Myriad Daos of the Heaven

’Not shameless, just devious!’

With a single sentence, Ye Rou had forced Zhou Fang to retreat. He had even been so enraged he’d cursed her as a bitch—a classic case of love turned to hate.

Jiang Jichen could only marvel at the scene.

’This chatty, devious woman is truly terrifying,’ he thought.

Take her last sentence, for example. Ye Rou had struck right at Zhou Fang’s weak spot.

Their cultivation levels were evenly matched. If they fought, both would be severely injured.

Then, they would both likely lose their chance to enter the Six Paths Illusion Realm.

After all, it would be almost impossible to ascend one-third of the Extreme Celestial Tier while heavily injured.

Furthermore, not only would they fail to enter the Six Paths Illusion Realm, but they would also lose the opportunity for the refinement offered by the Extreme Celestial Tier.

And as Ye Rou had pointed out, Zhou Fang possessed an exclusive grotto-heaven in the Six Paths Illusion Realm.

This was a massive opportunity for him, one he was unwilling to miss.

That was why, upon hearing Ye Rou’s threat, he had furiously cursed her but had no choice but to leave.

"So, you’re Jiang Jichen. Very well. I’ll kill you in the Six Paths Illusion Realm!"

"And Ye Rou... she passed up Young Sect Leader Zhou Fang. There will be no place for her in the Six Paths Illusion Realm."

As they departed, Zhou Fang’s follower spat these parting threats.

However, neither Jiang Jichen nor Ye Rou paid them any mind.

"Ye Rou, you were incredible!"

Hua Xiaoling exclaimed in admiration.

"Incredible, indeed. But treating your admirers and suitors like that... That Zhou Fang fellow is bound to have his love turn to hate. He’ll go mad. You’re in danger, Goddess Ye Rou!"

Jiang Jichen said, gloating slightly.

Ye Rou shot him a cool glance. "He may hate me, but he definitely hates you more. Right now, you’re the one he wants to kill the most. You held this goddess’s hand, and I didn’t pull away. In his eyes, that means you’re already on the verge of winning me over!"

With that, Ye Rou took Hua Xiaoling and Yee Youmeng by the hand and continued on, leaving Jiang Jichen frozen in place.

’That... works too? And here I was, feeling smug for taking advantage of Goddess Ye.’

’I can’t believe that was a trap too!’

A chill ran down Jiang Jichen’s spine.

Of course, the surrounding crowd had seen it all.

They never would have imagined that Jiang Jichen would dare to offend the Young Sect Leader of the Creation Sect.

After all, Zhou Fang was someone many talented individuals were currently trying to curry favor with.

After all, there were probably no more than five people in the entire Mortal World who possessed an exclusive grotto-heaven upon entering the Six Paths Illusion Realm!

By becoming their follower, one could live in their grotto-heaven and receive their protection.

Otherwise, even cultivators at the Nascent Soul Perfection Realm could perish at any moment after entering the Six Paths Illusion Realm.

After all, who knew how many countless years the Six Paths Illusion Realm had existed?

The realm was filled with geniuses who deliberately suppressed their own cultivation.

There were even many cultivators who had remained at the Nascent Soul Perfection Realm for over a century!

Once these people returned from the Six Paths Illusion Realm, they could ascend to sainthood in a single instant, their cultivation becoming immeasurably vast.

Thus, compared to those monstrously powerful beings, cultivators at the Nascent Soul Perfection Realm who had just arrived from the Mortal World were utterly insignificant.

Only after entering the Six Paths Illusion Realm at the Nascent Soul Perfection Realm and managing to cultivate and survive there for more than ten years could they be considered to have a modicum of strength and dominate their own small territory.

This was why even cultivators at the Nascent Soul Perfection Realm still sought out those with grotto-heavens as their patrons.

And these exclusive grotto-heavens were all protected by the most powerful factions of the Six Paths Illusion Realm; absolutely no one would dare to trespass.

.....

「One double-hour later」

The group of four—Jiang Jichen, Ye Rou, Hua Xiaoling, and Yee Youmeng—arrived at Heavenly Dao Mountain.

Before them, a colossal, boundless mountain stood between heaven and earth, shrouded in drifting mist.

At the peak of Dao Mountain, a stone staircase could be seen ascending to the heavens, leading into a mysterious void.

That was the Extreme Celestial Tier. Legend said it had 9,999 steps, and only those who ascended more than one-third of its height would be teleported into the Six Paths Illusion Realm.

The first half of the staircase was perfectly clear, its long flight of steps radiating an ancient, mysterious power.

Beyond the halfway point, however, the steps were shrouded in a celestial mist, appearing hazy and indistinct, their path unclear.

It was said that the celestial mist would only dissipate from the steps that someone had already walked, revealing them clearly to all.

This meant that, until now, the furthest anyone had gone was the halfway point.

No one had yet tread the path beyond it.

"Look! Someone’s passed the halfway point of the Extreme Celestial Tier!"

A sudden cry of alarm rang out.

At the halfway point of the Extreme Celestial Tier, a figure was steadily making their way forward.

With every step she took, a bit more of the mist vanished!

"That’s the Barbarian Maiden from the Northern Plains Barbaric Family! Her bloodline talent is incredible! She actually made it past the halfway mark."

Many people cried out in astonishment.

This was the same Barbarian Maiden who had once threatened to cut off Little Haas’s "little bird" and serve it as a bar snack.

Little Haas was also at the foot of Heavenly Dao Mountain, not yet having started his ascent of the Extreme Celestial Tier.

When he saw this, a shiver went through him.

’How is this human Barbarian Maiden so strong? No way, Little Haas has to stick close to Master later. That’s the only way I’ll feel safe.’

Little Haas thought, his face turning pale.

Seeing Jiang Jichen, the group of Fang Ying, the Bald Man, Blood Hand, Qing Xun, Shui Yunyao, Su Xuefei, and Mo Yu gracefully approached to join him.

"I heard you just offended Young Master Zhou Fang of the Creation Sect and even killed one of his followers!"

The mysterious proprietress, Shui Yunyao, said softly.

"Alas, I can only blame myself for being too outstanding. I attract jealousy wherever I go, so I was forced to fight back!"

Jiang Jichen replied with narcissistic flair.

Shui Yunyao rolled her eyes at him. Her feminine charm was so captivating it could make any man’s heart race, making it difficult to control oneself.

"You need to be careful," Shui Yunyao warned him discreetly. "Zhou Fang has an exclusive grotto-heaven, and many people want to become his followers. As a result, many people will be targeting you now. They believe if they can kill you and present your head to him, they will surely win Zhou Fang’s favor. A lot of people have that idea!"

Jiang Jichen smiled confidently. "It’s fine. Let them come. In fact, the more the better. Killing just one or two isn’t satisfying enough!"

At that moment, Jiang Jichen revealed his bloodthirsty, ruthless, and domineering side.

In truth, he already had far too many enemies in the Six Paths Illusion Realm.

On the Heavenly Refining Ancient Road, he had killed many people from the Six Paths Realm. He was even a wanted man in the Heavenly Dao Realm now.

So, what was a mere Zhou Fang to him? Not even worth mentioning.

"Sigh, that side of you is always so appealing!"

Shui Yunyao said, then drifted away.

Jiang Jichen didn’t take her words to heart.

’Still, whether she meant it or not, having one of the Three Beauties of Yunshui say something like that to you... wouldn’t anyone’s vanity be a little satisfied?’

Jiang Jichen was in an excellent mood, a smug look on his face.

By now, they had reached the summit of Heavenly Dao Mountain.

Upon reaching the top, they discovered it was like stepping into another world.

Ancient, pure Spiritual Qi flowed through the air, interwoven with wisps of the Heavenly Dao Rules.

Absorbing this Spiritual Qi could help one comprehend the Dao. It was truly extraordinary.

The Extreme Celestial Tier itself was a long flight of bluestone steps, slanting high into the endless, mysterious void.

"Brat, I hope you make it to the Six-Headed Illusion Realm. Otherwise, I’ll be very disappointed that I couldn’t kill you with my own hands!"

One of Zhou Fang’s followers, who was already several dozen steps up the Extreme Celestial Tier, looked down and called out to Jiang Jichen.