Ascension Day

When Beichenzi heard this voice, his scalp tingled and he trembled uncontrollably. Feigning composure, he shouted, "Xu Ying! This is a matter of life and death! If you can’t do anything, we’ll all die here!"

He had never seen Xu Ying with his seal undone, nor did he know what terrifying consequences would follow.

He was merely inheriting the job from his predecessors.

Before him, another group of Qi Refiners had been responsible for the same task. However, those Qi Refiners had grown too old and could no longer maintain the seal, leading to mistakes in managing Xu Ying’s life.

After those Qi Refiners moved on, the responsibility fell to Beichenzi and his two companions.

Beichenzi had heard legends about Xu Ying and knew how crucial it was to maintain his seal. But in this life-or-death situation, he had no choice but to loosen it!

He forced himself to stay calm, thinking, ’Thankfully, I didn’t undo it completely. The Sealing Runes are still in place, and the Incense and Candlelight is still burning. As long as he kills the Celestial Demon, I can replenish the Incense and Candlelight and turn him back into an obedient child!’

"How dare you?"

Xu Ying roared with laughter as the landscape of his Mysterious Domain materialized behind him. The Five Peaks Immortal Mountain, the Black Iron Profound Gate, the Bronze Celestial Gate, the Jade Capital Immortal Gate, the Twelve-Storey Tower, the Jasper Pool, the Divine Bridge, the Sea of Chaos, the Yellow Court, the Jiang Palace, the Jade Pool, the Jade Capital, the Celestial River and Celestial Mountain, and even the Spring appeared one by one!

"Beichen, how dare you!"

His soul stood tall upon the Third Heaven of the Gate-Opening Stage. Within his Mysterious Domain, there was only a single, rainbow-like streak of Sword Qi, the Abnormal Phenomenon of the Hundred Thousand Mountains Venerating Jiuyi, and a lone Celestial Tribulation Cloud.

These were the Dao Images Xu Ying had comprehended.

His Cultivation Realm remained at the Third Heaven of the Gate-Opening Stage, unchanged.

As for his Nuo Technique Realm, he had only opened two layers of Grotto Heavens in both the Mud Pill and Jiang Palace Secret Treasuries, and one layer of Grotto Heaven in the Yellow Court Secret Treasury.

His Nuo Master Realm also remained unchanged.

When Beichenzi saw this, a chill went through him. ’His seal was broken, but his cultivation wasn’t restored! We’re done for!’

He had expected that breaking the seal would restore a portion of Xu Ying’s cultivation. He never imagined Xu Ying would still be at the Third Heaven of the Gate-Opening Stage, with no increase in power at all.

Yuan Qi’s and Da Zhong’s hearts sank. They had assumed that as long as Beichenzi unsealed Xu Ying, they could overcome this crisis, but they had completely forgotten about Xu Ying’s actual cultivation.

A Celestial Demon possessing an Immortal Corpse was equivalent to a living Immortal. How could Xu Ying, who was only in the Gate-Opening Stage, possibly defeat such a being?

BOOM!

Thunder shook the heavens as an impossibly thick bolt of lightning descended, striking Xu Ying. The dazzling blast of electricity illuminated everything behind him.

In that brief moment, everyone saw massive shadows emerge within Xu Ying’s vast and boundless Mysterious Domain. When a second bolt of lightning struck his head, the searing white light illuminated those shadows, and only then did they see what they were: all manner of incredible Dao Images!

There were giant bronze peaks, an Abyss that buried the Great Dao, a colossal tree that shrouded the stars, a monstrous beast that devoured the Azure Heaven, a nebula that birthed entire constellations...

The sight of these terrifying Dao Images was enough to drive a person mad.

As more lightning bolts rained down, these Dao Images became increasingly distinct, gradually solidifying from their ethereal forms. It was as if they were transforming from mere Contemplation into real, tangible existences!

Even the feather-robed youth, a Celestial Demon, couldn’t help but feel a sliver of fear. He rushed forward, attempting to kill and devour Xu Ying before the Dao Images behind him could fully materialize!

WHOOSH—

The Stone Axe at Xu Ying’s waist flew out, chopping down toward the youth. The feather-robed youth’s figure flickered, and suddenly, countless copies of him appeared all around—in front, behind, to his left, and to his right. They all stepped forward simultaneously, each striking out to block the Stone Axe.

However, the Stone Axe simply trembled, producing innumerable illusory copies of its own. In the next instant, the right hand of every single feather-robed youth was severed. Then, with a flash of light, the axe embedded itself in the original youth’s forehead!

All the illusory axes and youths vanished, leaving only the real ones. The Stone Axe remained embedded in the feather-robed youth’s forehead.

Beichenzi, Da Zhong, and Zhu Chanchan were all stunned. Xu Ying’s cultivation was clearly still at the Third Heaven of the Gate-Opening Stage, yet this Axe Technique was so profound that the Celestial Demon was completely unable to evade it!

His axe strike was simply miraculous. It was like the fabled butcher carving an ox; it bypassed the Immortal Corpse’s strengths, targeted its weaknesses, followed its inherent flaws, and shattered all defenses with a single blow!

That was easier said than done, however. Who else could possibly find the flaws in an Immortal Corpse possessed by a Celestial Demon?

The Stone Axe was lodged deep in the feather-robed youth’s skull. The surging killing intent and malevolent aura battered the Celestial Demon’s mind and consciousness, causing its body to tremble violently. From time to time, a black shadow within was shaken so fiercely it almost flew out of the body!

Suddenly, Immortal Light flared from its body, wrapping around the Stone Axe and flinging it back toward Xu Ying!

This vessel was, after all, the Flesh Body of an Immortal. Even though the Immortal was dead, the residual Immortal Qi was not afraid of the Stone Axe’s malevolent aura.

Lightning continued to crash down from the sky, striking Xu Ying squarely on the head with each bolt. Behind him, the Dao Images grew ever more tangible.

As the Stone Axe came flying at him, Xu Ying simply reached out and caught it. With a backhand swing, he cleaved the Immortal Light apart.

As the saying goes, experts appreciate the technique while novices only see the spectacle. Da Zhong, Yuan Qi, and Beichenzi couldn’t see the finer points of the move, but Zhu Chanchan perceived the profound Techniques hidden within that single swing. She felt her Dao Heart tremble!

She couldn’t help but recall when she had first become her master’s apprentice. Back then, her master had demonstrated a Divine Power, striking a pillar and turning it into a treasure. In an instant, a stone column had transformed into a Magical Treasure, becoming a Stone Dragon that leaped into the air and soared through the sky.