Limitless Ascension: Strength Amid Adversity – Chapter 734

Kunlun Realm.

In the Celestial Court, beneath the calm surface, turbulent waves hide the chaos within.

Despite Liu Huangshu’s efforts to keep the news under wraps, word got out that the master of the Celestial Court, the illustrious Ye Tian Emperor, had somehow fallen to the Immortal King Realm.

When the subordinates of the Celestial Court learned of this shocking news, they were incredulous. To them, the supreme master, Ye Tian Emperor, was like a deity; seeing him take a step backward in cultivation felt like the collapse of a faith they held dear.

An Immortal King? How could he possibly lead the Celestial Court? How could he defend the entire Kunlun Realm against even stronger foes?

Let’s be clear.

Even the soldiers on duty at the South Heavenly Gate today are expected to be at the Immortal Emperor level!

An Immortal King?

To put it bluntly, they wouldn’t even meet the minimum requirement to step through the gates of the Celestial Court!

And it was true.

As the Kunlun Realm rapidly advanced, a flood of powerful figures emerged, and the standards for recruits into the once-unrivaled Celestial Court were ramping up.

To become a regular soldier with a rank now requires at least the cultivation level of an Immortal Emperor!

An Immortal King? That’s just not cutting it anymore.

This is exactly why the subordinates reacted so strongly to the news about the Celestial Court’s master.

It’s understandable; after all, the Celestial Court isn’t a mundane kingdom. To command respect, the supreme leader must wield unrivaled power.

Otherwise, there’s simply no qualification to continue in that position!

Not to mention, an Immortal King is just way too weak. Any average soldier around here could take him out with a spear!

I mean, how can a worm expect to control a bunch of dragons?

In this situation, it’s not surprising that many started having different thoughts.

It’s not that they wanted to harm the former ruler of the Celestial Court, but they felt he wasn’t fit to hold the position anymore and should step back, letting a stronger figure lead in his place.

“I respect the Emperor; he has led us through tough times many times, but under these special circumstances, he ought to step back. We can’t have an Immortal King at the helm of the Celestial Court, right?”

“Yeah, waiting for the Emperor to recover his strength before taking back the throne makes sense!”

“I don’t think that’s unreasonable at all!”

Gradually, some voices began to rise.

They believed Ye Junlin wasn’t fit to be the ruler of the Celestial Court anymore. To ensure stability and better combat external threats, a bold and experienced powerhouse should be quickly appointed to take the position.

But a majority opposed that view.

They held that Ye Junlin was the only choice for the Celestial Court’s master; even if his power slipped to that of an Immortal King, he could still regain it rapidly. Besides, the cultivators of Kunlun Realm had already adapted to the influence of the current master. If he suddenly stepped down at such a crucial moment, it might spark panic and wild speculation.

And so, while the Celestial Court seemed peaceful on the surface, deep down, currents of tension were swirling.

Serious divisions started to appear among everyone on this matter!

In an elegant pavilion.

Two figures were sipping tea, surrounded by the soothing aroma wafting from an incense burner, which brought a refreshing tranquility.

After some time of treatment and recovery, Xiang Jiba’s injuries had healed, and he appeared spirited and striking.

However, he couldn’t shake the heavy mood he carried.

As he watched the silver-haired youth before him, who seemed calm and collected while leisurely pouring himself tea, Xiang Jiba felt utterly perplexed.

Was this kind of relaxation innate?

How could he be so unbothered at such a critical time?

Xiang Jiba had thought that maybe Ye Junlin was just acting composed because his subordinates were around, but it turned out he was overthinking; the guy plainly didn’t care!

Under normal circumstances, falling from the Saint King Realm to the Immortal King Realm would leave anyone feeling miserable, filled with anxiety and fear.

After all, that’s just common sense!

Yet, here was Ye Junlin, not a trace of negative emotion in sight, nonchalantly sipping tea and admiring the scenery as if he didn’t care about his plummeting cultivation.

This left Xiang Jiba dumbfounded, feeling like he was panicking while the Emperor wasn’t.

If it were him, falling from Saint King to Immortal King with so many eyes on him, he’d be close to breaking down from the pressure; how could he possibly find time to enjoy tea and scenery?

“This highlights the true gap between Ye Daoist and me. This mindset is something I can’t even approach…”

Xiang Jiba inwardly sighed.

No matter how dire the situation, to remain composed like this, he truly deserved to succeed!

Impressive, truly impressive!

But then a thought struck him; didn’t this seem like a waste of time? Shouldn’t he be focused on training to raise his realm?

Xiang Jiba wanted to ask, but hesitated, remembering it was his fault that put them in this situation in the first place.

So, when the other man remained silent, he felt too awkward to speak up himself and quietly resumed his tea.

Suddenly.

A powerful aura surged toward them with alarming speed.

The surrounding pond rippled violently, and a bunch of lotus flowers swayed erratically.

In the sky appeared a tall and exquisite figure, exuding a commanding majesty that ruled the surroundings.

In an instant, birds dared not chirp, and insects went silent, as if the entire world was bowing to her presence!

The newcomer was none other than Empress Fuyao!

“This woman…” Xiang Jiba’s heart nearly skipped a beat. He had never seen such a uniquely poised woman.

The air of royalty she naturally carried made him feel a chill deep inside, an urge to kneel in submission.

Most importantly, she felt incredibly strong. Despite being at the Celestial Saint level just like him, they felt worlds apart. Just a mere flick from her could easily end him!

They were not in the same league at all!

Empress Fuyao stared intensely at Ye Junlin without speaking, intentionally releasing a powerful pressure that radiated outward.

Swish!

Swish!

At that moment, two figures materialized from thin air, intercepting her path toward the pavilion. They unleashed their own auras, struggling against Empress Fuyao’s overwhelming force.

Boom! Boom! Boom…

The clash of the two auras roared, evaporating the holy water in the pond, creating a spectacular scene.

The ones standing against Empress Fuyao were Ye Junlin’s two disciples.

Ever since that incident, Hong Qianye and Li Wujie had been secretly protecting him like devoted guardians, ensuring no ill-intentioned individuals could harm him.

What a surprise that the first to apply pressure was none other than the former ruler of the Kunlun Realm, Empress Fuyao!

As she unleashed her overwhelming aura, Hong Qianye and Li Wujie immediately reacted, seeking to protect their master from this formidable woman.

At that moment.

Hong Qianye and Li Wujie clenched their teeth, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads as they exerted themselves with great difficulty.

After all, Empress Fuyao was a top-tier Celestial Saint, a powerhouse capable of battling Ancient Saints. They simply weren’t on the same level at this point!

Li Wujie, shocked and furious, shouted, “Empress Fuyao, what are you doing? Attacking my master at this moment! How could we trust you after all this?!”

Hong Qianye scoffed, “Hmph, so this is your true face! No matter what, we won’t let you harm our master!”

Empress Fuyao didn’t respond but continued to increase her pressure, her beautiful face resembling a frosted mask as she stepped through the void, steadily approaching the pavilion.

The invisible pressure intensified frantically.

It felt like an ancient divine mountain, brutally pressing down on Hong Qianye and Li Wujie.

“Damn it…”

They struggled to resist, their faces pale with strain.

Xiang Jiba’s scalp tingled; his worst fears came true.

Clearly, the one who approached was up to no good. In the current situation, with the Celestial Court’s diminished power, she was trying to seize control!

Watching the noble and regal figure get closer, Ye Junlin’s eyes glinted with surprise.

“Of all people, it had to be her…”

You see, Ye Junlin’s intention in maintaining this state was to see how many would treat him the same in his time of adversity; would their faces change?

There’s an old saying.

“Those who thrive attract hypocritical followers, and only during twilight do true believers reveal themselves.”

Whether some were genuine or fake, whether they were putting on a show or showing true feelings, all would become apparent after he fell from grace!

It was precisely for this reason that Ye Junlin chose to remain hidden, biding his time.

The result was something he never expected—the first to pressure him was the very senior he respected, Empress Fuyao!