Ascension Day

Zhou Yihang was split in two by a single sword strike. From the cross-sections of his bisected body, countless fleshy tendrils danced in the air, as if searching for the other half to reattach themselves.

However, his Undying Body was fundamentally based on the Mud Ball Secret Treasury. Now, even the Mud Ball Secret Treasury within him had been split open by Xu Ying’s sword, severing his Vitality. His Undying Body instantly failed.

His two halves squirmed for a moment, then the tendrils lost all Vitality and dropped to the ground like dead earthworms.

This was the world-shocking sword strike Xu Ying had comprehended before the temple gate. Previously, limited by his Cultivation, he had been unable to unleash its full power.

It wasn’t until now, after he entered the Gate-Opening Stage and Da Zhong no longer siphoned his Primordial Qi, that he could unleash the full power of this technique for the very first time!

The sword strike was one of perfect balance and imposing righteousness, growing stronger against a more powerful foe. As it slew Zhou Yihang, the excess Sword Qi radiating from it perfectly split four towering trees, thirty-eight thousand, four hundred leaves, countless weeds, and even a few strands of hair down the middle.

’I’ll call this Sword Technique Breaking the Boundary,’ Xu Ying thought as he dispersed his Sword Qi.

The strike had consumed nearly half of his Primordial Qi. He immediately began to back away cautiously, whispering, "Yuan Qi, let’s go!"

He sensed that the situation was off. Besides Inspector Zhou Heng, it seemed others were also watching him, showing great interest.

Yuan Qi shot onto a floating boulder, slithered to its far edge, coiled up, and sprang again, landing on another boulder over a hundred feet away.

Xu Ying kept his eyes on Inspector Zhou Heng as he slowly backed away. Then, he suddenly spun around and leaped onto a floating boulder.

He sprinted across the boulder, then pushed off with explosive force on his final step, launching himself into the air!

Below Xu Ying was a sheer drop of thousands of feet. The young man’s figure streaked through the vast emptiness, landing with a THUD on another boulder dozens of yards away.

Xu Ying rolled several times to absorb the impact, then sprang to his feet. He broke into another sprint and leaped through the air once more, aiming for another floating boulder.

Zhou Heng watched Xu Ying’s retreating figure. He was on one Immortal Mountain, and Xu Ying was on another. They were far apart, but with his Cultivation Power, the distance was not an issue.

He was about to act when he spotted another figure, forcing him to restrain himself.

’Magistrate Ling... he’s here too!’

His gaze fell upon Magistrate Ling. The man was tall and slender, looking like a frail Scholar, but a dense aura of Incense Smoke Qi coiled around him.

A scroll and an iron stylus floated within the halo of light behind him.

This was Magistrate Ling of Yongzhou Prefecture.

In the Yin Court, the Deities who govern a county’s lands are called City Gods. A temple is established for them, and the City God resides within. The Deities who govern a prefecture’s lands are called Magistrates. A prefectural manor is established for them, and the Magistrate resides within.

City God Xue was responsible for the affairs of the Divine Spirits in the Lingling Territory, while Magistrate Ling was his direct superior, overseeing the Divine Spirits of the Yongzhou territory.

Magistrate Ling’s name was Ling Youdao. He and Inspector Zhou Heng were rivals who kept each other in check, and his Cultivation Power was exceedingly profound.

Zhou Heng’s small eyes narrowed. "Although Zhou Yihang opened his Mud Ball Secret Treasury to the second level, he was ultimately from a branch of my Zhou Family and had no access to our core teachings. His death means nothing. Still, even if it wasn’t the core teachings, my Zhou Family’s Nuo Art is nothing to scoff at. It seems Zhou Yang was right—Xu Ying is a genius at deciphering Demon Techniques! He’s most likely found the path beyond the Qi Collection Stage."

At his words, the two Cow Demons pulling the chariot couldn’t help but rear up on their hind legs to look at Xu Ying.

For demonic beings like them, the Qi Collection Stage was the peak of their existence. If someone could truly break through the Qi Collection Stage, it would be a blessing of rebirth for the entire Demon Race!

Zhou Heng looked up at the great temple floating among the mountains, a smile spreading across his chubby face. "Military Legal Advisor," he said, "take your men and capture him. I want him alive. If you can’t capture him, then you must drive him into the great temple. I myself will head to the temple and, along the way, I’ll have a little chat with Magistrate Ling."

The Military Legal Advisor, also a member of the Zhou Family named Zhou Zheng, bowed and asked, "Lord Zhou, what should we do if we encounter Divine Spirits from the Yin Court on the way?"

The cynical expression on Zhou Heng’s face vanished, replaced by a cold mask. "Yongzhou was the first to be hit by this invasion from the Underworld. I fear the Yin Court is behind this, and that it’s inextricably linked to him—to Ling Youdao! If those Divine Spirits get in your way, kill them without mercy!"

Zhou Zheng bowed and led a contingent of guards away.

Meanwhile, Magistrate Ling was also watching Zhou Heng. After giving a few orders to the City Gods under his command, they immediately departed with the elite among the Divine Spirits.

Few men remained by either Magistrate Ling’s or Inspector Zhou Heng’s side. Magistrate Ling gave Zhou Heng a faint smile, then suddenly stepped out into the open sky.

Beneath his feet, Incense Smoke Qi materialized into a misty cloud, bearing his weight and preventing him from falling.

Magistrate Ling strode forward, step by step. Fragrant Clouds formed continuously beneath his feet, allowing him to ascend as if walking on air, making his way unhurriedly toward the great temple.

"Riding the clouds? A petty trick of Magic, nothing more."

Zhou Heng roared with laughter. He pushed himself up from his throne, the fat on his belly sloshing like a water balloon. With some difficulty, he dismounted from his chariot and walked to the mountain’s edge, where nothing but endless sky lay beneath his feet.

Zhou Heng paid it no mind and strode forward. An Abnormal Phenomenon materialized behind him: a Golden-winged Roc, just as fat and large as he was. The Dapeng flapped its wings and took flight, carrying Zhou Heng as he walked upon the air.

’The Zhou Family’s Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Hidden Scenery Technique?’

Magistrate Ling raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Lord Zhou, as for the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Hidden Scenery Technique, how many of the spirits have you mastered?"

Zhou Heng chuckled. "Why don’t you test me and find out?"

Xu Ying glanced back and saw the contingent of guards under Inspector Zhou Heng in hot pursuit. Some of them cultivated the Martial Dao, others cultivated Nuo Art, and each had their own specialty.