Chapter 1834: Behind Enemy Lines

Behind Enemy Lines

The domain train sped rapidly through the Gray World.

Chen Ling gently opened the yellowed storybook in his hand, his eyes incomparably calm.

This storybook was compiled by Chen Ling successively over nine years. The very first story in it was the legend of the "Colored Lantern Festival" in the Red Dust Bastion.

The Colored Lantern Festival was single-handedly planned by Chen Ling nine years ago. He appeared in the dreams of the people of the Red Dust Bastion, helped them fulfill their wishes, and left behind the seeds of the Colored Lantern Festival... Nine years of Fate Weaving development allowed the Colored Lantern Festival to become a grand festival that could rival the New Year.

Chen Ling did this just so he could send Sun Bumian to the Demigod Position of the Theater Dao today.

Now, the gap on the frontal battlefield had already been opened.

Next...

Chen Ling slowly closed the storybook.

[Li Leider].

...

Chengtian Domain.

"What did you say?"

"The Demigod Position of the Path of the Actor was snatched by someone who was First to Arrive, First to Benefit?"

Marquis Ji stood before the door, his brows tightly furrowed.

"...Yes." The guard spoke bitterly. "Right now, Marquis Qing is already unable to Advance and is in the room... resting."

Marquis Ji frowned in deep thought. He pinched his fingers lightly, seemingly trying to calculate something.

But for some unknown reason, no matter how he spurred the Path of Divination today, he didn't receive any response, as if some invisible power had already shielded him.

The unease in Marquis Ji's heart grew stronger.

But since matters had reached this point, Marquis Ji had no other way to retreat. Now that the Demigod Position of the Theater Dao had already been snatched, if he was any slower, in case the Demigod Position of the Path of Divination was also snatched... then there would truly be no one to go assist the Red Dust Bastion.

Marquis Ji shook his head, throwing these stray thoughts to the back of his mind, and said to the guard:

"I will go start Divine Path Certification right now."

"No problem, Marquis Ji, we have already prepared everything."

"Also..." Marquis Ji was just about to leave when he suddenly turned his head, looking solemnly at the several people. "You must send people to monitor the vicinity well... I have a premonition that there might be someone coming to disrupt my Divine Path Certification this time as well."

The several guards exchanged a glance:

"But Marquis Ji..."

"During Divine Path Certification, isn't it impossible to be attacked? Even if someone wants to come disrupt... I'm afraid it won't be that easy."

Marquis Ji was startled and thought about it carefully. "That's true... But, let's still be a bit more cautious."

"Yes, Marquis, we will definitely guard the position well and not let anyone disturb you."

Marquis Ji finally relaxed a little and stepped directly toward that earth obscured by the black birdcage.

His complex official uniform interwoven with black and gold swayed gently in the wind. Marquis Ji stood still in the center of the black birdcage, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled...

He concentrated his mind and calmed his breath, preparing to start Divine Path Certification.

For Resurrected former Demigods like them, the "Dao Fruit" needed for Divine Path Certification already existed. However, this was after all going against the will of heaven. While undergoing Divine Path Certification, they would also be bombarded by the will of heaven and earth... This was no joke.

He had to adjust his state to the peak before he could officially begin.

At the same time, numerous figures tightly surrounded this piece of earth. Countless high-rank Divine Path Wielders scattered their gazes to every corner, waiting in full battle array.

And on the empty street in the distance,

A figure wearing a British Overcoat and an elegant Fedora on his head was unhurriedly approaching here.

Those deep blue eyes gazed at that earth enveloped by the black birdcage, as well as the figures standing everywhere like a flock of crows, a faint smile curling at the corners of his mouth...

He didn't have the slightest intention of hiding himself, just walking forward openly and aboveboard like this.

His presence immediately attracted the attention of numerous Divine Path Wielders!

"Who is it?!"

"Halt!"

Several shouts rang out from above.

At the same time, several Divine Pathways suddenly erupted. Auras full of oppressive feeling surged toward here, blowing the hem of the British Overcoat wildly.

Among the Divine Path Wielders present, someone looked at that familiar attire, seemingly recalling something, and their heart skipped a beat!

He shouted nervously:

"Careful!"

"He is the King of the Fire-Stealers, the Pathway Chief of the Path of the Thief, Li Leider!!"

As soon as this sentence came out, all gazes immediately gathered here. Naturally, they had heard the title of the King of the Fire-Stealers. Right now was exactly when Marquis Ji was preparing for Divine Path Certification, he couldn't possibly just happen to be passing by, right?

Hearing someone around him shout this sentence, ripples stirred in the heart of Marquis Ji, who had originally been concentrating and calming his breath.

Nervousness, worry, vigilance.

The unease in Marquis Ji's heart grew stronger. He no longer adjusted his state, but directly took a step forward, a Divine Pathway extending rapidly toward the sky...

Just as he said just now, no matter what that Pathway Chief of the Path of the Thief wanted to do, as long as he started Divine Path Certification a step earlier, he would be safe. As for how to deal with Li Leider, that could wait until after he Advanced to Demigod.

The other Divine Path Wielders also breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Marquis Ji start Divine Path Certification without hesitation.

But then they were slightly startled.

"Strange..."

"Why is Marquis Ji's Divine Pathway... this color?"

Under the dim firmament, a Divine Pathway shimmering with a faint red hue extended out from the birdcage, piercing straight into the firmament.

Marquis Ji, draped in his black official uniform, was currently climbing up little by little along the stairs reaching the sky...

"The Marquises and Dukes are not ordinary people... even Divine Path Certification can draw heavenly lightning, so it's normal for the color to be a bit strange, right?"

"That's true."

"Look quickly, it's the Marquis's memories."

"Heaven and earth have started to personally examine them."

"..."

While everyone was speaking, flickering light and shadows flowed in the air.

They saw a figure setting up a shop to sell divinations on the streets of ancient times. His divination methods were astonishing, and countless high-ranking officials and nobles came in admiration;

Later, he guided the diviners of the world, purifying the originally mixed divination industry, making divination methods no longer just for profit, but more concerned about making contributions to the common people of the world;

He corrected calendar errors, criticized the chaos in officialdom, and brought divination methods to an unprecedented height... ultimately becoming a magnificent peak of the Path of Divination from ancient times to the present.

Those fluttering light and shadows seemed brief, yet they condensed Marquis Ji's entire life within them. The other spectating Divine Path Wielders were spellbound for a time, a look of admiration surfacing in their gazes looking at that figure climbing the stairs.

"Marquis Ji is actually such an ancient existence?"

"So amazing... how has he managed to live until now?"

"Maybe he has some special method."

"The Marquis has already finished walking most of the heaven-reaching Divine Pathway... Based on this situation, ascending to Demigod is certain."

"Do you even need to say that? Which of the Marquises and Dukes has ever failed?"

"Next, we have to figure out a way to share the heavenly lightning for the Marquis..."

The light and shadows of Divine Path Certification flowed beside Marquis Ji.

Just as he was comprehending the experiences of his life and was about to step onto the final step, his footsteps suddenly paused in the air.