Hammer in her left hand, sword in her right, the eldest sister is connected to both worlds.

Immortal flying boats from various parts of the Yuanming lower realm entered the Xuanhuang Grotto-heaven, where they were led to their arranged lodgings by the disciples in charge of receiving and welcoming them.

When Xue Lan arrived at Xuanling Peak, several elders from the sect were already there. Xue Lan stepped forward and slowly bowed, saying, "Disciple greets all the elders."

Dao Xuanzi sat in the main seat and nodded as he looked at Xue Lan's current attire. Xue Lan slowly walked to stand behind him. The young woman wore an elegant and gorgeous white dress with intricate and elegant embroidery, and a lotus crown on her head, which was exquisite and delicate.

It's completely different from usual.

With all the members of various sects and representatives of the demon race present, the Ascension Ceremony can begin.

Xue Lan looked around the field and saw Yin Yue, the Gu Master of Chong Gu Village.

The woman was dressed in a magnificent indigo Miao dress, the serene color of which completely suppressed her alluring and seductive charm.

Their eyes met, and Yin Yue winked at Xue Lan, who then slowly looked away.

Dao Xuanzi, who was standing in front of him, was the first to stand up and bow to the sect leaders.

"Gentlemen, it is my great honor to be able to gather here." Dao Xuanzi's voice was old and deep. He only said this one sentence before looking at Xue Lan.

"The sacrificial ceremony begins."

In that instant, all the incense and candles on either side of the incense burner in the square burst into flames, and the guardian cranes, like wispy clouds, flew in from the back of Xuanling Peak, circling the incense burner and emitting clear, melodious calls.

On the altar were many white jade plates, on which were placed offerings.

Following the procedure she had practiced countless times, Xue Lan slowly walked out from behind Dao Xuanzi and ascended the high altar.

The young woman, dignified and composed, carefully ascended the altar amidst the solemn sacrificial music of Yunhui Peak, and picked up the sandalwood incense that had been placed there long ago.

The sandalwood incense lit itself the moment Xue Lan picked it up. The girl leaned forward slightly in a gesture of respect and then began to recite the eulogy.

"May Heaven above, may the world be clear and bright, may the pure and the impure be distinguished, and may there be no evil in the world."

"I, Houtu, wish that the cycle of reincarnation may continue, the six realms may exist forever, and the good and evil in the human world may be distinguished for eternity."

"May the gods of mountains and rivers grant us favorable weather, peace and happiness for the people, abundant harvests, and victory in war."

Upon hearing this, some of the disciples below already had strange expressions, thinking that the previous rumors about the sect declaring war on the demon race must be true.

……

"The demons arose in the south, causing the people to perish. They have been entangled for ten thousand years, killing my compatriots and invading my homeland."

"The auspicious hour is approaching. May the spirits of heroes for all ages bless our Yuanming, so that we may stop the killing with war, recover the southern region, and restore our land."

After reciting the last few lines of the eulogy, Xue Lan's forehead was covered in a thin layer of sweat.

From heaven and earth, to mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas, to foreign invasions and the use of war to stop the killing.

The ceremonial music of Yunhui Peak transformed into a clanging, murderous sound when Xue Lan began reciting the part about the alien invasion. It was like a war song from an ancient battlefield.

Xue Lan turned around on the altar, dressed in a magnificent robe, looking extremely solemn.

She saw many pairs of eyes.

The disciples' words, the elders' words, some filled with contemplation, some with anger.

The young woman slowly bowed deeply to the crowd before her, like a sturdy bamboo gently nodding. Her voice was firm and slow: "Everyone, there will be no more than ten thousand years in the mortal realm of Yuanming."

The elders of each sect were still weighing their options, but the disciples below had already been moved by Xue Lan's impassioned eulogy and were now in a chaotic uproar.

"That's right, we should drive the demons out. They've been invading other people's homes and slaughtering their own people for thousands of years. We shouldn't back down anymore."

“Blindly sticking to the old ways is not a solution... I don’t know what the teachers and mentors think.”

"quiet!"

An elder from the Xuanhuang Sect's Enforcement Hall suddenly spoke, his voice resounding throughout the entire cave, and Xuanling Peak fell silent instantly.

Then came a long silence, so long that Xue Lan grew impatient.

Finally, the deathly silence was broken by Master Qu of the Spirit Summoning Sect: "We really can't keep hiding like this."

Dao Xuanzi flicked his sleeve, and a golden contract flew out from it, hovering in mid-air and emitting a soft golden light.

"Today, the Xuanhuang Sect hereby solemnly declares to Heaven and Earth that we are willing to take this contract as witness and join hands with you all to fight against the demon race and restore the bright and clear world to our Yuanming mortal realm."

"Count me in, Jiyue Mountain." Headmaster Wen of Jiyue Mountain stood up and bowed to Dao Xuanzi.

"The Chonggu Village has an unshirkable duty." Yin Yue also stood up.

Xue Lan was exhausted on the altar and was somewhat surprised to hear Yin Yue's voice.

"Little girl, who do you think I am?" Yin Yue transmitted her voice.

Xue Lan slowly replied, "The one who killed me."

Yin Yue fell silent.

Within an hour, all the members of the six sects and twelve factions, the three capitals and five prefectures of the demon race, and some scattered immortal cultivation families had left their names on the contract.

Dao Xuanzi revealed a gratified smile, for the future of the Yuanming Lower Realm.

The golden contract was sealed in an extremely precious box. The moment the magical seal on the box was lowered, Dao Xuanzi loudly proclaimed:

"The contract is made, and it will last forever."

The various sect leaders, family heads, and demon clan leaders below slowly began to speak:

"The covenant is made. It will last forever."

This was the largest alliance of various forces in the Yuan and Ming dynasties' lower realms in ten thousand years, formed to protect their homeland and reclaim lost territory.

Xue Lan finally breathed a sigh of relief and slowly walked down the altar, where she was helped by Xu Qinghe, who had been waiting below.

“Sacrifices are really too exhausting.” Xu Qinghe wiped the sweat from Xue Lan’s face with heartache, and the girl suddenly chuckled softly.

"What are you laughing at?" Xu Qinghe asked, somewhat puzzled.

The girl's voice was a little hoarse: "The contract is made, and it will last for eternity."

"Qinghe, the fate of this Yuanming Realm over the past thousand years is about to be rewritten by us."

Xu Qinghe smiled and coaxed her, "Yes, yes, yes."

Years later, Xu Qinghe recalled what the girl had said and realized that Xue Lan had always referred to the Yuanming Realm, not the Lower Realm of Yuanming.

After the sacrificial ceremony concluded, the true Ascension Ceremony began. The first trial, the Heavenly Ladder Illusion, had already been prepared. The elders from each sect took their seats again, and in the very center stood a giant mirror, through which one could see the situation within the Heavenly Ladder Illusion.

Xue Lan changed out of her gorgeous sacrificial robes and stood in front of those who were participating in the trial.

The young woman was dressed in a dashing black outfit, her beautiful hair tied back, and she stood on a blazing, strange fire, exuding unparalleled sharpness.

"I am Xue Lan, the senior sister of Jiyuan Peak of the Xuanhuang Sect. I will now read out the rules of this first trial for you all."

"The Heavenly Ladder Illusionary Realm: those who traverse the Heavenly Ladder within three days will pass. Illusions will affect one's mind. I hope you will remain steadfast and pass through smoothly."

After saying this, Xue Lan disappeared from everyone's sight.

"That senior sister, is she the one who just read the eulogy?"

"I must join the Xuanhuang Sect, I want her to teach me..."

For a fleeting moment, Xue Lan's expression cracked as she hid in the shadows. The girl clasped her hands together in prayer.

"Thank you for your kind words, junior brother, but I have quite a few junior brothers and sisters. I'm so sorry, so sorry."

With a deafening roar, the Heavenly Ladder Illusion unfolded between Jiyuan Peak and Qingyu Peak. A misty haze hung above, and cranes danced in the air.

One by one, the chosen ones with spiritual roots embarked on this ladder of destiny.

They did not yet realize that the difference between cultivating oneself as a mortal and becoming an immortal lies in a single thought.

Xue Lan stood beside Dao Xuanzi, looking at the enormous magic mirror before her. Her previously somewhat dazed eyes widened suddenly when she saw a young man reflected in the mirror. She then immediately sent a telepathic message to Xue Tong.

Xue Lan: "Xue Tong!"

Xue Tong: [Speaks.]

Xue Lan: "Lu Feng is here."

Xue Tong felt a sudden darkness engulf her vision.