A hush fell over the swirling chaos of the Heavens’ Niche. The tenth palace, dormant for countless ages, erupted in a blinding golden radiance. A tide of light washed over all, turning the eyes of every cultivator present to molten gold.

From within the auric surge, a colossal figure began to coalesce. It was not Wang Lin, but a being wreathed in gilded robes, exuding an unmatched aura of divine authority. This phantom was a titan, a colossus striding between heaven and earth, drawn forth from the heart of the tenth palace.

Swiftly, the form solidified, resolving into a visage of striking handsomeness, etched with the wisdom of ages and radiating a power that could compel even the mightiest immortals to kneel. A golden diadem adorned his brow, lending him an air of imperious command, as though he held dominion over all creation.

The instant this majestic entity materialized, the eight hundred Heaven-Reaching Sovereigns and the four Ascended Sovereigns present were shaken to their very core.

“It is the Ancestral Immortal’s fragment, left behind in this Heavens’ Niche!” whispered one. “Legend says it is timeless, forever separated from the Ancestral Immortal himself. Even should the Ancestor perish, this fragment will endure, bound to the very essence of this place!”

“The tenth layer marks the boundary between Heaven-Reaching and Ascended Sovereigns. Our Immortal Clan has always whispered that each Ascended Sovereign must receive the Ancestor’s blessing. It seems the rumors are true!”

“Wang Lin has conquered the tenth layer! The Ancestral Immortal’s fragment manifests! He has ascended beyond our reach, crossing the dragon’s gate to become an Ascended Sovereign!”

“To witness the rise of a new Ascended Sovereign, to see the Ancestral Immortal’s blessing bestowed…this journey to the Heavens’ Niche has not been in vain!”

As the golden titan took form, every cultivator below bowed in reverent silence. It was not a forced act, but a spontaneous expression of profound respect that arose from the very depths of their souls.

“We, the descendants of the Immortal Clan, offer our obeisance to the Ancestral Immortal!” Their voices converged into a single, resonant chord that echoed through the Heavens’ Niche.

Even as the assembled cultivators bowed, a streak of iridescent light shot forth from the tenth palace, emerging into the golden aura and revealing Wang Lin within its embrace.

This sight, indelibly etched into the minds of all who beheld it, felt like a glimpse into eternity.

Above, two golden figures, one immense and the other mortal, stood less than a hundred paces apart, locked in silent contemplation.

Wang Lin’s face was pale, yet his gaze was unwavering as he beheld the towering golden entity before him. It was the Ancestral Immortal himself, whom he had glimpsed twice before!

The Immortal’s eyes, pools of molten gold, radiated an immeasurable authority. They fixed upon Wang Lin, a piercing gaze that seemed capable of stripping bare the very soul, laying bare every hidden secret.

A tremor ran through Wang Lin, a sensation of utter nakedness before this divine scrutiny. He felt as though his innermost thoughts, his most cherished memories, were being exposed, dissected, and laid bare for the Immortal’s judgment.

Such a trial was unforeseen, even by Wang Lin’s own master, the Great Heavenly Sovereign Xuan Luo. None could have predicted that Wang Lin would reach such heights on Immortal Clan lands.

Unprepared, Wang Lin felt the secrets of his heart laid bare. It was as if a colossal hand had reached into his mind, rifling through his memories, leaving no hidden corner untouched.

From his first breath, his life was relived in a torrent of images.

Ascended Sovereigns, of which there were only forty-eight across the entire Immortal Clan lands, were held in the highest esteem, second only to the Great Heavenly Sovereigns. They were the bedrock upon which the Immortal Clan’s strength was built.

Such individuals were not lightly granted their status. Even the Ancestral Immortal had foreseen the possibility of outsiders, or those from the ancient races, attempting to infiltrate the Immortal Clan, seeking to gain the title of Ascended Sovereign.

Such a transgression could not be tolerated. Heaven-Reaching Sovereigns might be overlooked, but an Ascended Sovereign must be a true son or daughter of the Immortal Clan, born and bred on these lands, free of any taint of foreign influence. Thus was the tradition of the tenth layer established, a sacred trial by which the most worthy were elevated to the rank of Ascended Sovereign.

This trial was paramount. Should the Ancestral Immortal’s fragment detect an outsider or a member of the ancient races, the truth would be proclaimed across the land. Not even the Great Heavenly Sovereigns could shield such a heretic from the consequences.

The Ancestral Immortal’s fragment would not strike directly, but his judgment would be a death warrant. Ascended Sovereigns, even Great Heavenly Sovereigns themselves, would descend to deliver the fatal blow.

As the Ancestral Immortal’s gaze delved into Wang Lin’s earliest memories, the Heaven-Defying Bead within his soul stirred once more. A gentle, ethereal power emanated from it, enveloping Wang Lin in its protective embrace. Then, to Wang Lin’s astonishment, the bead conjured a fabricated memory, a carefully constructed narrative for the Ancestral Immortal’s fragment to perceive.

None could know what the Immortal saw within that illusory past. After a long moment, the penetrating gaze softened.

At last, as the assembled cultivators held their breath, the Ancestral Immortal’s fragment raised his left hand. With a mere gesture, a scroll of celestial silk, akin to an imperial decree, appeared before him.

Upon the silken surface were inscribed forty-eight names, each radiating a dazzling light, each emanating a palpable aura of divine authority.

“The Ascended Sovereign Scroll!”

“The legendary Ascended Sovereign Scroll!”

“It is said that every Ascended Sovereign is personally appointed by the Ancestral Immortal and inscribed upon this scroll. It is rarely unveiled, only appearing when a new Ascended Sovereign conquers the tenth layer!”
The Azure Honor Roll, a celestial tapestry woven with the names of the blessed, bestows upon those inscribed within the Immortal Ancestor’s divine protection, marking them with the highest glory of our Immortal Clan!

Below, save for the four Sky Ascendants, the assembled cultivators drew sharp breaths, their eyes alight with yearning. Though each was a Celestial Venerable, even they dared not dream of seeing their names upon that hallowed roll.

Then, the Immortal Ancestor’s projection, its hand rising with sudden grace, conjured a golden quill. With a single, deliberate stroke upon the tapestry, it etched a line of celestial characters:

“Forty-Ninth: Wang Lin.”

The final stroke complete, the Ancestor’s visage slowly dissolved, transforming once more into the golden light that bathed the entirety of the Celestial Tribulation Ground.

As the last vestiges of the projection faded, a hush fell over the gathered cultivators. A moment later, they bowed in unison towards the heavens.

“Greetings, Sky Ascendant!” The voices, a chorus of reverence, included that of Bamboo Forest Venerable and even those who, moments before, had doubted Wang Lin’s ability to conquer the ninth and tenth trials.

Within the throng, a woman of surpassing beauty gazed upon Wang Lin. Suddenly, a chasm seemed to open between them, one standing among the heavens, the other rooted to the earth. A vast, unsettling distance…

This unexpected sensation filled her with an unspoken melancholy.

Wang Lin, suspended in the air, closed his eyes in contemplative silence. After an eternity, he opened them. He had lived and died in that instant, a realization dawning upon him that the Celestial Tribulation Ground held a secret, profound meaning.

“The Celestial Bead, once again, appeared of its own accord, delivering me from peril… This artifact, imbued with a spirit, what is it truly? From whence does it originate? It has even deceived the Immortal Ancestor’s projection!”

“The tenth trial, ninety-nine golden stars! No wonder so few can overcome it. Even I, only by invoking the power of the Celestial Bull Soul Armor at the critical moment, was able to pass through with such ease!”

Lost in thought, Wang Lin was interrupted by three figures ascending towards him. They halted around him, revealing themselves as Snow Rain, Dao Wheel, and Meng Shuang, three Sky Ascendants.

Zi Yi, the fourth Sky Ascendant, remained below, his expression unreadable. He merely glanced at Wang Lin, his silence a stark contrast to the others.

“Congratulations, Brother Wang! Haha, from this day forward, our Immortal Clan boasts another Sky Ascendant!”

“Before long, every Sky Ascendant in the Immortal Continent will know your name. A single trial and you are a legend! Should our paths cross in the Northern Province, we shall drink deep and discuss the Dao!”

“Brother Wang, having achieved the rank of Sky Ascendant, you will undoubtedly face the invitation of the Great Celestial Venerables. I, Snow Rain, listen to the teachings of Great Celestial Venerable Wu Feng. It would be a joy if you were to join us. Do you know where you intend to travel?”

The three, their voices warm with camaraderie, clasped their hands in respect. Wang Lin, a smile gracing his lips, returned the gesture.

“I have yet to decide which Great Celestial Venerable to align with, nor do I intend to depart immediately…” As he spoke, Wang Lin raised his gaze towards the obscured eleventh trial, hidden within the swirling mists above.

His action immediately stilled the smiles of the other three.

“Brother Wang, do you intend to challenge the eleventh trial?”

“Indeed!” Wang Lin replied with a confident nod.

The three exchanged glances, their expressions shifting. Snow Rain hesitated, then spoke softly.

“None of us three have conquered the eleventh trial. Since Brother Wang intends to test his mettle, allow me to offer some insights that may prove helpful.

The trials beyond the tenth level are vastly more challenging than those of the first nine. Moreover, failure is no longer without consequence. Though the wounds inflicted may be minor, caution is paramount.

Furthermore, a mere brief period of cultivation is rarely enough to succeed. This is why few Sky Ascendants venture here. Unless possessing an eighty percent chance of success, we Sky Ascendants rarely dare to try…

As far as I know, of the forty-nine Sky Ascendants, including yourself, twenty-seven have been unable to overcome the eleventh trial. Of those remaining, thirteen are stuck on the twelfth. Zi Yi, down below, is rumored to have passed the twelfth, but in truth, he too has been stopped there.”