Myriad Daos of the Heaven

Jiang Jichen continued onward.

His speed grew increasingly astonishing!

With practically no suspense, he caught up to Ye Rou and claimed sixth place.

He had already crossed 99,900 steps of the Celestial Tier.

The top five Cultivators were each separated by ten to twenty steps.

At this point, everyone’s pace had become incredibly slow, and their progress was fraught with difficulty.

They were all approaching their limits; every single step was an extreme test of their willpower.

The top geniuses of these domains had lost their earlier composure and grace.

Were they any more at ease now than Jiang Jichen had been during his first hundred steps?

Of course, Jiang Jichen couldn’t accelerate indefinitely. When he reached the 99,900th step, he finally encountered some resistance.

Within the last ninety-nine steps, an infinite amount of Ancient Heavenly Dao Power churned.

For Jiang Jichen, however, it merely slowed his pace. The effect on him wasn’t significant.

A calm, confident smile played on his lips. In his mind, the first form of the Ancient Heavenly Dao Saber Skill was gradually taking shape.

He was even beginning to comprehend and evolve it in his mind.

’Ancient Heavenly Dao Saber Skill, First Form: Severing Ancient Times!’

’The river of time flows vast and endless. With a single saber, I can sever ancient times!’

’Evolved to the Supreme Realm, a single strike can dam the river of time!’

...

As he climbed, the first form of the Ancient Heavenly Dao Saber Skill gradually coalesced, and his comprehension deepened.

But it was still incomplete, lacking its most crucial element.

Jiang Jichen was unable to grasp the true meaning of the Sword Thought. He had only acquired the form of the Saber Technique, not its essence.

The final ninety-nine steps concealed the spiritual essence of the Saber Technique.

Only when one possessed both its form and its spirit could the inheritance be considered truly complete.

Jiang Jichen calmly took each step, pausing after every one to absorb his new insights.

Soon, Jiang Jichen overtook Ye Rou, who was in fifth place.

Ye Rou was at the 99,950th step. She had reached her limit and could barely continue.

Her body began to blur, a sign that she was about to be teleported to the Six Paths Illusion Realm.

Ye Rou was filled with unwillingness. She wanted to keep going.

’There is a figure in the Six Paths Illusion Realm that I must pursue.’

’Since we were young, we grew up and cultivated together, known as the two pearls of Human Emperor City.’

’But no one knows how far behind her I truly am.’

’No one knows why I try so desperately hard.’

’I never thought about catching up to her, let alone surpassing her.’

’I just don’t want to be left too far behind.’

’I just want to be a little closer to her, that’s all.’

’But Xuanyuan Qingyi’s talent... it’s just too astonishing, too peerless.’

’When she was fifteen, she reached the 99,990th step of the Extreme Celestial Tier.’

’And now, I can’t even match what she did back then?’

’How ironic. How pathetic.’

An infinite sorrow welled up in Ye Rou’s heart.

’We were the very best of friends, of sisters!’

’But now, the distance between us is just... so vast.’

’We even promised to be together forever.’

’That even if we married, we would marry the same man.’

This was the story of Ye Rou and Xuanyuan Qingyi.

They were the two pearls of Human Emperor City.

She had buried these stories in the deepest corner of her heart, where no one knew of them.

And so, for all her efforts to end in this result, Ye Rou’s heart filled with sorrow and helplessness.

"If your original heart remains true, you will never be abandoned under the Celestial Dao. Feel the steps beneath your feet, and walk on, forgetting the Celestial Dao itself!"

However, just as Ye Rou felt herself about to fade away, a voice suddenly resounded in her Sea of Consciousness.

Her delicate body trembled. The fog shrouding the Divine Thought in her mind instantly cleared.

Ye Rou felt a sudden enlightenment as a great realization, one she had never experienced before, rose from the depths of her heart.

She felt the pressure on her body lighten, and her fading, ethereal form solidified once more.

’Walk on, forgetting the Dao... so that’s how it is!’

This new understanding bloomed in Ye Rou’s mind.

She turned her head to look at Jiang Jichen, who stood on the same step of the Celestial Tier not far away. Her smile blossomed like a flower, utterly captivating.

"Jichen, thank you!"

This time, with her mischievous side shed, only the pure Ye Rou remained, exuding a breathtaking beauty.

A moment ago, Jiang Jichen had sensed the sorrow and resentment in Ye Rou’s heart.

However, everyone has secrets from their past.

Some sad, some happy.

Jiang Jichen had no intention of prying.

"On such a fine night with such a beautiful view, why not take a stroll together and enjoy the scenery?"

Jiang Jichen invited with a light laugh.

In truth, Jiang Jichen wasn’t just spouting pleasantries.

Standing high upon the Celestial Tier, one could look down and gaze upon the vast world of mortals. Beneath the swirling clouds and mist, the depths of Heavenly Dao Mountain were visible.

Clusters of peaks rose and fell like islands in a sea of clouds, creating a magnificent and expansive vista.

Looking up, the starry sky was profound, and the moonlight was enchanting.

Without realizing it, it had already become late at night.

They had been climbing the Extreme Celestial Tier for a full day.

"Since Jichen has invited me, how could I possibly refuse?"

Ye Rou’s heart was at ease now.

Moreover, as she walked on, forgetting the Dao, strolling along the Celestial Tier with Jiang Jichen, a sense of carefree freedom blossomed within her.

The celestial wind rustled her robes, making her feel as light as an immortal, as if she could ride the breeze and dance.

"I wish to ride the wind, carefree and unbound, to cross the Star River’s bounds, and journey to the very edge of the sky!"

Jiang Jichen’s heart also felt open and free. He couldn’t help but let out a wild laugh and recite the poem.

The soaring heroism and carefree spirit of the verse truly made one feel as if they had shattered the shackles of heaven and earth to roam the infinite Celestial Universe.

"Your ambitions are so grand, Jichen!"

Ye Rou said softly.

"Only if your heart is big enough can you prevent sorrow from halting your steps."

"One day, when you’ve walked far enough, you can look back. As long as your original intention remains unchanged, that’s all that matters. Why dwell on the past so much?"

"Life can be short or long, but what’s important is to live every moment true to your heart."

Jiang Jichen’s voice was as gentle as a spring breeze, warming the listener’s heart.

Ye Rou knew that Jiang Jichen was comforting her.

This man could be a shameless rogue one moment and a heroic, ruthless killer the next, yet at times like this, he was so considerate, gentle, and heartwarming.

"Jichen, I’m going to the Six Paths Illusion Realm for Xuanyuan Qingyi. She’s my dearest sister. If I get to see her, I’ll be sure to tell her what you said!"

Ye Rou said with a light laugh.

"Who is Xuanyuan Qingyi?"

Jiang Jichen was curious. He didn’t understand why Ye Rou would push herself so hard for another woman.

But regardless, it was clear that the bond between them was very deep.

"Oh, she’s the number one pearl of Human Emperor City! Hmm, when the time comes, I’ll introduce you two. I’ll even play matchmaker. You have to win her over, how about it?"

However, only a moment later, Ye Rou’s true nature revealed itself as she spoke to Jiang Jichen with a mischievous glint in her eye.

Jiang Jichen rolled his eyes and said proudly, "If I, Jiang Jichen, want to woo a woman, would I need your help? Besides, since when are you so kind-hearted? I get the feeling you’ve dug a pit and are just waiting for me to jump in."

"Hmph! So ungrateful! Besides, if I’m setting anyone up, it’s my sister, Xuanyuan Qingyi. You’re the one getting a good deal, so stop acting like you’re the victim!"

Ye Rou said coquettishly.

The two of them were now flirting and bickering like an intimate couple.

And yet, their feet never stopped moving. Soon, they casually strolled past Zhou Fang.