Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 268: Chapter 268: Heaven-Defying Opportunity

Qin Zhantian had sent for Ye Qingchen early in the morning. Hearing that Qin Zhantian would attempt to climb the Stepping Heaven Ladder today, the people from the Rising Sun Pavilion had also gathered early to watch. They were, however, somewhat puzzled to see Ye Qingchen standing by Qin Zhantian’s side.

An Elder from the Rising Sun Pavilion spoke up, asking Qin Zhantian, ”Family Head, the Stepping Heaven Ladder has never allowed outsiders to climb it. Moreover, even Qin Family disciples must have outstanding merits to be granted permission to ascend it.”

Qin Zhantian glanced at the Elder and said coldly, ”Do I need you to teach me how to do things? Ye Qingchen is my grandson-in-law. Doesn’t that make him a member of the Qin Family? Furthermore, he saved my life. Is that not an outstanding merit? As the Family Head of the Qin Family, am I not qualified to allow Ye Qingchen to climb the Stepping Heaven Ladder?”

Faced with Qin Zhantian’s barrage of questions, the Elder was left speechless and had no choice but to retreat.

Upon hearing that Ye Qingchen was actually Qin Zhantian’s grandson-in-law, the onlooking crowd couldn’t help but burst into discussion, speculating about which prominent young lady he had managed to woo to have the good fortune of becoming Qin Zhantian’s grandson-in-law.

Watching the buzzing crowd below, Qin Zhantian announced loudly, ”Ye Qingchen and Qin Yue already have a marriage engagement, so he is considered a member of our Qin Family. If anyone else has an objection to Ye Qingchen climbing the Stepping Heaven Ladder, speak up now! Don’t just whisper amongst yourselves and make us a laughingstock!”

As Qin Zhantian’s voice fell, the crowd quieted down, though they were still inwardly astonished that the notoriously haughty Qin Yue had actually entered into a marriage engagement.

Ye Qingchen hadn’t expected Qin Zhantian to announce his engagement to Qin Yue so publicly, but he understood that Qin Zhantian was doing it to give him the right to climb the Stepping Heaven Ladder. Besides, Ye Qingchen harbored special feelings for Qin Yue. He was especially moved by the memory of her rushing to Dragon Tiger Mountain to save him at the risk of her own life.

Seeing the quieted crowd, Qin Zhantian nodded in satisfaction before turning to Ye Qingchen. ”Qingchen, I will ascend the Stepping Heaven Ladder first. Once I reach the tenth step, you can go up. Remember not to push yourself too hard. If you feel the pressure is too much to bear, stop resisting, and the Stepping Heaven Ladder will naturally transport you down.”

Ye Qingchen nodded in agreement.

Then, Qin Zhantian used a Secret Technique to activate the Stepping Heaven Ladder.

With a flash of golden light, enormous steps appeared on the once-flat ground. They wound upwards until they disappeared into the clouds, emanating a mysterious aura. Each of the one hundred and eight steps was about three meters wide, ten meters long, and half a meter high. Resembling a giant dragon soaring into the sky, the staircase looked as if it truly led to the heavens.

The Stepping Heaven Ladder certainly lived up to its reputation.

After everything was prepared, Qin Zhantian nodded to Ye Qingchen and then walked toward the first step.

Qin Zhantian’s climbing speed was fast. He barely paused on the first step before ascending to the second. His pace did not slow, and he quickly reached the tenth step.

As instructed, Ye Qingchen then began his own ascent, stepping onto the first step of the Stepping Heaven Ladder.

The moment he set foot on it, he felt pressure bearing down on him from all directions.

Just as Qin Zhantian had said, the pressure from the first step was already equivalent to Ye Qingchen’s own strength.

Ye Qingchen furrowed his brow; for him, such pressure was hardly worth mentioning. After all, his body had been tempered by both the Fen Tian Earth Fire and the ancient jade Spiritual Fire.

However, Ye Qingchen did not rush to climb to the second step. Instead, he closed his eyes to sense the power surging around him.

While Ye Qingchen was in contemplation, Qin Zhantian had already reached the fiftieth step, matching his previous record.

However, now that the Fire Poison in his body had been completely eradicated, Qin Zhantian’s strength had improved once again. He had previously been forced to give up at the fiftieth step, but returning now, Qin Zhantian felt he could just barely withstand its pressure.

Overjoyed, Qin Zhantian continued to climb toward the fifty-first step.

The moment he set foot on the fifty-first step, he felt the surrounding pressure double. He gritted his teeth and struggled onward, understanding that the longer he endured, the greater the improvement to his strength would be.

However, after only ten breaths, Qin Zhantian could no longer hold on and fell from the Stepping Heaven Ladder. A white light then enveloped him, teleporting him back to the ground.

Qin Zhantian took a deep breath. Feeling his strength had increased, his heart filled with joy, making the pain he had just endured seem all the more worthwhile.

The Elders from the Rising Sun Pavilion saw that Qin Zhantian’s climb had ended and came over to congratulate him.

”Congratulations, Family Head, for breaking your record again! Your strength has become even more refined!”

Qin Zhantian laughed heartily and waved his hand, his gaze turning to Ye Qingchen, who was still climbing.

By this time, Ye Qingchen had only reached the sixth step. His speed was not only incomparable to Qin Zhantian’s but was also considerably slower than any Qin Family disciple who had climbed the Stepping Heaven Ladder in the past.

Qin Zhantian frowned as well. Is the difficulty of the Stepping Heaven Ladder too great for Ye Qingchen?

The onlookers, seeing Ye Qingchen’s tortoise-like pace, couldn’t help but start whispering among themselves.

”This kid is all looks and no substance. Climbing so slowly, does he even have the right to be up there?”

”Hmph, what a waste of an activation of the Stepping Heaven Ladder. With his kind of strength, it would be better to let me climb it again. I reached the thirtieth step in just ten minutes, yet after all this time, this kid is only on the sixth! Such a waste, a total waste.”

”Reaching the thirtieth step in ten minutes is nothing! Back in the day, Qin Yue reached the fortieth step in only ten minutes! With his level of aptitude, how could he possibly be worthy of Qin Yue!”

The chorus of mocking voices reached Qin Zhantian’s ears, and he couldn’t help but frown. From six steps away, Qingchen can definitely hear them. Seeing that Ye Qingchen remained unaffected by the gossip, however, Qin Zhantian secretly nodded in approval. To have a disposition so unmoved by praise or scorn... even if he fails to climb the Stepping Heaven Ladder, he will surely have great achievements in the future. And if all else fails, his innate talent in the Alchemy Dao is unquestionable!

In truth, Ye Qingchen wasn’t slow because the pressure on the steps was too great.

On the contrary, he could quickly adapt to the surrounding pressure with each step he climbed. This pressure, however, felt strange to him.

Under its influence, the Spiritual Energy around him seemed to become exceptionally active, continuously flowing into his body.

This was why Ye Qingchen paused to meditate and comprehend after ascending each step.

He realized this was an absolutely heaven-defying opportunity! Not only can it improve my cultivation, but it can also temper my mind!