Carrying a Ladder Really Works?!!

Jiang Lingsu did not argue with Qi Yuan any further. The Obsession lineage was simply different from ordinary people. As for whether an obsession with gaming held any potential... that ultimately depended on the person. A prodigy of the sword path, cultivating only a basic sword art, could still best a mediocre cultivator wielding the Nine Heavens Divine Empyrean Sword. Of course, was Eldest Senior Brother a prodigy? In Jiang Lingsu's eyes, he counted as a genius, but compared to a true prodigy, he fell far short. Great Shang was simply too small. And the Canglan Realm was vast beyond measure. Even her own clan amounted to very little across the Canglan Realm. "Senior Brother, remember to cultivate diligently and look out for me in the future," Jiang Lingsu said before returning to her thatched cottage to resume cultivating. Qi Yuan also went back to his room. Holding the cultivation jade slip Jiang Lingsu had lent him, he browsed through it attentively. "Earth Fiend Demon Soul Art?" "Four Jins Art?" "Three Primes Gong?" Qi Yuan skimmed through the techniques recorded in the jade slip. Meanwhile, his talent for viewing hidden information was constantly at work. [This is the Four Jins Art, created by the Four Gentlemen of Jinzhong. On the surface, it is a High Grade technique, but in reality, it is a four-person dual cultivation method. If four people cultivate it together, it can reach the Jade rank.] Cultivation techniques were divided into Low Grade, Middle Grade, High Grade, Jade Rank, Mysterious Rank, Heaven Rank, and beyond... The higher the grade, the harder the technique was to cultivate, but its power and potential were proportionally greater. There were 627 techniques in total within the jade slip, most of which were Low Grade and Middle Grade. High Grade techniques were rare, and there were only a handful of Jade Rank ones. For two days straight, Qi Yuan remained completely engrossed in the cultivation jade slip, not even opening his game jade slip once. For him, amassing this knowledge was of tremendous help. With the aid of his ability to see hidden information, creating a technique of his own—one that would never turn him into nourishment for someone else—was relatively easy. Of course, such a technique might have limited potential. For instance... cultivating it to the great attainment stage might produce an effect comparable to doing a hundred push-ups a day. On the night of the second day, dark circles ringed Qi Yuan's eyes. He suddenly burst into laughter. "This Dao master has attained enlightenment!" Indeed, by drawing upon the techniques stored within the Divine Light Sect alongside those his junior sister Jiang Lingsu had lent him, he had cobbled together countless rudimentary drafts and finally succeeded with one. He examined his newly forged technique. [This is a technique riddled with flaws. Cultivating it carries a certain probability of memory confusion. It can be cultivated up to Qi Refinement perfection. It is worth noting that cultivating this technique will not turn one into nourishment for a certain entity.] Qi Yuan was thrilled. His hard study over the past few days had not been in vain; his efforts had finally paid off. "I ought to give this technique a resounding name," Qi Yuan murmured. As his first self-created technique, it naturally deserved serious treatment. After pondering for a while, he finally settled on a name. "From now on, it shall be called the *Qi Yuan Scripture*!" A simple, straightforward name. Qi Yuan was very pleased. Following the joy, an intense wave of exhaustion crashed over him. He had indeed drained himself too much. "Pity it only reaches Qi Refinement perfection. Tomorrow, I'll need to attend some of the general lectures to see what Foundation Establishment is really about, and try to expand the technique into the Foundation Establishment realm." He reached for his game jade slip, intending to log in, but his fatigue won out in the end. His eyelids drooped helplessly shut, and the game jade slip merged back into his body. "Wonder how Jin Li is doing..." Qi Yuan sank into a deep slumber. *** Human traces were rare in the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground. A forbidden ground signified unimaginable terror. The depths of a forbidden ground were peril incarnate, while its perimeter was fraught with danger as well. Very few people ever approached one. This was especially true for the legendary Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground, which not even supreme Sovereigns could enter. Yet at this moment, an unexpected party arrived outside the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground. There were seven women in distinguished attire, along with three men clad in convict garb. Strangest of all, every single one of them carried a ladder on their back. Jin Li looked ahead toward the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground. A barrier resembling a protective dome seemed to envelop the perimeter of the forbidden ground. Not even Sovereigns could shatter this protective barrier. Looking through the barrier, one could see several hundred meters into the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground. Yet even within those few hundred meters, Jin Li spotted quite a few terrifying ferocious beasts. At this moment, the Commander of the Imperial Guard stepped forward, a respectful look on her face. "Your Majesty, we questioned the locals nearby just now. They all said that the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground is no different from before, and no commotion has been heard from inside." Hearing this, a flicker of doubt surfaced in Jin Li's eyes. Not long ago, Qi Yuan had told her that he had been grinding mobs in the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground all along. If he was grinding mobs, there certainly should have been some disturbances coming from within. Receiving such a report left her somewhat hesitant. Beside her, the Imperial Guard Commander also harbored many doubts. However, her allegiance was to the Empress, utterly unswerving; whatever the Empress commanded, she would execute without hesitation. "Mm." Jin Li parted her red lips, her voice cold and alluring yet carrying a thread of majesty. "Keep the ladders on your backs and head into the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground." The six core members of the Imperial Guard drew their swords in unison, pointing them at the three convicts. All three convicts were condemned prisoners on death row. Brought all the way here, they had no idea what was happening. They knew that ahead lay the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground, a place not even Sovereign-rank experts could enter. How could they possibly step inside? Yet with cold steel pointed at their backs, they had no choice but to slowly trudge forward, ladders on their backs. Beside them, the Imperial Guard Commander finally asked, "Your Majesty wishes to enter the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground, but... can it truly be entered like this?" Jin Li's heart was also somewhat unsettled. She trusted these women deeply. "A friend told me that carrying a ladder on one's back... might allow one to enter the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground." "This... is rather bizarre," the Commander said. The other Imperial Guardsmen felt the same way. Meanwhile, perched atop a large tree several hundred meters away were two men. They were scouts dispatched by Chancellor Sima Ting. Because the Chancellor held no real expectations regarding Jin Li's excursion to the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground, those he sent were not elite experts. Overlooking the scene from on high, their eyes brimmed with curiosity. "What do you think the Empress is up to? Forcing her way into the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground?" "Forcing her way in is one thing, but why carry ladders on their backs?!" "It's utterly ridiculous." "No wonder men hold the reins of the realm under heaven while female emperors are so rare. This Empress of ours... is simply hilarious." Entering the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground just by carrying a ladder on one's back was absurd beyond belief. It was as ludicrous as claiming that whoever farted the loudest could ascend to immortality. Yet in the very next breath, astonishment froze their faces. Before their eyes, the protective barrier of the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground—which even Sovereign-rank experts supposedly could not breach—simply let those three convicts carrying ladders stroll right through, completely unobstructed. Jin Li's heart surged with overwhelming excitement. What Qi Yuan said was actually true! The Imperial Guard Commander and the rest of the guards wore looks of sheer disbelief. Yet even amid her excitement, Jin Li maintained her composure. "Hua Yue, deal with those two worms behind us." Hearing the command, the Imperial Guard woman named Hua Yue vanished on the spot. Jin Li's gaze grew deep and pensive. Gazing at the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground, her expression was complicated. Who knew what thoughts were running through her mind.