The celestial echoed with ambition, “I saw the seed of greatness in this one long ago. A mere century has passed, and he has already conquered the Tenth Level! He shall be a banner to rally beneath! Though he refused me once, I shall dispatch my very essence to him, that he may see my esteem!” Before the cascading waters of the Way-One Sect, said to be a fallen fragment of the Silver River, the Grand Celestial of the Way-One Sect narrowed his ancient eyes, a smile blooming on his ageless face.

Far to the north, amidst the glacial realms of the Northern Domain, the Grand Celestial Wu Feng gazed upon an endless expanse of frozen majesty, his eyes sealed in contemplation.

“This one has endured the trials of the Mountains and Seas, and now he strides through the Ninth Level, his might nearing that of a Leap Celestial… Way-One has marked him first, and will surely attempt to claim him. Yet Way-One is prideful, unwilling to send his true self, but merely a shade… Therefore, I shall offer myself in totality! He will surely discern the weight of such a gesture!”

Upon the Jade Emperor’s Mountain, a maiden of ethereal beauty beamed with unrestrained joy, her elation seemingly exceeding that of the champion Wang Lin himself.

Beside her, a wizened elder cast a fleeting glance at the falling leaves, his expression remaining unmoved.

“The Ninth Level is but the boot hill of Celestials. Only the Tenth Level sets apart the Leap Celestials, and even then, it marks the lowest rung. He is yet distant from the likes of the Netherway Venerable,” the elder intoned, shaking his head.

“Master!” the maiden chided, turning to him with a playful pout.

The elder sighed, a flicker of amusement in his gaze. “Very well. Should he conquer the Tenth Level, I shall inquire if he would deign to join my ranks.

Alas, in the Celestial Crucible, the first nine levels test the mettle of Celestials. The Tenth Level is the very precipice between Celestial and Leap Celestial. To surpass the tenth is to claim the mantle of the latter. Levels eleven and beyond are something else altogether, demanding not only martial prowess and power, but the understanding and enlightenment of the very fabric of existence.

Celestial Crucible. This word “crucible” encapsulates the essence of the final nine levels! Each level conquered is akin to receiving a heaven-sent boon. This Wang Lin…” The elder stole a glance at his ward, choosing to remain silent.

The Celestial Hai Zi, filled with ardent excitement, took a great breath, closed his eyes, and released his spiritual sense to the Nine Heavens above!

In the heart of the Middle Continent’s Imperial City, within a vacant, opulent palace, a spectral curtain shimmered, displaying the moment Wang Lin overcame the Ninth Level. A chilling laugh reverberated through the empty halls.

“So, this is the one Dao Fei cannot cease singing praises of… I have underestimated him…”

In the Eastern Continent, at the Violet Sun Sect, a middle-aged cultivator stared intently into a mirror, heedless of the faint screams that echoed from without. His eyes burned with fierce resolve.

“I must secure him! Since the Grand Celestial’s recent reincarnation and division, his authority wanes with each passing year. The Celestials and Leap Celestials he gathers disperse… The Grand Celestial will soon reincarnate again! If this one can be brought into the fold, he will serve as a steadfast guardian!”

Simultaneously, within the Celestial Crucible, after Wang Lin’s triumph on the Ninth Level, all Celestial cultivators bowed in unison. Nearly a hundred clasped their hands and departed in haste, their souls returning to their true forms, sharing the news with their Celestial allies and kin.

For one to conquer the Ninth Level was an event of utmost significance amongst Celestials, a cause for great celebration. As the news spread like wildfire, Celestials from every corner of the Immortal Clans’ lands converged upon the Celestial Crucible.

As golden light shimmered around the Ninth Level, Wang Lin emerged, taking a seated position in the void. He neither pressed onward to the Tenth Level, nor did he descend in defeat.

The entire Celestial Crucible was bathed in golden light. Celestials, roused by the momentous news, arrived one by one from the teleportation arrays, instantly engulfed by the effulgent glow. Their eyes fixed upon the Ninth Level, and the seated figure at its heart.

Their expressions were grave, tinged with anticipation!

Most of the Celestials present cast aside any mocking words. Any shred of disdain had long been crushed by the weight of reality. They revered the strong, particularly those who had managed to conquer the Ninth Level, these were the apex of Celestials!

As time drifted, more and more Celestials converged, streams of light hurtling from the distant teleportation arrays. The glow of those arrays never ceased.

Soon, nearly seven hundred Celestials had gathered in the Celestial Crucible, almost three quarters of all Celestials in the Immortal Clans’ lands!

The teleportation arrays continued to flare as more and more Celestials arrived, spurred by the news.

“This has caused a great stir. The number of Celestials continues to swell…”

“Should he pass the Tenth Level, he will become a Leap Celestial… But the Tenth Level is said to be more difficult than the preceding nine combined. Otherwise, wouldn’t there have been a forty-ninth Leap Celestial ages ago?”

“It will be difficult, I believe. Though rare, there are others who have passed the Ninth Level. These figures were renowned in their time, causing just as much commotion when they overcame the Ninth Level. But under the weight of expectation, they vanished at the Tenth… This time, it may be the same.”

The seven hundred Celestials spread throughout the Celestial Crucible, their eyes fixed on the golden figure in the heavens. Some pondered, some exchanged spiritual thoughts, some inquired about Wang Lin’s name and his past deeds. Among the gathered Celestials were a few who held themselves with uncommon serenity. They were different, even in the company of Celestials, the others treated them with deference.

No more than a few dozen in number, these were those who had conquered the Ninth Level, only to halt at the Tenth. They had come to witness if Wang Lin would take the step they themselves had failed to make!

“Brother Zhao, do you believe this one can overcome the Tenth Level?”

“Difficult! You and I have both tested it. If he had true confidence, he would not still be seated in meditation.”

Another half an incense stick burned away. The number of cultivators gathered at the Celestial Crucible grew to almost eight hundred. Almost every Celestial in the Immortal Clans’ lands had set aside their affairs, lending their spiritual senses to witness this monumental event.
Within the throng, a vision of ethereal beauty stood serene – none other than Hai Zi, Celestial Venerable of the Azure Sea. Forsaking the fading leaves of Imperial Mountain, she graced this hallowed ground, her gaze lifted towards the golden radiance above. A faint smile played upon her lips.

“That scoundrel,” she mused, “vanished from the Mountain Sea Realms for over a decade. Who could have foreseen such a triumphant return?”

As the eight hundred Celestials patiently awaited Wang Lin’s ascent to the tenth trial, a ripple of shimmering energy heralded a procession from the ancient teleportation array. A figure materialized, cloaked in pristine white, his features sharp and cold. Ignoring the assembled throng, he soared into the heavens, his gaze fixed upon the figure of Wang Lin.

“Xue Yu, the Leaping Celestial!” a voice whispered.

“Even a Leaping Celestial has been drawn here!” another exclaimed.

“More than just Xue Yu! Look, Dao Lun, the Leaping Celestial!” The arrival of such powerful beings sparked murmurs of awe amongst the Celestials. From the shimmering portal emerged an aged figure, his brow furrowed in contemplation. He ascended to join the white-clad warrior, exchanging a curt nod before turning his gaze heavenward, mirroring the focus on Wang Lin.

“Meng Shuang, the Leaping Celestial!”

“And there! Zi Yi, the Leaping Celestial! It must be! He retains the visage of eternal youth! Legend claims he conquered even the twelfth trial!”

A silent chorus of divine senses rippled through the gathered Celestials. Four Leaping Celestials, in total, had emerged from the archaic portal. They stood in stoic silence, their unwavering eyes focused on the celestial spectacle unfolding above.

Then, a sudden hush fell upon the assembly as Wang Lin, who had been meditating within the golden sanctum of the ninth level, rose to his feet. This simple act drew all eyes, a collective breath held in anticipation.

Wang Lin glanced down at the newly expanded audience, a fleeting frown crossing his brow before dissolving into a knowing smile. His purpose was to achieve renown, and the larger the crowd, the greater the glory.

His gaze lingered on the four figures below, the newly arrived Leaping Celestials. Their eyes met his, their expressions unreadable, devoid of emotion.

Breaking the connection, Wang Lin lifted his gaze once more, preparing to ascend to the tenth layer. With a decisive step, he propelled himself upwards, a fleeting blur of motion as he vanished into the ethereal gateway.

“He braves the Tenth Trial!”

“The Tenth Trial! A veritable Dragon Gate! Should he succeed, he shall become the forty-ninth Leaping Celestial of our Immortal Clan!”

Every eye remained fixed, lest a single detail be missed.

Across the Immortal Continent, Dao Yi, Wu Feng, and the enigmatic entity dwelling within the desolate Imperial Palace, all watched the unfolding drama through reflections cast by the Tenzun Nirvana Pool. Their gazes were locked on Wang Lin as he entered the tenth realm.

Even within the Violet Sun Sect, the middle-aged man watched with bated breath, his eyes unblinking.

“Can he… can he truly succeed?” This question echoed in the minds of all, Celestials and mortals alike.

Time ebbed away. Eight breaths had passed since Wang Lin’s entry into the tenth trial.

Nine… ten breaths…

All eyes remained riveted on the indistinct palace of the tenth layer, a realm shrouded in mystery. For countless millennia, it had remained devoid of golden light.

Yet, in the annals of history, each eruption of golden radiance from this chamber had heralded the ascension of a new Leaping Celestial.

The Immortal Clan, boasting but forty-eight such paragons, awaited the birth of a forty-ninth. Such an event would resonate throughout the Immortal Continent, even the Ancient Clans would sing his name. This achievement would stir the very foundations of the Immortal Ascension Realm!

Eleven… twelve… thirteen… finally, twenty breaths had passed.

“He has failed…” a sigh escaped from the ranks of the Celestials below.

But even as the words left his lips, a chorus of gasps and cries erupted, shattering the stillness of the Tenzun Nirvana Ground.

“Golden light! It is golden light!”

“The tenth layer! Golden light from the tenth layer! For ten thousand years, it has remained dormant, and now it shines once more!”

“He… he has passed!”

In the heavens above, the tenth realm, obscured by swirling mists, blazed forth with a blinding golden radiance, an undeniable testament to Wang Lin’s triumph.

The faces of the four Leaping Celestials hardened, their stoic composure finally yielding to a flicker of awe.