Ascension Day

"He's left the Divine Capital and put another sword through Shi Jingtang's corpse."

The great Noble Families of the Divine Capital were still monitoring Xu Ying's movements, with reports constantly flowing in.

The recent scenes were truly horrifying, forcing every Noble Family to re-evaluate Xu Ying.

Previously, they had only seen this Snake Catcher from the countryside as a clever young lad, a tool to help them achieve Ascension. They invited Xu Ying to the Divine Capital with the intention of treating him like a tamed household servant, one who would help them decipher the Immortal Books they had collected.

Then, when news spread that Xu Ying was one of the Undead, his status in their eyes changed. He went from being a useful household servant to an edible Elixir of Longevity.

Moreover, if they played their cards right—say, by cutting off Xu Ying's flesh while a Zhou Family Nuo Master healed him—they could create a limitless supply of the Elixir of Longevity!

A feast for one and all!

But now, they saw Xu Ying in a completely different light.

This tool for their Ascension, this human-shaped Spirit Medicine for their Longevity, had grown sharp fangs!

The Shi Family may have been a new Noble Family, but they were a Noble Family nonetheless, with a Nuo Immortal of their own. Yet in a single night, that Nuo Immortal, Shi Mo Lei, was gravely wounded. Then, Xu Ying stormed their estate, dragged him out, and "burned him to death" in front of everyone!

Even though Shi Mo Lei was actually devoured by some evil entity, in the eyes of the Divine Capital's people, he was burned to death by Xu Ying.

If any of them, these Noble Families, tried any more funny business, they would have to seriously consider if it was worth the risk.

Xu Ying's methods struck fear into their hearts.

Yuan Qi revealed its true form—a great snake over two hundred feet long—and departed the Divine Capital. Xu Ying and Zhu Chanchan sat atop the Big Snake's head. Zhu Chanchan cultivated diligently, refining the Immortal Elixir within her body.

She had hidden outside Doushuai Temple for over six thousand years, stealing Immortal Elixirs and turning herself into a Medicine Man. The process was especially dangerous when she was actively refining the Immortal Elixirs, as an exotic fragrance would assail the senses, whetting the appetite of any who smelled it.

Never mind the Celestial Demons; even Xu Ying felt the urge to grab the girl and take a few big bites to satisfy the craving.

"Ying, this girl really is going to attract Celestial Demons."

Da Zhong also felt Zhu Chanchan's allure. "Even I feel that if I could refine her into my body like a medicine, my power would increase exponentially!" it whispered.

Xu Ying activated the Heart Returning Technique that Pei Du had taught him, suppressing the urge to grab the girl and take a bite. "The Celestial Demons haven't even found us yet, and we're already about to be turned into demons by her," he said. "I wonder where Little Fengxian went?"

He had been in such a hurry to leave the Divine Capital precisely because Zhu Chanchan's allure was too powerful. The girl was a human-shaped Immortal Elixir and was bound to attract Celestial Demons. As her "Guardian," Xu Ying certainly couldn't handle them, but Feng Xian'Er could.

Feng Xian'Er was a Phoenix, the natural enemy of Heavenly Demons and Heavenly Gods, so Xu Ying decided he should take Zhu Chanchan and find her.

"Brother Xu!"

Suddenly, a familiar voice called out. Xu Ying looked toward the sound and saw Yuan Weiyang and Uncle Xiao. They had left the Divine Capital at some point to see him off.

Xu Ying had Yuan Qi stop. Yuan Weiyang and Uncle Xiao climbed onto the snake's back and made their way to its head. Yuan Qi then resumed its forward glide, only much more slowly.

Yuan Weiyang sniffed the air. "What a fragrance!" he exclaimed, then glanced at Zhu Chanchan in astonishment.

Xu Ying was touched. "Brother Yuan, I have enemies all over the world, yet you still dare to come and see me off. I... I don't know what to say."

Yuan Weiyang said with a serious expression, "You came to the Divine Capital to see me, only to be met with so many schemes. It was my Yuan Family that failed to protect its guest. Now that you're leaving, how could I not see you off?"

Xu Ying's thoughts were on someone else. He asked, "How is Sister Rushi?"

A smile flickered across Yuan Weiyang's face, but after a cough from Uncle Xiao behind him, it vanished. Expressionless, he said, "My sister is being mischievous. Our mother has ordered her to stay home and practice her needlework, so she is not allowed out. Brother Xu, I came to see you off, yet the first thing you do is ask about my sister. That's a bit rude."

Uncle Xiao nodded slightly. 'That response was fairly appropriate,' he thought.

Xu Ying felt a pang of regret. "I find myself thinking of Sister Rushi from time to time lately," he said.

Yuan Weiyang's expression grew solemn. "My sister is of marriageable age, but she is not yet betrothed. You must not entertain any improper ideas."

The moment he said that, Xu Ying began to entertain some very improper ideas.

However, his feelings for Yuan Rushi were romantic, whereas his bond with Yuan Weiyang was one of deep friendship. The two sat atop Yuan Qi's head and began to discuss the path of Cultivation, exchanging knowledge and insights.

Xu Ying explained his modified version of the Jianggong Yue Moon Furnace Tripod Skill. This was the Guo Family's most guarded secret, but Xu Ying had only excerpted the operational magic skill of the Yanyue Cave Heaven, not the core of the Cultivation Technique itself.

"I suspect there are evil entities in this world, like the Master of the Mud Mound Palace, hiding in the shadows. They spread Nuo Techniques that are often intentionally flawed."

Xu Ying continued, "Brother Yuan, you are exceptionally talented. In terms of intelligence and subtlety, I am not your equal. If you study this magic skill, you might be able to figure out a method for the Yuan Family to refine Immortal Elixirs. It could grant Yanshou to your ancestor, Yuan Wuji, and spare him from a tragic fate in his final years."

At these words, even Uncle Xiao was visibly moved.

This was an incredibly precious gift.

A strange emotion flickered in Yuan Weiyang's eyes. He composed himself, put away the Fragmented Technique, and said, "My Yuan Family will never forget the kindness Xu Demon King has shown us. Though we have declined, we still know how to repay a debt of gratitude. I know that you, Brother Xu, have not opened the Yellow Court Secret Treasury and are thus unable to advance your Divine Sense any further."

He took a Golden Book from his robes, tore out the first two pages, and handed them to Xu Ying.

Uncle Xiao's expression changed instantly. "Young Master..."

Yuan Weiyang paid him no mind and said with a smile, "My mother would certainly never agree to me teaching you the Yuan Family's ancestral technique, the Primordial Dao All Heavens Sensing. But as the future Patriarch of the Yuan Family, I will take it upon myself today to gift you the first half of this cultivation technique."