Chapter 180: Ultimate Trial Grounds (Part 1)

The moment Ye Youming stepped into the passageway, immense pressure surged toward her again, as if invisible hands were gripping her tightly, making it difficult for her to breathe.

Under the influence of this force, her deep purple dress swayed gently, the hem swirling around her like mist, as if trying to shield her within.

Ye Youming channeled her Ghost Dao spiritual energy, attempting to resist this pressure.

However, the moment her spiritual energy appeared, the pressure suddenly doubled, nearly forcing her down onto the ground.

Fine beads of sweat began to seep from her forehead, and an expression of unease gradually appeared on her face.

"Ugh…" Ye Youming gritted her teeth, struggling to keep her footing, yet the immense pressure made even taking a single step extremely difficult.

She lowered her head slightly, attempting to find inner calm, hoping to find a Breakthrough point through the surge of spiritual energy.

Just then, her dress hem fluttered lightly, as if sensing her inner state, quietly blooming with a layer of faint purple radiance.

Ye Youming felt a jolt in her heart, realizing this might be her chance.

"Spiritual energy, concentrate! Use full power!"

She let out a low shout, and the deep purple light gradually condensed around her body, forming a gentle force attempting to contend with that invisible pressure.

However, the stronger her spiritual energy became, the greater the pressure grew; her body felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer, and she collapsed to her knees, as if even the strength to resist had vanished completely.

"Must not give up!" Ye Youming silently chanted in her heart; although her body was under intense pressure, she refused to yield as spiritual energy surged within her.

She tried her utmost to push the spiritual energy outward, attempting to resist the pressure from above.

"I cannot fall just like this! The ascension ladder is the best chance for the Ghost Clan to walk out of the desolate lands!" Ye Youming gritted her teeth, unwilling to accept defeat.

Although her spiritual energy was suppressed, the persistence and determination in her heart were still burning.

She turned slightly to the side, placing one hand on the ground, as if trying to use the strength of the ground to stand up.

Lin Fan felt a tightness in his chest watching this; Ye Youming was definitely not as tough as she appeared on the surface.

Recalling the first time he had taken her body, seeing her sobbing, he realized she was actually just a weak woman.

"Enough! Stop torturing yourself!" Lin Fan quickly stepped forward and supported her.

"I have a way to get you up there."

Ye Youming raised her head, her gaze flickering with a hint of confusion and anticipation: "Can you really?"

"Of course!"

Lin Fan pondered to himself; the one-time item, the ascension ladder, that he had just obtained might come in handy.

He immediately took out the one-time item, and the ascension ladder instantly unfurled, forming a path of radiance leading into the sky.

"Let's go! Follow me!" Lin Fan stepped onto the ascension ladder first.

Su Wanqing, Ye Youming, Mu Xueyan, Dan Xiner, as well as Lin Fan's three princess attendants, and Cuier who hadn't left.

Seeing this ascension ladder, their mouths all opened into an 'O' shape, shocked and excited.

"Could this be the broken ascension ladder?" Su Wanqing whispered to herself.

The group looked at each other, immediately realizing this was a rare opportunity.

"Quick, follow him!" Mu Xueyan urged from behind, already impatient to step onto the ascension ladder.

"Everyone, do not use spiritual energy; the more you use, the greater the pressure you will receive," Ye Youming cautioned from the side.

Lin Fan took the lead, stepping steadily onto the ascension ladder. As a Body Cultivator expert, this was easy for him, and he felt no pressure at all.

Su Wanqing and the others followed closely behind. Beads of sweat as large as beans hung on their foreheads, and their sweat-soaked, thin clothes clung to their beautiful curves, faintly outlining their perfect figures.

Lin Fan couldn't help but take a few extra glances. Cuier, who was at the very back, usually kept herself bundled up tightly, keeping a low profile.

At this moment, he was surprised to discover that her figure was unexpectedly good, like a blooming flower, especially alluring.

They stopped to rest from time to time, their breathing rapid, chests heaving up and down, as they struggled to adapt to this sense of oppression.

And Lin Fan simply stopped walking as well, admiring this beautiful picture, secretly sighing in his heart that being able to travel with so many stunning beauties was just too good.

At the end of the ascension ladder.

A quiet space suddenly appeared, revealing the ultimate trial grounds for cultivators.

This was a wilderness, overgrown with weeds, and the surroundings were suffocatingly quiet.

In the center of the trial grounds stood an old man. He wore tattered Dao robes, his hair was gray, and his face appeared weary and helpless.

The old man was pacing aimlessly, muttering to himself:

"The ascension ladder has already been retracted, yet I'm still made to guard here; can anyone even come up? Thousands of years have passed, my life is truly as cheap as grass, wasting so many years for nothing."

He glanced at the sky, a trace of disappointment flashing in his eyes, "Is there really no fated person who can come up and keep this old man company?"

His voice seemed to echo in this empty trial grounds, making one feel the ruthlessness and loneliness of the passing years.

Suddenly, a starlight screen flickered, about to bring Lin Chen here.

The old man was full of hope, his eyes sparkling with anticipation, "Oh, someone finally arrived, hehehe!"

He flicked his finger lightly, and he instantly changed into brand-new Dao robes, possessing an immortal air, like an expert who had stepped out of the Immortal Realm.

The originally weed-choked wilderness also changed in an instant, transforming into a quiet peach blossom paradise. Peach blossoms in full bloom covered the surroundings, their petals dancing in the wind, and the air was filled with a faint floral fragrance, as peaceful and beautiful as a dream.

The old man then smilingly approached Lin Chen, his gaze full of warmth and kindness.

"Young girl, a successor of the stars!" Lin Chen looked down at the star pendant in her hand and nodded sweetly in reply: "Yes! That's right, may I ask what I need to do next?"

"Haha, no rush, no rush, first accompany this old man for a game of chess!"

The old man's laughter was filled with endless enthusiasm, as if this chess game would be the most precious moment in his long years.

"Okay!" Lin Chen nodded excitedly. She sensed the old man's hope and naturally would not refuse.

"Haha! You lost again!" The old man held a chess piece in one hand and stroked his beard with the other, laughing loudly, his laughter echoing in the peach blossom paradise.

On the chessboard, his black pieces made Breakthrough after Breakthrough, already forcing Lin Chen into a desperate situation.

Lin Chen widened her eyes, her brows slightly furrowed, yet the corners of her mouth carried a hint of unconvinced amusement.

"No, let's play another game! This time I definitely won't lose so easily!"

"Good! It's rare to find a little girl with such fighting spirit; if you want to play again, then let's play!"

After several games, Lin Chen lost again:

"Sigh, I'm not playing anymore, I lose every time."

The old man persuaded, "I'll let you win the last game."

Lin Chen knew that this old man was alone and too lonely; she needed something to keep him company.

She quietly shook the nano cube, and an exquisite game console appeared in her hand.

"Senior, this is for you!" Lin Chen smiled and handed the game console to the old man.

The old man was stunned, looking at the small object flickering with light, and asked with great curiosity: "What is this?"