Day of Ascension

“Zhou Qiyun should be undergoing his tribulation in the next few days.”

After Zhou Heng left, Xu Ying paid attention to the changes in heaven and earth.

“Among the heavenly tribulations in the Truth-Seeking Supreme Void Grotto Heaven, the largest one covered a span of five hundred li. Zhou Qiyun’s tribulation is unlikely to be any smaller. With the emergence of the new lands, Mount Jiuyi should be over a thousand li from here.”

Xu Ying estimated the distance between the two locations. If Mount Jiuyi is the center of the tribulation, the clouds would have to stretch over two thousand li to reach this place. That’s impossible. I’m far enough away. The heavenly tribulation won’t reach here.

With that concern eased, he cultivated without worry.

At present, he had unlocked the Mud-Pill and Crimson-Palace Secret Troves. Although he possessed the power of both Secret Troves, he had yet to cultivate an exorcism art, leaving him unable to wield that power during cultivation.

While cultivating at the ascension site, he tried to circulate the powers of the two Secret Troves using the Grand Unity Guiding Method, but his efforts met with little success.

Zhou Qiyun possesses the greatest mastery of exorcism arts in the world. The other noble clans, such as the Yuan, Guo, and Li clans, also have profound legacies in exorcism art, thought Xu Ying.

Zhou Qiyun learned the method in Granny Tuo Immortal Book and Nine Heavens Yang Spirit from him. Then, he fused them with his cultivation techniques of the Mud-Pill Secret Trove. His cultivation and strength were likely far greater than the creators of the Granny Tuo Immortal Book and the Nine Heavens Yang Spirit!

Evidently, cultivating both Qi and the Exorcist path was the correct approach.

Two people arrived at the foot of the mountain. An elder rode a donkey while a taciturn youth led it by the reins. The donkey's hooves clattered as they climbed the mountain.

The elder's eyes were sharp. He cupped his hands toward Xu Ying. “We’re rogue cultivators traveling through these mountains. We hope to seek shelter here for a few days.”

Xu Ying smiled. “This land has no owner. Please make yourselves at home, Elder.”

The elder thanked him and ordered the youth to let the donkey loose, then chose a room for himself and settled down after cleaning it.

The donkey, however, had quite an attitude. When it saw Xu Ying's oxen grazing, it deliberately walked over, turned around, and kicked them with its hind legs.

Dazhong whispered to Xu Ying, “This donkey isn’t ordinary; it has incense qi. The elder is definitely no ordinary person either.”

Xu Ying nodded lightly. He had also sensed that something was unusual about the newcomers.

After taking several kicks from the donkey, Niu Zhen and Niu Qian finally snapped. They reared onto their hind legs, revealing their true forms as bull demons. Flames burst from their eyes while smoke billowed from their nostrils.

The donkey laughed out loud. “I knew there was something strange about you two! You’ve revealed your true forms now!”

He rolled across the ground. When he stood again, he had transformed into a gigantic creature with a donkey's head and a human's body. Standing over two zhang tall, he radiated immense strength, and thick incense qi enveloped him.

He cried out, “I've absorbed abundant incense qi and have forged a golden body. Today, I shall subdue you two blockheads and turn you into my beasts of burden!”

The elder and the youth didn’t stop him.

Just then, sword qi swirled in the sky, approaching. Yuanqi had returned from cultivation, carrying the sword case on his back.

The two stared at the strange snake in bewilderment. It stretched over twenty zhang long and flew through the air, completely shrouded in sword qi. The sight was both terrifying and unprecedented.

Yuanqi paid them no mind and landed next to Xu Ying. He asked in surprise, “This donkey’s pretty arrogant. What’s his deal?”

Xu Ying shook his head.

A shrill scream pierced the air. Each wielding a white-bone soul-striking whip, the bull demon brothers trapped the donkey Demon King between them and lashed at him relentlessly, making him scream without pause.

His cries were so loud that they pierced the clouds and echoed through the mountains for days.

Filled with shock and suspicion, the elder turned to the taciturn youth. “Old Ancestor...”

The youth whispered, “Let’s observe them first.”

After waiting for a while, Xu Ying told the bull brothers to stop. He then apologized to the elder. “My oxen are poorly disciplined and injured your donkey.”

The elder chuckled. “No matter, no matter. They’re just dumb animals. Sometimes, they just need a good beating.”

Just then, two more people arrived at Mount Wu Wang. Like the previous pair, they were an old man and a youth, but they had traveled on foot. Panting heavily, they climbed the mountain.

The old man was dressed in white, while the youth was in black. As soon as they arrived, the youth scanned the area. He first looked at Xu Ying, then at the taciturn youth, revealing a hint of surprise. Finally, his eyes settled on the massive stone ax resting in the corner.

The white-robed elder stepped forward, cupped his fists toward Xu Ying and the taciturn youth, and smiled apologetically. “We’re father and son, passing through this land. We wish to seek shelter for a few days. May we trouble you for a place to stay?”

Xu Ying replied, “None of us owns this place. We're only staying here ourselves. Please make yourselves at home.”

The white-robed elder thanked him. After tidying a room, he had the black-robed youth settle in.

Xu Ying was taken aback and glanced at them, wondering about their origins.

Clearly, the donkey-riding elder and the taciturn youth recognized the newcomers. Their expressions shifted slightly, yet neither approached to greet them. They remained seated in silence.

Before long, another group arrived at Mount Wu Wang. A sweet, charming laugh drifted over from afar. “This place is good, Old Ancestor. Even though the mountain collapsed, it's still the tallest mountain within a thousand li! We'll have the perfect view when Old Ancestor Zhou undergoes his tribulation... It's the Xu guy!”

That voice gasped in surprise. Looking toward it, Xu Ying saw Guo Xiaodie’s second aunt, Li Yingzhu. She was ascending the mountain, accompanied by a yellow-robed youth.

The yellow-robed youth was very bashful; he blushed whenever he looked at anyone. He told Li Yingzhu, “Don’t be rude, Zhu’er.”

Li Yingzhu kept glancing toward Xu Ying, occasionally clenching her teeth. Meanwhile, Xu Ying was reminded of the scent of ripe peaches from that night. His thoughts drifted, and he quickly visualized Dao avatars to steady his divine sense.

The yellow-robed youth looked at the other two groups. A look of surprise crossed his face before understanding dawned on him. “Old Ancestor Shi, Old Ancestor Zhu, you’re still alive. Wonderful, wonderful. I thought your lifespans had already run out, or that you had met with disaster.”

The taciturn youth and the black-robed youth didn’t dare to be disrespectful and hurriedly stood up.

The black-robed youth said, “We wouldn’t dare to die before you, Imperial Uncle.”

The taciturn youth agreed, “Yes.”

Paying them no mind, the yellow-robed youth said, “Among those in our generation, Old Ancestor Zhou was the most impatient yet also the most capable. I thought he would have mellowed out over the years, but he’s still the first to lose patience.”

The black-robed youth smiled. “If he doesn’t step forward first, how would we know whether this path works?”

Just then, laughter rang out from the sky. “Shisanniang, this is the perfect place to settle down. It’s the highest vantage point. We’ll be able to see everything that happens on Mount Jiuyi.”

The crowd raised their heads. A painted pleasure boat sailed through the sky, drawing steadily closer. It glided as though floating across water.

A female voice drifted from within the boat. “You’re right, Young Master Xiang.”

The boat descended, and a man and a woman stepped out. They were both exceptionally attractive, catching everyone’s eye.

Young Master Xiang was elegant, handsome, and noble, while Shisanniang was tall and slender; her facial features exuded charm. Her gaze seemed to ripple like water; wherever it fell, it filled the air with the warmth of spring and the fragrance of flowers.

The pair surveyed the surroundings as soon as they stepped off the boat, and the corners of their mouths drew back into a smile as they ignored the other young and old strangers present.

Yet when they saw Xu Ying, their expressions changed drastically. They grew so nervous that cold sweat broke out from their foreheads, and they shifted restlessly.

These two were the experts Xu Ying had beaten up with the copper basin on the night he sent off the Plague God. The man was known as Young Master Xiang, and the woman was Shisanniang.

Their cultivation and strength were unfathomable, yet he had nearly killed them simply by inserting a finger into the copper basin.

They had only recently recovered after a long period of recuperation. Seeing Xu Ying again filled them with fear. They exchanged glances, both resisting the urge to turn around and flee.

That night, they had been ordered to intercept the one sending off the Plague God, so they blocked Xu Ying’s path. They presumed they could subdue him easily; unexpectedly, the strength and means he displayed were completely beyond their comprehension.

Even now, recalling that night sent chills down their spines.

Xu Ying smiled faintly at them and gestured for them to make themselves at home.

Young Master Xiang and Shisanniang exchanged a glance. Young Master Xiang whispered, “Play it by ear.”

Shisanniang nodded lightly.

The youth from the Li clan, the imperial uncle, glanced at the pair in surprise. He asked the black-robed youth, “Old Ancestor Shi, forgive my lack of discernment, are these two Exorcists or demonic cultivators?”

The black-robed youth, Old Ancestor Shi, sized up the two. His expression shifted between shock and doubt, then he shook his head. “I can’t tell. They seem like demonic cultivators, yet resemble Exorcists.”

Just then, more people ascended the mountain, laughing. “I smelled you old fossils from far away. Sure enough, you've all gathered here!”

As soon as those words rang out, the youthful-looking old ancestors rose to their feet one after another. “The old brother from the Guo clan is here!”

Xu Ying looked over. Guo Xiaodie was climbing Mount Wu Wang beside a burly old man with a fierce bearing. His brows and beard were completely white, and his gaze was as sharp as lightning.

Whenever his eyes swept across the crowd, everyone felt as though the world had turned white. Their vision returned only after his gaze moved on.

Surprised, Xu Ying thought, Is he the Guo clan’s old ancestor?

Guo Xiaodie was also surprised to see him. Immediately, she left Old Ancestor Guo’s side and ran over, whispering, “Demon King Xu, why are you still in the new lands? Where’s Brother Weiyang?”

Xu Ying briefly recounted how he and Yuan Weiyang parted ways. “Why are you and your old ancestor here?”

Guo Xiaodie smiled. “Who in the world doesn’t know about Old Ancestor Zhou undergoing his tribulation? He injured or killed countless experts from the new lands and even the underworld because of it. His tribulation would draw experts from all over to observe.”

Xu Ying groaned. He chose to settle down on Mount Wu Wang because it had suffered an unexpected disaster, and he assumed no one would come here.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Qiyun hadn’t forgotten this place. As he faced his tribulation, he drew countless experts here.

Xu Ying thought, I can’t enter the place of ascension in the near future. If they discover it, I’ll never get to go there again.

Guo Xiaodie leaned so close she could bite his ear and whispered, “Zhou Qiyun undergoing his tribulation is a rare opportunity for those from the noble clans who have reached the pinnacle realm. They can observe and learn from it. If they miss this chance, there won't be another. Anyone who hears the news will come running.”

Just then, old ancestors from several other noble clans arrived. They settled down on the sun-facing side of Mount Wu Wang. Some greeted old acquaintances with laughter, while others were unfamiliar even to the assembled old ancestors. When asked, no one recognized them.

Xu Ying looked around and thought, Will Brother Yuan come? His clan’s old ancestor, if I remember correctly, is called Yuan Wuji, and Zhou Qiyun defeated him in the past. He would surely come to watch, right?

“The Yuan clan’s old ancestor is here!” Guo Xiaodie suddenly grew excited, but she deflated just as quickly. Shaking her head, she said, “Brother Weiyang didn’t come.”

Xu Ying looked over. Yuan Wuji was an elder with a magnificent beard. He hadn't maintained a youthful appearance, instead allowing himself to age naturally. The Yuan clan was renowned for its good looks; despite his advanced age, traces of his youthful charm remained.

At night, the Hell River reappeared. A towered ship drifted down the river, bearing the emperor’s banner. It sailed to the foot of Mount Wu Wang.

A carriage drove out of the towered ship and transported a coffin up the mountain.

The crowd fell silent upon seeing this.

The coffin opened on its own once it reached the peak. The Underworld Court Emperor’s immortal corpse lay within. His Primordial Spirit stood in the air, gazing toward Mount Jiuyi.

The Underworld Court Emperor sighed. “In this world today, anyone who dares set foot within a thousand li of Mount Jiuyi would surely face Old Ancestor Zhou’s wrath. For now, we can only observe his tribulation from here.”

Imperial Uncle Li’s voice wasn’t loud, but it reached everyone’s ears. “Zhou Qiyun will verify whether this path is correct.”

Someone said in a lowered voice, “Does dual cultivating Qi and Exorcism truly lead to eternal life?”

Just then, clattering noises echoed from the sky. A massive creature approached under the cover of the night, dragging two enormous chains. It landed on Mount Wu Wang’s broken cliff, which was between two mountains.

From a distance, no one could make out the creature's appearance. They could only see the thick chains hanging over the cliff, swaying back and forth.

Xu Ying looked up, gazing at the massive creature as he silently activated his Third Eye. He saw a barefoot giant bound in chains, sitting on the cliff.

The giant seemed to notice his gaze and looked toward him.

Startled inside, Xu Ying hurriedly deactivated his Third Eye. Surrounding him were the old ancestors of noble Exorcist clans. They would never tolerate others spying on them. Sensing the giant’s gaze, they raised their heads one after another, their gazes sharp as lightning, intertwined as they looked up the mountain cliff.

Boom!

The giant on the cliff soared skyward and disappeared into the clouds without a trace.

On Mount Wu Wang, the old ancestors were bewildered.

Xu Ying was also filled with shock and doubt, thinking, Could that giant be the Mud-Pill Palace Master?

Just then, the clatter of chains echoed through the night again. Xu Ying looked toward the sound and saw a black coffin streak across the sky before landing on the same cliff the giant had occupied moments earlier.

The black coffin stood motionless.

The old ancestors thought the massive creature had returned and looked over. When they saw only the black coffin and the demure maiden standing before it, they withdrew their gazes.

The maiden paid no mind to their impolite gazes. She remained remarkably composed.

It’s her! Xu Ying was delighted inside. He walked toward the cliff, intending to catch up with the coffin maiden. At that moment, another figure landed on the mountain, frowning.

Xu Ying was startled. He recognized that figure—the frowning old man who had forced him to drink the Meng Po Soup.

Just as the frowning old man landed, two more figures followed. One was a white-robed elder, and the other a red-robed woman, both wearing frowns.

Xu Ying braced himself and walked over. As he approached and passed them, their frowns deepened.