Unprecedented Challenge

Upon the Imperial Pass, numerous Quasi-Emperors were struggling to climb.

Yes, climb.

At first, they had attempted to fly, but as the altitude increased, the crushing weight of ten thousand Daos pressed down upon them like a towering divine mountain, rendering flight impossible. Reduced to the posture of apes, they clung to the walls of the Imperial Pass, hauling themselves upward.

Sweat drenched their bodies, muscles strained to the limit—there was no trace of the dignity befitting Quasi-Emperors, only an almost comical desperation.

Here, the disparity between them became glaringly apparent. Those who cultivated mightier Daos or had advanced further along their paths ascended far more swiftly than the rest.

Suddenly!

A thunderous roar shook the heavens, reverberating from the distance.

The climbing Quasi-Emperors jolted in alarm, turning their gazes toward the source.

An ancient war chariot, forged entirely of gold and etched with dense Dao patterns, exuded an aura of relentless slaughter. Drawn by dozens of formidable Quasi-Emperors, it surged forward with a tempest of wind and thunder, its momentum overwhelming the sky. Waves of oppressive might crashed toward the climbers.

Their faces twisted in horror.

"It's Elder Demon Gu!"

"Damn it! To encounter this fiend here of all places!"

They had just been robbed by Gu Qingfeng, their hearts still shadowed by the ordeal. The last thing they wanted was another encounter.

Gu Qingfeng defied all reason and moral conventions—who else would blockade the Emperor’s Path just to plunder others?

Unprecedented in all of history!

Now, meeting this demon on the Imperial Pass, who knew what depraved acts he might commit?

In their panic, the Quasi-Emperors redoubled their efforts, scaling the walls even faster—fear of Gu Qingfeng had unlocked their hidden potential.

From atop the golden war chariot, Gu Qingfeng observed their struggles with a faint smirk. "How pitiful."

His voice was soft, but every Quasi-Emperor present caught the scorn laced within.

"Outrageous! This demon dares to mock us!"

"Let him gloat. Once we reach the Imperial Pass, he’ll get what’s coming. The Pass tests one’s Dao—his crooked methods will be useless. He’ll be exposed soon enough."

Some Quasi-Emperors sneered with schadenfreude. The pressure of the Imperial Pass was unimaginable—only those who tread upon it understood. It targeted one’s Dao alone. No matter how vast one’s power or influence, if their Dao was weak, they would never pass.

Of course, none doubted Gu Qingfeng’s ability to ascend—his earlier feats spoke for themselves.

But ascending was one thing; doing so with ease was another. They longed to see him reduced to the same wretched state as them—crawling like a dog up the Pass.

Such was human nature—when hatred festered, nothing brought more joy than witnessing the enemy humiliated.

Under their mocking gazes, Gu Qingfeng stepped onto the Imperial Pass.

Then, the unthinkable happened.

He didn’t even disembark.

The golden war chariot thundered forward, wreathed in lightning, its unstoppable momentum carrying it upward as the dozens of Quasi-Emperors hauled it higher and higher, piercing the clouds.

"Hahaha! He actually thinks he can rely on sheer numbers to conquer the Imperial Pass? Doesn’t he know the pressure targets each individual? More people only mean greater resistance!"

"Elder Demon Gu’s arrogance knows no bounds. Once they reach the middle section, the pressure will multiply. Let’s see how he stays seated in that chariot—soon enough, he’ll be crawling just like the rest of us!"

Sure enough, as the chariot surged past the initial stretch and entered the mid-section, the pressure intensified. The pulling Quasi-Emperors staggered as if struck by a colossal force, and the chariot’s speed plummeted.

But before the onlookers could revel in their vindication, a shocking turn unfolded.

One of the pulling Quasi-Emperors suddenly roared, his body erupting with radiant divine light as he unleashed his full power. The chariot, which had slowed, transformed into a golden streak, rocketing skyward with explosive speed.

The spectators gaped in disbelief.

"This... this reckless expenditure of energy can’t last! Once this Quasi-Emperor burns out, he’ll never complete the remaining path. This is suicide for his chances at the Emperor’s throne!"

"What kind of spell has Gu Qingfeng cast on them?"

"Tch! This is nothing but killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. How long can forced exertion last? Let’s see what Elder Demon Gu does next—will he make all his lackeys burn themselves out?"

As predicted, the overexerted Quasi-Emperor lasted only an hour before collapsing from exhaustion.

Then, without hesitation, he detached from the chariot and began descending—abandoning the climb entirely.

"He’s withdrawing?!"

"After sealing himself away for countless eras, waiting for the Emperor’s Path to open... and he just gives up like this?"

Stunned silence followed.

Of course, this was all Gu Qingfeng’s design. These followers served no purpose in proceeding further. First, their strength was no longer of use—the later stages of the Emperor’s Path were reserved for former Heavenly Emperors.

Second, this ascension wasn’t for them. Only Little Corpse Charm was destined to become Emperor.

There was no reason for these subordinates to follow, especially with the impending battle against the Flame Heavenly Emperor—they’d only end up as cannon fodder.

No benefit, no utility, only extreme danger—why should they throw their lives away?

Gu Qingfeng was quite satisfied with these loyal followers; he wouldn’t let them die for nothing.

As the chariot slowed once more—

Boom!

Another Quasi-Emperor erupted with power, and the golden chariot surged upward again.

An hour later, this one too withdrew, making way for a third to take over.

The chariot’s speed skyrocketed anew.

Then a fourth. A fifth. A sixth...

By the time the tenth Quasi-Emperor burned out, the onlookers could only stare numbly as the golden chariot loomed overhead, now within reach.

Their hearts churned with indescribable bitterness.

They had toiled relentlessly, scrambling for every inch of progress—yet what was the result?

Their rival had simply ridden past them, carried by the sacrifices of Quasi-Emperors willing to sever their own paths for his sake.

How could they possibly compete?

With another explosive surge, the golden chariot left them all behind, vanishing into the distant sky.

In that moment, a bitter realization struck them:

They had set foot on the Imperial Pass first, gaining the early advantage—yet no amount of climbing could outpace a chariot.

And most cruelly of all, Gu Qingfeng had an endless supply of devotees, each willing to spend their lives to propel him forward.