Chapter 110: The Wooden Emperor, Heart of the Universe, Ascending the Celestial Ladder

In a flash of light, Jiang Ming entered the virtual battle network.

He found himself at the foot of a mountain.

“No, this isn’t just a mountain—it’s the Jade Staircase!”

Looking up, Jiang Ming was slightly stunned.

Before him stretched a staircase that reached straight up into the heavens.

The bottom steps were extremely wide—roughly a thousand meters long—and the staircase narrowed as it ascended.

Gradually, other examinees appeared around him.

At the same time, the grand examination’s live broadcast began.

The main broadcast room’s viewer count surged past hundreds of millions, quickly reaching tens of billions. The barrage of comments flashed by like streaks of light.

Soon after, the broadcast was split into provincial and city channels.

In Pingyang City, at the No. 2 High School, many students had returned—some in classrooms, others gathered on the playground—watching together.

After all, their school had two students who had advanced to the final stage of the grand exam, an unimaginable feat in the past.

“I see Jiang Ming and Qin Zhiyan! This is truly their debut across the entire Federation. So envious.”

“Yeah, envy to the core!”

“If I could appear on such a stage, I’d be willing to lose ten years of my life!”

“Lose ten years? Come on, with your talent, more like a hundred years, and you’d still be no match. Ha! You’d end up as a skeleton in a century.”

“By the way, do you think those two can make it into the top ten?”

“Qin Zhiyan? No way. She ranked fifth in the provincial exam. But Jiang Ming? Absolutely! First in the preliminaries, first in the provincial exam—he’s amazing.”

“Exactly! Especially in the provincial exam, he stood there motionless the whole time and still defeated all those other geniuses. That scene was stunning—imagine how his opponents must have felt!”

“Haha, probably like wanting to die. They’re geniuses themselves, yet their opponent just stood still and beat them. You can imagine how extraordinary that was.”

“Even if I got killed instantly, I’d want to be there. Too bad I’m not the son of heaven—just sigh in vain!”

“Fatty, you and Jiang Ming are best buddies, always together. So, how strong is he exactly?”

Everyone turned to Wang Fatty.

“That kid? Strong as the heavens,” Wang Fatty boasted. “Don’t worry, he’ll definitely be number one in the Federation. After all, he defeated four other geniuses by just standing still. You know Long Aotian, right? The one with the true dragon bloodline? What happened to him? He got knocked down!”

“What about Lan Xin? From a hidden ancient clan with a thousand-year legacy, she comprehends the Thunder Realm and has innate lightning power, like a reincarnated Thunder God. Yet, she was also defeated.”

“Easily, without any pressure!”

“There are 108 provinces. Our province isn’t the strongest, but it’s upper-middle tier. Jiang Ming stood still and still got first in the provincial exam.”

“The Federation? He could get first with the slightest move!”

“No doubt about it!”

“Haha, classmates, in the future, we’ll be classmates of the Federation’s top scorer. Saying that will earn us respect and make us irresistible to the ladies.”

Wang Fatty waved his hands and bragged loudly.

The classmates laughed.

In another classroom, Yun Xiyao sat, resting her chin on her hand as she watched the live broadcast.

The moment she saw Jiang Ming, her eyes suddenly brightened.

“He’s mine… he should have been mine. If only I had dropped my pride, if only I had been more proactive, he definitely would have followed me around eagerly.”

“Why was I so reserved back then?”

“Is it too late now?”

“Not yet!”

“He’s a little fairy after all—beautiful and sweet. I got his contact and sent many messages, but he never replied.”

“Playing hard to get?”

“Or maybe too busy in seclusion?”

“He must be preparing for the Federation grand exam and can’t check messages.”

“When he returns, I have to try. Yes, try—at worst, blow him a flying kiss in public to satisfy his vanity!”

“When we’re together…”

“I’ll be the top scorer’s wife, traveling everywhere.”

“Maybe have a son… what should we name him?”

“He’ll definitely surpass his master in the future. Let’s call him Chunqiu—‘Eternal Spring and Autumn,’ all history is mine!”

“Yeah, Jiang Chunqiu it is!”

Yun Xiyao smiled dreamily.

In the virtual battle network—

“Could this be the legendary Heavenly Ladder?” Long Aotian appeared beside Jiang Ming, staring ahead in shock.

“You know about it?” Qin Zhiyan also appeared.

“I’ve heard of it!” Long Aotian nodded. “Rumor has it that the Tianwu Saint Academy houses a miraculous Heavenly Ladder. Ascending it can temper one’s will, refine the spirit, and cultivate the mind—legendary effects. Since we’re here, this first trial is probably the Heavenly Ladder.”

“Most likely,” Lan Xin agreed. “The first trial is a test of the heart—climbing the Heavenly Ladder. This screening is efficient. The strong naturally have strong will.”

“Exactly. Those without a resolute will can’t be strong.” Qiang Jiu’s sharp gaze revealed his resolve. For him, this trial was perfect.

The way of the spear is relentless, with will as iron.

“Refining the spirit by questioning the heart?” Qin Zhiyan showed a serious expression, scanning the surroundings and sensing powerful auras, yet she felt uneasy. “If I can’t pass the first trial…”

Everyone understood her meaning.

Failing the first trial would be humiliating, even though reaching this stage already marked you as an unparalleled genius.

At that moment, a girl approached from nearby. She naturally radiated a faint glow, with Daoist aura swirling around her like a celestial being descending to the mortal world.

She seemed on the verge of ascending to the heavens at any moment.

“Tian Zhong, Jiang, I’ve long admired you and finally meet you!” The girl greeted Jiang Ming with a respectful salute. “I am Luo Qingchen from the Mu Huang Star.”

“Greetings, Luo,” Jiang Ming smiled in response, deeply moved.

Mu Huang Star? It was a life-bearing planet developed by Blue Star, named for its forest coverage that blanketed ninety percent of the planet.

A vibrant, green ocean.

As for Luo Qingchen, Jiang Ming knew a bit—she possessed a celestial spirit physique.

A celestial spirit?

He couldn’t quite guess the precise powers of such a constitution, but it was certainly formidable.

“You, a commoner, taking first place in the Federation preliminaries—I noticed you then. After learning more about you, I decided to enter this year’s Federation grand exam,” Luo Qingchen’s eyes burned with intensity. “Especially when I saw you stand still and defeat all those geniuses in the provincial exam, including core heirs of the long-enduring Qiang family, the direct descendant of the Long clan, and Lan Xin, the heavenly beauty of the Lan family—I became even more interested.”

“Yin and Yang, Space, Thunder, an indomitable physique, and the secret art of the inch fist—this confirmed one thing.”

“Your comprehension is beyond the heavens.”

“Otherwise, as a commoner, you couldn’t have reached this level.”

“I consider myself an unmatched genius, but compared to you, I seem lacking—that’s why I came here.”

“Because I’m known as the first innate Dao constitution!”

“Compared to me, all other innate Dao bodies fall short!”

Luo Qingchen spoke calmly and melodiously, yet her tone carried a faint, lofty arrogance, as if looking down on all beings.

Such pride was etched into her bones.

“What I want to know most is, how many of the fifteen great realms have you comprehended?” Luo Qingchen’s sharp gaze pierced through. “In fact, the Five Elements realm can be included, though it overlaps with Yin and Yang and lacks the latter’s broader inclusiveness.”

Just this sentence revealed profound knowledge—and her arrogance.

Jiang Ming’s brow twitched slightly.

“I know the Luo family—they’re powerful and long-established, one of the earliest colonists of Mu Huang Star. Didn’t expect your generation to have a celestial spirit physique,” Lan Xin stepped forward. “Is a celestial spirit physique really stronger than an innate Dao body? Not necessarily.”

“I’ve heard a celestial spirit physique is surrounded by Daoist aura, harmonizing myriad paths. Also said to be close to celestial spirit laws with the potential for ascension.” A woman in a white dress approached.

With her movement came a chill that swept the surroundings.

Her delicate face, pale complexion, exuded an icy, aloof feeling.

“But…” she smiled softly, “The innate Dao body is a constitution blessed by the Great Dao, close to the myriad paths, always in tune with heaven and earth, as if immersed in enlightenment, infused with myriad laws. The celestial spirit physique should be a type of Dao body.”

“Bai Bing—the Ice Body!”

Luo Qingchen showed a faint disdain before turning to Jiang Ming. “You haven’t said how many supreme realms you’ve mastered?”

“How rude!” Another girl approached.

Dressed simply, her posture straight, a faint, soaring sword intent hovered above her head, cleaving the sky and universe—intimidating.

An egg-shaped face, pale eyebrows sharp as sword rays, radiating heroic spirit.

“You haven’t said how many you’ve mastered but are already interrogating others. Luo family, is this your family discipline?” The woman’s voice was soft as she smiled warmly at Jiang Ming and saluted. “I am Ji Yunning, the orphan from the Ten Thousand Realms Battlefield.”

Jiang Ming returned the salute and nodded toward Bai Bing.

Bai Bing’s Ice Body constitution seemed ordinary, but if she mastered the ultimate cold, it would be terrifying.

Jiang Ming could clearly sense she was hiding something.

As for Ji Yunning?

She was born with sword bones and a subtle sword intent—clearly the royal Dao sword intent, the supreme sword among swords.

He had long comprehended this and was well aware of its might.

Especially now, having rederived the Three Swords of Extermination and further refined the sword Dao, he understood that sword intent’s terror.

“I’m afraid if I tell you, you’ll feel ashamed,” Luo Qingchen flicked her sleeve lightly, “and worse, lose confidence!”

Bai Bing sneered.

Ji Yunning raised her brow.

Many examinees nearby looked over, showing strange expressions.

Long Aotian and his three companions stared at the sky in silence.

They had been ignored.

For geniuses, it was maddening and helpless—though even Long Aotian had to admit, compared to these elites, he still seemed a bit lacking.

“When I further develop my bloodline power and master true dragon strength, them? Hmph!”

He could only think this and had confidence.

Lan Xin smiled faintly.

Celestial spirit physique? Ice Body? Sword bones?

I am the natural wielder of thunder, a thunder constitution.

“Does the celestial spirit physique die?” Qiang Jiu asked, his spear intent piercing all, chilling souls.

He fixed his gaze on Luo Qingchen, whose body rippled, blocking the invisible spear intent. She responded coldly, “All I know is that if you meet me, you will die!”

“Don’t worry, we will definitely meet!” Qiang Jiu turned, hands behind his back, staring at the Heavenly Ladder, making Luo Qingchen’s brow twitch wildly.

Long Aotian gave him a thumbs-up.

At that moment, atop the Heavenly Ladder, a myriad of dazzling lights appeared, breathtakingly beautiful, coalescing into a figure.

Her appearance drew countless gazes.

She was stunning beyond words, so beautiful it was suffocating.

It seemed all the beauty of heaven and earth was imprinted on her. As she lifted her steps, lotus petals bloomed beneath her feet, treading the void as she slowly descended, speaking:

“The annual Federation Grand Exam has commenced once again.”

“The Federation’s geniuses have gathered here!”

“Each one is the future, hope, and light. Given time, they will become the pillars of Blue Star, even ascending to the pinnacle of martial arts to protect our world!”

Her voice was gentle yet passionate.

Recalling the past, envisioning the future, and focusing on the present.

Finally, she announced the exam rules.

“The first trial is a simple screening—climb the Heavenly Ladder!”

“This ladder contains miraculous power, tempering the heart, refining the will, and probing the soul! It’s less a test and more a cultivation—facing oneself and strengthening the Daoist heart.”

“No matter if you were first in the preliminaries, first in the province, returned from the Ten Thousand Realms Battlefield, or cultivated in secret realms—before the ladder, all are equal.”

“The higher you climb, the greater the benefits!”

“The top ten advance directly to the finals!”

“Eleventh to ninetieth enter the semifinals!”

“Those ranked below ninetieth will face the most brutal elimination battles tomorrow, with only the top ten advancing to the semifinals.”

“In the third round, ninety contestants will battle for the top ten spots, who will then join the final ten for the finals.”

“These are this year’s exam rules!”

“As for rewards?”

“Let’s just say they’re several tiers higher than before.”

“For now, I’ll only reveal the first-place prize: an opportunity to comprehend the Heart of the Universe!”

“The Heart of the Universe is humanity’s greatest treasure!”

“Even an eighth-level expert without sufficient merits has no right to use it!”

She briefly explained the rules.

As for the Heart of the Universe?

Jiang Ming was puzzled.

Luo Qingchen gasped, her body trembling slightly. “First place is mine. No one can take it, no one!”

“It’s mine!” Ji Yunning erupted with terrifying sword intent and overwhelming confidence.

Many students in the grand exam were stirred at this moment.

Some even radiated divine light, their momentum overwhelming and terrifying.

To viewers watching the live broadcast, these were no mere students but a legion of demigods—too formidable and unbelievable.

“The Heart of the Universe is humanity’s greatest treasure, famed even in the Ten Thousand Realms Battlefield,” Ji Yunning calmed her racing heart and reined in her sword intent, glancing at Jiang Ming. “With it, one may perceive the universe’s wondrous operations, observe the heavenly laws, and better understand oneself—as if dissecting oneself completely, placing the Great Dao before your eyes.”

Hissing—

Jiang Ming took a deep breath.

Today’s update was a bit late.

The grand exam was about to intensify.

To all students facing their own college entrance exams, may glory be yours and success swift!

(End of chapter)