Unrivaled Martial Emperor

Chen Fan didn't stop and continued moving forward.

Although he was a household name in the Tianwu Continent, he wasn't particularly outstanding in the Heavenly Staircase of Will trial. He was neither the fastest nor the furthest one.

True Martial City:

Chen Zhengqing, Nangong Yue, Xuan Shitong, and the others' gazes were fixed on a figure on the thirtieth step.

"Xiaofan, you can do it."

"Heartless man, you must succeed."

Watching Chen Fan push forward with difficulty, fists clenched and palms sweaty, they were more anxious than if they were climbing it themselves.

Heavenly Bastion Peak, True Martial Academy:

Chen Wushang stood at the mountain top, looking at Chen Fan's back, filled with anxiety and anticipation.

Chen Fan had always been the benchmark he chased.

"Big Brother, I believe in you. You can do it," muttered Chen Wushang, eyes firm with resolve.

Unfortunately, he wasn't qualified to take part in this Immortal Draft Assembly, and he would exceed the age limit in the next. He was destined never to participate in the Immortal Draft Assembly.

Yet he felt no regret.

The Immortal Draft Assembly wasn't the only way to enter the Heavenly Realm.

He believed that he could reach the Immortal Platform realm on the Tianwu Continent and ascend into the Heavenly Realm.

All across the continent, countless others—like Chen Zhengqing and Xuan Shitong—silently cheered on those they cared about.

When somebody rose to power and influence, their friends and family would benefit too.

If a loved one opened the door to immortality and ascended to the Heavenly Realm, their glory would extend to those around them. Their status on the Tianwu Continent would also greatly rise.

"Chu Xiong also stopped."

"Xu Xiao stopped at the thirty-third step."

"The True Martial Academy's Xue Beiyu also failed at the thirty-sixth step."

"Heavens, they are all famous prodigies and Lesser Legendary realm experts, yet none reached the fortieth step. What a shame."

"The test of the Heavenly Staircase of Will is just too difficult. Numerous celebrated talents have failed here."

"But look! While so many have stopped, the eight disciples from Peerless Peak are still advancing. Although they're not the fastest, they're far from falling behind."

"The eight disciples of Peerless Peak are all dragons and phoenixes amongst men. No wonder they were the first to receive the Immortal Draft Tokens. In my opinion, the Heavenly Staircase of Will will not stop them."

"Imagine if all eight pass, gain immortal affinity, and enter the Heavenly Realm—what heights could they reach?"

"I know, right? Forget about the others for a moment and just look at Chen Fan. With his monstrous talent, I'm afraid he can be considered a prodigy even in the Heavenly Realm. Tianwu Continent is but a small pond for him, far too limited for someone like him. Only the vast ocean of the Heavenly Realm can truly hold him."

Countless gazes fell on Chen Fan and the other Peerless Peak disciples.

For many on the Tianwu Continent, Peerless Peak was nearly synonymous with the True Martial Academy, especially because of Chen Fan. He had not only spread the True Martial Academy's name throughout the Tianwu Continent but also etched Peerless Peak into everyone's memory.

Peerless Peak, Chen Fan.

Peerless Peak, Zhang Daoling.

One was hailed as the undisputed strongest prodigy of the younger generation; the other was the strongest expert of the entire Tianwu Continent.

Chen Fan and Zhang Daoling cemented the True Martial Academy's position as the number one overlord-class force of the Tianwu Continent and showed the world what "Peerless Peak" truly meant.

Now, the eight disciples were climbing with all their strength.

Although they weren't leading at the very front, they were still among the middle of the upper reaches.

Time passed quickly.

Step by step, the geniuses ascended while the gate to immortality slowly closed.

Many people fell on the white jade stairs.

Their numbers thinned.

The higher they climbed, the harder it became. That resulted in an increasing number of people stopping in their tracks.

......

Chen Fan felt trapped in a nightmare he couldn't escape, yet he remained aware of his own existence. He drifted between sleep and wakefulness.

"This is all an illusion. It's all fake."

"Keep walking."

He tried his best to maintain his clarity. His strong will helped him keep walking forward.

But the illusions pressed in, dragging his consciousness toward a bottomless abyss. Many of his memories began to blur, twisting illusion and reality into one.

The illusions felt real.

"Wake up, maintain your clarity."

His consciousness roared in defiance.

"If I can't even overcome this illusion, how will I ever become an indomitable expert? How can I defeat the Blood Emperor? Cast my immortal platform, become an immortal, an immortal king, and even an immortal emperor? And how will I bring Senior Sister back from the Phoenix Ancient Realm?"

"This little bit of illusion can't stop me. Forward, keep moving forward!"

Chen Fan's will roared within.

He was furious.

Infuriated that he was affected by the illusion.

Unfortunately, rage alone couldn't stop the blur of his memories. His consciousness sank even more, and the illusions became even more vivid.

He became someone with weak cultivation. One day, a beast tide broke out, flooding the sect. He and his senior brothers and sisters were besieged by demon beasts that blanketed the sky. One by one, his comrades died before his eyes.

"We can't stop them... So many! How can I face them alone? I'll die."

He and the few survivors were gripped by fear.

The demon beasts were still surging over, filling the skies. They trampled the earth, destroyed everything in heaven and on earth. The sect's higher-ups fell, their screams echoing in the chaos.

Despair spread like wildfire.

He watched as people around him were torn apart by demon beasts, their fresh blood spattering onto him.

Horror and despair filled his heart.

In the end, he stood alone.

Everyone else was gone, dead.

An endless wave of demon beasts thundered toward him like an army of iron hooves trampling mountains and rivers.

There was no hope!

It was over!

"How can this be me?"

"So weak! So scared! How can this be me?"

Furious roars resounded in his heart.

That was anger.

Anger at his cowardice.

Anger at his weakness.

Anger that this wasn't himself!

"Even if I, Chen Fan, am to die, I will kill. I'll kill as many as I can."

Chen Fan's will was roaring furiously.

"I, Chen Fan, will not cower. I will absolutely not retreat, not even in death!"

His will was condensing, breaking free from these illusions, and his sense of self was growing stronger.

Chen Fan recovered part of his clarity, and his memories sharpened.

He remembered.

He was ascending the Heavenly Staircase of Will.

He couldn't stop!

He wouldn't be defeated by mere illusions.

"Keep walking."

"The Heavenly Staircase of Will's test won't stop me. I am Chen Fan. How can I even fail to defeat this illusion?"

Chen Fan's will condensed. Step by step, he continued to ascend.