by Feng Yise
Even though Feng Ruoqing and Huyan Yong had been convinced by Ye Yuan, they still did not think well of Ye Yuan.
It's not just them. Nobody in the entire Dan Wu Academy had high hopes of Ye Yuan!
"That's right. Back then when Mo Yuntian entered, it was almost certain death. You're only at the Sixth Level Essence Qi Realm! Why don't you take Lu-er and run?" Feng Zhirou also joined in from the side.
Ye Yuan shook his head and said, "You think Su Yubai is a moron? How could he give me the chance to escape? I'm afraid that he already has people stationed at every single route out of the academy. As for my residence, there are definitely many people keeping an eye on it. As long as I step out of this house, all my movements will be within his grasp."
"This . . ."
"Alright, thanks for your concern. I know what I'm doing. Even though it's not 100%, I have at least 30% confidence that I can pass through the Nine Heavens Road!" Ye Yuan said confidently.
"What? You have 30% confidence? Are you joking? The Nine Heavens Road is a death zone for Essence Qi Realm! You actually say that you have 30% confidence? Are you trying to use these words to dismiss us?" Feng Zhirou cried out.
Although Feng Ruoqing did not say anything, looking at her expression, she obviously did not buy it either.
The Nine Heavens Road was certain death for Essence Qi Realms, and Ye Yuan actually said that he had 30% confidence. This could not be regarded as anything but reassuring words.
" Haha. You can choose not to believe me, but you can't not believe my master. Master's might surpasses your imaginations, so you should also have faith in me," Ye Yuan laughed and said.
In reality, Ye Yuan's confidence level was way beyond 50%. He was just scared that it would be too insanely startling, which was why he chose to not be explicit.
The reason why Ye Yuan dared to challenge the Nine Heavens Road was that he got to understand from Huyan Yong that this Nine Heavens Road was an enormous array formation!
It was not going to be easy for a puny little Nine Heavens Road to try and kill him with his attainments in Array Dao.
If not for Ye Yuan's cultivation being too low, breaking this array would not be much different than playing house with children.
Of course, Ye Yuan was not entirely certain as well. Some array formations have incredibly powerful might, which is not something he could withstand at his current cultivation realm.
As for the specifics, it would have to wait until entering the Nine Heavens Road before knowing them.
Seeing Ye Yuan so self-assured, Feng Ruoqing and Feng Zhirou did not know why either, but they gained more confidence out of nowhere.
Perhaps Ye Yuan could really create another miracle again?
Chapter 92 - I’m Inferior to Him
Three days later, at the foot of the Nine Heavens Peak.
Students swarmed so heavily around the area that even water could not flow through.
Challenging the Nine Heavens Road was something rarely seen throughout the years. Naturally, they did not wish to miss out on this grand occasion.
The entire Dan Wu Academy was virtually a ghost town as everyone wanted to come and join in the fun.
If not for the foreshadowing from earlier events, there might not be such a huge occasion today.
A Sixth Level Essence Qi Realm challenging the Nine Heavens Road was just seeking death. What was there to watch?
Nonetheless, the incident that Ye Yuan caused earlier gave rise to much debate, and practically everyone knew about it in the academy already. Now, everyone knew that the degree of Ye Yuan's genius had surpassed their imagination. Could he create another miracle?
Even though nobody believed it from the bottom of their heart, there was still this faint trace of anticipation!
On another mountain facing the Nine Heavens Peak, there was a pavilion.
This was the ideal spot to watch the Nine Heavens Road!
Several people sat around a table in the pavilion. They were precisely Su Yubai and several elders.
Many people were crowding around outside the pavilion. Aside from the academy's instructors, they were mainly genius students on the Martial and Alchemy Rolls of Honor. Their status was naturally different from ordinary students.
Long Tang, Zuo Bugui, Su Yishan, and others shockingly were there too.
"Hey, Old Long. Why don't we negotiate a bit? How about you return that Sharp Horned Beast inner core to me? That matter previously was just a joke, no need to take it seriously right?"
Zuo Bugui pestered Long Tang incessantly, wanting to take back the Sharp Horned Beast inner core that he lost the previous time.
Long Tang did not even look at him and minded his own business as he rested with closed eyes, patiently waiting for Ye Yuan's arrival.
"I say, why are you so unreasonable? You're already so powerful; what do you need an inner core for? It's better if you return it to me!"
"Old Long, say something!"
"Ye Yuan's here!"
Long Tang's eyelids quivered, but he quickly recovered his composure.
"Stop pretending alright? We don't talk about that; let's talk about Ye Yuan. Do you think he has a chance of making it through?"
"Don't know."
Zuo Bugui was utterly amazed when he heard that. Because Long Tang's reply was "don't know," instead of "can't make it."
Long Tang actually had such confidence in Ye Yuan?
Even though he and Long Tang had conflicting opinions previously, the result proved that Long Tang was right. But this time around, Zuo Bugui did not think well of Ye Yuan at all.
Nine Heavens Road. Even Long Tang did not dare to try it!
Although Long Tang thought highly of himself, he was aware that he did not reach that sort of monstrous degree like Mo Yuntian after examining himself.
Even Mo Yuntian nearly died before charging through it. How could he make it through?
"You mean that he might make it? How's that possible?"
"Didn't you say that he couldn't kill Lin Tiancheng before? And the result?"
"Oh please. This and that aren't the same things, okay? Even a hundred Lin Tianchengs together can't make it past the Nine Heavens Road!"
"A hundred Lin Tianchengs added up is also not as monstrous as Ye Yuan!"
". . ."
Zuo Bugui had no words to retort with because what Long Tang said was true.
Zuo Bugui suddenly discovered that Long Tang who had always been arrogant actually had signs of acknowledging his inferiority to Ye Yuan.
Long Tang was an existence that all the students looked up to in the academy. He had always overlooked all, including him, Zuo Bugui.
Yet, this existence actually lifted his gaze now, and looked at another student at eye-level, even looking up!
This was simply inconceivable!
"Old Long, this isn't like you!" Zuo Bugui suddenly felt like a fox mourning the death of a rabbit and said earnestly.
Long Tang did not react heavily to it, and only said coolly, "Did you forget the phrase that has been passed down in the academy? Geniuses were meant to be surpassed!"
Long Tang s.u.c.k.e.d in deeply, and he slowly said, "I . . . I'm inferior to him."
"Sigh. Even though I don't want to admit it, but what you said is the truth." Zuo Bugui also gave a long sigh.
"However, most likely he doesn't have the chance to surpass you and me anymore! He can't make it past the Nine Heavens Road!" Zuo Bugui suddenly added.
". . ."
This time around, Long Tang did not retort. Truthfully speaking, he did not have much confidence as well.
A survival rate of zero!
This number was as difficult to surmount as a massive mountain. Could Ye Yuan make it across?
. . . . . .
"Humph! This Ye Yuan is putting on airs to actually make so many people wait for him!" Su Yubai was a little impatient and grumbled.
"Yeah. Indeed, a brat who doesn't know the rules. He deserves to be killed!" ano
ther elder said in agreement.
Looks like he had already become Su Yubai's lackey.
Hu Changsheng on the other hand smiled and said, "Nine Heavens Road isn't a joke. He naturally has to make meticulous preparations."
"What's there to prepare? Don't tell me that he, an Essence Qi Realm, can make it through? He has to die anyway, yet he's delaying so many people's time. Simply outrageous!" That elder was very displeased. It was clear that he was already tired of waiting.
When he said this, nobody refuted it.
Preparations indeed did not hold much meaning for Ye Yuan.
The way they saw it, Ye Yuan just chose to end it himself, instead of letting them sentenced him to death. But the result was the same.
As for whether Ye Yuan could survive, nobody had ever believed that.
Those students down there have only heard hearsay about the horrors of the Nine Heavens Peak. But these elders and instructors had seen fresh waves of students filling in the gaps as they fell in the Nine Heavens Peak over many years.
Even when many of them were still students, the peak talents of their generation had challenged the Nine Heavens Road. But nobody succeeded.
As for the five who made it, they are already existences that they could only look up to now.
No one doubted that Ye Yuan had the potential to pass through the Nine Heavens Road. But that was just potential. Ye Yuan was only at the Sixth Level Essence Qi Realm. He had not even stepped into the last minor stage of the Essence Qi Realm, so how could he pass?
Who among those Essence Qi Realm students that dared to challenge the Nine Heavens Peak before were not peerless geniuses?
And those Essence Qi Realm students who went to challenge the Nine Heavens Peak, who among them were not at the Ninth Level Essence Qi Realm or even the peak of the Essence Qi Realm?
All of them died. Could Ye Yuan make it?
The answer was obvious that he could not!
Right then, the crowd at the foot of the mountain stirred.
Ye Yuan came!
Behind Ye Yuan trailed the two girls, Feng Ruoqing and Feng Zhirou, as well as a black-faced Huyan Yong.
Everyone directly ignored Huyan Yong and stared at the Feng Family aunt and niece behind Ye Yuan with absolute envy.
Who did not want this sort of treatment!
With these two girls escorting the road, they would even willingly die!
Ye Yuan naturally was not pretending to be some big-shot coming late on purpose. He had to settle Lu-er down properly.
Early morning, Ye Yuan transmitted essence energy once more to help Lu-er suppress the frost poison. After adjusting for some time, he let Feng Ruoqing arrange for someone to take good care of Lu-er before he could set his mind at ease and come to the Nine Heavens Peak. So naturally, he was a little late.
Gazing into the distance, a road of green pebbles led straight up past the clouds, all the way to the Nine Heavens Peak.
What looked like the road leading to the land of the immortals, was actually the forbidden land for martial artists.
"Such superlative craftsmanship! Looks like I can't look down on the experts of this world. This Nine Heavens Road isn't simple!" Ye Yuan secretly gave his appraisal.
Now that Ye Yuan arrived, the crowd automatically gave a wide berth.
In front of the Nine Heavens Road, a stone tablet was erected there. On it, wrote a line of words.
A martial artist blocked Ye Yuan. "Before entering the Nine Heavens Road, swear a Heavenly Dao Oath according to the stone tablet first!"
Chapter 93 - Strong Gale
"I swear upon the Heavenly Dao, once I step unto the Nine Heavens Road, life and death are left to fate. If I succeed in making it through, I will not reveal any information about the Nine Heavens Road. Otherwise, may Heaven strike me dead!"
Ye Yuan swore once according to the words on the stone tablet and slightly felt his divine soul quiver.
Ye Yuan knew that this was the feeling when one's divine soul signed a pledge with the Heavenly Dao.
In the future, if he goes against this oath, the Heavenly Dao will make heavenly punishment descend, destroying his body and soul.
"Now, can I enter?"
The guard stepped aside to allow Ye Yuan passage.
Ye Yuan turned back to Feng Ruoqing and co, and he said, "Help me take good care of Lu-er. I'll be back soon."
Finishing, Ye Yuan walked past the guard and stepped onto the Nine Heavens Road.
Stepping onto the first step, the scenery suddenly transformed.
The initially narrow Nine Heavens Road suddenly became a boundless horizon.
Ye Yuan turned around. The road he came from already disappeared, and what replaced it was still endless steps.
The entire strip of Nine Heavens Road had transformed into another world. A world constituted of countless green stone steps.
"Indeed a little interesting! Looks like every man has his edge. Even though the Lower Realms' martial prowess cannot compare to the Divine Realm, they still have undergone countless eons of development and derivation. They are many things aren't present in the Divine Realm. This Nine Heavens Road became an independent world. Looks like the person who set the array already had considerable accomplishments, and this array formation is a unique school of thought. 1 It's a different style from the Divine Realm. Tranquil Cloud Sect can't be underestimated!" Ye Yuan gasped in admiration.
This entire array formation was integrated into a harmonious reality. There were countless illusion arrays and killing arrays mixed into it. Even though its power was inferior to the Divine Realm's arrays, the complexity of this did not pale in the slightest.
"No wonder this Nine Heavens Road is so hard to pass through. If these illusion arrays and killing arrays were activated at full power, killing Crystal Formation Realm martial artists would be like chopping vegetables!" Ye Yuan exclaimed in admiration once more.
"Well, there's not much hope of breaking the array. My strength now is really too poor. Let me test out this Nine Heavens Road's array formations' power!"
After he said this, Ye Yuan strode out with a large step.
The step forward seemed to have activated the arrays. Countless strong gales howled towards Ye Yuan.
These gales were abnormally piercing-cold as if it could annihilate all life on earth. But this world only had Ye Yuan alone, so naturally, he was the target.
"The concept of wind? Looks like this Nine Heavens Road was constructed to help students train. Much thought and care had been expended on this. Except, using this sort training method seems a bit too cruel."
As Ye Yuan sighed admirably, he moved along with the wind. The strong violent gale was actually unable to cause any harm to Ye Yuan whatsoever!
These strong gales were man-made through the creator of the array formations integrating his own understanding of the concept of wind inside it!
After sensing the concept of wind amidst the powerful gales, Ye Yuan knew the intention of the creator of this array. He hoped to let students comprehend the concept of wind inside through these gales.
However, how many people could comprehend the concept of wind at the Essence Qi Realm or the Spirit Condensation Realm?
The way the other students saw it, these powerful gusts existed to hurt people, instead of helping them to understand some profound concept.
If it were another student tackling the Nine Heavens Road, this Strong Gale round would most likely have already exhausted a great deal of essence energy.
They were unable to be so at ease like Ye Yuan. They have to activate their essence energy shields in order to withstand the power of these gales.
Otherwise, these strong gales would be like blades, slicing their body into pieces.
Even Spirit Condensation Realm students would have exhausted enormous amounts of essence energy after making it past this round; let alone those of Essence Qi Realms.
If Essence Qi Realm students used essence energy protection to withstand t
his round, they would directly lose 30% - 40%, and this was only the first round!
Under this sort of expenditure, if Essence Qi Realms did not die, where could they flee to?
In contrast, Ye Yuan did not even use his essence energy for protection. He simply swayed his body along with the wind force, and the gale wind blades floated past his body easily.
These gales were just like a giant wind blade technique, cutting wantonly in this space; omnidirectional and with no blind angles.
If students did not open their essence energy protection after coming in here, the consequences would be very severe.
As to why Ye Yuan did not use essence energy protection, it was because his comprehension towards the concept of wind was way above these gales.
The concept of wind encompassed within these gale winds, to Ye Yuan, was like a toddler learning how to walk. Wanting to hurt him was naturally hardly possible.
Not to mention that Ye Yuan's Falling Flower Floating Zero Sword technique already encompassed an exceedingly profound concept of wind within.
Except, Ye Yuan's Essence Qi Realm cultivation realm was too low and unable to unleash the true might of the concept of wind; that's all.
Following the increase of his cultivation, the power of the Falling Flower Floating Zero Sword would also become increasingly stronger.
Although Ye Yuan was only at the Essence Qi Realm currently, it was still more than sufficient to evade the attacks of these gale winds.
. . . . . .
Ye Yuan could not see the landscape outside, but the people outside could see Ye Yuan's situation.
To be more precise, they could not see what was happening inside the illusionary world, but they were able to clearly see what Ye Yuan was doing right now.
There were a total of 999 stone steps on the Nine Heavens Road. Right now, Ye Yuan had already walked across more than 20 steps.
It was just that from the perspective of a bystander, Ye Yuan's condition did not seem to be too good.
"What's Ye Yuan doing? He's dangling and swaying about like he's drunk."
"Don't know. Is he being mesmerized by an illusion world?"