Chapter 1834: Behind Enemy Lines

The Realm Train sped rapidly through the Gray Realm.

Chen Ling gently opened the yellowed storybook in his hands, his eyes perfectly calm.

This storybook was something Chen Ling had compiled over the course of nine years. The very first story in it was the legend of the "Lantern Festival" of the Red Dust Prison.

The Lantern Festival was something Chen Ling had orchestrated nine years ago. He had appeared in the dreams of the people in the Red Dust Prison, helping them fulfill their wishes and planting the seeds of the Lantern Festival... Nine years of Fate Weaving development had turned the Lantern Festival into a grand celebration that rivaled the New Year.

Chen Ling had done this specifically so that he could send Sun Bumian to the position of Theater Path demigod today.

Now, the gap in the front line had been opened.

Next...

Chen Ling slowly closed the storybook.

He picked up his pen and, stroke by stroke, wrote the second name on the page:

【Li Laide】.

……

Cheng Tian Realm.

"What did you say?"

"The Theater God Path's demigod position was snatched by someone else?"

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

"...Yes." The guard spoke bitterly. "Now Marquis Qing is unable to ascend and is inside... resting."

Marquis Ji frowned in thought. He pinched his fingertips, as if trying to calculate something.

But for some reason, no matter how he invoked the Divination God Path today, he received no response, as if some power in the dark had already blocked him.

The unease in Marquis Ji's heart grew stronger.

But things had reached this point, and Marquis Ji had no way back. Now that the Theater Path demigod position had been snatched, if he were any slower, and the Divination Path demigod position were also snatched... then there would truly be no one left to support the Red Dust Prison.

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

"I will go initiate the God Path Self-Proof now."

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

"Also..." Marquis Ji was about to set off when he suddenly turned back, looking at them solemnly. "You must send people to monitor the surroundings well... I have a premonition that someone might interfere with my God Path Self-Proof this time as well."

The guards looked at each other:

"But Marquis Ji..."

"Isn't it impossible to be attacked during God Path Self-Proof? Even if someone wants to interfere... it probably won't be that easy."

Marquis Ji paused, thought about it carefully, and said, "That's true... but still, let's be cautious."

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

Marquis Ji finally felt a little more at ease and walked straight toward the land covered by the black birdcage.

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

He focused his mind and spirit, preparing to initiate the God Path Self-Proof.

For those like them who had been resurrected, former demigods, the "Dao Fruit" required for God Path Self-Proof already existed. However, this was ultimately an act against the heavens; while performing the God Path Self-Proof, one would also be bombarded by the will of heaven and earth... this was no laughing matter.

He had to adjust his state to the best possible condition before he could officially begin.

At the same time, numerous figures surrounded this land, and countless high-level God Path practitioners cast their gazes into every corner, standing by in full battle array.

And on a deserted street in the distance,

A figure wearing an English-style overcoat and an elegant top hat was approaching at a leisurely pace.

Those deep blue eyes gazed at the land shrouded by the black birdcage, as well as the figures standing everywhere like crows, and the corners of his mouth curled into a faint smile...

He had no intention of hiding himself at all, walking forward openly and honestly.

His presence immediately attracted the attention of numerous God Path practitioners!

"Who is that?!"

"Stop!"

Several shouts rang out from above.

At the same time, several God Paths erupted instantly, and an oppressive aura surged toward here, blowing the hem of the English overcoat until it fluttered.

Among the God Path practitioners present, someone looked at that familiar attire, as if remembering something, and their heart skipped a beat!

He shouted nervously:

"Careful!"

"He is the King of Fire Tamperers, the leader of the Stealing God Path, Li Laide!!"

Once these words were out, all eyes immediately converged here. They had naturally heard of the title of the King of Fire Tamperers. Right now, it was the time when Marquis Ji was preparing for his God Path Self-Proof; he couldn't possibly be just passing by, could he?

Hearing someone around him shout this, Marquis Ji, who had been focusing his mind, felt a ripple in his heart.

Nervousness, worry, vigilance.

The unease in Marquis Ji's heart grew stronger. He stopped adjusting his state and instead took a step forward, and a God Path extended rapidly toward the sky...

Just as he had said before, no matter what that leader of the Stealing God Path wanted to do, as long as he initiated the God Path Self-Proof a step ahead, he would be safe. As for how to deal with Li Laide, he would worry about that after he ascended to demigod status.

The other God Path practitioners breathed a slight sigh of relief when they saw Marquis Ji initiate the God Path Self-Proof without hesitation.

But then they paused slightly.

"Strange..."

"Marquis Ji's God Path... why is it this color?"

Under the dim sky, a God Path with a faint reddish hue extended from the birdcage, shooting straight toward the heavens.

Marquis Ji, draped in black official robes, was currently climbing upward step by step along the stairs that reached the sky...

"The Marquis and the Dukes are not ordinary people... It's normal for even God Path Self-Proof to attract heavenly thunder, and for the color to be a bit strange, right?"

"That's true."

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

"Heaven and earth have begun to personally verify him."

“……”

As everyone spoke, flickering rays of light circulated in the air.

They saw a figure on the streets of ancient times, setting up a stall to sell divination. His divination methods were shocking to the world, and countless dignitaries came to seek him out by name;

Later, he guided the diviners of the world to rectify the chaotic divination industry, making divination methods no longer just for profit, but more concerned with contributing to the common people of the world;

He corrected errors in the calendar, criticized the chaos of the officialdom, and brought divination methods to an unprecedented height... eventually becoming a magnificent mountain peak of the ancient and modern Divination Path.

Those floating rays of light seemed brief, yet they condensed the entire life of Marquis Ji. The other God Path practitioners watching were mesmerized for a moment, and looks of admiration appeared in their eyes as they looked at the figure climbing the stairs.

"Marquis Ji, is he actually such an ancient existence?"

"So amazing... How has he lived until now?"

"Perhaps there is a special method."

"The Heaven-Reaching God Path, the Marquis has already walked more than half of it... At this rate, ascending to demigod status is certain."

"Do you even need to say that? When have the Marquis and the Dukes ever failed?"

"Next, we need to find a way to help the Marquis share the heavenly thunder..."

The light of the God Path Self-Proof circulated beside Marquis Ji.

Just as he was contemplating his life's experiences and about to step onto the final stair, his footsteps suddenly paused in mid-air.