Volume One, Chapter 13: The Heavenly Ladder, Part Two
“Everyone, do you still know any way to reach the Heavenly Realm?” Chen Yan asked himself silently.
“No, the Jade Emperor has likely concealed it. We have no means to detect the location of Heaven,” Yang Jian replied. “But I know of another path to the Heavenly Realm, one that is not under the control of Heaven.”
“Where?”
“Mount Tai.”
Upon hearing this, without hesitation, Chen Yan slowly walked along the verdant path, surrounded by the calls of countless animals echoing through the woods.
Mount Tai was beyond the jurisdiction of Heaven, but it was once governed by the Mortal Realm.
However, as time passed and the Mortal Realm became entangled in countless affairs, the Emperor of Men had no leisure to oversee this gateway to Heaven.
Gradually, it was forgotten by most people, including the Emperor, burdened by endless duties.
Before long, Chen Yan arrived at the foot of the mountain and looked up to see an unbroken chain of peaks.
Unlike the scenery along the way, here stretched an endless expanse of barren mountains.
Not a single animal could be seen.
Occasionally, there were only humans and demons who came to cultivate.
Along the path up the mountain, there were even some black pools resembling sludge, within which vague movements of creatures could be seen.
Chen Yan crouched down and studied the murky pool carefully.
Suddenly, a massive black human face burst out from the pool, wailing as it lunged toward Chen Yan.
But before it could reach him, the mud-covered face was washed away, revealing the pitiable visage of a young girl.
Following this, a body emerged from the pool, its mud-covered skin gradually cleared by the Emperor’s fortune, revealing its original form.
Within mere seconds, the young girl’s soul, full of innocence, appeared before Chen Yan.
He gently patted her head and then proceeded toward the mountain peaks.
These black pools contained the souls of living beings—humans, demons, monsters, animals, and plants.
Seeing this scene, Chen Yan could only sigh bitterly.
Is this what it means to fail the ascension?
Is this the so-called Heavenly Gate?
Had they not realized that these beings had all lost their vital energy?
Why, why would they still yearn for the Heavenly Gate despite this?
Chen Yan’s heart ached deeply. Seeing the scattered figures beside him, he remained silent.
Now was not the time to save them.
The Emperor’s fortune within himself could not be divided too much.
Yet he believed that once he conquered this Heaven, all the deceived beings of the Mortal Realm would awaken and such devastation would never recur.
Without using the Emperor’s power, Chen Yan ascended step by step, determined to see how many had been harmed by this Heaven.
As time passed and dusk approached, he finally reached the summit of Mount Tai.
Unlike the desolation below, the peak was peaceful.
A broad path stretched directly toward the sky, while the beings around sat calmly on either side, slowly absorbing the energy emanating from the path above.
Chen Yan cast a glance and was surprised to find among these sacred spirits a few whose aura was nearly at the King level.
They possessed such strength—had they not noticed their power was being slowly stripped away?
With such doubts, Chen Yan approached these beings and asked:
“Why are you here?”
“We?” The being he addressed looked puzzled. “Of course, to become gods.”
“That’s not the answer I want,” Chen Yan shook his head. “Why are you here?”
“I already said...” The being’s expression turned impatient, but at that moment, it sensed Chen Yan’s aura. “You... you are the Emperor of Men?!”
“So, why are you here?” Chen Yan repeated his question.
This time, the being fell silent, unable to meet the Emperor’s gaze.
“I understand now.”
Seeing this, Chen Yan did not press further but shook his head and walked toward the path to the Heavenly Realm.
They knew their cultivated power was waning, yet they still harbored a flicker of hope to become gods.
They were different from those who had become kings—those beings could sever Heaven’s control over them, like Sun Wukong, but they could not.
They believed as long as their cultivation advanced faster than the rate of loss, they could ascend, perhaps even become gods.
The surrounding beings’ eyes focused on Chen Yan in astonishment.
This Heavenly Gate—without sufficient power, even if one tried to step onto it, they would fall short, let alone ascend the steps. This is why so many gathered here but none ascended.
No one had set foot here for millions of years.
What shocked them even more was that when Chen Yan reached the middle of the path, he turned to the beings below and declared:
“I, the Emperor of Men, apologize to all living beings!”
“Because of the limits of life, I had forgotten the path to ascend Mount Tai and did not foresee how deeply Heaven has exploited you,” Chen Yan bowed deeply, his expression grave. “Today, I come to redeem you all.”
His gaze fixed on the steps beneath his feet.
Some sharp-eyed beings immediately discerned Chen Yan’s intention and shouted:
“Stop him! He wants to destroy the path to Heaven!”
Upon hearing this, the beings reacted, but none could reach Chen Yan’s height.
“Who are you to sever our path to godhood? Who are you to do this!”
“As the Emperor of Men, you have ignored all living things, and now you would shatter our hope for a better life!”
“You are nothing but a failed emperor!”
Because no one—human, god, or ghost—could fly near the path, no one could touch Chen Yan, but their words deeply provoked him.
Yet Chen Yan did not hesitate. He pressed down firmly, and from him as the origin, cracks rapidly spread across the path to Heaven on the ground.
“I...”
“The Emperor of Men is skilled in strategy. This scene is beyond his handling. Let me step in,” a voice suddenly echoed in Chen Yan’s mind—it was Tang Sanzang.
“Majestic and elegant, the robes of Buddha fit perfectly. Radiant light fills the universe, colors gather to shape the cosmos—Tang Sanzang.”
“I am the humble monk Tang Sanzang. Greetings, Emperor of Men.”
As Tang Sanzang’s form appeared beside Chen Yan, the surrounding aura shifted drastically.
The Emperor’s gentle aura was now imbued with a trace of Buddhist compassion.
This compassion was unlike any they had seen; past Buddhas appeared aloof, but this human, resembling a Buddha, conveyed genuine mercy from the depths of a true Buddha’s heart.
“Have you grown tired of life?!” Tang Sanzang’s words cut through the silence.
All beings fell silent.
Even Chen Yan was stunned—he never expected the devout Buddhist Tang Sanzang to speak so bluntly.
Tang Sanzang smiled faintly at Chen Yan, as if apologizing for his coarse words.
“Do you really think you can become gods? Do you believe there is a place for you among the Thirty-Three Heavens?!” Tang Sanzang pressed his palms together, his gaze cold. “Do you truly understand the path of ascension?”
“What are you trying to say? As a Buddha of the Heavenly Realm, why do you side with the Emperor of Men?” a being challenged.
“Ascension is a lie. Gods feed on all living things,” Tang Sanzang said calmly. “Do you know why your cultivation progress slows each day? Do you know what happens to those who ascend?”
With a wave of his hand, a young peach tree sapling appeared beneath his sleeve.
Underneath the sapling lay a long-dead corpse.
Some beings trembled as they spoke:
“That is... a prodigy who ascended millions of years ago!”
Seeing that some recognized the corpse, Tang Sanzang knew his warning was effective.
“Those close to the King level have surely felt their power mysteriously drain. This is because Heaven is relentlessly devouring the Mortal Realm. The ascension you long for is nothing but a way to become their nourishment!”
“To ascend to the upper realms is to lose all cultivation, to have your vital energy absorbed by Heaven. This is the path you seek.”
“In the end, you become playthings for so-called immortals, their slaves!”
“To them, you are nothing more than exploited grasshoppers!”
“It is because beings like you exist that Heaven grows stronger, the Emperor’s power weakens, and the Mortal Realm suffers!”
“Bullshit!”
A wolf-like being roared angrily, his aura nearly at the King level.
His appearance was nearly mad, clearly overwhelmed by the harsh truth.
Chen Yan’s expression changed sharply.
The being vanished in an instant.
“Have you not seen me for too long to still not take me seriously?” Tang Sanzang smiled slightly upon seeing the Emperor take action.
The timing was perfect—to expose the true face of Heaven. Whether they believed it or not, doubt and hesitation would arise in their hearts. Now, with the Emperor’s show of power, most would be subdued.
In the Mortal Realm, the true opportunity to ascend to King level lies in the Emperor’s fortune.
Becoming King is the ticket to ascend to Heaven. Those who have seen through Heaven’s schemes have become Kings; those who have not will never have the chance.
This is why no one has ascended in millions of years.
The so-called heavenly aura was merely a pass to Heaven—one that would cleanse their bodies and drain their vital energy, reducing them to ordinary beings upon arrival.
With renewed force, Chen Yan shattered the path to Heaven starting from himself.
“Tang Sanzang has said all that needed to be said. I trust you will judge for yourselves. Today, I ascend to the Heavenly Realm to settle the score between mortals and gods.”
Without looking back, he strode into the dark clouds.
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