Ren Woxing stroked his long, white beard, feeling exceedingly forlorn in his heart.

He was old now.

How long could he hold on?

Could he truly see Ding Ling again?

If he couldn’t witness the true pinnacle of the Martial Dao before dying, he would die with regrets.

"I wonder if I can set foot on this Celestial Ladder?"

Ren Woxing’s heart stirred, and he suddenly stepped forward, finding that he was really ascending the Celestial Ladder. His heart surged with excitement.

He stepped up the Celestial Ladder continuously for dozens of layers before turning back and laughing aloud:

"Looks like my journey hasn’t ended yet!"

Just thinking about the Sun and Moon Divine Sect.

He felt conflicted and hesitant again.

The Sun and Moon Divine Sect was his heart’s knot, compelling him to give up, which he really couldn’t do with ease.

"I’ll give it a try too."

Xiaang Wentian, Zhang Hex, and others all tried one after another and found they could do it too.

Even some passersby who caught up tried it.

Everyone discovered a fact.

That only those who reached First-class strength could set foot on this Celestial Ladder.

Zhang Hex and Taishi Ci exchanged glances, thinking:

"In the Lower Realm, we needed Super-Elite strength to step on this Celestial Ladder. But Super-Elite strength is equivalent to a First-class martial arts expert in this world.

And First-class martial arts experts, like Super-Elite Fierce Generals in the Lower Realm, vary in strength, some strong and some weak.

Now First-class experts can set foot on this Celestial Ladder.

We Super-Elite Fierce Generals can as well.

So it seems.

Ascenders from the Lower Realm have no fortune in this world. Can they continue following the Prince to ascend to an even higher realm?!"

This was something Zhang Hex and his group couldn’t have imagined.

Originally, they thought that a stronger power was needed for another ascension to the Upper Realm.

Now they found it unnecessary.

Their thoughts became more agile.

But at the sight of Qu Feiyan, they quelled the thought of immediate ascension. Even if they were to ascend, they must first comply with the promise made to the Prince!

Tap-tap-tap!

On the Celestial Ladder, someone was tap-tap-tapping all the way up, racing upwards at extreme speed, like Xun Wind flickering.

It was a Super-Elite Fierce General.

"It’s that guy Yuwen Chengdu."

Some players recognized:

"Unexpectedly, he’s in Chang’an City too. Is this because he found no fortune in The Smiling, Proud Wanderer World and abandoned the search to head to an even upper realm?"

"Not just Yuwen Chengdu. Some other fierce generals have also arrived. Judging by their expressions, they probably won’t stay in this world for long either."

...

Everyone was talking incessantly.

Zhang Hex and his companions no longer had the interest to stay here.

They immediately decided to return to Huashan together.

Huashan has Feng Qingyang.

Because Feng Qingyang greatly valued Ding Ling, and during discussions with Ding Ling, they often listened in, and over time, their relationship with Feng Qingyang became pretty good too.

Returning to Huashan this time,

Zhang Hex also had hopes of getting some guidance in sword skills from Feng Qingyang.

After all, Ding Ling earlier especially asked Feng Qingyang to look after Qu Feiyan and them.

Feng Qingyang also agreed.

Wheee-neeeigh!

Zhang Hex, Taishi Ci, and Qu Feiyan rode horses together.

On the way.

Consort Yhu was absent-minded, her beautiful eyes occasionally looking towards the direction of the Celestial Ladder. Qu Feiyan glanced at her and understood that Consort Yhu was thinking about Xiang Yu, hoping to see Xiang Yu soon.

But at the moment, her heart was also lost and sad, and she lacked the energy to comfort Consort Yhu, just sitting listlessly on horseback, letting the top-class steed carry her forward.

Whoosh! 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Suddenly, a sharp arrow flew from the sidelong, aiming straight at Qu Feiyan’s forehead!

"How daring!"

Taishi Ci had kept Ding Ling’s instructions in mind, and though eager on the journey, he stayed vigilant, his eyes and ears constantly attentive.

At this moment, seeing a sneak attack with an arrow, he immediately burst with rage, activating the Flying Swallow Technique, Ascending Skill, combining the inner qi of Pure Yang True Skill and the vigorous qi of the Breathing Technique, boom!

His speed rapidly increased by tenfold, making Taishi Ci seem like a ghost, leaping from the horseback, a long spear quivering!

Clang, clang, clang!

The spear blossomed into flower-like flourish and blocked right in front of Qu Feiyan, bang!

A crisp sound.

The spear flower shattered the hidden arrow.

Hmm?!

Zhang Hex then saw the attacker, a brawny man wielding a massive axe:

"Seeking death!"

He was furious, thrusting his spear and rushing forward on his horse.

"Humph!"

The brawny man wasn’t afraid and casually hung his bow at the side of his horse, wielding a giant axe, riding towards Zhang Hex as well.

They soon approached each other.

They swung their weapons simultaneously.

One had a sharp spear, thrusting with nine blossoming spear flowers, each seeming to captivate the soul, targeting the opponent’s vital points!

The other had an intimidating giant axe, hacking directly at Zhang Hex’s head. After Zhang Hex dodged the first move, it unpredictably swung up again like Ghost Tooth-Picking, seemingly about to scrape away Zhang Hex’s face!

Zhang Hex broke into a cold sweat, but after dodging the second move, the opponent’s axe spun yet again, smoothly swiveling the axe blade towards Zhang Hex’s ear!

Seeing Zhang Hex about to lose an ear.

Whoosh!

Taishi Ci pulled back his bowstring, the arrow bursting forth like a storm, blasting straight towards the brawny man’s forehead.

Clearly.

Taishi Ci was repaying the combat style with its own method!

The brawny man was startled, hastily blocking with his axe!

Bang!

Arrow and giant axe collided.

The brawny man’s giant axe slightly trembled yet remained unscathed.

But he seemed to realize the futility of the sneak attack this time, cast a deep glance at Zhang Hex and Taishi Ci, decisively turned his horse to leave.

"You think you can leave!"

Zhang Hex, furious beyond measure, spun his spear and gave chase on horseback:

"Cheng Yaojin, since you’re here today, don’t even think of leaving!"

Zhang Hex recognized the attacker.

Ding Ling had once specially advised them.

Mentioning the characteristics of the fierce generals from Li Shimin’s faction in the Sui and Tang World.

Among them, Cheng Yaojin’s Three Axes: Split Head, Ghost Tooth-Picking, Ear Gouging!

Each move was lethal, incredibly exquisite.

Like the Thirty-Six Celestial Spirit Axe Techniques, it was an extremely similar axe technique!

Zhang Hex had exchanged battle experiences with Pan Feng.

He was extremely familiar with the Thirty-Six Celestial Spirit Axe Techniques.

But unexpectedly faced with this storm-like trio of attacks, he was caught off guard!

Thinking of Ding Ling’s advice and almost being defeated by Cheng Yaojin right now, he felt ashamed and mortified!

Since receiving the Divine Skill from Ding Ling, his power had improved rapidly, yet he nearly got careless and injured by the opponent.

How could he tolerate it?

The most intolerable was the opponent’s attempt to kill Qu Feiyan, which truly touched Zhang Hex’s inverted scale!

Qu Feiyan was someone the Prince protected!

If anything happened to her.

How could Zhang Hex face the Prince!

Thinking this,

Zhang Hex let out a long roar, suddenly leapt off his horse, kicking off the horse’s back, activating the special vigorous qi from the fusion of vigorous qi and inner qi!

Boom!