Ascension Day

The bamboo-hatted old man's expression changed drastically. He flew up and shot backward!

BOOM!

A giant white Go stone fell from the sky, crashing down on him and giving him no room to dodge.

The bamboo-hatted old man roared. The Phoenix Platform materialized behind him—his Hidden Scenery. He pushed his Cultivation to its absolute limit and, with a flick of a brush, a Phoenix roamed upon the Phoenix Platform. A Fire Phoenix beat its wings and flew out to meet the white stone falling from the sky!

The white-robed old man picked up another piece and placed it on the board. His expression was grim as he muttered to himself, 'That time, a wicked thought crossed my mind. I wanted to see if this giant meteorite of mine could crush him to death! If he died, we would be free… I am a dignified Qi Refiner, a favored son of the heavens, meant for greatness and glory. I didn't want to be trapped by this for the rest of my life!'

PAK!

The piece landed heavily on the board. Meanwhile, the second stone that fell from the sky blasted the bamboo-hatted old man, scattering his aura and shattering the hat on his head to pieces!

'I just slammed it down like this!'

The white-robed old man's face twisted with ferocity, a vicious glint in his eyes. He picked up a third white stone and placed it on the board, his features contorted. 'And what do you think happened? An army of hundreds of thousands of Nuo Masters, vaporized without a trace! My piece landed right on him, smashing him in the forehead, you know?'

The old man, his bamboo hat now destroyed, struggled to fight back against the third stone falling from the sky. The impact made him vomit blood, and he staggered away, fleeing frantically down the street.

The white-robed old man picked up a fourth white stone and slammed it violently onto the board. He said coldly, 'But he just climbed out of the massive crater I'd made, acting like nothing had happened. That's when I knew he was a monster, an undying monster!'

BOOM!

The fourth stone fell from the sky, slamming the old man to the ground. His straw rain cape exploded. The old man, now bare-chested, climbed up from the mud and blood. He stumbled forward, using the houses along the street for support as he ran.

'This monster must not be allowed to awaken. It must not...'

The white-robed old man did not deliver a killing blow. The table, the chair, and the man himself slowly rose into the sunlight. He said sorrowfully, 'Now, I'm just a donkey he's tethered to the Mortal World. A donkey that can never untie its own rope...'

At the same time, in another part of the Guo Mansion, an expressionless youth rode on a donkey. As the donkey walked, the youth's body swayed from side to side.

Ahead of them, a crimson robe flared brighter than fire, like a great red curtain billowing in the air. It grew larger and larger, its coverage expanding until it gradually blotted out all sight for the youth and his donkey.

The youth and the donkey walked into the red curtain.

A moment later, the donkey charged out from the red curtain, carrying the heavily injured youth on its back. It brayed into the pouring rain, "My boy, my boy—Father's been hurt! My boy, come quick, Father's been hurt!"

Elder Zhu shot out from the side, quickly grabbing the donkey's reins. He was both shocked and furious. He hastily lifted the expressionless youth down and called over other Zhu Family disciples, shouting, "Take this Donkey Demon away and slaughter it! We'll eat it tonight! It'll help my father recuperate!"

Several Zhu Family disciples were about to kill the Donkey Demon when the expressionless youth, his breath as faint as a thread, stopped them. "He saved my life."

Elder Zhu hesitated for a moment, then said, "Take Lord Donkey away and serve him the finest fodder."

「North Gate of the Guo Mansion.」

The Chai Family Ancestor, a smile on his face, held a Cyan Paper Umbrella as he walked through the downpour with a light step, his demeanor carefree.

Ahead, in the torrential rain, a sorrowful-looking old man stood before the north gate, his face a mask of misery as he sighed repeatedly.

A moment later, the sorrowful old man left the Guo Mansion, holding the Cyan Paper Umbrella and sighing. Behind him, the Chai Family Ancestor was sprawled out in the rain, his arms and legs outstretched.

'A fine umbrella.'

The sorrowful old man looked up, examining the umbrella's ribs with a gentle gaze. 'Although it's not as good as mine, it's not bad... Damn umbrella thief!'

Once he was far away, the sound of splashing water could be heard. SPLASH SPLASH SPLASH. A crowd of Chai Family disciples rushed out from the darkness. They scrambled to lift the unconscious Chai Family Ancestor and carried him away into the downpour.

In the Second Divine Capital, Xu Ying took in every one of these scenes.

————Biiig... okay, not a big chapter. I'll get back to writing and try to get the second chapter out on time!