Day of Ascension

These gods were merely ghosts drawn into the statue and turned into gods. Simple-minded, they only knew to follow simple commands from the white-robed Exorcist Immortal, such as killing any invaders and refining the Myriad Spirit Pill.

They couldn’t tell Xu Ying was one of them; with his vast experience and knowledge, the immortal would immediately realize that Xu Ying, disguised as a ghost of impermanence, was an outsider.

Moreover, he had seen Xu Ying and the impermanence mask on his back. Once they met face-to-face, Xu Ying would die a miserable death.

Yet with so many towering, burly gods surrounding him, escaping was impossible.

Xu Ying silently groaned in despair. He secretly took out a Myriad Spirit Pill and stuffed it into his mouth, thinking, Even if I die, none of you will live. We all die together. I’ll eat all the Myriad Spirit Pills. Let’s see how you explain this to the immortal!

He moved sneakily, looking left and right. Whenever the gods weren’t paying attention, he would eat a pill and secretly place a few rocks into the cloth bag.

The gods went on a rampage, killing any gods or humans in their path. Following them, Xu Ying borrowed their terrifying presence, causing gods to tremble in fear and people to flee at their sight.

Exhilarated, Xu Ying thought, This feels awesome!

Controlling the grand temple, the immortal hunted down the experts who had entered the world of the dilapidated temple, devouring their flesh and blood. Currently, he was pursuing Zhou Heng, determined to devour him.

Ling Youdao, however, had become a god after death and possessed no true physical body. That allowed him to escape disaster.

Although Zhou Heng was fat and lazy, he was a regional military governor that the Zhou clan had put in charge to oversee a prefect. He had formidable powers, but he was still no match for the immortal. However, with the various transformations of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits Radiant Vestige Cultivation Method, he fled desperately for his life.

The immortal pursued him relentlessly toward the doors of the Water Entrance Temple.

The burly gods by Xu Ying’s side also took to the air in succession. They leaped off the immortal mountain, stepped onto incense clouds, and rushed toward the Water Entrance Temple to block the exit and prevent anyone from escaping.

As they flew off, Xu Ying was left standing alone.

The youth wept from joy. However, two gods suddenly descended and grabbed his arms. One held his left side, the other his right. Immediately, Xu Ying felt as if he was riding clouds and mist as they flew toward the grand temple.

“Ah Ying, it won’t count as disloyalty if I find another youth to siphon vital energy from after you die, right?” Dazhong asked cautiously.

Then, he added, “Don’t worry, I won’t forget you. I’ll have that youth erect a memorial archway so the people can worship you, though your soul would likely no longer exist by then. That ghost Exorcist Immortal would surely tear you into pieces and scatter your soul.”

Xu Ying groaned and ignored him. He thought, How strange. I’ve eaten so many Myriad Spirit Pills. Why don’t I feel anything unusual? Is Master Zhong right? Did that immortal refine them incorrectly because he’s a clueless fraud?

A short while later, the two gods were still trying to catch up to the grand temple. Carrying the white-robed immortal, it continued its rampage, trying to devour Zhou Heng.

A huge, fat bird manifested behind that fat prefect. That round figure flapped its wings and took flight, moving so fast that the temple couldn’t catch up to it.

Dazhong murmured, “Strange. That ghost Exorcist Immortal doesn’t seem to possess the combat strength of an immortal. That shouldn’t be the case. Logically speaking, a ghost Exorcist Immortal, together with his Radiant Vestige, should have easily eliminated that fat prefect, even if he’s only a layer of skin. Yet after chasing him this long, he still hasn’t succeeded. That hardly matches the title of an Exorcist Immortal.”

While the two gods hesitated, Xu Ying immediately sneaked toward the doors of the Water Entrance Temple. He whispered, “That ghost Exorcist Immortal only has skin left, so how much power could he have?”

Dazhong replied, “The highest realm of an Exorcist should be comparable to the highest realm of a Qi Cultivator. Otherwise, how could they have replaced Qi Cultivators? If it were a Qi Cultivator of the highest realm, let alone having only a layer of skin, even if they only had a strand of hair, it would have been enough to kill that fat prefect.

“From what I’ve seen of the ghost Exorcist Immortal, I’m afraid he possesses not even a hundredth of his strength at his peak!”

Xu Ying slipped over to the temple entrance, feeling a surge of joy. He hurried outside, saying, “Forget about him. Once we leave through this door, we’re free! I never want to return to this damned temple again!”

Many gods stood guard at the temple entrance, emanating a murderous aura. Everyone who had tried to flee had already been captured alive.

Xu Ying walked straight into their midst and planted his hands on his hips. He planned to get familiar with them, then stealthily edge his way out. If all went well, he could walk out of the Water Entrance Temple unnoticed.

Several burly stone statue gods stroked his head affectionately. Some even tugged at his tongue.

That bull-headed god used a little too much strength. With a loud pop, he pulled off the obedient ghost of impermanence’s tongue.

The bull-headed god froze on the spot. The ghost of impermanence’s face was attached to the tongue in his hand.

He let out a startled cry, thinking that he had killed this little brother. Then he saw the figure rapidly shrink, spin around, and sprint out of the Water Entrance Temple.

The bull-headed god paused in confusion, then came to a realization and roared angrily, “Boyihulu! (Imposter!)”

Yuanqi was waiting outside the temple entrance, not daring to get too close. When he spotted a human figure charging out of the darkness, he immediately became overjoyed.

“Brother Ying really is protected by the heav--- ahhh!”

Behind Xu Ying, sixteen or seventeen gods roared as they charged after him, their murderous auras shaking the surroundings.

Yuanqi had originally planned to provide backup, but seeing the situation, he immediately turned to flee, thinking, What did Brother Ying do this time? Why are so many gods hunting him down?

As Xu Ying ran for his life, the gods condensed their incense qi into several zhang-long swords. In an instant, a rain of swords fell from the sky.

Yuanqi thought, He really knows how to make enemies! Looks like the trouble he caused this time isn’t small either.

Xu Ying raised the black, blood-soaked cloth bag to meet the incense flying swords. Startled, the gods hurriedly redirected them, not daring to damage it in the slightest.

With a fierce shout, Xu Ying hurled the cloth bag away with all his strength.

The gods immediately went after it. Seizing the opportunity, Xu Ying fled for his life, and Yuanqi rushed over in a panic, shouting, “Ah Ying, what have you done this time?”

Xu Ying answered, “I stole a few Myriad Spirit Pills. That cloth bag doesn’t contain any elixirs anymore. They’re all on me. Run!”

Furious roars rang out from behind. Yuanqi looked back and saw the enraged gods chasing them with greater speed, their anger piercing the heavens. Obviously, what they wanted wasn’t in the cloth bag.

Night had already fallen, and darkness covered the surroundings. As long as they could widen the distance, the gods from the ruined temple would not find them easily.

Just then, a swathe of ghostly flames swarmed in their direction. Amidst the ghostly flames was a burly figure with a long whip, lashing at the ghostly flames with a crackle.

The burly figure had a human body and a bull’s head, towering several zhang tall amid the chilling wind. His whip was six to seven zhang long, and every crack of it drew miserable screams from the ghostly flames.

Within those ghostly flames were many living people and strange beasts. Judging by their outfits, some were villagers from the vicinity, some were demons, and some were Exorcists who had just fled from the dilapidated temple. The bull-headed monster was making them march forward as a group.

They were like livestock, and the bull-headed monster was their herder, driving them along.

Xu Ying and Yuanqi rushed forward and saw an Exorcist lashed by the whip. Though he suffered no external wounds, he let out a miserable scream, as if in agonizing pain. The bull-headed monster drove them to join the herd.

And there’s City God Xue!

Xu Ying was startled to see Lingling City’s Xue Lingfu also among the herd. The god trembled under the lashings, terrified of the bull-headed monster and too frightened to leave the herd.

Joy appeared on Xue Lingfu’s face when he saw Xu Ying. Immediately, the whip struck him again. Snot and tears streamed down his face from the pain.

And that bull-headed monster alone. Every few dozen paces stood another one, each holding a whip and lashing both ghosts and humans alike.

Yuanqi cried out, “They’re the bull demon ghost gods of the underworld! Be careful, Ah Ying! According to some books, They were originally bull demons who then cultivated themselves into demon gods before joining the underworld as ghost gods.

“They absorb incense qi from the people and nether qi, growing unusually powerful. Their whips strike the divine soul and are called soul-striking whips. If one hits you, the pain reaches your soul itself!”

Xu Ying hurriedly changed direction and ran against the herd’s flow toward where they had come from.

He cried out, “Xiao Qi, watch out for yourself!”

Like the ghosts of impermanence, these bull demons were extremely powerful and attacked anyone they saw. Seeing Xu Ying dashing along the herd, they raised their soul-striking whips one after another and lashed out at him.

Xu Ying darted around, dodging the whips. Behind him, incense flying swords whistled through the air, only to be struck by the soul-striking whips and shattered one after another.

His heart skipped a beat. These gods of the underworld are incredibly formidable. They can actually shatter the incense flying swords! With so many underworld gods here, could it be that the underworld is invading again?

He looked around. The geography of the vicinity had changed drastically. Mountains and rivers twisted into unfamiliar shapes. New peaks and ravines filled the area, steep and jagged as though carved apart by blades and axes.

Xu Ying looked toward Mount Wu Wang, only to find that it had vanished without a trace.

“Ah Ying, watch out!” Yuanqi’s voice rang out as a soul-striking whip whistled toward Xu Ying. Startled, he broke out into cold sweat and dodged to the side in a panic. Yet before he could steady himself, a second whip cracked across him.

Strangely, Xu Ying didn’t feel any piercing pain when the whip hit him. He only sensed the whip striking his soul and shaking it slightly.

Xu Ying froze in shock. He looked at the people screaming in agony from the lashings, somewhat bewildered.

He had expected unbearable pain from the strike, perhaps even pain intense enough to make him scream endlessly. Instead, he barely felt anything.

The bull demon who had struck Xu Ying was also puzzled. He lashed out again. The nearby bull demons followed suit, their soul-striking whips cracking repeatedly against Xu Ying’s body.

Only then did Xu Ying have a chance to observe the soul-striking whip closely. It was essentially human spine bones linked together, joint by joint, ghastly white from end to end.

The skull’s jaw clacked open and shut with a bright grin, as though it enjoyed whipping people.

When the white bone soul-striking whip struck others, it appeared very happy, but its expression turned gloomy when it hit Xu Ying, as though lashing him was an unpleasant task.

Anxious, Yuanqi rushed forward to rescue Xu Ying, only to be struck by a whip. Pain exploded through his divine soul. Twisting in agony, he screamed miserably.

The whip that struck Yuanqi began clacking with laughter again.

Xu Ying still felt no pain after receiving over a dozen lashes. Behind him, about a dozen gods of the dilapidated temple were closing in. Panicking, Xu Ying grabbed one of the white-bone, soul-striking whips as it lashed toward him.

The bull demon flew into a rage and tried to pull the whip back from Xu Ying. However, how monstrously strong was Xu Ying? Ever since mastering the Elephant-Bull Demon Fist, the strength of ordinary gods could no longer compare to his at all.

Moreover, he had broken through to the Gate-Knocking Stage. His primordial qi had surged, and his strength skyrocketed.

Xu Ying flung the bull demon, along with the whip, into the air, causing its eyes to go wide with bewilderment. As it felt helpless, a loud crack rang out as Xu Ying swung the whip and smashed the bull demon into the others nearby.

“Mooooo!”

The bull demons cried out in pain, tears rolling down their cheeks. Even the whip’s owner was struck and felt a piercing pain in his soul, forcing him to let go.

Xu Ying pulled back the whip and lashed out relentlessly, sending the bull demons rolling across the ground.

The bull-headed god who had pulled off Xu Ying’s impermanence mask caught up. With a furious roar, he leaped into the air and lunged toward Xu Ying. Without any hesitation, Xu Ying swung his whip.

Crack!

The whip cracked loudly and struck the bull-headed god. Instantly, agonizing pain spread through him, as though his soul itself were being ripped apart. The pain felt even worse than being torn limb from limb. He let out a blood-curdling scream and fell from midair.

Pleasantly surprised, Xu Ying swung his whip again. Even though the bull-headed demon’s incense qi was incredibly robust, the lashings still caused soul-rending pain. He screamed endlessly, fingers curling and body convulsing as his face twisted in agony.

The pain was so intense that he could not focus, much less gather his mystical power to kill Xu Ying.

Seizing the opening, the bull demons whom Xu Ying had sent rolling on the ground crawled up to their feet and readied their whips.

Xu Ying felt a chill in his heart. Unexpectedly, however, the bull demons stood on his side. Without a word, they raised their soul-striking whips and lashed the bull-headed god together with Xu Ying.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The whips cracked loudly, causing the bull-headed god to howl endlessly.

Xu Ying lashed out again, sending the bull-headed god rolling across the ground. The bull demons raised and swung their whips repeatedly. The bull-headed god’s cries shook the heavens as he struggled endlessly, yet was powerless to resist Xu Ying and the bull demons.

To the side, Yuanqi was stunned at the sight. “Ah Ying always manages to blend in with others quickly... If only I had a whip too, then I could join them.”

The dozen or so gods from the dilapidated temple caught up from behind. Seeing this, Xu Ying quickly pulled back his whip and left.

The bull demons also pulled back their whips in a hurry and followed Xu Ying with quick steps, heading in the opposite direction of the herd.

Yuanqi was utterly shocked. These bull demons didn’t continue lashing him or Xu Ying, as though they now regarded the two as their own.

More gods from the dilapidated temple caught up. Xu Ying and the bull demons struck together, taking them down with a single lash and sending them rolling. Strangely, ever since Xu Ying beat them up, the bull demons seemed to have acknowledged him. Whoever Xu Ying lashed, they would follow suit.

Yuanqi seized a white bone soul-striking whip from one of the bull demons. He coiled his tail around the handle and lashed at the unfortunate group, finally getting in on the fun.

Xu Ying called out, “We can’t stay here for long. Let’s go quickly!”

Only then did Yuanqi stop lashing reluctantly and went after him.

Leading this group of bull demons, Xu Ying and Yuanqi traversed twenty to thirty li, yet Mount Wu Wang was still nowhere in sight. Just as they were growing anxious, they saw a willow tree ahead by the Hell River, with a green lantern hanging from it.

Under the lantern sat a lone figure beside a table. There were two chairs, a pot of tea, two teacups, and a green paper umbrella.