Chapter 819: Chapter 819

The gathered Sacred Monarchs and Heavenly Emperors were slightly surprised as they saw Emperor Ara being teleported out from the Supreme Ladder. But shortly after, they each revealed expressions of realization that the situation made sense.

"The ninety-third step is equivalent to the level of a top-tier Sacred Monarch. Emperor Ara is, after all, merely a Tyrant. Even though he's armed with divine weapon configurations far beyond his rank due to the Ten Thousand Tributes Dominion War, his defeat is only to be expected."

"Looking at Tyrants across the eras, Emperor Ara has already performed quite well."

"Clearly, Emperor Ara was provoked by Yao Ji and Li Pin and overestimated his strength, leading to such a dismal outcome. Judging by his wretched state, it seems he was killed by the simulated Sacred Monarch on the ninety-third step. Who knows if this will dampen his spirit and affect his performance in the upcoming Ten Thousand Tribes Dominion War?

"Realistically, had he advanced steadily, he would've had a decent chance at clearing the ninety-second step. What a shame."

As the Sacred Monarchs and Heavenly Emperors spoke, regret was written all over their faces. Among them, a few Sacred Monarchs even harbored a trace of epicaricacy.

He just had to challenge the ninety-third step of the Supreme Ladder? That step corresponded to the level of a top-tier Sacred Monarch.

Did he truly believe these Sacred Monarchs amounted to nothing, that any random Tyrant could defy fate and leap across several tiers to challenge them?

Now he ought to know better.

Of course, they concealed their epicaricacy well, showing not the slightest hint on their faces, lest they offend this young prodigy with immense potential.

With a flash, Gu You appeared beside Emperor Ara with a hint of concern in his eyes. "Junior Brother."

Although Emperor Ara's spirit had taken somewhat of a hit, he quickly composed himself. "I didn't assess the situation clearly, and luck wasn't on my side. I happened to encounter a Sacred Monarch from the Star Spirit Clam in the boundless starry realm. That Sacred Monarch transformed into a gravitational core, forged a starry river, and unleashed methods akin to those of a Supreme... The current me is no match for him."

Emperor Ara gazed at the Supreme Ladder. Li Pin and Yao Ji had yet to emerge, but he believed that, considering the difficulty of the ninety-third step, if he couldn't pass it, neither could Li Pin nor Yao Ji.

Therefore, from this perspective, he was still at the same level as Li Pin and Yao Ji. The fact that they had lasted this long on the ninety-third step at most indicated an advantage from their divine weapons.

He had been preparing for the Ten Thousand Tribes Dominion War for a thousand years. The divine weapons he wielded, the secret arts he cultivated, and his combat techniques all focused on frontal assaults and swift kills. That made him naturally inferior when confronting a simulated Sacred Monarch on the Supreme Ladder.

"Yes, I've always had faith in your strength, Junior Brother. Fortune is just not on your side," Gu You quickly chimed in in agreement.

Emperor Ara nodded slightly.

For a supreme prodigy, mindset was crucial. They had to maintain their invincible belief in order to grow unstoppably and forge ahead without hesitation. Once that belief of invincibility was broken, there were only two possible outcomes—they would either rise again from humiliation, breaking through their limits to rise anew, or their brilliance would fade, and they would blend into the crowd.

As for Emperor Ara, he was adept at adjusting his mentality.

Since the Supreme Ladder wasn't suited to his strengths and couldn't make Li Pin and Yao Ji acknowledge him, then he would let them truly witness his power at the Ten Thousand Tribes Dominion War.

Given the three-year limit, the Sacred Monarchs and Heavenly Emperors were all quite patient.

Though each of them was inundated with endless responsibilities, so long as their main body wasn't engaged in high-intensity combat, they could send avatars to handle the trivial matters.

As such, more and more Sacred Monarchs and Heavenly Emperors gathered around.

Not just Sacred Monarchs and Heavenly Emperors, but even Cosmic Radiance and Tyrants flocked here upon hearing the news. They wanted to witness the result of what was essentially the battle between the three most exceptional supreme prodigies of this era within the human race.

Who would stand out, defeat the other two, dominate the entire era, and become the true supreme prodigy?

Just as the number of Heavenly Emperors arriving from all directions upon hearing the news was about to exceed a hundred, a figure suddenly appeared atop the Supreme Ladder.

Yes, she had manifested directly atop the Supreme Ladder rather than being transmitted outside of it.

Although her vitality, energy, and spirit appeared heavily depleted at this moment, her mental state was extremely excited, her entire being brimming with an invincible and uplifting aura.

And in response to this shift in her momentum, the Sacred Monarchs and Heavenly Emperors who witnessed the scene couldn't hide their shock, even as they understood what it meant.

"She... she succeeded!?"

"The Supreme Ladder's ninety-third step? Good heavens! She made it! A Tyrant managed to reach the ninety-third step, which is equivalent to a Top-Tier Sacred Monarch. It's no wonder that Yao Ji is called the second once-in-a-millennium supreme prodigy after Jin'que! She truly deserves the title!"

"Incredible.... Among all past supreme prodigies, reaching the ninety-second step as a Tyrant was already rare. Yet Yao Ji has pushed to the ninety-third, surpassing many Sacred Monarchs. Even if the Supreme Ladder's environment lacks the Eternal Oblivion Force and her true combat strength might be somewhat reduced, this is still a tremendous feat."

"Although Yao Ji was likely able to cross the ninety-third step thanks to the power of the Supreme Divine Weapon, the Boundless Wheel—and yes, this is somewhat unfair to Li Pin and Emperor Ara—the world has never promised fairness! Since she made it, then she is the undisputed number one of the younger generation!"

"From this day on, others had better stop throwing around the title supreme prodigy, because this era's true supreme prodigy has already been chosen! It's Yao Ji! The personal disciple of the great Supreme Genesis! There's no question that she is deserving of the supreme prodigy title!"

One by one, the Sacred Monarchs and Heavenly Emperors could not help but speak with admiration.

To reach the Supreme Ladder's ninety-third step while still a Tyrant was exceedingly rare, even across the vast lifespans of Sacred Monarchs and Heavenly Emperors.

Moreover, the one who had cleared this was Yao Ji, personal disciple of a Supreme and a prime seed candidate who had a high chance of becoming a future Supreme herself. Naturally, the gathered Sacred Monarchs and Heavenly Emperors were generous with their praise.

As for the other Tyrants and Cosmic Radiances, they were simply unqualified to comment. All they could do was look at Yao Ji with nothing but envy.

There wasn't even room for negative jealousy in their hearts.

Only a handful of those who could themselves be called supreme prodigies had fighting spirit stirring in their eyes, mostly Starshines and Solar Flares. Their eyes shone with ambition, as if thinking, that could be me. They yearned to stand like Yao Ji in that dazzling light, praised and acknowledged by countless Sacred Monarchs and Heavenly Emperors.

"Looks like the decision of who'll serve as the lead commander for the human race in the Ten Thousand Tribes Dominion War has already been decided," Heavenly Emperor Tai Yi said with a smile.

Ji Shun, Shen Wu Emperor, and several others said nothing, merely glancing toward the Supreme Ladder's ninety-third step.

It had been over two years, and Li Pin still had not emerged.

After being absent for so long, it was essentially proof that he could not overcome that Sacred Monarch.

His cultivation time was simply too short.

Moreover, Yao Ji had already passed the ninety-third step. Even if Li Pin eventually defeated his opponent and reached the same step, he would still rank beneath her.

Just as Heavenly Emperor Tai Yi had said, the decision of who would serve as the Human Race's lead commander in the Ten Thousand Tribes Dominion War was already settled.

In fact, if Li Pin failed to pass the ninety-third step, then the rankings would have come full circle, and this unspoken competition would lose all meaning. It would at most make a few proud supreme prodigies realize their place.

No, wait. They definitely wouldn't accept it. It was clear from Emperor Ara's expression. He clearly believed that he excelled at offense, not in dueling Sacred Monarchs on the Supreme Ladder. When Li Pin emerged, he too would likely think that Yao Ji only succeeded thanks to the Boundless Wheel. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novęlfire.net

Every supreme prodigy held absolute confidence in themselves, believing they were invincible. Trying to suppress their pride was never an easy task.

"Let's wait a little longer, Li Pin hasn't come out yet," Ji Shun said.

"True. After all, there still needs to be a conclusion between Emperor Ara and Li Pin."

Heavenly Emperor Tai Yi chuckled. "The main commander's position can only belong to my junior sister Yao Ji. But whether Emperor Ara or Li Pin ranks second will depend on what happens next. If Li Pin truly passes the ninety-third step, then even if he isn't quite equal to Yao Ji, he still surpasses Emperor Ara, making him the second greatest expert among the younger generation."

"Not as good as Yao Ji? Heavenly Emperor Tai Yi, don't forget, Li Pin has only cultivated for three hundred years! In just three hundred years, he's caught up to achievements that took Yao Ji more than thirty thousand!" Ji Shun couldn't help but interject.

"That's true, but hasn't Li Pin also used treasures like the Illusion Pagoda to accumulate strength?"

Heavenly Emperor Tai Yi smiled. "I know you're probably about to bring up that Yao Ji possesses the Supreme Divine Weapon, Boundless Wheel. But that's because she had fate on her side. She caught the eye of the great Supreme Genesis early on and was taken in as a disciple.

"Li Pin also had such a fateful encounter. He nearly became the disciple of the Abyssal Highlord, but he fell short. After all, the paths of a Highlord and a Supreme diverge. Fate, above all else, determines whether a future Heavenly Emperor can reach the highest pinnacle. In that regard, Li Pin falls far short of my junior sister Yao Ji."

Hearing this, Ji Shun, though unwilling in his heart, had to admit that Li Pin's fortune was indeed lacking.

They had sighed over it more than once. If only Li Pin had been born ten thousand years earlier, no, even a thousand, it would be an entirely different story.

Unfortunately, nothing could change that fact. Fate waited for no one. The Ten Thousand Tributes Dominion War and the accumulated fortune from the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations Proposal wouldn't wait either.

When fortune arrived, the heavens aid you; when it left, even heroes were powerless.

Ji Shun couldn't help but sigh again. This sighing and regret only deepened when, not long after, Li Pin appeared atop the Supreme Ladder.

Not only him, the majority of the Sacred Monarchs and Heavenly Emperors present looked at that figure, who had passed the ninety-third step and whose vitality, energy, and spirit were even better than Yao Ji's. As amazed as they were that he had succeeded, they couldn't help but feel a deep sense of regret.

"This is... Li Pin's fate."