Day of Ascension

“What audacity!”

Zhou Yang’s expression darkened. The Phoenix Bloom sprang into action as his aura erupted. In an instant, the tree branches brandished over a hundred precious swords like a hundred-armed god or demon, stabbing toward Xu Ying.

The precious swords wove high and low, varying in speed with dazzling agility.

Xu Ying had witnessed the giant god’s sword techniques. The god could control four swords at once, holding one in each hand while mentally controlling two flying swords. Those techniques had forced Xu Ying back repeatedly, even piercing his shoulder blade and nearly taking his life.

Compared to Zhou Yang’s Zhou Heavenly Demon-Slaying Sword, however, the giant god’s sword techniques were nothing.

As he unleashed the Zhou Heavenly Demon-Slaying Sword, over a hundred precious swords crisscrossed through the air, executing various sword arts. It was as though hundreds of gods proficient in using the Flying Sword Technique were attacking Xu Ying simultaneously with different techniques.

Anyone unfamiliar with sword techniques would have lost their limbs and head in the first exchange, riddled with holes.

Using a willow branch as a sword, Xu Ying shifted through the attacks and advanced instead of retreating. He charged straight into the storm of swords, facing the sword formation head-on.

Clink!

He struck the first sword, parrying it. In that instant, sword aura surged from the branch tip and severed the branch behind the sword hilt.

Taking a step forward, Xu Ying dodged an attack from behind. With a reverse flick, he whipped away another sword. Sword qi swept along the branch, sending another sword falling to the ground.

More than twenty precious swords attacked him from different directions, swiftly putting him in a dire situation. No matter how brilliant his swordsmanship was, he didn’t have three heads and six arms to deal with so many attacks at once.

Suddenly, the willow branch flew from his hand. It traced graceful arcs through the air as swiftly as an arrow, severing the flailing branches.

Flying Sword Technique! Zhou Yang was astonished. In mere moments, Xu Ying had struck down the more than thirty swords attacking him.

As Xu Ying moved, more of them fell. He flipped through the air like a carp leaping through the dragon gate, slipping past the swords. His willow branch danced around him, severing any sword branch that entered within slightly more than a zhang of Xu Ying.

Without the support of the branches, the swords lost control and directly plummeted to the ground.

They clattered endlessly. Xu Ying landed with the swords littered on the ground behind him, all sliced clean from their branches just behind the hilt.

Zhou Yang sneered coldly. The branches at the hilts of the fallen swords took root in the earth and grew rapidly. They whipped the swords around with astonishing agility and attacked Xu Ying from behind once more.

“Xu Ying, you have no idea how powerful our Zhou Heavenly Demon-Slaying Sword is! Let alone a Demon King like you, even ordained demon gods sustained by incense offerings would fall before it!”

Xu Ying landed just several zhang away from Zhou Yang. He pointed forward, and the willow branch accelerated, shooting toward his opponent with a swoosh!

Zhou Yang roared, “Vajra Indestructible Body!”

He grew wildly until he stood more than twelve chi tall, radiating golden light. His limbs thickened, and a thin layer of golden qi covered his palms as he met the willow branch.

The moment the willow branch touched Zhou Yang’s palm, sword qi erupted from it. With a sharp hiss, the sword qi pierced through the golden qi covering his palm.

An immense force erupted from the point of contact. Light rippled and churned where the willow branch met his palm.

Simultaneously, Xu Ying wove past the layers of encirclement around the precious swords, grabbed the other end of the willow branch, and stabbed forth.

Zhou Yang roared, channeling his mystical power. A crack rang out as the willow branch shattered the middle finger bone in his palm and exited from the back. The branch left Xu Ying’s grip once more and flew straight toward Zhou Yang’s glabella.

Retreating in a hurry, Zhou Yang threw a punch with his other hand and shattered the willow branch. Xu Ying grabbed a fallen precious sword and flicked it with his finger. The sword whistled through the air as violent sword qi surged from it and slashed toward Zhou Yang.

Only then did Zhou Yang realize that more than ten precious swords were hovering behind Xu Ying. They danced around him, fending off all the precious swords attacking him.

These precious swords were not artifacts. Since Zhou Yang could control them, Xu Ying could as well.

Zhou Yang grabbed the oncoming sword in desperation. Pain shot through his palm as all five fingers were severed and sent flying.

He activated his Mud-Pill Secret Trove, regrowing his severed fingers. Just then, Xu Ying threw a punch his way. Behind him, the divine avatar of an elephant king manifested and erupted with divine power.

The punch struck Zhou Yang’s head and sent him flying back.

“You corrupt dog! Did you think this day would never come after exploiting the people of Lingling County?”

Xu Ying charged forward like a divine elephant. The earth beneath his feet exploded with every step. Behind him, precious swords shot out like streaks of light with the might of dragons and elephants.

Panic-stricken and furious, Zhou Yang cried out in a hurry, “What are you waiting for? Help me!”

As the precious swords drew near, he scrambled to defend with his hands. Just as he blocked three swords, Xu Ying spun around and kicked Zhou Yang in the face.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Zhou Yang crashed through the forest, tumbling across the ground. Streaks of sword light shot forth through the woods as sword qi erupted in all directions, felling towering trees one after another.

The officials of Lingling County’s Magistrate Office rushed over and called out, “Criminal! Cease your insolence!”

Before their voices faded, a green light flashed. A willow branch pierced through an official’s head.

Like a spirit serpent, the streak of green light wove through the air at blinding speed, becoming a dizzying blur. The twelve remaining officials frantically unleashed their exorcism arts. Green vines in the surroundings lashed through the air to block the green light.

The green light zipped through the air, producing a strange whistling sound. Green vines exploded wherever they passed.

An official’s head abruptly flopped. The green light had pierced through his left temple and exited from his right. The vines around him instantly went berserk, flailing around like crazed snakes. Once his brain ceased functioning, the vines dropped limply to the ground.

A blue-robed official heard movement to his left. He turned to look, but he suddenly felt pain in his back. A willow branch had pierced through his heart and emerged from his chest.

Sword qi surged within the willow branch, shredding the blue-robed official’s heart. He collapsed to the ground, coughing blood.

Like a harbinger of doom, the green light streak flashed through the forest. The sharp whistling gradually faded as it slowed, then returned to hover behind Xu Ying.

Behind him, huge vines threaded through the forest, growing wildly and lashing about. Soon, they lost their strength and fell to the ground.

Beneath the vines lay the corpses of thirteen officials.

Before Xu Ying was a blood-covered Zhou Yang. Xu Ying’s punch had blasted him into the opposite cliff.

Carved on the cliff were two characters: Wu Wang. No one knew who had left them there. They meant no falsehood.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!

Four precious swords shot out and impaled Zhou Yang’s limbs, nailing him to the cliff.

Roaring furiously, he struggled with all his might to break free.

“Magistrate Zhou, there was a time when I really envied government officials like you.” Xu Ying’s frenzied aura gradually settled. Looking at Zhou Yang pinned to the cliff, he said calmly, “You dress in fine silk and ride fine horses. You hold high positions and call yourself the people’s parents. Wherever you go, they prostrate and pay respects, fearing you like the gods.

“With a single word or an official document, you can make the people hand over their fortunes, wives, and children! You live even better than the gods themselves.”

Zhou Yang stopped struggling and burst out laughing. “Xu Ying, you want to be an official? Why didn’t you say so earlier? I am a descendant of the Zhou clan. I can easily arrange an official post for you.”

His eyes flickered. The Phoenix Bloom silently coiled around and picked up the fallen swords with its branches. However, a streak of sword light severed the demonic tree at its roots.

Zhou Yang’s expression darkened. He didn’t dare to make any other moves.

Recalling his life at Jiangjiatian Village, Xu Ying said, “The gods sit atop Their shrines behind offering tables, receiving the people’s worship and offerings. They eat only twice a month, on the first and fifteenth.

“In return, They answer prayers and manage the weather. But you officials draw salaries from the imperial court and live in luxury far beyond that of the gods. Wherever you go, all you see is people kneeling before you!”

“When I was a child, you officials rode past while I stood by the roadside, covered in mud. It was your horses that splashed filth all over me. Even so, I envied you. I dreamed of becoming one of you.”

Secretly activating his exorcism technique, Zhou Yang smiled. “It’s still not too late. There’s no real enmity between my clan and you. You are simply too talented, so we wanted to force you into joining us. Since it’s just a misunderstanding, there is no need for us to go at each other’s throats. My clan can arrange an official post for you.”

Xu Ying continued as if he hadn’t heard a word, “During my days as a snake catcher alongside my godfather and grandfather, I never had a good night of sleep. I always woke up in alarm to the sound of you, lord officials, arresting people, the screams of wives, the sobbing of children, and grannies jumping over walls to flee.

“During the day, I watched you officials ride into the village with an air of authority while plundering like bandits. Back then, I thought being as prestigious as you would be wonderful.”

Zhou Yang smiled again. “You can do it. As long as you pledge your loyalty, my clan won’t mistreat you.”

“But the next day, I saw wives jump into the well, and men hanging in front of their houses. That’s when I thought becoming an official might not be such a good thing.”

Zhou Yang sighed. “I, too, often lament the hardship of the people. Corrupt officials run the court, and the rot permeates every level. Since you wish to reform the world, all the more reason for you to become an official, Xu Ying. Once you wield real authority, you can sweep away the old, establish the new, and serve the people. Wouldn’t you realize your ambitions then?”

Looking dejected, Xu Ying said, “Later, a snake poisoned my grandfather while on the job. He lost his life. My father took responsibility for caring for me. He was not my biological father, yet he took care of me very well. He worked hard for years, saved up some money, and bought two mu of land.

“He told me not to become a snake catcher because I would eventually die that way. He told me to become a farmer instead. But the very next day after he bought land, the officials came to collect green grain tax.”

His mouth twitched.

After a moment of silence, he continued, “He couldn’t pay the tax, so his land was confiscated and sold to Chief Jiang.”

Zhou Yang furrowed his brow slightly. “Paying taxes is an imperial law. It has nothing to do with the government officials of Lingling County.”

“My godfather cried for a very long time. He said the money used to buy the land was earned at the cost of my grandfather’s life. He said he should have saved it for my future marriage instead. He said he let my grandfather and me down, and he’s going to earn it back.

“So, he entered the mountains to catch strange snakes. He didn’t return for days. Later, I found him. He had died from poison. Even the demons avoided eating his corpse. I carried him home myself and buried him beside my grandfather.”

“Such a tragic past is all the more reason you should join my clan and be an official. If you do, you can stop others from suffering the same fate.”

“You’re mistaken, Lord Zhou. I didn’t tell you all this to gain your sympathy or ask for an official position.” Xu Ying raised his head and met Zhou Yang’s gaze. Softly, he said, “A villager once told me that the people who die without understanding why become malevolent ghosts. And my good friend Yuanqi told me that explaining things to a corpse is pointless.”

A willow branch slowly flew out from behind him.

“So before killing you, I decided to explain everything clearly.”

Xu Ying turned around. The willow branch shot out and pierced through Zhou Yang’s glabella.

Those without falsehood possessed absolute sincerity.

To be without pretense was to be true to the heart.

Xu Ying simply acted true to his heart. He said he wanted Zhou Yang to die in peace, and he meant it.

However, Zhou Yang’s eyes went wide as he let out a furious roar that shook heaven and earth. Even in death, he didn’t find peace.

Xu Ying looked back at him and shook his head. “The villagers probably lied to me. I explained myself so clearly, yet he still died with his eyes open. In the future, it’s better to explain things after killing people. It’s safer that way.”

The great bell flew out from the back of Xu Ying’s head. “Ah Ying, do you know why you improved so quickly, allowing you to kill so many Exorcists in the blink of an eye?”

Xu Ying was puzzled.

The great bell said solemnly, “Because you’re a Qi Cultivator. You’re already at the absolute peak of the Qi-Gathering Stage. You have seen the mystic gateway within and are on the verge of breaking through and opening the path to the Heavenly River.

“Only when you reach that stage and master divine abilities will you be considered a true Qi Cultivator. Once you take that step, you will be completely different from ordinary people.”