Chapter 178: The Seventh Level of the Heavenly Bridge

Chapter 178: The Seventh Level of the Heavenly Bridge

Ning Xiaochuan arrived at Emperor's City. Since Ming Yang had already entered the Heavenly Palace for cultivation, he headed straight for the Heavenly Bridge.

After a year of arduous training and guidance from the mysterious woman, he wanted to see just how much of his potential had been unlocked.

What level of prodigy could he achieve?

"It's been a year, and Ning Xiaochuan has actually returned to Emperor's City—and gone straight to the Heavenly Bridge!"

"Ming Yang just cleared the Sixth Level of the Heavenly Bridge yesterday. Ning Xiaochuan must be here to challenge it as well."

"This is going to be quite the spectacle—a clash of titans!"

The martial artists in Emperor's City were abuzz with excitement.

A year had passed, and both Ming Yang and Ning Xiaochuan were no longer the same as before. They were now prodigies of the Emperor's Martial Palace, and Ning Xiaochuan's arrival naturally caused an even greater stir. Many disciples rushed to the Heavenly Bridge to witness the event.

Xiao Cheng, the leader of the Cloud Alliance, and Han Fu, the captain of the Law Enforcement Team, personally came to observe, demonstrating just how much importance they placed on Ning Xiaochuan.

Ning Xiaochuan stepped onto the Heavenly Bridge and swiftly cleared the first five levels.

The light pillars on the bridge lit up almost every three breaths. In less than a quarter of an hour, five pillars had already ignited, their radiance shooting straight into the sky.

Standing on the Sixth Level of the Heavenly Bridge, Ning Xiaochuan encountered the sixth White-robed Figure.

The moment the White-robed Figure saw Ning Xiaochuan, a flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes before his expression turned solemn. "Kill me, and you will pass the Sixth Level of the Heavenly Bridge."

"Let's fight!"

This was Ning Xiaochuan's second time on the Sixth Level. Without wasting words, he activated Rainbow Teleportation. His leg bones emitted a multicolored glow, and his body became like a phantom, flickering through the air like streaks of rainbow light.

In the next instant, he appeared behind the White-robed Figure.

Purple Misty Profound Qi condensed in his palm as he transformed it into a blade, slashing downward.

"Thud!"

The White-robed Figure's head flew off.

With just a single move.

The White-robed Figure's body dissolved into particles of Light Rain, coalescing into a brilliant pillar of light that soared into the sky from the Heavenly Bridge.

"Congratulations on clearing the Sixth Level of the Heavenly Bridge," the White-robed Figure's voice echoed from the pillar.

Ning Xiaochuan walked past the pillar without pause, advancing toward the Seventh Level of the Heavenly Bridge.

The Seventh Level was a watershed moment. Clearing it would prove one's achievements in martial arts, earning the title of a true expert.

The Emperor's Martial Palace also had a rule: those who cleared the Seventh Level could freely enter the Emperor's Ruins and even apply for graduation.

Graduates of the Emperor's Martial Palace held extraordinary status in the Yulan Empire. They could directly be appointed as generals upon joining the military, enter the Dragon Elephant Divine Martial Battalion, or serve as officials in key cities. Of course, many chose to remain and continue their martial cultivation within the palace.

Now, Ning Xiaochuan stood before the Seventh Level of the Heavenly Bridge, facing the seventh White-robed Figure.

This White-robed Figure stood with his hands behind his back at the center of the bridge, his gaze sharp as he studied Ning Xiaochuan. Calmly, he said, "To reach this level at the Seventh Level of the Divine Body Realm... It's been a long time since I've encountered a genius like you. I truly hope you can pass my trial."

Ning Xiaochuan also clasped his hands behind his back, standing tall and straight, and said, "With my current cultivation, if I pass the Seventh Level of the Heavenly Bridge, what level of genius would I be considered?"

"At least a Once-in-Eight-Centuries Talent," the White-robed Figure replied.

Ning Xiaochuan said, "So, if I defeat you, I can ring the Heavenly Bell and request the Master of the Martial Palace to emerge from seclusion?"

"If you truly possess that strength, the Master of the Martial Palace will undoubtedly grant you an audience," the White-robed Figure responded.

"Then let's fight!"

Ning Xiaochuan grew serious, as the aura emanating from this White-robed Figure far surpassed that of the one on the sixth level, putting considerable pressure on him.

The White-robed Figure crouched slightly, and a mass of Martial Arts Profound Qi materialized behind him, coalescing into a twelve-meter-tall Xuanwu—a tortoise's body with a dragon-snake head. The Profound Qi was dense and unshakable.

Ning Xiaochuan spread his arms, and his ribcage began to glow. A hundred streaks of Sword Qi surged forth, condensing into a hundred ancient purple swords that hovered above his head.

"Whoosh!"

Ning Xiaochuan's body shot forward alongside the hundred purple swords, transforming into a torrent of Sword Qi.

The White-robed Figure raised his arm, and the Xuanwu's body flipped backward, morphing into an ancient shield to block the devastating Sword Qi.

"Boom!"

The hundred purple swords shattered one after another, dissolving back into purple Profound Qi that flowed back into Ning Xiaochuan's body.

Undeterred, Ning Xiaochuan pressed forward, his fingertip striking the Xuanwu Armor with a piercing impact.

Though the Xuanwu Armor remained intact, the White-robed Figure was forced back by the shockwave.

Ning Xiaochuan pursued relentlessly, his right palm striking the Xuanwu Armor repeatedly, conjuring phantom images of the Lightning Divine Beast. Thunderbolts erupted across the sky, driving the White-robed Figure further back.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

Ning Xiaochuan's overwhelming momentum allowed him to unleash seventeen consecutive palm strikes, each with the force to topple mountains, leaving the White-robed Figure no choice but to defend passively.

"Break!"

Ning Xiaochuan gathered another surge of Sword Qi, forming a Sword Wave that crashed into the Xuanwu Armor, finally shattering the supposedly indestructible defense.

The Sword Qi struck the White-robed Figure directly, sending him flying.

Though the Sword Qi pierced through his chest, the wound wasn't fatal—only debilitating.

"Xuanwu's Wrath!"

The White-robed Figure's neck elongated, sprouting scales laced with blood vessels, as if transforming into a dragon-snake. From his mouth, he spat out a scorching fireball.

The fireball was a full meter in diameter.

Ning Xiaochuan activated Rainbow Teleportation, his movements becoming erratic and unpredictable. The fireball failed to hit him, though its destructive power was undeniable—several near-misses singed a lock of his hair.

"Blazing Sun Scorching the Heavens!"

While evading, Ning Xiaochuan gathered energy at his brow, forming a purple spark that erupted into a violet Blazing Flame.

"Boom!"

The purple Blazing Flame pierced through the fireball and struck the White-robed Figure's chest, setting his entire body ablaze.

"Crackle—pop!"

The White-robed Figure's body burned to ashes.

The seventh pillar of light rose from the Heavenly Bridge, its brilliance dazzling, illuminating the entire Emperor's City.

"Congratulations. You have passed the Seventh Level of the Heavenly Bridge."

The disciples and instructors outside the Heavenly Bridge were utterly stunned, exchanging bewildered glances as they whispered among themselves.

"How could Ning Xiaochuan be this formidable? Even Yue Wuyang, the Cloud Marquis, was far inferior to him back in the day. Could he truly be the Emperor's Reincarnation?"

"Ming Yang is in trouble now."

"Ning Xiaochuan's talent might already belong to the 'once-in-a-millennium' category. If he rings the Heavenly Bell, he’ll become the first in history to do so. A future as a Marquis or even a King is practically guaranteed."

Yu Qianqian stood on the ancient street outside the Heavenly Bridge, her eyes bright and her skin radiant. Though she had sensed Ning Xiaochuan had changed since his return, witnessing him conquer the Seventh Level of the Heavenly Bridge still sent a jolt of shock through her.

Ning Xiaochuan’s performance could no longer be described as mere genius—it rivaled that of a true deity in their youth.

Princess Lanfei, dressed in a sapphire-blue gown with her jet-black hair elegantly coiled, wore a pearl the size of a longan around her neck, accentuating her flawless, porcelain-like skin.

She stepped into the crowd, her crimson lips curling into a smirk as she declared, "This princess always knew Ning Xiaochuan was no ordinary man. Today’s performance certainly didn’t disappoint. Truly worthy of being this princess’s future consort."

Her long lashes fluttered, her almond-shaped eyes glinting as she cast a sidelong glance at Yu Qianqian.

Yu Qianqian clenched her fists, biting her lip hard. She knew Princess Lanfei was deliberately provoking her. After all, Yu Qianqian and Ning Xiaochuan were originally betrothed—until she herself pleaded with the Jade Emperor to cancel the arrangement.

Now, with Ning Xiaochuan’s astonishing talent and brilliance making him the most coveted treasure among all the women of the Yulan Empire, Princess Lanfei’s words were nothing but mockery.

Moreover, the princess had already made it clear she intended to ask the Jade Emperor to arrange a marriage between her and Ning Xiaochuan. If he truly became her consort, Princess Lanfei would have gained an unimaginable advantage, leaving Yu Qianqian to weep alone under her blankets.

Yu Qianqian seethed with frustration, yet she was powerless. It was her own doing—she had begged the Jade Emperor to annul the engagement. And now she regretted it. Not because of Ning Xiaochuan’s newfound brilliance, but because she realized she had truly fallen for him, unable to extricate herself.

If given another chance, even knowing Ning Xiaochuan loved Yu Ningsheng, she would never have sought to cancel the betrothal. She would have clung to him, refusing to share him with any other woman.

Ning Xiaochuan emerged from the Heavenly Bridge unharmed, his demeanor calm and composed, yet exuding an extraordinary aura that commanded admiration.

"Xiaochuan!"

Yu Qianqian rushed forward like a fragrant breeze, looping her arm through his protectively. She kept a wary eye on Princess Lanfei, as if fearing the princess might snatch him away at any moment.

"Yu Watermelon, what’s wrong with you?" Ning Xiaochuan found her behavior odd.

Pouting, she chided, "Don’t call me Watermelon—it’s so uncouth! Call me Qianqian!"

Ning Xiaochuan coughed awkwardly, sensing something was off. "I just cleared the Seventh Level of the Heavenly Bridge. Next, I intend to ascend to the Heavenly Palace and ring the Heavenly Bell."

"Alright, alright, why are you ringing the Heavenly Bell?" Yu Qianqian blinked her eyes.

Ning Xiaochuan said, "I promised Yu Ningsheng to redeem her and let her enter the Emperor's Martial Palace to cultivate. But she is labeled a criminal by the Jade Emperor's decree. To have the Jade Emperor revoke the order and reopen the investigation of that year's case, only the Master of the Martial Palace can intervene. For this promise, I must ring the Heavenly Bell."

Upon hearing Ning Xiaochuan's words, Yu Qianqian's pretty face instantly turned pale.