Silence descended upon the celestial cultivators gathered below. The day’s unfolding events had robbed them of gasps and cries, leaving them merely to stare, dumbfounded, at the hazy silhouette of a white-robed figure amidst the shimmering, equally indistinct, sixteenth layer of golden light.

With audacious action, Wang Lin had utterly reversed the tides of fortune that had seemed to conspire against him. Every doubt, every scornful whisper, was swept away like mist before a hurricane, leaving not a trace in the face of such undeniable power.

The Immortal Emperor had spoken of soul armor, of how external power could never truly be perfect. Now, Wang Lin would demonstrate to all that a mere fourteen layers were but a paltry limit to his capabilities!

Faced with a thousand accusing eyes, Wang Lin had uttered not a single word of defense. He had merely surged forward, shattering the fourteenth layer, storming through the fifteenth, and now, in one earth-shattering breath, he had conquered the sixteenth – a feat unheard of for countless ages!

This was mightier than ten thousand arguments, more awe-inspiring than any declaration.

The entire Nirvana of Heavenly Reverence fell into utter stillness. Beneath the gazes of countless eyes, Wang Lin remained serene, untouched, standing within the golden radiance, eyes closed as if in meditation, or perhaps, waiting for the arrival of Nether Dao.

Upon him, this scene painted the image of a master, an existence to be revered, inspiring a sense of awe in all who beheld him.

Time flowed, breath after breath… before long, a full incense stick had burned to ash, yet still, Wang Lin stood alone in that heavenly domain, the sixteenth layer unclaimed, Nether Dao nowhere to be seen.

Then, as another half-incense stick dwindled, the sixteenth layer, already bathed in gold, erupted once more in radiant light. From within that dazzling aura, Nether Dao emerged, his laughter echoing with elation and fervor. After years of striving, he had finally conquered the sixteenth layer! With a flicker, he materialized before Wang Lin, his black robes stark against the gold.

“The sixteenth layer! Today, Nether Dao has conquered the sixteenth layer! Let any Transcendent Venerate of the Immortal Clan dare to compare! I must thank you, you deceitful cultivator, for without you…”

His boast faltered, cut short by the oppressive silence that greeted him. There were no cheers, no gasps of astonishment at his triumph, only the complex gazes of the silent cultivators below.

“You are too slow,” Wang Lin spoke, his voice measured.

“You… you conquered the sixteenth layer?!” Nether Dao’s face drained of color, his eyes fixed on Wang Lin, burning with intense malice. He could not, would not, allow another to surpass him! He would tolerate being second to the Great Celestial Venerate, but among Transcendent Venerates, he must be the undisputed first!

Now, the acclaim and glory that should have been his, earned by conquering the sixteenth layer, had been stolen away by this Wang Lin. And judging by the man’s demeanor, he had achieved it with far less effort.

Rage consumed Nether Dao, his pride wounded beyond bearing.

“Do you seek to try again?” Wang Lin’s serenity only fueled the other’s fury. He stared, his eyes like twin volcanoes threatening to erupt.

*His heart is so flawed. How did he manage to cultivate to his current state? Perhaps his path of isolation is to blame. The more he feels the sting of superiority, the deeper he plunges into twisted understanding…*

*Like a bow, the greater the bend, the greater the potential for release. But even the strongest bow can break. Today, I will break him!* He would not forget the humiliations Nether Dao had heaped upon him. He would take vengeance.

Moreover, Nether Dao was the Immortal Emperor’s favored disciple. To break him would be a resounding slap in the Emperor’s face.

To truly break him, Wang Lin would shatter his confidence, goading him into attempting the seventeenth layer, there to utterly crush his pride and forever hold him beneath his heel.

Like a bow, the greater the bend, the greater the potential, but when pushed beyond its limits, potential matters not – it shatters! Wang Lin was ruthless, and he would use this opportunity to crush Nether Dao’s spirit completely.

*Since the mask is already shattered, let us shatter it further!* Wang Lin thought, a cold smile playing on his lips, and he swept a contemptuous glance toward Nether Dao.

That dismissive look caused Nether Dao to clench his fists until his knuckles gleamed white.

“Nether Dao, return to the Imperial Palace with me!” The Immortal Emperor spoke from below, his face no longer shadowed, but placid. He glanced at Wang Lin, his eyes filled with approval.

“Excellent! The Immortal Clan gains a new strength today. Wang Lin, I have wronged you. Upon our return to the Imperial City, I shall issue a decree, proclaiming your achievement throughout the land!

Furthermore, we have an agreement from years past. I invited you to the Imperial City. Now, with your ascendance as a Transcendent Venerate, the two events coincide. The appearance of a new Transcendent Venerate must be celebrated by the Imperial Family. It shall be a grand ceremony! Come to the Imperial City, and I shall personally conduct the proceedings!” The Immortal Emperor smiled, seemingly without a trace of anger. His smile was like a spring breeze, swaying all who saw it to bow their heads in obeisance.

“I am in your debt, Immortal Emperor,” Wang Lin responded, his voice even.

“Nonsense! Nether Dao, are you not coming?” The Immortal Emperor turned his gaze toward the struggling Nether Dao in the sky, and his low growl reverberated like thunder in Nether Dao’s mind. His expression of fury vanished, replaced by an unsettling calm. He stared at Wang Lin, his face devoid of all traces of anger.

He gave Wang Lin one last, deep look before turning and flying downward.

Wang Lin frowned. Nether Dao had suppressed his rage, his wounded pride, into a wellspring of darkness. If he returned to the Imperial City in this state, his unique path could lead to a breakthrough.

Wang Lin was not concerned by Nether Dao’s anger, but the sudden calm that had replaced it filled him with unease.

“Why do you not attempt another breakthrough?” Wang Lin inquired, his voice icy.
A subtle frown creased the Celestial Emperor’s brow at the words, but the Lord of the Underworld seemed deaf, unheeding. He did not turn, but strode purposefully towards the Emperor.

“So this is the Lord of the Underworld,” scoffed Wang Lin, “A disappointment! He lacks even the courage to test the Seventeenth Tier.” The Lord’s strange behavior, his refusal to even glance back, hinted at a reason why this being had become the First of the Ascended. Perhaps it was not mere chance.

But the more Wang Lin perceived this, the more determined he became to shatter the Lord’s composure.

“Wang Lin, what is the meaning of this?” The Celestial Emperor’s eyes blazed with authority, fixing upon Wang Lin.

The Lord of the Underworld faltered, pausing for a heartbeat. He seemed to struggle inwardly, perhaps even closing his eyes briefly in torment. But after that single breath, his countenance smoothed once more, and he resumed his advance, silent and resolute, drawing nearer to the Emperor.

“I merely wish to see him test the Seventeenth Tier,” Wang Lin replied, a faint smile playing upon his lips. “If he fails, he is free to depart.” The words, like poisoned darts, struck the Lord of the Underworld, for they were a cruel echo of his own words to Wang Lin in the past.

His breath grew ragged. Again, the Lord of the Underworld halted, an inner fire igniting within him. His pride, his very essence, recoiled at the suggestion. But then, with a swift gesture, the Celestial Emperor flung out his sleeve, creating a gentle gust of wind that seized the Lord of the Underworld and hurled him towards the ancient teleportation array.

“Return to the Imperial Seat!”

Fighting the desperate urge to turn and look back, the Lord of the Underworld, his eyes bloodshot, was propelled by the Emperor’s force towards the shimmering portal. Light flared as the array awakened, preparing to transport him away.

Wang Lin’s eyes flashed with icy resolve. He could not allow the Lord to escape so easily. The very instant the array hummed to life, Wang Lin raised his right hand and unleashed a devastating strike.

From his fingertip erupted ninety-nine spectral afterimages, coalescing into a single, colossal finger of phantom energy. With a thunderous roar, it hurtled towards the teleportation array.

The Celestial Emperor roared in fury, ready to intervene. But at that moment, the Great Celestial Venerate Wu Feng chuckled, taking a seemingly casual step forward. Yet that single step was enough to stay the Emperor’s hand.

Both were Great Celestial Venerates, and their energies locked in a deadly dance. Any move from the Emperor would be met with swift retaliation from Wu Feng. The delay, however brief, was enough. The phantom finger hurtled towards the teleportation array!

Within the swirling energy of the portal, the Lord of the Underworld looked up, a guttural cry escaping his lips. Trapped mid-transit, he could not defend himself. With a desperate, grinding of teeth, he wrenched himself free of the array. The instant he stepped clear, the colossal finger vanished, dissolving into nothingness, like a mocking echo of a forgotten slight.

It was a mirror image of the very attack the Lord of the Underworld had once unleashed upon Wang Lin!

“Wang Lin!” The Lord of the Underworld emerged fully from the portal, his gaze burning into Wang Lin. The suppressed rage within him was on the verge of exploding.

“Wang Lin, you have grown reckless! Daring to violate the laws and attack within these grounds! Today, I may be forced to restrain you!” The Celestial Emperor, clearly caught off guard, had not expected such blatant defiance.

“Oh?” Wang Lin countered, a subtle smile playing upon his lips. “Have I injured anyone? Has he suffered any harm? Without injury, there can be no violation.” His words were a perfect reflection of the Emperor’s own arguments from the past.

The Celestial Emperor was momentarily silenced, but Wang Lin pressed his advantage, turning towards the Lord of the Underworld, the very air trembling with the force of his words.

“So you have abandoned your pride, discarded your self-respect. I wondered why you fled so quickly, refusing to face the Seventeenth Tier. You have not only abandoned your pride, but even your conviction! Now, you are but an empty shell, a puppet dancing to the Celestial Emperor’s tune. He commands you to leave, and you dare not disobey. Begone! You are unworthy of my attention.” Wang Lin dismissed him with a wave of his hand, his contempt as sharp as a blade, piercing the Lord of the Underworld’s very soul.

“Truly disappointing!” This final insult shattered the Lord of the Underworld’s control. He trembled, throwing back his head and unleashing a primal roar. With a surge of power, he shot towards the heavens.

“Wang Lin, we will face the Seventeenth Tier together!”

“Excellent!” Wang Lin roared back, laughter echoing through the heavens. Almost simultaneously, they plunged into the depths of the Seventeenth Tier’s gateway.

The Celestial Emperor moved to intervene, but Wu Feng stood firm, blocking his path.

“Leave them be, Lian Daozhen,” Wu Feng said, a smile gracing his lips. “Let the Ascended ones settle their own affairs.”