Ascension Day

Suddenly, the Shi Family's ancestor opened his eyes and looked toward where the two stood. His gaze was like a bolt of lightning, causing the very space around Xu Ying and Guo Xiaodie to tremble.

The two were startled. Xu Ying whispered, "This man's Cultivation is extremely high. He can easily detect us if we talk here. Let's go."

Guo Xiaodie nodded, and they left together.

Just then, a young man strode in, carrying a large, vermilion gourd. A group of people followed behind him, also carrying vermilion gourds, and barged into the place where the Shi Family's ancestor, Shi Mo Lei, was recuperating.

The young man wore dark cyan clothes and had a tall, brawny build. He was saying something loudly; they could see his mouth move but heard no sound. After he finished speaking, he set the vermilion gourd upright and pulled out the stopper.

The other Nuo Masters also pulled the stoppers from their gourds. Black qi surged out of the gourds, each as tall as half a man. From within the black qi emerged Ghost Souls, their faces etched with misery and extreme pain.

Xu Ying said urgently, "Lord Qi!"

Yuan Qi understood at once. He opened his mouth and produced a vermilion gourd, also half the height of a man.

Xu Ying compared the gourds, his chest heaving as a wave of anger surged through him. "After searching for so long, it turns out it was you! The Wang Family said these gourds were for some shady business, Soul Refining to increase the longevity of the elderly! This is clearly devouring people for Cultivation!"

They watched as the Shi Family's ancestor, Shi Mo Lei, activated some unknown Cultivation Technique. The Ghost Souls shattered one by one, transforming into wisps of black smoke that burrowed into his body.

At the same time, the Nine Great Cave Heavens appeared behind Shi Mo Lei, pitch-black and rooted in a deep, dark Great Abyss, siphoning some unknown power!

"I don't know what kind of Evil Skill the Shi Family's ancestor is cultivating!"

Guo Xiaodie's expression changed drastically. She suddenly saw wisps of the black qi seeping into the space of the Second Divine Capital. When it touched her skin, the flesh of her arm began to rot and wither away!

Guo Xiaodie's eyes filled with tears of pain. She floated backward and cried out, "Be careful! His Evil Skill can invade the Second Divine Capital!"

The black qi moved like a living creature, its tendrils dancing as they reached for Xu Ying and Guo Xiaodie. Everything it touched withered. Even the Incense Smoke Qi from the saints of the Lingyan Pavilion rapidly rotted and decayed!

Xu Ying stepped in front of Guo Xiaodie to shield her. With a flick of his finger, a wisp of flame shot out!

It was the Pure Yang Anomalous Fire given to him by Qing Bi, the girl from the coffin. The moment it encountered the black qi, it burst into a brilliant flare. With a great SIZZLE, the surging flames burned all the black qi away, leaving not a single trace behind.

In the Divine Capital Stone Mansion, the Shi Family's ancestor, Shi Mo Lei, revealed a look of surprise. He clearly hadn't expected the black qi from his Cultivation to fail in killing the intruders.

Xu Ying formed a Sword Pointing with his right hand and touched it to the center of his brow. He channeled all of his Divine Sense, concentrating it at the tip of his finger.

"Go!"

His fingertip touched the Pure Yang Anomalous Fire, and its might erupted. A torrent of roaring flames instantly appeared beside Shi Mo Lei in the Divine Capital Stone Mansion, engulfing him completely!

Amidst the raging Anomalous Fire, Shi Mo Lei struggled and screamed, his face contorted in agony. Yet, no sound reached Xu Ying and Guo Xiaodie's ears, creating an indescribably eerie scene.

The young man from the Shi Family fled in a panic, but the other Nuo Masters had no time to escape and were burned to death in the Anomalous Fire.

Xu Ying controlled the fire from afar for a few moments before feeling his Divine Sense rapidly depleting. He knew that if he continued to fuel the Anomalous Fire, he would exhaust his Divine Sense completely, which would be extremely dangerous. He immediately withdrew his Sword Pointing.

The great fire in the Shi Mansion instantly dissipated. The Shi Family's ancestor, Shi Mo Lei, was burned until his entire body was like charcoal. He was still screaming silently, as if still trapped within a sea of flames.

Guo Xiaodie, Yuan Qi, and Da Zhong watched this scene, horrified.

Everything had happened so suddenly. Before they could even react, Guo Xiaodie had been ambushed by the Shi Family's ancestor, Shi Mo Lei. Da Zhong hadn't had time to mount a rescue before Xu Ying struck.

They had not expected Xu Ying to be so decisive and ruthless. He had not only purged the invading black qi but had also used the Anomalous Fire to nearly burn the heavily injured Shi Mo Lei to death.

"Lord Qi, something isn't right with Ying."

Da Zhong transmitted via Divine Sense, whispering, "He shouldn't know that the Pure Yang Anomalous Fire can counter that black qi. He also shouldn't know how to project the fire's power from the Second Divine Capital into the Divine Capital outside. And yet, he used it without a second thought!"

Yuan Qi realized at once. "You're saying some of his memories have awakened?"

"That must be it," Da Zhong said. "Some of his memories must have resurfaced in his extreme anger."

It couldn't help but worry. 'I just hope this is a good thing,' it thought.

Xu Ying's own heart was pounding wildly. He had acted without thinking, instinctively using the Pure Yang Anomalous Fire. The entire sequence of actions had been unconscious, and he was shocked that he had managed to unleash the Anomalous Fire's power.

Only now, as he came to his senses, did he wonder how he had been able to wield the Pure Yang Anomalous Fire to such a degree.

Despite being burned to such a state, the Shi Family's ancestor, Shi Mo Lei, was still alive. The Nine Great Cave Heavens behind him were burned to tatters. He forced himself to stagger outside, but just as he crossed the threshold, he collapsed to the ground with a THUD, hissing, "A hidden expert ambushed me!"

The black-clad young man of the Shi surname had already rushed over with a group of Shi Family experts. They had also captured more than a dozen women from the Zhou Clan, using them to treat his injuries and finally save his life.

The Shi Family experts were aghast. A clan elder said, "We have Jingtang to thank for this. Otherwise, I'm afraid the Shi Family would have been wiped from existence, just like the Zhou Family."

The Shi Family's ancestor, Shi Mo Lei, regained consciousness and summoned the young man. "My soul was burned by that expert," he said. "My Mysterious Domain was mostly destroyed by his fire, and my life has been cut short. I only have a few years left to live. You remained calm in a crisis and have an excellent nature. From now on, you shall receive my true teachings."