In the central plaza of Tianyi City, a golden celestial ladder emerged, stretching towards the sky and disappearing into the clouds, its ultimate destination unknown.
Before the golden celestial ladder, countless young people gathered, their fists clenched, ready to ascend the moment the Winged God race's adjudicator gave the order.
Amidst the crowd, Bai Xiao, wearing a hat, pulled down his brim and crouched low, as if trying to evade something.
Bai Xiao looked around and muttered, "Please don't find me! I don't know anything... I just need to focus on the selection... I know nothing about what just happened!"
Although after meeting Ye Ling and Nuo Ying, his rational mind told him it was best to leave Tianyi City, to go as far away as possible.
However, this God Ascension Assembly was held only once every thousand years, and it was limited to those under thirty. This was his only chance in his lifetime, and he was truly reluctant to let it slip away.
"Bai Xiao, what are you muttering about?"
Ye Ling's voice suddenly sounded behind Bai Xiao, making him tremble, his muscles tensing.
Bai Xiao, sweating profusely, dared not turn back. He could only ask with a trembling voice, "Brother Wang... do you... do you need anything else?"
Ye Ling walked to Bai Xiao's side and chuckled, "Don't be nervous. I'll participate in the God Ascension Assembly with you."
"You... you're also participating in the God Ascension Assembly?" Bai Xiao pursed his lips, a bad premonition immediately arising in his heart.
"Yes." Ye Ling nodded. "By the way, what's the specific procedure? I was delayed by something earlier and didn't register."
"If you haven't registered... you can't ascend the golden celestial ladder."
Bai Xiao mustered his courage and looked at Ye Ling. "The Winged God race will register all applicants who pass the test. Only those who are registered can step onto the celestial ladder and participate in the screening..."
"Time is up, the ascent begins!"
Bai Xiao's words were cut short as the Winged God race's adjudicator suddenly spoke. A loud cheer erupted from outside the plaza.
The young people in the plaza became excited, and everyone rushed onto the golden celestial ladder in a frenzy.
Even though the golden celestial ladder was over ten meters wide, due to the pushing and shoving of the large crowd, many of the weaker individuals were immediately pushed off the ladder, losing their qualification to ascend on the spot. They were then captured by the Winged God race members waiting in the sky and sent outside the plaza.
In addition to those pushed off, there were also some young people who had not passed the Winged God race's test and tried to sneak in. Shortly after they squeezed onto the golden celestial ladder, they missed their footing and fell directly from it, also being captured by the Winged God race members in the sky.
The entire plaza was in chaos, but the Winged God race members in the sky could accurately capture every eliminated person.
Before long, the first batch of people who ascended the ladder had already created a significant gap. Several young talents were far ahead, quickly disappearing into the clouds and out of sight.
The number of people waiting to ascend in the plaza had also been halved.
Bai Xiao watched the crowd sprinting on the golden celestial ladder, pursed his lips, and said to Ye Ling, "Brother Wang, look... those who couldn't hold onto the golden celestial ladder and fell off are those who didn't pass the test..."
"I see." Ye Ling nodded slightly, then asked Bai Xiao again, "What's the use of this golden celestial ladder? What happens after reaching the top?"
Bai Xiao watched as more and more people ascended the golden celestial ladder. Although he was anxious, he dared not show it and patiently explained to Ye Ling, "Legend has it that the golden celestial ladder is a divine artifact built by the Heavenly One Supreme God, capable of testing one's aptitude. As long as a trial participant can reach the top, it means they have passed the selection, and will then undergo a sacred baptism."
"I thought this selection would involve a fight... I didn't expect it to be so boring." Hearing Bai Xiao's explanation, Ye Ling sighed with disappointment.
This golden celestial ladder seemed similar in function to the Soul Suppressing Ladder, but its efficacy was much weaker. It only served as a screening tool, with no real substance.
Ye Ling lost interest after just a glance at the ladder.
While Bai Xiao was introducing the content of the God Ascension Assembly to Ye Ling, the crowd in the plaza continued to dwindle.
Seeing that he was about to be left behind, Bai Xiao looked at Ye Ling with a pleading expression and begged, "Brother Wang, please, this is my only chance in my life, let me ascend the ladder!"
Seeing Bai Xiao on the verge of tears, Ye Ling shook his head and smiled, "Since you're in a hurry, you can go now."
"Thank you, Brother Wang!"
Hearing Ye Ling's words, Bai Xiao's eyes lit up again. He quickly thanked Ye Ling and then eagerly flew onto the golden celestial ladder, joining the last batch of people in the plaza, leaping onto the ladder and rushing upwards.
Ye Ling watched Bai Xiao's retreating figure, smiled slightly, and then also leaped onto the celestial ladder, coming alongside Bai Xiao, his feet firmly planted on the golden celestial ladder.
Bai Xiao, who was already panting after stepping onto the ladder, saw Ye Ling firmly standing on the golden celestial ladder. His pupils contracted sharply, and he exclaimed, "Brother Wang, didn't you not register?"
"I used a little trick." Ye Ling did not hide it and frankly told Bai Xiao.
"You... you used a little trick?"
Hearing Ye Ling's words, Bai Xiao's heart sank, and he was greatly shocked.
What kind of trick could disregard the rules of the golden celestial ladder?
Ye Ling patted Bai Xiao's shoulder and chuckled, "Don't get distracted. I see you're struggling on this golden celestial ladder. Focus on climbing."
After stepping onto the golden celestial ladder, Ye Ling discovered that a mysterious power within the ladder was scanning the bodies of everyone on it.
Coupled with the fact that some people on the ladder walked with ease, while others struggled from the start and rolled down after only a few steps...
It was clear that this golden celestial ladder was purely a screening tool, not a trial at all.
As long as the climber was desired by the Winged God race, even someone with no strength to even tie a chicken could easily ascend the ladder.
Those like Bai Xiao, who felt the strain from the beginning, were destined not to go far.
In fact, the moment Bai Xiao stepped onto the golden celestial ladder, he knew he had little chance. However, he seemed unwilling to accept his fate. After hearing Ye Ling's words, he gritted his teeth and continued to climb.
After all, in past God Ascension Assemblies, there were those who were not chosen by the Winged God race at first but eventually reached the summit through sheer willpower.
Ye Ling, on the other hand, did not rush to the top. He leisurely followed Bai Xiao, cheering him on while searching for the source of the golden celestial ladder's power, hoping to find the Heavenly One Supreme God.
"Brother... Brother Wang..."
After climbing a section of the ladder, Bai Xiao, his body drenched in sweat, knelt on the steps and looked at Ye Ling beside him with disbelief, asking, "Don't you feel tired at all?"
"It's alright..."
Ye Ling smiled at Bai Xiao, his expression still cheerful, as if he were on a spring outing.
Occasionally, people on the golden celestial ladder would collapse from exhaustion, fall from the sky, and be caught by the Winged God race members, who would then send them back to the plaza.
The golden celestial ladder, which originally had many people on it, now had very few remaining.
Except for a few lucky ones chosen by the ladder, all those still present were those with tenacious willpower.
Of course... Ye Ling, who ignored the ladder's selection criteria, was an exception.