Day of Ascension

Huge boulders crashed away piece by piece as ancient patterns gradually emerged across the surface of the Flying Peak. Stones embedded within the patterns trembled violently before breaking free and falling away.

Section by section, the Flying Peak awakened with a low hum. The Exorcists battling over the bronze treasures froze and looked up in astonishment.

“What treasure is that?”

“Is that an artifact forged from Mount Buzhou?”

“The First Emperor gathered every artifact under heaven to forge the Twelve Golden Statues. Could someone have unearthed them and recast them into that colossal pillar?”

......

The bronze cauldrons and bronze sacred tree swept down from the mountains by the floodwaters were extraordinary treasures, especially that bronze tree. It was four zhang tall and had twelve bronze branches, each bearing a three-legged golden crow cast from pure gold. The central branch was engraved with a blazing sun.

The bronze sacred tree radiated powerful fluctuations. Rosy light occasionally shot toward the sky, bathing the surrounding mountains in crimson.

The twelve golden crows would occasionally take flight in succession before returning to their branches. Anyone who dared approach was met with their pecks. Even a Great Exorcist who had opened five grotto heavens would be killed in a single strike.

Yet, such treasures paled in comparison to the Flying Peak and weren’t worth mentioning.

Zhu Chanchan tried to activate the artifact but found it incredibly difficult, vexing her. I skimmed too many materials from the emperor of Zhou. This artifact is far too heavy. Unless I reach the peak of the twelfth level of the Pagoda Stage, I won't be able to activate it.

She strained forward one step, and the entire Flying Peak slowly began to tilt.

I really did skim too many materials. I wonder whether the Other Shore Divine Vessel I forged for the emperor of Zhou can actually reach the Other Shore.

Zhu Chanchan could not help but worry. During the Zhou emperor’s reign, no one could overcome the heavenly tribulations and ascend, so cultivators turned their hopes toward the Other Shore. The journey, however, was fraught with danger. Countless Ascension Stage Qi Cultivators either perished along the way or were reduced to ashes by immortal fire.

Thus, the emperor of Zhou gathered the treasures of the world to forge the Other Shore Divine Vessel, intending to ferry his entire court across to the Other Shore. As a Master Craftsman of the empire, Zhu Chanchan was tasked with forging it.

If I skimmed too many materials and the Other Shore Divine Vessel failed halfway across...

She couldn’t help but shudder. Did the entire court of civil and military officials die because of her?

Suddenly, the hundreds of Exorcists blocked her path, radiating murderous auras. Some gazes fell on her, while others fell on the Flying Peak.

“Girl, leave the artifact behind!”

“You’re staying, too!”

“Call me Master!”

Zhu Chanchan smiled faintly and called out sweetly, “Masterrr!”

Whoosh!

The Flying Peak swept across. Its colossal mass crushed everything in its path with unstoppable force. Even those who activated the bronze sacred tree or the bronze cauldrons couldn't withstand the impact. They were blasted away on contact.

The crowd spewed blood and scrambled to flee, but there was no way they could outrun the Flying Peak. In mere moments, hundreds of experts were crushed to pieces!

Just then, a voice filled with shock and rage rang out. “Vile creature, how dare you!”

Zhu Chanchan followed the source of the voice and saw the sky become extremely bright. Nine grotto heavens spun and whirled in the air, piercing through the void and rooting themselves into a jade-like expanse of sky.

A great expert who’s mastered the nine heavens of a Secret Trove!

Zhu Chanchan grew solemn and tense. She didn’t dare to be careless. Without any delay, her Primordial Spirit jumped out behind her. It activated the Flying Peak and sent it sweeping forward.

The Exorcist Immortal in the sky channeled his technique, turning his overwhelming mystical power into a large hand to intercept the Flying Peak. The peak instantly shattered the large hand and continued charging straight toward the nine grotto heavens!

“That vile creature is formidable!”

That top expert let out a muffled groan as his blood spattered across the sky before he flew away.

The bronze sacred tree, bronze cauldron, and other treasures flew up by themselves and landed on the Flying Peak. They had been part of the Flying Peak, after all, and were simply returning to their rightful place.

Zhu Chanchan panted heavily from exhaustion after activating the Flying Peak twice in quick succession, having depleted most of her cultivation.

She counted herself lucky. If that person had stood his ground, I wouldn’t have lasted another blow. Luckily, he’s a timid one. Who knows when I’ll meet up with Xu Ying dragging this peak with me... Wait, they’re rushing here?

She blinked, then chuckled. “That works. It saves me the trouble of finding them. Wait, I only left my mark on Dazhong, Yuanqi, and the ax. I never marked Xu Ying. Did Xu Fu kill him and seize the treasures?”

She immediately came to terms with it. “Then I'll just kill Xu Fu, take back the three treasures, and avenge Ah Ying.”

She had little interest in the stone ax, but she was rather fond of Dazhong and Yuanqi. The thought of those two treasures soon bearing the Zhu surname instead filled her with delight.

“Something’s not right.”

Zhu Chanchan scanned her surroundings and saw numerous Exorcists approaching, heading in the same direction near Haojing. Haojing had once been the imperial capital of the Emperor of Zhou. Hidden within the mountains of Mount Song, it had vanished from the mortal world after the Heaven-Man Resonance.

Now that Haojing had reappeared in the world, it was only natural for Exorcists to come searching for treasures. Yet she had encountered far too many along the way, and the sheer number left her both shocked and puzzled.

Could it be that the emperor of Zhou had returned? No, that can’t be. The Other Shore Divine Vessel I forged likely couldn't have carried that many people to the Other Shore.

She stopped an Exorcist to ask. The man was startled by the sight of the beautiful young woman with an entire mountain peak following behind her, but he still answered.

“The First Emperor Ancestral Dragon’s treasures have appeared in the world. The peerless weapons, the Twelve Golden Statues, that suppressed the world are also about to emerge. Haojing? What is Haojing?”

Zhu Chanchan was stunned. “The First Emperor Ancestral Dragon and the Twelve Golden Statues are more famous than Haojing and the emperor of Zhou? I don’t believe it!”

The Exorcist looked as though he'd seen a ghost. He watched in horror as the young woman walked away, the bronze mountain rumbling after her of its own accord.

After an arduous journey, Zhu Chanchan finally reached the outskirts of Haojing, nearly collapsing from exhaustion. Leaning against the Flying Peak, she gasped for breath. I’ll just rest for a bit. If I had skimmed a little less back in the day, I wouldn’t have to suffer so much today... Eh?

She suddenly spotted a silhouette flickering in the ruins of Haojing and instantly perked up. She quickly climbed up the Flying Peak to look. The figure stood atop a stone pillar, robes fluttering in the wind, dressed in the ancient style of the Emperor of Zhou's era.

Zhu Chanchan froze for a moment. Just as she was about to rush over, the figure suddenly vanished without a trace!

“That is indeed a Qi Cultivator from my era! Could it be, could it be...” Her face paled with horror. “The emperor of Zhou has returned from the Other Shore? Then the matter of me skimming materials from his artifacts...”

***

Xu Ying stood atop Fangzhang Immortal Mountain, with a grand procession of Qi Cultivators behind him. Some rode flying vessels, some flew on swords, while others sat on leaves, channeling mystic arts that turned the leaves enormous.

The crowd used various methods to cross mountains and rivers, making their way toward Mount Li.

Xu Ying also noticed several Ascension Stage Qi Cultivators. They were younger than Dong Meiqing, but appeared far older.

Having comprehended the great divine ability of Descent of Tribulation from the Ode of the Azure Skies, Xu Ying was very sensitive to tribulations. He could tell that these Ascension Stage Qi Cultivators were using peculiar mystic arts to avoid the heavenly tribulation.

Their tribulation destinies were extremely heavy. Had they not concealed themselves, the heavenly tribulations would have found them and unleashed catastrophic tribulations upon them. They wouldn't have survived even a single strike before being reduced to ashes.

Even with secret arts to evade their tribulations, they had little time left. Their lifespans were already exhausted.

Xu Ying stepped off the Fangzhang Immortal Mountain and approached an elder at the Ascension Stage. “You’re nearing the end of your lifespan. Why not enjoy your remaining years in comfort instead of heading to Mount Li?”

The elder had grown so old that his body had withered to barely three or four chi tall. Leaning on a deer-headed staff taller than himself, he chuckled.

“This journey is for the ten-thousand-year grand plan of us Qi Cultivators. I'm already standing at death's door. Rather than die in my bed, I'd rather spend my last spark securing a future for Qi Cultivators.”

Xu Ying was taken aback.

He questioned several other elderly Qi Cultivators, and they all gave much the same answer. Their lives were nearly over, and they wanted to do one last thing to preserve the Qi cultivation lineage.

Xu Ying returned to Xu Fu’s side. “Practicing exorcism arts could extend the lives of Qi Cultivators. In theory, dual cultivating Qi and Exorcism could grant eternal life. Moreover, there’s no need to ascend to the Immortal Realm. One could become an immortal while remaining in the mortal world. Old Ancestor Xu Fu, is orthodoxy really that important?”

Xu Fu replied, “Perhaps it’s not important to you, but to a cultivation lineage on the verge of extinction, it means everything.”

Xu Ying was deeply shaken. He looked back at the Qi Cultivators pressing onward with all their strength. Their lineage stood on the brink of extinction, yet they still struggled against the current like fish swimming upstream.

The era belonged to the Exorcists. Their defiance of the prevailing tide earned only contempt and bewilderment from the world, yet their sense of duty and resolve commanded respect.

They were fighting for their place in the world, to restore a bygone era!

Xu Ying said to Xu Fu, “Orthodox Qi cultivation techniques are wrong. They can fix it by combining it with Exorcist cultivation techniques, making it perfect. Unlocking the six secrets of the human body and unifying them with Qi cultivation techniques is the way to become immortal.

“Zhou Qiyun used that very method to face his tribulation. Why do you insist on clinging to orthodox Qi cultivation alone?”

Xu Fu said indifferently, “Is what Zhou Qiyun did worthy of calling it overcoming his tribulation? He simply kidnapped the heavenly gods. On his own, he couldn't have survived even a single strike of the heavenly tribulation. That sort of trick is an unorthodox shortcut, not worth mentioning.”

A fervent light filled his eyes. “True tribulation transcendence is to hold up the heavens with one hand and face the heavenly tribulation head-on. Withstand the heavenly might and defy the Heavenly Dao! To follow the way of Heaven is to perish, and to defy the way of Heaven is to flourish!

“Defy the natural order, become immortal. That is true tribulation transcendence. That is true ascension. Mister Xu, that is what you taught me!”

Xu Ying glanced at him. “I said that? I don’t remember. You said you could help me break my seal and lured me here. Why not help me break my seal and let me see if I did say something like that?”

Xu Fu smiled faintly. “I’ve been waiting for you to ask me this. In fact, I've already begun breaking your seal.”

Xu Ying froze for a moment. Xu Fu took out a golden booklet and waved his hand lightly, opening it. “Do you still remember the characters written in this golden booklet?”

Light shone brightly from this golden booklet, projecting bird-worm seal script characters in the air, which moved along with the movements of the Fangzhang Immortal Mountain.

Xu Fu said, “You handed this golden booklet to me back in the day. You told me it held your sealed memories. I’ve been searching for ancient texts everywhere all these years to figure out their profound mysteries. Once I crack the secrets of these characters, I’ll be able to undo your seal.”

Xu Ying looked up at the bird-worm seal script and was deeply shaken inside as a thunderous roar erupted in his mind.

These bird-worm seal script characters were almost identical to the characters on the talisman paper Bei Chenzi and the others had used to seal him!

The memories of his present lifetime gradually became clear. Many memories from his past lifetimes also came flooding back, and countless unfamiliar images appeared in his mind.

He muttered to himself as Dao sounds slowly echoed in his mind. The sound grew increasingly grand, reverberating time and again. It was the meaning of those sixteen characters!

“By order of Heaven, eternally suppressed in this lifetime, locked in a prison, sealed within these bounds.”

Clap! Xu Fu suddenly closed the golden book and put it away. The reverberating Dao sounds in Xu Ying’s mind slowly faded.

Meanwhile, the chess piece in the hand of the white-robed elder Bei Chenzi, who had been keeping an eye on Xu Ying’s movements from afar, also popped by itself.

“Give me a break!”

Furious, Bei Chenzi shot up to his feet. He looked at Xu Fu from afar, his gaze as sharp as lightning. He cried out coldly, “Fairy Yutang, call for backup!”

The red-robed woman also flew into a rage. She quickly rose to her feet, and her Primordial Spirit manifested. Three wisps of green qi shot out from the top of her head. They transformed into three wild geese who beat their wings and flew away!