Day of Ascension

Xu Ying walked along the streets of the Divine Capital. Should I pay a visit to the Yuan residence?

Before he knew it, Yuan Rushi’s face had popped into his head, warming his heart. Suddenly, her face turned into that of Yuan Weiyang’s, jolting Xu Ying awake. He quickly cleared away the distracting thoughts.

When he reached the banks of the Luo River, several luxuriously dressed young men and women approached him. A fair, smooth-faced young man stepped forward and bowed deeply.

He smiled. “Demon King Xu, I am Cui Yongzhi from the Cui residence. This is the young miss of the Zhu clan, Zhu Hongjian, and this scholar is Yuan Yunkong, a descendant of Yuan Tiangang.”

Xu Ying nodded to each of them. “Nice to meet you.”

When Cui Yongzhi introduced him to the young man Yuan Yunkong, Xu Ying’s expression grew solemn. He said, “Master Qi, bring me the sword case.”

Yuanqi quickly opened his mouth and produced Yuan Tiangang’s sword case.

Yuan Tiangang’s sword case hummed and vibrated. It opened with a clack, and seven streams of sword qi flew out, circling Yuan Yunkong as though overjoyed.

The seven streams of sword qi then returned to the sword case, which descended and landed at Yuan Yunkong’s feet.

Xu Ying smiled. “You’re indeed a descendant of the Yuan clan. Now that this sword case has returned to its rightful owner, I can rest easy. I accidentally stumbled into Homeward Pavilion and only managed to walk out and return to the mortal realm thanks to Yuan Tiangang pointing me in the right direction.

“Senior Yuan entrusted this sword case to me and said it would fly to his descendant to express his longing if I ever encountered one.”

Yuan Yunkong was surprised and delighted. He quickly put the sword case away. “Many years ago, our ancestor went to the Homeward Pavilion to avoid a deadly tribulation, but he never came back. We never knew if he was alive or dead. I didn’t expect to come across his artifact here.”

He said seriously, “Since our ancestor saved Demon King Xu, we’re no longer strangers. There is something I’d like to discuss, though I’m not sure whether I should.”

Xu Ying’s gaze swept over Cui Yongzhi and Zhu Hongjian. He replied with a vague smile, “You’d better not.”

Yuan Yunkong continued on his own, saying, ”Demon King Xu, the Cui residence is known as a house of ministers and chancellors, equal to the Pei clan. They have produced countless Exorcist Immortals over the last two thousand years.

“The Zhu clan is a newly rising noble clan, and their momentum is expanding like pouring oil on a blazing fire, poised for great prosperity.

“Now, the Cui and Zhu clans’ elders are nearing the end of their lifespan. As juniors, it is Cui Yongzhi and Miss Hongjian’s duty to share their elders’ worries. Since you possess the flesh of eternal life and have unlocked the Mud Pill Secret Trove, why don’t you sacrifice your body to help them?”

Zhu Chanchan felt a sudden chill in her heart. How did news of me carrying immortal herb reach this man’s ears so quickly? Is there a heavenly demon in this city?

Xu Ying replied calmly, “If you’re wealthy, should you also give your family’s fortune to everyone in the world?”

Yuan Yunkong grew displeased. “Demon King Xu, I’m only asking you to offer your flesh to the Cui and Zhu clans, not to the whole world! By your own admission, my ancestor saved your life, yet you won’t grant even such a small favor. Is this how you repay the kindness he showed you?”

Xu Ying’s expression darkened. Grasping Zhu Chanchan’s hand, he walked right past them.

Enraged, Yuan Yunkong activated the sword case. With a sharp hiss, the sword qi shot out of the case toward Xu Ying.

He shouted, “Demon King Xu, you ungrateful bastard! I will take your flesh by my own hand!”

Without looking back, Xu Ying made a casual grasping motion. The sword qi immediately flew to him and swirled around his fingertips.

Shocked, Yuan Yunkong desperately channeled his sword qi again and again, but it was like a clay ox sinking into the sea. His connection to it had been completely severed.

Yuan Yunkong’s face flushed crimson. Just then, Xu Ying flicked his finger, and the sword qi flew back toward him. Yuan Yunkong hurriedly dodged, but the sword qi was too formidable. It darted through the air, and no matter what techniques or divine abilities he unleashed, he couldn’t stop it.

In the blink of an eye, his clothes were torn to shreds, filling the sky with shredded cloth.

“Who would have thought Yuan Tiangang would have a descendant like you.”

With a grabbing motion, the sword qi returned to Xu Ying and swirled around him. It lingered around his fingertips as though reluctant to leave before finally shooting back into the sword case.

With a sweep of his sleeves, Xu Ying bade farewell to Yuan Tiangang’s sword case and laughed out loud, his voice reverberating through the streets.

“On the first day of the third month, I emerged from Jiangjiatian Village in Lingling, slaying gods and killing men along the way until I arrived at the Divine Capital. Trying to act like a proper gentleman for the past few days has been truly stifling!”

He shouted, “People of the Divine Capital, if you want the flesh of eternal life, come risk your lives for it!”

“Very well!” Cui Yongzhi laughed and leaped up into the air. In an instant, a burst of rainbow light surged behind him, blending with his three grotto heavens. That light was his Radiant Vestige’s Dao avatar, an expanse of rainbow.

“I’ll come take the flesh of eternal life!”

Using his hand as a whip, Cui Yongzhi sent the rainbow sweeping forward. The stone slabs lining the street flipped over one after another with thunderous cracks, forming a torrent that surged toward Xu Ying.

Xu Ying raised his hand and threw out a punch. A dark expanse of starry sky manifested around him, and the stars danced and swarmed along with his punch, shattering the vast rainbow with overwhelming force.

With his technique broken, Cui Yongzhi thrust both palms forward to meet the punch. Xu Ying roared as his Mud-Pill and Crimson-Palace Secret Troves resonated simultaneously, unleashing boundless power.

Blood gushed from Cui Yongzhi’s seven orifices as he staggered backward.

Seizing the opportunity, Zhu Hongjian charged forward; before she could close in, she saw a streak of sword qi slashing down toward her. She frantically mobilized her grotto heaven, unleashing the Zhu clan’s divine ability, Blazing Gale Cities, to block the strike!

The Zhu clan also trained in the Crimson-Palace Secret Trove. Although its legacy differed from the Guo clan’s, it was formidable and renowned for its unmatched physical strength.

The moment Zhu Hongjian collided with the streak of sword qi, she realized its power had increased exponentially, far beyond her wildest expectations.

She hurriedly sidestepped to evade it, but it was too late. The sword light grazed her left shoulder, and her severed arm flew into the air.

Zhu Hongjian endured the excruciating pain and was about to call for help when Xu Ying raised his hand and made a grasping motion.

The vital energy behind him condensed into a hundred-zhang Ba snake. It coiled around her, flipped her upside down, and smashed her headfirst into Cui Yongzhi just as he managed to halt his retreat.

Boom!

Two blossoms of blood bloomed.

Yuan Yunkong shrieked, “Murder!”

Holding Zhu Chanchan’s hand, Xu Ying strode toward the Divine Capital’s gates. Behind him, his vital energy surged like mist, manifesting the fierce and savage avatar of a dragon-snake.

Without warning, a man in purple appeared at the other end of the Luo River. The Yellow Court avatar manifested behind him, accompanied by four grotto heavens. He smiled. “Wild brat from the countryside, you actually possess a bit of skill. Do you recognize me, Lu Dingtian of the Lu clan? I have come to claim the flesh of eternal life!”

He raised his hand, and the water’s surface exploded. Towering waves surged through the air like dragons and tigers, crashing toward Xu Ying.

Xu Ying dropped low and unleashed the Eight Sounds of Primordial Nurturing. As the mysterious Dao sounds rang out, the divine ability shattered. Lu Dingtian coughed up blood as his internal organs ruptured, then tumbled into the depths of the streets.

Xu Ying continued toward the city gates along the Luo River. An endless stream of attackers descended upon him. Whether he used Dragon-Snake Spring Awakening, Eight Sounds of Primordial Nurturing, or Ode of the Azure Skies, he slew every powerful foe within a few moves. No one could stand against him.

Blood stained the streets crimson as he carved a path forward, and corpses continued to fall into the Luo River.

From a high vantage point within the Shi residence, Shi Jingtang watched the scene unfold. A clan elder, Shi Beihuang, stood behind him.

Shi Jingtang said, “Elder, someone burned away the old ancestor’s soul and ethereal void. His lifespan is nearly exhausted. The only way to save him is to capture Xu Ying. Only by consuming his flesh can the old ancestor survive this disaster!”

Shi Beihuang said grimly, “Jingtang, countless Exorcist Immortals attacked the Guo residence yesterday, and they all returned utterly defeated. Even the emperor was severely injured. The older generation neither can nor dares to move against him recklessly. Only the younger generation can take action.”

Shi Jingtang’s eyes blazed with intensity. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Then let me do it! I will definitely kill him and bring his flesh back for the old ancestor!”

He declared confidently, “I have already unlocked my Spring grotto heaven in addition to the Jade Pool grotto heaven. Combined with my Qi cultivation techniques, defeating him will be child’s play!”

Shi Beihuang said, “You’re too impatient. Among the noble clans of the Divine Capital, none of the inner estate’s members have acted. Those fighting now are either disciple Exorcists or descendants from the outer estate. They are merely testing the waters, probing all of Demon King Xu’s capabilities.

“Once they understand the full extent of his strength, they’ll strike with complete confidence.”

At his command, more than ten Shi clan descendants rushed out of the Shi residence and charged toward the edges of the Luo River.

“Cui Dongli, the Eldest Young Master of the Cui residence; Zhu Hongyi, the Eldest Young Miss of the Zhu clan; Gao Xingqian of the Gao clan; and Chai Wuyong of the Chai clan. They are all top-tier experts of the younger generation.

“There’s also Prince Li Tingshu of the Li clan and Wang Yixuan of the Wang clan. Their reputations strike fear throughout the Divine Capital.”

Shi Beihuang said calmly, “Jingtang, this isn’t about venting personal grievances. You are competing against people of this caliber.”

By the Luo River, Xu Ying unleashed Myriad Mountains Bow to Jiuyi, crushing the charging Exorcists and making them vomit blood. Then, he shouted, “Yuanqi!”

Whoosh!

The wind howled fiercely as sword qi surged like clouds. A hundred-zhang giant snake, completely enveloped in sword qi, flew low to the ground and rolled through the air, tearing apart everything in his way!

In an instant, flesh and limbs flew everywhere along the Luo River, dyeing the water crimson.

Xu Ying summoned the giant snake to sweep across the long river, clearing the area in a single stroke.

A Great Exorcist flew in, unleashing five grotto heavens. Xu Ying let out a drawn-out roar and unleashed Descent of Tribulation to resist the attack with the might of tribulation.

Meanwhile, Yuanqi shrank his massive form. Taking advantage of the Great Exorcist’s clash with Xu Ying’s palm strike, Yuanqi caught him by surprise and bit the Great Exorcist in the web of his hand.

The Great Exorcist coughed up a spray of blood, and his flesh and blood rapidly rotted away, soon meeting a violent death.

Shi Beihuang remarked quietly behind Shi Jingtang, “He just exposed another one of his trump cards. This is information our Shi clan and the other noble clans paid for in blood. Don’t let them down.”

Shi Jingtang clenched his fists tightly, his gaze fierce as a tiger, staring at Xu Ying’s back.

In only a few moments, Xu Ying carved a bloody path more than ten li along the river, leaving a trail of blood in his wake.

Shi Beihuang asked, “Have you deduced the full extent of his cultivation and strength?”

Shi Jingtang nodded lightly.

Shi Beihuang said, “Cui Dongli, Zhu Hongyi, and the others should have moved out by now. It is time for you to move too.”

Overjoyed, Shi Jingtang leaped from the tall building with a roar and charged straight toward the Luo River.

By now, Xu Ying was breathing heavily. Although his primordial qi continued circulating without pause, he had expended too much energy and was beginning to tire.

Surging his primordial qi, he let out a thunderous roar. He channeled all of his remaining strength into sword qi to assault his Mud-Pill Secret Trove.

A deafening roar echoed inside his brain as he opened a second Mud Pill grotto heaven!

Without stopping, Xu Ying directed the Myriad Mountains Bow to Jiuyi Dao avatar to assault his Crimson Palace, opening his second crescent grotto heaven!

Then, he circulated the Grand Unity Guiding Method. His primordial qi surged violently as his divine sense and soul soared to the third heaven of the Gate-Knocking Stage!

Xu Ying’s soul and divine sense looked up to see water and fire intermingling in the sky. He was gradually drawing closer to the third realm of Qi cultivation, the Transmutation Stage!

As he pressed onward, a decorated pleasure boat drifted up behind him along the river. Only moments earlier, he had slaughtered countless people on the riverbank. Yet the passengers aboard the boat seemed completely unconcerned. Melodious string music continued drifting from the cabin.

A woman leaned out of the window with a pipa in her hands.[1]. She smiled. “Demon King Xu, would you like me to give you a ride?”

Xu Ying wiped the blood from his face and replied with a faint smile, “Sure.”

Holding Zhu Chanchan’s hand, he leaped into the air and landed on the boat, causing it to dip slightly.

Approaching the cabin, Xu Ying found the lady with the pipa dressed in bright red, her dress spread out all over the floor. Since his shoes were covered in blood, Xu Ying simply took them off, stepped inside the cabin, and sat across from her.

“I am Zhu Hongyi.”

Her elegant eyes darted about, glancing at Zhu Chanchan, then shifted back to Xu Ying’s face. She smiled. “Demon King Xu, you’ve been staying at the Yuan residence and the Guo residence, and I haven’t been able to visit you until now. Please accept my apologies.”

Xu Ying said seriously, “I should have been the one visiting, but I’ve been quite busy with mundane affairs.”

Zhu Hongyi held the pipa in her arms; with a lowered gaze, she smiled. “I’ve prepared a song for you. I wonder if you’d care to listen?”

Xu Ying laughed heartily. “Go ahead and play it!”

As she began to play her pipa, the delicate strains of the strings entered his ears. Like massive nets, they entered Xu Ying to trap his soul and bind him tighter and tighter.

Struck with astonishment, Zhu Chanchan said like an old master, “A soul-binding divine ability? Girl, you’re pretty skilled!”

Accelerating her plucking, Zhu Hongyi smiled. “Thank you for the compliment. This time, I’ll earn the greatest merit!”

Giggling, she rose into the air with a spin, bursting through the roof of the boat. She proclaimed gracefully, “Demon King Xu, you are completely caught in my net now!”

Sitting inside the cabin, Xu Ying didn’t move a muscle.

Zhu Hongyi plucked the pipa’s strings fiercely and shouted, “Soul, come out now!”

Still, Xu Ying sat there, unmoving.

Zhu Hongyi’s heart raced with panic. Just as she was about to pluck the strings again, Shi Jingtang charged in from the side. He launched a palm strike at her while grabbing for Xu Ying with his other hand. “The flesh of eternal life belongs to our Shi clan!”

Xu Ying raised his hand to meet his palm. The moment their palms collided, Shi Jingtang spewed blood, feeling like his mystical power was suppressed!

He was thrown backward and landed on the shore.

Xu Ying rose from his seat. “You play well. Keep playing. I’m going to kill someone.”

Zhu Hongyi’s invisible strings were hooked onto Xu Ying’s soul, but they couldn’t move his soul an inch no matter how hard she pulled. Yet, when Xu Ying leaped onto the shore, she was pulled along and flew involuntarily toward him.

Gritting her teeth, Zhu Hongyi’s fingers danced across the strings, desperately trying to force his soul out.

Xu Ying strode toward Shi Jingtang, his expression grim. He grabbed a large vermilion gourd and threw it at Shi Jingtang’s feet. “You people are harvesting and imprisoning souls for your old ancestor’s cultivation, aren’t you?”

Shi Jingtang’s face fell instantly. “How did you know...?”

Realization dawned on him. He turned and fled toward the Shi residence.

Xu Ying changed direction. Instead of heading for the city gates, he followed Shi Jingtang unhurriedly. Zhu Hongyi staggered along involuntarily as she continued playing her instrument with gritted teeth.

Following Xu Ying, Zhu Chanchan giggled. “Wouldn’t it be fine if you just threw the pipa away?”

Zhu Hongyi was reluctant to part with her treasure. Floating mid-air, she stubbornly played the instrument.

Xu Ying trailed Shi Jingtang to the Shi residence. Shi Jingtang dashed inside in panic, his face twisted in horror. “Elder, Elder! He burned the old ancestor!”

Standing outside the residence, Xu Ying drew the stone ax from his waist. He summoned all of his primordial qi and poured it into the ax.

Amid the sound of the pipa, the stone ax surged with a bloody light. A boundless sea of blood instantly manifested behind Xu Ying. Countless archaic giant beasts and the skeletons of enormous gods and demons rose from it, roaring furiously.

Xu Ying swung his ax down, shattering the Shi residence’s main gate into pieces. The surging sea of blood poured forward, cutting a path through it and reducing every building in its way to rubble.

The charging Shi clan Exorcists were torn limb from limb by the ax light, unable to escape the weapon’s devastating range!

Zhu Chanchan beamed with pride and floated into the air. She smiled at Zhu Hongyi, who was still playing her instrument.

“His ax was damaged before, but I repaired it with only two punches. Aren’t I amazing?”

Zhu Hongyi asked in horror, “Who are you?”

Zhu Chanchan grinned. “Me? I forged artifacts for the emperor of Zhou. He used my artifacts to overthrow Shang and achieve godhood.”

Just then, a furious roar echoed from the Shi residence. Eight grotto heavens manifested. Their elder, Shi Beihuang, had stepped in to kill Xu Ying!

Brimming with vital energy, Xu Ying unleashed the Pure Yang Spirit Flame. With a single breath, a raging inferno erupted, engulfing Shi Beihuang!

Dazhong thought, Something’s off about Ah Ying again!

The blazing spirit flame ignited Shi Beihuang. The elder, whose cultivation was second only to the old ancestor, Shi Mole, was filled with terror. Yet, he charged forward bravely.

He yelled, “Regardless of what monster you are, you must die!”

“Monster?” Xu Ying’s voice was completely devoid of warmth as he flicked his finger. Dazhong flew out from his glabella involuntarily, spinning.

“You have no idea how terrifying I am in my monster form!”

Xu Ying grabbed the bell’s loop and swung it hard. The bell let out a thunderous toll. Before the spirit flames could consume him, Shi Beihuang was reduced to dust by the deafening sound.

Dazhong felt a chill in his heart. He sensed that in that moment, his full might had been unleashed!

Although he had been channeling his own strength, an external force had surged into him, drawing out every last bit of his power.

Are the memories sealed away by Meng Po Soup awakening?

Outside the Divine Capital, the frowning old man, the white-robed elder, and the red-robed lady watched this scene unfold from afar. The three sighed. The white-robed elder kept glancing at the yellow ritual paper in his hand.

He muttered, “It’s too late, it’s too late...”

Suddenly, rows of text appeared on the paper one by one, from right to left.

“Heavenly God Hall, retrieve the Demon-Suppressing Runes, reinforce the seal. So it is decreed.”

1. A traditional Chinese musical instrument belonging to the plucked category of instruments. ☜