Day of Ascension

Zhou Buyi hesitated momentarily before telling the truth. “He killed two and severely injured one. The injuries won’t heal easily. Another became half-mad from terror. We’re about to send someone to check whether his divine soul is damaged.”

The corner of Zhou Qiyun’s eyes twitched. He opened his eyes slowly and fixed his gaze on Zhou Buyi.

“Two?” His voice rumbled like a tiger’s growl. “He dared kill my people in my territory?”

Zhou Buyi bowed even lower.

Zhou Qiyun snorted. “Buyi, you harbor too many stray thoughts. When you served at my side, you did your job diligently without any mistakes. Now that your status has risen, you’ve grown lazy and arrogant. You neglected and underestimated him, leading to casualties among my clan’s descendants.”

Zhou Buyi trembled and lowered his head. “Old ancestor is right.”

Zhou Qiyun said, “You had the chance to save those descendants, but you had other thoughts. Xu Ying offended you, so you let him kill them and stir up trouble. You wanted to kill him with borrowed hands. You want him to die an unjust death. With your abilities, saving them wouldn’t have been difficult.”

Zhou Buyi knelt with a plop and kowtowed.

Zhou Qiyun asked, “Do you have children at home?”

Zhou Buyi wept bitter tears but wiped them away. “I have two sons, but neither amounts to much. I’ve brought them to the estate for assessment, but neither could become an Exorcist. My eldest son’s wife is pregnant with their first child. My youngest son is unmarried, though he took in a farmer’s daughter. She birthed a boy six years ago.”

Zhou Qiyun said, “Have him marry that farmer girl and give her a proper status. Don’t treat her poorly. Send the boy to the estate. Even if he can’t become an Exorcist, the clan wouldn’t mistreat him. Once you return home, make arrangements for your funeral.”

Zhou Buyi kowtowed heavily and choked. “Thank you for your mercy!”

He lifted his head, looked up at Zhou Qiyun, and wiped his tears away. “Old ancestor, you have allowed me to die in peace. What punishment will Xu Ying receive?”

Zhou Qiyun closed his eyes, ignoring Zhou Buyi’s gaze, and said indifferently, “As long as he’s useful, he will not be punished. If he is useless, I will offer him to you as a sacrifice. You may leave.”

Zhou Buyi rose and left in silence.

Zhou Qiyun regulated his aura with his eyes closed. After a short while, his aura fell into slight disarray.

He sighed, opened his eyes, and said in a low voice, “Master of the Mud-Pill Palace, I’ve waited for you for a long time. Why are you still not here? Are you hiding in the shadows, waiting for me to grow restless? Yet while I wait for you, aren’t you doing the same?”

Over the next few days, the Zhou clan members often saw Xu Ying, Yuanqi, and Dazhong striking strange poses on the roof. The floral fragrance grew stronger by the day, and the trio cultivated with even greater diligence.

The clansmen couldn’t help but grow furious. “The old ancestor brought him here to decipher the Granny Tuo Immortal Book! That brat killed our clansmen and still acts arrogantly. Not only is he refusing to decipher the immortal book, but he’s also spending every day on the roof basking in the sun with his snake!”

Even more infuriatingly, Xu Ying being on the roof felt like he was stepping over them.

However, Zhou Qiyun had not shown himself these past few days. Xu Ying and Yuanqi grew even bolder. They appeared only at mealtimes, stuffed themselves full, and disappeared again.

“Is he here for a spring outing? The Hell River is right beside us. What spring scenery is there to enjoy?”

Someone snapped angrily, “Why haven’t Second Sister and Big Brother returned yet? Once they are back, they’ll teach that brat a lesson and restore our prestige! This is too infuriating!”

Yuan Weiyang, however, knew better. Xu Ying had likely deciphered the Granny Tuo Immortal Book long ago. He had not only deciphered the immortal book but also the Zhou Clan’s treasured jade slip Dao book.

He could clearly sense their cultivation rising, and they were progressing astonishingly fast. Even when he cultivated the Yuan clan’s ancestral cultivation technique, Primordial Dao Heavenly Domain Resonance, he had never advanced this quickly.

Yuan Weiyang wavered slightly. Over the past few days, he had deciphered even more of the Granny Tuo Immortal Book and had also discerned more flaws. The book contained no explanation of Yang, and its descriptions of certain Qi Cultivation realms were vague. The shortcomings had become increasingly apparent.

Consequently, the Supreme Yin Primordial Nurturing Xu Ying had grasped seemed even more precious.

He sighed inwardly. Unfortunately, Uncle Xiao would never allow me to trade the Primordial Dao Heavenly Domain Resonance for it. Neither would the honored mother nor the others.

Just then, it was mealtime again. Xu Ying, Yuanqi, and Dazhong appeared with great punctuality.

The dining area stood apart from the immortal book hall and required a short walk to reach. The Zhou clan lived extravagantly and observed strict dining etiquette. Their meals excelled in color, aroma, and flavor. The imperial chefs hired from the Imperial Palace ensured each spread balanced meat and vegetables.

Recently, Xu Ying and Yuanqi had shown remarkable enthusiasm for food. They always rushed to the front of the line. This time, although they appeared on schedule, they quickly disappeared.

Yuan Weiyang’s eyes flickered. “As the old saying goes, if someone loses interest in food, something must be wrong.”

So, he stopped eating as well and went searching for them. Sure enough, he found Xu Ying, Yuanqi, and Dazhong in the main hall.

“I told you, Master Zhong, this pillar is incredible. I struck it with Realm Breaker twice, and it didn’t leave even a mark.”

Peering into the hall, Yuan Weiyang saw Xu Ying, a huge snake, and a great bell gathered around a bronze pillar, whispering among themselves.

The huge snake said, “Dig up the pillar, carry it out, and melt it down to repair Master Zhong. That palm print on his face still hasn’t faded. That female ghost hit him way too hard.”

Yuan Weiyang’s heart pounded wildly. They’re stealing the Zhou clan’s property!

She had never seen anything like this, let alone experienced it!

Unable to resist, she poked her head farther inside only to see Xu Ying and Yuanqi digging around the pillar’s foundation. The huge snake had wrapped itself around the pillar and was pulling with all its strength. Xu Ying unleashed the Dragon-Snake Spring Awakening Cultivation Method, drawing upon dragon-snake power as he pushed.

Even that great bell had leaned against the pillar and was helping to push it with great effort.

At the center of the hall, the thirteen clan elders sat in a circle around the jade slip Dao book. They paid no attention to the trio’s blatant attempt to steal the pillar.

I have studied the sages’ classics since childhood. How can I stand by and watch as they stray into the path of banditry and compound their mistakes?

Yuan Weiyang struggled inside. She didn’t want Xu Ying to fall further into depravity, yet she worried the Zhou clan would harm him if she exposed the theft. While she wrestled with herself, Xu Ying spotted her and lit up with joy.

He hurriedly waved at her. “Brother Yuan, come and give us a hand!”

As if possessed, Yuan Weiyang stepped forward and admonished him gently, “Demon King Xu, what you’re doing is wrong...”

“Good brother, push this way.”

“Alright.”

With Yuan Weiyang’s help, they pried the bronze pillar’s foundation loose. Tremors rippled through the hall. After one final heave, the group uprooted the pillar.

“Let’s go! Let’s go!”

Xu Ying and the huge snake hoisted the pillar in a hurry and bolted for the exit. Yuan Weiyang’s heart pounded as she scrambled to follow them.

She cheered inwardly, I’ve done wrong! I’ve finally committed a mistake! So this is how it feels! So exhilarating!

She caught up to Xu Ying and held the pillar with both hands, feeling a rush of excitement.

The group jogged all the way to the base of the enormous locust tree. Yuan Weiyang looked back, only to see that her servant, Uncle Xiao, hadn’t followed them. He was probably still eating.

The Yuan clan followed strict etiquette. One did not speak while eating or sleeping. Meals required proper posture and a forward gaze. Most likely, Uncle Xiao had not even noticed her leave.

Relief washed over her. She felt light enough to run with the wind despite carrying the bronze pillar.

Xu Ying shouted, “Let’s climb up the tree!”

“Climb the tree?”

Yuan Weiyang looked up. The locust tree was unimaginably massive. Its crown vanished into the clouds, and cracked dragon-scale patterns covered its bark.

Every scale was a reverse scale, each as large as a mat.

Though the locust tree leaned slightly, climbing it wasn’t easy. Carrying a massive bronze pillar only made the task harder.

However, Xu Ying seemed completely oblivious to those difficulties. He threw himself into the task with infectious enthusiasm. To Yuan Weiyang, it seemed utterly irrational.

Manifesting a Ba snake to coil around the bronze pillar and drag it upward, Xu Ying climbed up himself using both hands and feet. “Brother Yuan, we discovered something fun on the tree a couple of days ago. Come take a look!”

Yuan Weiyang followed, using an exorcism technique to assist them, easing the burden on Xu Ying and Yuanqi.

The group climbed over a thousand zhang, yet they had not even reached halfway. After a short rest, they climbed another thousand zhang before reaching the first branch. Even then, the canopy remained far above.

They continued climbing and resting in turns. After repeating the process seven times, they finally reached a vast flat area.

The tree’s canopy branched out in all directions here. The central area was large enough to build a small city capable of housing ten thousand people. Thick soil covered the surrounding branches, supporting flowers and grass. The side areas could even be cleared for farming.

Yuan Weiyang also spotted a river not far away, flowing down rapidly from another massive tree trunk.

She was curious and wondered where they were taking the bronze pillar. Suddenly, heat waves rolled toward them, the air carrying a burnt smell.

“We’re here!”

Xu Ying and Yuanqi put down the pillar, and Yuan Weiyang did the same in a hurry. A fiery pit lay nearby, billowing crimson-blue flames. It was only three to four zhang across, yet the heat it radiated was astonishing. Anyone who ventured too close would become ash.

Even Yuan Weiyang, an Exorcist of the Yuan clan, found the heat unbearable.

Forcibly enduring the heat wave, she approached the edge of the pit and looked down, nearly fainting and falling into it.

She saw that the fiery pit was hollow and plunged deep into the tree trunk. Its walls glowed a blinding crimson red, its depth stretched thousands of zhang.

For reasons unknown, the massive locust tree had ignited from within. It had continued burning until now without collapsing.

Just then, the great bell they called “Master Zhong” rose into the air and slowly enlarged. His divine sense transformed into a voice and entered Yuan Weiyang’s ears.

“This is Celestial Fire left behind after a heavenly tribulation. You can harvest a spark, refine it, and place it within your realm of ethereal void. Though it’s inferior to Ah Ying’s spark of Pure Yang Spirit Flame, it is still an extraordinary flame that will greatly benefit your cultivation.”

Yuanqi said smugly, “I harvested a spark myself two days ago. You haven’t exchanged cultivation techniques with Ah Ying. If you had, we could have cultivated and played together, and you would have been able to harvest the Celestial Fire sooner.”

Yuan Weiyang asked, “Does the realm of the ethereal void refer to the inner world?”

Yuanqi exclaimed in surprise, “You know about the inner world?”

Yuan Weiyang replied, “I once accidentally opened it and flew into it, but I didn’t know what it’s called. Now I know that it’s called the realm of the ethereal void. The ethereal void represents the emptiness, silence, and profundity of the Dao. Calling the Dao’s mysterious domain the realm of ethereal void is indeed fitting.”

Yuanqi looked at Xu Ying and probed, “Is that what it means?”

Xu Ying nodded lightly. “You could put it that way. The Yuan clan cultivates through the Yellow-Court Secret Trove, which contains the divine sense. As their descendant, he must have an incredibly powerful divine sense.

“By performing Inner Vision with the divine sense, one can open the ethereal void and observe one’s organs. For their descendants, opening the ethereal void shouldn’t be difficult.”

Yuanqi grew wary inside. This Yuan guy is as knowledgeable and talented as I am. It seems I have a rival now.

The great bronze bell grew increasingly large. With his mouth facing the sky and his loop facing down, he slowly blocked the fiery pit.

He said, “I’ll cover most of the Celestial Fire. Use this opportunity to collect some and refine it.”

Yuan Weiyang thanked him and approached cautiously to collect the Celestial Fire.

She said, “Master Zhong, earlier you said that this is Celestial Fire left behind after a heavenly tribulation. So, who was the one facing the tribulation?”

Like Xu Ying, she addressed the great bell as “Master Zhong.”

Dazhong answered, “Who else could it be? Of course, it’s this locust tree. Zhou Qiyun said that it is a natural-born immortal, but anyone who wishes to become one must undergo tribulation.

“Either this tree committed countless atrocities, or it is an existence comparable to an immortal. Heavenly lightning struck it, and Celestial Fire burned it. It’s done for, sooner or later.”

He paused for a moment and added, “At this current rate, it should burn to death in another eight thousand years or so.”

Carrying the bronze pillar, Xu Ying and Yuanqi stepped forward. Yuanqi cried out, “Master Zhong, hold on!”

With that, the two dropped the huge bronze pillar into the bell’s mouth.

Xu Ying dusted his hands and smiled. “Master Zhong, you won’t be melted by the Celestial Fire, right?”

Dazhong clanged with laughter and said smugly, “Do you know how much effort my master put into forging me? He went to the Heavenly Dao World to steal immortal fire to forge me! I could withstand even immortal fire, let alone mere Celestial Fire!”

As he spoke, Dazhong’s base glowed crimson from the heat. His voice gradually trembled slightly. “Ah Ying, something’s not quite right. I just remembered my injuries haven’t healed yet. The heat’s hurting me. Lend me a little of your vital energy...”

Xu Ying pretended not to hear him and walked toward a thick tree trunk.

Dazhong hurriedly cried out, “Yuanqi! Master Qi! Don’t go! Lend me some vital energy!”

Yuanqi quickly followed Xu Ying and slipped away.

Yuan Weiyang asked curiously, “What are they doing?”

Unable to sit still from getting burned by the Celestial Fire, Dazhong said impatiently, “They went to pick locust flowers! Those bastards have been picking locust flowers to roast and eat these past few days, wasting precious resources.”

Realizing that Yuan Weiyang was still by his side, an idea came to his mind.

He clanged with laughter. “Erm, Little Brother Yuan, is it? Could you lend me a little vital energy to play around with? In return, I can teach you how to refine the Celestial Fire!”

Yuan Weiyang immediately agreed.

Only then did Dazhong breathe a sigh of relief. He borrowed some vital energy from her to resist the Celestial Fire, then taught her the incantation to refine the Celestial Fire.

Yuan Weiyang gave it a try. Sure enough, harvesting and refining the Celestial Fire proved to be easy.

She stored the Celestial Fire away. Sensing that collecting any more would endanger her ethereal void, she quickly stopped. Just then, she saw Xu Ying and Yuanqi returning with some locust flowers.

The locust flowers on this massive tree were each over a chi long, with hundreds hanging from a single branch, forming a magnificent explosion of color. Xu Ying and Yuanqi each returned, carrying a branch, their noses immediately filling with a floral fragrance.

The scent of the locust flowers was not overpowering. Beneath the floral aroma, the fresh scent of grass lingered, creating a delicate and elegant blend.

Xu Ying and Yuanqi each plucked about a dozen flowers and roasted them over the Celestial Fire. Soon, it turned golden brown, crisp on the outside yet soft and fragrant on the inside, with a honeyed scent.

Yuan Weiyang had skipped her meal earlier. So, her stomach began growling when she caught the scent.

Xu Ying tossed her a freshly roasted flower. Yuan Weiyang immediately sat upright and looked straight ahead as she took a small bite, displaying her good manners.

Meanwhile, Xu Ying crumpled the one-chi-wide flower into a ball, stuffed it whole into his mouth, and immediately reached for another.

Yuan Weiyang grew hungrier the more she ate. Disregarding her manners, she copied Xu Ying, crumpling the locust flower into a ball and stuffing it into her mouth. She took large bites, but her mouth was too small to contain it all. Nectar flowed from the corners of her lips.

She quickly slurped it back up and felt a sweet fragrance running down her throat, a delicacy she had never tasted before.