Chapter 454 181: The True Longevity Technique

The Cultivators inside the Ninefold Celestial Treasure Tower were abuzz with discussion.

Outside the Treasure Tower, a door soon opened.

All the Cultivators could now come out. Unlike before, they no longer had to pass the trials of the Nine Heavens to leave.

Everyone gathered in a plaza.

It was then that Xu Lei saw Jue Xuan again.

"Brother Jue Xuan, which Heaven did you reach?" Xu Lei walked over to ask.

After all, back on Earth, the two had studied under the same master for a time, making them martial brothers.

Admittedly, they hadn't spent much time together back then, having only met a handful of times.

That master was one in name only. He hadn't really taught them anything, and he hadn't even ascended himself.

"I was in the Fourth Heaven," Jue Xuan said, glancing at Xu Lei. He didn't shy away from the question.

After all, it seemed they had no conflict of interest between them, at least for now. While their bond on Earth wasn't deep, it was a connection nonetheless.

So, there was no harm in chatting a bit. Besides, they didn't know anyone else in the Celestial Palace.

It was as the saying goes: when people from the same hometown meet in a foreign land, their eyes well with tears.

Sometimes, it really was like that.

It was like people back on Earth. In their home country, two people might have an ordinary relationship, perhaps not even what you'd call a friendship.

But if they went to study abroad together, they'd feel a special sense of camaraderie. Even if they didn't quite click, they could still become friends.

That was the kind of relationship Xu Lei and Jue Xuan had now.

Soon after, the figures of the Saint Master and Bodhisattva Guan Yun appeared above the plaza outside the Treasure Tower.

Alongside them were Bodhisattva Guan Yun's two Children: the young boy and Bai Ling.

Furthermore, behind them, Xu Lei also spotted Qing Lian, Zhao Xin, Hui Ming, and the others.

There were also six other men and women who practiced Buddhist Cultivation.

Although these six were standing with Zhao Xin, Qing Lian, and Hui Ming's group, there was a subtle, special affinity among them, and they stood slightly closer to one another.

'These must be the Six Buddhas, part of the Seven Buddhas that Yuan Kong spoke of back then.'

'Yuan Kong had said that they, the Seven Buddhas, had received guidance from Bodhisattva Guan Yun. But Xu Lei had already killed Yuan Kong in his past life, so now only six of them remained.'

Xu Lei had no connection to these six, nor any grudges against them, so he simply gave them a passing glance.

Aside from them, Xu Lei scanned the other figures but recognized no one.

Some of the others appeared to be Daoist Cultivators.

All told, there were over twenty of them.

At that moment, the Saint Master and Bodhisattva Guan Yun spoke up, announcing that these were the ones who had passed the trials of the Nine Heavens!

Xu Lei was a little surprised. 'I never thought Hui Ming would actually make it this far.'

'After ascending so long ago, Hui Ming had only managed to reach the Third Heaven. To think he had now passed through the Ninth Heaven and cleared all the trials.'

'Was it because of some help from Zhao Xin?'

'Or did he have some other fortunate opportunity?' Xu Lei didn't know. After all, he himself hadn't been back for very long since re-ascending.

"Let's go. First, we will open the Secret Collection." At that, the Saint Master—the middle-aged man who had killed Xu Lei all those years ago—spoke once more.

He then turned, bypassing the Ninefold Celestial Treasure Tower and flying deeper into the Celestial Palace.

Xu Lei and the others all flew after him.

The crowd surged deeper into the Celestial Palace.

Previously, Ascenders like them hadn't been allowed to enter the depths of the Celestial Palace.

They were usually herded into the Ninefold Celestial Treasure Tower as soon as they arrived.

They never had a chance to learn more about the Celestial Palace.

Everything they knew came from the guides who received new Ascenders or from the other Cultivators inside the Ninefold Celestial Treasure Tower.

'In truth, I wonder if this is all real. Does the so-called Celestial Palace Secret Collection actually exist?'

'The Saint Master went to such trouble to cultivate Ascenders just to open this Secret Collection. Would he really be willing to share it with others?'

'It's all still hard to say.'

Of course, as Xu Lei looked at the Ascenders around him, he could tell that many of them were also feeling anxious and uncertain.

'They wondered if everything was really as wonderful as the Saint Master claimed.'

'After all, none of us are fools.'

'Anyone who could cultivate to the point of ascension had already been through their fair share of trials in the mortal world. There were plenty of clever people among us.'

'But in a situation like this, it doesn't matter how clever you are. It's useless, because you have no other choice.'

'Even if some of them didn't want to follow along and help open the Celestial Palace Secret Collection, what could they do?'

'Can you leave the Celestial Palace? No.'

'The Celestial Palace is protected by a Barrier, making escape impossible.'

'Under these circumstances, our only option is to go with the flow.'

'Everyone is surging forward to open the Secret Collection; are you really going to be the one who stays behind?'

'And what if you don't? Would you stay behind all alone inside the Ninefold Celestial Treasure Tower? Or would you linger near the Celestial Palace entrance outside the Treasure Tower?'

'Acting so conspicuously would only draw more of the Saint Master's attention.'

'It would be tantamount to openly declaring your suspicion of the Saint Master, your belief that he's plotting against everyone, and your complete lack of trust in him.'

'In that scenario, if the Secret Collection is truly opened, you won't receive any of the benefits.'

'And if the Secret Collection isn't opened and the Saint Master truly is plotting something sinister, you'd most likely be doomed anyway, even if you stay at the Celestial Palace entrance instead of following them deeper inside.'