Day of Ascension

Seeing them, Xu Ying couldn’t help but feel a sense of closeness. Judging by their demeanor, they seemed reasonable.

Martial Immortal Zhai said, “Though Xu Ying is young, he knows about the deeper realms of martial arts. He even knows what lies beyond the threshold Heavenly Venerable Wu now stands upon.”

As soon as he said this, everyone’s fervent gazes converged on Xu Ying.

Xu Ying immediately felt immense pressure weighing him down. The martial Dao experts’ spirits bore down on him, suffocating him.

“Do you really know the higher cultivation realms of martial arts?” Dao Master Yuan was so excited that tears filled his ferocious eyes. His voice trembling, he asked, “Are the martial realms truly not bound to the Thousandth, Ten-Thousandth, or even Millionth Innate Realm?”

The sharp, heroic woman pressed forward with sharp anticipation. “Is the highest realm of martial arts the realm Heavenly Venerable Wu is trying to break through, the Millionth Innate Realm?”

An elderly man pressed further, “After reaching that realm, is there still a path beyond?”

Xu Ying looked at them and hesitated momentarily.

Before him stood the Primordial Beginning Realm’s absolute legends from the past millennia—its supreme powerhouse and sharpest minds combined.

Cultivation was impossible in this barren world, yet they had forged a unique path through the martial Dao.

However, could these supreme masters of the martial Dao truly accept that higher realms existed, and that the people who achieved those realms were as numerous as crucian carps crossing a river?

Xu Ying composed himself and said, “Levels one through one thousand of the Innate Realm constitute the Qi Gathering Stage. The next nine thousand levels make up the Gate-Knocking Stage, where you breach the Tailbone Pass. The following ninety thousand levels constitute the Transmutation Stage, where you forge your Martial Dao Golden Core.

“The next nine hundred thousand levels constitute the Second Gate-Knocking Stage, where you breach the Central Ridge Pass. The following levels, beginning from the Millionth Innate Realm, constitute the Pagoda Stage, where you refine your Martial Dao Primordial Spirit.”

He explained with measured composure, detailing the Jasper Pool Stage, Divine Bridge Stage, and the Third Gate-Knocking Stage. ”In the Third Gate-Knocking Stage, you open the Jade-Pillow Heavenly Pass. Arriving at this step brings you to the Ascension Stage. If you overcome your heavenly tribulation, you’ll become an immortal who entered the Dao through martial arts!”

The crowd listened with wide eyes and open mouths, completely crushed. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

Xu Ying sighed inwardly.

These peerless geniuses held themselves in the highest esteem, tirelessly pursuing the true essence of the martial Dao to reach the ultimate realm.

Discovering that a lifetime of brilliance merely left them stranded at the absolute starting line struck a devastating blow.

Dao Master Yuan muttered, “So the cultivation realms are actually this simple, rather than stretching across millions of levels. Damn it, whenever I tried to recall my own cultivation level, I had to count up from the very beginning. Whenever I broke through too fast, I completely lost track of which hundred-thousandth level I was at.”

Everyone on the Martial Dao Other Shore deeply empathized with his words, especially those in the Second Gate-Knocking Stage. At several hundred thousand levels, they had to tally their innate true qi layer by layer.

Gate-Knocking Realm experts had it hard enough, but upon reaching the Pagoda Stage, they would have to count by the millions. If they went even further beyond, breaking through to the Jasper Pool Stage or the Divine Bridge Stage, probably no martial Dao expert would know their exact Innate Realm level!

“So, it turns out I’ve only just reached the middle ranks.” An aged voice echoed from the center of the Martial Dao Other Shore. Following the sound, Xu Ying looked over and saw a dazzling golden light filling the sky. A golden twelve-story pagoda stood between heaven and earth, vast and solemn, suppressing everything!

Pagoda Stage, Twelve-Story Pagoda! Xu Ying’s heart stirred slightly. Manifesting the Twelve-Story Pagoda proved Heavenly Venerable Wu had successfully forged his Martial Dao Primordial Spirit!

This was a truly unique achievement!

Heavenly Venerable Wu was likely history’s first warrior to reach the Pagoda Stage and forge a Primordial Spirit purely through martial Dao, completely bypassing Qi cultivation and Exorcism.

“Heavenly Venerable Wu has emerged from seclusion!”

The crowd was both shocked and overjoyed. They rushed toward the Twelve-Story Pagoda, and Martial Immortal Zhai said to Xu Ying, “Follow me!”

Xu Ying followed him to the bottom of the Twelve-Story Pagoda. A white-haired elder sat cross-legged before it. All around him, his phantoms flickered into view, executing various fist arts, sword arts, and saber arts flawlessly.

These weren’t Heavenly Venerable Wu’s real body, but his spirit.

His Martial Dao Spirit was so highly condensed that it even affected reality. As he contemplated, various martial art techniques manifested around him!

As Xu Ying and the others arrived, the phantoms merged back into Heavenly Venerable Wu one by one, vanishing into his frame.

Xu Ying felt profound admiration. His thoughts have achieved grand unity.He figured it out without practicing the Grand Unity Guiding Method and tempered his mind to this extent. How truly extraordinary. Even with the Grand Unity Guiding Method, I only reached the state of grand unity at the age of nine.

Heavenly Venerable Wu opened his eyes. His white eyebrows fluttered as he fixed his gaze on Xu Ying. His eyes could seemingly see through everything.

He discerned Xu Ying’s anomaly with a glance. “You’re not from our world. An extremely powerful force is sealed within you, one different from martial Dao true qi. There’s no such energy in our world.”

Xu Ying replied, “Your insight is unparalleled, Heavenly Venerable Wu. In other worlds, the power within me is known as primordial qi. Scattered across nature, it becomes the primordial qi of heaven and earth. When it’s fused with the Great Dao, it becomes heaven and earth’s spirit force. Practitioners who gather and absorb these forces are Qi Cultivators. ”

Heavenly Venerable Wu nodded in sudden realization, keeping his gaze fixed on Xu Ying. “But the power within you is more than that. What’s the other power?”

Xu Ying explained, “That stems from the Other Shore immortal herbs. Cultivators secretly harvest the immortal herbs of Other Shores, stealing them to attain longevity.

“They use the herbs to boost their physical body’s vigor, strength, divine sense, and primordial qi. They temper their souls and master Yin and Yang. Such cultivators are called Exorcists.”

Heavenly Venerable Wu, Martial Immortal Zhai, Dao Master Yuan, and the others listened intently. Dao Master Yuan asked, “Then, what about us in the martial Dao? Are we Qi Cultivators or Exorcists?”

Xu Ying looked somewhat troubled. “Martial Dao neither harvests heaven and earth’s primordial qi nor steals immortal herbs. It relies on the spirit to charge forward and strengthen the physique to refine vital energy, ultimately achieving the same thing as Exorcists and Qi Cultivators. I believe it deserves its own distinct path, standing equal alongside them.”

Their faces lit up with joy.

Heavenly Venerable Wu’s expression darkened as he said, “You cultivate to the ten-thousandth level, and have only reached the Transmutation Stage. There are still the Second Gate-Knocking, Pagoda, Jasper Pool, Divine Bridge, and Third Gate-Knocking before reaching the Ascension Stage.

“I have spent my entire life just to reach the Pagoda Stage through the martial Dao, and my lifespan is already nearing its end. If you’re content with this, I’m afraid you’ll have no hope of advancing to the next realm, let alone ascending!”

Dao Master Yuan and the others looked ashamed. Meanwhile, Martial Immortal Zhai appeared worried and asked, “Heavenly Venerable Wu, your lifespan...?”

Heavenly Venerable Wu sighed and replied, “My talent and comprehension were never exceptional; I reached this peak purely through unyielding willpower. Countless peers possessed far greater talent, yet I alone focused solely on the martial Dao, practicing relentlessly until I finally broke through the Ninth Innate Realm.

“However, when I reached the Transmutation Stage, I sensed that my lifespan was already exhausted. Only when I breached the Second Gate-Knocking Stage did my lifespan suddenly surge, allowing me to push forward.”

Xu Ying said, “The Second Gate-Knocking Stage is opening the Central Ridge Pass. Once through, one’s lifespan is extended.”

Heavenly Venerable Wu praised, “A human’s life is like an oil lamp. Once the fuel runs dry, the flame dies out. Adding oil keeps the flame burning longer. The Second Gate-Knocking Stage replenished my fuel, extending my life enough to reach the Pagoda Stage and forge my Primordial Spirit. But the Pagoda Stage adds no fuel. My life has run its course; I have only months left.”

Martial Immortal Zhai, Dao Master Yuan, and the others were overcome with grief.

Heavenly Venerable Wu smiled. “Yet, to have become the second person on the Martial Dao Other Shore to break through to the Pagoda Stage makes my life worth it.”

He was completely at peace with life and death. “Young Friend Xu, there is a seal on your Tailbone Pass, which is why you can’t open it. I’ve already refined my Primordial Spirit. Helping you open your pass will be no problem at all.”

Xu Ying warned him, “Heavenly Venerable Wu, the seal on my Tailbone Pass is a Heavenly Dao rune.”

Heavenly Venerable Wu replied, “Opening it won’t be difficult.”

Xu Ying said, “Heavenly Dao runes are very formidable.”

Heavenly Venerable Wu nodded. “Opening it won’t be difficult.”

Xu Ying sucked in a cold breath. Could a martial Dao expert who had just refined their Primordial Spirit actually obliterate a Heavenly Dao seal?

He had not witnessed Martial Immortal Zhai blow up the head of Heaven’s Will’s stone statue. If he had, he wouldn’t have doubted it.

Xu Ying pondered for a moment and said, “Heavenly Venerable Wu, I would like to give it a try myself to see if I can rely on my own Martial Dao Spirit to break through the seal! It won’t be too late to ask for your help after I fail.”

Heavenly Venerable Wu was gratified and said, “Since you possess such resolve, I will naturally fulfill your wish. Our predecessors and sages have left behind martial Dao techniques everywhere on the Martial Dao Other Shore. Feel free to cultivate them. Outside the Other Shore is the ancient battlefield. You can go there if you wish to test what you’ve learned.”

He smiled faintly and added, “If you’d like to test your skills against us, we’d be more than happy to oblige.”

Xu Ying looked up at him. Heavenly Venerable Wu revealed a kind, warm smile.

He turned his gaze toward Dao Master Yuan and the others. They all wore kind expressions, seemingly filled with anticipation.

Xu Ying said, “I think I’ll study the supreme arts on the Other Shore first.”

Everyone looked a bit disappointed. They dispersed and went about their own business.

He approached a stone stele. Engraved on it was another martial arts technique: the exceptionally profound Extreme Intent Freedom Art.

This technique was famed for its footwork. The stele’s creator noted that practicing this technique allowed one to push speed to the limit, shifting between total stillness and maximum velocity with absolute freedom.

Xu Ying began to contemplate the technique beneath the stele. Not long after, he suddenly shifted and appeared dozens of li away in the next moment, before returning to the stone stele in the blink of an eye.

He soared into the air, treading on the air itself. His form paused for a brief moment before tearing through the sky like a rainbow, leaving a trail of light in his wake.

Swoosh!

Xu Ying descended from the sky. The rainbow trail followed closely and entered him. He couldn’t help but marvel inwardly. At the end of the martial Dao, one arrives at divine abilities.

The Extreme Intent Freedom Art he just used was already a position-shifting divine ability. It matched—or even surpassed—a Qi Cultivator’s rainbow transformation divine ability!

“But this art seems a bit inferior to the Eight Arts of the Combat God.”

Xu Ying compared the two martial art techniques. The Extreme Intent Freedom Art could erupt with unrivaled speed, even leaving afterimages behind him!

By leaving behind countless afterimages, he could confuse his opponents, hiding his true body in plain sight.

However, compared to the Eight Arts of the Combat God, the Extreme Intent Freedom Art lacked the spirit to battle heaven and earth. Though its ghost-like evasiveness protected the user from harm, it completely abandoned that courageous, forward-charging spirit.

As a result, progressing in one’s martial Dao cultivation could become slow.

Xu Ying walked to the next martial technique, inscribed on a broken sword. The weapon had been cleansed of the overwhelming fiendish qi, but it was still incredibly sharp and fierce.

As he approached, he felt sword qi cutting him.

He raised his arm and saw tiny pits sinking into his skin. That was the sword qi emanating from the broken sword.

Xu Ying stood before the broken sword. He saw a human silhouette within, a tall, slender figure holding a single sword.

“Sword of the martial Dao?”

Xu Ying was utterly astonished. He had learned the sword Dao of a sword immortal before. He first came into contact with Yuan Tiangang’s sword techniques, then learned Li Xiaoke’s sword Dao to control his flying sword to attack from afar.

He had never studied the pure swordsmanship of the martial Dao.

This martial Dao expert had branded his own spirit into this terrifying broken sword. It was an artifact from the primordial battlefield; one could only imagine how terrifyingly profound his mastery of the Martial Dao had been.

Within the broken sword, the martial Dao expert wielded the sword through martial arts. Its sword qi’s sharpness was unparalleled. Standing outside the broken sword, Xu Ying still had to channel the Extreme Intent Freedom Art to dodge back and forth to avoid being hurt by the sword qi!

What’s even more terrifying was the sword intent.

That martial Dao expert’s sword qi could still be dodged, but his sword intent was everywhere. Standing in the midst of the sword intent, Xu Ying felt as if his own vital energy had become the enemy’s sword, at risk of exploding at any moment!

This martial Dao technique was called the Thirteen Techniques of the Heavenly Sword.

In Xu Ying’s eyes, this technique possessed hints of the grandeur of Heavenly Dao’s sword intent.

“Compared to Li Xiaoke’s Carefree Sword, this person’s sword intent is purer. However, the Carefree Sword has many variations. Li Xiaoke truly deserves his reputation.”

Thinking of Li Xiaoke, Xu Ying thought, I wonder if Miss Qingbi has found him and taken revenge?

He learned the Thirteen Techniques of the Heavenly Sword and compared them. Shaking his head, he muttered, “It’s still slightly inferior to the Eight Arts of the Combat God.”

He continued onward and arrived at the next imprint left behind by a martial Dao expert.

Day after day passed; before he knew it, Xu Ying had been at the Martial Dao Other Shore for two months. He was comprehending the final stone stele. On it was a martial Dao fist art, fierce and domineering.

“It’s still inferior to the Eight Arts of the Combat God.”

Xu Ying continued onward to the next, only to pause in his tracks. There were no more supreme arts left behind by martial Dao experts ahead. Only row upon row of desolate graves lay ahead.

“No matter how unparalleled your talent, how extraordinary your intelligence, or how unmatched your martial prowess, before the passage of time, you are nothing but a cup of dirt.”

Martial Immortal Zhai walked up from behind and said calmly, “These seniors have all turned into the ancient past.”

Xu Ying walked past these desolate graves silently, checking the monuments one by one. Buried in these graves are the peerless experts of this world. Each had a glorious past, but their monuments bore only their names, with no other descriptions.

Xu Ying walked to the end of the graves and asked, “Which of these is the grave of the senior who created the Eight Arts of the Combat God?”

“He’s not buried here.”

Martial Immortal Zhai gazed into the distance and said, “He was the first person to refine his Primordial Spirit. Legend has it that he walked out of here and never returned.”

Xu Ying followed his gaze. That place was shrouded in dense Yin qi, and its end was nowhere in sight.

That number-one figure of the martial Dao had walked into the underworld.