The entrance to the Ascension Platform appeared much like a portal—free for anyone to attempt the trials within.
Entering the first trial was as simple as pushing a door open, but if one lacked strength or deliberately held back their power, they’d fail at this very first challenge.
Once the door was pushed open, the array would sense the cultivator’s cultivation level and transport them to the corresponding trial.
The trial that Qi Refining Realm cultivators encountered upon entry would not be the same as the trial for True Pill Realm cultivators.
As for cultivators in the Primordial Soul Realm, there was no need for them to face trials; they could directly enter the Ascension Realm.
If a trial was failed, one would be teleported out.
Upon successful completion of a trial, the Ascension Platform would emit a radiant glow, and the successful cultivator would appear atop the platform.
There was a door on the Ascension Platform, leading straight to the Ascension Realm.
One could also choose not to pass through this door but instead take their Ascension Token and leave the platform.
With an Ascension Token in hand, one could use another entrance protected by the Two Realms Protection Array to enter the Ascension Realm at any time.
It could be said that the beings from the Ascension Realm put tremendous effort into designing this Ascension Platform, although it still had its imperfections, being in a trial phase.
For instance, there was no one guarding the entrance of the Ascension Platform. At first, this wouldn’t be a problem, but as time passed, issues were bound to arise.
For example, there was no real-name registration system for the Ascension Tokens...
Mo Zheng from True Essence Tao City arrived at the Ascension Platform precisely for this matter.
Besides Mo Zheng, there were the Alliance Hierarch Hu Wuxin and several Sect Masters from the prominent sects of the Taoist Realm.
Their visit here was not only to perfect the governance of Two Realms City and select a City Lord but also to develop management measures for the Ascension Platform entrance.
There’s a saying that one wouldn’t get up early without the prospect of profit; the presence of Mo Zheng and Hu Wuxin here was because the business opportunities were simply too great.
The burst of light from the Ascension Platform elicited cheers from everyone; another cultivator had successfully completed the trials and obtained the Ascension Token for entry into the Ascension Realm.
Sure enough, following the luminous glow, a male cultivator appeared atop the platform, clasping an Ascension Token in hand.
"Junior Brother Zhu, congratulations. Let’s return and await further news," a voice called out excitedly from below the platform upon seeing the man obtain the Ascension Token.
The man on the platform pocketed his Ascension Token and quickly stepped down to join another cultivator below, casually laughing, "I didn’t expect the Ascension Platform to be like this. I thought it would be more difficult."
The male cultivator waiting for him below slapped Junior Brother Zhu’s shoulder, "Stop bragging. Elder Liu said that as long as we wait..."
"Hold on, gentlemen. Our Two Realms City Guild is willing to pay a high price for your Ascension Tokens," a middle-aged female cultivator intercepted them.
"Sorry, but our Ascension Tokens are not for sale," Junior Brother Zhu replied without hesitation.
The middle-aged woman chuckled, "It’s not that we absolutely need to buy your Ascension Tokens, but you have come here without registering with our Two Realms City Guild, and your trial attempts were unauthorized. Therefore, you’ll need to come with me to the guild first."
"I am Shen Jiankai from the Blue Star Sect, and this is my Junior Brother Zhu Feichong. Are you sure you want to take us away?"
Influenced by Ding Huan’s approach, Shen Jiankai’s tone suddenly grew cold.
As expected, upon hearing that these two were from the Blue Star Sect, the middle-aged woman immediately retracted her hand subconsciously.
In the Taoist Realm, the most famous sect was not the great sects like Da Xing Sword Dao, but the Blue Star Sect.
Blue Star Sect, established on the grounds of Purple Mist Valley, had gained notoriety right from its foundation by killing two Sect Masters from the Primordial Soul Realm, and Sect Master Ding Huan of Blue Star had even annihilated the Dual Soul Sect.
Had it been loose cultivators, she wouldn’t have hesitated to take them with her.
But the Blue Star Sect, she genuinely dared not provoke.
Even the cultivators surrounding them with intentions on the Ascension Tokens immediately dismissed any thoughts of robbery upon learning the identities of these two from the Blue Star Sect.
An Ascension Token was valuable indeed, but the Blue Star Sect was not one to take lightly—it was a sect known for annihilating other sects and killing Sect Masters without batting an eye.
"Haha, is the Blue Star Sect so remarkable? This is the Ascension Platform, laid down by our seniors from the Ascension Realm. Even the Blue Star Sect must follow the rules.
If there is any issue, it can be addressed with the Two Realms City Guild’s Hierarch Hu Wuxin, Senior Xin Can, and others.
Besides, seniors from the Ascension Realm are here too. Do you two Foundation Establishment disciples really dare to defy the entire Ascension Realm?"
An abrupt voice joined the fray, and upon hearing it, the retreating middle-aged woman instinctively straightened her back.
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Right, she represented the Two Realms City Guild—why should she fear the Blue Star Sect?
After all, who was Hu Wuxin? The Alliance Hierarch of the Taoist Cultivation World Sect Alliance, a Void God Realm powerhouse.
Such were just the visible strengths; the Ascension Platform had the backing of the Ascension Realm. Who would dare to be so brazen here?
Yet, what she seemed to forget was that although the Ascension Platform was set up by the Ascension Realm, the latter hadn’t assigned any powerful protectors to guard it.
Moreover, her actions were hardly likely to warrant protection.
Realizing this, she declared sternly, "Even the Blue Star Sect must comply; you need to go to the Two Realms City Guild for clarification."
In the distance, Lu Yuan sighed with relief and quickly entered Two Realms City.
He knew Ding Huan would soon arrive, and in the meantime, instigating a conflict between the disciples of the Blue Star Sect and the guild was the priority.
"Junior Brother Zhu, let’s go," Shen Jiankai said, and with a swift pull of Zhu Feichong, decided to leave without further delay.
"Apprehend them," the woman ordered without hesitation as they turned to leave.
Four Foundation Establishment Cultivators rushed over, simultaneously offering up their magical treasures.
Shen Jiankai hadn’t had time to bring out his magical treasure when a Sword Light slashed towards his back.
Upon seeing this, Zhu Feichong hurriedly threw a punch.
The punch stirred up True Yuan, colliding with the Sword Light, and Shen Jiankai twisted his body, dodging the slash.
But he heard Zhu Feichong let out a wretched scream, and when he turned his head, he saw Zhu Feichong clutching his waist, blood gushing forth.
"Senior Brother, they’re not here to capture us, they’re here to kill," Zhu Feichong shouted sternly.
He vividly felt the presence of death, confirming that the enemy was seeking to kill, not capture.
"Then we won’t hold back either, let’s see how the Sect Master deals with the trash that invades our sect."
Shen Jiankai summoned a long sword, True Yuan surged wildly, and a barrage of sword energy spilled out.
"Hehe..." The leading Foundation Establishment late stage cultivator sneered, not taking Shen Jiankai seriously at all.
A huge banner in his hand also swept towards Shen Jiankai.
He was at the perfect stage of Foundation Establishment late period, while Shen Jiankai was only at the late stage; in his eyes, they were on completely different levels.
Boom!
The magical treasures collided, True Yuan exploded.
To the Foundation Establishment perfect stage cultivator’s horror, the flames of his Long Flame Banner weren’t ignited before they were torn apart by the opponent’s sword energy.
He found that his own True Yuan and the opponent’s were not at the same level; the opponent’s True Yuan seemed to have the vastness of the starry sky.
The flames that the Long Flame Banner tried to ignite had no chance to burst forth amidst that vastness.
Shen Jiankai didn’t hold back at all; once he broke through the first attack of the Long Flame Banner, the giant sword turned into a sweeping Sword Light.
This Foundation Establishment perfect stage cultivator hastily retreated, but under Shen Jiankai’s sword domain, his speed of retreat immediately slowed.
"Spurt!" Shen Jiankai’s long sword took one of the opponent’s arms.
"Stop!" This late stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator screamed in shock and anger, desperately retreating while bellowing for Shen Jiankai to stop.
He knew all too well what he was about to face.
An amputated arm meant an imperfect Dao Body; he would have to linger at the Foundation Establishment Realm for the rest of his life.
With his status and position, acquiring heavenly and earthly treasures to restore his arm was almost impossible.
Stop?
Shen Jiankai had long since learned a saying from the Sect Master: mercy to an enemy was cruelty to oneself.
They wanted to kill him, yet he should stop?
His Sword Light didn’t weaken; rather, it surged up a second time, raising a sky full of Sword Light.
At this moment, he deeply felt the power of his cultivation of the Little Universe Technique.
With his previous cultivation technique, even if he wanted to surge again, his True Yuan wouldn’t support it. Now he effortlessly turned his thoughts into reality, with the sword technique bursting forth a second wave of Sword Light.
The Foundation Establishment perfect stage cultivator felt a chill at his neck. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Did Shen Jiankai dare to kill him?
He had just been furious about his body being damaged and unable to advance to the True Pill.
Now he realized that it wasn’t about being unable to advance to the True Pill, but that he didn’t need to cultivate anymore.
"You dare kill Niu He?" Another Foundation Establishment early-stage cultivator charging up couldn’t believe his eyes as he looked at Shen Jiankai.
They were from the official Guarding Team of Two Realms City. Had this man eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard? Did he dare to kill Niu He, not caring for his own life?
Shen Jiankai had moved too fast just now, and he hadn’t been able to provide support in time.
Shen Jiankai disregarded his words completely, the broad sword in his hand cleaving once again.
This early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator was far inferior to the perfect-stage one Shen Jiankai had just killed.
Only now did he start to panic, thinking about daring or not daring to kill. The man had already killed once, and he was also caught in the Sword Light.
Just a sweep of the Sword Light, and this early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator couldn’t avoid it.
"Spurt!" Blood exploded, and the cultivator was killed by Shen Jiankai again.
Zhu Feichong also arrived beside Shen Jiankai covered in blood:
"Senior Brother, I’ve also killed one just now."
The two of them had just killed three Foundation Establishment Cultivators, two early-stage, and one perfect.
Another late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator fled early, seeing that something was wrong.
Were these two madmen? They even dared to kill the official guards of Two Realms City; was he waiting here for death?
The female cultivator also looked at Shen Jiankai and Zhu Feichong in horror. These two had killed three members of the Two Realms City Guild on the Ascension Platform at once.
"There’s still one woman, let’s kill her together," Shen Jiankai said, staring at the female cultivator with undisguised killing intent in his eyes.
He was seeing red.
Zhu Feichong pulled on Shen Jiankai:
"Senior Brother Shen, we need to hurry back to the sect."
Shen Jiankai came to his senses; it was time to flee. Why stay and wait for a True Pill realm powerhouse to arrive?
"So, you kill the guards of the Two Realms City Guild and just walk away like that?"
A faint voice came through, followed by a powerful aura that weighed on them, making it hard for them to even breathe.
Both of their hearts sank; this was definitely a power that exceeded the True Pill realm.