The tower-climbing ceremony is inherently a challenge of fate, so it shouldn’t be designed to harm disciples; it must surely offer many paths to survival.
Moreover, for Ling Xiao, with his Mountain and River Martial Spirit and his ability to perceive everything, would he be so easily eliminated?
Suddenly, a peerlessly elegant figure appeared in mid-air.
It was the Moon Lady!
Her powerful aura enveloped the entire inner sect plaza, even encompassing all fifty disciples.
“Greetings, Your Highness Moon Lady!”
Led by Sect Leader Chang Yueying and Inner Sect Hall Master Heavenly Eye Venerable, the fifty participants of the tower-climbing ceremony bowed in respect.
The Moon Lady nodded slightly, saying nothing, her eyes fixed on the top of the Moonlight Treasure Pagoda, as if she could pierce through the layers of mist to see what lay at the very summit.
Moments later, the moonlight in the sky suddenly grew intensely bright, overpowering the daylight, as if golden threads were wrapping around the Moonlight Treasure Pagoda.
Faintly, one could make out a majestic palace floating amidst the moonlight.
This scene, steeped in mystery and ancient aura, made all the disciples involuntarily swallow hard.
“The moonlight eclipses the sun, the divine palace appears, the pagoda opens!”
The Moon Lady murmured softly, her voice infused with such powerful force that it was crystal clear.
Then, she raised both hands to the sky, and a beam of true essence pierced through the clouds, shooting into the mysterious palace.
In that instant, a voice echoed from within the palace—
“Permitted!”
As this voice sounded, the moonlight surrounding the Moonlight Treasure Pagoda began to transform, revealing a doorway-like gap, while the metal gates of the pagoda slowly opened.
Others focused on the Moonlight Treasure Pagoda.
But Ling Xiao’s eyes remained fixed on the sky.
Perhaps only he could see that within the palace, there were faint flickers of human figures, though too distant and blocked by layers of energy to be seen clearly.
One thing he was certain of: these figures were immensely powerful, perhaps capable of killing the Moon Lady with a mere sneeze.
Not to mention the higher-ups of the Moonlight Sect or these disciples, still ignorant of the world’s secrets.
“The Moonlight Treasure Pagoda has opened!”
The disciples’ exclamations pulled Ling Xiao back from his thoughts.
He vaguely felt that this world might be far more complex than he had imagined.
Grow stronger!
He must keep growing stronger!
Then explore the mysteries of the entire world!
What was that palace, and who were those figures? All of it had to be uncovered!
With this in mind, he clenched his fists, then calmed his emotions and turned his gaze to the open gates of the Moonlight Treasure Pagoda.
Nothing could be seen inside, only blinding light; presumably, one would only see clearly after entering.
At this moment, the Supreme Sect Leader, Elder Jin, Golden Light Venerable, Heavenly Eye Venerable, Immaculate Venerable, Broad Cold Venerable, and many other Moonlight Sect higher-ups were nearby, observing this tower-climbing ceremony.
It seemed merely a matter of the disciples’ fortunes, but in truth, it was a subtle contest among these higher-ups.
Whose disciple could seize great opportunities would gain higher status within the Moonlight Sect!
Standing before the Moonlight Treasure Pagoda, Ling Xiao could feel a powerful force pulling him, urging him to hurry inside.
Beyond that blinding light lay a world of both opportunity and danger.
He cared little for the power struggles among the higher-ups, even finding them laughable and ignorant.
A group of ants fighting endlessly for power and profit, unwilling to look up and see how vast the world beyond was.
Before entering the Moonlight Treasure Pagoda, Chang Yueying had some words for the group.
At that moment.
Among the crowd, Bai Feifei and Shen Tianlin could no longer contain their eager anticipation, glancing back at Ling Xiao standing behind them.
Bai Feifei’s eyes were filled with venom and anger.
Shen Tianlin’s were filled with disdain and urgency, as if eager to prove himself to his master, desperate to achieve merit.
Dantai Lingzi, meanwhile, smiled faintly at Ling Xiao.
Her intentions were still unclear to him.
He didn’t know why she targeted him, nor did he have the time to investigate.
Just stay cautious, that’s all.
The three of them knew full well that once inside the Moonlight Treasure Pagoda, even the Moon Lady couldn’t control them. Although death inside the pagoda wasn’t real death, there were countless ways to kill someone, as long as they could bind Ling Xiao’s soul before he was teleported out.
Not to mention, all three held special secret technique scrolls, capable of bypassing the Moonlight Treasure Pagoda’s rules.
Though their motives differed, the thought of “Ling Xiao must die” was absolutely unanimous.
“Alright, I’ve said my piece. Now, enter the Moonlight Treasure Pagoda in order!”
At this moment, Chang Yueying stepped aside and announced.
The group nodded, then one by one, they stepped toward the unknown white light, entering the Moonlight Treasure Pagoda.
The Moon Advent Festival tower-climbing ceremony had officially begun!
As Ling Xiao stepped into the Moonlight Treasure Pagoda, the transition from blinding white light to darkness caused most people’s eyes to struggle to adjust.
But not Ling Xiao.
Upon entering, he immediately closed his eyes, releasing his “True Essence Sphere” to sense his surroundings, far more sensitive than his eyes.
When he felt ready, he slowly opened his eyes.
What met his gaze was not the floor of an ordinary pagoda. They stood on a steel cable bridge.
The bridge’s length was unknown, its end out of sight.
It was about two metres wide, with no wooden planks, only steel cables connecting it.
Below the steel cable bridge roared a turbulent river, its waves surging.
The moment he opened his eyes, Ling Xiao heard several screams.
“Fifty disciples entered the tower-climbing ceremony; five have been eliminated, forty-five remain!”
The voice was cold and mechanical, almost like that of a robotic puppet.
“What? Eliminated just like that?”
The remaining disciples were shocked.
They hadn’t even done anything, yet five had already been eliminated. The Moon Advent Festival tower-climbing ceremony was indeed as difficult as expected.
“This is the first stage, and also the simplest. After crossing the steel cable bridge, the challenges you face may grow increasingly difficult, and each person’s experience will vary.”
The cold, mechanical voice continued.
“The Moonlight Treasure Pagoda will record your performance. The longer you stay inside, the higher your score. Of course, your encounters with opportunities, your performance in the face of danger, and so on, are also part of the evaluation. However, I must stress again: survival is the core task! Survive, and you will gain more!”
As the cold, mechanical voice spoke, no one moved.
Everyone wanted to hear the rules in full.
But the moment the voice faded, Ling Xiao suddenly felt a powerful sense of danger from behind.
