Day of Ascension

There was no way Xu Ying would agree to go down. He winked at Yuanqi, signaling for him to leave.

He said, “I don’t want to learn. Are you leaving? The sky is about to turn dark. Once the underworld surrounds this place, ghosts and spirits will be everywhere. Be careful you don’t end up trapped here.”

However, Yuanqi was brimming with excitement. “I managed to understand part of the lecture. I’m staying to learn. If you’re afraid of ghosts, head back yourself. I’ll stay here for a few more days.”

Xu Ying ground his teeth in anger. Next to him, Yuan Weiyang looked visibly confused. He murmured, “Darkness, underworld? Wait, there’s something wrong here!”

Xu Ying looked at him and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Yuan Weiyang furrowed his brow slightly and said, “Did you notice those stone statues on the immortal mountains? Uncle Xiao and I didn’t rush here to listen to the lecture. Instead, we went to the immortal mountains to scout things and discovered many huge stone statues, carved in the likeness of various gods.”

Xu Ying whispered, “You discovered the soul-summoning incantations?”

Startled, Yuan Weiyang looked up at him. The green-robed elderly servant’s surprised gaze also fell on Xu Ying as he thought, Could he really be a disciple secretly nurtured by some noble clan? Otherwise, how did he recognize the soul-summoning incantation?

The soul-summoning incantation consisted of mysterious runic characters discovered by noble clans during excavations of ancient Qi Cultivator tombs and grotto heavens. The characters were incredibly cryptic and difficult to decipher, yet contained profound mysteries.

The noble clans guarded those texts closely and rarely allowed outsiders access to them. Even within the great noble clans, only a few people knew of the soul-summoning incantations.

Judging by his attire, Xu Ying looked like a countryside boy. Yet, since he recognized the soul-summoning incantation, he had to be a core disciple of a great noble clan!

Yuan Weiyang said, “Yes, it is the soul-summoning incantation. Previously, I couldn’t fathom why they were here, in an immortal realm. Then you mentioned the underworld, and I suddenly realized something.”

A flash of insight struck Xu Ying. He exclaimed, “I understand now, too! So that’s how it is!”

Uncle Xiao’s eyes said he was still confused. What did they understand?

Dazhong was just as puzzled and didn’t know what the two were talking about.

Xu Ying quickly explained, “Once the sun sets, the world of the dilapidated temple falls within the boundaries of the underworld. This place itself becomes part of the underworld, so ghosts are everywhere.”

Yuan Weiyang nodded. “The incantations within the statues are meant to draw in the wandering underworld spirits to refine them into Myriad Spirit Pills.”

Xu Ying added, “The statues are the white-robed Exorcist Immortal’s servants. They summon ghosts from the underworld to refine Myriad Spirit Pills for him.”

Yuan Weiyang continued, “The immortal placed his Radiant Vestige immortal realm in the underworld, while its entrance remains in the mortal realm through the Water Entrance Temple.

“When the underworld invades the mortal realm, the two realms collide and bring forth the immortal realm. That’s why the world of the dilapidated temple appeared.”

Xu Ying chimed in, “This temple world normally remains hidden in the underworld. Surrounded by ghosts, the statues don’t need souls of their own. They can stay empty. Therefore, when the temple world is in the underworld, all the statues will awaken and become powerful gods!”

Xu Ying suddenly froze as he explained the deduction. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Yuan Weiyang picked up where he left off and continued deducing, “In other words, when the sun sets outside, the Hell River will reappear. The underworld will invade again, the temple world will return to the underworld, and all the statues will awaken.”

He paused for a moment and continued, “They are about to unleash a massacre!”

The two exchanged glances, feeling like they had found their soulmate.

Meanwhile, Dazhong and Uncle Xiao were in disbelief. As the two youths chimed in one after another, they had painted such a terrifying picture. Five immortal mountains, with hundreds of gigantic statues awakening and going on a killing spree. How horrifying would the scene be?

Xu Ying looked up abruptly and saw the sun setting in the west, on the verge of sinking into the horizon.

Yuan Weiyang rose to his feet and said to his servant, “Uncle Xiao, this place is about to become dangerous. Let’s go.”

Uncle Xiao nodded.

Yuan Weiyang looked toward Xu Ying and asked, “Aren’t you leaving?”

“My friend is here. How can I leave?”

Xu Ying suddenly leaped off the roof of the immortal hall into the temple, laughing. “I’m here to learn from the immortal master, too!”

Yuan Weiyang was stunned. He murmured, “Jumping off is no different from seeking death. How could a wise person willingly walk into certain death... We had such a wonderful conversation. I thought you were a wise man like me, but you’re not.”

Shaking his head, he followed Uncle Xiao and left. However, Xu Ying’s actions lingered in his mind like an unsolved puzzle. He wanted to drag Xu Ying out of the temple and force a clear explanation out of him.

However, reason told him the best move right now was to leave. As quickly as possible!

Xu Ying landed next to Yuanqi and smiled. “Immortal Master’s immortal arts are indeed deeply unfathomable. I wonder if you know any sword arts? I practice the sword.”

The white-robed Exorcist Immortal sat upright before the immortal hall. Wisps of immortal light swirled around him like swords, yet he remained silent.

Just then, a voice sneered coldly from outside the temple entrance, “Criminal Xu Ying, you won’t escape the net of justice even if you flee into this temple!”

Xu Ying looked back. He saw the judicial adjutant of Yongzhou, Zhou Zheng, striding into the temple. His clothes were in tatters, and he looked disheveled, though he seemed otherwise unharmed.

Zhou Zheng approached a fatty and half-knelt on the ground. He said loudly, “Lord Prefect, I have fulfilled my mission and driven Xu Ying into the temple!”

That fatty was three to four times as wide as an ordinary person. Sitting there, he resembled a mountain of flesh. He was Zhou Heng, currently intently practicing the Comprehensive Daoist Truth of the Celestial Pivot.

Annoyed by Zhou Zheng’s arrival, he snapped, “Zhou Zheng, why are you making so much noise? Don’t disrupt my ascension to immortality!”

Taken aback, Zhou Zheng said, “Your Excellency, I have driven Xu Ying into the temple.”

Zhou Heng said impatiently, “Xu Ying is worth nothing! All he can do is decipher demonic cultivation techniques, while I am practicing immortal arts. Immortal arts are far superior. If I ascend to immortality, do I still need to practice demonic techniques?”

“Th-this...”

Zhou Zheng was at a loss. He recalled all of the guards who had followed him. Now, they were either dead or fleeing for their lives. He did not even know how many had survived. Yet now the prefect casually declared Xu Ying worthless, as though those deaths meant nothing. Sorrow welled up inside him.

“I have failed my brothers!”

Just then, several city gods stepped into the grand temple, staring at Xu Ying from afar. City God Lu of Ningyuan spotted Ling Youdao among the crowd and hurried forward.

He whispered, “Controller General, Xu Ying is here. Should we...”

Ling Youdao sighed and opened his eyes. “Why did you have to disrupt my immortal destiny? I came into this temple to receive teachings in immortal arts. Even that damn fatty Prefect Zhou can’t be bothered with him, yet you people are disrupting my cultivation over him!”

The city gods were also dumbfounded.

Xu Ying smiled. “Could it be that you don’t know sword arts, Immortal Master?”

Displeased, Yuanqi said, “Ah Ying, how could the immortal master not know sword arts? The immortal master’s sword art created a sword qi abyss over ten li wide outside the Water Entrance Temple. Isn’t that right, Immortal Master?”

Those who were disturbed by Xu Ying also glared at him angrily.

Before the immortal hall, the white-robed Exorcist Immortal smiled faintly without saying a word.

Xu Ying chuckled. “Immortal Master, the truth is that you don’t know any sword arts. You’re an Exorcist Immortal. When you sensed your lifespan was nearing its end, you hid inside your land of sublimation and concealed it in the underworld.

“During your lifetime, you must have had an enormous force. You enslaved those statues to refine Myriad Spirit Pills for you so that you could use them to sustain your injured divine soul.

“But one day, a streak of sword light cleaved through your land of sublimation and killed you on the spot. Not only did that person end your life, but he also hollowed your corpse.”

Yuanqi flew into a rage and shouted, “Little Softie Xu, do you realize what you’re saying? Offending the immortal master means certain death! Please don’t hold him accountable, Immortal Master. He is sick in the head and doesn’t even remember who his parents are!”

Zhou Heng’s belly churned like waves from anger as he shouted, “Brat surnamed Xu, you have offended the immortal master. Even if it means going against the clan’s order, I will eliminate you!”

Xu Ying’s gaze remained fixed on the white-robed Exorcist Immortal’s face, and he smiled. “Now, you’re just a piece of human skin. You desire flesh and blood, but you cannot use other people’s directly.

“You need to transform them and make their physique fit what you require. You teach them cultivation techniques and make them cultivate your evil arts so they can become proper vessels for your...”

He frowned. He couldn’t find the right term to describe the act of forcibly taking over another person’s body.

Dazhong knew that Xu Ying had never come into contact with knowledge in this area. He reminded, “Spirit possession. The physical form is a vessel, while the soul is the inhabitant. Seize another’s physical form, and expel, eliminate, or devour the soul of the original, usurping their place. That is spirit possession.”

Xu Ying continued, “You use evil arts to turn their physiques into vessels fit for your spirit possession. Isn’t that right?”

As soon as those words left his mouth, many people stopped practicing the Comprehensive Daoist Truth of the Celestial Pivot and looked toward the immortal.

Ling Youdao furrowed his brow. “Xu Ying, do you have any idea what you’re saying? Offending an immortal will condemn you to eternal suffering through endless reincarnations!”

Xu Ying raised his hand and pointed. A streak of sword qi shot toward the white-robed immortal like a rainbow piercing through the sky. He shouted, “Is this the move that killed you?”

The immortal had remained calm this whole time. Yet the moment he saw that streak of sword light, his expression changed drastically. His face shriveled like a deflated balloon as he let out a terrified shriek.

However, there was no way Xu Ying’s strike could injure him in the slightest. Before it arrived, the immortal’s lingering aura shattered it into pieces.

The strike was all for show, but the sight of the familiar sword light had already shaken the immortal. He could no longer maintain the bearing of an enlightened master.

Below the hall, the crowd was stunned.

The immortal was still screaming miserably, as though someone were skinning him alive and tearing out his tendons.

How could an immortal lose his composure like this?

The corner of Xu Ying’s eyes twitched slightly. He looked up at the sky; it had already dimmed. He patted Yuanqi, who was still in shock, and whispered, “Let’s go. It’ll be too late if we don’t leave now.”

Yuanqi came back to his senses and immediately followed him, making their way out of the temple. Still feeling lingering fear, he said, “Ah Ying, the immortal master treated me really well. He was very patient when lecturing, much more than you were. Oh, he also gave me two scrolls of scripture.”

“Hahahaha!”

A strange laugh rang out from behind. The white-robed immortal rocked back and forth from laughing. Strangely, his waist seemed to have snapped. When he leaned forward, his whole body pressed flat against the ground, and when he bent backward, the back of his head touched the ground.

“The sky’s finally dark.” The immortal stood up, radiating immortal light. He smiled. “The hunt has begun. My god swarm has awakened!”

Outside the world of the dilapidated temple, the Hell River appeared out of thin air. Eerie ghostly flames flickered along both banks.

Even though a sun still hung high in the sky in the world of the dilapidated temple, a chill spread through the air. The entire world had entered the boundaries of the underworld.

On the immortal mountains, the statues grew increasingly bright. The chants rang louder and louder.

Ghostly flames filled the sky like stars, swarming into the world of the dilapidated temple. Each flame represented a wandering spirit, drawn in by the soul-summoning incantation inside the statues on the five immortal mountains. They threw themselves toward the statues and altars.

Xu Ying rushed out of the temple along with Yuanqi and saw the five floating immortal mountains. Towering figures rose and fell, emanating terrifying waves of divine might.

The terrified crowd fled out of the grand temple in panic, shoving and tramping one another.

Earlier, this place was an immortal realm to them. Now, it was hell!

“All of you shall die!”

The white-robed Exorcist Immortal’s voice rang out from behind. “Tonight, you will all become sacrifices for the god swarm!”

The flesh and blood of some who had progressed too far into the so-called Comprehensive Daoist Truth of the Celestial Pivot tore away from them as soon as they stepped out of the temple entrance. The temple stripped them of their flesh and spat out their skeleton.

Xu Ying looked back and saw many people trying to jump out of the temple. The moment they crossed the threshold, flesh and bone separated. Only skeletons rushed out of the temple.

Seeing this, the others hesitated, too frightened to leave the temple.

When they practiced the Comprehensive Daoist Truth of the Celestial Pivot, their primordial qi drove into their flesh and blood like nails. Since their primordial qi was in harmony with the Exorcist Immortal’s, they had effectively refined themselves into one with the grand temple. If they tried to leave, they would lose their flesh!

Yuanqi suddenly had a flash of insight and cried out, “Circulate the Comprehensive Daoist Truth of the Celestial Pivot in the natural flow! That should undo it!”

The immortal grew furious and shouted, “You worm! How dare you ruin my plans! I’ll make sure you die a horrible death!”

Another realization struck Yuanqi. He cried out, “I get it now. To achieve immortality, he refined himself into the temple itself. That’s why he cannot leave!”

Boiling with anger, the immortal’s human skin flew into the air. Fluttering, he tried to rush out of the temple entrance.

However, the grand temple was his Radiant Vestige’s land of sublimation. As soon as he exited the temple, a strange force pulled him back.

When he used to live in seclusion in the land of sublimation, his days were full of peace and stability until an enemy suddenly found this place and killed him with a single strike.

Due to his unjust death, he was filled with grievance and remained in his skin. He fused it with his Radiant Vestige’s land of sublimation and turned the temple into his flesh, tendons, bones, and organs.

He also devised the Comprehensive Daoist Truth of the Celestial Pivot and tricked people into entering the temple. Anyone who entered and practiced this cultivation technique would become one with the temple, becoming his flesh and blood.

The plan had worked perfectly until he encountered this stupid snake demon.

What infuriated him even more was that the snake demon was occasionally clever enough to notice the flaw in the cultivation technique.

That huge snake looked back and ridiculed, “I come from a family of scholars and have read a lot of books. They have all kinds of stories, and you’re trying to fool this Master Niu?”

The immortal grew even more furious. “This brute of a snake is surnamed Niu?! I actually lost to a demon who doesn’t even know his own species!”