Chapter 460 - Climbing the Gold Ladder, Breaking Through the Heavenly Pass

Somewhere in the Central Continent, Luo Wushuang leisurely looked up at the scroll painting.

With a hint of reminiscence, he smiled slightly. “Each time, the scale of his work gets bigger. Father, it seems you’re getting anxious. I get it. Being blind is quite unpleasant.”

Immortal mist swirled on the scroll. Flickering between reality and illusion, a gold ladder of indeterminable length stretched down from the sky, landing at his feet.

He sighed softly. “Oh, well. This one move will determine success or failure.”

Thus, he slowly walked up into the sky.

***

Inside a room at the Tian Yun Merchant Association headquarters in the inner layer of the Central Continent, a middle-aged man had a shrewd look on his face.

He gazed at the massive scroll painting, sighing with emotion. “Such an extraordinary fortune. What a pity, if I were seven or eight thousand years younger, I’d fight these young brats for it.”

Then, he withdrew his gaze and looked at a person behind him. “How is it that we haven't found a single suitable candidate across the five domains? Have you been doing your job?”

The man smiled wryly. Candidates? It wasn’t that there weren’t any, but the other party didn’t agree. Could I force them?

Without expecting an answer, the middle-aged man muttered to himself, “Gu Han and Fu Fatty... I heard Gu Han is genuinely capable. As for Fu Fatty... It has to be that little bastard from the Fu family. How did a shameless fool like him get the jade token’s recognition and become a candidate for the Ferryman of the Yellow Springs? I don’t get it, I just don’t get it... Has the organization become so desperate?”

The man thought for a moment. “President, Fu Fatty only briefly appeared in the Eastern Wasteland and hasn’t been seen for over a decade. Could it just be an alias?”

The middle-aged man waved his hand. “Forget it. Stop worrying about Fu Fatty. Once the Gold List business is over, go contact Gu Han again. Even if we have to sacrifice this merchant association, we must win him over!”

The man was puzzled. “President, exactly what is the Ferryman of the Yellow Springs—”

The middle-aged man’s aura changed. His shrewd, worldly look vanished, replaced by sharpness and coldness. “Is that something you can inquire about?”

“I spoke out of turn!”

“Go back!”

“Yes, I will take leave!”

Watching him leave, the Tian Yun president relaxed, then smiled bitterly. What is the ferryman? Heck if I know! I’m just a small-time outer member of the organization!

***

At the demon clan’s ancestral land, a bare-armed man over a zhang tall glanced at the nearby gold ladder.

He said to the demon clan youth opposite him, “Go on. The Gold List is no small matter. You can forget about the Life-Extending Fruit for now. Just rank in the top three, and the list will definitely bestow a great fortune! There aren’t many of our kind left in the five domains. Whether we can rise again depends on you.”

The demon clan youth appeared stern. “I don’t want the top three! If I’m doing it, I’ll be at the top!”

Following that, he led the group of talented demon clan youths, each stepping onto their own gold ladder.

The big man pondered, The top? That would be very difficult...

***

At the War God Hall in the Northern Domain’s barbarian tribe, Ah Man gazed at the gold ladder descending before him, full of hope and longing. “Sir, will I be able to see my benefactor when I go this time?”

Yun Zhan smiled. “Yes. He definitely won’t miss an event this big.”

Ah Man smiled happily, then stepped onto the ladder. “That’s good!”

Yun Zhan sighed as he watched Ah Man leave. Unlike the Dao Bell, the Gold List unexpectedly gathered all the prodigies from the five domains.

Would that scourge show himself?

***

In the capital of the Great Flame Empire, Feng Xi took a drink from her wine gourd and was about to climb the gold ladder.

The Flame Emperor sighed behind her. “Be careful. You might very well encounter him this time.”

Feng Xi paused slightly, then nodded. “Understood.” ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

If I encounter him, I will kill him for you!

***

Outside the dilapidated mountain gate in the Southern Border, Yun Tu looked at the dozens of people standing respectfully below, their expressions fanatical.

He could hardly suppress the excitement in his voice. “Everyone, our god is about to return!”

The crowd fell to their knees, chanting incessantly, “Glory to our god!”

With the help of the outer domain people, Yun Tu had gathered nearly all experts above the Transcendent realm in the Southern Border. And now, they were all under his command, having become full-fledged servants of the god.

Among them, there were seven or eight Feather Transformation cultivators, over a dozen Saint cultivators, while the rest were experts above the Transcendent realm. Of course, they also didn’t lack Heavenly Prides of the younger generation.

Yun Ao drifted over. “What a pity.”

Glancing at the illusory gold ladder, which carried traces of dao essence and immortal light, he shook his head. “Miss an opportunity like this, and you might not get another.”

Yun Tu smiled. “It doesn’t matter. God’s blessing is the greatest opportunity and fortune! How long can you hold off that old monk?”

“Fifteen minutes.”

Yun Tu took a deep breath. “Good enough! Everyone, follow me to welcome our god’s return!”

“Yes!”

Instantly, everyone soared into the air, heading in the direction of the Western Desert. They didn’t even spare the gold ladders a single glance.

***

Inside the God-Slaying Formation in the Western Desert, Wu Xin stared pitifully at the old monk beside him. “Master, can I go?”

The mysterious and inexplicable gold ladder had also manifested inside the God-Slaying Formation, landing right in front of Wu Xin.

Seeing his master’s silence, Wu Xin continued to plead, “Master, I promise I’ll keep a good eye on it. I definitely won’t cause any more trouble. Just let me go. A chance like this might only come once in a lifetime. Can you bear to see me miss it?”

The pleading was real, and so were the growing violence and ruthlessness deep in his eyes.

The old monk sighed. “Oh, well.”

His withered, large hand gently covered Wu Xin’s head, pouring intense light into him.

A flicker of pain and struggle crossed Wu Xin’s eyes, but under the suppression of the light, the coldness and violence gradually receded. “Mas... ter...”

After a long moment, the old monk withdrew his hand, silently chanting a sutra and admonishing, “Go on. But remember, do not act recklessly.”

Struggling to suppress his joy, Wu Xin pressed his palms together. “I understand, Master.”