace will do its utmost to assist your cultivation!"

Yu Qianxue spoke slowly, then withdrew the pressure weighing down Lin Chang’sheng.

From Lin Chang’sheng, she had already sensed an extraordinary talent—his future achievements would surely be limitless.

However, she wouldn’t, as her words suggested, immediately pour all the sect’s resources into supporting Lin Chang’sheng’s cultivation.

He would first need to undergo certain trials.

For, in the past, the Immortal Palace had once devoted all its efforts to nurturing a peerless Celestial Pride.

But once that prodigy grew powerful, their ambition swelled, and they even sought to unify the entire Immortal Palace under themselves.

"Thank you, Sect Leader!"

Lin Chang’sheng replied.

"Elder Liu, take Lin Chang’sheng to Heaven-Reaching Peak for cultivation!"

Yu Qianxue’s dignified command sounded out once more.

"Yes!"

Elder Liu Feng responded at once, then immediately led Lin Chang’sheng toward Heaven-Reaching Peak.

This Heaven-Reaching Peak was the cultivation ground for Celestial Pride disciples of the Immortal Palace—only disciples of such status had the right to train here.

And the cultivation dwelling one occupied was decided by one’s cultivation strength—the stronger, the closer to the mountain peak.

Because at dawn each day, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi atop the peak was the most abundant.

"This Heaven-Reaching Peak is where Celestial Pride disciples cultivate. At present, there are sixty-five disciples training here, each with their own residence, ensuring an undisturbed environment for cultivation. However—"

At this, Elder Liu Feng paused.

"However what?"

Lin Chang’sheng couldn’t help but ask in curiosity.

"However, each disciple must accept a challenge every seven days. If victorious, you may continue your cultivation; if you lose, you’ll have to surrender your dwelling to your opponent!"

Elder Liu Feng explained, "According to your current talent, I could have assigned you a residence at the very summit. But owing to sect rules, you must first stay in a wooden cabin at the foot of the mountain. If you wish to cultivate in the Heaven-Reaching Peak dwellings, you’ll have to win your way up, one challenge at a time!"

"Understood."

Lin Chang’sheng showed his understanding.

Competing with these Celestial Pride disciples would undoubtedly be a valuable tempering experience.

Lin Chang’sheng had thought that since he had already reached the Integration Stage, there wouldn’t be many disciples at that level within Heaven-Reaching Peak.

But when Lin Chang’sheng arrived at Heaven-Reaching Peak, he realized just how laughable that assumption was.

There were no age restrictions here to under thirty—instead, all were under one hundred years of age.

That included older-generation Celestial Pride disciples and more.

As a result, their overall strength far surpassed that of the Celestial Pride List’s usual competitors.

Only twelve had Late Stage Void Refining Cultivation—the rest were all at the Integration Stage; some were even at the Middle and Late Integration Stages.

This took Lin Chang’sheng by surprise.

It seemed that obtaining better cultivation resources would truly require him to climb up, step by step.

Soon Liu Feng led Lin Chang’sheng to the foot of Heaven-Reaching Peak, where rows of wooden cabins lined up.

This was the temporary residence for newly promoted Celestial Pride disciples.