Nine Remaining

Nine Remaining

On the fifteenth precarious step, Qin Wentian came to a determined halt, his posture radiating resolute purpose. The onlookers fixed their gaze upon his silhouette, their hearts quivering as a sudden realization struck them.

Could Qin Wentian's innate talent truly measure up to the unparalleled records set by the past decade's champion? Merely three more steps were what separated him from this monumental achievement.

Meanwhile, Situ Po faced the daunting challenge with unwavering determination. His three Mandates exuded an aura of terror, seemingly impossible to evade. Nonetheless, he pressed forward with unshakable self-confidence.

Situ Po, with steely resolve, refused to entertain the thought of defeat; it simply wasn't an option.

In the blink of an eye, Situ Po mirrored Qin Wentian's audacious feat, landing firmly on the fifteenth step.

The likes of Ouyang Zheng and Zang Leng Feng, esteemed figures on the Heavenly Fate Ranking, were not about to concede victory to a bunch of youthful contenders. Their status as Heavenly Fate Rankers granted them an elevated vantage point, one they were unwilling to relinquish. While the Heavenly Stele Steps remained accessible to all due to the contentious rivalry between Situ Po and Qin Wentian, what of it? Now that they had ventured thus far, how could they allow themselves to be outdone by a pair of juniors?

As occupants of the esteemed Heavenly Fate Ranking, they looked down haughtily from their lofty perches. And like their adversaries, they were fueled by a similar aversion to defeat.

The unfolding battle wasn't merely a showcase of talent; it morphed into a battle of unwavering conviction.

Each contender harbored an insatiable desire to surpass the infamous eighteenth step. Achieving such a feat promised invaluable experience, an asset poised to significantly shape their future paths of cultivation.

Elsewhere, within the vicinity of the Mystic Maiden Palace, Li Shiyu had been unceremoniously expelled from the steps. Only two individuals with princess-like status, Xuan Yan and Xuan Xin, remained.

Amidst this fray, Duan Qingshan stood his ground, unyielding.

The steadfast determination of Ouyang Kuangsheng, Fan Le, and Chu Mang remained evident as they clung to their positions on the steps.

Astonishment swept through the crowd as their attention turned to one surprising figure—Wang Xiao, who had successfully ascended to the thirteenth step. His unyielding will clashed with the ancient, three-sided will emanating from the Heavenly Stele.

"These individuals undoubtedly reign supreme amongst their peers. It's astounding that so many formidable cultivators continue to persevere, even among those not graced with Heavenly Fate Rankings."

"But Qin Wentian and Situ Po have stalled at the fifteenth step. It seems the challenge that lies ahead is nothing short of extraordinary."

Qin Wentian's eyes remained tightly shut, the resonating ancient will of the Heavenly Stele reverberating within his consciousness. In this trance-like state, a malevolent and demonic apparition materialized, its intent set on tearing him asunder. This ethereal manifestation wasn't a mere illusion; it was tangibly real. Simultaneously, the invasive tendrils of Dreamsleep will crept upon him, inducing an unexpected bout of drowsiness.

Ironically, for the first time, Qin Wentian's very own Mandate, the Mandate of Dreams, was deployed against him. His will became a pawn under the ancient will's manipulation, leading to a cruel erasure of his own memories.

In this tense moment, Qin Wentian stood alone within a secluded dimension molded by the unyielding will of his Mandate. His cross-legged posture concealed a storm of three silhouettes hovering above him, eerie duplicates born from the depths of the Heavenly Stele's power. These shadowy figures embodied his inner demons—venomous thoughts of malice, evil, and hatred.

Here and now, his consciousness was engaged in an epic battle against three twisted versions of himself.

"The Ancient Will of Force, the Ancient Will of Dreams, and the Ancient Will of Demons," each name resonated within the dimension, embodying a formidable obstacle that blocked his ascent.

With an ominous aura that reeked of darkness, the Ancient Will of Demons spoke, its words dripping with menace. It aimed to instill fear within Qin Wentian, warning of the dire consequences that awaited him if he dared to proceed.

Qin Wentian recognized the weight of the Ancient Will's words. With each step he took upward, the potency of the opposing force grew exponentially. An upward advance could well amplify the Ancient Will's strength to unimaginable levels.

Unperturbed, Qin Wentian sat in profound stillness, his eyes sealed shut. The taunts and threats from these distorted versions of his Mandates didn't elicit a response.

Moments later, his eyes burst open, an indomitable determination radiating from his being, permeating the very air around him. A colossal gust surged forth, though his physical form remained eerily motionless. Within the dimension, the Ancient Will of Force amassed formidable power, morphing into a towering mountain and a stretch of sky that descended upon Qin Wentian.

A resounding boom reverberated through his sea of consciousness. The Ancient Will of Dreams unleashed an assault that defied the realm of slumber, pushing Qin Wentian towards an overwhelming urge to surrender to the seductive embrace of sleep.

Yet, the Ancient Wills struck again, and once more, Qin Wentian stood his ground, impervious to their assaults. Gradually, his eyes reopened, a guttural roar emanating from his very core. With unshakeable determination, he stepped forward, embodying the immovable strength of mountains. The threats of the Ancient Wills paled in comparison to his unwavering resolve.

Sixteenth step, accomplished.

"He's regaining his balance," a hushed tremor rippled through the spectators as Qin Wentian successfully advanced to the sixteenth step. Only Ouyang Zheng, Zang Lengfeng, and Situ Po stood before him.

Situ Po's voice cut through the tension with an emotionless declaration, "You've reached your limit."

As the echoes of his words faded, Situ Po, almost dismissively, ascended to the seventeenth step, marking his unyielding progression.

A collective shiver rippled through the crowd's hearts as Situ Po effortlessly ascended to the seventeenth step. Just one more step stood between him and eclipsing the previous record.

"I'm calling it now—Situ Po's definitely securing a top spot on the Heavenly Fate Rankings by the year's end. If he manages to break through to the ninth level of Yuanfu, a spot in the top ten is practically guaranteed."

Situ Po proved himself as the paragon of genius within the Sword Extinction Sect's younger cohort. His prowess towered above all others within the Yuanfu Realm, firmly cementing his dominance.

Following suit, Ouyang Zheng embarked onto the seventeenth step, his determination mirroring his formidable strength.

But Zang Lengfeng wasn't about to succumb to appearing feeble. Igniting his Mandates to their full potential, he showcased a celestial brilliance befitting a Heaven's Chosen. After all, could his innate talents possibly pale in comparison to his peers?

In tandem, Qin Wentian moved towards the seventeenth step. However, the moment his foot touched the enigmatic surface, an inexplicable stasis engulfed him, his posture suspended like a statue. Not even his breath escaped him, seemingly frozen in time.

"What's the matter?" The crowd's expressions contorted in perplexity. Why did Qin Wentian's stance appear lifeless, a stark contrast to those who'd gone before him?

Hours passed, and then a relentless succession of hours, yet Qin Wentian remained ensnared in his static pose.

A full day elapsed, and at long last, Wang Xiao met his untimely expulsion from the Heavenly Stele Steps. Duan Qingshan, undeterred, ventured onto the eighteenth step but found himself thwarted, the rebound's force leaving him grievously injured.

Meanwhile, Qin Wentian's immobile figure defied time itself, refusing to be swayed.

The ranks upon the Heavenly Stele Steps dwindled, as each luminary of their generation was repeatedly vanquished by the challenge. Yet, a select few continued to shine with unwavering brilliance.

Moreover, this illustrious group achieved what none had in the past decade—matching the elusive record of the eighteenth step.

Over the previous ten years, the Heavenly Stele Steps had been unveiled thrice, and each time, the eighteenth step stood as the pinnacle. Yet, though several contenders reached this milestone, every one of them encountered an insurmountable blockade beyond that threshold.

The number eighteen was an alchemical fusion of two nines, a concept that took on a new meaning beyond the eighteenth step.

"I'm making my exit," Xuan Xin's face bore a mix of reluctance and bitter acceptance. The burden of her limitations weighed heavily upon her. Should she continue striving for the eighteenth step, she was on the brink of either transcending her limits or enduring the brunt of severe injuries.

In her heart, the latter prospect loomed ominously. Xuan Xin grappled with the reality that her resolution had yet to be steeled sufficiently. After all, she remained a young girl, untamed by the harsh winds of life.

With a resolute push, Xuan Xin's palms met the surface of the Heavenly Stele, only to be met with an authoritative counterforce. Safely, she descended to solid ground, a voluntary retreat rather than an involuntary expulsion.

"The Mystic Maiden Palace's young princess has achieved the remarkable feat of the seventeenth step!"

"Fellow contenders Fan Le, Qin Wentian, Chu Mang, and Ouyang Kuangsheng have all encountered an insurmountable barrier at the seventeenth step. Their advancement seems improbable."

"Xuan Yan, on the other hand, has triumphed upon the eighteenth step. Her Mandates are rumored to have reached a state of Perfection, rendering her a force to be reckoned with." The audience shifted their gaze from Xuan Yan to Fan Le, fearing the inevitable: the potential defeat of Qin Wentian's dear friend, Fan Le, at the hands of Xuan Yan, the Heaven's Chosen ranked seventeenth on the Heavenly Fate Rankings from the Azure Continent.

"SHATTER!" A primal roar rent the air, jolting the audience to attention. Their eyes widened as they beheld the monumental figure of Chu Mang, a towering force beside Fan Le. His previously dormant eyes now blazed with life, launching arrows of determination that pierced the very essence of the Heavenly Stele. An enormous axe cleaved through the very fabric of reality itself. With unyielding resolve, Chu Mang strode onto the eighteenth step, unleashing the explosive power of his Mandate.

In the crucible of his unwavering will, there existed no obstacle too formidable.

Chu Mang's ambitions were unadorned—a single desire for overwhelming might, enough to stand as a bulwark for Chu Wuwei. His resolve knew no bounds, his objective clear: to shield Chu Wuwei from the ravages of time, to defend against the specter of mortality.

The resolute determination emanating from the Ancient Will reverberated through Chu Mang's consciousness. His bloodshot eyes burned with a fierce fervor, an unyielding proclamation hurled defiantly at the heavens. In his mind, the Heavenly Stele was but a trivial adversary, insufficient to break his spirit.

A resounding vibration filled the air.

A volatile surge of determination, birthed from the Mandate of Arrows, transmuted into an onslaught of dazzling, radiant streams of light, directed squarely at the enigmatic Stele.

Utilizing the newfound Perfection Boundary of his Mandate of Arrows, Chu Mang endeavored to shatter the shackles imposed by the Ancient Will's restraints.

The Ancient Will's potency derived its vigor from the strength of each contender. Conquering it required an indomitable resolve to surpass its oppressive force, or a potent breakthrough from pre-existing limitations to overpower it. Failure meant an unspeakable fate, a possibility that would have seen Chu Mang's very essence obliterated by the weight of that suffocating pressure.

"Regaining his balance, Chu Mang emerges as the equal of the previous record holder!"

"I'm not backing down." Fan Le's lips curled into a mischievous grin, his gaze a mirror of unwavering focus. Gazing upward at the Heavenly Stele, it was as though he envisioned Xuan Xin's pure countenance etched into its surface.

Fan Le typically embodied an air of carefree cheerfulness, a joker who delighted in jests. However, beneath that veneer lay an awareness of his own ordinary appearance. Yet, Xuan Xin had chosen him—how could he possibly falter now? Should he falter, he'd drag Xuan Xin into the abyss of mockery and scorn alongside him. He often pretended indifference, laughing in the face of judgment, but the truth was, he cared deeply.

He willingly weathered ridicule, yet he refused to allow Xuan Xin to endure the same.

He was determined to demonstrate that Xuan Xin's choice was far from amiss.

This man, none other than Fan Le, possessed extraordinary talents.

With conviction guiding each step, his form enveloped in a radiant golden aura, his blood surged with an infernal fervor. His mere presence kindled a scorching intensity that scorched the air, as his foot made contact with the eighteenth step of the Heavenly Stele.

In a symphony of resonant energy, the golden light crackled, engulfing him in ember-like flames. His aura surged unceasingly, his three Mandates ascending to new heights amid the searing blaze.

He was Fan Le—Fatty Fan Le, the Genius Fan Le.

Bapted in a sea of resplendent flames, he stood resolute upon the eighteenth step of the Heavenly Stele.

"Glorious!" Ouyang Kuangsheng's exultant laughter pierced the atmosphere. His flowing locks danced in the wind as he thrust his clenched fist skyward. With Fan Le and Chu Mang triumphant, Ouyang Kuangsheng refused to be left behind, surging forward with relentless determination.

What if he faltered? What if his body became a canvas for grievous injuries? Should his path of cultivation unravel, was death even a specter to dread? Surrendering was a notion inconceivable to Ouyang Kuangsheng—such timidity would forfeit his very essence.

With unyielding determination, Ouyang Kuangsheng strode onto the eighteenth step, his journey mirroring the peak record established over the last decade.

"Stunning!"

The collective awe resonated within each spectator's heart. In this climactic juncture, only a handful endured atop the Heavenly Stele Steps. Ouyang Zheng, Zang Lengfeng, Xuan Yan, and Yue Bufan—all four Heaven's Chosen ranked among the thirty-six elite of the Heavenly Fate Rankings. Not on the rankings itself, but still standing tall, were Situ Po, Fan Le, Chu Mang, Ouyang Kuangsheng, and Qin Wentian.

These nine defied the limits, each ascending to the eighteenth step. Solely Qin Wentian remained rooted on the seventeenth step, suspended in an enigmatic trance.

"Marvelous, truly marvelous! Setting aside the four established Heaven's Chosen—Situ Po, Qin Wentian, Xuan Yan, and Yue Bufan—Chu Mang, Fan Le, and Ouyang Kuangsheng, once included within Qin Wentian's orbit, now reveal their formidable might. I wager that after today, the world shall witness a slew of transcendent forces vying for their allegiance, save for Ouyang Kuangsheng, who likely already has contenders lining up."

Yet, the fate of victory or defeat remained undetermined.

The rivalry fueling Situ Po and Qin Wentian, the gripping duel between Xuan Yan and Fan Le, the relentless contest between Ouyang Zheng and Zang Lengfeng—all hung in the balance.

Soon, they all, except for Qin Wentian, would etch their names into history by shattering the decade-old record with a solitary step.

The question lingered, unspoken yet resonant: who would stand triumphant when the dust finally settled?

Could Qin Wentian, anchored to the seventeenth step, ascend to surpass Situ Po?