Day of Ascension

Xu Ying sat before the Guo residence’s gates inside the Second Divine Capital, staring blankly ahead. He was familiar with the frowning old man. He had also met the white-robed elder and red-robed woman once before.

From his perspective, the three likely belonged to the same group. All of them wanted him to drink Meng Po Soup. So, why would they step in to save him at this critical juncture?

Dazhong was also puzzled. He guessed, “Could it be that they harbor no ill intentions, and are actually protecting you?”

Yuanqi shook his head. “Then why force him to drink the Meng Po Soup?”

Dazhong pondered aloud, “Maybe... that’s also to protect him?”

Even he found the idea absurd. “That’s impossible. The whole point of that exercise is to erase Xu Ying’s memories so he'll never remember his past. But if that's the case, why would they protect him instead of letting the Exorcist Immortals devour him?”

He slammed himself against the wall. “I can’t figure it out!”

Yuanqi also banged his head against the wall. He couldn’t figure it out either.

Xu Ying rallied his spirits and smiled. “No matter what, my past is definitely tied to those three! As long as someone knows the secret of my origins, it'll come to light eventually! Most importantly, didn't we just overcome this crisis? Those Exorcist Immortals won't dare try to devour me again, right?”

He placed his hands on his hips and laughed out loud.

Yuanqi smiled. “Like I said, ‘Only the good die young, while villains live to a thousand!’ Ah Ying is indeed favored by the heavens!”

As his laughter faded, Xu Ying felt that something about Yuanqi's words was off. Unfortunately, he wasn't well-read enough to identify the problem and was too embarrassed to ask.

Guo Yue walked over, saying, “The old ancestors of the various noble clans, including the Li, Shi, Zhu, Zhao, Chai, Cui, and Gao clans, were all severely wounded tonight. Even our Guo clan's old ancestor did not escape unscathed.

“They'll need time to recover. The Divine Capital should be safe for now. My wife and I will go to gather information. Stay here and don't wander off. Wait for us to return, then we'll take you back.”

Guo Xiaodie and Xu Ying exchanged glances and nodded.

Guo Yue, Li Yingzhu, and others returned to the Divine Capital. If no one outside were offering sacrifices to Old Ancestor Guo, he couldn’t open the gateway to the Second Divine Capital, leaving Xu Ying and Guo Xiaodie trapped inside.

Therefore, they needed to remain here and wait for them to return.

Guo Xiaodie’s eyes darted about, and she suggested, “Since the old ancestors of the major noble clans are injured, the residences must be in an uproar. We can't sneak into those estates there, but we can visit their counterparts in the Second Divine Capital!”

Xu Ying’s eyes lit up. “Wouldn't that be a little inappropriate?”

Despite saying that, he was already walking over to the nearest Cui residence with Guo Xiaodie. Yuanqi slid down from Xu Ying’s shoulder, hit the ground, and reverted into his true form, stretching over twenty zhang long. Dazhong also flew out and hovered in the air, following them.

Xu Ying asked, “Xiaodie, when I first arrived at your place, your old ancestor said he would eat me. He was just joking... right?”

Guo Xiaodie shook her head. “Of course not. I think he really wanted to eat you. He probably ate people in the past.”

Xu Ying went pale and blurted out, “Seriously?”

Guo Xiaodie quickly laughed. “I was just kidding. Look how scared you are. Is Demon King Xu this timid?”

Only then did Xu Ying let out a sigh of relief. He smiled. “I thought he was really going to eat me.”

“Of course not!” Guo Xiaodie reassured him. Although Demon King Xu is unorthodox, he’s surprisingly gullible. I told him it wouldn't happen, and he actually believed me.

When they arrived outside the Cui residence, they saw that a divine sage of Lingyan Pavilion was guarding it. As they approached, incense qi turned into a thick fog. The farther they ventured, the thicker it became until they could no longer tell which direction they were heading.

After walking more than ten li, they still couldn't enter the Cui residence and had to give up.

The moment they turned around, the fog of incense dissipated, and they found themselves standing before the Cui residence’s gates. Every time they tried to enter, however, the fog surged up again and blocked their path.

Xu Ying had no choice but to give up and head to another noble clan.

The Cui clan wasn't the only one with a divine sage from Lingyan Pavilion guarding them. Lingyan Pavilion’s divine sages also protected other noble clans like the Chai, Gao, and Pei clans, leaving no way inside.

Xu Ying and Guo Xiaodie gave up on those clans and headed over to the Shi clan instead.

Legend held that the Shi clan had emerged during the Great Han Dynasty, though it had remained obscure at the time. Only in recent generations had it risen to prominence alongside the Zhou clan as one of the newly established noble clans.

With the Shi clan’s old ancestor having sustained heavy injuries, the entire clan from top to bottom was scrambling busily. Some members brewed medicine. Others refined pills or prayed to the gods. A few even went to brothels to abduct women from the Zhou clan and bring them back to heal their ancestor.

Xu Ying and Guo Xiaodie strode brazenly through the Shi residence. Blurry, indistinct figures rushed past them without noticing their presence.

Although the duo could see the Shi clan members, they couldn't hear what anyone was saying. They only knew that the clan was in an absolute uproar.

“The Shi clan’s old ancestor was the first one to attack our Guo residence and try to take you away.”

Xu Ying and Guo Xiaodie went to check on Old Ancestor Shi. The youth’s chest had a massive gash across it, nearly splitting him in half! His ethereal void had also been split open, with bolts of lightning darting wildly through the fissure.

Old Ancestor Guo’s strike had split open his ethereal void and shattered his Radiant Vestige!

Xu Ying sucked in a cold breath and muttered, 'Xiaodie, your old ancestor is truly domineering. The Zhou clan’s members can’t heal Old Ancestor Shi’s injuries! His injuries are even more severe than Master Zhong’s!”

Guo Xiaodie said, “Our old ancestor has been unrivaled for a hundred years. Of course, he’s formidable.”

Seeing that Xu Ying was puzzled, she explained, “After Emperor Zhidao Dasheng grew muddle-headed, our old ancestor became unrivaled in the world. With nine layers of heaven in his Crimson Palace and the might of an immortal, he could hardly find any match!

“It wasn't until Zhou Qiyun rose to prominence that our ancestor was finally surpassed. Even so, his nine heavens haven't gone anywhere.”

Suddenly, Old Ancestor Shi opened his eyes and looked right at where they were standing. His gaze was like lightning, causing the space around Xu Ying and Guo Xiaodie to tremble slightly!

Startled, Xu Ying whispered, “His cultivation is extremely high. If we keep talking here, he’ll notice us easily. Let’s go.”

Guo Xiaodie nodded and left with him.

Just then, a youth walked in with large strides, holding a large, vermilion gourd. A crowd of people followed close behind him, each holding a similar gourd. They barged into the room where Old Ancestor Shi, Shi Mole, was recuperating.

The youth was dressed in dark green robes and had a burly build. He was shouting, but Xu Ying and Guo Xiaodie could only see his lips moving. When he finished, he set the vermilion gourd upright and pulled out the stopper.

The other Exorcists also unplugged their respective gourds. Black qi poured out of the gourds, each nearly half the height of a person. Countless ghosts emerged from the black mist, their faces twisted in pain and despair.

Xu Ying hurriedly shouted, “Master Qi!”

Realizing his intention, Yuanqi immediately opened his mouth and spat out a similar large vermilion gourd.

Xu Ying compared the gourds, his chest heaving with fury. “So it was you all along! I've been searching everywhere for the culprit! The Wang clan even claimed these gourds were used only for shady business, refining souls to prolong the lives of the elderly. They're clearly devouring people to raise their cultivation!”

Shi Mole activated an unknown cultivation technique. One ghost after another shattered, dissolving into streams of black smoke that flowed into him. Simultaneously, nine pitch-black grotto heavens manifested behind him, rooted in a deep, dark abyss, seemingly drawing power from it!

“Old Ancestor Shi is practicing some evil art!” Guo Xiaodie exclaimed as her expression turned to shock. Suddenly, she saw wisps of black qi penetrating the space of the Second Divine Capital. As soon as it brushed her skin, the flesh on her arm started to rot and wither!

Tears welled up in Guo Xiaodie's eyes from the pain. She drifted backward and cried out, “Watch out! His evil art can penetrate the Second Divine Capital!”

That black qi seemed alive, whipping around like tentacles as it reached toward Xu Ying and Guo Xiaodie. Wherever it touched, everything withered. Even the incense qi left behind by Lingyan Pavilion's divine sages rapidly rotted away.

Xu Ying threw himself in front of Guo Xiaodie, flicked his finger, and a spark shot from his fingertip.

That spark was the Pure Yang Spirit Flame that the coffin maiden, Qingbi, had gifted him. The instant it touched the black qi, brilliant flames erupted. Fire surged outward with explosive force, filling the air with loud sizzling sounds as it burned every trace of black qi into nothing.

Inside the Shi residence in the Divine Capital, Shi Mole looked astonished. He hadn't expected the black qi he had painstakingly refined to fail against the hidden observers.

Xu Ying formed a sword-finger gesture with his right hand and pressed it to his glabella, channeling all his divine sense to the tip of his sword finger!

“Go!”

His fingertips pressed into the Pure Yang Spirit Flame, causing its might to erupt violently. A towering blaze appeared beside Shi Mole across the spatial divide, swallowing him in a roaring sea of fire.

Within the blazing spirit flame, Shi Mole struggled violently. His face twisted in agony as he screamed, yet no sound reached Xu Ying or Guo Xiaodie, making the scene strangely unreal.

That Shi clan youth fled in panic, while the other Exorcists couldn’t get away in time and were burned alive in the spirit flames!

After sustaining the attack across the spatial divide for several moments, Xu Ying felt his divine sense rapidly draining away. He knew that maintaining the spirit flame any longer would exhaust his divine sense completely and injure himself. He immediately withdrew his sword fingers.

The fire at the Shi residence dissipated at once. Shi Mole was burned black like a piece of charcoal. He still writhed and screamed in silent agony, as though he remained trapped within that endless sea of fire.

Guo Xiaodie, Yuanqi, and Dazhong watched the scene in horror.

Everything had happened too quickly. Before anyone could react, Shi Mole's sneak attack had struck Guo Xiaodie. Even Dazhong hadn't had time to save her, yet Xu Ying had already counterattacked.

None of them expected Xu Ying to strike back so decisively and ruthlessly. He had burned away the black qi invading the area and even used the spirit flame to nearly refine the heavily injured Shi Mole to death!

“Master Qi, Ah Ying doesn’t seem quite right.” Dazhong sent a voice transmission with his divine sense. “He shouldn’t know that the Pure Yang Spirit Flame counters that black qi, or how to project its power from the Second Divine Capital to the outside world. Yet, he did both without even thinking!”

Yuanqi immediately came to a realization. “Are you saying some of his memories have awakened?”

“Most likely. Extreme anger must have triggered them.”

He couldn’t help but feel worried. He thought, Hopefully, it’s for the best.

Xu Ying’s heart was also pounding wildly. He hadn't consciously thought about using the Pure Yang Spirit Flame. Every movement had come instinctively, and he had never imagined he could wield its power that way.

Only now did he come back to his senses. He had no idea how he had used the Pure Yang Spirit Flame so skillfully.

Shi Mole was still alive despite being burned to this state. The nine grotto heavens behind him were in tatters from the burn. He forced himself to his feet and staggered toward the doorway, only to collapse with a heavy thud after taking a single step.

He hissed, “An expert is hidden nearby, trying to harm me!”

The black-robed youth rushed over with a group of the clan’s experts. He had also brought along about a dozen women from the Zhou clan to treat Shi Mole’s injuries, and they finally managed to save his life.

The Shi clan experts couldn't help but be struck with horror. A clan elder said, “It's all thanks to Jingtang this time. Otherwise, our Shi clan would probably be wiped out from the world, just like the Zhou clan.”

Shi Mole regained consciousness and summoned that youth. He said, “That expert has burned my soul, and more than half of my ethereal void was burned away. My lifespan has been cut short. I only have a few years left.

“You remained calm in the face of danger and displayed exceptional composure. From this day onward, I will personally pass down my true teachings.”

Shi Jingtang was filled with both shock and joy. He hurriedly fell to his knees and kowtowed.

Shi Mole coughed up large mouthfuls of blood and rasped, “I received the favor of Heaven and obtained the most mysterious of the six secrets, the Gushing-Spring Secret Trove. I thought I would dominate the world and become an unrivaled supreme being. I never expected someone would burn away my vitality like this.”

Blood kept pouring from his mouth, and he fell unconscious again.

The Shi clan members were shocked and immediately ordered the Zhou clan women to do everything in their power to save him.

Meanwhile, Xu Ying and Guo Xiaodie went to the Zhao clan. They saw that the two old ancestors of the Zhao clan were also severely wounded.

The two old ancestors had clashed head-on against Old Ancestor Guo. All of them had unlocked the Crimson-Palace Secret Trove, which focused on raw power. Their collision had nearly shattered the Zhao ancestors' internal organs and fractured their ethereal voids.

Their injuries were gruesome. Jagged, broken bones jutted through the skin on their backs.

Like the Shi clan, they had also captured several members of the Zhou clan to treat their wounds.

Xu Ying smiled. “The two ancestors of the Zhao clan can forget about coming out to capture and devour me anytime soon.”

Guo Xiaodie giggled. “After tonight, which noble clan’s old ancestor would still dare to take action against you?”

Xu Ying burst out laughing.

Before they knew it, they had walked all the way to the Imperial Palace. Full of enthusiasm, Xu Ying tried to walk right in, but Guo Xiaodie quickly stopped him.

Nudging her chin, she said, “The Lingyan Pavilion’s gods are guarding here. No one can go in through the front gates! Let’s go through the back door!”

Xu Ying looked over. Sure enough, he saw two divine sages of Lingyan Pavilion. One held a golden whip, while the other carried a golden swordbreaker.

When they reached the rear palace, however, they found no divine sages guarding it.

This was the Cold Palace[1], where Yin qi was heavy and filled with resentment. As the group made their way through, they had to summon the Pure Yang Spirit Flame and Celestial Fire to dispel the resentment and Yin qi within the Cold Palace.

Upon reaching the Eastern Palace, they heard Emperor Shengshen’s furious roar from afar.

“Even that Guo bastard dares plot against me?”

Xu Ying and Guo Xiaodie peered over to look, only to see that half of Emperor Shengshen’s body had been nearly severed. His aura was withered, and his cultivation showed signs of collapse.

Earlier, Old Ancestor Guo had stood in the Fourth Heaven and struck with his azure dragon halberd. Though it had been a single, straightforward attack, it had shattered Emperor Shengshen's cultivation technique, nearly destroying his cultivation altogether.

It was no wonder he was furious.

“I only wanted to eat the person the Guo clan was hiding! It's not like I tried to eat anyone from the Guo clan itself!”

Emperor Shengshen cursed furiously, “And yet he tried to harm me! He’s truly plotting a rebellion!”

Next to him, Eunuch Chen’s face was ashen. “Your Majesty, there are still several official courtesans from the Zhou clan in the Imperial Music Bureau. I have already sent people to grab them to treat the injuries...”

Emperor Shengshen grabbed the imperial seal and hurled it directly into the eunuch's face, roaring, “You want prostitutes to treat me? Have you forgotten your place?”

Blood poured down Eunuch Chen's face as he hurriedly knelt. “Your Majesty, every man of the Zhou clan has already been executed. There are no men left.”

Emperor Shengshen waved his hand for him to stand up. “Send those prostitutes in to heal my injuries. Make sure word of this never gets out. Dispose of them afterward. Leave not even their souls behind.”

Eunuch Chen voiced his compliance and was just about to leave when Emperor Shengshen called him back.

“I keep feeling like something is off with how I practiced the Nine Heavens Yang Spirit Mystic Altar Technique. Xu Ying must have tampered with it and deliberately misinterpreted the technique. Now I can't return to Jiuyi, and my cultivation technique has been shattered. Capture some people alive. I need to practice.”

Eunuch Chen shuddered and left with his head lowered.

Behind him, Emperor Shengshen’s voice rang out. “Don’t let word of this get out. You know the consequences.”

Xu Ying, Guo Xiaodie, and the others had no idea what the two were talking about. Feeling playful, Guo Xiaodie ran up behind Eunuch Chen and blew on the back of his neck.

Eunuch Chen shuddered several more times in succession. Looking around suspiciously, he chanted a few desperate prayers for divine protection under his breath and wrapped his clothes tightly around himself before hurriedly leaving.

Guo Xiaodie said excitedly, “He’s not really thinking that the Imperial Palace is haunted, is he?”

The girl ran over, jumped onto Eunuch Chen's back, and choked his neck. Shaking him from side to side, she cried out, “Give me back my life!”

Eunuch Chen fell to the ground with a thud, scrambled up to his feet, and ran off as if fleeing for his life.

1. Historically, this was the specific, neglected quarter of the palace where fallen concubines or disgraced imperial family members were sent to live out their lives in isolation ☜