# Chapter 1018: Going Against the Tide
"Stepped onto the Heavenly Terrace?" The crowd watched Xuanyuan Potian's figure disappear before their eyes, thinking to themselves, so this key can indeed lead to the Heavenly Terrace. However, the keys for each of the Nine Heavens were different colors—what did this signify? Could it really be as the ascetic monk had said, that climbing the Nine Heavens, the further one went, the better the rewards? Perhaps this benefit was reflected in the keys themselves.
"This Xuanyuan Potian is so domineering. Without even reaching the Sixth Heaven, he dares to claim that everyone will stop at the Fifth Heaven."
Xuanyuan Potian's words just now were undoubtedly a declaration: no one could surpass him. The Fifth Heaven was his limit; for others, no matter how strong, they could only ascend to the Fifth Heaven—that was everyone's ultimate destination.
Although some were unconvinced in their hearts, they had to acknowledge the terror of the Nine Heavens. Xuanyuan Potian was so formidable, vowing to seize the seat of the First Disciple of the Heavenly Martial Realm, yet he still stopped at the Fifth Heaven. He had stretched his foot toward the Sixth Heaven but pulled it back—this showed just how terrifying the Sixth Heaven was.
Moreover, before Xuanyuan Potian, no one had even been able to step onto the Heavenly Terrace.
At this moment, the vast sea of people had become quite quiet. But soon, the crowd surged again as countless people rushed toward the Nine Heavens, wave after wave, churning endlessly like a tide.
Besides Xuanyuan Potian, others finally began to step onto the Heavenly Terrace. However, they only obtained the key to the First Heaven, becoming mere passersby on the Heavenly Terrace and losing their qualification to become Martial Emperor's Disciples.
A second person appeared, then a third, a fourth—one after another. But while a few managed to step onto the Heavenly Terrace, many were repelled by the Nine Heavens. Like the first person, they were sent flying into the distance by the terrifying force, then closed their eyes and sat cross-legged to cultivate, seemingly stabilizing their churning blood and Qi.
Time passed slowly. The crowd surged like rolling waves, continuously crashing against the Nine Heavens. Some rejoiced while others grieved. Those who succeeded were few, while the number of those blasted into the distance was terrifyingly large.
The crowd in front of Lin Feng gradually thinned, while those behind grew more numerous—all of them had been sent back.
He looked up at the sky. At this moment, there was only about an hour left until noon. Among the vast, endless crowd, perhaps over ten thousand people had stepped onto the Heavenly Terrace. But those who had actually crossed onto the Second Heaven and obtained the qualification to compete for Martial Emperor's Disciples numbered less than half of those who had reached the Heavenly Terrace.
The eighteen-thousand-step heavenly ladder was no longer as vast and imposing as before, appearing rather sparse. But the crowd below the Heavenly Terrace was by no means small. Countless people were watching from below, witnessing the relentless advance of the masses, all giving their all for the chance to become Martial Emperor's Disciples.
"People's pursuit of the martial path has become maddening. This momentum is no weaker than the momentum of the Nine Heavens." Qiu Yuexin looked at the surging crowd and sighed. "Just as that master said, this Nine Heavens is no different from the martial path itself—a few steps, one heaven, harder than ascending to the blue sky, yet countless people still go mad for it."
"Yuexin, you were born into a great family, inheriting powerful talent and possessing a noble status. Without feeling the pain firsthand, how can you understand the sorrow of ants?" Lin Feng said softly. "For the weak in martial arts, as a son, they cannot protect their parents; as a husband, they cannot guard their wife. When those they protect are bullied, they can only sigh at the sky. Others stand high above, looking down on you as if you were an ant, killing or humiliating you as they please—this is the sorrow of the weak."
Qiu Yuexin looked at Lin Feng and gave him a faint smile. "How could I not understand? The world of martial arts is ruled by strength. Powerful strength brings power, while the weak can only live humbly, without dignity, unable to do what they wish. But seeing so many people rush forward, only to be continuously blasted away, I can't help but feel a sense of sadness."
"The path to becoming a strong one is like this Nine Heavens. Only a very few are destined to succeed; the majority are still eliminated."
"Well said. People like you are precisely the kind destined to be eliminated, yet you dare to speak loftily in front of Miss Qiu." At this moment, a voice came through. Qiu Yuexin and Lin Feng glanced over and saw Yang Zilan and Yang Ziye and their group.
"Miss Qiu, you seem well." Yang Zilan's gaze was cold, clearly still holding a grudge over what had happened that day.
"No matter where I go, there are always petty people who think too highly of themselves, trying to humiliate others to show off their own pride and nobility. These vain individuals look down on the weak and act arrogantly, but before the strong, they are as respectful as livestock. Without a firm martial heart, even if they have an extraordinary background, they will eventually become stepping stones for those with tenacious martial will on their path to martial arts. True strong ones will tread on the bones of such people as they advance."
Lin Feng spoke as if he hadn't seen Yang Zilan and the others, continuing to talk with Qiu Yuexin. But everyone knew who his words were aimed at. Yang Zilan's face instantly darkened, and a chill emanated from him, enveloping Lin Feng.
"You're right. The strong in martial arts do indeed tread on the bones of countless people. However, most of the time, a person's birth already determines their fate. Those born noble are destined to stand high, overlooking the masses. But those born lowly, without any conditions to compare with others, must endure ten or even a hundred times the effort and hardship to achieve what others have. Yet the vast majority will die in the midst of this tenfold or hundredfold hardship, becoming one of the countless white bones. Their death won't even cause a ripple. Even if they try to cling to the powerful and become one of the noble, they will still be looked down upon."
Yang Zilan sneered, countering Lin Feng.
"Destined to stand high and overlook the masses?" Lin Feng sneered, then pointed at Yang Ziye and said, "Her cultivation is on par with mine. I was born ordinary, while the young lady of the Yang Clan is presumably noble. So, according to you, she must look down on me. If that's the case, do you dare let her fight me?"
"Hmm?" Yang Zilan's expression stiffened as he stared at Lin Feng. He hadn't expected this person to dare challenge Yang Ziye.
"Why wouldn't I dare?" Yang Ziye replied coldly. In truth, she had always been jealous of Qiu Yuexin's talent and cultivation. As a young lady from a great family in the Northern Wasteland, she and Qiu Yuexin were often compared.
Now, even an unknown person by Qiu Yuexin's side dared to challenge her, filling her with cold intent.
Qiu Yuexin and Yang Zilan stepped aside. Yang Ziye and Lin Feng stood facing each other. Since Lin Feng had concealed his true appearance, she naturally didn't recognize him.
"I'd like to see how an insignificant ant dares to speak so arrogantly." Yang Ziye took a step forward, her bloodline power surging. A gentle palm strike shot toward Lin Feng, and instantly, many overlapping palm shadows appeared, like phantoms crashing toward him.
The space rumbled with each overlapping shadow, shaking the air with powerful momentum.
Lin Feng stood there, seemingly unfazed. A momentum appeared in the void, and his palm slowly rose, as if drawing the natural momentum of his surroundings, with flowing light swirling around.
"Boom!" Lin Feng's palm struck out, and instantly, the natural momentum of heaven and earth seemed to converge. The terrifying force shook the air with a dull roar, exploding like thunder. In an instant, Yang Ziye's overlapping palm shadows were crushed by this terrifying momentum, vanishing into nothing.
Yang Ziye's expression froze, a look of shock appearing on her face. How could Lin Feng's palm strike be so powerful?
"Boom!" Another explosive sound rolled out, shaking the void. It was Yang Zilan who had intervened, shattering Lin Feng's palm force and protecting Yang Ziye.
The terrifying waves subsided. Yang Zilan stared coldly at Lin Feng, his chill aura spreading. "Who are you?"
"I am just one of the masses. Didn't you just say that those born noble are destined to look down on the masses? Why are you so embarrassed now?" Lin Feng sneered. "Those who pride themselves on their arrogance, relying on their birth to think they can look down on others, don't realize they are merely sheltered by the glory of their ancestors. If such people were to walk alone one day, they could easily be killed. They will never amount to anything, like flowers in a greenhouse—pitiful!"
"Shut up!" Yang Zilan shouted coldly.
"Even ants can go against the tide and climb the peak of martial arts. They can withstand the storms and endure the pain of training, unlike those who only know how to boast!" Lin Feng continued to mock, then said, "Those who follow different paths cannot work together. Let's go, Yuexin. We'll ascend the heavens."
PS: Seventh update, seven flowers today. I feel like crying. Third and fourth place, separated by a 200 yuan prize. Yesterday, Brother Hou, Brother 61, and Commander S alone donated 700. Fighting for flowers—is it for that 200 yuan prize? I want the third-place ranking. I care, so I fight, so I go all out with updates. If I didn't care, I wouldn't work this hard. I'm exhausted, staying up late every day, dozing off but still persisting. I also hope that when I fight, everyone will fight with me. If we win, we're happy; next time, we'll fight again. If we lose, everyone tried their best, and next time, we'll still battle, with bloody outbursts. But if everyone doesn't give their all, and I fight alone, coldly—what's the point of fighting? It's meaningless!