Ascension Day

It was a sigh of lamentation for the world's constant changes and for the Immortals who lived through it all.

On the drifting Naihe River, the Yin Court Emperor's Tower Ship sailed against the current, heading toward the Underworld.

Soon after, the Tower Ship stopped, arriving by the side of the Naihe Bridge.

The Yin Court Emperor disembarked, his Primordial Spirit drifting onto the Naihe Bridge to queue up behind a crowd of Ghost Souls. The Ghost Souls at the front were drinking tea, while those at the back would shuffle forward a step from time to time.

After an unknown amount of time, it was finally the Yin Court Emperor's turn. He took the offered teacup, but just as he was about to drink, a sudden alarm went off in his mind. 'I almost fell for it!'

The Yin Court Emperor, after all, possessed vast Divine Powers. He immediately resisted the allure of the Meng Po's Soup, set down the teacup, and laughed heartily. "Meng Po, this joke of yours has gone a bit too far!"

The old woman shakily raised her head and chuckled. "The Emperor isn't holding court, so have you come to my humble place seeking reincarnation? If you wish to be reincarnated, you must drink a cup of my tea. Not even an Emperor is an exception."

The Yin Court Emperor knew she had never answered to any authority, was not part of the Yin Court's forces, and had a different origin. He said, "Meng Po, We will not quibble with you over this. We have come today for one reason: We wish to know about the old man with the Cyan Paper Umbrella who comes to you for Meng Po's Soup every so often. What is his background?"

Meng Po raised an eyebrow, glancing at him sideways. "Your Majesty, you are an ant trying to shake a great tree, asking about things you shouldn't know. If I were to tell you, I would be doing you harm."

The Yin Court Emperor was furious. He said coldly, "Are you saying that even We are not qualified to know?"

Immortal Light erupted from his body like blazing fireworks, fierce and brilliant, making him seem like an Immortal descended in person—profound and unfathomable!

On the Naihe Bridge, the dazed and witless Ghost Souls had never witnessed such a spectacle. They were so terrified they dropped to their knees, not daring to move an inch!

The Yin Court Emperor's aura surged, growing ever stronger. He said coldly, "We possess an Immortal Body, exiled to the Mortal World to enjoy the Incense and Candlelight of humanity and receive the worship of countless generations! We control the Underworld Celestial Court and the Divine Dao of the Mortal World. The Divine Spirits under Our command number in the millions! And you say We... are not qualified?"

Meng Po said flatly, "That's right."

It was as if she didn't feel the Yin Court Emperor's terrifying pressure at all. She said faintly, "Your Majesty is a Pseudo-Immortal, half-dead and half-alive. Putting on airs here in my presence is useless. Have the person backing you come out, and I will tell them the truth. Your Majesty had best go back and ask for instructions."

"You!"

The Yin Court Emperor was enraged and wanted to strike, but the feeling this old woman gave him was one of utter unfathomability!

He turned, flicked his sleeve, and departed. 'So the background of that old man who fed Xu Ying the Meng Po's Soup is that significant?' he thought. 'He's a Qi Refiner, but his power isn't necessarily greater than mine. Why is Meng Po so secretive about him, unwilling to mention his background?'

On Wuyang Mountain, Xu Ying gazed into the distance. With three hundred and sixty Celestial Gods fighting for their lives to help, Zhou Qiyun's Celestial Tribulation was proceeding with suspense but without true danger. The tribulation clouds in the sky were gradually thinning.

This Celestial Tribulation, which had captured the world's attention, was finally about to end.

Xu Ying's Heart Spirit surged with excitement. He smiled at Da Zhong and said, "Once Zhou Qiyun crosses the tribulation and becomes a Flying Immortal, he'll be the first Nuo Immortal to achieve Ascension. By then, the dust will have settled. Even if the Master of the Mud Pill Palace were to act, he wouldn't be able to do a single thing to him."

Although his relationship with Zhou Qiyun wasn't good, and Zhou Qiyun had threatened his life on several occasions, Zhou Qiyun had never actually made a move. Xu Ying had also learned a great deal from him.

While he certainly held some resentment toward Zhou Qiyun, it was overshadowed by his admiration and appreciation.

The tribulation clouds in the sky were rapidly shrinking. The final strike was at last upon them!

Watching the bolt of lightning—as thick as the main peak of Jiuyi Mountain—descend, Xu Ying's heart pounded in his chest. He smiled and said, "In his last letter, Elder Zhou said that if he ascends, my life would be safe. It seems I no longer need to worry."

Da Zhong remarked with emotion, "That man is truly a great and ruthless figure."

The moment the words left their mouths, they saw the tribulation clouds in the sky disperse. A beam of Ascension Radiance descended from the heavens, showering down upon Jiuyi Mountain.

The light was sacred and holy, its colors magnificent. It contained mysteries that could not be deciphered as it fell upon Zhou Qiyun, who stood at the summit of Jiuyi Mountain.

A smile touched the corners of his mouth. He had finally passed this tribulation of Ascension.

Crossing the Tribulation this time had exhausted the wealth he had accumulated over the past two hundred years: countless Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, innumerable Magical Treasures of Ancient Qi Refiners, and the flesh and blood of ancient creatures!

Three hundred and sixty Celestial Gods had protected him while he crossed the tribulation. Even these lofty Celestial Dao Incarnations had been severely wounded as a result!

Zhou Qiyun himself was also gravely injured.

His Mud Pill Secret Treasury and his Nine Great Grotto Heavens were in tatters. His Flesh Body's Mysterious Domain was riddled with holes, and his Primordial Spirit had been struck so hard it had nearly shattered.

But he had finally won. He had survived and passed through this great tribulation.

At this moment, he desperately wanted to find someone to talk to, a friend to confide in. He wanted to vent the soaring spirit in his chest, to pour out the exhilarating feeling in his heart!

He gazed up at the Ascension Radiance falling from another world beyond the sky. Suddenly, the image of Xu Ying appeared in his mind's eye. He chuckled softly and murmured, "He's watching me cross my tribulation, isn't he? For some reason, I feel the urge to confide in him. Is it because he's also a Snake Catcher?"

Could it be that he also comes from Lingling and has shared the same fate as me?

"Perhaps not."

'It must just be my admiration for him,' he thought. 'A youth this outstanding is a rare sight these days. Seeing him is like seeing myself back then.'

In the sky, the Celestial Gods took advantage of the descending Ascension Radiance to fly high into the air, following the beam of light back to the Heavenly Dao World.

The Immortal Realm was above the Heavenly Dao World.

For the Immortal Realm and the Mortal World, the Heavenly Dao World was a layer sandwiched between the two.

Zhou Qiyun looked up. The enormous bodies of the Celestial Gods were blocking the Ascension Radiance, but he wasn't worried.