81: Climb the road to heaven and knock on the gate of heaven

Let's go back in time.

Outside the Secret Realm.

In the Dragon-Patterned Ancient Mirror, the scene of Qin Wangchuan striking down the Golden Cicada with a single sword froze, and the entire ceremonial platform fell into a temporary silence.

"This..." The teacup in the Li Family Elder's hand shattered with a 'pa' sound, his eyes fixed on the figure in the mirror, "An Eighth Realm Cultivator slaying an Eleventh Realm Cultivator?!"

Qin Wenhe stroked his beard and chuckled, his eyes full of pride, "My Wangchuan possesses unparalleled Aptitude; slaying demons across realms is as easy as drinking water for him. What's so strange about that?"

"Nonsense!" The Chu Family Elder slammed the table.

"It's clearly because this Golden Cicada had just awakened and was still in a weakened state. Its strength was probably only around the Tenth Realm at best!"

"What's more, your family's 'Taichu Burial God Sword' is a domineering sword technique that focuses solely on power and disregards precision, and it didn't even try to dodge."

"From what I see, your Qin Wangchuan's true strength is only... around the Tenth Realm?"

Everyone's expressions varied upon hearing this.

What do you mean, 'only around the Tenth Realm'?

No matter what, that was still a two-realm instant kill!

Qin Wangchuan is currently only in the Eighth Realm. After the Ninth Realm, his Domain will manifest, and his combat power will rise to another level.

Not to mention the Tenth Realm, the Heavenly Palace Realm, where one can create unique rules within their Domain...

Thinking of this, everyone's expressions suddenly became extremely interesting.

"Wait... has anyone seen Qin Wangchuan's Domain?"

"Let alone seeing it, I haven't even heard of it."

The Li Family Elder turned to look at Qin Wenhe and asked, "Old Qin, what kind of Domain does your Young Master cultivate, exactly?"

Qin Wenhe heard this, a slight smile played at the corner of his mouth, revealing a meaningful look: "To be honest..."

He surveyed the crowd, his tone leisurely: "I haven't seen it either."

"After all—"

"To this day, no one has been able to force him to use his Domain."

"......"

Qin Wenhe felt a secret delight as he saw everyone fall silent.

Look, other Prodigies need to use all their abilities to fight across realms.

But my Qin Wangchuan can do it with ease.

This—is the difference!

As the scene in the treasure mirror shifted, it quickly reached the moment the Dragon Qi appeared.

"Look at this commotion..." The Li Family Elder suddenly pointed at the mirror, "It's bigger than the previous times, isn't it?"

Everyone heard this and looked intently.

In the mirror, the scene changed. Qin Wangchuan broke through the palace roof and flew out, Dragon Qi surging around him, and a dark golden dragon-patterned battle armor gradually formed, covering his entire body.

"Ancient Forbidden Art, Transformed Divine Weapon?!" The Chu Family Elder's pupils constricted, his voice suddenly rising, "Such a forbidden item still exists in this world."

"Hahaha!" Qin Wenhe laughed heartily, his laughter shaking the beams and pillars of the ceremonial platform, causing dust to fall, "Everyone, how about it? My Wangchuan not only slew an Eleventh Realm demon Cultivator with his sword but also gained recognition from a True Dragon Clan's supreme treasure. This is the will of Heaven!"

"Old Qin!" The Li Family Elder gritted his teeth, "Your Qin Family already has Qin Wudao dominating a generation, and now another Qin Wangchuan appears. Are you trying to monopolize the Great Era?!"

"Monopolize?" Qin Wenhe shook his head and chuckled, his tone leisurely, "No, no, it's merely the favor of Heaven."

Everyone heard this and cursed inwardly—this old man, getting a bargain and still acting innocent!

Just then, the scene in the mirror shifted. Chu Wujiu transformed into a purple rainbow and attacked Qin Wangchuan, but he was casually swatted down with a palm, crashing into the ground.

"Hiss—" The Chu Family Elder gasped, his face instantly turning ashen.

Before, he had said that the two were not of the same generation and simply incomparable.

Indeed, they were incomparable; one was sent flying with a single slap.

"A Tenth Realm Cultivator against an Eighth Realm Cultivator, yet suppressed by a single palm?" The Ji Family Family Elder muttered to himself, seemingly in disbelief.

"Old Chu, it seems your 'Nine Hells Battle Body' still needs more practice!"

Faced with everyone's ridicule, the Chu Family Elder's face was grim, but he had no words to retort.

—He knew Chu Wujiu's strength all too well. A Prodigy who could defeat enemies two realms higher was so vulnerable before Qin Wangchuan?

This was just the current gap; in the future, it would only grow wider.

"Eh?" The Imperial Preceptor suddenly frowned, pointing at the mirror, "Where is Qin Wangchuan going?"

Everyone looked, only to see Qin Wangchuan transform into a golden rainbow, soaring into the sky, directly towards the Secret Realm exit.

"He's leaving the Secret Realm?!" The Li Family Elder was astonished, "He has already obtained the supreme treasure, why not continue exploring?"

"Could it be... he has another plan?" The Ji Family Family Elder narrowed his eyes, deep in thought.

Qin Wenhe smiled without speaking, but a profound glint flashed in his eyes.

—His Ninth Young Master's actions have always been unexpected. This move must have a deeper meaning!

The moment Qin Wangchuan rushed out of the Secret Realm, Qin Wenhe was about to step forward, but he saw the golden rainbow not stop at all. Instead, its speed increased, heading directly towards the sky above the Immortal Dynasty's Imperial Palace—

"What is that...?"

Everyone looked up and saw a phantom door suddenly appear in the sky.

It seemed to exist and not exist, with a gilded halo flowing around it, as if it did not belong to this world.

And as Qin Wangchuan approached, the door vibrated with a rumble, descending a Heavenly Staircase made of brilliant golden light, the steps extending until they reached his feet.

As if welcoming him.

"The Path to Heaven?!" The Imperial Preceptor's dragon-headed staff clattered to the ground, his usually composed face showing shock for the first time, "How is this possible... all related ancient texts should have been destroyed."

They, of course, knew about the Path to Heaven and the Tianren Realm that once existed.

But that had already been classified as a dangerous taboo. How did Qin Wangchuan know about it?

"The Path to Heaven has formed; there's no way to stop it."

"Old Qin?"

Qin Wenhe's pupils constricted as he watched this scene, but at this moment, he could only sigh deeply.

"Perhaps, he can do it."

In ancient times, the Tianren Realm was a life-and-death barrier that stood before countless Prodigies.

Those astonishingly talented individuals often vanished forever the moment they stepped through the Heavenly Gate—not fallen, but completely devoured by another world.

Once vanished, they could not be revived.

Even more terrifying, this Heavenly Gate did not test cultivation, nor Aptitude; it only questioned one's Heart-Nature.

Very few people could pass.

And at this moment, Qin Wangchuan had taken the first step onto the Heavenly Staircase.

"Boom—"

The entire Imperial City's Dragon Luck suddenly boiled, intertwining with the Luck of the Great Dao, surging madly towards that figure.

Even more terrifying, with each step he took, the Heavenly Gate solidified a bit more.

From the depths of the firmament came a muffled knocking sound, as if warning Mortals not to push open this forbidden door.

"Clang—"

"Clang—"

Each step upwards, each knock, shook the Imperial City's earth veins.

Jiang Xuanli stood on the palace wall, her Phoenix eyes reflecting the figure ascending the steps.

As the Imperial Dynasty's Eldest Princess, blessed with Dragon Luck, she naturally knew about the Heavenly Gate and clearly understood what stepping onto the Path to Heaven meant—it was a taboo that even her Imperial Father had never dared to touch.

Her jade fingers were tightly clenched, her nails digging deeply into her palm, yet she was completely unaware.

Jiang Xuanli looked at the increasingly high figure, her heart filled with indescribable complex emotions.

Clang—

Another knock sounded, making the golden hairpins in her hair jingle.

"May you..."

As the words left her lips, Jiang Xuanli suddenly realized her impropriety.

As the Imperial Dynasty's Eldest Princess, she should have been the most calm and composed.

But at this moment, she was like a young Cultivator just beginning their immortal journey, her heart surging with emotion at the scene before her.

She took a deep breath, but her gaze could not be torn away from the Heavenly Gate—there, Qin Wangchuan's figure was already close to touching the very top of the Heavenly Gate.

Yu Niang's voice kept reminding him in his ear.

"Everyone's trials behind the Heavenly Gate are different, but one thing is certain."

"To ascend the Path to Heaven, one must question their true Heart-Nature!"

Qin Wangchuan's fingertips touched the Heavenly Gate, and the gilded door rippled like waves.

The sensation was cold, yet strangely familiar—

It was exactly like the Profound Spirit Gate of Wangchuan Pavilion, which he had pushed open thousands of times.

"So that's it..." He suddenly chuckled, a flash of realization in his eyes, "I can probably guess what's inside."

"Guess?" Yu Niang was shocked.

Taking the Little Golden Crow from his head and handing it to Yu Niang, Qin Wangchuan decisively pushed open the Heavenly Gate and walked in.

"Creak—"

The moment the Heavenly Gate was pushed open, golden light surged like a tide across his vision.

Once the light dissipated, the sensation in Qin Wangchuan's hand had changed—

The gilded Heavenly Gate had transformed into a Profound Spirit Gate at some point, and he maintained the posture of pushing open the door.

Looking up, it was the familiar Wangchuan Pavilion.

Qin Wangchuan even smelled the familiar scent of cedar—it was the incense he had personally blended, and even the shape the ashes should form after burning out was etched in his memory.

"You've come."

Five-year-old Qin Wangchuan sat with a scroll, the ink on his desk still wet.