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She raised her hand and clenched her fist, a low rumbling sound echoing in the air. The space around them twisted and contorted... it was clear how powerful she was.

Lin Qi's ice phoenix phantom behind her gradually took shape. Her aura was almost merged with the ice phoenix phantom, and her strength climbed steadily.

This time, the Binghuang phantom wasn't formed by magic, but by Lin Qi's body forging skills and aura merging together.

Bang!

Both parties simultaneously raised their hands, and their figures instantly vanished from the spot.

In the blink of an eye, the two figures flashed to ten different positions, exchanging blows over twenty times.

A series of loud bangs echoed through the air.

Click!

A corner of space was shattered by the power of the two, falling into spatial turbulence, with a strange form and an aura of danger.

Lin Qi's arms were covered with countless cracks, blood streaming out.

However, Ran Zouying was even worse off than her.

One arm was broken, the other covered in blood, and his body was riddled with wounds.

A low, muffled grunt.

Their fists collided once again.

Lin Qi's ice phoenix phantom behind him spread its wings and flew, with an aura as heavy as Mount Tai pressing down. Zou Ying was not to be outdone either, her massive body faintly revealing the figure of a giant from the ancient Wu tribe.

Ding!

The crisp sound of metal clashing echoed through the air, sending both figures flying backward like broken kites.

She slid backward all the way, Lin Qi narrowly clinging to the edge of the celestial ladder and avoided falling.

Zou Ying wasn't as lucky.

A tall and strong figure shot straight out of the Heavenly Ladder, shrinking continuously before falling from the 98th level.

Zou Ying - Lost.

Lin Qi wiped the blood from her lips and climbed up from the edge, limping forward, leaving a trail of bloody footprints.

She walked, feeding herself medicine and rapidly repairing her wounds.

As I reached the ninety-ninth stair, an announcement crackled over the speaker.

Congratulations to Lin Qi, a disciple of Tianyi Sect, for successfully reaching the 99th floor of the Xuanwu Staircase, gaining a wisp of purple qi. There is also a treasure from the Treasure Pavilion hidden within.

A familiar name was broadcast throughout the entire Beishen and Nanshen Temples.

All the cultivators were somewhat shocked, but more numb.

Is it that when a person becomes so outstanding, exceeding all expectations, then everything they do simply seems natural and inevitable?

Huishi Daokun was surrounded by envious and hateful gazes, and he became extremely calm. He immediately sent a message to Guangmu Zhenjun.

Though she appeared calm on the surface, she was actually a little flustered inside.

If your niece doesn't send someone soon, she won't be able to sit still any longer!

Lin Qi once again enjoyed the increase in purple energy from her good fortune. Although she didn't feel much, it gave her a few more points of confidence.

She has painstakingly accumulated so much good fortune and luck, there's no way she'll be bound by that damned fate!

The rewards for climbing the Xuanwu Heavenly Ladder are slightly different from those of the Formation Master Tower. The biggest difference is that the Formation Master Tower has Celestial Blessings, while the Xuanwu Heavenly Ladder does not.

However, Lin Qi knew that the Heavenly Blessings bestowed upon the Formation Master Tower weren't given by the tower itself. They were granted by Heaven according to its rules because she had created a new formation.

At a glance, Lin Qi swept over the prizes and immediately descended the ladder, rushing towards the Baihu Heavenly Ladder.

As soon as she stepped onto the White Tiger Sky Ladder, she saw Chu Jiuchen, with his long sword on his back, going up and down the ladder.

In a short time, all the wounds on his body were healed.

Their aura became increasingly introspective and composed. Having passed the phase of youthful sharpness, they started to conceal their sword within their heart.

Upon seeing Lin Qi, he was not at all surprised and politely bowed to her.

"Lin Dao-you, you are late."

Lin Qi also looked a little surprised, "Are you leaving?"

Chu Jiucheng left, but will her absence affect her ascension to the Baihu Heavenly Ladder?

While Lin Qi was still pondering, Chu Jiu Cheng had already spoken first: “Ascending the Heavenly Ladder is not limited in number of people. With Lin Dao Friend’s strength, you are sure to be able to reach the ninety-ninth level.”

Lin Qi smiled: "It's a pity that I couldn't fight you."

Chu Jiucheng, as always polite and cultured, said, "Wait until the Five Continents Grand Competition. Then there will naturally be an opportunity to fight. I also look forward to a battle with Daoist Lin."

Lin Qi walked two steps forward, her bearing slightly more imposing. With a radiant smile, she asked, "Daoist Chu, I have a question for you, but unfortunately, there is no opportunity..."

Chu Jiu Cheng wasn't surprised. He raised his hand and formed a barrier, shielding the conversation between the two from the outside world.

"Isn't it that Lin Dao wants to know about Xiaotianmen?"

Lin Qi smiled but didn't speak.

The Lord of Chǔjiǔ City spoke frankly, "Lin Daoist, do you really think that all these cultivators from the Central Plains came to the Nánběi Tiānzhūn Mansion just for a bit of excitement?"

"This time, it's not ordinary cultivators from Zhongzhou. They are mostly outstanding disciples from prominent families and royal clans in Zhongzhou... Even if they are here to cultivate, they shouldn't come to the North and South continents."

Lin Qi's eyelids lifted slightly, "People from Zhongzhou probably already knew that Xiaotiamen was hidden in Yunmengze, right?"

"At first, you pretended to be lost in the Cloudscape Marsh, but in reality, you were secretly searching for the existence of the Xiaomen... But why?"

With Chu Jiu Cheng and Nan Gong Yuan's cultivation levels, they are nowhere near needing to find a world gate to leave.

And if the cultivators of Zhongzhou knew that there was a small world gate within the palaces of the North and South Heavenly Venerables, they wouldn't likely send their most outstanding disciples, but would come in person.

When it comes to seizing opportunities, who cares about seniority or age?

"The North and South Heavenly Venerables had once traveled in Zhongzhou for several years, and there are many records about the palaces of the North and South Heavenly Venerables in the books left in Zhongzhou."

Lin Qi, upon hearing this, knew they had indeed known everything all along.

"The great cultivators trapped by Xiaohan River and confined at the entrance of the small world gate, nine out of ten were the ancestors of each family in Zhongzhou. Their existence is of great significance to each family, affecting the changes in the distribution of power in Zhongzhou."

"This dispatch is primarily to help the ancestor trapped at the Xiajie Gate escape, either by flying from the Xiajie Gate or leaving Yunmengze... But we never expected the existence of Xiaotianhe, nor did we expect the Heavenly Tribulation..."

<>

Many families saw their fortunes begin to fluctuate as a result.

Lin Qi thought for a moment, “So you’re rushing back to plead guilty?”

No wonder Nangong Yuan was seriously injured back then, nearly dying while struggling in the thunder.

Chu Jiucheng: "The Nangong family has three ancestors trapped in Yunmengze. This time, with the Heavenly Tribulation descending, the Nangong family suffered heavy losses. I'm afraid the Nangong family in Zhongzhou has already caused a stir. When you go to Zhongzhou next time, I don't know if there will be any Nangong family left."

Lin Qi knew that the competition in Zhongzhou was fierce, but she didn't expect it to be this intense.

"Why weren't Nán Gōng Yuán and the others in a hurry to go back?"

Chu Jiu Cheng's smile held a touch of bitterness, "The fall of the Nangong family was inevitable. If they want to restore its former glory... they can only rely on themselves."

"At this time, the Beijiu Palace has a lot of good fortune and purple qi. In the future, it may be able to support the Nan Gong family's business."

They had no way out, they could only gamble on this one chance. I still... so I need to return to the Zuo Clan and apologize to the ancestors quickly.

Although the Chu family was in a better situation, Lin Qi somehow heard a hint of envy in Chu Jiu Cheng's words.

(Editor in charge：novel update)