?2002 8888

There were very few Hegemons of the Mortal Plane, but this very place was the Holy Land one of them called home. However, at this point in time, this place wasn't filled with its normal happiness and carefreeness.

Well, this wasn't to say that something terrible was occurring. By all rights, it was actually a grand event. It was just that those watching on couldn't help but be nervous.

In the skies above their heads, a grand staircase of gold ascended into the skies. It was truly a sight to behold.

Holy light cascaded to the grounds below, bathing the Empire's capital in a warm blessing.

If one counted the number of stairs, one would come to an amount of 9999. This seemed to hold no significance whatsoever, but for those who were knowledgeable, their hearts couldn't help but tremble.

This was none other than Heaven's Staircase, a trial known as Heaven's Ascent. It was the very trial every Peak Dao Expert who hoped to become a Higher Existence would be forced to take. Whether they could pry their own fate from the jaws of heavenly laws would be decided by this very trial.

With this, one might begin to understand the significance of what these 9999 steps represented.

The Half-Step Transcendent Realm was separated into three major tiers.

On the Mortal Plane, the first tier of experts was simply designated as Higher Existences. For those of this tier, they were only able to elicit the descent of 3333 steps or less.

The second tier of expert were known as Lords. For those of this tier, they were only able to elicit the descent of between 3334 and 6666 steps.

The final tier of expert were known as Supremes. For those of this tier, they were able to elicit the descent of anywhere between 6667 and 9999 steps!

For one to earn the title of their Clan's Ancestor, at least for the Outer Powers of the Mortal Plane, this third tier was the bare minimum. However, for all 9999 steps to descend This was a sight the mortal plane had not seen in billions of years!

What decided the number of steps that descended? It was foundation and talent! For 9999 to descend, it meant that one's future on the Immortal Plane was nearly guaranteed. Well If one managed to ascend to the top, that is.

However, while this was rare for those of the mortal plane, the reactions of the citizens of this hegemon were far more lukewarm than it should have been. It was almost as though they had already seen it many times before.

And that They had. Over the last decade, this was already over the tenth time. No, maybe it was the twentieth? It didn't matter, they had long since lost count.

To be able to spit out Higher Existences No, Supremes at this rate If the other Outer Powers knew, they'd likely faint from shock. Unfortunately for them, the truth of these matters was kept within the walls of their Empire.

Currently, in the skies, the one challenging these 9999 steps was beauty with delicate brown skin. Her blue eyes flickered with a warm gentleness that overwhelmed one with the sense of wanting to protect her.

The Empire's Capital had long since fallen for this beauty. In fact, the only time in these last 80 years that the citizens ever displayed their dissatisfaction for their Emperor was when he held a grand wedding but excluded her. There were many people who cursed their Emperor that night and drank a bottle of liquor in solidarity with this beauty.

Who had ever heard of citizens openly cursing their Emperor? But the population of this hegemon did so freely, and they actually weren't punished for it!

The ambience of this Empire was clear. Even the lowest people scolded the Emperor as though he was their own brother Even when one of the Emperor's women risked her life to challenge Heaven's Steps, they would feel nervous as though she was their own sister-in-law.

Maybe since the creation of the mortal plane, there had never been such a harmonious empire. But here one was, watching a petite beauty climb step after step.

Every step was no different from facing another tribulation. Strikes of lightning, piercing whipping winds, blazing fires, attacks of the mind, disease-like afflictions This small beauty weathered through them all, her steps remaining steady.

1111 steps 2222. 4444. 8888.

She reached the final ninth stretch. Her body was riddled with injuries, her beautiful features obscured by dripping and drying blood. But, it couldn't cover the determination in her gentle eyes.

A leather-like white armor stretched over her limbs as the call of a five-headed elephant made even the steps below her small feet tremble.

With a final push, she landed on the final step, her cheery gentle laughter warming the hearts of those below.

A blessing descended from above. Her aura rapidly surged as all of her injuries healed at a speed even faster than what the mortal eye could keep up with.

The blessing lasted for several moments before she descended from the skies like a blue gowned fairy.

With a smile, she landed before a young man smiling a relieved smile. It was just that this young man was wearing Emperor Robes wrapped in black and gold dragons. He was none other than the Emperor of their Hegemon.

"Demon General Saru greets Emperor Sacharro." Saru curtsied politely, a sweet smile on her face.

This Hegemon was known by a name that rocked the Mortal Plane.

They were the Mortal Empire.

"Stop messing around." Dyon smirked, causing a wave of wind qi too pull Saru up from her bow.

"I've finally caught up." Saru said with a beaming smile.

Dyon only smiled in response, but the truth was that he was a bit confused about it all. With Saru's talent, she should have broken through this final step long ago, he didn't know why she had lagged behind so much.

Of course, if others heard that Dyon thought going from the celestial realm to the Half-Step Transcendent Realm in just 80 years was too slow, they'd probably start riots.

However, it wasn't as though Dyon had no basis for this thought.