Now, When the Stars Shone Brightest

The Immortal Dynasty, the Imperial Palace.

Although the True Dragon Secret Realm has ended, the palace and its surroundings are more bustling than ever before.

Beneath the towering palace walls, figures thronged, and powerful individuals were everywhere.

They gathered here for no other reason than the legendary Celestial Being Realm!

Qin Wangchuan revealed the method of ascending to heaven to the public, and everyone is welcome to seek it.

Some cultivators who were stuck at the peak of the Eighth Realm had a burning light in their eyes, were breathing rapidly, and were clenching and unclenching their palms, clearly struggling internally.

"The Celestial Being Realm... It is said that those who enter this realm can influence celestial phenomena and even integrate the pressure of the Great Dao into their own Dao!" An old man in a gray robe murmured, his eyes filled with longing.

"But what's the price?" his companion said coldly. "Not to mention that we on the Ask Heaven Path must sever our own cultivation levels, if we perish there, there's no way to be resurrected!"

"Heh, the path of cultivation is inherently defying the heavens. If you don't even dare to take this small risk, how can you talk about reaching the pinnacle?" The woman beside him sneered, a ruthless glint in her eyes.

Further away, some more powerful individuals remained silent.

Most of them were already at the Ninth Realm, and some were even above the Tenth Realm.

Yet, when faced with the true threshold of the Celestial Person, he hesitated even more than those Eighth Realm cultivators.

"A single misstep could lead to Myriad Tribulations..." a middle-aged man carrying Ancient Sword murmured, his fingertips gently stroking the scabbard as if weighing the pros and cons.

Another person sighed:

"But if you don't compete, you'll always be inferior to others."

The wind howled, and the clouds churned above the palace, as if even heaven and earth were watching this change.

Li Xuan and Chu Wujiu stood side by side on a high platform deep within the palace, looking down at the surging crowd below.

"Celestial Being Realm ..." Li Xuan murmured, his eyes filled with a mixture of fighting spirit and hesitation.

"What, you're tempted too?" Chu Wujiu chuckled, toying with a copper coin between his fingers, his tone playful.

"Tempted?" Li Xuan shook his head. "I'm just wondering, if we don't take this path, will we still have a chance to catch up with those true prodigies?"

"Catch up?" Chu Wujiu scoffed. "Qin Wangchuan entered the sixth realm at ten, slew Eleventh Realm Demon Cultivator at fifteen, and is now the first to step into the Celestial Person... Admit it, we can't catch up with someone like him."

Li Xuan remained silent.

Yes, the gap is huge.

"I didn't say anything to him."

"Besides..."

He raised his head, a resolute glint in his eyes. "If we don't fight for it, we'll forever only be able to look up to it."

Chu Wujiu paused, the copper coin hovering in mid-air. He narrowed his eyes, as if deep in thought.

Just then--

"Tap, tap, tap..."

A series of steady footsteps approached.

The two turned around at the same time and saw a familiar figure walking slowly towards them.

It's Ji Wuchen.

He was still wearing Black Brocade Robe, but his once jet-black hair was now mostly white, and his brows revealed an indescribable sense of vicissitude.

"Brother Ji?!" Li Xuan's pupils contracted, his heart filled with shock.

They had only been apart for half a month, but Ji Wuchen seemed to have lived through a hundred years, his vitality seemingly withered away.

"You..." Chu Wujiu frowned, about to ask a question.

Ji Wuchen simply shook his head, saying nothing more, and walked straight to the edge of the platform, his gaze falling on the center of the palace—

That's where Qin Wangchuan achieved the Celestial Being Realm.

"Is this the place?" he asked softly.

Li Xuan and Chu Wujiu exchanged a glance and slowly nodded.

"You're going to venture out?" Chu Wujiu asked tentatively.

Ji Wuchen did not turn around, but simply said:

"My current level of understanding is insufficient."

"But on the day I reached the peak of the Eighth Realm..."

He paused, a resolute glint in his eyes.

"--I won't hesitate."

"If you don't even dare to fight for it now, you're not qualified to walk the same path as him in the future!"

As soon as the words were spoken, Li Xuan and Chu Wujiu were startled.

After a moment of silence, Li Xuan took a deep breath, his hesitation vanishing and replaced by a resolute expression.

"Yes... if we don't fight now, how will we fight later?"

Chu Wujiu flicked his finger, the copper coin flipped, and finally landed steadily in his palm.

He grinned, his fighting spirit surging.

"Then... fight!"

After saying that, Li Xuan's Spiritual Power surged, and he immediately severed his cultivation, his Ninth Realm aura rapidly dropping to the Eighth Realm.

Chu Wujiu fared much worse; he was originally at the Tenth Realm, but the price he paid to reduce him to the Eighth Realm was enormous!

Fortunately, the root cause was not damaged.

Everyone knows that this is not a futile act, but a phoenix rising from the ashes!

The weather above the palace suddenly changed.

The path between the Celestial Person and the human has been opened.

The same scene played out in other Imperial Dynasty.

Northern Region - Dayan Dynasty

The Crown Prince, dressed in white, stood on the jade steps, the Heavenly Ladder above his head already descending.

"Your His Highness, please reconsider!" The old minister knelt on the ground, his voice trembling. "There's a reason why the Celestial Being Realm is designated as a forbidden realm; the risks are far too great..."

The Crown Prince raised his hand to interrupt, "No need for further words."

He gazed towards the direction of the Central Province Dynasty, his white hair fluttering in the wind. "Qin Wangchuan can walk this path, why can't I?"

Southern Region, Xuanyue Dynasty.

"Princess, please reconsider!"

The servants knelt on the ground. "You have already reached the Thirteenth Realm. If you were to sever your cultivation now, it would surely damage your Origin Source!"

Su Wanzhao lightly stroked the sword at her waist with her fingertips, her expression indifferent.

"So what?"

She turned and left, leaving behind only a cold sentence that echoed in the wind:

"It's better to have Origin Source damaged than to have Dao heart clouded."

"If others can do it, so can I!"

When various forces rose up in a storm over the method of ascending to heaven.

Qin Wangchuan had already returned to his clan.

His grandfather and the others naturally offered their condolences and greetings regarding his adventurous act.

Fortunately, the Old Ancestor didn't say anything.

That's how they escaped disaster.

The Divine Seed that was planted in the courtyard has sprouted and grown into a small tree, its branches swaying in the breeze.

A pot of tea sat on the stone table, its aroma wafting through the air.

Qin Wangchuan sat in the courtyard, his fingertips lightly tapping the table, his thoughts slightly deep.

The position of the Divine Son...

He silently recited it in his heart.

Not long ago, the Old Ancestor announced that he would select a Divine Son from among the nine Young Masters.

Once the candidate is chosen, all other Young Master will be demoted to Dao Child.

Based on probability, the position of the Divine Son will most likely fall to the Eldest Brother.

This is not surprising— his Eldest Brother was born centuries earlier than him, and not only is he exceptionally talented, Desolate Ancient Sacred Body is also invincible. He was destined to be the future pillar of the Qin Clan.

Qin Wangchuan didn't have any objections.

What are you thinking about?

A clear, cold voice drifted over, and Li Qingluan approached via the stone steps, the fragrance of winter plum blossoms following her.

Qin Wangchuan looked up and saw that she had changed into a plain white dress, her eyes clear and cold as frost.

"It's nothing," he said casually, pushing the already brewed tea towards him with a flick of his finger.

Li Qingluan sat down opposite him, lightly touching the teacup with her fingertips, causing the tea to ripple slightly.

However, her aura was no longer as vast as it had been before.

Instead, it barely crossed the Celestial Being Realm.

Indeed, following Qin Wangchuan, Li Qingluan is the second person to knock on the Heavenly Gate and reach the Celestial Being Realm.

She didn't hesitate at all when she cut herself off.

"I don't quite understand why you would also sever your cultivation to ascend to the Heavenly Gate?"

Li Qingluan's expression remained unchanged; she merely nodded slightly.

"Aren't you afraid of failure?" Qin Wangchuan continued to ask.

"Were you afraid when you Ascension Path?" she asked rhetorically, her tone calm yet revealing an undeniable firmness.

Qin Wangchuan shook his head. "I don't think I will fail."

"Me too."

As soon as they finished speaking, the two looked at each other and burst out laughing.

The title of "Prodigy" is not just an empty name.

It is a crown bestowed upon us by others, but also a medal etched by ourselves.

Walk the path no one dares to walk, strive for the realm no one dares to contend for, and stand at the pinnacle that all beings look up to.

--This is true Prodigy.