Day of Ascension

Although the girl acted like an old master, her voice was crisp and clear. She spoke rapidly, like a rhythmic chant. She wasn’t very familiar with the obscure ancient language anyway, so she switched to the common tongue when speaking with Xu Ying. Though she occasionally used archaic terms, he could still understand her.

Xu Ying, on the other hand, switched between the two languages with ease.

The girl walked up to the giant snake, pulled his mouth open, and peered inside. She clasped her hands behind her back and strolled right in. A moment later, her voice echoed out.

“It’s spacious and cool inside. There’s also an ax. Such dense malevolent qi.”

Thud! A heavy strike rang out from inside. She had likely struck the ax.

Her strength was so immense that the blow made Yuanqi straighten up.

Carrying the stone ax, she strolled out. With a casual push of her palm, Yuanqi involuntarily opened his mouth.

The stone ax had shrunk to a little over a chi long. She handed it to Xu Ying.

“I fixed it up a bit for you.”

Xu Ying received the stone ax and casually tucked it into his waistband. “Miss, how come you were in that sea of fire? The immortal fire was so intense. Why didn’t it burn you?”

The girl jumped onto Yuanqi’s head and reached out to stroke the black-and-white horns behind it. Yuanqi bared his teeth. His horns were a sensitive matter, like a reverse scale, and he did not allow others to touch them lightly.

The girl punched his horn with a loud thud. Yuanqi’s eyes rolled back, and he nearly fainted. After that, he became much more obedient.

She said gleefully, “What sea of fire? That’s the Tushita Palace. I went there to steal immortal herbs. The flames outside are the Tushita Immortal Fire, a supreme flame capable of refining all creations.

“Immortal herbs grow within those flames. Whoever obtains them gains eternal life. As long as the Tushita Immortal Fire doesn’t burn you to death, you can live forever.”

“Tushita Palace?” Xu Ying wondered aloud. The name sounded familiar, as though he had heard it somewhere before.

Besides the girl, many other figures had stood or sat within the immortal fire. Were they immortals, or were they merely Qi Cultivators seeking eternal life?

Dazhong flew out from behind Xu Ying’s head. “How long were you trapped there? You weren’t breathing when we rescued you.”

The girl jumped down in front of him and circled him twice. Suddenly, she raised her tiny fist and struck Dazhong a few times!

Dazhong was startled by the blows, but he realized that his injuries had recovered considerably. The wounds carved into his wall in the sea of fire had already closed.

The girl said smugly, her little braids swinging back and forth, “Now you know how powerful I am, don’t you?”

Swiftly shifting from insolence to humility, Dazhong fawned, “How should I address you, Old Ancestor? On which immortal mountain do you cultivate?”

She replied, “I am Zhu Chanchan. You may call me Old Ancestor Chanchan. Our sect doesn’t have an immortal mountain; we live off the land wherever we roam. When I was stealing immortal herbs, I had to seal myself to resist the immortal fire in preparation for my future ascension.

“Unfortunately, I remained inside for too long, and the flames burned away eighty to ninety percent of my cultivation.”

She said haughtily, “The immortal herbs I’ve stolen over the years are all hidden inside me. When I recover my cultivation, I’ll refine them and ascend on the spot. Even if that great evil has blocked the path of ascension, he cannot stop me! At that time, I shall take you all with me as I ascend!”

She jumped onto Dazhong and sat down. “Since I haven’t refined the immortal herbs yet, I am like a walking immortal herb. Heavenly demons will pick up my scent and come looking for me! I need you to help me get through this crisis!”

Xu Ying pondered for a moment before asking Yuanqi, “Master Qi, you’re well-read. The Tushita Palace contains immortal herbs, so how can the Crimson Palace of the human body lead straight to that?”

Flustered, Yuanqi said, “Ah Ying, don’t you think I wouldn’t have read any books about this?”

Carrying Zhu Chanchan along, Dazhong approached them. “The six secrets of the human body are definitely not so simple. The Crimson-Palace Secret Trove corresponds to the Tushita Palace, the Jade-Pool Secret Trove to the Jade Void Palace, and the Mud-Pill Secret Trove to the sea of primordial chaos.

“These Other Shores are all incredible places. Master Qi, I think there must be a profound mystery concealed within this!

Yuanqi groaned and said timidly, “I really don’t know anything about thi—”

Xu Ying cut him off.

“Zhu Chanchan hid outside the Tushita Palace to steal immortal herbs and survived after being burned by the Tushita Immortal Fire for so long. This proves that those herbs grant longevity. Yet the Exorcists who opened the Crimson-Palace Secret Trove and harvested its immortal herbs never achieved eternal life. Why?”

Yuanqi came to a realization and exclaimed, “That’s right! Old Ancestor Guo is so old that he’s not long for this world. He opened nine heavens of the Crimson Palace, and the heart energy he harvested was probably the Crimson Palace’s immortal herbs. Since there are immortal herbs, why didn’t he achieve eternal life?”

Zhu Chanchan poked her head between them and asked curiously, “What are you talking about?”

Xu Ying gave a rough overview of the Exorcism cultivation system. “I noticed that the Exorcists’ training method is also stealing immortal herbs. You also steal immortal herbs, but the difference in lifespan is immense.”

Having finally comprehended how Exorcists cultivate, Zhu Chanchan’s face fell. She said in frustration, “If cultivation techniques like that can grant eternal life, why did I risk my life crossing to the Other Shore to steal immortal herbs?”

A wave of sadness washed over her, and she muttered, “I’ve abandoned everything. My sect, my clan, my family, my lover, my friends, and my enemies. I gave it all up for eternal life and a single immortal herb. I never imagined that one could simply harvest the immortal herbs without having to sneak across to the Other Shore...”

Xu Ying and Yuanqi exchanged glances, feeling a wave of sympathy for her.

“The opening lines of the Mud-Pill Radiant Vestige Longevity Mantra state: Consume the qi of heaven and earth to steal from the sea of primordial chaos. Harvest qi within the Mud Pill Palace and fish for the herbs of immortals.

“The immortal herbs from the sea of primordial chaos grant eternal life, just like the immortal herbs of the Tushita Palace. That proves the exorcism arts are cultivation techniques that lead directly to eternal life!”

Pacing back and forth, Xu Ying pondered aloud, “Yet, Exorcists only have a lifespan of two to three hundred years. Let alone eternal life, they can’t even outlive demons. So, where does the problem lie?”

Dazhong and Yuanqi were also puzzled.

Suddenly, Xu Ying’s eyes lit up. He looked at Zhu Chanchan. “Old Ancestor Chanchan, how do you refine immortal herbs?”

Dazhong and Yuanqi also immediately realized the key. If Exorcists had such short lifespans, then their method of refining immortal herbs had to be flawed. Zhu Chanchan, on the other hand, had refined immortal herbs and lived for an extraordinarily long time. That meant her refinement method was the correct one.

If they could learn her herb refining method, they could solve the problem of Exorcists’ short lifespans, greatly increasing it!

Zhu Chanchan said warily, “You want to devour me too?”

Xu Ying smiled. “We’ll act as your Dao protectors and ensure heavenly demons won’t devour you. In exchange, teach me your technique to refine herbs.”

Zhu Chanchan hesitated for a moment before saying, “Protect me first. Once I recover some of my cultivation and can protect myself, I’ll teach you the technique. That way, you won’t refine me into an elixir and devour me after obtaining the technique.”

Xu Ying haggled, “Teach me half of it first.”

Zhu Chanchan’s eyes gleamed with ferocity, and she slammed her fist down on Dazhong. “You’re haggling with me?”

Dazhong let out a loud clang from her strike. A crack appeared on his surface, and he cried out in panic, “I’m cracked open! Ah Ying! Agree to her terms, hurry!”

Zhu Chanchan shouted, “Do you fear me now?”

Wearing an expression of unyielding righteousness, Xu Ying stood resolute and fearless. “Master Qi once said that one must never bow down to force...”

Zhu Chanchan punched Yuanqi with a loud thud and shouted, “You said that?!”

Yuanqi fell to the ground from the punch, lying stiffly straight. Breathing very faintly, he said, “Mencius said it, not me...”

Zhu Chanchan shouted, “Tell that Mencius guy to get out here and exchange a few blows with me!”

Xu Ying said calmly, “Beating up Master Zhong and Master Qi shows you’ve got skills. Why don’t you try punching me once?”

Zhu Chanchan glared at him ferociously. Instead of attacking him, she suddenly punched Dazhong twice, reopening his wounds.

Panicking, he cried out, “I’m cracking open again! Ah Ying, don’t provoke her! She is really fierce! Promise her, and I won’t siphon your vital energy!”

His expression completely unfazed, Xu Ying said, “Zhu Chanchan, you seem incredibly strong, but you’re hollow on the inside. Little remains of your cultivation; you’re just relying on trickery. Try and hit me. I won’t fight back.”

Flying into a rage, Zhu Chanchan jumped up and punched Xu Ying twice on the chest. Yet, Xu Ying didn’t budge a single inch.

Gritting her teeth, Zhu Chanchan rained down strikes upon Xu Ying, using both her hands and feet. Still, he remained unharmed. The girl suddenly sat down on the ground, her limbs trembling with pain, and cried out loud.

The impacts had left her hands swollen into round little fists, leaving her unable to strike again. Her feet had swollen just as badly.

Yuanqi and Dazhong were stunned, completely clueless as to why things had turned out this way.

Xu Ying stepped forward and massaged Zhu Chanchan’s hands to unblock her clogged vital energy. Then, he took her shoes off and helped stimulate her circulation to reduce the swelling.

The swelling on Zhu Chanchan’s hands gradually receded. She asked gloomily, “How did you know? Indeed, I don’t have much cultivation left. I could beat them because I used to forge artifacts for the emperor of Zhou[1]. I can still manage beating up artifacts, but I can’t handle people.”

A deep sense of confusion welled up inside Yuanqi. Why could she hit me? Could it be...

Zhu Chanchan’s expression turned somber. “The Tushita Immortal Fire scorched away every bit of my cultivation, leaving me without the slightest power to protect myself. I only just escaped that sea of fire, and I don’t know anyone except you. I’m terrified.

“Terrified that the moment I leave here, someone will capture me and refine me into an elixir...”

She looked up at Xu Ying, her eyes brimming with tears. “I smell really good right now. If you don’t believe me, just take a whiff.”

Xu Ying sniffed. Sure enough, a strange fragrance drifted from her. The scent was irresistibly appetizing. It was probably the aroma of the immortal herbs within her.

Zhu Chanchan looked up at him pitifully and said softly, “Once I refine the immortal herbs, I will grow up. I am remarkably beautiful; you will definitely like me...”

Completely unfazed, Xu Ying demanded, “Teach me half.”

Seeing that neither threats nor temptation could sway him, Zhu Chanchan finally gave in. “Fine, I’ll give it to you.”

She stood up and delivered two quick strikes, repairing Dazhong’s wounds. Then she punched Yuanqi once. Feeling his injuries disappear, Yuanqi immediately sprang to his feet.

He smiled. “Old Ancestor Chanchan, how did you heal my injuries?”

Zhu Chanchan replied, “I was a Master Craftsman who forged artifacts for the emperor of Zhou, and you have the traits of an artifact.”

As Yuanqi took out a brush and paper, he froze. Have I refined myself into an artifact? When did this happen? How come I’m unaware of it?

Zhu Chanchan quickly wrote down a short mantra of just over a hundred characters. Taking it into his hands, Xu Ying scanned the text. Feeling a slight stir in his heart, he quickly took out the Crimson Palace Crescent Furnace Art and compared them side by side.

Zhu Chanchan’s technique for refining immortal herbs was actually ninety percent similar to the art’s opening lines. More than ninety of the characters matched, though some phrases appeared in a different order.

Xu Ying’s gaze, sharp as lightning, fell on Zhu Chanchan. He demanded, “Zhu Chanchan, who else is in your sect?”

Startled by his change in demeanor, Zhu Chanchan asked, “Why are you acting so fierce?”

Xu Ying quickly softened his tone and smiled gently. “Who else is in your sect, Old Ancestor Chanchan?”

Zhu Chanchan shot him a glare and said, “My master perished long ago, and my eldest senior brother departed for the Other Shore three hundred years before me. But when I got there, I couldn’t find him; he’s likely burned to death.

“I also had other senior brothers and sisters, but many died on the way to the Other Shore. Even those who reached the Other Shore were burned to death by the Tushita Immortal Fire.

“After they left, I became the sect leader, but I only had one junior brother. When I left, he was still very young, and his cultivation level was low.”

Xu Ying pushed the Crimson Palace Crescent Furnace Art before her. “Could this be your junior brother’s work?”

Surprised, Zhu Chanchan quickly flipped through it. She pondered aloud, “It bears some resemblance to his handwriting, but we haven’t seen each other in a very long time. That junior brother of mine didn’t have any immortal herbs. He can’t possibly be still alive.”

Yuanqi chimed in from the side, “What if Exorcist Immortals are his immortal herbs?”

Zhu Chanchan fell silent.

Xu Ying picked up the brush, made slight alterations to the Crimson Palace Crescent Furnace Art, correcting the inverted and jumbled phrases one by one, and filling in the gaps.

Once he finished, he circulated the Grand Unity Guiding Method again and activated the Crescent Cauldron. This time, he felt a subtle change in the heart energy surging out from his Crimson Palace.

The change was barely noticeable, but Xu Ying felt a faint fragrance drift up from his heart ventricle, steadily permeating him.

This was the true immortal herb!

Xu Ying ordered someone to invite Guo Xiaodie over. Handing her the amended Crimson Palace Crescent Furnace Art, he said, “I’ve made revisions to this cultivation technique. Tell your old ancestor to cultivate according to this method. It would extend his lifespan.”

Guo Xiaodie was utterly astonished.

Xu Ying smiled. “I have an important matter to attend to, so I won’t wait for Old Ancestor Guo to return. Tell him to practice according to this revised technique and take good care of himself. Perhaps he’ll live long enough to see the day I uncover the mastermind behind all this. I hope he’ll be able to fight alongside me when that time comes.”

Astonished, Guo Xiaodie hurriedly asked, “You’re leaving the Divine Capital? Do you know how dangerous it would be if you walked out of the Guo residence now?”

Xu Ying glanced at Zhu Chanchan and smiled. “The Guo residence would be finished if we let her stay here. Xiaodie, help her prepare a few changes of clothes. I don’t have any women’s clothing.”

Putting on the airs of an old grandmaster, Zhu Chanchan said, “Girl, prepare clothes for an adult. I’ll grow up in a few days. Oh, and my chest is huge. Don’t bring anything too small. It won’t fit.”

Guo Xiaodie stared at her with wide eyes and a slack jaw before shaking her head and hurrying off.

Before long, she returned with some clothes. They were her everyday attire. Zhu Chanchan held them up to her chest to check the size.

She said, “They’re a bit small and will definitely feel tight. But they’ll do for now.”

Guo Xiaodie glared at her angrily. “I’m still growing!”

Zhu Chanchan lifted Yuan Qi’s mouth and stuffed the clothes inside. She giggled. “Many women think that way, but more often than not, they just get smaller and smaller.”

Xu Ying also changed into a sharp set of clean clothes, looking very spirited. He tucked his stone axe into his waistband and smiled. “Xiaodie, we met by chance in Jianghu. See you again in Jianghu!”

Shaking off her worries, Guo Xiaodie smiled. “The journey ahead is perilous. Are you confident, Demon King Xu?”

Xu Ying slapped the small stone ax at his waist. “I’ll just hack my way through.”

Feeling a sudden rush of heroic valor, Guo Xiaodie shouted, “Open the gates! Send Young Master Xu ouuuut!”

Zhu Chanchan followed behind Xu Ying. Dazhong flew toward him and entered the back of his head. Yuanqi slithered over, shrinking along the way, and jumped onto his shoulder.

The main gates of the Guo residence slowly swung open, and Xu Ying strode out.

The youth hesitated for a moment. With this single forward step, he would no longer be protected by the Guo residence, and the Divine Capital would be plunged into a bloodbath.

Planting his foot down with a heavy thud, he stepped out of the Guo residence.

Plain clothes and straw shoes are swifter than any horse; what cause have I to fear?[2]

As I make my return, there shall be neither raging tempests nor radiant suns![3]

For this journey, what does it matter if I must carve a path through a river of blood?

1. The Zhou dynasty existed for 789 years from 1046 BC until 256 BC, the longest span of any dynasty in Chinese history. For reference, it’s currently around early 800 AD, in the Tang dynasty. Also, the Zhou period is often considered the zenith of the craft of Chinese bronzeware. ☜

2. A direct variation of a quote from the song-poem Ding Feng Bo (定风波) by the Song Dynasty poet Su Shi (苏轼). ☜

3. The direct quote of the conclusion to the very same song-poem. ☜