After entering the gate, it was officially the arrival at the Ninth Layer Celestial Palace.

Li Ye originally thought this place would be deserted, only able to see the rolling cloud sea and the immortal-like Golden Bridge Jade Corridor standing in the sunlight.

However, upon truly entering, he unexpectedly discovered that near the faintly visible Golden Bridge Jade Corridor in the cloud sea, many cultivators were walking together, chatting and laughing.

The hustle and bustle were even comparable to the Winter Workshop he had visited before.

It inexplicably felt like arriving at some popular tourist destination.

Even thinking about it, the name here—Ninth Layer Celestial Palace—sounded like a gimmick for a tourist attraction.

Thus, his expression became somewhat subtle.

"A bit surprised, aren't you?" Su Ya laughed heartily, "This is one of the most popular Grotto Heaven Blessed Lands among disciples, almost every moment there are cultivators here.

There are even cave mansions for sale here, and each one is not cheap."

After saying this, he looked at the majestic view of the rolling cloud sea in the distance and said, "When I first started cultivation, this was the scenery I imagined, and I think other cultivators feel the same."

"Senior Brother is absolutely right."

That was quite accurate.

Li Ye also thought this scenery suited the term "cultivation".

To his surprise, so many cultivators also liked this style.

"Shall we move forward then?" Li Ye suggested, "I, Junior Brother, indeed wish to take a good look here and enjoy the grand scenery of the cloud sea."

"Let's go!" Senior Sister Jiang waved her hand.

The group of people, chatting and laughing, walked along the jade corridor.

On the way, Su Ya continued to introduce the Ninth Layer Celestial Palace:

"As the name suggests, the Ninth Layer Celestial Palace is divided into nine layers. The higher you go, the more sunlight, moonlight, starlight, and cloud qi you can see. We, Foundation Establishment cultivators, can go up to the Third Layer."

"Above that, only Golden Core True Men can go."

"Each layer has some special tests, but generally, they are related to the Xiguang Bell because this Grotto Heaven Blessed Land was created by the ancestor who invented the magic of the Xiguang Bell."

Li Ye nodded.

Which meant there would soon be a test of his ability with the Xiguang Bell, but that magic had already been transformed beyond recognition by him. He wondered if that was good or bad.

...

Along the way, they encountered quite a few disciples, both inner and outer sect members, and there was no need for formal greetings, just a slight nod as they passed by.

After all, with so many people here, greeting everyone would take an eternity.

Being surrounded by Senior Brother and Senior Sister like this, Li Ye didn't feel any discomfort and focused on admiring the surrounding beautiful scenery.

Perhaps because he had been cooped up in the cave mansion too much, looking at the scenery like this was really quite nice, and he felt his mind broadened a lot.

After walking for the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.

Su Ya suddenly reminded, "In front is the entrance to the Second Layer of the Celestial Palace. Junior Brother, your test is coming up."

Li Ye quickly looked forward.

Ahead, there appeared a pool around ten acres in size, filled with clear and bright light, whose brilliance condensed into various musical instruments, freely flying around amidst the mist in the pool.

Jade flute, konghou, xun, zither, guzheng, pipa... everything one could think of, with thousands of pieces in total!

The panel in front of him flashed madly with prompts.

Each of the instruments within was actually a magical treasure with an Artifact Spirit!

"These, are all magical treasures?" He was quite surprised, so many magical treasures with Artifact Spirits so openly placed here.

"Yes."

Senior Sister Jiang, with a look of admiration and longing, said, "These are all magical treasures left by the ancestor who built the Ninth Layer Celestial Palace, each crafted by her own hands during her Nascent Soul Stage."

"I hope when I am at the Golden Core and Nascent Soul stages, I can leave such a legacy for the sect."

After a slight lament, she instructed Li Ye:

"By the way, Junior Brother Li, this first layer of the Celestial Palace is considered simple. You just need to go forward and shake the Xiguang Bell. If you can meet the ancestor's requirements, a token in the pool will come to you."

Hearing this, Li Ye took two steps forward.

The surrounding cultivators, seeing another disciple going to obtain a token, all looked over curiously. For a moment, the scene became completely silent, with Li Ye being watched by many cultivators with eyes full of curiosity or anticipation.

Fortunately, Li Ye was somewhat used to being observed like this.

So, he calmly pulled out the Xiguang Bell and gave it a gentle shake toward the pool.

"Jingle~"

Soothing music instantly flowed into the pool, stirring the mist and even making some of the joyous instruments stop.

However, in the next moment, something happened that surprised the cultivators—a bright beam of crystalline light shot straight toward the Xiguang Bell in Li Ye's hand after the bell's sound entered the Cloud Pool.

Immediately following, countless instruments within began to play.

Hundreds of types of instruments, thousands of treasures started playing at the same time, yet the music was not grating at all, resembling a gentle stream flowing outward with the music echoing around.

They weren't playing just for Li Ye but equally dedicating the music to all the cultivators currently on the first layer of the Ninth Layer Celestial Palace.

"Wow! The Cloud Pool is playing music."

"We're in luck today!"

"This music purifies the Divine Sense, clears distractions, and might even enhance it a bit!"

The cultivators knew this was caused by this unknown Junior Brother, so they glanced at him with goodwill and then immersed themselves in the beautiful music.

Only Li Ye could vaguely see a woman in a Feathered Robe smile at him, "Senior Jianmu took good care of me, he gave me fortune, I should also give the younger generation an opportunity."

"In the future, if you can greatly promote this path, don't forget to leave your legacy here."

The voice faded.

A small round symbol, like a sun with arc-shaped radiating lines, appeared on the Xiguang Bell in Li Ye's hand, as if breathing, flickering unpredictably.

This is a divine technique talisman seal exclusively for the Xiguang Bell.

Its sole effect is to continuously nourish the Xiguang Bell with sunlight.

This will surely allow the Xiguang Bell to give birth to an artifact spirit, nurturing it and raising its potential.

"Junior offers his gratitude for the bestowed treasure." He wanted to salute that figure.

But the latter had already vanished, leaving only the token to enter the Second Layer Celestial Palace and the Xiguang Bell shining brilliantly in his hand.

...

After some time, Li Ye and his senior and junior disciples finally entered the Second Layer Celestial Palace.

It wasn't that the surrounding cultivators caused them any trouble; they simply wanted to finish listening to the music played by instruments in the Cloud Pool, which kept them here for half a two-hour.

He was still somewhat unsatisfied: "I wonder if I'll get to hear it again. The music was truly soul-stirring, indescribably beautiful!"

Su Ya nodded in agreement: "Indeed, but there should be little chance of a second opportunity. After all, you can't condense the token when you come a second time, and naturally can't activate the instruments within."

"That's a pity." Although Li Ye felt a bit regretful, he gained benefits for himself.

Thinking about it, he felt at ease.

Then he raised his head to look at the scenery around.

The sunlight in the Second Layer Celestial Palace seemed brighter, and some Spirit Beasts appeared in the sea of clouds. Those semi-transparent spindle-shaped bodies...

Weren't they the Celestial Light White Dolphins he'd seen in the Celestial Light Cloud River when he went to Tianhe City before?

The number of Celestial Light White Dolphins here was abundant.

Even as they swam together in the air, their bodies interconnected, and when they whizzed by, it truly felt like a river flowing through the sky.

Looking around, he could clearly see that the entire sea of clouds was filled with Celestial Light White Dolphins, so numerous that Li Ye felt it was somewhat unusual.

Li Ye felt puzzled.

Especially when he saw his senior brothers and sisters looking somewhat peculiar, he sensed that something might be amiss.

"Chirp~~~~"

At this moment, a long call echoed.

From the distant sea of clouds emerged a group of Celestial Light White Dolphins carrying bags on their backs, cutting through the clouds and arriving in front of the group.

They helped each other remove the bags and summoned mist.

They actually formed a circle of tables around them, on which lay shells, fish, fragments of mist, jade stones...

Anyway, they looked like some assorted items casually picked from somewhere.

The Celestial Light White Dolphins expectantly chirped several times at the group.

To Li Ye's amazement, he understood their meaning—they wanted him to buy these things! At least one item per person.

"..."

"Is this forced buying and selling?" Li Ye asked Su Ya in a lowered voice.

Su Ya shook his head helplessly: "Not exactly forced buying, these little guys just enjoy this.

Their ancestor's master was the creator of the Ninth Layer Celestial Palace, so no one here dares to harm the Celestial Light White Dolphins.

But they're mischievous, and this is just playing around.

Besides, these items come from the boundless sea of clouds of the Ninth Layer Celestial Palace, so sometimes they might bring something precious.

It's just buying one item casually; Junior Brother, pick something pleasing and give them a thousand Spirit Stones.

Giving them Spirit Stones will bring us directly to the portal of the Third Layer Celestial Palace, saving us effort."

Saying this, Su Ya started checking if there was something not too much of a loss, as spending a thousand Spirit Stones on "specialties" was indeed a bit of a loss.

Seeing the senior and junior disciples had already started paying the "toll," Li Ye picked something too, and with a glance—

The panel suddenly appeared—

[Name]: Drunken Light Spirit Clam

[Mood]: None

[State]: Sleeping, temporarily cannot be awakened

[Bindable]: Can emit light of the "sun" attribute Spirit Beast, with different symbiotic effects depending on the light.

Spirit Clam?

He suppressed the surprise in his heart.

His gaze fell on a seemingly inconspicuous item on the cloud table, like half a leftover leaf; if not for the panel's reminder, he wouldn't have recognized it as a Spirit Clam.

Could his luck be so good, and he picked a gem from a pile?

Li Ye promptly handed over a thousand Spirit Stones to the Celestial Light White Dolphin staring at them, then picked up the half-eaten leaf.

Su Ya beside him had bought a translucent white jade block and didn't say anything upon seeing Li Ye's choice.

He probably thought Junior Brother Li couldn't resist the suspicion that this was a Spirit Plant.

All Spirit Plant Masters are like this, right?

—the other two Spirit Plant Masters also picked suspected Spirit Plant roots or leaves.

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