Chapter 583: Cannot Stop Him (Requesting Monthly Votes)

Tianque Tower.

“Young Master, Lin Chen has reached 74th place in the Tower of Ascension and is still challenging.”

Hong Luan reported to Dongfang Canglang on the situation inside the Tower of Ascension.

Given Dongfang Canglang’s pride, he could never enter the Tower of Ascension—doing so would be an act of submission to the imperial family.

“Are there any of our people ahead?”

“Yes.”

Hong Luan replied: “72nd place is Li Qing.”

“Then send word to Li Qing—I don’t want Lin Chen’s ranking to rise any further.”

“I’ll contact him immediately.”

Hong Luan departed. Dongfang Canglang’s expression turned cold and cruel. Originally, he had viewed Lin Chen as merely a talented youth worth recruiting—but this Lin Chen had the audacity to refuse him.

But even then, Lin Chen was still just a minor figure in his eyes—until Lin Chen entered the Thousand-Fold Secret Realm and shattered his plans, at which point Dongfang Canglang finally developed a killing intent toward him.

A grasshopper that keeps hopping around is ultimately annoying—just crush it outright.

Yet what he hadn’t expected was that this tiny grasshopper, whom he had dismissed, would later deliver a brutal blow to him at Wan Huozong—only then did he truly begin to take Lin Chen seriously.

“After Father, the remaining destiny of Yanhuang Dynasty belongs to me. Anyone who dares seize my destiny deserves to die.”

Dongfang Canglang’s eyes held boundless coldness. His meticulous planning sought not only to hasten the collapse of the divine seal of Yanhuang Dynasty, but also to absorb its remaining destiny into himself.

Since ancient times, after a dynasty’s fall and its new founding, the descendants of the founding emperor have almost always faded into obscurity—because the founding emperor, when forging the divine seal, also drained the destiny of his descendants.

He did not wish to follow the path of past crown princes, who often lived shorter lives than their fathers. He would carve a different path—remaining invincible in Yanhuang Dynasty even after his father’s reign.

…

…

At the Tower of Ascension plaza, over a thousand Qi-refining cultivators had gathered, and the number continued to grow.

All of this was due to the rapid shifts on the jade stele’s rankings.

In just an hour and a half, Lin Chen had surged into the top eighty. His ascent was terrifying. Upon hearing the news, every cultivator who could spare the time rushed to the Tower of Ascension.

The plaza had shifted from noisy chatter to hushed silence. Those who needed to be shocked had been shocked; those who needed to debate had debated. Now, all eyes were fixed on the jade stele, waiting for Lin Chen’s final ranking.

Until a figure appeared.

When the silver-haired elder stepped onto the plaza, many fifth-stage Qi-refining cultivators stiffened.

“Has Brother Li come too?”

Someone who recognized the elder greeted him.

“It seems Brother Li has also been stirred by Lin Chen. Indeed… judging by the rankings, Lin Chen is nearly on par with Brother Li.”

The silver-haired elder was Li Qing, ranked 72nd. At that moment, Lin Chen’s ranking on the jade stele was 74th—should he win his next challenge, his opponent would be Li Qing.

Shhh!

The jade stele updated again. Lin Chen’s ranking rose once more. An elder in the crowd sighed: “The young are formidable.”

“Xu, won’t you challenge him again?”

“Lin Chen is less than a third of my age. Even if the Tower’s projection cannot fully manifest my strength, to be defeated by one so young—what face would I have to challenge him back?”

The elder took it well. He didn’t even consider whether he could re-enter the tower to challenge Lin Chen again—even if he could, what would be the point?

The world’s eyes are sharp. He was fifty years older than Lin Chen. That Lin Chen could defeat his projection already meant he had won.

“That’s true.”

Several other fifth-stage elders nearby nodded in agreement. This was precisely why those challenged by Lin Chen never entered the tower to fight back.

A youth barely older than their own disciples challenged them. If they fought him in person, it would be too humiliating to lose.

As the crowd murmured, Li Qing walked toward the tower gate.

Seeing this, many elders froze. What did Li Qing intend?

Was he going to personally face Lin Chen?

Li Qing’s face was expressionless. He knew this act would draw fierce criticism—but he had no choice. To have a chance at breaking into the sixth stage of Qi Refining, he had pledged himself to Young Master Dongfang, and this was his first task.

Compared to the chance of breaking into the sixth stage, what was his reputation worth?

He pushed open the door and stepped into the tower gate, ignoring the stares behind him.