Day of Ascension

As that thought crossed Xu Ying’s mind, a glow appeared behind him. He turned to look and saw another sun rising slowly.

While the previous sun carried little to no solar essence, this sun was so rich with it that the spirit qi was overwhelming.

The half-dead plants from moments ago began growing wildly, while the small animals in the mountains devoured food in a frenzy.

Li Xiaoke’s disciples also emerged to cultivate, facing this sun. Surprisingly, he had two to three hundred disciples. He watched as the crowd summoned their Golden Cores one after another.

The cores floated in midair, radiating brilliant golden light. They had been refined to an exceptionally pure state, and none of the disciples possessed weak cultivation. Some disciples also practiced sword divine abilities, which were even more exquisite.

Following Li Xiaoke forward, Xu Ying saw quite a few disciples sparring across the mountain, dozens of li apart. They sparred using flying swords, their techniques fierce and truly extraordinary.

Xu Ying paused to watch for a moment. He comprehended a move or two from their sword techniques, and praised inwardly. Li Xiaoke is indeed a grandmaster! His swordsmanship has already reached the pinnacle, and he has already attained enlightenment in the Dao!

Someone was practicing sword techniques in the canyon. He turned into a stream of sword qi as thick as a dragon and soared toward them along the canyon with terrifying momentum.

The sword qi dragon consisted of countless strands of sword qi that whirled around its wielder. Its form was even more exquisite than the sword qi pillar Xue Ying’an had unleashed.

Unlike Xue Ying’an’s straightforward sword technique, this person’s sword qi dragon could change direction midair like a real dragon, its movements complex and endlessly varied.

The sword qi dragon swept past the canyon, spiraling upward before pausing in midair, forming a cloud of sword qi.

Standing atop the cloud of sword qi was a yellow-robed young girl. With a fierce cry, she sent three thick streaks of sword light shooting from it. They crisscrossed through the air with astonishing ferocity.

Xu Ying stopped in his tracks and praised from the bottom of his heart, “Great swordsmanship!”

Li Xiaoke’s voice drifted from ahead, chuckling. “This way, please, Fellow Daoist Xu.”

Xu Ying followed him to the Carefree Hall on Jiucailing Ridge. A massive golden bell stood atop the peak, radiating light even more dazzling than the new sun.

The bell was entirely golden, so resplendent that one could hardly look at it directly. That was likely the Carefree Bell.

Xu Ying immediately sensed a surge of hostility coming from Dazhong. He coughed dryly. “Fellow Daoist Li, when you forged the bells to suppress the heavenly demon back then, were they divided into primary and secondary ones?”

Li Xiaoke said solemnly, “I view all my artifacts equally. How could I treat them differently? All the artifacts I’d forged are unique in my heart.”

Dazhong was deeply moved.

Yuanqi muttered under his breath, “Chive.”

At the Carefree Hall, the kitchen had prepared a chive banquet. The table was filled with chive dishes prepared in every conceivable manner: roasted, steamed, boiled, and stir-fried. The aroma was almost overwhelming.

Li Xiaoke invited Xu Ying to take his seat and said solemnly, “This is the highest standard of hospitality at our Mount Jiulong. I hope you won’t mind our humble mountain’s meager offerings, Fellow Daoist Xu.”

“I wouldn’t dare,” said Xu Ying as he took his seat.

Dazhong quietly flew out and rose to the roof of the hall. The golden bell hung suspended above the hall, slowly spinning in place.

Numerous profound markings appeared on the surface of the golden bell: the sun, moon, mountains, rivers, and all of creation, each reduced to simple patterns.

Though minimalist, the patterns came alive when the golden bell was activated. They transformed into streams of light and projected outward, with manifestations of whatever they represented emerging from the bell’s surface.

They were vivid, almost as if they were real. The manifestations spread across the heavens and earth surrounding Mount Jiulong, forming a barrier that isolated the mountain from the outside world and protected it.

Dazhong watched it unfold and felt his own markings pale in comparison.

He could also project an extraordinary wall of light, forming a bell outside the bell, but that was an ultimate technique he could unleash only when fighting for his life.

The Carefree Bell, on the other hand, released the markings of all creation with every rotation, continuously guarding Mount Jiulong with effortless ease.

In this respect alone, Dazhong had lost.

Dazhong asked hesitantly, “You’re the Carefree Bell? I’m also an artifact forged by master. We’re brothers. You stayed by master’s side, while I remained at the Little Rocky Mountain to suppress a demon. The tasks we perform are equally important to Master, so there’s no distinction between us.”

The Carefree Bell spun steadily, ignoring Dazhong.

Dazhong smiled. “Master forged you so beautifully, all golden. I was also golden when I was first forged.”

Carefree Bell’s divine sense rippled, finally responding to him lazily. “I know. I was by Fellow Daoist Li’s side when he forged you. You looked pretty sharp back then. But you weren’t golden; you were brass-colored.”

Dazhong paused for a moment, then forced a smile. “Brass color is just slightly off of gold. The difference isn’t much—”

“The difference is enormous.”

The Carefree Bell said solemnly, “The difference between us is like that between gold and bronze. When Fellow Daoist Li forged you, he merely found some brass, forged it into a bell, and copied my markings onto you. But when he forged me, he sought out exotic treasures from across the world.

“He gathered gold crystal from the southern mountains, refined the essence of Mount Tai, collected exotic meteorites from another planet beyond the heavens, stole immortal fire, and tempered them day and night for forty-nine years before he completed the refinement.

“Then, he placed me inside his ethereal void, at his Jade Capital Pass, and imprinted me with the Great Dao of heaven and earth he had cultivated. It took another hundred years to complete the process.”

A wave of bitter sorrow washed over Dazhong. He smiled. “I was the same. Master said he didn’t divide us into primary and secondary artifacts.”

The Carefree Bell said indifferently, “We’re not the same. To forge me, he spent a total of a hundred fifty years. During that time, his cultivation regressed instead of progressing. But when he forged you, he spent only three or four days and barely put in any effort. And there’s more.”

It continued arrogantly, “You say there is no difference between us? Do you even believe those words yourself? Some artifacts are born with a golden spoon in their mouths, while others are born covered in cheap bronze rust! Do you really think the work we do is the same?”

Dazhong snapped back, “What’s different? You’re exposed to the wind and rain here, while I had a pavilion on the Little Rocky Mountain. Your treatment isn’t as good as mine!”

The Carefree Bell said in disdain, “Fellow Daoist Li indeed views all artifacts equally, but that’s toward artifacts. I’m different. I’m his fellow Daoist, not his artifact. Artifacts can be discarded when they break, but fellow Daoists stay with each other for life.”

Carrying a hint of pity in his tone, the bell said slowly, “The reason we address each other as fellow Daoists is that as he grows stronger, so do I. I’ll ascend with him to the Immortal Realm and become his Dao-Protecting immortal artifact. But what about you? You’re an artifact forged from brass and riddled with impurities. Can you ascend alongside Fellow Daoist Li?”

Dazhong stammered, “I-I suppressed a d-demon for three thousand years for master. What have you done for him?”

The Carefree Bell replied, “You’re an artifact, while I’m a fellow Daoist. I don’t need to do anything for him. In fact, he did a lot for me. Moreover, I guard Mount Jiulong and protect his foundation. In terms of merit, you’re far below me.”

Dazhong flew into a rage. “You’re just a fake! Why are you acting so arrogant? If you possess any true skill, let’s fight!”

The Carefree Bell sneered coldly. “You’re courting death.”

Inside the Carefree Hall, Xu Ying and Li Xiaoke raised their cups. Li Xiaoke smiled. “It’s been three thousand years since we last met. I didn’t think we would meet again after so long. Even after all this time, you look the same as back then.”

He downed the wine in his cup in one gulp.

Xu Ying tilted his head back and emptied his cup as well. The spicy wine entered his throat and burned. He coughed once and smiled. “It seems you haven’t aged either. You must have a method for preserving your appearance.”

Li Xiaoke laughed heartily. “I studied the techniques of immortals from a young age, but in the end, I learned that they could not grant eternal life. Utterly disheartened, I went into seclusion and took in a few disciples to pass the time. You may think I haven’t aged, but the truth is that this body of mine doesn’t have much time left.”

He sighed with deep emotion. Xu Ying couldn’t tell whether he was lying.

Xu Ying didn’t beat around the bush and asked, “Fellow Daoist Li, did Xu Fu come to find you? What did he say that changed your mind and convinced you to leave seclusion?”

Li Xiaoke picked up a piece of fried eggs and chives with his chopsticks and said calmly, “He only did one thing. He stood on top of Fangzhang Immortal Mountain and told me to face him using my strongest technique.”

Xu Ying raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.

Li Xiaoke set down his chopsticks and said with a dark expression, “Three thousand years ago, I was known as the Dual Paragon of Bell and Sword. Relying solely on my bell and sword, I wouldn’t dare claim that I was unrivaled beneath the heavens, but few people could stand against me. Yet I lost that battle.”

Xu Ying’s heart skipped a beat.

Li Xiaoke lamented, “I’d laid low for three thousand years, thinking that my cultivation had improved by leaps and bounds during this time. I even fantasized about overcoming my heavenly tribulation and ascending to the Immortal Realm again and again.

“I dreamt of becoming a carefree immortal, unshackled by anything. However, that battle jolted me awake. Hehe, perhaps the path I thought was correct isn’t the right path after all.”

Xu Ying asked, “You used the six secrets, yet you couldn’t defeat Xu Fu?”

Surprised, Li Xiaoke asked in confusion, “Why do you say that, Fellow Daoist Xu? The six secrets of the human body are only petty tricks, a heretical path people are forced to walk after failing to master Qi cultivation. I am a proper Qi Cultivator; how could I practice the six secrets? Ying’an, come and tell Fellow Daoist Xu how I evaluate the six secrets usually.”

Xue Ying’an said seriously, “Master has always taught us that the six secrets of the human body are heretical practices and shortcuts to quick success. Practicing them would cut off the path to immortality!”

Xu Ying placed a plate of chive and glass noodle dumplings in front of Xue Ying’an and smiled. “Ying’an, take this and go find Master Zhong with Master Qi. He loves eating this.”

Xue Ying’an hurriedly took over the plate and stepped out of Carefree Hall with Yuanqi. Only then did he realize. Wait, isn’t Master Zhong a bell? How can a bell eat dumplings?”

Inside the hall, Xu Ying looked at Li Xiaoke with a vague smile. “Fellow Daoist Li, it’s not the first time we’ve met in the past three thousand years. We met as recently as two and a half years ago. And your clash with Xu Fu wasn’t your first.”

Wearing a smile, Li Xiaoke asked, “What makes you say that?”

Xu Ying chuckled. “A person’s habits and mannerisms are hard to change. Back in the grand tomb of Mount Li, your attire, hair, and beard were just as immaculate, every strand perfectly in place. You led us to the Nine Cauldrons. Do you remember?”

Li Xiaoke hummed, then exclaimed in surprise, “Did that really happen?!”

“At that time, you hid within Yuan Wuji. You first fought Xu Fu. You saw that he was standing atop an immortal mountain and tried to force him off it. How did you know that?”

Li Xiaoke leaned forward and chuckled. “And how did you think I knew that?”

Xu Ying said, “Because Xu Fu came looking for you four years ago. He defeated you in that battle. Over the next four years, you reflected deeply on that defeat and finally realized his weakness. He cannot leave the immortal mountain. That’s why you attacked him in the grand tomb of Mount Li, attempting to force him off the mountain.”

He continued calmly, “I don’t think someone who’d just met Xu Fu could see through his weakness so quickly. It makes much more sense if you had clashed with him four years ago.”

Li Xiaoke’s eyes flickered, and he chuckled. “As a Qi Cultivator, one learns from mistakes. After suffering a loss once, you won’t fall for the same trick again. If Xu Fu truly had such a weakness, others would naturally try to exploit it.”

Wearing a smile, Xu Ying continued, “As Yuan Wuji, you’ve long coveted the Nine Cauldrons. You entered the grand tomb of Mount Li to obtain the Nine Cauldrons. However, it’d be too difficult to hide the truth from Yuan Wuji’s wife. So, Old Grand-Madam Yuan had to die.”

Li Xiaoke sighed. “They were husband and wife, so they must have known each other’s habits down to the tiniest detail. Even if the person who devoured Yuan Wuji absorbed all the divine-sense immortal herbs within him and gained all his memories, they still couldn’t imitate him perfectly. Spouses are just too sensitive to these things.”

Xu Ying said, “After you were exposed, the strange eye in the Abyss of Cangwu still made you suffer a loss. Then, you were struck by the Flying Peak, forcing you to retreat when you faced Ancestral Dragon.”

Li Xiaoke said, “Ancestral Dragon possessed ten golden statues, and his mystical power is overwhelming. Moreover, he wielded the Nine Cauldrons that could suppress everything. He truly lives up to his reputation as a formidable figure who swept through the realm. No one would dare claim they could defeat him in a frontal clash.”

Xu Ying said, “Later, when we escaped your pursuit, you used voice transmission using your divine sense to try and lure us out.”

Li Xiaoke sighed. “Fellow Daoist Xu, we’re old acquaintances. It saddens me deeply that you’d suspect me like this. You have no evidence. How can you slander me and conclude this from a few minor habits?”

He smiled faintly. “There’s no need to dwell on this matter if you have no evidence.”

Xu Ying looked at him. He casually split a chive dumpling in half with his chopsticks, letting the chives scatter on the plate, and smiled. “What if I do have evidence?”

Li Xiaoke stared at the scattered chive filling. A sense of unease crept into his heart, and he slowly set down his chopsticks.

Xu Ying split another chive dumpling in half, scattering the filling everywhere. “Someone as meticulous as you would never leave any trail behind. But Xu Fu is your trail.”

The corner of Li Xiaoke’s eyes twitched. “Stop splitting them.”

Xu Ying calmly split another chive dumpling. “Aside from Xu Fu, you’ve also left other trails behind. For example, the Exorcist Immortals you’d devoured. There are sword marks on their husk.”

Li Xiaoke frowned. His voice gradually grew louder. “I said, stop splitting them!”

Xu Ying crushed yet another dumpling. “You’re known as the Dual Paragon of Bell and Sword, but your sword technique is too unique. Anyone familiar with you can recognize those sword marks. For example, I know someone familiar with you. Fairy Qingbi.”

Li Xiaoke’s earlier composure vanished. He stared at the chive dumplings Xu Ying had pushed aside, veins bulging on his forehead.

Boom!

The Carefree Hall shattered into pieces. The tolling of a bell rang out. Dazhong and the Carefree Bell clashed with a loud clang, each unleashing their power.

The two great bells unleashed their full power in the air, clanging as they fought. At times, their tolls rang deafeningly; at others, they collided with each other, turning heaven and earth dark.

Though covered in wounds from the beating, Dazhong shouted, “I will suppress you today and show you who’s the real high-grade replica!”