Chapter 948: Ascending the Heavenly Path

Chapter 948: Treading the Heavenly Road

Under the watchful eyes of all, the disciples participating in the San Zong Grand Competition stepped onto the battle platform, totaling over three thousand.

This was an era of dazzling talents, with each of them being the pride of the San Zong, Jiu Dian, Ba Shi Men, and various great families. Their gathering here heralded the dawn of a new era.

"Over three thousand disciples—this competition will take forever." Wuya Dao Ren coughed dryly.

"Don't worry, it'll be quick." Gu San Tong hugged his wine flask and smiled leisurely.

"It seems this San Zong Grand Competition is different from the ones in the past!" Ye Chen also laughed.

"As you said."

"Open the Heavenly Road." On the platform, Dao Xuan Zhenren spoke up, suddenly waving his sleeve to send a rainbow soaring into the sky.

Buzz!

Instantly, the void trembled, and paths of jade stones appeared, forming stone steps that led upward into the emptiness. Upon closer inspection, there were exactly nine hundred and ninety-nine steps, ending at a massive stele without inscriptions.

The stone steps were like a true road to the heavens, each one etched with patterns and glowing with light, making the nine hundred and ninety-nine steps seem dreamlike and illusory, as if reaching the end would lead to a real immortal realm.

At that moment, the spectators around, especially the elder cultivators, all showed meaningful expressions, inwardly noting that this year's San Zong Grand Competition was indeed different from previous ones.

The stone steps represented a path to the heavens, a test for the Xuan Zi generation disciples. Only those who truly reached the end would qualify to be among the nine great true transmission disciples of the Nan Chu Tian Ting.

"Old man, what's the meaning of this?" Gong Xiao Tian Er spoke up, staring in astonishment at Dao Xuan Zhenren.

"This is the test." Dao Xuan Zhenren stroked his beard. "Only by passing it will you be qualified."

"Then why did you have us draw lots in the first place?"

"The small wooden plaques in your hands are imprinted with your souls." Dao Xuan Zhenren explained, "Reach the end of the stone steps and embed them into that stele without inscriptions. It's no simple task, little ones."

"How difficult is it exactly!" Wang Biao was truly bold, stepping right onto the stone steps and leaping up several dozen levels in a few strides.

However, by the ninetieth level or so, the pressure suddenly increased, making his steps heavy. The stones beneath his feet thudded loudly, and his face turned red as he finally understood the strangeness of the steps.

"As you can see, there are restrictions on the stone steps." Dao Xuan Zhenren glanced at Wang Biao, then turned to Xi Yan and Hu Wa. "With each step you ascend, the pressure grows stronger."

"So that's what you mean!"

"Then, let the test begin now." Dao Xuan Zhenren waved his hand. "Go forth, children."

As his words fell, the over three thousand Xuan Zi generation disciples all took a deep breath and stepped onto the stone steps.

Like Wang Biao, they felt no pressure at first, but just as Dao Xuan Zhenren had said, with each level they climbed, the pressure increased, gradually making their footsteps heavier.

Whoa!

By the ninetieth level, Wang Biao was already panting heavily and simply sat down, sweating profusely. The stone steps imposed an impartial suppression, as if locking both spiritual energy and true essence with heavy chains.

Behind him, many disciples had caught up and, seeing him gasping for breath, even patted his shoulder in passing.

Tsk!

Wang Biao didn't mind, sucking in a deep breath before standing up again.

The hundredth level of the stone steps was a major hurdle, with over a hundred of the three thousand five hundred disciples being eliminated.

The two hundredth level was another hurdle, where two hundred disciples stopped.

The three hundredth level was yet another, forcing over three hundred disciples to withdraw reluctantly.

The four hundredth level was still a hurdle, with over five hundred disciples ending in disappointment.

The five hundredth level saw eight hundred disciples unable to take another step.

The six hundredth level left nearly a thousand disciples sighing at the sky and turning back.

The seven hundredth level eliminated over three hundred disciples.

The eight hundredth level saw another hundred or so disciples shaking their heads in resignation.

At the nine hundredth level, only over two hundred disciples remained, and more than ninety percent of them were sitting on the steps, panting heavily, their faces flushed as if carrying a massive mountain on their backs.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

While the crowd rested, steady thuds echoed rhythmically. Perhaps due to the immense weight on their bodies or the pressure itself, their steps had become heavy, each landing with a thud.

It was Hu Wa and Xi Yan, advancing side by side, one step per level, passing the nine hundredth and heading straight for the end.

"Damn, are these two cheating?" Wang Biao grumbled.

"We're struggling just to stand, and they're acting like nothing's wrong." Gong Xiao Tian Er and Shao Yu were both amazed.

"So that's the gap." Dao Zhi sighed. "Just think about who their masters are."

"Mine ate his fill, and he'll catch up later." The only carefree one was Xiao Ling Wa, munching on a pile of spirit stones with rhythmic crunches, his little belly bulging.

"This guy's cheating too." Everyone eyed Xiao Ling Wa with strange expressions.

"But compared to them, he's still a bit short." Niu Ben and Zhao Zi Yun chimed in, drawing everyone's gaze back to Hu Wa and Xi Yan.

The two stood tall, chatting casually without any sign of strain. Their figures were striking—one radiating golden light, the other enveloped in purple haze—one like an emperor, the other like a queen.

This scene left the spectators below in awe and admiration.

Those two figures would lead an era; they were so extraordinary that among the brilliant young generation, they shone like the brightest stars, outshining everyone else.

"Hu Wa brother, Xi Yan has always wanted to have a proper fight with you." On the stone steps, Xi Yan turned to Hu Wa, smiling brightly.

"Me too." Hu Wa flashed his two rows of white teeth. He was still the same honest and sturdy Hu Wa from before, but time had matured him in Xi Yan's presence.

The two shared a laugh and continued upward together, chatting along the way, leaving behind their tall and graceful silhouettes.

"For your disciples, do you have confidence?" Below, Hong Chen Xue turned to Ye Chen with a smile.

"I have confidence in them all." Ye Chen smiled, his eyes filled with pride.

"That kid named Yu Feng has some serious determination!" On one side, Zhuge Lao Tou sighed.

"He's a bit slow, but his willpower is strong enough." Gu San Tong stroked his beard and chuckled.

"Already aged before his time—he must have a story." Ye Chen murmured softly, quietly watching Yu Feng, who was still lingering at the three hundredth level. His back was slightly hunched, like that of an old man.

Yet, his resolve and stance were firm. Among all the disciples, he was the slowest, walking haltingly, stopping often. Just when everyone thought he couldn't go on, he would shakily stand and press forward.

"What the hell?" From one side came a wolf-like howl of scolding. Xiong Er jumped up and started yelling at the stone steps, because Gong Xiao Tian Er and the others were sitting there chatting.

"Climb, hurry up and climb for me! Chatting like that—have you no shame?"

"If you don't reach the end, I'll kick you to death when you get back." Huo Teng's voice boomed, spitting out saliva as he shouted.

Well, the already lively space world grew even more chaotic with these three yelling.

It's worth noting that whether it was Heng Yue Sect's Palm Master Liu Yi, or Yang Dingtian, Chu Xuan, or the original true transmission disciples like Situ Nan, they all deliberately looked away, as if they didn't know these three at all.

But to be fair, their scolding worked. Wang Biao, Gong Xiao Tian Er, and Shao Yu all jolted and scrambled to their feet.

"Let's go!"

The three roared assertively and took a step each, their thuds sounding almost simultaneously.

Idiots!

Xiao Ling Wa, having eaten his fill, glanced at the three and hopped onto the steps. He couldn't fly, of course—his small stature looked comical as he crawled up, leaving the entire audience with odd expressions.

Niu Ben, Zhao Zi Yun, Dao Zhi, and Li Xiao also moved, struggling to take steps and climbing over a dozen levels in one go.

By then, Xi Yan and Hu Wa had already reached the platform at the end of the stone steps.

They each took out their small wooden plaques and embedded them into the stele without inscriptions, signifying they had passed the test first.

"Finally, I can rest." Xi Yan giggled and walked to the edge of the steps, like an innocent girl, waving down below.

"Master, Chu Xuan Shiniang, Chu Ling Shiniang, Ning Shuang Shiniang, Han Yue Shiniang, Yu Er Shiniang, Xuan Nu Shiniang, Luo Xi Shiniang, Bi You Shiniang—Xi Yan did it!"

As soon as she spoke, Ye Chen, who had been looking up, immediately lowered his head, subconsciously rubbing his brow.

And on one side, Ji Ning Shuang's cheeks instantly flushed with a hint of red.

Not just her—the Chu Xuan and Chu Ling from Heng Yue Sect, the Shangguan Han Yue and Shangguan Yu Er from the Shangguan family, the Xuan Nu and Luo Xi from Dan City, and Bi You from Wan Hua Valley—all had their faces suddenly tinged with rosy hues, caught off guard by Xi Yan's string of "Shiniang" calls.

Wow!

Zhuge Lao Tou exclaimed in surprise, staring at Ye Chen in astonishment.

Not just him—the eyes of everyone in the audience shifted from the heavenly stone steps straight to Ye Chen. With Xi Yan rattling off so many "Shiniang," he instantly became the center of attention.

Ye Chen felt uncomfortable under the stares, lowering his head as his mouth twitched more than ten times.

Still, that saying held true: having a precious disciple like this was damn exciting.

"Come on, come on, get your wedding gifts ready in advance." Gu San Tong chattered loudly, making the scene even more lively.

"Let's make this clear—we're marrying them all at once, don't do it one by one." Wuya Dao Ren scratched his ear. "We're poor, you know. If you keep getting married every few days, who can afford all those gifts?"

"Anyway, we'll only give one set of gifts, so don't try to trick us. We won't have more."

"Here, take this—it's great for boosting energy." The most straightforward was Niu Shi San, who handed Ye Chen a storage bag with a meaningful look.