Gate of God

It was so sudden, and he didn’t even bid Fang Zhengzhi farewell.

Indeed, having grown up in the jungles, Yan Qing did not have an exactly ‘proper’ understanding of fairness in a battle either.

Fang Zhengzhi was slightly astounded after watching Yan Qing dash straight into the thick fog, but a smile quickly formed on his face.

“Dude, don’t be so fast!” Fang Zhengzhi bellowed into the distance, and an azure shade of light glowed in front of him.

“Boom!” A mellow burst rumbled through the Jungle of Mysteries. Very evidently, someone charged forward too quickly and hastily that he rammed his head straight into a tree, hence producing this low thud.

As for why he collided into a tree … it was definitely not due to the thick fog obstructing his vision, nor due to his excessive speed, but because the tree sprouted out from thin air.

“Ka-cha!” The tree snapped. Another bloody scar streaked across Yan Qing’s head, but he did not seem particularly shocked or angry about this.

Having grown up in the jungle, he has personally experienced the laws of nature, sneak attacks, joint attacks, and ambushes in such a perilous environment with danger lurking in every corner, and everything has always abided by a single rule – either you live, or you die!

Hence, objectively speaking, Fang Zhengzhi’s decision to employ his own counterattacks after Yan Qing clinched a head-start was simply rational ordinary competition. And since this was a bet, both sides would certainly not pull their punches.

Yan Qing did not stop. After colliding head-first into a huge tree, he grabbed the fallen log with his bare hands and used it to propel him back into the air.

“Swish!” He stopped his fall and bounded back up like a monkey, moving with such frightening agility.

“Am I competing in something I shouldn’t have competed in?” With his mouth agape, Fang Zhengzhi gazed at the shadow’s unstopping advance, truly feeling that something went wrong.

Since Yan Qing grew up in the jungles among the beasts … why did he still choose to compete with Yan Qing over speed, and worse, inside a jungle? Isn’t he just shooting himself in the foot?

He didn’t agonize over this for long. For any match, once it starts, there’s only one way to move forward – either you win, or you lose.

The blue light flickered incessantly as Fang Zhengzhi’s body traversed the jungle swiftly. He exploited his advantage of mastering the Heaven Dao coupled with the experiences of hunting in the mountains in his youth, hence Fang Zhengzhi’s speed was naturally not slower than Yan Qing’s at all.

The two shadows sped towards the same direction, one in front and one behind. And with their movements causing such a ruckus, it was virtually impossible for them to go unnoticed by the wandering beasts. However, their speed was simply too astonishing that even the beasts lying in their way could not react in time.

“Plop!” One of them collapsed to the ground. Its dark green eyes were evidently in shock and disbelief, after all, it only saw a shadow and could not even identify what the shadow looked like. Where was the disciple training that they were promised?

As it was mulling over this, a blue ray of light arrived in front of it. It was as pure as the sky.

“….” The beast opened its mouth, gazing at the pristine azure shade of blue before its eyes, unable to describe its feelings with any sort of roars.

And then, a foot stomped right on its head. And in the next instant … Just as it began to lift its head up again, the beast collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud, and a single sinister-looking fang was deeply etched into a piece of rock.

“Ka-cha!” Its tooth had broken off.

….

Outside the Divine Rain Pond in the Heaven Dao Pavilion, Sixth Elder felt as though an immense weight has been lifted off his shoulders. After all, Chi Guyan has already reached the Fourth Heaven with such ease. With things going so smoothly, what could possibly go wrong?

The surrounding Heaven Dao disciples were also beaming with joy. The news of Chi Guyan’s bet with Fang Zhengzhi had spread through the entire Heaven Dao Pavilion half a month ago, so why would the Heaven Dao disciples be unaware of the significance of this showdown?

Although they all believed Fang Zhengzhi was intentionally finding an excuse to lengthen his stay in the Heaven Dao Pavilion for another month, it would be virtually impossible for them to witness Chi Guyan lose this bet …

After all, the loser would have to be the winner’s personal slave. Could they bare to watch Chi Guyan serve Fang Zhengzhi tea, wash his clothes, cook his meals, entertain him and perform for him everyday?

“Senior Chi Guyan, you have to win this round!”

“Of course!”

“I’m guessing that brat is still spinning around in circles in the Jungle of Mysteries. I wonder how many ferocious beasts are surrounding him now.”

“Hahaha … I really do want to see his pathetic state now, but what a pity, I’m not in-charge of observing the Divine Rain Pond’s activity!”

The Heaven Dao disciples discussed and chuckled together.

And at this very moment, someone rushed towards them in shock and panic. It was the Heaven Dao disciple with the surname Wang who was responsible for observing the activity in the Divine Rain Pond.

“Senior Wang, what’s the situation in the Divine Rain Pond?”

“That’s right, tell us about that scoundrel, Senior Wang, the one who fell into the Jungle of Mysteries. Make us feel better for a bit!”

The spectating disciples around the Divine Rain Pond chortled and asked as they watched him approach them.

“Make you feel better?” The Heaven Dao disciple with the surname Wang wore a conflicted expression on his face. Without answering the questions thrown at him, he quickly made a detour and headed towards Sixth Elder.

“Eh? Why are you in a hurry, what happened?” Sixth Elder asked slowly when he noticed the expression on the disciple’s face.

“Sixth Elder, Fang … Fang Zhengzhi has, already …”

“Died? That’s impossible! That disgusting brat is no weakling. Even if he got surrounded by the beasts of the Jungle of Mysteries, he should have only sustained a few minor injuries without any fatal wounds, right?” Sixth Elder frowned. He couldn’t help but ponder over this possibility after noticing the disciple’s frantic expression.

Even though he did bear any good feelings for Fang Zhengzhi, he did not particularly wish for his death in the Jungle of Mysteries either. And objectively speaking … Sixth Elder was the person hosting this event in the Divine Rain Pond, and he was the reason why Fang Zhengzhi fell into the Jungle of Mysteries. If something unfortunate actually happened, he would have to bear the responsibility.

“No, Fang Zhengzhi did … didn’t die …” The disciple immediately shook his head and gulped heavily. “Not only did he survive, he has already reached the Jungle of Mysteries’ e … exit, and he’s about to enter the Nine Heavens!”

“What?!” Sixth Elder was flabbergasted, clearly refusing to believe what he was hearing. “How long has it been? An hour hasn’t even passed. Are you sure he’s already reaching the exit?”

“No … he’s not reaching the exit. He’s already at the exit. When I arrived, Yan Qing and him were already there, and now … I think they’ve already entered the Nine Heavens!” The disciple hastily explained again after hearing Sixth Elder’s question.

“How is this possible?!” Sixth Elder’s expression changed drastically.

Fang Zhengzhi had traversed the entire Jungle of Mysteries in less than an hour. This would already be a stretch for someone who was familiar with the geography of the region. But Fang Zhengzhi? It was his first time in the Jungle of Mysteries. He actually managed to navigate out of the jungle in less than an hour? How is this normal?!

Not only was Sixth Elder completely dumbfounded, the Heaven Dao disciples circling the Divine Rain Pond who were previously beaming with joy now froze in shock. Their smiles numbed and crumpled.

“Fang Zhengzhi is already out of the Jungle of Mysteries?! How … How is this possible?”

“It hasn’t even been an hour, not even an hour … and he’s already out of the Jungle of Mysteries? I took five days and five nights to find my way out of there last year!”

“Isn’t this ridiculous? Is that bastard actually a demon?”

The Heaven Dao disciples were overwhelmed with disbelief, but they knew that Senior Wang wouldn’t lie under such circumstances. And just as everyone was still reeling in shock, another person ran towards them from a distance, noticeably faster than Senior Wang was.

This time, since the Divine Rain Pond event also involved Chi Guyan’s bet with Fang Zhengzhi, the Heaven Dao Pavilion would be paying serious attention to whatever was going on inside the Divine Rain Pond, and hence arranged several disciples to observe the activity of the participants. And this person running towards them was another disciple with the surname Lu.

“Why is Senior Lu here too?”

As the Heaven Dao disciples watched in bewilderment, the disciple with the surname Lu bounded towards Sixth Elder like a frightened rabbit.

“Sixth … Sixth Elder … Fang … Fang Zhengzhi has already deciphered the … first Nine Heavens Sagely Illustration, and has … entered the Second … Second Heaven already!” The disciple stammered in fear as he broke into cold sweat, as though his soul had left his body.

“What?! What did you say?!” Sixth Elder’s face of astonishment began to contort. And the equally confounded disciples around him were completely astounded. Their eyes and mouth were wide open, paralyzed in shock as though they had been jolted by a bolt of lightning.

“I’m saying …. Fang Zhengzhi has already … entered the Second Heaven!” Beads of perspiration dripped down from the disciple’s face to the ground after noticing Sixth Elder’s distorted expression.

As the disciple responsible for observing the activity in the Divine Rain Pond, he should be maintaining his composure to the best of his ability, but he simply could not keep his cool after witnessing such an unbelievable sight.

A haggard-looking Fang Zhengzhi appeared in the Nine Heavens, stepping on the verdant meadows with both his feet. It was already an awe-inspiring sight, but what was even more awe-inspiring …

The moment Fang Zhengzhi stepped foot into the Nine Heavens, he instinctively lifted his head and glanced at the first Nine Heavens Sagely Illustration hanging across the sky.

One glance.

It only took his one glance.

A voice reverberated through the Divine Rain Pond. “Fang Zhengzhi has entered the Second Heaven!”