Day of Ascension

Yuanqi and Dazhong were startled. “Ah Ying left the scar at the corner of Xu Fu’s eye? Back then, how much of his seal had been released?”

They remembered the battle at Mount Tongbai. Xu Ying had only been at the Gate-Knocking Stage; after killing the heavenly demon that had possessed an immortal’s corpse, he had gravely wounded Bei Chenzi and the other two.

A group of Ascension Stage experts had failed to withstand a few exchanges against him. Had they not ignited the incense and activated the talisman in time, they would have been annihilated moments later.

The scar at the corner of Xu Fu’s eye ran deep enough to expose the bone and pierce his brain. It was obvious that Xu Ying’s strike had been meant to kill.

A grudge that deep... Yuanqi and Dazhong exchanged glances. Then why would he invite Ah Ying to revive the Qi Cultivators? Is it genuine goodwill, or is he plotting something?

Xu Ying turned away from Xu Fu and looked toward Xiang Haikong and Chu Shisanniang.

The two slowly retreated. Xiang Haikong said cautiously, “If Old Ancestor Xu insists on forcing my hand, then I’ll fight with everything I have. I only hope I don’t end up hurting you.”

Chu Shisanniang's eyes flickered. She suddenly leaped into the air with a laugh. "Young Master Xiang, if you won't back down, then I will! The Ageless Immortal isn't someone you can kill or even touch. If you actually harm him, Old Ancestor Xu Fu will make you pay with your life. I'm leaving first!”

She moved with astonishing speed, with a series of leaps through the air. She cultivated both exorcist techniques and qi, and both her mystic arts and exorcism techniques were exquisitely refined.

A green lotus bloomed beneath each step, carrying her effortlessly through the air. Her toes skimmed across the floating lotus leaves, and within moments she disappeared beyond the horizon.

“I’ll return after the Ageless Immortal has cooled off!”

Xu Ying started after her. With a sharp snap, Young Master Xiang flicked open his folding fan and swept it through the air. A violent gale roared forth, carrying countless invisible strands of sword qi. They collided with one another in a chorus of jade-like chimes as they surged toward Xu Ying.

Before the gale even reached him, the ground around Xu Ying rang with sharp metallic cries as invisible strands of sword qi gouged deep fissures into the earth. Countless strands of sword qi swirled around him, forming a tornado of sword qi that trapped him within.

Back on the Hell River, Young Master Xiang had used a wind-stilling lantern to pin down Xu Ying’s maple-leaf boat, leaving Xu Ying helpless. Back then, however, Xu Ying had only just entered the Qi-Gathering Stage. His insight and experience had been ordinary.

Now, after everything he had endured, both had advanced beyond comparison.

Young Master Xiang's divine ability used primordial qi to activate the folding fan. By combining a portion of the fan’s imprint with a fragment of his Dao avatar, he could unleash the technique.

To others, it seemed flawless. Its mystical power was immense, its force overwhelming, and it appeared impossible to overcome. Yet through Xu Ying’s Third Eye, it was clear that Young Master Xiang couldn’t wield a true divine ability on his own and had to rely on an artifact to bring it forth.

Still, what he produced was only a crude imitation. No different from Xu Fu’s disciples wielding the Sword Kinesis Mantra: elegant on the surface, yet riddled with flaws.

Young Master Xiang had never intended to kill Xu Ying. His goal was simply to delay him long enough to escape.

With a single sweep of his fan, he turned to leave. Yet Xu Ying moved like a dragon threading through clouds and a serpent gliding through grass, flickering from point to point as he slipped effortlessly through the tornado of sword qi without brushing a single strand.

Dozens of zhang away, Xu Ying thrust both palms forward in succession. One palm carried yang, the other yin. As the technique unfolded, the surrounding landscape transformed, drawing even the fleeing Young Master Xiang into its domain.

The scene that emerged was a Radiant Vestige.

It was the Radiant Vestige of Sun Moon Dwelling from the Ode of the Azure Skies.

As Xu Ying drove his left fist forward, his primordial qi turned scorching hot. The force of the punch ignited the air itself, erupting into a blazing inferno.

The strike was like a blazing sun descending upon the world. Rings of fire collapsed inward one after another, each implosion compressing the flames further before releasing terrifying destructive force.

The flame in Xu Ying’s palm was nothing like the ordinary fire cultivated by the Guo Clan Exorcists. It was Pure Yang True Fire. He brimmed with pure yang true qi; through the Visualization of Flame, it manifested as Pure Yang True Fire of astonishing power.

Young Master Xiang’s heart skipped a beat. He immediately hurled his folding fan into the air. It spun around him as countless invisible strands of sword qi filled the sky.

Xu Ying's punch tore through the torrent, shattering countless strands of sword qi. The folding fan could not withstand the impact. It exploded into a ball of fire before disintegrating.

Without hesitation, Young Master Xiang thrust both palms forward, forming the Lesser Five Thunder Seal.

Only when their palms collided did the full force of Xu Ying’s punch erupt. The sun formed from pure yang true fire swelled outward as if exploding.

The Lesser Five Thunder Seal erupted with astonishing power. Each of Young Master Xiang's five fingers embodied a different heavenly thunder. Every flick released the might of a heavenly thunder, crashing into Xu Ying's fist. His fingers quivered in rapid succession as all five thunders erupted, sending a numbing shock through Xu Ying's arm.

Delight flashed across Young Master Xiang's face, only to vanish an instant later. As he flicked out a finger, it snapped with a sharp crack. The Five-Finger Divine Thunder erupted, and four of his fingers snapped backward, leaving only his thumb stubbornly standing straight.

Enduring the pain, he raised a great banner into the air. He was just about to activate the artifact when Xu Ying's right hand, embodying yin, swept forward and struck the back of his own left hand.

With that, the scorching, arid primordial qi from before transformed at once. It became bright as moonlight and incomparably cool, like the radiance of a full moon bursting from the center of his palm.

This was the complete form of the seventh move of Ode of the Azure Skies, Sun Moon Dwelling.

Yin and yang reversed in an instant, and the power of Sun Moon Dwelling multiplied. Before Young Master Xiang could unleash the great banner’s might, there came a ripping sound. The violent force had torn the banner open and snapped its pole.

Young Master Xiang gave a muffled groan. His five fingers twisted out of shape, followed by his shoulder. He began to contort and spin with force. He couldn’t steady himself.

At that moment, Xu Ying’s shoulder shifted, and a streak of sword qi arced down from the heavens like a rainbow. With a single slash, it sent the golden crown from Young Master Xiang's head flying.

Treasure light burst from the crown, forming the phantom of an immortal palace. It contained a Manifestation of the Great Dao and was no ordinary artifact.

However, what its owner had mastered was only a flawed imitation.

The sword qi fell and split the immortal palace in half. The golden crown shattered as well, crashing to the ground with a clang.

Startled and furious, Young Master Xiang flicked his head, and his hairpin flew out. It rang as a series of cracks appeared; it split apart and transformed into hundreds of silver needles that flew toward Xu Ying.

He shouted, “Old Ancestor Xu Fu, I have made great contributions to the revival of the Qi Cultivators! Are you not going to save me? If you don’t act to stop him, I’ll truly go for the kill!”

Young Master Xiang possessed countless artifacts, yet none were especially formidable. He had cultivated many divine abilities, but every one of them contained hidden flaws.

Such was the state of the Qi Cultivators in this age of decline. Their decline was not merely how outsiders viewed them. Even the Qi Cultivators themselves had fallen into the same predicament.

The profound divine abilities of antiquity had not survived intact. Even when fragments remained, no one could truly comprehend or master them.

Each divine ability they had mastered was only a flawed imitation, no better than those of the Exorcists.

Xu Ying, on the other hand, cultivated a complete Immortal Dao Art while also practicing exorcism techniques. Before the silver needles could reach Xu Ying, the Eight Sounds of Primordial Nurturing rang out from within him. In the ensuing vibrations, the silver needles were broken to pieces.

Young Master Xiang was shocked and enraged. With a shout, a Golden Core leaped out from his dantian, its light filling the sky and making every speck of dust in the air visible.

This was the Golden Core of a Qi Cultivator.

As the saying went, “Once a Golden Core is swallowed into the belly, my fate is mine and not Heaven’s!”

Forging a Golden Core vastly extended one's lifespan. It resonated with Heaven, answered humanity, and granted insight into the mysteries of creation.

When Young Master Xiang summoned his Golden Core, it descended upon Xu Ying with the weight of a mountain, pinning him firmly in place.

Xu Fu still showed no intention of intervening. Murderous intent surged through Young Master Xiang. He no longer cared about Xu Ying's identity. He would kill him first and deal with the consequences afterward.

A flying dagger appeared in his hand. Just as he prepared to behead Xu Ying, a massive stone ax rose behind Xu Ying and swung down.

Young Master Xiang had just sent his flying dagger into the air. When he looked up, he saw the Golden Core covered in cracks. Blood poured from his eyes, ears, mouth, and nose. He swayed, and as the Golden Core shattered, he collapsed to the ground and died on the spot.

All over the mountain, Qi Cultivators stared blankly, unable to believe what they had witnessed.

Xu Fu’s voice drifted over, unhurried. “Gentlemen, did you see that? That is the true power of a real Qi Cultivator! The Ageless Immortal personally acted to show you the true power of the Gate-Knocking Stage. Even if you form a Golden Core, you still cannot withstand a single blow!”

The mountain erupted in thunderous cheers.

Xu Fu raised both arms and declared, “The Ageless Immortal will pass this power on to us! We will cultivate without flaws, survive the heavenly tribulation, and ascend as immortals!”

The Qi Cultivators erupted into another frenzy of ecstatic cheers.

Xu Ying put away the stone ax and returned to his side. Xu Fu smiled. “Have you vented your anger? Lord Xu, come stand beside me and enjoy their cheers, like the moon surrounded by stars.”

Xu Ying shook his head and stood below Fangzhang Immortal Mountain.

Xu Fu smiled faintly and did not force him. Standing alone on the immortal mountain, he stood amid the cheers of the Qi Cultivators.

“Back then, you were always furious with me over those children's deaths. You beat me again and again, and I never fought back. I let you. This time, I honored your wishes again. I let you kill Young Master Xiang so you could vent your anger.”

Xu Ying’s gaze flickered. “I know you orchestrated all of this. You ordered the blood sacrifice to the heavenly god. You also spread the plague and diverted the Hell River.”

Xu Fu smiled faintly. “You have a woman’s softheartedness. You pity the weak. I don't. I've been coldhearted since I was a child.”

He turned, and Fangzhang Immortal Mountain carried him toward the great hall. Xu Ying followed behind at an unhurried pace.

Xu Fu said, “Since I was young, I have never been able to feel human emotions. I was born into the Xu family of the Eastern Sea and began studying the art of Qi cultivation at a young age. People praised me as a prodigy. My father also invited renowned scholars to instruct me in literature, ritual, and etiquette.

“I followed every rule in how I treated people and conducted myself. When others rejoiced, I rejoiced. When others grieved, I grieved.”

His expression remained placid, as though he were describing someone else. “One day, my grandmother died. I stood before her coffin, listening to the sound of my relatives weeping, but I felt no sorrow. I could not cry. I could not empathize.”

A smile hung on Xu Fu’s face as he said, “I felt nothing on my wedding day either. I was like a person shut out from all emotion, knowing only how to act according to established rules. I laughed with those who laughed and cried with those who cried. It was not until the day I met Lord Xu that I understood the meaning of this life.”

His eyes blazed with fervor, and he smiled. “Lord Xu, I was born to help you accomplish a peerless undertaking! Only then did I discover joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.”

Xu Ying frowned.

“Lord Xu, you are compassionate and soft-handed while I am willing to use any means. You don’t understand the treachery of the human heart, but I am resourceful and full of schemes. You are sunlight, while I am shadow.”

Xu Fu smiled and said, “When sacrifice was needed and you couldn't kill those children, I did it for you. When we encountered danger and you could not bear to let our companions die, I sent them to their deaths so we could escape!

“When we had reached the end of the road, you wanted to save everyone, but I killed them and ate their flesh! When we found the immortal mountain and you couldn't bring yourself to silence everyone, I could.”

Yuanqi and Dazhong listened with their hearts pounding. Piece by piece, Xu Fu's confession revealed what had truly happened during the search for the immortal mountain.

Xu Ying, Xu Fu, and the three thousand children had all embarked on the voyage as youths, charged with finding the immortal mountain. They had been companions, yet also rivals. The sea had raged with towering waves, monsters lurked on every side, and death had stalked them at every turn.

It had been a horrifying journey. Many had perished to the countless dangers they encountered. Even more had died because Xu Fu deliberately sent them to their deaths, all to ensure Xu Ying reached the immortal mountain and obtained it.

Some had been sacrificed. Others abandoned. Others eaten. Anyone who threatened Xu Ying disappeared into the shadows, quietly eliminated by Xu Fu.

He had removed every obstacle for Xu Ying.

They were friends, and they were enemies.

“I was like your shadow, standing in the darkness, doing the things you could not do.”

Xu Fu swept his sleeve, and the palace doors rumbled shut. Only the two of them remained inside.

He descended from Fangzhang Immortal Mountain and said, “Back then, I helped you kill those children. And now I have helped you change the course of Hell River by offering a blood-sacrifice to the Plague God to create a plague, allowing the underworld to invade. I helped you open the folded world! And how did you repay me?”

His feet left Fangzhang Immortal Mountain, and he came before Xu Ying. He said softly, “This scar.”

The instant his feet touched the ground, the scar at the corner of his eye caved inward. A gaping hole tore open through his skull, piercing straight from front to back. Within it, his brain lay shriveled into a twisted mass.

Xu Fu aged at a horrifying pace. In the blink of an eye, he became a frail old man. White hair burst out in tangled clumps, his flesh withered, and his aura dwindled to almost nothing.

Trembling, he chuckled and said, “This is what you left me.”

Before long, his breath grew faint as a thread. He staggered back to the immortal mountain, where his breathing slowly returned to a long, steady rhythm. The hole in his head also slowly closed, leaving only the same centipede-like scar. His youth returned as he recovered, and he once again looked like a young man.

“You left me on FangZhang Immortal Mountain. You didn’t kill me. You told me you were imprisoning me there, and that I would never be able to leave this land! But I knew I would return!”

He rose to his feet, standing high above as he looked down at Xu Ying. “When I return, I want to see you just as you were before, rolling in the mud, pushed around by everyone, like a fool. And once again, I'll be the one who pulls you out. This time...”

He gave a proud smile. “Lord Xu, you will become my shadow and help me restore this world.”