Ye Ling's consciousness drifted in the boundless darkness.
At this moment, Ye Ling was no longer lucid. He had forgotten who he was, forgotten his mission, only feeling an extreme coldness all around him, constantly urging him to fall asleep.
It was as if, by falling asleep, he could return to a warm haven, and no longer suffer this icy torment.
However, a sliver of obsession remained in Ye Ling's heart, preventing him from sleeping, and daring him not to sleep.
In truth, Ye Ling himself didn't know why he was like this, but he always had a premonition that if he gave up here, not only would he lose everything, but those around him, and all living beings, would also lose everything!
Therefore, he could not give up!
This inexplicable obsession was rooted deep within Ye Ling's consciousness, driving him to constantly advance in the darkness.
After an unknown duration of drifting in the darkness, Ye Ling suddenly felt that his surroundings were no longer so cold. A faint glimmer of light also appeared in the boundless darkness.
Nourished by the warmth, Ye Ling's hazy consciousness gradually cleared.
He gradually regained his sense of self.
"Where... am I?"
"Right... I was fleeing with the World-Destroying Spirit Fire. To escape the pursuit of the Lord of Residual Evil, I abandoned my body and soul, leaving behind only a wisp of obsession."
"The World-Destroying Spirit Fire should take my obsession to see Xiao You, to see those I care about... and then, my residual consciousness should not hold on, and ultimately dissipate into the world... The World-Destroying Spirit Fire should inherit my will, right?"
"Right... I should be dead... Is it possible to still have consciousness after one's soul is scattered?"
Ye Ling murmured, slowly recalling all his memories, and realizing that he had already died.
Suddenly, a golden light shone onto Ye Ling's face, forcing him to shield his eyes with his arm from the intense radiance.
As Ye Ling's eyes gradually adjusted to the light, he looked intently and saw a golden long ladder appearing before him.
This golden long ladder emitted an incredibly sacred radiance, like a sharp sword piercing through the darkness, extending to its very end.
Ye Ling had no idea where this golden long ladder led.
"Why is there a ladder here? And where does this ladder lead?" Ye Ling wondered, but with nothing else around, he could only walk towards the golden long ladder.
However, the moment Ye Ling stepped onto the golden long ladder, he realized that something was amiss!
An abnormally powerful pressure bore down on Ye Ling, directly repelling him from the ladder!
"What a strange ladder! Such immense pressure!"
Ye Ling looked at the golden long ladder ahead in shock, his eyes filled with terror, but he refused to believe it and stepped onto the golden long ladder again!
This time, Ye Ling was mentally prepared and withstood the pressure surging from the golden long ladder.
"Well done! Withstood the first step!"
Ye Ling's face lit up with joy. He immediately took the second step, but as soon as his foot landed on the second rung, an even stronger pressure than before struck him, once again repelling him from the golden ladder!
"What is this place?"
Once again thrown out, Ye Ling looked at the golden long ladder before him with a face full of horror, completely unable to comprehend what kind of bizarre ladder this was.
The powerful pressure had nearly shattered his consciousness!
Even though Ye Ling was now only a wisp of residual consciousness, he could still exert his utmost power, yet on this golden long ladder, he couldn't even climb the second rung!
However, the repeated failures only ignited Ye Ling's fighting spirit, making him even more determined to conquer this golden long ladder.
"I refuse to believe it, a mere ladder can stop me? I want to see what lies beyond this ladder!"
Ye Ling gritted his teeth, regrouped, and once again ascended the golden long ladder!
This time, Ye Ling easily withstood the pressure that came with stepping onto the first rung, and was fully prepared when he stepped onto the second rung!
Boom!!!
A violent pressure impacted Ye Ling, almost scattering his consciousness, but Ye Ling's foundation was still there, coupled with his incredibly tenacious will, he managed to barely withstand the pressure of the second rung.
After stepping onto the second rung, Ye Ling discovered the peculiar nature of this golden long ladder.
Although the pressure that struck him was strong, after he withstood it, his consciousness was significantly strengthened, and even his soul showed signs of reorganization!
"Could this golden long ladder be a trial, and one receives benefits upon passing it?" Ye Ling realized the peculiar nature of the golden long ladder, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes!
If his consciousness were strengthened with each step he climbed, he couldn't imagine how much he would be strengthened by the time he reached the top of the golden long ladder!
Perhaps, he would reach a whole new realm!
"This is my hope for a comeback!"
Thinking of this, Ye Ling's eyes lit up, and the fire in his heart burned fiercely!
Although he didn't know what this golden long ladder was, this trial was something he was determined to win!
This was his hope of embarking on the path back!
Even if the road ahead was perilous, it was his only choice!
Without any hesitation, Ye Ling directly stepped onto the third rung!
Boom!!!
A stronger pressure than before impacted Ye Ling, making him feel an unprecedented pressure once again!
Once again, Ye Ling was repelled from the golden long ladder!
However, Ye Ling did not give up and embarked on the journey once more.
Again and again, Ye Ling failed and tried... After an unknown amount of time, Ye Ling finally stepped onto the tenth rung!
At this point, Ye Ling's soul had been completely reshaped, and it was no different from its peak state before!
Having regained his soul, Ye Ling looked at the endless steps before him, then glanced back at the less than ten rungs behind him, and couldn't help but begin to question his life.
"My previous peak state could only climb to the tenth rung?" Ye Ling murmured, suddenly feeling weaker than a cripple.
This golden long ladder had tens of thousands of steps, at least!
His progress so far was not even one-thousandth of the way, and he was already nearing his limit from his previous life. He couldn't imagine what kind of existence a strong person who could complete the entire journey would be!
However, as Ye Ling was shocked, his heart grew more and more excited!
Because he knew this was an unprecedented opportunity for him!
"This ladder is probably an extraordinary trial. I wonder what kind of existence I will become after I finally pass it!"
"Since I have plenty of time, I'll just grind my way up, bit by bit!"
Ye Ling muttered to himself, growing more and more excited.
He could hone himself here, step by step, climbing upwards!
He knew very well that the day he reached the summit would be the day of his return!
Thinking of this, Ye Ling became even more excited and resolutely stepped onto the path of ascent!
"I shall ascend to godhood!"