Chapter 459 - The Gold List Arrives, the Gold Ladder Appears

On a mountain peak, deep within the Dao Palace. Within the still chamber, the two Venerables wore grave expressions.

After a moment, one sighed softly. “We miscalculated.”

The other also smiled bitterly. “Indeed. That sword intent should be his. No doubt about it.”

The former sounded a bit worried. “What do we do? Our decision might’ve displeased him. He doesn’t seem like a magnanimous person...”

They had witnessed all of Gu Han’s actions. He nearly schemed all the outer domain Heavenly Prides alike to death. The man was petty in the truest sense of the word. Even Qiu Qian didn’t seem willing to provoke Gu Han much.

The latter thought for a moment. “Forget it. His relationship with Fu Dahai seems pretty good. He’s likely here for the Life-Extending Fruit. We’ll just give it to him!”

The two exchanged a glance, feeling somewhat aggrieved. The Central Dao Palace was located at the very center of the five domains. Not only did it boast a long heritage and the deepest foundation, it was also the strongest and most exalted. Apart from the mysterious forbidden zone depths, calling it the overlord of the five domains wasn’t an exaggeration.

In fact, for countless years, the number of Ascension realm cultivators coexisting in the Dao Palace had never been less than two. Because of this, no power had ever dared to provoke them lightly. The outer domain Heavenly Prides and Gu Han changed that. No matter which side, both could easily crush them.

Vaguely feeling a sense of unreality, the two could only silently comfort themselves. Forget it. What is the use of wealth if we can’t avoid disaster? Let’s give the divine root to Gu Chen, then the Life-Extending Fruit to Gu Han. Perfect!

One slowly stood up. “I’ll go prepare immediately. First—hm?”

Their expressions shifted, both looking up at the sky. Although separated by the quiet chamber’s roof, they could still feel that thick dao essence descending unhurriedly.

***

Unlike the Dao Bell, the Gold List manifested with less earth-shattering impact. If the bell had the dao of following nature and returning to simplicity, manifesting one moment and falling before everyone the next, then the list was a complete opposite. Instead of appearing all at once, it unhurriedly revealed itself before people.

Fatty rubbed his chin. “Why do I feel that this Gold List is a bit more powerful than the Dao Bell?”

Everyone who had seen the Dao Bell felt the same way. Golden light spread out like a slowly unfolding scroll. Sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers came into view, growing increasingly clear.

Xiao Yang said excitedly, “Dao treasure! This Gold List is actually a super Dao Treasure, far more powerful than ordinary dao artifacts!”

Gu Han was stunned. “Dao Treasure? What’s that?”

Xiao Yang explained. “After profound items, there are True Items, Saint Items, and Dao Items. What sets Dao Treasures apart is their ability to give birth to a strand of law, granting them unimaginable power. Moreover, nearly all of Dao Treasures were born from the Great Dao, with less than ten percent being refined due to various coincidences and opportunities.

“Dao treasures are mysterious and strange. Some are offensive, some are defensive, and some could form a world of their own. They are existences that could be encountered but not sought.”

Qiu Qian stared at the Gold List. “I heard from my master. Back then, Alliance Master Yun had a Dao Treasure that already contained the rudimentary form of a realm inside. No one knows how many evil-doers he locked up in there.”

Yan Qianjue and the other two’s hearts stirred. Hm?

They were very sure what Qiu Qian said was the Dragon Seal. Having fought Yun Ao, they could appreciate the seal’s terrifying nature better than others.

Yun Fan inexplicably grew confident. “It’s my family’s!”

Gu Han nodded nonchalantly. “It wasn’t bad. I even went inside to pay a visit for a while.”

Xiao Yang and Hua Xing gazed at him with admiration.

Even Qiu Qian’s eyes lit up. “Brother Gu, you’ve been inside that Dao Treasure realm? Is it really as miraculous as the rumors say?”

Gu Han sounded a bit disdainful. “It was so-so. The spirit opportunity was meager, the scenery wasn’t great either. I didn’t stay long before coming out.”

Xiao Yang and the others felt a surge of respect. Brother Gu’s perspective is truly extraordinary.

The others’ mouths twitched. You call that visiting? You got caught and put in there, okay!

Gu Han seemed to think of something. “By the way, the Gold List is manifesting. Doesn’t that mean the fight for the Life-Extending Fruit will be postponed?”

Fu Dahai shook his head. “Not at all.”

He explained the rules set by the Dao Palace.

Gu Han frowned slightly. “Top three?”

Before coming, he had already heard about the Gold List from Mei Yun. According to Tian Ji, although the Dao Bell’s manifestation was far more spectacular than the Gold List’s, anyone who could make it ring would receive a share of fortune.

However, the Gold List was completely different. To receive an opportunity, one would have to fight for it. Moreover, because it was the list's first manifestation, even Tian Ji was unaware of its restrictions and the rules that applied to it. Everything would only be known to everyone when the Gold List fully manifested.

Fatty quietly sidled over. “Ahem... How about we pull another stunt?”

“Hm?”

“The Dao Palace is filthy rich with oil. We’re so poor. Robbing—ahem, borrowing some saint herbs, Life-Extending Fruits, and stuff isn’t too much, right?”

Everyone’s mouths twitched violently.

Fu Youde wished he could strangle Fatty to death. “Ancestor, is the Fu family’s future really in this guy’s hands?”

Fu Dahai said weakly, “Forget it. It’s too late for you to have another child now.”

Fu Youde was speechless.

Gu Han said seriously, “Fatty, we’re not bandits!”

Fatty said painfully, “I’ll give you ten percent! From my thirty percent share, I’ll give you ten percent!”

Gu Han was silent for a moment before turning to Mo Li. “Brother Mo, how many saint herbs does the Central Dao Palace have? Don’t misunderstand, I am just curious.”

Mo Li was speechless.

Just then, a Dao Palace elder happened to arrive. After hearing Gu Han’s words, he nearly died of fright. Good thing the two Venerables had foresight! Without hesitation, he revealed himself and very politely handed a jade box to Fu Dahai. According to him, it contained three Life-Extending Fruits—a gift from the two Venerables. If that wasn’t enough, they were welcome to ask again in the future.

With a pained heart, Fu Dahai looked at Fatty and put away the jade box as if it was his from the start.

Yan Qianjue and the Luoheng Holy Master exchanged a glance. Indeed! Like family, like home!

The elder hesitated. “Mo Li, the Venerables said you—”

Mo Li knew what he wanted to say and shook his head. “Forget it. Please tell them that I bear no resentment. I just don’t want to be bound by the Dao Palace either. After the Gold List, I will travel around with Brother Zuo Yang.”

The elder sighed and then left. Gu Han felt a bit regretful. He shouldn’t have introduced Zuo Yang to Mo Li in the first place.

However, Fatty appeared unwilling. This development puts me in a very tough position! I care about face too. I can’t really go and rob them, can I?

Just then, someone exclaimed, pointing at the sky, “Hey, look!”

A vast, extraordinarily mysterious dao essence fell within everyone’s perception. The golden light in the boundless azure sky was gradually dissipating. In its place, there was a giant scroll whose size was impossible to determine. Thousands of strands of auspicious qi and ten thousand rainbow beams descended, accompanied by wisps of immortal mist.

Everyone was at a loss, feeling a yearning arise within them. Moreover, the projection depicted within the scroll was no longer blurry. They could even make out rows upon rows of jade towers and palaces. There was actually a realm inside this thing!

Fatty swallowed his saliva. “How do we get in? It’s too high.”

Everyone secretly shook their heads. How to get in? Of course you have to rely on your ability to fly into the sky. Did you think the Gold List would lower a ladder for you?Dream on!

Just as they thought this, the scroll trembled slightly for a moment, and one golden ladder after another slowly extended down. It made everyone cover their faces. That hurts so much!

***

Meanwhile, within the void, beyond the infinite heavenly domain. Inside a magnificent, white heavenly palace stood an ordinary-looking man in a dark robe. Mysterious qi swirled around him, as if he was surrounded by the Boundless Red Dust.

The moment he opened his eyes, a beam of immortal light fell, transforming into a palm-sized decree and a golden ladder. The golden ladder had just over ten steps. It seemed real yet illusory, insubstantial and uncertain. At the end of the ladder lay a patch of light and mist, beyond which jade towers and palaces could be vaguely seen.

Expressionlessly, the man glanced at the decree and closed his eyes again. Red Dust aura flowed from him, swirling together to form an exact replica of him before it slowly stepped onto the golden ladder.