Chapter 1286: The Cloud Ladder to Heaven

Three days passed quietly.

During those three days, Ye Chen remained on Zizhu Peak, spending his time with his eyes closed, comprehending the Dao of Chaos.

In the early morning, the gentle sunlight bathed the earth, making this immortal realm appear even more serene and peaceful.

Looking into the distance, figures flew out from all nine thousand peaks of Dalúo Jiàn Zōng, including both disciples and elders. They wore fresh dao robes, and a rough count revealed their numbers reached several hundred thousand.

At the center of Dalúo Jiàn Zōng lay a vast open area, surrounded by three mountains and spanning over two hundred thousand zhàng. This was the sect's Fēngchán grounds, the customary place for conferring the Shénzǐ titles.

Today was an important day: the selection of the Shénzǐ for Dalúo Jiàn Zōng.

By now, the Fēngchán grounds were packed with people, and figures were still arriving from all directions, streaking through the sky.

"Who do you think will rise above the rest and become the Shénzǐ?"

"Not everyone is here yet, but the discussions are already buzzing." Disciples gathered in groups of three or five, chatting lively.

"It has to be Zǐ Yáng from Tiān Jiàn Peak." Someone pondered aloud. "Last time in the Shénzǐ selection, he only lost to the Dalúo Shénzǐ by one move. His Bà Dāo bloodline is unmatched!"

"It's not that simple. Zǐ Lí from Dì Jiàn Peak isn't someone to underestimate. His cultivation has advanced rapidly in recent years, and the sect leader has provided him with plenty of spiritual herbs. His combat strength has transformed completely."

"I actually think it's Zǐ Tiān from Rén Jiàn Peak."

"It's either Zǐ Yáng, Zǐ Lí, or Zǐ Tiān! The rest are just extras, like us small fries – going up there would just be throwing ourselves away as cannon fodder."

"Look, Lǐ Kāng from Zǐzhú Peak has arrived." As they were chatting excitedly, someone pointed it out, drawing many eyes toward the entrance. Zǐzhú Zhēnrén had arrived with the disciples from Zǐzhú Peak, making a grand procession. Ye Chen was among the crowd.

"I'm baffled – how can a Tiānjìng cultivator sweep away three Huángjìng opponents with one palm? Is he cheating?"

"He must have been hiding his strength." Someone stroked his chin. "From his aura, he's no longer in Tiānjìng. In these three days, Zǐzhú Shīshū has probably used a lot of pills to help him break through to Huángjìng."

Amid the discussions, Ye Chen, Niè Fēng, and Líng Xuān had already taken their seats, completely ignoring the gazes from all sides.

As for his cultivation, Ye Chen had shifted from imitating Tiānjìng to imitating Huángjìng. Otherwise, if he won the Shénzǐ position with just a Tiānjìng level, it would surely shock everyone and lead to him being taken away for research.

"Dalúo Jiàn Zōng truly has talents emerging everywhere!" Ye Chen scanned the area and couldn't help but sigh in admiration. There were no fewer than a thousand individuals with special bloodlines, all exuding strong auras and exceptional talents.

"Yè Shīdì, the only ones who could pose a threat to you are Zǐ Yáng from Tiān Jiàn Peak, Zǐ Lí from Dì Jiàn Peak, and Zǐ Tiān from Rén Jiàn Peak." Niè Fēng sent a message. "All three have Bà Dāo bloodlines. During the last Shénzǐ selection, their strength was on par with the Dalúo Shénzǐ, especially Zǐ Yáng from Tiān Jiàn Peak, who was evenly matched and only lost by one move."

"I know all about that." Ye Chen smiled.

"Oh, right, I forgot." Niè Fēng coughed dryly, remembering that Ye Chen had already searched Lǐ Kāng's memories.

"Zǐ Tiān has arrived." As the two were communicating, Líng Xuān spoke softly.

"Xuán Miè Zhēn Bǐng." Ye Chen looked up slightly toward the sky, where a figure was streaking through the air. It was a man with purple hair, radiating a vigorous aura and dazzling divine light, with various profound visions weaving around him. His cultivation was at the peak of Huángjìng, just one step away from Zhǔn Shèng.

"Zǐ Lí is here too." Niè Fēng said calmly.

"Dì Yàn Zhēn Bǐng." Ye Chen gazed into the distance and spotted Zǐ Lí approaching through the sky, his momentum no weaker than Zǐ Tiān's. His entire body was enveloped in flames, and his qì and blood surged like a vast ocean.

Under Ye Chen's watchful eye, Zǐ Tiān and Zǐ Lí landed one after the other, taking seats on opposite sides, far apart. They couldn't help but exchange glances, their eyes flickering with provocation.

"Zǐ Yáng Shīxiōng has arrived." As the two faced off, someone suddenly shouted.

This made Zǐ Tiān and Zǐ Lí frown, and they both turned to look, their eyes filled with deep wariness.

"Jiǔ Yīn Jué Mài." Ye Chen chuckled, watching Zǐ Yáng approach through the air with great interest.

Compared to Zǐ Tiān and Zǐ Lí, Zǐ Yáng's aura was even more overpowering. His physique was incredibly robust, surrounded by flowing immortal light and occasional profound visions that intertwined into mysterious scenes.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Zǐ Yáng landed, casting a playful glance at Zǐ Tiān and Zǐ Lí on either side. A slight smile curled at his lips, full of mocking intent – as if to say, if you're challenging me, you're far from qualified.

The arrival of the three ignited the atmosphere instantly.

Especially among the female disciples, many wore expressions of infatuation.

After them, more disciples arrived flying through the sky, all with considerable cultivation and special bloodlines. However, compared to Zǐ Yáng and the others, they fell short by a significant margin.

Once all the disciples had arrived, the heavyweights appeared: the Dalúo Jiàn Zōng Shèngzhǔ and the various elders.

Ye Chen glanced around and couldn't help but be astounded. Dalúo Jiàn Zōng had eighteen Shèng-level experts alone, and there were over two hundred Zhǔn Shèng-level figures present. Such a lineup was truly astonishing.

However, Ye Chen didn't see any Shèng Wáng-level experts; figures of that caliber probably wouldn't show up.

"Quiet down." The lively Fēngchán grounds fell silent in an instant due to a solemn voice.

A white-robed elder had ascended to the cloud platform, his expression grave. He was a Shèng-level cultivator at the eighth heaven of Shèngjìng, someone Ye Chen hadn't seen before – likely a Shèng who had just emerged from seclusion.

"No need for extra words. Open the Tiān Tī." The white-robed Shèng spoke lightly, making many sit up straight.

As his words fell, the Fēngchán grounds hummed and trembled, and layer upon layer of cloud ladders materialized, stacking upward into the sky for a total of nine hundred and ninety-nine levels. Each level was inscribed with ancient array patterns, growing increasingly powerful from one to the next.

"Disciples participating in the selection, ascend the Tiān Tī." The white-robed Shèng's voice echoed with supreme authority.

"Let's go." Disciples from all sides rose to their feet.

"I've never climbed the Tiān Tī before." Many disciples hurried over, full of curiosity.

"Just do your best." The various peak masters advised their own disciples, as the Shénzǐ competition had nothing to do with them. The real contest was among Zǐ Yáng, Zǐ Lí, and Zǐ Tiān. As for the other disciples, they were merely there for show, so as long as they enjoyed it, that was fine.

"Overestimating yourselves." Zǐ Yáng, Zǐ Tiān, and Zǐ Lí also stood up, casting contemptuous glances at the eager disciples. Smirks of mockery played on their lips from start to finish.

"Aren't you two going?" Ye Chen rose from his seat, but noticed Niè Fēng and Líng Xuān hadn't moved.

"We'll just watch." Niè Fēng and Líng Xuān both smiled.

"That's fine."

"Kāng'er, don't disappoint your master." Before leaving, Zǐzhú Zhēnrén couldn't help but stroke his beard.

"You'll see!" Ye Chen replied casually, smoothing his hair. He wondered if this old fellow called Zǐzhú could handle the shock, since his disciple was about to soar to new heights.

"Is that Lǐ Kāng?" As Ye Chen descended, he caught the attention of the Dalúo Jiàn Zōng Shèngzhǔ.

"The one who swept away three Huángjìng disciples with a single palm – yes, that's him." A Shèng beside him spoke up.

"Who knew Zǐzhú Peak had such a talented disciple? Zǐzhú has been hiding him well!"

"Even with high talent, he's still just a side player." Another Shèng said without mincing words, and no one refuted, as no one believed he could surpass Zǐ Yáng and the others.

As they discussed, many disciples had already rushed onto the Tiān Tī, forming a dense crowd.

"This isn't too hard!" Some disciples exclaimed in surprise, easily climbing the first dozen levels with little pressure.

However, by the time they reached a few dozen levels, some disciples' steps grew heavy, their faces flushing under the pressure. Others even dropped to one knee on the spot. Only then did they realize the terror of the Tiān Tī – just a few dozen levels were this difficult, let alone nine hundred and ninety-nine.

"I can't hold on." Some disciples crushed their jade stones and withdrew from the Tiān Tī.

This triggered a chain reaction, with groups of disciples leaving one after another, thinning out the once-crowded Tiān Tī.

Still, a few stubborn disciples persisted, gasping for breath but refusing to give up.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Amid the discussions, three figures advanced side by side, their steps steady and unhindered, each one causing the cloud ladders to rumble. Without a doubt, it was Zǐ Yáng and the others, charging straight upward.

"So strong."

The disciples resting on the ladders stared in shock at the trio's backs.

"They don't even seem pressured."

"That's why we're just extras." Someone shook their head quietly.

"Overestimating yourselves." Listening to the waves of astonishment and feeling the reverent gazes along the way, Zǐ Yáng and the others smirked mockingly. Along the path, they exchanged provocative glances, as the real competition had yet to begin, and the outcome was still uncertain.

"In your opinion, who will reach the top first?" Watching the Tiān Tī, the Dalúo Jiàn Zōng Shèngzhǔ mused.

"I favor Zǐ Yáng."

"I think it's Zǐ Lí."

"Zǐ Tiān isn't weak either." The various Shèng stroked their beards. "The Shénzǐ position will definitely come from one of them, but none of them can compare to the Dalúo Shénzǐ!"

At the mention of the Dalúo Shénzǐ, whether it was the Dalúo Jiàn Zōng Shèngzhǔ, the Shèng, or the Zhǔn Shèng elders, their expressions turned icy. The Shénzǐ they had poured all their resources into had died so suddenly.

Damn!

As they spoke, cries of surprise erupted from below.

Hearing this, everyone snapped back to attention and looked toward the Tiān Tī, their eyes narrowing.

It wasn't that they were overreacting, but someone on the Tiān Tī was moving incredibly fast – almost jogging upward, as if completely ignoring the suppression.

That person was, of course, Ye Chen.

Ye Chen was the last to step onto the Tiān Tī, strolling along with a carefree sway, leaving batch after batch of disciples in his dust. He reached the five hundredth level in one go, without stopping or even catching his breath.