287: Though the heavenly steps are broken, the heavenly path still remains.

While the crowd below was astonished, perplexed, and even starting to doubt their lives, Qin Wangchuan had already been walking for an unknown amount of time.

Every step he took felt like a difficult struggle against the invisible might of Heaven and Earth.

Sharp, fierce winds suddenly materialized in the Void Realm, sweeping toward him like invisible blades.

With a sharp 'hiss,' a bloody gash, deep enough to expose bone, appeared on his shoulder.

The Dragon Gauze spontaneously appeared to protect its master.

Qin Wangchuan's steps did not falter.

His gaze fixed steadily ahead as he lightly touched his chest and whispered, "This is the path I must walk, but it is not yours."

The Dragon Gauze obediently dissipated, transforming into a streak of light and vanishing.

But the next moment, Qin Wangchuan felt his hand being held by something.

He turned his head and saw a stunningly beautiful young woman whose form had solidified, revealing her mesmerizing and gorgeous true appearance—skin fairer than snow, a pair of exquisite jade-white Dragon horns protruding from her ink-black hair, and a fiery red scale like cinnabar glowing on her brow.

It was the true form of the Dragon Gauze.

The young woman held Qin Wangchuan's hand, her face devoid of expression, only coldness remaining.

The Dragon Gauze was a transformed Divine Weapon, half-human and half-artifact.

For an artifact, expressions were unnecessary.

Only companionship was needed.

That look seemed to say: The path you must walk is the path I must walk.

Qin Wangchuan raised his hand, gently touched her head, and instead of refusing, softly said:

"Then let us walk together."

A transformed Divine Weapon was naturally incomparably tough, but he was different.

Unable to mobilize spiritual power, he could only rely on his Physical Body to endure.

As he continued ascending the steps, more wounds appeared out of nowhere, and blood instantly stained his dark robes crimson.

This was not mere pressure, but punishment akin to the Heavenly Tribulation.

Every attack contained the power to tear apart the Divine Soul, causing his body to momentarily stiffen.

But Qin Wangchuan's steps never stopped.

As the wounds multiplied, the immortal bone within him was finally fully activated.

Brilliant golden light erupted from the depths of his marrow, and his Supreme Dao Heart thundered in his chest like a battle drum.

The profound mystery of "Calamity Ends, I Am Seen" began to manifest—attacks that were once effective gradually struggled to break his skin; and severe injuries that could previously expose bone could now barely graze the surface.

The speed of his recovery accelerated, and the wounds on his body became fewer and fewer.

Not only did his Aura not weaken, but with every injury and subsequent recovery, it became more solid and more powerful.

The power of the calamity was transformed into his own strength, accelerating the metamorphosis of his immortal bone.

At this moment, Qin Wangchuan resembled a deity walking through tribulation.

Although covered in scars, the golden light of the immortal bone surrounding him grew increasingly brilliant, making him appear sacred and inviolable.

Finally, he took another step.

This time, his foot did not land on the heavenly suspended silk, but on a solid stone step.

Qin Wangchuan looked down and saw a section of golden staircase beneath his feet, identical to the hundred-step Heavenly Ladder below.

The only difference was that this staircase was covered in ancient cracks and mottled bloodstains, emitting an Aura far older and heavier than the Heavenly Ladder below.

He instantly understood.

The two were originally one, but for some unknown reason, they had been severed in the middle.

Unlike the lower section, the steps here seemed to be hidden by some power, only appearing when one truly stepped upon them.

Qin Wangchuan retracted the heavenly suspended silk into his hair, held the Dragon Gauze's hand, and took another step.

Countless different whispers echoed in his mind again, surging in like a tide:

"Go left."

"This time, go right."

"No, no! Wrong, this time, go right."

The countless voices in his head seemed to be fighting, not trying to guide him, but engaging in endless self-talk.

These mixed and chaotic sounds caused Qin Wangchuan's eyes to glaze over for a moment.

In that trance, he seemed to see other "Qin Wangchuans" also ascending this Heavenly Ladder.

Those figures were not the future, but the past that had already occurred.

Some "Qin Wangchuans" stepped into the Void Realm on the left, their figures instantly twisting and disappearing; while others stepped onto the staircase on the right, moving steadily upward with a majestic Aura.

Qin Wangchuan followed the correct phantom, step by step, upward.

The Heavenly Ladder steps hidden in the Void Realm did not impede him in the slightest.

However, this was not without cost.

As he climbed higher, the fierce winds intensified.

Wounds on his body healed only to reappear; blood flowed and then stopped.

Countless drops of golden blood sprinkled down, like golden raindrops, piercing the Void Realm and landing on the faces of the crowd in the plaza below.

At this moment, looking at the blood-soaked "blood man" in the sky, they were speechless, filled only with awe.

Ji Wuchen stared blankly, unable to stop himself from murmuring, "Don't go any further..."

Qin Zhaoer also unconsciously moved closer, staring blankly at the figure continuing forward without speaking.

But the light flickering in her eyes showed that she was even finding it hard to watch.

Yes, don't go any further, stop... Anyone could see Qin Wangchuan's current state.

Although the golden light of his immortal bone was blazing, compared to the vast sky, that speck of golden light was as tiny as a firefly, seemingly ready to extinguish at any moment.

Chu Wujiu sat casually on the ground with his arms crossed, but only his slightly heavy breathing betrayed the turbulent emotions beneath his icy exterior.

However, when another drop of blood landed before his eyes, the last trace of hesitation in his gaze was completely ignited and burned away!

He abruptly stood up, as if breaking free from invisible shackles, and a roar, gathering all his strength, smashed through the silence of the entire plaza like a falling meteor:

"Go forward!"

"You are our beacon, don't stop, go forward!"

"Rest assured—"

"The path you walk, I, Chu Wujiu, will soon walk again!"

This loud shout, like the beating of a war drum, instantly awakened all the Prodigies immersed in shock!

"Wah, wah, wah! Chu Wujiu! That was what I wanted to say!" Yan Wujin was the first to leap up, yelling in exasperation.

Yun Zexuan, Zhao Lingyun, Ye Lingchuan, and Li Xuan exchanged glances, Battle Intent burning brightly in each of their eyes.

Although silent, they all deeply agreed with Chu Wujiu's declaration in their hearts.

That's right, don't stop.

You are not alone.

The path you walk, we will walk it again!

Everyone present was a top Prodigy of the Ten Directions Immortal Court.

Qin Wangchuan's strength, far from making them despair, acted like the fiercest stimulant, thoroughly igniting the pride and fighting spirit in their bones.

A true Cultivator should have a firm Dao Heart, fear no hardship, and move forward!

For a moment, the plaza was filled with passionate fervor.

Everyone was infected by this belief, letting out deafening roars toward that figure and that peak level of strength:

"Don't stop!"

"Go forward! Go forward!"

The Elders of the Academy watched this scene, unsure of what to do.

"Elder Liang, if something happens to that young man, the Qin Family might..." an Elder asked worriedly.

Before Elder Liang could speak, a steady voice came from behind him:

"Don't think of him as too weak. That is the person who surpassed Qin Wudao and qualified for the position of Divine Son."

Upon seeing the newcomer, everyone bowed and saluted: "Greetings, Elder He!"

The newcomer was He Xuan, the Grand Elder of Xuanyi Institute, one of the three major institutes of the Myriad Dao Academy.

He wore a long green robe, his demeanor was steady, and his cultivation was unfathomable.

He gazed solemnly at the figure continuing to climb in the sky and said in a deep voice, "After the calamity comes the Opportunity."

"This is the true Heavenly Ladder."

He Xuan sighed, his tone carrying a trace of reverence: "The heavenly road was an ancient Supreme Treasure, but sadly it broke long ago.

Only after refinement and forging was it molded into the current hundred Heaven Rank steps."

"Yet, I never thought that although the Heaven Rank steps were broken, the heavenly road still remained."

Immediately, everyone turned their gaze toward the figure advancing amidst the blood and golden light.