[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-pursued-by-the-top-grade-saintess-after-engageme":3,"chapter-pursued-by-the-top-grade-saintess-after-engageme-pursued-by-the-top-grade-saintess-after-engageme-chapter-402":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Pursued by the Top Grade Saintess after Engagement Annulled",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1391331,1845,"Chapter 402 - 398: Xia Tianming’s Decision","pursued-by-the-top-grade-saintess-after-engageme-chapter-402",402,"\u003Cp>Xia Feng felt his surroundings blur for a moment, and then a sudden pressure enveloped him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked around with a touch of bewilderment and realized that everyone except Tang Yunqi had been transported to the first tier of the Heaven-Ascending Ladder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only those who had not yet climbed, but even Dongfang Qingcang, who had already ascended four or five steps, found himself back on the first tier in astonishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Divine Power and energy he had just expended were not returned to him, but he was only put back on the first tier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the people around, all in full condition, his expression turned dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But by this time, he wouldn’t question the Wuji Divine Monarch illusion above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a flick of his fan, a few loose cultivators who had just stepped onto the second tier were flung into the Sea of Secret Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then continued to climb upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ximen Chun shuddered, following closely behind Dongfang Qingcang, not daring to overstep for fear that Dongfang Qingcang might toss him into the Sea of Secret Realm as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main reason was that he was somewhat afraid of Xia Feng and Xia Tianming beside him, so he hurriedly stepped onto the second tier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, he was clearly unprepared mentally, as the pressure on the second tier was much heavier than the first, causing him to stagger and almost make a fool of himself in front of everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As everyone’s attention was diverted, Tang Yunqi quietly stepped onto the first tier of the ladder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one noticed that his hand did not have the Plum Blossom Brand, nor that he had not been forcibly transported by the Wuji Divine Monarch to the first tier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone beside him irritably turned his head and said, \"Why are you squeezing? If you have the guts, go to the second tier.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Yunqi raised his eyebrow slightly and then, with a smile, poked the person in the back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Somehow, the previously arrogant and irritated person was poked down the ladder with just one finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he watched the person tumble into the Sea of Secret Realm and get seized by a Blood Beast emerging from nowhere, he blinked slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Yunqi muttered softly, \"How careless~.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he finished speaking, the people around him instantly backed away, as if afraid he might suddenly poke them as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Tang Yunqi clearly had no such intention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked somewhat troubled as he glanced at Xia Feng and Xia Tianming, and after whispering something to them, started climbing upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Yunqi looked around and then followed them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pressure was not too severe for Xia Feng, but to accommodate Xia Tianming’s pace, he still slowed down considerably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing them, the members of the Four Great Clans tried to group up and squeeze them off the Heaven-Ascending Ladder, but most were easily knocked down by Xia Feng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The loose cultivators wanted to stay far away from them, fearing a massacre might result in them being chased off as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Few escaped from the jaws of the Blood Beasts; most ended their Secret Realm journey the instant they fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Four Great Clans maintained their distance, harassing the trio’s progress from afar, unwilling to get too close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they climbed higher, it became increasingly difficult, though Xia Feng and Tang Yunqi seemed to handle it with relative ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xia Tianming’s pace began to slow, slightly impeding their progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the afternoon of the next day, the trio reached the 50th step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Tianming sat on the step, breathing heavily, appearing exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Feng looked worried: \"Grandpa, are you okay?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His palm touching Xia Tianming’s arm transmitted a probing message, asking if he needed to rest in the Dream Realm Pearl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Xia Tianming waved off Xia Feng’s offer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the time in the Dream Realm Pearl passed quickly, allowing for recovery, there were too many people here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone might notice something odd, risking the secret being exposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Feng couldn’t possibly kill everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Revealing the Dream Realm Pearl would attract much more than minor attacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Divine King would covet it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Xia Tianming declined, speaking through heavy breaths: \"I’m afraid I’ve reached my limit at these steps.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The pressure is so heavy I can barely breathe. Trying to go higher, controlling my body is challenging, and any mishap could easily result in being thrown off.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Feng glanced upward to see Dongfang Qingcang alone above them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was at the sixtieth step, and considering the additional pressure the Wuji Divine Monarch placed on the Four Great Clans, his strength was indeed formidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was clear that was his limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had lingered at the sixtieth step for almost two hours, attempting over a dozen times to ascend the sixty-first step, to no avail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He, too, was out of steam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Tianming looked at the situation above, then at those still struggling below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Xiao Feng, you keep going, I’ll stay here and knock down anyone trying to pass fifty.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze held a cold determination, clearly deciding to defend the position and prevent anyone from surpassing the fiftieth step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While he was capable, Xia Feng still worried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long pause, he spoke softly, \"Maybe I should stay here with you, Grandpa.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There’s only Dongfang Qingcang above. If we both guard here, we can at least tie for second.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Isn’t it enough to be in the top ten?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Yunqi quickly interrupted, \"The first-place reward is better.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Though we don’t know what it is, remember the reward from your first trial?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you willing to let Dongfang Qingcang take such a good prize?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I understand your concern. Don’t worry; I’ll stay here with your grandpa to block people below.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If anything happens to Grandpa, I’ll surely help.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Feng looked at Tang Yunqi, who appeared sincere, hesitating and unsure if he should trust this sudden ally.\u003C\u002Fp>",985,"2026-06-05T22:57:42.809Z",1,"novelbin.me","291662fccdea5d34afc3d94e9357114439c6d60ac29dbb50a893558a7b875d41","pursued-by-the-top-grade-saintess-after-engageme-chapter-403","pursued-by-the-top-grade-saintess-after-engageme-chapter-401",634,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fpursued-by-the-top-grade-saintess-after-engageme-cover.jpg"]