Having confirmed Ye Fan's location, you cast all caution to the wind. You unleashed the ghostly speed of the Shadow Devil Art, amplified further by the Divine Movement Talisman and Wind Summoning Talisman.
At this moment, by expending spiritual energy without restraint, your speed had surpassed the Mountains and Rivers Realm, reaching the threshold of the Transcendent Realm.
You rode the wind, your figure blurring into a streak of light as you streaked through the air, sonic booms trailing in your wake. The commotion drew the attention of countless creatures within the secret realm.
ROAR!
A colossal eerie python wreathed in bone-chilling cold suddenly lunged out of the forest, fangs bared as it charged toward you.
「Fourth-Rank—Fire Thunder Talisman!」
Your expression remained icy. With a single thought, a talisman materialized, erupting into a blast of fire and thunder that vaporized the eerie python into a cloud of blood mist, painting the sky crimson.
「Is that a Talisman Master's technique?! One strike to annihilate a Mountains and Rivers Realm eerie python—what terrifying power!」
「That speed… could this be a Transcendent Realm elder?!」
「When did Magic City produce such a young Talisman Master? I've never heard of him!」
「Your Excellency's divine might is awe-inspiring! I am Wu Jiahao of the Magic City Wu Family. Would you honor me with your companionship, so we may seek fortune together…」
Your unrestrained display of power sent shockwaves through the secret realm, leaving many of the other entrants stunned.
Numerous cultivators were moved to recruit you, eager to team up for treasure hunting—but you ignored them all, prompting a chorus of angry curses.
「Damn it! Who does he think he is, acting so high and mighty!」
Soon, the scenery ahead shifted. Guided by the Soul-Nailing Technique, you arrived at a desolate stretch of ruins.
「This place is incredibly eerie. There's some kind of restriction here that forbids flight—and it's greedily siphoning spiritual energy and cultivation base. The spiritual energy in my body is being violently drained away!」
The moment you stepped into the ruins, you immediately sensed something was wrong. A wave of foreboding washed over you, your Wind Summoning Talisman fizzled out instantly, and you plummeted from the sky. Even your cultivation base began to rapidly decline.
Your cultivation, once solid at Peak Divine Ability Realm, started to waver and slip.
Your eyes widened in shock. Could there really be such a terrifying forbidden land in the world?
Any cultivator with a weaker foundation would quickly lose their realm and be reduced to a mortal in moments.
To cultivators, this place was nothing short of a nightmare.
You recognized the danger, a flicker of fear stirring in your heart—but Ye Fan's trail led straight here, and you had no intention of turning back.
Just then, a surge of overwhelming Supreme Will erupted from your spine. The rapid drain on your spiritual energy and cultivation base came to an abrupt halt.
「So the Supreme Emperor Bone can resist this eerie restriction.」 You blinked in surprise, then breathed a sigh of relief, quickening your pace toward the depths of the ruins.
As you ventured further, a familiar voice suddenly echoed in your ears—it was Ye Fan's.
「Master, is this the earth-shaking opportunity you spoke of? Just a broken statue!」
「Wait a minute. This statue seems to be holding a sheepskin scroll—and there are words written on it…」
「Nine… Steps… to… the… Heavens!」
「Found it!」
Sun Qian's spirit lifted!
His simulator self had finally caught up!
Sure enough, the secret realm off the coast of Magic City hid the heaven-defying opportunity of the Nine Steps to the Heavens.
And from the sound of the conversation, Ye Fan had entered the secret realm and come to the ruins because of the mysterious master hidden within him.
That mysterious master of his was definitely no ordinary person.
「As expected. Protagonists with those know-it-all, mysterious old man cheat codes are always such a hassle!」
Boom!
The moment those words registered, your mind roared like thunder. You lifted your gaze—and there, in the valley at the heart of the ruins, stood a shattered stone statue, clutching a sheepskin scroll in its hand.
Before the statue, a one-armed youth pulled the scroll free, staring at the characters inscribed on it in wonder as he muttered to himself.
It was none other than Ye Fan—the long-missing Child of Destiny.
And the scroll in his hand was the very Nine Steps to the Heavens you'd been coveting!
At that moment, a dazed look crossed Ye Fan's face. His eyes were glued to the Nine Steps to the Heavens in his hand, a mysterious aura radiating from his body as if he'd slipped into a state of epiphany.
You instantly realized—Ye Fan was comprehending the Nine Steps to the Heavens!
Had you arrived a split second too late?
「Too late? No—right on time!」 Casting all morals aside, you curled your lips into a sinister grin. You activated Supreme Mode in an instant, launching a sneak attack.
ROAR! ROAR!
Using your essence blood as a catalyst, you condensed two Fifth-Rank Fire Dragon Talismans, summoning two towering, terrifying fire dragons that roared toward the epiphanizing Ye Fan.
When it came to a chance that could shape your path to the Dao, you would never let it slip away. Unlike those brain-dead villains who stood by and watched protagonists cheat their way to power, you would shatter his epiphany before he could complete it!
「Brat, how dare you!」
A hoarse, furious voice suddenly erupted from Ye Fan's body.
Whoosh!
A streak of pale gray soul flame flared to life around him, coalescing into a protective barrier that collided with the two rampaging fire dragons.
But in the next instant, the flame barrier was torn to shreds by the fire dragons' claws. Ye Fan's epiphany was violently interrupted, triggering a backlash that sent him flying backward, spitting a mouthful of blood.
The sheepskin scroll slipped from his grasp, soaring through the air.
「NO!!!」
Ye Fan let out a roar of unwillingness, stretching out his hand to grab the scroll—but he was too slow.
Your figure materialized beside it like a wisp of wind. You lashed out with a kick, slamming it into Ye Fan's face and sending him crashing away, then snatched the sheepskin scroll out of the air.
「Got it!」
A look of elation spread across your face.
At this moment, the heaven-defying opportunity that should have belonged solely to the Child of Destiny Ye Fan had been violently seized by you midway.
But now was not the time to celebrate victory. You still had to eliminate the loose end.
「You stole my opportunity! You robbed me of my treasure! I'll fight you to the death! Nine Steps to the Heavens!」
Just as you were about to give chase, Ye Fan's eyes turned bloodshot with madness. Right before your eyes, he took step after step in quick succession—and his cultivation base skyrocketed instantly.
Fourth Realm: Divine Ability!Fifth Realm: Mountains and Rivers!…
「DAMN IT!!!」
Witnessing this scene, your face paled in horror, your heart skipping a beat. Had Ye Fan already comprehended the Nine Steps to the Heavens so quickly?!
This was bad.Really bad.
You knew all too well just how terrifying and utterly broken the Nine Steps to the Heavens truly was.