Ascension Day

The shock this scene gave Xu Ying was even greater than the appearance of the Phoenix. When the Phoenix appeared, a hundred birds paid homage to it. But with the appearance of Jiuyi, a hundred thousand mountains vied to worship the ancestor of all mountains. The two events were clearly on different levels!

’Jiuyi Mountain... what secrets does it hold?’

’Could there really be an Immortal here?’

’Is the Jiuyi Mountain we see now its true form? Why were these nine great mountains sealed away, transformed into nine seemingly ordinary peaks?’

Xu Ying muttered to himself, "And why have they revealed their true forms again? Is it because of the Underworld’s invasion, or something else?"

He had originally thought the Underworld invasion was just a sudden, isolated incident. He believed some hidden masters had summoned the Plague God to divert the Naihe River, using the opportunity to rescue the girl in the coffin, which in turn triggered the river’s invasion.

But now, it seemed the matter was far more complex than he had imagined.

Summoning the Plague God, diverting the Naihe River, rescuing the girl in the coffin, the Underworld’s invasion, the emergence of the New Land, the Cangwu Great Abyss, the flying Phoenix of Jiuyi Mountain—this chain of events seemed to be secretly orchestrated by someone behind the scenes.

"Ying, I’ve been here before."

Suddenly, Da Zhong’s voice echoed. The great Bell sounded as if it were murmuring in a dream. "My master brought me to this mountain. I’ve seen this sight of ten thousand mountains on a pilgrimage."

In the Sea of Chaos within Xu Ying’s mind, Da Zhong shook violently, as if trying to shake loose the dusty fog shrouding its memories.

"Back then, my consciousness was just beginning to form. I experienced many things, but my memories are hazy."

It murmured, "Three thousand years ago, I followed my master to many places. The geography of the mountains and rivers back then was very different from today. This Jiuyi Mountain is one such case. I vaguely remember my master saying a great figure was buried here. When he was interred in Jiuyi Mountain, a hundred thousand mountains leaned toward Jiuyi, as if bowing to him..."

These were memories from its "childhood," a time when Da Zhong’s consciousness was still nascent, and it couldn’t remember many things clearly.

"The moment my master hung me in the pavilion on Little Stone Mountain, I think I saw Jiuyi Mountain from there."

Da Zhong continued to speak as if in a dream, its voice intermittent. "I seem to remember... this great mountain gradually shrank. Not only this mountain, but many other tall mountains and rivers also gradually vanished..."

"This world... might be gradually returning to its original state," Da Zhong said.

Xu Ying stood on the summit, gazing at the hundred thousand mountains, his heart surging with emotion.

’When a great figure was buried, ten thousand mountains bowed in worship, all honoring Jiuyi. What a magnificent Dao Image!’

Just then, a clamor arose from the tree. "The one on the Phoenix Tree is a Juvenile Phoenix, not yet an adult!"

Someone who had already climbed the Phoenix Tree exclaimed, "Those Divine Birds are protecting the Juvenile Phoenix!"

Someone else, both shocked and delighted, laughed. "Quick, climb the tree! We might be able to catch the Phoenix! If we catch the Phoenix, we’ll be rich!"

"Even if we can’t catch the Phoenix, catching one of the other Divine Birds would also make us rich!"

"I heard that during the time of Emperor Zhetian the Great Saint, there was a Phoenix Bone in the Imperial Palace. The Great Saint Emperor gained enlightenment from that Phoenix Bone and conquered the world! If a mere Phoenix Bone could do that, imagine a real Phoenix!"

Uncle Xiao looked up at the Phoenix Tree and said, "Young Master Weiyang, many people have already climbed the Phoenix Tree. Should we go up and take a look?"

Yuan Weiyang raised her head. The Phoenix Tree was of an unknown height, its canopy covering the entirety of Jiuyi Mountain. Its leaves caught the high-altitude sunlight, refracting it into a brilliant display of colors.

Bifangs, Dapengs, Cyan Birds, and all sorts of other Divine and strange Birds soared around the Phoenix Tree. From time to time, enormous shadows would swiftly glide across the mountains. The scene was extraordinarily magnificent!

From the summit of Jiuyi Mountain, one couldn’t see the various Divine Birds clearly, making it impossible to comprehend their Dao Images. Only by observing them up close could one hope to gain enlightenment.

Therefore, everyone who came here, whether they were from the Imperial Palace or disciples of the Cangwu Sect, climbed the Phoenix Tree, attempting to get closer to these Divine and strange Birds.

Yuan Weiyang looked toward Xu Ying, only to see him standing on the summit. He wasn’t trying to gain enlightenment from the Phoenix or the other Divine Birds. Instead, he was staring at the sea of clouds and the mountains, motionless for a long time.

"Young Master?" Uncle Xiao prompted.

Yuan Weiyang said, "We’ll go up the tree first. Uncle Xiao, be cautious. Something isn’t right. Some of these people don’t intend to comprehend the Dao Images; they want to capture the Phoenix!"

Uncle Xiao agreed, then glanced at Xu Ying with a look of confusion.

Yuan Weiyang leaped toward the Phoenix Tree first, saying, "Don’t worry about him. He’s found his own path to enlightenment."

Uncle Xiao hurried to follow her.

Xu Ying remained on the summit, motionless for a long while, seeming to have merged as one with the Jiuyi Mountain beneath his feet.

Yuan Qi had also planned to climb the Phoenix Tree, but seeing Xu Ying remain completely still, he grew anxious. Just as he was about to urge him on, Da Zhong’s voice sounded: "Don’t disturb him. He’s about to enter a profound state. It’s possible that from observing the hundred thousand mountains, he’s showing signs of Entering the Dao."

"Entering the Dao?"

Yuan Qi asked in surprise, "Lord Zhong, can you Enter the Dao just by looking at mountains? Isn’t Entering the Dao something that only happens when you break through a Cultivation Realm?"

Da Zhong explained unhurriedly, "One can Enter the Dao by observing anything that possesses a Dao Image. When an ordinary Qi Refiner observes a Dao Image and gains some comprehension, imprinting it upon their Mysterious Domain, that cannot be called Entering the Dao. To Enter the Dao is to enter *into* the Dao itself and comprehend its Truths. Merely observing a Dao Image is to only scratch the surface; Entering the Dao is to obtain the very principles of the Great Dao."

Yuan Qi said, "When I was breaking through to the Gate-Opening Stage, I comprehended Qiankun Inversion and the Li and Kan Exchange. Was that also Entering the Dao?"

"It was not. That was just gaining some minor insights, which is useless. To truly Enter the Dao, you must comprehend a Divine Power."

Da Zhong continued, "Only if you had comprehended a Divine Power while Knocking at the Gate could it be considered Entering the Dao. Now that Ying is Entering the Dao, you must seize this opportunity. His Divine Sense will emit a Dao rhythm, and the Truths he comprehends will fill his Divine Sense. You’re in the perfect position to benefit. If you can grasp the Truths hidden within his Dao rhythm, you might also be able to seize this chance to Enter the Dao and gain your own comprehension."

Yuan Qi immediately perked up and focused his full attention, trying to capture the Dao rhythm emanating from Xu Ying.

’The stupid snake is very diligent.’

Da Zhong observed for a moment and thought, ’It would be even better if he were a bit smarter. Alas, he is not.’

Gradually, a wondrous Divine Sense began to radiate from Xu Ying’s entire body. It was like the feelers of his mind, extending from his brain to connect with heaven and earth, with Jiuyi Mountain itself. He could sense the flow of the mountain winds and touch the very skin of the great mountain.

He could seemingly perceive the wind brushing through the forests and sense the gurgling streams. His Divine Sense was like it had become Jiuyi Mountain’s sense of touch, a neural network spreading throughout the great mountain.

He seemed to become the mountain.

He saw his own mountain roots connecting to the earth, growing from some unreachable, unfathomable place deep underground, extending in all directions beneath the surface.

Then he felt the mountain’s consciousness, the erosion and changes of infinite Time.

He could also see everything on the mountain through the mountain’s own vision.

He could clearly sense every blade of grass and every tree on Jiuyi Mountain, hear their sounds, feel their joys and sorrows. He could also see the rabbits hopping in the woods, the foxes lying in wait, and even touch the fish swimming in the pools.

His consciousness even traveled to the main hall of the Cangwu Sect, where he saw all sorts of people. In the hall was a restless and irritable middle-aged man, his clothes disheveled, gulping down Spirit Pills.

Suddenly, the middle-aged man shot him a vicious glare, and with a wave of his sleeve, an Alchemy Furnace hurtled toward him.

His mind drifted like a breeze, arriving at a small lake nestled in the mountains where he saw a young woman bathing.

The young woman splashed water, dancing lightly in the lake. Xu Ying passed under her dancing arm, bringing a hint of coolness.

He arrived at the Phoenix Tree and sensed the vast consciousness of this Divine Tree, communicating and resonating with him.

It was all so wondrous.

He followed the Phoenix Tree upward and saw the Juvenile Phoenix that had built its nest in the branches. The young Phoenix seemed to sense him too, turning its head in surprise to stare at the empty air.

Xu Ying’s consciousness blew past it like the wind, ruffling a few of its Phoenix Feathers.

The Juvenile Phoenix seemed very angry and spat a gout of fire behind him.

He delved deeper and deeper into the Dao. His consciousness even passed by his own body, where he saw the little snake hidden in his collar. Its eyes were wide open, but its mouth was crooked as it snored away. HOHAA, HOHAA.

Yuan Qi had, in fact, fallen asleep.

Xu Ying’s consciousness returned to the mountain. The mountain was heavy and steady, unmoving and unshakeable. He quietly comprehended the wondrous Great Dao, his own form as still as a mountain, unmoving and unshakeable.

He assimilated with the mountain.

Just then, a strange sound suddenly reached his ears. It was like a call, yet also like meaningless static from the world. The sound grew louder, disturbing his state of Entering the Dao.

Gradually, Xu Ying felt himself growing heavier and heavier. His body seemed to be slowly turning to stone, making it difficult to struggle, impossible to wake up!

In his ears, that strange sound grew louder and louder, like people speaking, or cursing. Along with that sound, it was as if tentacles had grabbed him, wrapping around his legs and body, suctioning onto his flesh and blood, pulling him down!

It was as if he had returned to the Cangwu Abyss, being dragged by countless tentacles into its depths!

He saw the Abyss parting its giant maw. As tiny as a flying insect, he was falling into it, bit by bit.

At that moment, he saw a Big Snake in the sky. The Big Snake had a pair of black and white horns and was looking at him with a puzzled expression.

"Ying! Ying! Grab my tail!"

The Big Snake dangled its long tail over the edge of the Abyss. Xu Ying grabbed onto the tail and was immediately pulled up by the Big Snake.

The moment he flew out of the Abyss, Xu Ying woke up. He opened his eyes to find himself still standing on the summit of Jiuyi Mountain, not having moved at all.

Only, at some point, his clothes had become soaked with sweat.

"Lord Zhong, when I was Entering the Dao just now, I also heard that voice calling to me. It tried to pull me into an Abyss and devour me!" Xu Ying said to Da Zhong, still shaken. "Thankfully, Xiaoqi was by the edge of the Abyss, and I climbed out by holding onto his tail."

Da Zhong said, "You were Entering the Dao for too long. Your consciousness was one with the Dao and had left your Flesh Body. Your body was in a state of death, which is why you had those illusions."

Xu Ying found its analysis logical and well-reasoned, so he nodded in agreement.

Just then, Yuan Qi woke up with a yawn and said with a laugh, "I just had a strange dream. I dreamt I was back at the Cangwu Abyss, and Ying fell in, so I lowered my tail and saved him."

Xu Ying was stunned. Da Zhong also let out a DONG.

Was it a dream, something that had really happened, or an illusion from Xu Ying’s body being in a state of death?

Da Zhong quickly asked, "Ying, what else did you see when you were Entering the Dao?"

Xu Ying said, "I also saw a middle-aged man in a great hall, eating Spirit Pills like they were regular food. He seemed to see me and threw an Alchemy Furnace at me. I also saw the Phoenix on the Phoenix Tree. It’s a Juvenile Phoenix, and she even spat fire at me. Oh, right, I also saw a lake in the mountains where a girl was bathing. She has a sesame-seed-sized black mole under her left breast."

Da Zhong mused, "The man in the hall and the Phoenix in the tree won’t be easy to verify. The only thing that’s convenient to verify is the girl bathing in the mountain lake. Let’s go!"

It said enthusiastically, "Let’s go check out that lake and see if there really is a girl bathing there, and if she really does have a sesame-seed-sized black mole under her left breast!"

Neither Xu Ying nor Yuan Qi responded.

Da Zhong stammered, "Don’t you want to see the mole? Let’s go! What are you standing around for?"

Xu Ying coughed and said, "Lord Zhong, the Phoenix Tree is right beside us. Wouldn’t it be simpler to just go up the tree and ask the Phoenix if she saw me just now?"

Da Zhong grumbled but didn’t insist on going to the lake.

Just as Xu Ying was about to climb the Phoenix Tree, he suddenly looked down as if he’d seen a ghost. Yuan Qi poked his head out from his collar, and they saw a slightly plump young woman in green robes rushing toward the Phoenix Tree.

The young woman was light on her feet and tall. Beneath her green robes, she wore a white bodice. From a distance, she yelled, "This granny was so busy bathing that I didn’t realize a Golden Phoenix had flown to the Phoenix Tree! I almost missed the main event! Out of the way, everyone, out of the way!"

"Ying, is she the one with the mole under her left breast?" Yuan Qi asked, tilting his head up.

The young woman seemed to hear this and snapped her head toward them.