"Maybe this is what it truly means to live as a mortal," Dustin murmured. "It's not about passively waiting for cultivation to return, but using this time to calm my mind and build a stronger foundation. When the time comes, I can draw on it."

On the morning of the seventh day, the imposing voice echoed again.

"The final trial has begun. Ascend the stairway and enter the Aethermoor Palace. Those who reach the summit will obtain the Ascendant Pill and the complete Aethermoor Immortal Legacy."