Ascension Day

Suddenly, the sword light surrounding Xu Ying dissipated. He leaped into midair.

A Cloud Ladder materialized beneath his feet. He used it as a foothold to leap again. At the same time, the Sword Box on his back clicked open, splitting in two to reveal seven hidden compartments, each containing a strand of Sword Qi.

With a wave of his fingers, seven strands of Sword Qi flew out of the box in succession. CLANG, CLANG, CLANG, CLANG! They shattered the incoming blades of Sword Qi!

His Sword Box was Yuan Tiangang's treasure. The Sword Qi within had been nurtured for a thousand years, making it incomparably sharp, far beyond what the Jinwu Guard's Sword Boxes could match!

At the same time, the Protective Sword Qi around Yuan Weiyang grew thin. She leaped into the air, her Divine Sense flaring out to create a foothold. She brandished her sword and shattered the Sword Qi that besieged her!

Meanwhile, Uncle Xiao rampaged through the mountain forest like a tiger descending the mountain. He charged the checkpoints along the path, either slaying the Jinwu Guards stationed there or hurling them from the cliffs!

The seven strands of Sword Qi returned to the Sword Box. With a CLICK, the left and right chambers of the Sword Box snapped shut, rejoining as one.

Sword Qi coiled around Xu Ying, forming a thick beam of light that skimmed just above the ground. Another beam of light shot in at an angle to join him—it was Yuan Weiyang, weaving past him as they both flew low.

Their sword light suddenly vanished into the forest. With twin battle cries, they dispatched the formidable enemies guarding the area in a flash, then took to the air on their swords once more.

Battle cries echoed from up the mountain. Experts from the Jinwu Guard and the Guo Family had mobilized, cutting off all paths of escape.

Finally, Xu Ying and Yuan Weiyang rushed toward the cliff overlooking the Cangwu Abyss. Experts from the Guo Family were already guarding the cliff's edge, led by Guo Yue and Li Yingzhu. Guo Xiaodie was also among them.

The group radiated killing intent, standing in strict formation as they waited.

The Guo Family was a Noble Family. Though not as large as the Zhou Family, it was far more ancient and possessed a deeper heritage. They had already formed a battle Array. If Xu Ying and his companions were stopped, it would mean certain death!

"Lord Zhong—"

Before Xu Ying's voice faded, a Big Copper Bell flew out from behind his head. It spun with a low hum, its Bell Wall radiating light. Suddenly, layers of light cascaded from the bell's outer surface, forming an even larger bell made of pure light!

Outside the bell of light, Runes flowed. Inside, a world teemed with life—plants vied to sprout, and all creatures grew. This vibrant Vitality transformed into terrifying power!

GONG—

Da Zhong trembled, and the outer bell of light trembled with it. The terrifying might shook the cliff until it seemed to float. The Guo Family experts had already activated their Array to counter the bell's might. Their combined auras formed a veritable fortress, a wall of bronze and iron, to clash head-on with Da Zhong!

The next moment, the toll of the bell shattered their fortress. The Qi and Blood of the Guo Family experts roiled, and they were all forced back, yet their Array held firm!

GONG!

The second toll of the bell rang out, shaking them so violently their defensive wall crumbled. The Guo Family experts all spat up blood. The bell's power was immense. As the third toll resounded, the Guo Family's Array shattered completely, and its experts were sent flying in all directions!

"Ying, I'm spent!" Da Zhong cried. The wall of light instantly retracted, and the bell shrank back into the nape of Xu Ying's neck, vanishing from sight.

Xu Ying and Yuan Weiyang had already seized the opportunity to rush to the cliff's edge. All they had to do was leap off, fall into the lake below, and enter the Cangwu Abyss to escape through the Underworld!

At that very moment, the Qingyun floating high above the Cangwu Sect's main hall suddenly drifted toward them.

The Qingyun was a symbol of Imperial Authority. Before it even arrived, the sound of a million fervent prayers was enough to make them dizzy, their consciousness clouding over.

However, before the Qingyun could reach the cliff, it seemed to hit a wall of bronze and iron, stopping dead in midair, unable to advance another inch!

Beneath the Qingyun, a youth with white eyebrows stood quietly, looking toward the Cangwu Sect's main hall. His eyes flickered, as if he were calculating Xu Ying's worth—whether he was valuable enough to justify a complete break with the Holy God Emperor.

"Elder Zhou, I left a copy of the Nine Heavens Yang God Mysterious Altar Skill for you in Wutong Palace!"

Xu Ying suddenly shouted, "This Cultivation Technique can resolve the fatal flaws of the Tuo Yu Immortal Book, allowing your Cultivation to proceed unhindered!"

Zhou Qiyun's Heart Spirit was greatly shaken. With a look of utter disbelief, he turned to face Xu Ying.

"Xu Ying, this is the second time you have tried to escape."

He turned his head back toward the main hall, his voice calm. "Go on and flee. Just don't let me catch you."

Xu Ying breathed a sigh of relief and leaped from the cliff, plummeting toward the Jade Lake below. Simultaneously, a group of Jinwu Guards leaped after them. The Guo Family experts also took to the air, each executing the Cloud Ladder Celestial Soaring technique to pursue Xu Ying and Yuan Weiyang.

Fierce as a tiger, Uncle Xiao leaped down, landing on the back of a Jinwu Guard. He obliterated the guard with a single punch, then grabbed a Sword Box and slammed it. The box exploded, sending countless strands of Sword Qi shooting in every direction, forcing the pursuing Jinwu Guards and Guo Family experts to defend!

Suddenly, Guo Yue leaped forward. With a single motion of his hand, he stirred the very winds and clouds as he clashed with Uncle Xiao.

Uncle Xiao let out a muffled grunt. Five Grotto Heavens materialized behind him, yet he was still sent reeling from the blow, spitting blood as he plummeted downward.

Just as Guo Yue was about to kill him, Xu Ying suddenly leaped over and caught Uncle Xiao, shouting, "Lord Zhong!"

Da Zhong flew out, yelling, "I'm out of energy!"

Xu Ying swung Da Zhong like a club, smashing it violently against Guo Yue. The bell let out a deafening DONG and shouted, "I told you I was spent, but you just wouldn't believe me."

Guo Yue blocked Da Zhong with a single hand. He could feel that its power was greatly diminished, clearly a spent force. Elated, he reflexively shot out his other hand and seized Xu Ying by the throat.

Just then, a small snake emerged from Xu Ying's collar and bit the web of his thumb.

Guo Yue's entire hand instantly went numb, followed by his arm. Terrified, he yelled repeatedly, "Yingzhu, Yingzhu, come save me! I've been poisoned by an Exotic Snake!"

The beautiful woman, Li Yingzhu, was just about to capture Yuan Weiyang. Hearing his cries, her Heart Spirit fell into chaos and she rushed to his side. She saw a black aura about to creep into his shoulder. Once it reached his heart, lungs, and brain, she feared not even an Immortal could save him. Biting back tears, she gritted her teeth and severed his entire arm!

"Husband, rest assured, I will kill that Xu Demon King to avenge you!"

Li Yingzhu helped him stanch the bleeding. The husband and wife looked up to see Xu Ying carrying Uncle Xiao as he plunged into the Jade Lake, entering the Cangwu Abyss. They immediately charged in after them.

Upon reaching the Cangwu Abyss, the couple saw a horde of Jinwu Guards and Guo Family experts locked in a chaotic battle along the chasm walls. Sword light flashed and clashed endlessly above the Great Abyss as bodies continually plummeted to a violent end.

Xu Ying's eyes were bloodshot with killing intent. He had even deployed Yuan Tiangang's Sword Box. The box flew through the air, periodically snapping open to release streams of Sword Qi with explosive power, cutting down his foes like weeds. At other times, clusters of Sword Qi would swirl around Xu Ying, shielding him as he charged into the crowd against a barrage of attacks, sending severed limbs flying everywhere!

Li Yingzhu and Guo Yue watched, their own eyes turning red with rage. "Everyone, get out of the way!" Li Yingzhu shrieked.

The couple executed Cloud Ladder Celestial Soaring and rapidly closed the distance. Xu Ying and Yuan Weiyang broke free from the mob and transformed into two beams of sword light, speeding away.

The couple gradually outpaced the others in their pursuit. Suddenly, a beam of sword light shot over to block their path. A voice came from within the light—it was Guo Xiaodie. "Second Aunt, Fourth Uncle, stop chasing them!"

Li Yingzhu saw the Sword Qi swirling around her and instantly knew that she had received the true transmission of Xu Ying's Sword Control Technique. She stamped her foot. "Xiaodie, he taught you that? What was the price?"

Guo Xiaodie bowed. "There was no price! He saw that I didn't understand, so he just taught me!"

Li Yingzhu was stunned. She turned to look at Guo Yue's severed arm and said dejectedly, "So this is the price my Guo Family paid for the Sword Control Technique..."

Guo Yue's face was pale with pain, his forehead beaded with sweat. He whispered, "My lady, I know a few experts from the Zhou Family. They can make it grow back."

Li Yingzhu's expression eased slightly. "Does that mean... our Guo Family obtained the Sword Control Technique for nothing?"

Guo Yue nodded gently.

Li Yingzhu was overjoyed. She smiled. "In that case, we really shouldn't be too ruthless. Xiaodie, we still have to make a show of it, otherwise we'll have a hard time explaining ourselves to His Majesty. We'll just leave them a way out."

Guo Xiaodie was overjoyed. She looked back and saw that Xu Ying and the others had already disappeared into the vast Underworld, leaving no trace.

Xu Ying, Yuan Weiyang, and Uncle Xiao survived several more assassination attempts, but finally managed to shake off their pursuers by using the terrain of the Underworld to their advantage. However, the Underworld was vast and boundless, and they had no idea where they were.

After an unknown amount of time, Xu Ying suddenly looked up. In the distance, Divine Statues stood amidst the mountains, towering over the peaks. The air around them was thick with the smoke of Incense and Candlelight. He immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

That was the Yin Court.

If the Yin Court was here, then the Celestial God Hall wasn't far!

Soon after, the trio arrived at the Celestial God Hall. Under the gaze of countless eyes, they cautiously passed through the ancient Divine Hall. To their surprise, they made it through safely, without being challenged or questioned at all.

Outside Ghost Ridge, Yuan Weiyang stopped, a smile blooming on her face. "Xu Demon King, let's part ways here. I should also go back and report to my mother."

Xu Ying stopped, feeling a pang of reluctance. "I am also going to search for the truth of my past. Now that we are parting, I don't know when we will meet again."

Yuan Weiyang hesitated for a moment, then smiled. "I was very happy during the days I spent with you. If you ever come to the Capital, I'll introduce you to my younger sister."

Uncle Xiao stared blankly. He looked at Yuan Weiyang in confusion and thought, 'Isn't my lady an only daughter? Where did this younger sister come from?'