# Chapter 1107: The Prophet
"City of Fate!" Lin Feng's eyes flickered. After they became disciples of the Martial Emperor, Mu Chen had urged them to cultivate diligently, to go into seclusion for a period before descending from the Heavenly Terrace. Could it be that even back then, Mu Chen was already preparing them for their journey to the City of Fate?
"His cultivation is merely at the Fourth Layer of Heavenly Martial Realm. Brother Mu Chen sending him to the City of Fate—is he overestimating him?" At this moment, among the crowd from the Sky Dome Immortal Palace, an old man spoke indifferently, his voice carrying a hint of sarcasm.
"It's fine. Now that the Eight Wastelands Realm is in a turbulent era, if one wishes to stand out, the City of Fate is a place one must go. If his abilities are insufficient and he dies there, he has no one to blame. Throughout history, which of those astonishingly talented individuals did not stand against the masses of the world, treading forward over the corpses of countless geniuses and powerhouses? Since one has chosen the path of martial arts, one must have this awareness. Among geniuses, if you cannot tread over the corpses of others, others will trample upon yours."
Mu Chen's voice remained calm and gentle as he spoke with a faint smile, yet his words sent a chill through the crowd, stirring their hearts deeply. This was the cruelty of martial arts.
On the Nine Heavens Continent, the masses were countless. From the Qi Martial Realm to the Spirit Martial Realm, a batch would be eliminated. From Spirit Martial to Mysterious Martial, many more would be weeded out. From Mysterious Martial to Heavenly Martial, the mediocre would be cast aside. From Heavenly Martial to Sovereign Martial, those with mediocre talent could not set foot there. And those who could become powerful Sovereigns were all extraordinary individuals. As for Emperors, perhaps only one would be born among billions of living beings. In any given era, countless geniuses would aspire to prove their Dao and become Emperor. Only by suppressing others could one stand out. Thus, those truly peerless powerhouses had all advanced by trampling over countless bones.
Thinking back to those Emperors and Sovereigns who shook the Nine Heavens Continent, every one of them had left a deep mark on the continent. Legend had it that before the Skyless Sword Emperor became an Emperor, he was in the Eight Wastelands Realm, alone with his sword, traveling to various small worlds, challenging their most outstanding and powerful Sovereign Martial cultivators, defeating them one by one, cutting them down. In the end, he proved his Dao and became Emperor, achieving the name "Skyless." The might of the Skyless Sword still shook the Eight Wastelands to this day.
Further back, the Three Lives Great Emperor could transform into three beings, once doing battle with heaven and earth. His three incarnations could fight three opponents of the same rank. One of those bodies, the Three Lives Demon Emperor, had slain countless astonishingly talented individuals, staining himself with endless blood.
And there was an even more terrifying figure, one who made the people of the Nine Heavens Continent tremble in fear: the Demon Emperor. He created his own demonic cultivation techniques that pierced heaven and earth, unmatched among his peers. With no background or backing, he acted with reckless abandon, killing anyone who provoked him. In his wrath, rivers of blood flowed. Whenever others tried to suppress him with the power of their sects, he might temporarily avoid their sharp edge, but when his demonic might reappeared, it would shake the world, razing their sects to the ground.
It was precisely because of his heaven-defying talent that countless peers envied him and countless stronger individuals wanted to eliminate him. No one dared to let him grow. In that era, the Demon Emperor fought the world alone, becoming the public enemy of all geniuses. There were even Martial Emperors who personally acted to eliminate him. Rumor had it that the number of life-and-death crises the Demon Emperor had experienced exceeded the imagination of the masses.
But in the end, the Demon Emperor did not die. Before becoming an Emperor, he killed a Martial Emperor who was pursuing him, becoming the first person in history to slay an Emperor without being one himself—shocking the continent. Because he did not die, he stood at the absolute peak. What you experience determines what you achieve. Martial arts are inherently an act of defying heaven.
Lin Feng knew that Mu Chen's words were directed at him. The senior brother was teaching him: to become a genius among geniuses, you must first tread over the corpses of countless geniuses. This was the cruelty of martial arts. Either your bones are trampled by others, or there is only one exception: if you are willing to be mediocre, not pursuing higher realms, then you will not clash with those truly astonishingly talented individuals.
"Brother Mu Chen speaks correctly. Throughout history, those who achieved greatness, especially the pinnacle figures, all advanced by treading over the corpses of others. However, with the opening of the City of Fate, the geniuses of the Eight Wastelands Realm are endless. It is said that many with extraordinary physiques have been born and will head to the City of Fate to spy on the secrets of heaven. Your junior brother is at the Fourth Layer of Heavenly Martial Realm. Although his blood energy is strong and his bloodline power is decent, it will likely be difficult for him to contend with others. Could it be that he also possesses some special physique?"
Someone from the Sky Dome Immortal Palace probingly asked Mu Chen. Mu Chen seemed quite confident in Lin Feng, but they did not know where his confidence came from. It was not that they looked down on Lin Feng, but this time, the City of Fate might gather the most elite geniuses of the Eight Wastelands Realm. Lin Feng's cultivation was somewhat lacking. Even their Sky Dome Immortal Palace's Saintess, Xue Biyao, who possessed an Immortal Spirit Body, had been urged to cultivate bitterly, preparing to break through to the Eighth Layer of Heavenly Martial Realm before sending her to the City of Fate to truly enter the world.
Even so, the Sky Dome Immortal Palace dared not claim that Xue Biyao could suppress all geniuses. After so many years, those small worlds must have cultivated another batch of terrifying existences. However, Xue Biyao's entry into the world was inevitable. The opening of the City of Fate would be the first true collision of the elite figures of the Eight Wastelands Realm. These elders of the Sky Dome Immortal Palace knew how to prove the Dao and become Emperor. They understood that every word Mu Chen spoke was true: those who achieve greatness must tread over the corpses of countless geniuses. Every single one of them, without exception. Either you tread over others' bones, or others tread over yours.
As for what happened after becoming Emperor, they did not know. The world of Martial Emperors was beyond their understanding.
"I am not clear about what physique he has, but I am clear that the fate of martial arts has absolutely nothing to do with temporary cultivation level. Perhaps my junior brother has been cultivating for a shorter time than anyone else. Even if not, there are countless cases of late bloomers. Many appear ordinary on the surface but ultimately stand out. This situation is not uncommon in the long river of history."
Mu Chen still spoke with a smile, responding calmly.
Lin Feng stood behind Mu Chen, his mind at peace. Mu Chen and the powerhouses of the Sky Dome Immortal Palace were locked in a verbal duel, with the senior brother always defending him. But only Lin Feng himself knew that his cultivation time was indeed shorter than others. These major powers figures had all been trained from childhood. As for him, he had come to this world at the age of fifteen and truly begun his cultivation journey, starting from the weakest Qi Martial Realm. He knew that he was not a late bloomer; his cultivation speed was enough to be proud of, not inferior to many geniuses from major powers. Of course, he dared not claim to be stronger than everyone. The continent was vast beyond measure. He had heard of child prodigies who had entered the Heavenly Martial Realm at the age of eight.
"I hope it is as you say. We look forward to seeing someone with the fate of an Emperor among the first batch of Martial Emperor disciples recruited by the Stone Emperor and Yu Emperor of the Heavenly Terrace. We still need to find the Saintess. Farewell!" The powerhouses of the Sky Dome Immortal Palace did not delay further, flickering away to search for Xue Biyao.
Hearing the exchange between Mu Chen and the powerhouses of the Sky Dome Immortal Palace, the crowd felt deeply moved. Some sighed inwardly. They had no advantage among their peers, and wanting to prove the Dao was nothing but a foolish dream. These were people lacking confidence, whose martial will was not tenacious enough, lacking the courage to cast aside all shackles and soar to the heavens.
Others felt their blood stir, as if they could see the path ahead. Those who achieved greatness in ancient times all defied heaven by treading over the corpses of powerhouses.
"Lin Feng, you possess a martial heart. I have no doubt about that. However, what I want to say is that if you want to achieve greatness, some things are unavoidable. Since you cannot avoid them, do your best to face them. Do not be afraid, do not be timid. But the prerequisite for all of this is: stay alive!"
Mu Chen spoke meaningfully. Lin Feng was not dull; Mu Chen was implying something, and Lin Feng naturally understood.
On the path of martial arts, if one harbors fear in their heart, what martial arts can they speak of? However, Mu Chen's final words were also a reminder: not being afraid does not mean going to your death. It does not mean knowingly fighting an opponent you cannot defeat. That is not fearlessness, not bravery—that is foolishness. If you want to reach the peak of martial arts, the prerequisite is that you must stay alive.
"The last time the City of Fate opened, those whom the Prophet said were qualified to prove the Dao and become Emperor have now all reached a certain height, looking down upon countless people. They are climbing toward the goal of becoming Emperor. For example, your second senior brother, Hou Qinglin. This time, the City of Fate opens again. I hope that you will be prophesied by the Prophet, that in the years to come, you will have the opportunity to prove the Dao and become Emperor!"
"City of Fate... Prophet!" Lin Feng listened to the two unfamiliar terms, his thoughts surging. The Eight Wastelands Realm actually had such an existence, capable of prophesying a person's future.
"This time, the opening of the City of Fate will attract all the elite figures of your generation from the Eight Wastelands Realm. You must be mentally prepared. This is your first intersection with these elite geniuses, and it is destined to result in collision!" Mu Chen spoke again. Lin Feng took a deep breath, his chest filled with hot blood. The true elite geniuses of the Eight Wastelands Realm, all gathering at the City of Fate!
"Alright, I will take my leave." Mu Chen said with a smile, and then his body transformed into a beam of light, entering the Crown Key in Lin Feng's hand, causing everyone's expressions to stiffen. He had actually gone back. The imprint had not been erased. Could it be that Mu Chen could come out again?
This scene undoubtedly intimidated many who harbored ill intentions toward Lin Feng!