Chapter 314: Token Guidance, Relics Reappear

Following the guidance of the Purple Sky Protector God Order, Wang Ping traversed the Azure Void Realm for seven days.

During these seven days, he felt more profoundly the vastness and mystery of this immortal realm fragment. Unlike the vibrant Spirit Realm, the Azure Void Realm everywhere exudes ancient desolation and ruin. Shattered mountain ranges, dried-up riverbeds, collapsed palace ruins… all speak of the cruelty of that world-ending war.

Yet amid the ruin, unimaginable opportunities lie hidden.

Along the way, Wang Ping discovered three small Immortal Spirit Veins. Though low grade, the ore extracted contains pure Immortal Spirit energy, making it excellent material for refining magical treasures. He also encountered a swarm of Immortal Spirit Bees at Golden Core stage; these bee-like creatures live by gathering nectar from Immortal Spirit Flowers, and the Immortal Spirit Honey condensed in their hives contains rich life essence, remarkably effective for healing and recovery.

Wang Ping was not greedy; he took only a small amount of ore and a tiny bottle of Immortal Spirit Honey before continuing on. He knew well that the main purpose of this journey—to follow the Purple Sky Protector God Order's guidance to a place likely tied to the legacy left by the Chaos Immortal King.

On the evening of the seventh day, Wang Ping arrived at a strange region.

Before him stretched a boundless plain whose ground was not soil but paved with countless fragments of Chaos Immortal Jade of varying sizes! The shards, small as fists and large as houses, emitted a warm jade light, illuminating the entire plain as if it were daytime.

At the plain's center stood a massive trapezoidal structure.

The structure was entirely carved from flawless Chaos Immortal Jade, towering into the clouds, visually estimated at least ten thousand zhang high. It was pyramid-shaped, with stairways on all four sides, each a hundred zhang wide, countless steps leading from the ground to the summit, disappearing into the azure‑tinged sky.

At its summit, a palace outline could be faintly seen, but distance and a thin veil of Chaos Mist obscured it.

The Purple Sky Protector God Order now vibrated ever more violently, its surface purple mist almost bursting forth, pointing straight at that trapezoidal building.

"This is the place…" Wang Ping's heart was shaken.

Such a colossal Chaos Immortal Jade structure, even at the peak of the Immortal Realm, would have been a monumental project. This is certainly no ordinary relic; it is very likely an important legacy site left by the Chaos Immortal King!

Wang Ping drew a deep breath, suppressed his excitement, and walked slowly toward the structure.

The closer he got, the more he felt the imposing solemnity and ancient vicissitude emanating from it. The building's surface was carved with dense immortal inscriptions and runes, these texts and symbols containing profound Dao truths; a mere glance made his soul dizzy, prompting him to avert his eyes.

"I cannot stare directly; the Dao resonance within these immortal inscriptions is too strong—for my current realm, forced contemplation would only harm my soul." Wang Ping's heart tightened, and he grew more cautious.

He arrived before the southern stairway of the structure.

The first step alone stood three chi high and a hundred zhang wide, entirely carved of Chaos Immortal Jade, its surface mirror‑smooth, reflecting the azure‑void sky. Wang Ping tentatively stepped onto the first step.

Hum—!

The instant his foot touched the step, the entire structure gave a slight tremor!

Immediately afterward, a vast, ancient voice, as if crossing endless time and space, rang directly in Wang Ping's sea of consciousness:

"Junior cultivator, having arrived bearing the Chaos Guide, you may enter the Five Elements Heavenly Ladder and seek the Immortal Gate."

"The Heavenly Ladder has nine thousand nine hundred and ninety‑nine steps, each step a trial."

"Those who reach the summit may obtain my inheritance."

"Those who fail will have their souls return to heaven and earth."

"Life and death are at your own risk—proceed with caution, proceed with caution."

The voice echoed three times, then gradually faded.

Wang Ping's pupils contracted slightly: "Chaos Guide? Does it refer to the Purple Sky Protector God Order, or to the Chaos Nascent Soul within me?"

He lowered his gaze to the token on his chest; it now emitted a soft purple light, resonating subtly with the Chaos Immortal Jade of the steps. Meanwhile, the Chaos Five Elements Nascent Soul in his dantian throbbed, as if instinctively craving the stairway.

"It seems this token is indeed linked to the Chaos Immortal King; my master obtaining it back then was probably a fortunate coincidence." Wang Ping mused, "As for 'life and death are at your own risk'—since it is an Immortal King's legacy trial, it naturally won't be simple."

But he did not retreat.

Throughout his cultivation, when has opportunity ever come without life‑and‑death peril? If he feared danger, he would never have come to the Azure Void Realm in the first place.

Wang Ping lifted his gaze to the towering Heavenly Ladder that pierced the clouds, battle spirit igniting in his eyes.

"Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety‑nine steps… Perfect—I'll use this Five Elements Heavenly Ladder to test my current mastery of the Five Elements!"

He hesitated no longer and stepped onto the first step.

The moment he stepped onto the step, Wang Ping felt the surrounding environment change.

Although he had only ascended one step, it felt as if he had entered a separate space. The plain behind him and the distant scenery vanished; his view held only the endless stairway stretching upward and the Chaos Mist drifting on either side.

Meanwhile, the step beneath his feet began to show strange changes.

On the first step, a crimson light blossomed on its surface, and a scorching fire‑element spiritual power spread forth. This fire‑element power was extremely pure and carried a sense of "trial," burning Wang Ping's body like flame.

"Fire‑element trial?" Wang Ping's mind stirred; his internal fire‑element spiritual power circulated naturally, forming a thin protective layer on his body's surface.

The fire‑element power on the step met his shield, not repelling but rather seeming to find its home, actively merging into it, which Wang Ping absorbed and refined.

"Now I understand," Wang Ping realized. "The trials of the Five Elements Heavenly Ladder are not mere attacks or suppression, but 'resonance' and 'guidance.' If a cultivator's grasp of the corresponding Five Elements Dao is sufficient, they can pass easily—and even gain benefit."

He continued upward.

The second step emanated a yellow‑earth earth‑element spiritual power, heavy as a mountain.

The third step gave forth a verdant wood‑element spiritual power, teeming with life.

The fourth step radiated a pure white metal‑element spiritual power, unsurpassed in sharpness.

The fifth step emitted a deep‑blue water‑element spiritual power, yielding yet unyielding.

Every five steps form a cycle; starting from the sixth step, fire‑element power appears again, but this time it is even purer and its Dao resonance deeper.

Wang Ping walked the steps as if strolling through a leisurely garden.

He cultivated the Five Elements Divine Light; his Five Elements foundation was already complete, his understanding of the Five Elements Dao having reached the pinnacle of the Nascent Soul stage. These basic Five Elements trials posed no difficulty for him—instead they were a rare boon.

Each step's Five Elements spiritual power was the purest primordial force, imbued with celestial Dao's Five Elements truths. As he climbed, he absorbed and refined it; his internal Five Elements power grew more solid, and his insight into the Five Elements continually deepened.

He even began consciously adjusting his absorption rhythm, keeping the Five Elements power balanced within to promote its circulation.

At the hundredth step, Wang Ping encountered the first change.

On this step, the fire‑element spiritual power was no longer mere scorching heat; it had acquired a hint of "violence." The flames, seemingly alive, tried to burrow into Wang Ping's body to burn his meridians.

"Violence is also part of the fire‑element Dao," Wang Ping thought, not startled but pleased. He circulated the True Solar Fire, using a purer, higher‑grade flame to devour and refine those violent flames.

At the two‑hundredth step, the earth‑element spiritual power gained a trace of "suppression."

At the three‑hundredth step, the wood‑element spiritual power acquired an "erosion" characteristic.

At the four‑hundredth step, the metal‑element spiritual power gained a "piercing" effect.

At the five‑hundredth step, the water‑element spiritual power hid an "ice‑seal" ability.

Wang Ping responded to each with ease, handling them effortlessly.

His climbing speed grew faster and faster, from initially one step per stage, to later ten steps per stage, then a hundred steps per stage.

Five Elements Circulation formed a perfect cycle within his body, five-colored radiance flowed over his surface, interacting and shining with the Five Elements Spiritual Power on the steps. From afar, Wang Ping appeared as a moving sphere of five-colored light, soaring swiftly along the Heavenly Ladder.

One thousand steps, two thousand steps, three thousand steps……

When Wang Ping stepped onto the three-thousandth step, he finally halted his footsteps.

It wasn't fatigue, but this step's trial, which was completely different from before.

On the three-thousandth step, red, yellow, green, white, and blue five-colored light simultaneously surfaced! The spiritual power of the five attributes intertwined, forming a miniature Five Elements Circulation Formation.

Although this formation is simple, the principle of Five Elements generation and control it contains is exquisitely subtle. The five spiritual powers mutually transform and restrict each other, forming a perfect balance. To pass this step, one must simultaneously face the trials of the five spiritual powers, without destroying their balance.

"Interesting." A flash of excitement crossed Wang Ping's eyes.

This is an excellent opportunity to test his mastery of Five Elements Circulation!

He did not rush to pass, but sat cross-legged on this step, carefully probing with his divine sense the miniature Five Elements Formation.

After a quarter hour, Wang Ping slowly rose.

He extended his right hand, fingers spread.

At his fingertips, the red, yellow, green, white, and blue five-colored radiance lit up simultaneously.

Wang Ping pressed his hand against the step's surface, and the five-colored radiance resonated mysteriously with the Five Elements Formation on the step.

He did not forcefully break it, but used his own Five Elements Spiritual Power as a guide, directing the Five Elements Spiritual Power within the formation to move along a specific trajectory.

Like a key inserted into a lock.

Click—!

With a soft sound, the Five Elements Formation on the step gradually dissipated, and the five-colored light merged into Wang Ping's body.

Moreover, Wang Ping felt that his understanding of Five Elements Circulation had deepened a notch at this moment.

"So this Five Elements Heavenly Ladder is both a trial and an inheritance." Wang Ping inwardly realized, "Each trial passed yields a corresponding insight. No wonder the Immortal King said to 'knock on the Immortal Gate'—this itself is a process of learning and growth."

He lingered no longer, continuing upward.

From the three-thousandth to the six-thousandth step, the trials on the ladder began to undergo a qualitative change.

On the three-thousand-and-first step, Wang Ping encountered the first genuine challenge.

The Fire Element Spiritual Power on this step was no longer scorching combustion, but exhibited a strange "icy" characteristic.

Fire ought to be scorching, yet the flames on the step now emitted a piercing chill. This was a contrary "reverse fire": the fire's temperature did not rise but fell, low enough to freeze the soul.

"Fire Element reversal..." Wang Ping's expression grew solemn.

In the Five Elements Dao, there are both forward and reverse. Normal Five Elements operation is mutual generation and restriction, whereas reversed Five Elements brings about all kinds of unimaginable changes. Fire Element reversal is precisely the subversion of fire's nature.

Wang Ping tried to counter with ordinary Fire Element Spiritual Power, but found that his True Solar Fire, upon contact with this reverse fire, began to mutually cancel and annihilate.

"Cannot meet force with force; must meet reverse principle with reverse principle." Wang Ping swiftly changed his strategy.

He recalled the insight of "Yin-Yang Reversal" he had gained in the Heaven-Reaching Tower, combined it with his understanding of the Five Elements Dao, and began adjusting the circulation of his internal Fire Element Spiritual Power.

Normal fire releases heat from inside to outside; reverse fire absorbs heat from outside to inside.

Wang Ping attempted to make his internal True Solar Fire operate in reverse.

This process was extremely painful, like reversing the meridians and causing the spiritual power to flow backward. Yet he gritted his teeth and persisted, making gradual adjustments.

After half an hour, a layer of pale blue flame appeared on Wang Ping's body surface. The flame looked icy, but its interior contained terrifying energy.

He brought this reversed True Solar Fire into contact with the reverse fire on the step.

This time, there was no further annihilation; instead, they attracted and merged with each other.

Wang Ping smoothly passed this step.

But the upcoming steps grew ever more bizarre in their trials.

At the three-thousand-five-hundredth step, Earth Element reversal rendered the originally heavy Earth Element Spiritual Power light as nothing, as if it had lost the property of "gravity." Wang Ping had to adjust the nature of his own Earth Element Spiritual Power to cope with this change.

At the four-thousandth step, Wood Element reversal turned the vibrant Wood Element Spiritual Power into a "stillness" force, causing all things to wither wherever it passed. Wang Ping responded using the "extinction" true intent within the Yin Wood Divine Thunder, barely managing to pass.

At the four-thousand-five-hundredth step, Metal Element reversal made the peerlessly sharp Metal Element Spiritual Power become "soft" like cotton, yet harboring lethal intent. Wang Ping's White Tiger Slaying God Sword Gang nearly lost control, and only with tremendous effort did he stabilize it.

At the five-thousandth step, Water Element reversal transformed the utmostly soft yet firm Water Element Spiritual Power into "scorching" steam, with astonishingly high temperature. Wang Ping coped by employing the reversed form of the Yin Moon Extinction Cold Tide, thereby managing to pass.

From the five-thousandth to the six-thousandth step, the trials became even more complex.

No longer a single-attribute reversal, but multiple attributes reversed simultaneously, even exhibiting an extreme manifestation of "Five Elements Mutual Restriction."

At the five-thousand-three-hundredth step, Fire and Metal elements appeared together, but instead of Fire overcoming Metal, it was Metal overcoming Fire—the sharp Metal Element Spiritual power actually suppressed and sliced the flames.

At the five-thousand-seven-hundredth step, Wood and Earth elements appeared together, yet it was Wood overcoming Earth—the vigorous Wood Element Spiritual Power eroded and decomposed the heavy Earth Element Spiritual Power.

Wang Ping found coping increasingly taxing.

He had to constantly adjust the operation of his Five Elements Spiritual Power; sometimes he even needed to let two attributes reverse simultaneously, forming a strange balance.

This posed a tremendous test of his Five Elements mastery, yet also served as an excellent tempering.

In this process, Wang Ping's comprehension of the Five Elements Dao leapt forward dramatically.

He was no longer confined to the surface of the Five Elements, but began to touch the profound secret of their essence—why the Five Elements can generate and restrict each other is because they are merely different manifestations of "energy."

And reversal is merely a change in the manifestation of that energy.

"All changes do not depart from the source." Wang Ping gained some insight while climbing: "No matter how the Five Elements vary, their essence is the energy of heaven and earth.

"As long as I grasp this essence, no matter how it transforms myriad ways, I shall remain unmoving."

This realization allowed him to face the subsequent trials with much greater composure.

At the six-thousandth step, the trial upgraded once more.

On the six-thousand-and-first step, the step's surface was pitch black, with no light whatsoever and no spiritual power fluctuations.

Yet when Wang Ping stepped onto it, he felt a pure sense of "extinction."

Not a Five Elements reversal, but Five Elements……extinction.

This step seemed like a "Five Elements Vacuum" zone, where all Five Elements Spiritual Power here is suppressed and nullified. The circulation of Wang Ping's internal Five Elements Spiritual Power became sluggish, as if mired in a swamp.

"Five Elements Annihilation……" Wang Ping's expression changed slightly.

This is a more profound change than Five Elements Reversal. Reversal at least still has the Five Elements present, only with opposite nature; whereas Annihilation makes the Five Elements completely "disappear", forming a domain where the Five Elements do not exist.

Within this domain, all Five Elements arts and supernatural abilities become ineffective.

Wang Ping attempted to circulate the Five Elements Divine Light, and found that the five-colored radiance on his surface was rapidly dimming, with spiritual power consumption speed more than ten times normal.

"I cannot rely on the Five Elements, but my very foundation is the Five Elements……" Wang Ping fell into contemplation.

He sat cross-legged, carefully contemplating the profundity of this step of the ladder.

His divine sense spread out, and Wang Ping "saw" the truth of this step of the ladder——it was not truly devoid of the Five Elements, but rather the Five Elements existed in an extremely subtle state, mutually restraining and canceling each other, reaching a perfect balance point, such that from the surface it appeared as if the Five Elements were annihilated.

"I see, it's not that they don't exist, but that they have reached a state of 'return to zero.'" A flash of insight crossed Wang Ping's eyes, "Just as yin and yang complement each other, taiji returns to wuji."

He no longer tried to forcefully circulate Five Elements spiritual power, but began to adjust his own state.

Let the Five Elements spiritual power inside also reach that subtle balance——not mutual transformation, nor mutual restraint, but mutual cancellation, returning to "nothing".

This process is more difficult than Five Elements Reversal.

Wang Ping spent an entire day before barely managing to bring his internal Five Elements spiritual power to a state near balance. At this point, outwardly he looked like an ordinary mortal, with no spiritual power fluctuations.

But only he himself knew that, in this state, once needed, he could instantly erupt with power greater than usual——because Five Elements Return to Nothing means he can freely transform into any form as he wishes.

Wang Ping slowly rose to his feet and stepped over this step of the ladder.

For the next two thousand steps, the trials were all variations of Five Elements Annihilation. Sometimes it was annihilation of a single attribute, sometimes of multiple attributes, sometimes of all Five Elements.

Wang Ping, in dealing with them, came to understand "Five Elements Return to Nothing" ever more deeply.

He even began to try using this state in combat——normally letting the Five Elements return to nothing to reduce consumption; when needed, instantly transforming to unleash full power. This fighting style greatly enhanced his sustained combat ability.

When Wang Ping stepped onto the nine-thousandth step of the ladder, he had completely mastered the secret of Five Elements Annihilation.

And at this moment, the final trial finally arrived.

On the nine-thousandth step of the ladder, Wang Ping saw a expanse…… of chaos.

It was not light appearing on the ladder's surface, but the entire ladder turned into a expanse of grayish, constantly swirling chaotic airflow.

That airflow seemed calm, but inside it harbored terrifying energy. Wang Ping's divine sense probing it immediately felt a devouring and assimilating force that almost tore his divine sense apart.

"Five Elements return to chaos……" Wang Ping murmured.

This is the final trial of the Five Elements Heavenly Ladder, and also the most crucial stage.

Previous trials, whether Five Elements Forward, Reversal, or Annihilation, were still within the realm of the Five Elements. But this stage requires letting the Five Elements…… return to chaos.

Chaos is the source of the Five Elements, and also their ultimate destination.

Wang Ping cultivated the Five Elements Divine Light; his ultimate goal was to have the Five Elements return to chaos and achieve the Chaos Grand Dao. This stage happened to perfectly align with his path.

He did not rush into the chaotic airflow, but first adjusted his state.

In his dantian, the Chaos Five Elements Nascent Soul slowly opened its eyes; the Chaos Star Jade at his chest accelerated its rotation. On his body's surface, the five-colored radiance flowed, gradually transitioning to chaos gray.

Wang Ping adjusted his condition to optimal, then took a step into the chaotic airflow.

Boom——!

It was as if he had entered another world.

Around him were endless chaotic currents, these currents constantly rotating, colliding, merging, evolving into all kinds of unimaginable sights. Sometimes the currents turned into flames, sometimes into icy frost, sometimes into thunder, sometimes into mountains and rivers…… but all of this was merely fleeting, soon returning to chaos.

Wang Ping found himself amidst it, feeling like a tiny boat drifting in the ocean of chaos.

The chaotic currents incessantly washed over his body, attempting to assimilate him. His Five Elements spiritual power rapidly dissolved within the chaotic currents, like snowflakes falling into boiling water.

But Wang Ping did not panic.

He circulated the Five Elements Divine Light technique, but not to have the Five Elements spiritual power resist chaos, but rather…… to actively merge into it.

The red fire-element spiritual power first "melted", turning into a speck of red light, which he poured into the chaotic airflow.

Next came the yellow earth-element spiritual power, the green wood-element spiritual power, the white metal-element spiritual power, the blue water-element spiritual power……

The five-colored spiritual powers were like five streams, flowing into the ocean of chaos.

This process was extremely painful.

Because this meant that Wang Ping had to temporarily "abandon" the Five Elements foundation he had painstakingly cultivated for years, letting them be assimilated and broken down by chaos. If he failed, he might permanently lose his Five Elements cultivation and become a cripple.

But Wang Ping's resolve was firm.

He deeply understood that without destruction there can be no establishment. To have the Five Elements return to chaos, he must first let the Five Elements "die" once, so that he could be "reborn" within chaos.

After all five-colored spiritual powers had merged into the chaotic airflow, Wang Ping felt he had become an "empty shell". Inside was utterly empty, devoid of any spiritual power, even his Nascent Soul turned illusory.

But he could sense that his consciousness and the surrounding chaotic airflow had formed a wonderful connection.

He "saw" the essence of chaos——it was not nothingness, but an "undifferentiated" state. The Five Elements, yin and yang, spacetime, cause and effect…… all the Grand Daos are contained within chaos, merely not yet manifested.

"I see…… chaos is not an end, but a beginning." A realization welled up in Wang Ping's heart, "The Five Elements returning to chaos is not to make the Five Elements disappear, but to let them return to their origin, gaining the possibility of re-evolution."

This realization was like a bolt of lightning, tearing through the fog in his mind.

The next moment, Wang Ping began to attempt "reconstruction".

He used his intention as a guide, drawing energy from the chaotic airflow.

First to be reconstructed was the fire element——but not simple solar true fire, rather a kind that possessed chaotic characteristics, "Chaos True Fire". That flame was grayish-red, both possessing fire's fervor and chaos's inclusiveness.

Next was the earth element——Chaos Thick Earth, heavy yet imbued with spirituality.

Wood element——Chaos Divine Wood, vitality containing annihilation.

Metal element——Chaos Geng Metal, sharp yet harboring gentleness.

Water element——Chaos True Water, utmost softness containing utmost hardness.

The Five Elements were reconstructed one by one, but this time they were no longer independent entities, but parts of chaos. Each element possessed chaotic characteristics, and their interconnections became even tighter.

When the Five Elements were fully reconstructed, Wang Ping's body underwent a tremendous transformation.

In his dantian, the Chaos Five Elements Nascent Soul completely changed its appearance.

Originally the Nascent Soul's surface still had flowing five-colored radiance, but now it had completely turned into chaos gray. That gray was not dead ash, but contained infinite changes, seeming able to evolve all things, a "living ash".

In the Nascent Soul's chest, the rotation speed of the Chaos Star Jade slowed down, but each rotation inhaled and exhaled a large amount of Chaos airflow. At the center of the Star Jade, a point of deep darkness was forming — that was the ultimate form of Chaos, the embryo of a Chaos Black Hole.

Wang Ping's cultivation, at this moment, naturally broke through the bottleneck and officially entered the Nascent Soul mid-stage!

Moreover, his understanding of the Dao of Chaos reached a new height.

If before he had merely touched the threshold of Chaos, now he had already stepped half a foot into the gate of Chaos.

"Five Elements return to Chaos, so this is how it is..." Wang Ping slowly opened his eyes.

In his pupils, Chaos radiance flowed, as if a scene of the universe's birth and death flashed by.

He gazed at the surrounding Chaos airflow, his thoughts stirring slightly.

In his left palm, a cluster of Chaos True Fire appeared; in his right palm, a cluster of Chaos True Water condensed.

Then, he brought them close together.

In the Spirit Realm, water and fire are mutually destructive; meeting usually causes an explosion. But at this moment, when Chaos True Fire contacted Chaos True Water, there was no explosion; instead they merged, forming a clump of grayish Chaos airflow.

"At the level of Chaos, all opposites can be harmonized." Wang Ping's heart welled with endless emotion.

He continued trying, evolving the Five Elements one by one, then returning them one by one to Chaos. Each evolution and return deepened his insight.

During this process, Wang Ping discovered that his five great Dao techniques also underwent a qualitative change.

"White Tiger Slay God Sword Gang" should now be called "Chaos Slay God Sword Gang"; the sword aura is Chaos-gray, its sharpness undiminished, yet it gains an "assimilation" property, able to partially transmute struck objects into Chaos.

"Golden Yang Burn Heaven" evolved into "Chaos Burn Heaven"; the flame temperature is higher, and it carries a Chaos corrosion effect.

"Great Yin Extinction Cold Tide" changed to "Chaos Extinction Cold Tide"; the cold air contains Chaos's freezing power, able to freeze spiritual power, divine sense, and even time.

"Gravity Field" can now be transformed into "Chaos Gravity Field"; it can not only alter gravity but also distort space to a certain extent.

"Summon Thunder Technique", after the fusion of Yin Wood Divine Thunder and Solar True Fire becomes "Chaos Thunder Fire"; its power greatly increases, and the thunder-fire contains Chaos's evolutionary power, causing a small-scale Chaos explosion inside the target after a hit.

All these changes raised Wang Ping's strength to a whole new level.

He estimated that, even without relying on any magical treasures, his current self could easily defeat three versions of himself before the breakthrough.

"This is the power of the Dao of Chaos..." Wang Ping felt the changes within his body, his heart full of anticipation.

He remained in the Chaos airflow for three days and three nights, until he had fully digested and consolidated all his insights.

On the third day, Wang Ping stepped out of the Chaos airflow.

Before him lay the final nine hundred ninety-nine steps.

These steps no longer held any trials; they were merely ordinary Chaos Immortal Jade steps. Yet Wang Ping could feel that with each step upward, his connection to the palace at the top of the Heavenly Ladder grew stronger by one.

He lingered no longer, climbing upward step by step.

The nine thousand nine hundred ninety-ninth step.

Wang Ping finally stepped onto the summit of the Heavenly Ladder.

Before him stood a magnificent palace. The entire palace was constructed of Chaos Immortal Jade; although it had endured endless ages, it still exuded an ancient, weathered aura.

The palace gates were tightly shut, and on the lintel were carved four ancient immortal characters—

"Chaos Immortal Palace".

Wang Ping took a deep breath and reached out to push the palace gate.

The instant his palm touched the gate, the entire Heavenly Ladder trembled violently!

The nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine steps below simultaneously blazed with five-colored radiance! That radiance shot up into the sky, intertwining to form a huge diagram of the Five Elements' rotation.

In the diagram, the Five Elements evolved and ultimately returned to Chaos.

Then, all the radiance converged, turning into a stream of Chaos airflow that entered Wang Ping's body.

Wang Ping felt that he had formed a wondrous connection with this Five Elements Heavenly Ladder. It seemed that, as long as he wished, he could summon the ladder at any time and even control the Five Elements' power within it.

"Is this... the reward for passing the trial?" Wang Ping suddenly understood.

At that moment, the gates of the Chaos Immortal Palace slowly opened.

Within, a mist of Chaos filled the air, obscuring the view.

Only that ancient voice sounded again:

"Junior, you have passed the trial of the Five Elements Heavenly Ladder."

"You may enter the Immortal Palace and receive my inheritance."

"However, within the Immortal Palace, dangers are greater."

"Be cautious, be cautious."

Wang Ping hesitated not at all, stepping into the Chaos Immortal Palace.

The gate slowly closed behind him.

The Five Elements Heavenly Ladder returned to silence, as if nothing had happened.

Only the tightly shut palace gate at the summit of the Heavenly Ladder proves that someone once came here, having knocked open the gate of the Immortal King's inheritance.

What Wang Ping did not know was that, shortly after he entered the Immortal Palace, beneath the Heavenly Ladder, the black shadow that had been tailing him all along slowly surfaced.

The black shadow gazed at the tightly closed palace gate, a flicker of greed and wariness flashing in its eyes.

It hesitated for a moment, ultimately not attempting to climb the Heavenly Ladder, but instead withdrew silently, disappearing into the chaotic mist.

Inside the Immortal Palace, Wang Ping's inheritance trial had only just begun.