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

[I'm not trying to criticize your sect, but you just can't avoid Lu Feng, right?]

"I guess we're just meant to be," Xue Lan replied with a smile.

"Actually, this should have been expected. He is the chosen one in this story. How could he have completely deviated from his original path just because I interfered a little?"

"Now that you've entered the Heavenly Ladder Illusionary Realm in this state, what will happen to things outside?" Xue Tong asked with some concern.

This was also what troubled Xue Lan, and the girl slapped her head.

"I feel I need an ally."

After an incense stick had burned, Xue Lan found Xu Qinghe.

"You said you were going to the Heavenly Ladder Illusion? And you asked me to cover for you?" Xu Qinghe raised her hand to touch Xue Lan's forehead.

"He was struck by lightning and became mentally impaired at Wan Gong Fang."

Xue Lan shook her head and grabbed Xu Qinghe's sleeve: "Qinghe, I really have something important to say. Qinghe!"

Xu Qinghe pulled her hand away: "When you said that last time, you told me to leave Shishi at Yunhui Peak, and then you stole the Xuan Ding grass from the Qingyu Peak herb garden."

Xue Lan lowered her head somewhat awkwardly.

"That was Zhu He. He didn't control his spiritual power well while practicing swordsmanship and cut off his own arm," Xue Lan said through gritted teeth.

"I made him practice épée after that, didn't I?"

"And this time?" Xu Qinghe looked into her eyes: "What's the reason this time?"

The girl was always gentle with Xue Lan and rarely questioned him like this. Xue Lan believed in a way of speaking that mixed truth with falsehood.

"Among the crowd is an old friend from Lujia Village, and I want to go see him."

Xu Qinghe didn't believe her completely: "You never used to show any favoritism to people."

She was absolutely right. Xue Lan had lived a secluded and lonely life in the past few years, and after she started refining weapons, she was only seen a few times a year.

As soon as she emerged from seclusion, the entire Xuanhuang Sect was thrown into chaos, and those who had any connection with her were driven crazy by her annoyance.

Xue Lan pulled out her trump card: "Sister Xu."

Xu Qinghe felt goosebumps rise all over her body. The girl stepped aside and said, "Go ahead, but you have to be back in three days. You can't expect me to go up there and speak up for you, can you?"

"Thank you, sister." Xue Lan turned around and transformed into a wisp of green smoke.

Xu Qinghe watched her disappear, a hint of worry appearing in her eyes. The girl in the silk dress slowly walked towards Xuanling Peak, her snow-white clothes seeming to be immersed in a pool of pitch-black ink, the ink spreading from the hem of the dress until it became as black as Xue Lan's.

At the same time, at the foot of the Heavenly Ladder, a little girl dressed in a gray robe appeared out of thin air. The little girl wore a dusty old robe with frayed edges at the hem and cuffs. A faded red string was tied around her slender wrist, and her slightly yellowish hair was loose, with some weeds stuck to it.

"Look at you like this..." Xue Tong felt an urge to ravage Xue Lan as she looked at her.

Xue Lan proudly raised her head: "Isn't it cute? This is what I looked like when I was little."

Xue Tong looked at the little girl's eyebrows and eyes; those clear, bright black eyes were indeed exactly the same as Xue Lan's.

More than a decade has passed, and nothing has changed.

but……

Xue Lan slowly stepped onto the heavenly ladder, and the clouds on both sides swept over, engulfing her small figure.

Xue Tong asked, "You said this is what you looked like when you were little, so do your elders recognize you?"

Xue Lan nodded: "I did it on purpose."

Xue Tong was speechless.

The little girl walked slowly up the ladder to heaven, surrounded by a constant stream of noise.

They were all trial participants trapped in an illusion.

Xue Lan slowly walked forward: "This year's Ascension Ceremony has increased the difficulty. In previous years, there was only pressure on the Heavenly Ladder, not illusions."

"Is it because of the upcoming great war?" Xue Tong asked.

"Yes, the great battle is destined to be brutal. If all the Golden Core disciples in the sect die in battle, these children will be the last hope. Naturally, they must be carefully selected."

Xue Tong felt as if her non-existent heart had been tugged.

[Will they all die in battle?]

Xue Lan smiled slightly: "You've been in this world for quite some time now. You should understand that the demons in this world aren't soft and cute..."

Rather, he was a true devil who would ruthlessly exploit and kill without restraint. Xue Tong silently added the words Xue Lan hadn't finished saying.

Xue Lan walked a little further up and finally found Lu Feng by the mark left on him.

Just as she was about to step forward, she heard Xue Tong's soft voice.

[We will win.]

Xue Lan slowly walked towards Lu Feng: "Why do you say that?"

【I trust you.】

Xue Lan found Xue Tong somewhat cute, but then she heard what Xue Tong said next.

I believe in everyone in the Yuanming Realm, and I believe that this ten-thousand-year perseverance will eventually lead to a good ending.

A gentle smile appeared at the corner of Xue Lan's eyes. It looked exceptionally pure on that young girl's face.

"Lend your auspicious words."

Xue Lan has always been quite indulgent towards Xue Tong because she always likes things and people that are full of hope.

I like these younger people whom I've never met before.

They are bright, passionate, and joyful, always steadfast in their inner path.

Xue Lan looked at the boy in front of her who was trapped in an illusion. Lu Feng was curled up in a corner of the Heavenly Ladder, a gray cloud nestled in his chest.

"This is already quite a good spot," Xue Tong said, looking at Lu Feng.

“He has no affinity for immortality…” Xue Lan stepped forward, looked at Lu Feng, squatted down, and pointed a finger at Lu Feng’s brow.

"He also cannot have a connection with the immortals."

The girl's voice carried a coldness beyond her outward appearance, and a wisp of white smoke flew from her fingertips into Lu Feng's chest.

Xue Tong was forced to accept Xue Lan's body, and cried out in pain the moment their consciousness connected.

【Xue Lan, you...you son of a bitch.】

Xue Lan had already entered Lu Feng's illusion and only remembered her physical condition when she heard Xue Tong's curses.

The girl-like figure clasped her hands together and said, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

Xue Tong was really annoyed with her.

Xue Lan looked at the scene before her. Before her was a small village with wisps of smoke rising from its chimneys, and the green wheat fields surrounding the village rippled in waves under the evening breeze.

This is Lu Feng's illusion, Lu Family Village under the setting sun.

The little girl in the gray robe took small steps into Lujia Village, the only dark spot in this colorful scene.

Out of place. And should be out of place.

Xue Lan walked into the village and saw many vibrant people.

She saw men returning from working in the fields, old people lying in the yard, women busy at the stove, and children chasing each other in the yard.

Everything was so vibrant, the colors were too rich, and the sunset in the sky was exceptionally beautiful. The setting sun melted gold and blended with the clouds to create an irresistible crimson yellow, like a veil unfurled on the horizon, enveloping the sun and the surrounding mountains of Lujia Village.

"So beautiful," Xue Lan thought to herself.

That's too bizarre.

In the grand and magnificent picture, Xue Lan, a patch of incongruous gray, is rejected by the whole world.

The little girl spoke softly, "It really is true, a lucky accident."

The wheat fields behind her rippled again, and Xue Lan suddenly turned her head.

The hand that was behind his back was raised in an instant, and two fingers caught the cold blade that came from behind.

The cold blade reflected the afterglow of the sun, casting a dim yellow band of light in Xue Lan's eyes.

A chilling light ignited in the little girl's eyes, like an endless glacier spreading within them.

She chuckled softly:

"A pleasant surprise."