Ascension Day

The three Impermanences and the Snake-faced Impermanence were, of course, Xu Ying, Yuan Weiyang, Uncle Xiao, and Yuan Qi. Yuan Qi's physique was simply too massive. Even though he had transformed into an Impermanence, he had spent the last one hundred and twenty years of his life crawling. He felt that walking upright was awkward and nowhere near as comfortable as slithering across the ground.

These Nuo Masters had disguised themselves as Impermanence figures to enter the Underworld and plunder Yang Qi. Since they could get in, they naturally had a way out.

The Fake Impermanence's body trembled as he was forced to lead the way. He stammered, "You'll never get out like this. Da Zhong and that big one in the back are too conspicuous. The moment we're outside, my sect will spot us, and we'll all die!"

Xu Ying knew he was telling the truth. A moment ago, several men whose masks had been torn off were immediately killed by their own companions. This made it clear that sneaking into the Underworld to plunder Yang Qi was an absolutely clandestine operation.

It would be difficult for Xu Ying's group to avoid attracting attention. If they went out just like this, they were certain to be discovered.

Uncle Xiao said arrogantly, "Jianghu Sects shouldn't be too powerful. Having a few Grand Nuos would be the absolute limit of their strength. Once we're out, we just have to announce the Yuan Family's name. Their Supreme Master will probably have to kneel and greet us."

Xu Ying asked, "Who are you people?"

The Fake Impermanence hesitated for a moment but decided to tell the truth. "We are the Xiangnan Cangwu Sect," he said. "We were commissioned by someone to enter the Underworld and collect Yang Qi."

Uncle Xiao was well-versed in the affairs of the Jianghu. He frowned slightly upon hearing this and said, "The Cangwu Sect is a sect of Nuo Masters. They're located on Jiuyi Mountain and don't possess any profound Nuo Technique legacy. It's just a small, local sect. We can go straight there and announce our names. That should be enough."

Yuan Weiyang shook her head. "Uncle Xiao, how could a small, local sect possibly have so many Wuchang Ghost Masks?"

To craft a single Inconstancy Mask, one must descend into the Underworld and hunt a Wuchang Ghost God. The Cangwu Sect mobilized two or three hundred Nuo Masters this time, wearing just as many masks. A small, local sect could never possess such immense financial and material resources!

The Fake Impermanence's voice was tinged with tears. "These Inconstancy Masks... they were sent from the Capital City! They don't belong to our Cangwu Sect! It was a powerful figure from the Capital City who ordered us to enter the Underworld and gather Yang Qi. If we refused, our entire sect would be annihilated!"

Xu Ying and Yuan Weiyang exchanged a look, their eyes filled with surprise.

'A powerful figure from the Capital City came all the way to Yongzhou's Jiuyi Mountain, found a minor sect like the Cangwu Sect, and ordered them to descend into the Underworld to siphon Yang Qi from Little Ghost Dolls?'

The whole affair was utterly bizarre.

Suddenly, a voice came from behind Xu Ying. "The powerful figure from the Capital City... why would they ask you to plunder Yang Qi?"

Xu Ying's scalp went numb. Yuan Weiyang couldn't help but shiver and whisper, "Is it Elder Zhou?"

Xu Ying turned his head and saw a white-browed youth who had appeared behind them at some unknown point. It was none other than the Zhou Family's elder, Zhou Qiyun.

Yuan Weiyang turned to look, and immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

Uncle Xiao clenched his fists, thinking desperately, 'Old Ghost Zhou has found us! Even if I die, I must protect the Young Miss and help her escape!'

'However, he knew that even if he gave his life, he probably couldn't protect Yuan Weiyang!'

'Before Elder Zhou, his life wasn't worth the sacrifice!'

Xu Ying was overjoyed and inexplicably moved. "Elder Zhou, you're finally here! We were knocked all the way here by the aftershock of your Divine Power. We waited for so long that we thought something had happened to you! If you hadn't come, we would have been lost in the Underworld forever!"

The white-browed youth, Zhou Qiyun, said flatly, "I followed the trail left by Da Zhong, which took some time. If you had stayed put, finding you would have been much simpler."

Without blushing or his heart skipping a beat, Xu Ying, his face still deathly pale, said, "I was worried you wouldn't be able to find us, so I had Da Zhong leave a trail on the ground."

Elder Zhou was silent for a moment before asking, "Does wearing a Nuo Master's mask make one's face thicker as well?"

Xu Ying burst out laughing, then turned his head to continue questioning the Fake Impermanence. "This powerful figure from the Capital City, what is their purpose here?"

The Fake Impermanence said, "I heard from one of my senior brothers in the sect that the powerful figure from the Capital City is here to extend their life."

"Extend their life?"

This time, even Zhou Qiyun was taken aback. Forgetting about how Xu Ying had abandoned him and fled, he asked, "A powerful figure from the Capital City came to Yongzhou to extend their life? How?"

The Fake Impermanence said, "I heard from a senior sister that when she was delivering the Yang Qi, she saw the powerful figure from the Capital City consume it, and their complexion improved greatly. That person is also practicing some kind of Cultivation Technique and requires a massive amount of Yang Qi every day."

Zhou Qiyun murmured, "Interesting, very interesting... Which old friend from the Capital City has come to Cangwu, I wonder? I'm planning on Crossing the Tribulation in Yongzhou. Why would they rush over without so much as a greeting?"

A flash of killing intent glinted in his eyes.

'For the sake of Crossing the Tribulation, I will stop at nothing. Any expert who comes to Yongzhou at a time like this is my enemy, a potential threat that must be eliminated!'

"Xu Ying, do you have any more Nuo Master masks?" Zhou Qiyun asked. "Lend me one."

Xu Ying took out an Inconstancy Mask. Zhou Qiyun placed it on his face, and his features immediately shifted, transforming him into an Impermanence.

He flicked his finger, sending out a Nuo Art that landed on Yuan Qi. The great serpent's massive body immediately began to change, rapidly shrinking to the size of a normal Wuchang Ghost.

Seeing Yuan Qi still slithering forward on the ground, Zhou Qiyun couldn't help but frown. "Stand up. Don't crawl."

Yuan Qi struggled to his feet, took two steps, then fell over and resumed crawling.

Zhou Qiyun took a long, deep breath, suppressing his annoyance. 'If not for the history I truly share with this creature's grandfather, I'd strike him dead on the spot!'

He had framed Yuan Qi's grandfather in the past and felt a twinge of guilt. He reached out, removed Yuan Qi's mask, allowing him to return to his normal size, and said, "You can't alter your size because your Magical Power is insufficient to sustain the transformation of such a massive body. I will lend you my strength so you can control your form."