Day of Ascension

Xu Ying stared up at the golden statue, his mind reeling. It bore a ninety-percent resemblance to him!

Had he done anything other than cross the sea to hunt for immortal mountains four thousand years ago? Was that why the Twelve Golden Statues were forged in his likeness?

Xu Fu was also shocked. He clearly hadn't expected the Ancestral Dragon to hold Xu Ying in such high regard that he would have the golden statues forged in his image.

The aura emanating from the golden statue grew increasingly powerful. Within the phenomenon behind it, the Heavenly River, which had been still, began to flow once more.

Water and fire circulated; rosy light billowed from the cauldron. A crouching dragon rested on the Divine Bridge, ripples broke across the Jasper Pool, and the three mystic gateways opened in succession!

Even the incense qi surrounding the golden statue thickened. In an instant, countless voices flooded everyone's minds. They were the prayers of innumerable worshippers.

This was a sign that the golden statue was about to awaken!

Everyone tensed as though facing a powerful enemy. Suddenly, Xu Fu stamped his foot and flew up from the Fangzhang Immortal Mountain, unleashing a gentle palm strike. A ‘Yu’ character from the bird-worm seal script manifested within the palm seal and was pressed into the golden statue’s glabella.

That golden statue let out a loud clang. Immediately, the Heavenly River stopped moving; water and fire stopped cross-refining; the rosy light shrank back into the cauldron, and the three mystic gateways closed shut in succession.

The mercury river flowed quietly, carrying the golden statue downstream. Only after it had drifted into the distance did everyone finally breathe a sigh of relief. Xu Ying raised his eyebrow. The sixteen characters in the golden book had allowed Xu Fu to comprehend several useful divine abilities. That ‘Yu’ character he had just used came directly from the golden book.

Dazhong whispered, “Ah Ying, he likely wants to digest the content of the golden book so that he can threaten you. That’s why he isn’t handing it over. Once you escape the Demon-Suppressing Runes, he'll force you under his control!”

Xu Ying nodded silently. He had already reached the same conclusion. At that point, he would truly become a puppet with no choice but to obey Xu Fu!

“The Twelve Golden Statues are scattered throughout the long mercury river that winds through these mountains and valleys. Since we've found one, the next won't be far away. Move!”

At Xu Fu's command, everyone leaped into the air and landed on the river, each using their own method to travel across it. Some summoned small boats, some rode leaves, some stood atop lotus flowers, while others balanced effortlessly on bamboo poles.

Xu Ying intended to toss Dazhong into the mercury river, but he adamantly refused.

“I already served as a pot. I'm not becoming a boat too!”

Out of the corner of his eye, Xu Ying caught sight of Xiao Fengxian throwing out a phoenix feather. The feather landed on the mercury river and grew to three or four zhang long, easily large enough to carry several people. Without the slightest embarrassment, he walked over.

Xiao Fengxian glanced at him but said nothing.

Standing next to her, Xu Ying said sheepishly, “This boat’s really nice. It’s so soft.”

Xiao Fengxian sighed, her expression clouded with melancholy. She was clearly still struggling with whether to seize Xu Fu's golden book.

A young Qi Cultivator asked, “Why aren’t we flying over on swords?”

Elder Withered Bamboo chuckled. He took out a copper coin and said with a smile, “Watch this!”

He tossed the coin into the air. It grew increasingly large, to over a zhang wide. It spun and whistled through the air, flying toward the mountains. Suddenly, a lightning flash struck, and thunder boomed. In an instant, the copper coin was struck full of holes!

A chill ran down the crowd’s spines.

Elder Withered Bamboo chuckled. “See? The grand tomb is layered with so many seals and restrictions that they make your scalp tingle. You want to fly over it unscathed? Only an immortal could.”

As he reached for the copper coin, water and fire suddenly erupted from the mountains: the Supreme Yin Divine Water and the Supreme Yang Divine Fire. They engulfed the coin at once, refining it into nothing more than a lump of scrap copper.

Elder Withered Bamboo was shocked and furious. He could sense the imprint he had left inside the artifact being refined away, and the loss made his heart ache.

Before anyone could react, a razor-sharp claw descended from the sky. With a thunderous boom, it struck the scrap copper and erased it from existence.

Elder Withered Bamboo shuddered. He had forged the copper coin, which was an artifact. In his prime, the coin was naturally inferior to him; now that he had aged, the copper coin was even slightly stronger than him. Had he charged into those mountains himself, he would have suffered the same fate.

He thought, Fortunately, I've lived long enough to accumulate plenty of artifacts. Losing one won't bankrupt me.

The long mercury river flowed onward, carrying them into the mountains. As the crowd looked around, they found the arrangement of the peaks strangely familiar.

“That is Mount Yandang! Except it's Mount Yandang from four thousand years ago, before the world was sealed!”

“Look over there! That’s the Kunlun Ruins! Even now, the Kunlun Ruins haven't fully emerged!”

“That over there is Mount Wangwu! That's the mountain that the Qi Cultivator known as the Foolish Old Man[1] summoned heavenly gods to move away!”

......

The mountains and valleys were arranged exactly as they had been in the Divine Land before the world was sealed!

It was as though Ancestral Dragon had shrunk the world's mountains and rivers countless times over and hidden them here.

New lands had been emerging across the world, and those lands were precisely the mountains and rivers that had been sealed away in the past. However, these new lands were still expanding. The world that had once been sealed had yet to be fully restored.

Everyone present was an ancient Qi Cultivator, yet only Xu Fu had seen the Divine Land before the great sealing. The others, Dong Meiqing included, had never laid eyes on its true form.

During Dong Meiqing’s era, the sealing of the world had already begun.

Aboard their various river-crossing artifacts, they drifted slowly into the mountain depths. The breathtaking scenery drew constant praise.

They were captivated by the views, yet they couldn't wait to see what even more spectacular sights lay ahead, as almost every time they turned a corner, a mountain from the myths would appear.

There was the main peak of Kunlun, Mount Spirits, Mount Feng, where the Nine Divine Bells were hung, the broken Mount Buzhou, and the legendary Yingzhou, Penglai, and Fangzhang Immortal Mountains[2].

Judging by the Fangzhang Immortal Mountain before them, however, the First Emperor Ancestral Dragon had probably never seen the real one. This mountain was vastly larger than the one beneath Xu Fu's feet.

Xu Ying was dazzled by the sights and filled with wonder.

It's no wonder Ancestral Dragon wanted to rule the Divine Land even after death. He even forged the Twelve Golden Statues to guard his empire. The land is simply too magnificent. If I were him, I'd want these mountains and rivers to keep me company for all eternity.

The moment the thought crossed Xu Ying's mind, a violent tremor erupted ahead. The Exorcists had triggered one of the tomb's seals or restrictions.

Xu Ying looked over and saw bright grotto heavens illuminating the sky. Large and small, hundreds of them shone brilliantly as their owners pushed their cultivation to its limits to resist the seal.

Suddenly, the grotto heavens in the sky went out one after another. Only eight grotto heavens remained. A moment later, those eight also went dim.

Xu Ying was secretly alarmed. A Great Exorcist who had mastered eight grotto heavens also died, and so quickly at that!

By the time they reached the site, corpses were already floating down the mercury river. Others had washed ashore, piling up in grotesque heaps. Almost none remained intact. Most had been hacked into pieces, though it was impossible to tell what had done it.

“Look over there! There’s a sword beneath that gateway!” Someone pointed ahead. Xu Ying looked over and saw that the long mercury river flowed through a majestic, towering mountain. It had two peaks, and between them was a hollowed cliff that formed a natural gateway.

Tied beneath the gateway was a sword, its blade still dripping with blood.

The crimson sword swayed gently in the breeze, releasing waves of murderous aura. The Exorcists must have triggered it the moment they arrived and were slaughtered where they stood.

“The Dragon-Slaying Sword!”

Yuanqi was knowledgeable and explained to Xu Ying, “Exorcists use this to slay demonic dragons that cause trouble. They are often hung under bridges. If a demonic dragon causes a flood and swims underneath, the Dragon-Slaying Sword would kill it. That is why I am always hesitant to travel by water.”

Suddenly, the Dragon-Slaying Sword unleashed its might. With a flash of light, invisible sword qi sent white splashes erupting from the mercury river. Dazhong appeared and shielded Xu Ying and Feng Xian’er, clanging loudly as the sword qi struck him.

He spun rapidly to dissipate the force before shouting, “This sword is incredibly powerful!”

Around them, more than a dozen Qi Cultivators were caught off guard. Their heads flew from their shoulders, and their bodies toppled into the river.

Everyone unleashed their divine abilities to resist the sword qi. Dong Meiqing leaped high into the air and flew toward the sword, pushing against the sword qi. The higher he went, the stronger the sword qi became. Even as an Ascension Stage expert, he had to devote his full attention to resisting it.

The sword qi converged into a raging torrent, crashing toward him from every direction with ever-increasing force.

Dong Meiqing was momentarily pushed back. Finally, he unleashed his Primordial Spirit and shattered the sword qi, allowing him to catch his breath and soar forward to take down the sword.

The sword was made of bronze, slightly over a zhang in length. It was extremely light. With a slight flick of his wrist, it created a flurry of sword blossoms, casting a blinding sheet of green light.

Dong Meiqing was both shocked and thrilled. He suppressed the bronze sword’s restlessness and devoted himself entirely to refining it.

The crowd was filled with envy.

“This sword isn’t from the Qin Dynasty. Swords from that era are thicker.” Xu Fu glanced at it, and his expression shifted slightly. “This is a sword from the Zhou Dynasty. It already has a master. Dong Meiqing, let go!”

Just as Dong Meiqing was about to let go, the bronze sword suddenly coiled around his arm like a sentient snake. With a gentle twist, it severed his arm at the shoulder!

Dong Meiqing cried out in pain, but the bronze sword had already coiled around his neck, leaving him no room to evade.

A hand suddenly reached out and flicked the sword's tip several times. The bronze sword trembled violently like a snake struck on the head, loosening its grip involuntarily.

Xu Fu flicked the bronze sword away, only for it to thrust straight toward him. In an instant, it manifested a sword Dao domain. The sun and moon appeared side by side, their radiant light illuminating the surrounding mountains.

He raised his hand to block the attack. The boundless sword qi converged into his palm as the bronze sword compressed all its power into a single point and drove its tip into his hand.

The sword's radiance pressed against his palm. Its blade quivered violently, yet it could not advance even an inch.

Xu Fu pushed his palm forward, and the bronze sword shattered inch by inch. It tried to twist away and flee, but it seemed glued to his palm, unable to escape.

As he pushed his palm forward, the sword exploded all the way to its hilt. Then he thrust his palm out with force. A terrifying burst of power shot toward the imprint its master had left behind.

Boom!

In the mountains a hundred li away, a mushroom cloud suddenly rose to the sky. Another violent shockwave shot out in all directions close to the ground, setting off countless seals and restrictions in the mountains. Terrifying waves of energy rose and fell in succession.

The river surface exploded, sending mercury splashing everywhere and raising towering waves.

A towering figure dressed in ancient attire darted through the splashes of mercury. The river surface beneath his feet exploded repeatedly, dispelling the force of Xu Fu’s palm strike. Even so, he still coughed blood from the impact, and his aura went into disarray.

Only after neutralizing the remaining force did his breathing steady. He couldn’t help but feel shocked and terrified.

Who is this man? I already possess the physique of a half-immortal, yet he injured me with a single palm strike. Could he be a true immortal?

He swallowed the blood rising in his throat. The blood carried a refreshing scent that permeated the soul. It was the scent of immortal herbs.

He couldn’t bear to spit out that mouthful of blood.

Suddenly, another golden statue awoke not far away. Its terrifying aura blanketed the region, making it difficult for the weaker cultivators to breathe.

The young man in ancient clothes immediately concealed his aura and vanished in a flash, avoiding the golden statue.

Soon, Xu Ying and the others arrived at the scene. Xu Fu raised his hand lightly, and a drop of blood flew up from the river’s surface, landing on his fingertip.

Xu Fu took a light sniff and smiled at Xu Ying. “The authentic immortal herb has come, as expected. I feared there wouldn’t be enough immortal herbs to resurrect Ancestral Dragon, but now I can rest easy. With this immortal herb, Ancestral Dragon will certainly return to life.”

Dazhong and Yuanqi were baffled. “What immortal herb?”

Xu Ying suddenly shuddered, instantly realizing Xu Fu’s true intent!

The Exorcists Xu Fu had lured here in search of treasure were the immortal herbs he intended to use to resurrect the Ancestral Dragon.

Exorcists unlocked various Secret Troves and obtained the immortal herbs hidden within them. Yet they couldn't refine those herbs, leaving them stored inside their bodies.

Every Exorcist was, in effect, an immortal herb.

The immortal herb varied depending on which Secret Trove an Exorcist had unlocked. Some could improve the divine sense, some could increase primordial qi, and some could increase the vigor of the physical body, each with its own function.

Sacrificing these Exorcists was the key to resurrecting the Ancestral Dragon!

And the one who hung that sword beneath the mountain gateway to slaughter anyone who followed... is most likely someone who returned from the Other Shore!

Xu Ying told Yuanqi and Dazhong, “The immortal herb contained in this person’s blood is exceptionally pure. It seems that aside from Old Ancestor Chanchan, others have also returned from the Other Shore World.”

Yuanqi and Dazhong were startled. “A real pre-Qin Qi Cultivator has appeared?”

Zhu Chanchan practiced exorcism arts and delayed the progress of her cultivation. This ancient Qi Cultivator likely hadn’t practiced exorcism arts. He focused only on Qi cultivation and refined the immortal herbs within him.

Since this person could face Xu Fu head-on, he was likely a great expert in the Ascension Stage!

Xu Ying pondered aloud. “Logically speaking, there shouldn’t be anyone capable of returning from the Other Shore. So why have other pre-Qin Qi Cultivators started returning after Zhu Chanchan?”

Dazhong speculated, “Could it be that news of Pei Du and Old Ancestor Guo bringing back Old Ancestor Chanchan had spread, prompting the other Exorcist noble clans to enter the Other Shore World through their respective grotto heavens to rescue other pre-Qin Qi Cultivators?”

Xu Ying thought for a moment. Indeed, such a possibility existed. He smiled. “I thought some unforeseen event had happened on the Other Shore, causing the ancient Qi Cultivators there to escape. You make a good point, Master Zhong.”

Up ahead, an Exorcist Immortal unleashed fierce attacks, shaking heaven and earth as they clashed with the seals of the grand tomb, causing an utterly terrifying commotion.

Xu Ying saw nine grotto heavens shining with blinding brilliance, as if they were nine suns. The Exorcist Immortal’s Radiant Vestige manifested, radiating an overwhelming might that even the immortal mountains in the sky couldn’t suppress!

“This aura... It’s an expert from the Yuan clan!”

Xu Ying was astonished. Those nine grotto heavens were precisely the Yellow Court grotto heavens. The immense fluctuations of divine sense reached them, disrupting the minds of several nearby Qi Cultivators. Some nearly lost control of themselves and fell into the mercury river.

This was the terrifying power unleashed by the Yuan clan’s Yellow-Court Secret Trove.

Xu Ying had practiced the opening verses of the Yuan clan’s Primordial Dao Heavenly Domain Resonance, so he was no stranger to this kind of divine ability.

“Could it be Yuan Wuji?!” The youth’s heart pounded wildly. He murmured, “If Yuan Wuji is here, has Sister Weiyang come as well?

Yuanqi glanced at Dazhong and said with a look of concern on his face, “Ah Ying’s memories still haven’t fully returned. He’s treating Yuan Weiyang as Yuan Rushi.”

Dazhong reassured him, “He’ll get better. He’ll get better.”

Yuanqi said worriedly, “Should we tell Ah Ying the truth?”

Dazhong smiled. “If you tell him, I’ll beat you to death. No kidding.”

1. The central character of a Chinese fable about an elderly man determined to move two massive mountains blocking his home. ☜

2. Yingzhou, Penglai, and Fangzhang are mythical floating islands in the Eastern Sea where immortals dwell and herbs of everlasting life grow. ☜