On the fifth day, Mu Guanyu arrived again. This time, he brought important intelligence.
"The second trial of Buzhou Mountain will begin in three days," he said in a low voice. "According to the information obtained by the Qin family, this trial is the 'Ladder of Inquiry,' which has ninety-nine steps. Each step requires one to undergo a test of inner demons. Only those who can reach the top of the ladder can proceed to the next level."
Li Qingcheng and Lu Chen exchanged a glance and asked, "Where is the Ladder of Inquiry?"
Mu Guanyu pointed northeast outside the market: "About fifty miles from here, there is a place called 'Wind and Thunder Terrace'. The entrance to the Ladder of Inquiry is there. At that time, all forces that wish to continue upward will gather at Wind and Thunder Terrace."
He paused, then said meaningfully, "However, the Wind and Thunder Platform itself is also a test. It is constantly ravaged by violent winds and thunder, and the slightest carelessness can lead to death. Moreover... with various forces gathering there, there will inevitably be competition for positions. Your Highness, if you are going, you'd better prepare in advance."
After Mu Guanyu left, Li Qingcheng gathered everyone to discuss the matter.
"The Ladder of Inquiry, a ninety-nine-step test of inner demons," she said in a deep voice. "Some members of our team may have high cultivation levels, but their Dao hearts may not be stable. This test may result in some casualties."
Lu Chen said, "The test of inner demons has nothing to do with cultivation level. Some people have mediocre cultivation but firm will, so they are more likely to pass. Some people have profound cultivation but have flaws in their hearts, so they may fail here."
He looked at everyone and said, "These next few days, everyone needs to adjust their mindset. Think clearly about what you can't let go of or get over. On the ladder of self-examination, you can deceive others, but you can't deceive yourself."
Everyone seemed lost in thought. Zhao Hongying secretly glanced at Lu Chen, wondering to herself: What could my inner demon be...?
Three days later, at Fenglei Terrace.
This is an extremely treacherous place. A massive platform hangs suspended in mid-air, with a bottomless abyss below, and is surrounded by perpetual gales and thunder. The wind and thunder roar deafeningly, sending shivers down one's spine.
Hundreds of people had already gathered on the platform. The Qin family, the Mu royal family, the remnants of the Yu family, the loose cultivator alliance... the forces of each major power occupied a corner, wary of one another.
When Li Qingcheng arrived with her team, she immediately felt countless gazes upon her. Some were curious, some scrutinizing, some hostile, and some wary.
"That's the Qin family over there," Zhao Wuji said in a low voice, pointing to the east side of the platform.
Qin Hao stood with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent, as if the dangers of the Wind and Thunder Platform were none of his concern. Qin Xue stood beside him, idly fiddling with a jade talisman. Behind them were more than ten Qin family guards with profound auras.
"The Yu family is to the west," Zhao Wuji pointed to the other side.
The Yu family sent only seven or eight people this time, but each of them exuded a sharp aura, clearly an elite force. Leading them was a pale-faced middle-aged man, with faint crackling lightning around him, radiating a chilling pressure—a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator!
"The true powerhouse of the Yu family has finally appeared," Li Qingcheng whispered.
The people from the Mu Royal Mansion were on the south side of the platform. Mu Guanyu stood at the forefront, talking quietly with several leaders of the loose cultivator alliance. He nodded slightly when he saw Li Qingcheng.
"Get ready for the test," Lu Chen suddenly said. "It's about to begin."
Before the words were even finished, the lightning above the Wind and Thunder Platform suddenly surged! Countless golden lightning bolts intertwined, forming a massive vortex of lightning. At the center of the vortex, a dazzling golden light descended from the sky, landing squarely on the platform!
As the golden light faded, a jade staircase with ninety-nine steps appeared out of thin air! The staircase stretched straight into the sky and disappeared into the vortex of thunder, as if connecting heaven and earth.
"The Ladder of Inquiry has appeared!" A grand voice resounded in everyone's minds. "Those who ascend the ladder must confront their inner demons with their true hearts. Each step presents a tribulation; ninety-nine steps, ninety-nine tribulations. Those who reach the top may proceed to the next level. Those who fail... will have their souls scattered!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd stirred. Some were eager to try, while others hesitated.
The first person to step onto the ladder of self-examination was Qin Hao.
His expression was calm as he walked upwards step by step. First step, second step, third step… his steps remained steady without any pause. Those mental demons and illusions that would have driven an ordinary person to the brink of collapse seemed to have no effect on him whatsoever.
"Who...who exactly is he?" someone exclaimed.
Qin Hao ignored him and continued upwards. Ten steps, twenty steps, thirty steps... until he reached the fiftieth step, he paused slightly before continuing forward.
"Terrifying," Zhao Wuji murmured. "This person's Dao heart is as firm as a rock."
After Qin Hao, Qin Xue also stepped onto the Ladder of Inquiry. She was equally relaxed and at ease, and even looked around curiously as she passed some steps, as if admiring the illusions of her inner demons.
"It's our turn." Li Qingcheng took a deep breath and looked at everyone. "Remember Lu Chen's words, stay true to yourself. No matter what you see, don't lose your way."
She was the first to step onto the Ladder of Inquiry. Zhao Hongying, Zhao Wuji, Bai Qingxue, Bai Wuhen, and others followed closely behind. Lu Chen was the last to step onto it; although his cultivation was sealed, his willpower was no less than anyone else's.
The moment Lu Chen stepped onto the Steps of Inquiry, the scene before him changed instantly.
He saw Consort Cao Xuan—she stood not far away, tears welling in her eyes, looking at him, her lips moving slightly as if she were saying something. But her voice was muffled, and he couldn't hear her.
"Consort Xuan…" Lu Chen's heart trembled.
In the illusion, Consort Cao Xuan reached out her hand to him, her eyes filled with pleading. Lu Chen was almost about to step forward, but he suddenly stopped.
No, that's not right. Consort Xuan is at the foot of the mountain, not here.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, the illusion had vanished, and before him were still the stone steps of the Ladder of Inquiry.
"First step, passed," he murmured, continuing upwards.
Meanwhile, others are also experiencing their own inner demons.
Li Qingcheng saw her mother. Her mother was covered in blood, lying on the ground, reaching out her hand to her: "Qingcheng...save me...save me..." Li Qingcheng's eyes reddened, but she gritted her teeth and did not stop.
Zhao Hongying saw Lu Chen. He was wearing a wedding robe, holding Cao Xuanfei's hand, and smiled at her, saying, "Hongying, thank you for always being by my side. Now, I have found happiness, and it's time for you to find yours too." Zhao Hongying's heart ached, but she took a deep breath and whispered, "Brother Lu, your happiness is my happiness." The illusion vanished, and she continued upwards.
Zhao Wuji saw his dead wife. She stood not far away, beckoning to him: "Wuji, come to me... I miss you so much..." Zhao Wuji's eyes welled with tears, but he closed his eyes and murmured, "I'm sorry, I still have my sister to take care of. Wait for me... wait for me to finish what I need to do, then I'll come to be with you." The illusion dissipated, and he gritted his teeth and looked up.
Bai Qingxue witnessed the destruction of the Bai family. Flames soared into the sky, and her clansmen screamed in agony. She desperately tried to rush forward, but was blocked by an invisible force. She bit her lip, her nails digging into her palms, and took one step forward. She had experienced those illusions countless times in her mind before, and facing them again now, though painful, could not shake her.
Bai Wuhen saw himself—another version of himself, wielding a demonic sword, exuding murderous aura, grinning maliciously: "Wuhen, you will become me sooner or later. Your sword is destined to be a killing sword." Bai Wuhen coldly looked at that version of himself and said calmly: "My sword is a sword of protection. To protect my sister, to protect my people. You are not me." With a single strike, the illusion shattered.
The ninety-nine steps of the ladder of self-examination are all torment and trials.
Some collapsed halfway, screaming as they plummeted into the abyss. Some were consumed by their inner demons, turning into stone statues, forever remaining on the Ladder of Self-Examination. Others gritted their teeth and persevered, climbing step by step.
When Li Qingcheng stepped over the ninety-ninth step, she was almost exhausted. Looking back, she saw that most of the people on the steps had disappeared. She saw that Zhao Hongying, Zhao Wuji, Bai Qingxue, and Bai Wuhen had all come up, and she felt a little relieved.
"Where is Lu Chen?" she suddenly asked.
Everyone turned around to look, but Lu Chen was nowhere to be seen.
"Brother Lu…" Zhao Hongying's face turned deathly pale.
Just then, at the end of the ninety-ninth step, a figure slowly emerged. It was Lu Chen. Although he was exhausted, his eyes remained clear.
"I'm sorry to have worried you," he said softly.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Zhao Hongying couldn't help but rush forward and hug him tightly: "Brother Lu! You scared me to death!"
Lu Chen gently patted her back and said softly, "It's okay, I'm coming up."
At the end of the Ladder of Inquiry lies a massive platform. On this platform, an ancient bronze palace looms in the distance, exuding an aura of antiquity and mystery.
"That's... Buzhou Palace?" someone exclaimed.
But the ancient palace was merely a phantom, not fully solidified. A grand voice resounded once more:
"Those who pass through the Ladder of Inquiry can enter the 'Bronze Palace' to compete for the ultimate opportunity. The palace contains countless treasures, but only one person can obtain the Divine Transformation Pill. The palace gates will open in seven days."
As soon as the words were spoken, the scene before everyone's eyes changed again. When they came to their senses, they were back on the Wind and Thunder Platform.
The Ladder of Inquiry vanished, and the terrifying vortex of lightning dissipated. But everyone knew that the real test had only just begun.