Half Heaven Trampling

**Half Heaven Trampling** is the transitional stage between Void Tribulant and Heaven Trampling, as well as the ascension from the Third Step of cultivation to the Fourth Step.

## Details

At the peak of the Third Step, a cultivator can attempt to further progress onto Heaven Trampling. However the gap between the Third and Fourth Steps is considerably massive thus causing them to fall into this state.

This stage is thus essentially similar to the Illusory Yin/Corporeal Yang stages for First Step cultivators, the Five Heavens Blights of Second Step Cultivators and the Arcane Tribulations needed to reach Void Tribulant.

## Progression

When a cultivator has reached the pinnacle of the Third Step, likely peak Grand Empyrean, they may experience or perhaps even be sent to the location of the Nine Heaven Trampling Bridges, which exist above the Immortal Astral Continent.

These bridges function similar to the nineteen palaces of the Empyrean Exalt Trial, but where the trial only tests one's strength, the Bridges test one's enlightenment. Each bridge tests a specific concept or aspect and will immediately be crossed if one proves themselves worthy. This was shown as Wang Lin entered a trance while contemplating the second bridge and when he understood what the bridge was testing he immediately found himself on the other side.

Crossing each bridge causes the individual's cultivation to vastly increase, and after all nine bridges are successfully crossed the individual ascends to the Heaven Trampling realm.

However, while the bridges are an extremely powerful aid in entering the Heaven Trampling realm, it is not the only way. If an individual can comprehend or cultivate the specific aspect needed themselves, they can achieve a similar increase in power even without the bridge. This was implied to have been done by Wang Lin, who ascended to Heaven Trampling, but did not cross the final bridge.

## Known Half Heaven Trampling

* Ancient Ancestor - 8th Bridge
* Celestial Ancestor - 8th Bridge
* Gu Dao - 5th Bridge
* Immortal Astral Continent 108 Sealed Souls - Various
* Wang Lin - Ascended to Heaven Trampling

## Heaven Trampling Bridges

1. First Bridge - Universal Law & Origin Soul Fusion
2. Second Bridge - Dao Heart Tribulation
3. Third Bridge - Inner Demon Tribulation
4. Fourth Bridge - Unknown
5. Fifth Bridge - Transcending Reincarnation
6. Sixth Bridge - Unknown
7. Seventh Bridge - Unknown
8. Eighth Bridge - Unknown
9. Ninth Bridge - Unknown

## Trivia

* Because Wang Lin's breakthroughs are directly based on the division of realms(i.e. he breaks through directly from Early to Mid to Late to Peak before Early of the next stage with each jump in power) He skipped over the Grand Empyrean Realm and was directly transported to the realm where Heaven Trampling Bridges were located immediately upon breaking through Void Tribulant. He then completed his Grand Empyrean Sun after crossing the third bridge.
* According to Gu Dao, it's likely these bridges exist above all the continents beyond the Immortal Astral Continent as well. Furthermore, if one is ready to cross the bridges, it is shown that an individual can be transported directly to the realm where the nine bridges reside as in Wang Lin's case.