Chapter 1287: Contending for Supremacy on the Heavenly Path

"How is this even possible?" More than half of the elders in the Feng Chan Place stood up, their expressions filled with shock as they gazed at the Tianlu, their eyes unanimously fixed on Ye Chen.

"So over the top." Many disciples opened their mouths in astonishment.

"A Huang Jing One Heavy cultivator, climbing over five hundred layers in one go."

"Not even breaking a sweat."

"Is that really my disciple?" Zi Zhu Zhenren stared blankly at the Tianlu, even as his master, he had no idea his student possessed such overwhelming strength—it was utterly unexpected.

"Surprised?" Nie Feng turned to Ling Xuan, who wore a shocked expression, and smiled.

"More than surprised—it's downright shocking!"

"It seems Da Luo Jian Zong is full of hidden talents!" The various saints stroked their beards and nodded.

"After this Feng Chan ceremony, bring that Li Kang to see me." The Da Luo Jian Zong Saint Master spoke calmly, his wise eyes narrowing slightly as he watched Ye Chen on the Tianlu, a flicker of deeper intent in his gaze.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Amid the waves of shock, the banging sounds on the Tianlu continued relentlessly, slow and rhythmic. Perhaps his body was as heavy as a mountain, causing each step to echo with a thud on the cloud stairs.

Those were the sounds of Ye Chen's footsteps.

His figure stood tall and straight, each step firm and powerful, his expression calm and unpressured.

"How is this possible?" Even Zi Li and Zi Tian, who were on the six-hundred-plus layers, instinctively turned back, their faces full of shock. They knew the pressure of the Tianlu well; even at their Huang Jing peak cultivation, it was hard to endure, yet a Huang Jing One Heavy cultivator was moving so effortlessly.

"How interesting." Zi Yang smirked playfully. He had thought only Zi Li and Zi Tian could compete with him, but this Feng Chan ceremony for selecting the divine child had produced an unexpected dark horse, adding much more excitement.

"I'll wait for you up ahead." Zi Yang withdrew his gaze, glanced at Zi Li and Zi Tian beside him, and suddenly quickened his pace, climbing dozens of layers in one breath.

"Don't underestimate us." Zi Li and Zi Tian both snorted coldly and abruptly stepped forward, pushing themselves to the limit to chase Zi Yang, while also trying to leave Ye Chen far behind.

Seeing this, Ye Chen chuckled lightly and continued at his own steady pace, each step growing heavier.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The banging on the Tianlu resumed, causing the entire path to tremble.

Because of Ye Chen, this dark horse, the Feng Chan divine child gathering had become far more entertaining, with everyone fixated on the Tianlu.

At the forefront, Zi Yang had reached the eight-hundredth layer.

Behind him were Zi Li and Zi Tian, about a dozen layers back.

Next came Ye Chen, just entering the seven-hundredth layer.

As for those behind Ye Chen, only a sparse seven or eight figures remained, lingering around the six-hundredth layer. They had reached their limits, each step causing them to spit out blood.

In the end, those seven or eight disciples gave up, crushing their jade stones to exit the Tongtian Road. Now, only Zi Yang, Zi Li, Zi Tian, and Ye Chen remained on the Tianlu.

"It looks like Zi Yang is still the strongest." Discussion erupted below as people watched the Tianlu.

"The outcome isn't decided until the end."

"What shocks me most is Li Kang from Zi Zhu Peak—he hasn't even slowed down."

"He's only at Huang Jing One Heavy, yet he's challenging those eight minor realms ahead. That's incredibly dominant!"

"Zi Yang has reached the nine-hundredth layer." Amid the chatter, someone shouted, drawing everyone's attention. Zi Yang had forcefully stepped onto the nine-hundredth cloud layer.

It wasn't until the nine-hundred-sixtieth layer that Zi Yang finally stopped, his face paling from the immense pressure, his powerful vital energy waning.

Even someone as strong as Zi Yang couldn't hold on. He paused at the nine-hundred-sixtieth layer to rest, occasionally glancing down.

Zi Li and Zi Tian also reached the nine-hundredth layer, stopping at the nine-hundred-fiftieth. Though they wanted to catch up to Zi Yang in one go, their strength fell short, forcing them to stop and recover.

"You're way behind." Zi Yang smiled faintly, his playful grin growing.

"Don't get too cocky." Zi Li and Zi Tian both snorted coldly, their eyes flashing with cold light.

"Oh my god! Li Kang has reached the nine-hundredth layer too!" As the three exchanged glances, cries of astonishment rose from below.

The three quickly looked back, and sure enough, Ye Chen had ascended to the nine-hundredth layer.

"How is this possible?" Zi Li and Zi Tian were stunned.

"What kind of freak is that guy?" Even Zi Yang, at the nine-hundred-sixtieth layer, furrowed his brow.

"Getting tired?" By the time he spoke, Ye Chen had already reached the nine-hundred-fiftieth layer. He glanced at Zi Li and Zi Tian, then casually pulled out his wine gourd and took a big swig.

Zi Li and Zi Tian said nothing, just stared intently at Ye Chen. He was too bizarre—a Huang Jing One Heavy cultivator not only caught up to them but did so with ease.

"If you're tired, take a break. I'll catch up to that fool Zi Yang for you." Ye Chen patted their shoulders and stepped directly onto the nine-hundred-fifty-first layer, heading straight for Zi Yang.

At the sight, Zi Li and Zi Tian gritted their teeth and abruptly lifted their feet.

They had their pride and refused to fall behind, especially to someone at Huang Jing One Heavy.

The Tianlu trembled again, the banging sounds slow and rhythmic. Ye Chen pressed on, while Zi Li and Zi Tian spat blood with every step, yet they chased madly, like madmen.

Sensing the threat, Zi Yang clenched his jaw, forcibly channeling his vital energy, and took a massive step forward.

At the nine-hundred-ninetieth layer, Zi Yang stopped again, coughing up blood.

Zi Li and Zi Tian also halted, at the nine-hundred-seventy-fifth layer.

However, the Tianlu didn't stop shaking, as the banging continued, steady and rhythmic.

That person was, of course, Ye Chen, who had reached the nine-hundred-eightieth layer.

Now, in the Feng Chan Place, aside from a few individuals, everyone else stood up simultaneously, their expressions shocked as they watched Ye Chen. Zi Yang and the others were spitting blood, yet he seemed completely unfazed.

Ye Chen ignored them all, his steps unwavering, as he thudded onto the nine-hundred-eighty-first layer.

Nine-hundred-eighty-second layer.

Nine-hundred-eighty-third layer.

...

Nine-hundred-eighty-fifth layer.

...

Nine-hundred-eighty-eighth layer.

Nine-hundred-eighty-ninth layer.

At this point, even the few people still seated in the Feng Chan Place rose to their feet, staring in disbelief at the Tianlu.

Boom!

With a thunderous boom, he forcefully stepped onto the nine-hundred-ninetieth layer.

This...!

A uproar erupted below. A Huang Jing One Heavy cultivator, eight minor realms behind, not only left Zi Li and Zi Tian far in the dust but also caught up to Zi Yang. Everyone was stunned.

"How... how is this possible?" At the nine-hundred-ninetieth layer, Zi Yang panted heavily, his face horrified as he looked at Ye Chen, who now stood level with him.

"What are you looking at?" Ye Chen glanced at Zi Yang and stepped onto the nine-hundred-ninety-first layer.

"I don't believe it." Zi Yang roared, his vital energy surging as he followed onto the nine-hundred-ninety-first layer.

"Try to keep up if you can." Ye Chen stepped out, leaping over three layers at once, landing directly on the nine-hundred-ninety-fifth layer, leaving everyone below wide-eyed with shock. At over nine hundred layers, the pressure was immense—yet a Huang Jing One Heavy cultivator jumped three layers without a hitch. Unheard of.

Ah...!

Zi Yang bellowed and mimicked Ye Chen, leaping three layers.

But as soon as his foot landed, Ye Chen had already moved to the nine-hundred-ninety-sixth layer, then the nine-hundred-ninety-seventh, nine-hundred-ninety-eighth, and nine-hundred-ninety-ninth.

Under the watchful eyes of all, Ye Chen crossed the nine-hundred-ninety-ninth layer and stepped onto the final cloud platform.

Pfft!

Zi Yang spat blood and nearly tumbled off the cloud stairs.

He couldn't accept this reality. He had thought he would be the first to reach the end, unchallenged—yet this sudden dark horse had completely upended everything.

Pfft!

Zi Li and Zi Tian also spat blood. They had believed their final rival was Zi Yang, but now a disciple even more formidable had emerged, dashing their hopes for the divine child position.

In that instant, the Feng Chan Place fell into an eerie silence, with everyone gazing up at the end of the Tianlu.

There, Ye Chen sat leisurely, drinking wine and admiring the splendid scenery of Da Luo Jian Zong, as if nothing had happened—as if it had all been child's play.

"Did... did he just make it up there?"

"A Huang Jing One Heavy cultivator reached the end of the Tianlu?"

"Cheating, right?"

"Am I dreaming?"

Zi Zhu Zhenren stared dazedly at the Tianlu, his mouth dry and his head spinning. The first to reach the top was his own disciple.

"He has the strength for it." Nie Feng rarely smiled, showing no surprise.

"I was really blind back then." Ling Xuan laughed and shook her head.

"Even stronger than the previous Da Luo divine child!" The group of saints sighed in admiration.

"Clearly an ordinary bloodline, yet so dominant." The Da Luo Jian Zong Saint Master narrowed his eyes slightly. "Unexpected, truly unexpected. This one must be hiding many secrets."

Boom!

Amid the shock below, Zi Yang charged onto the end of the Tianlu, forcefully stepping onto the cloud platform.

He sustained significant injuries; as soon as he arrived, he spat out blood and staggered. He wouldn't have been hurt if not for his desperation to not fall behind.

Ye Chen glanced at Zi Yang and continued drinking casually.

Being ignored like this, Zi Yang exploded with rage. His vital energy surged wildly, his entire body radiating brilliant divine light, with mysterious phenomena appearing. A chilling killing intent spread, covering the cloud platform in frost.

Seeing this, the saints below frowned, as the Tianlu trial wasn't over, and the cloud platform at the end wasn't meant for combat—Zi Yang's move violated the rules.

"Don't interfere!"

Before the white-robed saint could stop him, the Da Luo Jian Zong Saint Master spoke up. If a fight was to happen, it could be anywhere.

"Kill!"

With a roar from Zi Yang, he struck out with a palm toward Ye Chen.

Ye Chen sneered, rising abruptly and clenching his fist with a divine ability, punching through the void space.