Follow the path of Dao from infancy Chapter 1778 Chapter 458: Heavenly Ascension Road (Part 2)

"I've heard it's supposed to be random, but I never imagined it would show up in such a key location this round."

"Looks like there's bound to be massive uproar this time around."

Countless experts from the Fifth and Sixth Heaven Domains rushed straight to the First Heaven Domain right after getting word of it.

"The First Heaven Domain?"

Lin Zhexuan, out on a hunt in the Second Heaven Domain, froze for a second upon catching the news, then burst into wild delight. He'd been fretting earlier that the Heavenly Ascension Road might pop up in the Deep Heaven Domain, leaving him without even a shot at seeing it. Yet here it was, manifesting in the closest spot—the First Heaven Domain.

"Is this destiny smiling on me?"

Joy surged through Lin Zhexuan. Sure, the Chaos Law he'd forged was weak, and he couldn't match the peak geniuses this go-around, but legends claimed the Heavenly Ascension Road's trials went beyond mere cultivation levels. Should he win the Heavenly Heart's approval, he could defy the odds, rise swiftly, and earn the Heavenly Dao's shield!

Rumors in the ancient texts told of a cultivator with pitifully low strength who, upon treading the Heavenly Road, caught the Heavenly Dao's eye, rocketed to the summit, and in the end, grasped the Heavenly Heart to claim the throne of Emperor!

That very Emperor hailed from ten thousand years back, a nobody prior to his ascension, but once he proved the Dao via the Heavenly Heart, his fame echoed across all Four Domains of the True Realm.

Swoosh!

Lin Zhexuan's form blurred as he dashed off without delay.

At the same time, Su Wanqing and her group in the Second Heaven Domain caught wind of it too and immediately took off.

"To think it's in the First Heaven Domain."

Within the First Heaven Domain, Gu Yan, Yue Xi, and their companions had already arrived, while Sword Heart, Ming Yue, and the rest were spread out across various regions.

The news hit them like a bolt of joy. Had it been the Deep Heaven Domain, they wouldn't have risked getting near, fearing a deadly ambush from Chaos Dao Seeds. But the First Heaven Domain? This was a golden chance dropped from the heavens.

"Come on, let's make our way there as well."

Gu Yan told Yue Xi, a spark of thrill in both their eyes. Hitting the peak was a long shot, but just showing up made the journey worth it.

While geniuses from every domain poured into the First Heaven Domain, Luo Ningshuang and Su Wanyi, fresh out of the Ninth Heaven Domain, got the alert and lit up with surprise.

Who would've guessed that mere moments after departing the Ninth Heaven Domain, word of the Heavenly Road's awakening would reach them?

"First Heaven Domain it is—let's head out."

Luo Ningshuang bolted forward at once, not wanting to lag behind.

After all, she and Su Wanyi stood as the prime contenders in this clash for the Heavenly Road. The rest swarming in were mostly thrill-seekers hoping for a fluke. Dreaming of snagging the Heavenly Road's nod like that fabled Emperor from eons past—leaping from nobody to Heavenly Heart mastery—was nothing but delusion.

Fortune like that striking once every ten thousand years was miracle enough; banking on it twice? Pure fantasy.

"At last, it's here."

Xue Consort's gaze sharpened with faint excitement as the report came in, and she set out at once alongside her attendant.

A sudden memory flashed of Li Hao and the Divine Venerable who'd clashed fiercely right in her view before vanishing. She had no clue how their duel ended, but with the Domain Artifact spent, the Heavenly Road would bring far fewer restraints.

"What fools..."

She gave a light shake of her head, sensing her rival count had just dropped by a pair.

"The Heavenly Road is out—quick, we're moving too."

The young powerhouses of the Chaos Red Demon Clan and their allies surged forth without hesitation.

As the masses converged, the boundless wonders and fervor of the Endless Heavenly Domain all funneled toward a plain, overlooked stretch of earth in the First Heaven Domain.

Yet atop that very ground now rose a grand Heavenly Road piercing the firmament, stretching into enigmatic realms of time and space, as if linking directly to the Heavenly Dao itself. It had turned utterly eye-catching, a radiant beam shooting skyward, bathing the whole First Heaven Domain in its glow.

When Su Wanyi reached the site, the sight of the colossal Heavenly Road and the scores of chained giants in prisoner rags at its foot left her stunned, even with prior whispers; witnessing it firsthand still packed a punch.

Her master's—the Chaos Immortal Emperor's—words echoed: these behemoths bearing the Heavenly Road's weight belonged to some ancient Chaos Clan lineage, doled out eternal torment for defying the Heavenly Dao, all trapped at the Quasi-Emperor Realm!

"Seventy-two of them at Quasi-Emperor Realm..."

Su Wanyi felt a profound tremor. Beyond these bounds, Quasi-Emperors might not tower like Immortal Emperors, but the entire True Realm scarce boasted so many!

Her own Su Family held just three Quasi-Emperors. Beyond her father, two more lingered: one, akin to ancestor Su Jiuzhe, locked in endless slumber for ages; the other, her father's great-grandfather, standing vigil at the borders.

With that might, the Su Family ranked among the Northern Domain's elite houses. And yet, here loomed seventy-two Quasi-Emperors!

"Rewind to ten thousand years prior, pre-Ancient Demon War—any clan with over a dozen Quasi-Emperors counted as a powerhouse."

Su Wanyi mused inwardly.

Pre-Ancient Demon War, the True Realm flourished wildly. A top clan boasting over ten Quasi-Emperors was commonplace. But the war's close claimed droves of Quasi-Emperors, even Immortal Emperors. The fortunate reborn through cycles; the cursed saw their Soul Hearts fade, doomed to the Mo River's depths forever.

"These Quasi-Emperors were sealed here long before that era..."

Su Wanyi gazed deeply. Though bound beneath the Heavenly Road, the aura of seventy-two Quasi-Emperors radiated an awe-inspiring weight.

By now, bold prodigies had started their ascent up the Heavenly Road.

"Time to go—we're climbing too."

Luo Ningshuang declared.

Su Wanyi held back, sweeping her eyes over the throng before replying, "Hold on, I need to fetch my junior sisters first."

"You plan to haul them to the summit as well?"

Luo Ningshuang paused in surprise, her brows knitting as she questioned.

Scaling to the top solo was challenge enough; dragging others? Near impossible.

Though Su Wanyi's juniors were gifted beyond measure, they remained unripe, and this clearly wasn't their moment.

"I just want to let them climb a ways. No dreams of the peak, but pushing higher could spark deeper insights for them."

Su Wanyi explained, eager to lend her juniors every edge she could.

Luo Ningshuang arched a brow and replied evenly, "Fine, go on then. I'm not sticking around."

Su Wanyi shot her a look and said, "I'll catch up soon, then we can tackle it side by side."

"If you manage to keep pace, that is."

Luo Ningshuang's tone had turned icy. Their pact back in the Ninth Heaven Domain was for shared survival, but here on the Heavenly Road, absent outer threats, they were rivals through and through.

Su Wanyi got the drift and held her tongue, offering a quick goodbye before veering off to track down Su Wanqing and the rest.

It didn't take long to spot Su Wanqing and her junior sisters amid the masses.

They hovered at the Heavenly Road's base, straining to edge nearer, but the press of bodies was thick, a chaotic torrent like an inverted cascade crashing into froth. In the melee, Immortal Techniques flared, and clashes had already erupted.

Su Wanyi could only shake her head. These folks brawled fiercely despite slim odds of summiting, much less conquering it.

As Su Wanyi pressed through, Luo Ningshuang charged toward the Heavenly Road.

But in that instant, a shape drew up beside her, crying out in glee, "Senior Sister Nine!"

Luo Ningshuang's face tightened; she glanced over to see her junior brother Lin Zhexuan.

Her features stayed stern as she queried flatly, "What do you want?"

"Senior Sister Nine, you came out unscathed from the Deep Heaven Domain, right? I've been beside myself with worry for you. So relieved to lay eyes on you at last…"

Lin Zhexuan's words cut short as Luo Ningshuang snapped, "I'm okay."

He blinked in shock at her shifted chill, his face clouding with confusion over what he'd done wrong.

Still, he pushed it aside and murmured, "Senior Sister Nine, you're aiming for the Heavenly Road too? If that's the case, could you maybe..."

"This chance is beyond you—heck, it's a stretch for me."

Luo Ningshuang caught his drift and tossed back the line before streaking off in a blaze of light.

At the same moment, from distant spots, hordes of silhouettes erupted forth, unleashing fearsome auras, rolling in like storm fronts toward the Heavenly Road.

"Clear the way, all of you!"

A booming roar thundered from above, shaking the rioting masses to their cores.

Trailing it, hulking Chaos Ancient Clan warriors shed their disguises, barreling at the Heavenly Road like colossal predators vaulting the skies, their shades engulfing the terrain below.