THe Heaven Dao Pavilion was built on top of Sword Peak, surrounded completely by a dense jungle which serves as the perfect natural barrier. At the same time, it boasted majestic sights and picturesque scenery.
After emerging from his wooden cottage, Yan Xiu strolled slowly towards the forests. After a brief moment, he reached a small lake. The water was a clear green, so clear that one could see all the way to the bottom of the lake. As a gentle breeze brushed through the trees, the surface of the lake was dotted with ripples.
Yan Xiu did not speak or utter a sound. He merely found a rock by the lake and sat down, then slowly took out a book from his chest pockets.
There were three huge characters written on its old cover. It looked like any ordinary book, but Yan Xiu flipped it open slowly with utmost care and concentration, studying each word as he mouthed the lines.
Time passed slowly …
Yan Xiu still focused every ounce of his attention on the book. His expression was as calm as water; his body didn't even budge. He looked like a statue sitting on the rock.
It was an incredibly tranquil sight, especially with the lush mountains and the crystal green lake as a backdrop, giving off a genuine sense of 'peace' and 'ease', just like the calm surface of the lake.
Of course … with the seasons turning to summer, the lake would still see some disturbances no matter how calm it was - just like a shaded figure standing silently in the distance in this near perfect painting, standing in the shadow of a tree obscured from the sun, not moving a muscle.
...
In the Fourth Heaven of the Divine Rain Pond, Fang Zhengzhi finally understood why he could continuously close the gap between him and Chi Guyan.
The Fourth Heaven was completely different from the Third Heaven. In other words, there were like two drastically different worlds. If the Third Heaven could be described as a poetic picturesque scene under a light drizzle, then the Fourth Heaven would be … a battlefield.
Just like the continuously evolving scroll above his head, there were no beautiful green pastures beneath Fang Zhengzhi's feet, just a barren red land dotted with potholes.
The drizzle still showered down onto the red soil, forming trickling streams that were as crimson as blood, encapsulating the bloodlust and devastation of war.
The scroll above his head was the same. It was not a silent still painting, and was instead a continuously changing battlefield filled with the estranged cries of warhorses and overwhelming killing intent.
At one glance, Fang Zhengzhi also recalled how Chi Guyan's speed seemed to slow down after reaching the Fourth Heaven.
The Fourth Heaven?
Fang Zhengzhi had heard Chi Guyan explain this briefly to him before: The Nine Heavens can actually be separated into the top three Heavens, middle three Heavens and the bottom three Heavens. And based on what he was witnessing, the Fourth Heaven should mark the beginning of the middle three Heavens.
The bottom three Heavens represent the theories of Dao … so what do the middle three Heavens represent?
Actual battle experience?
Fang Zhengzhi gazed up at the tumultuous scroll of war and furrowed his eyebrows, carefully analyzing the meaning behind the scroll.
A battlefield … Does it represent a certain Dao technique? Or perhaps, a Dao formation?
Fang Zhengzhi was slightly uncertain, but as he gazed at the ever-changing scroll, he had a faint feeling that this was where he could truly 'reap his rewards'.
Time flew by, and as Fang Zhengzhi immersed his mind completely into the scroll above him, the Heart Protection Mirror in his chest began lighting up again, growing brighter and brighter.
But then … a commanding voice boomed again.
"Chi Guyan has entered the Sixth Heaven!"
"Chi Guyan has entered …"
"....."
"What? She's this fast?" Fang Zhengzhi's lips jerked, finally feeling uneasy as he heard the announcement echo in his ears.
He has always felt that he was faster than Chi Guyan on a level playing field. As long as he could decipher this battlefield scroll before his eyes, he would have the chance to meet Chi Guyan … He even came up with the exact script for his anticipated encounter.
But now, reality has told him that the gap between him and Chi Guyan has been stretched out again, from one Heaven to two.
He forced a despondent smile on his face. Indeed, that chick Chi Guyan was far tougher to deal with than he had imagined.
...
While Fang Zhengzhi was agonizing over the scroll in the Fourth Heaven, the Heaven Dao disciple with the surname Wang responsible for observing the happenings in the Divine Rain Pond ran towards Sixth Elder again, but this time …
His face was flushed red, and his eyes shimmered with an irrepressible sense of excitement.
"Sixth Elder!" The disciple's tone was no longer as frantic, and was much more relaxed than before.
"Yes?" Sixth Elder tensed up after noticing the approaching disciple. He knew that there was only one reason for the disciple's visit - either Chi Guyan or Fang Zhengzhi had progressed to the next Heaven.
"Senior Chi Guyan has entered the Sixth Heaven!" The disciple exclaimed.
"Oh? Are you sure!"
"Yes!"
"That's great, really great, really great!" Upon hearing this, the trepidation on his face vanished completely, replaced with a genuine smile. The surrounding Heaven Dao disciples were slightly astounded by this piece of news, but then celebrated with glee.
"The Sixth Heaven!"
"Fang Zhengzhi hasn't progressed yet, has he?"
"Indeed, there isn't any suspense to this at all. Perhaps, even if Fang Zhengzhi hadn't fallen into the Jungle of Mysteries and entered the Nine Heavens right at the beginning instead, he still can't win!"
"That's for sure. His opponent is Senior Chi Guyan!"
The Heaven Dao disciples heaved a genuine sigh of relief. After all, the key factors determining the ultimate victory between the two were always the middle three and top three Heavens.
The higher they progressed, the harder it would get. And towards the end, they would be tested on their knowledge and understanding to a greater degree.
Although Fang Zhengzhi had demonstrated extraordinary levels of talent and skill in the first three Heavens, it did not mean that he would have a smooth-sailing journey through the middle three and top three Heavens.
Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, and true powerhouses would be able to maintain an unwavering level of skill no matter what situations they are faced with. And very evidently … Chi Guyan was such an example.
In both the bottom three and middle three Heavens, Chi Guyan has maintained extremely stable standards of skill, unfazed by any obstacles in her way.
"Just one more Heaven and she would reach the Seventh Heaven. That's the top three Heavens!"
"Yes! There's less than a hundred people in the Heaven Dao Pavilion's history who have managed to reach the top three Heavens, right?"
"With Senior Chi Guyan's talent, there was never a doubt that she couldn't reach the top three Heavens. I think … she might even reach the Eighth Heaven!"
"That's right!"
As the Heaven Dao disciples buzzed with visible excitement, they felt as though they had ascended to the Sixth Heaven themselves, jubilant beyond words.
...
In the Third Heaven of the Divine Rain Pond, more and more Heaven Dao disciples appeared beside Yan Qing. And now, there were about five disciples who have progressed from the Second to the Third Heaven.
"Senior Chi Guyan is simply amazing!"
"That's right, she would never disappoint us!"
"The one who gets the last laugh is the true winner!"
"I actually believed that that scoundrel was pretty impressive himself. To be honest, he did give a shock, but now, he just seems to be spouting empty talk in the bottom three Heavens. We might even get the chance to overtake him!"
"Well said, Senior Li!"
The five Heaven Dao disciples were clearly ecstatic, which eased the nervousness in their hearts.
Upon hearing their banter, Yan Qing frowned. Yet, he did not say anything, still focusing on the scroll hanging above his head, his gaze becoming calmer.
"Splash-ink, tranquility … water? I've got it!" Yan Qing's eyes suddenly lit up, like the calm surface of a lake suddenly catching a stray strand of hay.
Following that, a booming voice rang through the air.
"Yan Qing has entered the Fourth Heaven!"
"Yan Qing has entered …"
"...."
"Eh? Yan Qing has also reached the Fourth Heaven!" The five disciples were astonsihed. After all, they arrived in the Third Heaven at around the same time as Yan Qing.
"To think that Yan Qing would have such a profound understanding of Dao being a member of the War Pinnacle Empire who grew up in the jungles."
"This must be because of his undying gifted bloodline!"
"Hm, how enviable it must be to have a gifted bloodline!"
Amidst their admiration, the five Heaven Dao disciples collected themselves and continued studying the scroll.
"I've got it, I've got it … I think I've got it!" One of the disciples suddenly exclaimed. His face instantly flushed red. It wasn't any other disciple; it was the one who betted against Fang Zhengzhi and lost.
"He Congming has entered the Fourth Heaven!"
"...."
"Senior He has entered the Fourth Heaven?! Hahaha, that's really impressive. We should strive hard as well and follow in Senior He's footsteps, and chase up … no, overtake that bastard!" After hearing the booming announcement echoing from the horizon and watching He Congming vanish before their eyes, they were jolted with a sudden surge of overwhelming confidence.
Meanwhile, in the Fourth Heaven, He Congming immediately noticed the figure standing in front of him, his tattered blue robes swaying with the rain.
"Eh? Isn't this the unbeatable Master Fang, Fang Zhengzhi, who flew from the First Heaven up to the Fourth Heaven without any trouble? What's wrong, is Master Fang waiting for me? Or is one bottle of Star Water not enough? Do you want a few more?" He Congming beamed with glee.