However, in the next moment, the Array Pearl in the Great Hall flashed slightly, like the world was spinning, and the Immortal Venerable’s incarnation and Li Qian had vanished.
The young man in purple robes and others were still in the Great Hall, all dumbfounded.
"How could this happen?"
"Why can’t the Immortal Venerable’s incarnation sense us?"
"Ahhh... How long have I waited for this day, yet why can’t I participate in the Immortal Venerable’s trial?"
"I am not willing, my Immortal Fate..."
"Damn it, don’t let him see you again..."
There is only a celestial ladder that seemed endless.
Li Qian and the Immortal Venerable’s incarnation appeared at the bottom of the ladder.
"Huh, why are you the only one here? Where are the others?"
The Immortal Venerable’s incarnation seemed to have unfrozen, scrutinizing Li Qian.
Li Qian found he could sense the presence of the Chen Bell, yet he was not within the Chenzhong Cave Heaven.
This meant he had been transported to a trial space within the Tianlan Immortal Mansion, which conveniently lay outside the range of Chenzhong Cave Heaven.
This made him feel very insecure.
Especially when confronted with an unknown Immortal Venerable’s incarnation.
"Honorable Immortal Venerable, it seems...you did not transport the others here."
Li Qian pretended to be innocent and clueless.
"That’s strange... Oh well, since only you came in, it must mean the others weren’t meant to. "
The Immortal Venerable’s incarnation waved his hand and pointed at the celestial ladder ahead: "Start climbing the ladder now. As long as you reach the top, you will receive the Immortal Fate granted by me. However, having not yet reached the Return to Void Fifty Steps, even if you comprehend the Dao Rhythm, your hope seems slim."
With that, he shook his head, clearly not optimistic about Li Qian.
After all, without achieving over fifty steps in the Return to Void Cultivation Realm, succeeding to the top was essentially impossible.
Additionally, there was an age limit imposed.
Once bone age exceeded a thousand years, one wouldn’t even qualify to step on the celestial ladder.
"Yes, Immortal Venerable."
Li Qian hurriedly bowed, ignoring what the Immortal Venerable’s incarnation said afterward.
Reaching the top would naturally be best, and failing would simply mean losing the Immortal Fate.
With the Chen Bell, he believed ascending to the Upper Realm was only a matter of time.
As he stepped onto the celestial ladder, he immediately felt an intangible pressure.
Taking a deep breath, he started walking up step by step.
However, when he had covered more than half of the celestial ladder, he suddenly felt immense pressure with each step, as if carrying a mountain on his back, not only physically but mentally.
"This Immortal Fate test is really perverse, no wonder the Immortal Venerable’s incarnation said I had little hope."
Li Qian thought secretly.
Still, he wanted to see where his limits lay.
So, gritting his teeth, he continued upward.
Suddenly... his whole body trembled, and a look of astonishment was replaced by ecstatic joy on his face.
He had entered the range of the Grotto Heaven.
It seemed that part of this trial space was still within the Grotto Heaven.
This was going to help.
Li Qian activated the Cave Heaven Power to bolster himself, immediately feeling the pressure significantly decrease.
However, he didn’t show it and continued to pretend to struggle as he climbed.
Thus, under the support of the Cave Heaven Power, Li Qian stepped upward until he reached the top of the celestial ladder, where the pressure vanished completely.
"Congratulations on passing the Immortal Fate test."
The incarnation of the Immortal Venerable had somehow appeared at the top of the celestial ladder.
As he looked at Li Qian who ascended, he showed an expression of utter surprise.