119: Ascension, the raid is starting!

One month later.

With over a hundred thousand Disciples, this divine mountain was brimming with life and vitality everywhere.

On the Martial Arts Field, newly admitted Disciples were sweating profusely under the guidance of Inner Sect Senior Brothers, practicing the most basic sword techniques.

In the medicine garden, Gongsun Yan led a group of Disciples passionate about the Dao of Alchemy, carefully tending to those Immortal Plants that had long since vanished from the outside world.

Inside the Scripture Repository, Bai Jinnian held a lecture. Thousands sat below as he cited classics and explained profound cultivation principles through the simplest of stories.

The entire Sect operated as efficiently and orderly as a precision machine tuned to its optimal state... Main Peak, small courtyard.

Chu Xuanjin was lying on a rocking chair, watching his two newly recruited Disciples.

Chen Qianhuan remained taciturn, silently wiping an Immortal Grade dagger that Chu Xuanjin had casually bestowed upon him. The Killing Intent on him had been replaced by a more restrained sharpness.

Hua Ying sat to the side, clumsily learning the method Gongsun Yan had taught her to water a Spiritual Plant. The coldness on her face had long since melted away, replaced by a cautious cherishing of her new life.

During this month, Chu Xuanjin hadn't taught them any Cultivation Techniques.

He simply let them live here, watching, listening, and feeling.

Feeling the care of their Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters, feeling that unique atmosphere within the Sect known as "home."

For these two children who had struggled in darkness for half their lives, this was more important than any divine technique or secret method.

[Ding! Detected that the Host's Sect Disciple count has exceeded one hundred thousand. Hidden achievement "Unify Azure Cloud Continent" completed!]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: Achievement Grand Gift Pack * 5!]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: Divine Ability — "Greater Teleportation Technique"!]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: Divine Ability — "One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones"!]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: Immortal Realm common currency 'immortal jade' * one million!]

The familiar screen-clearing sound of the System echoed in Chu Xuanjin's mind once again.

He didn't even bother to lift an eyelid.

"Open all gift packs and throw everything into the warehouse."

He muttered to himself and ignored it further.

Resources?

Resources were what he lacked least right now.

In the Sect treasury, various Heaven And Earth Treasures were piled high like mountains. Wang Duojin was so worried he lost hair every day, not knowing how to list them all in the ledgers.

Instead, those two new Divine Abilities piqued his interest slightly.

Greater Teleportation Technique: crossing Star Domains in a single thought—a god-tier escape skill.

One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones: a supreme Divine Ability of the Daoist gates. It could create two Clones with strength equal to the original body. Whether for fighting or slacking off, it was top-tier.

"Not bad. I can send a Clone to meetings in the future."

Chu Xuanjin nodded with satisfaction.

He was about to doze off again when he suddenly felt that the rejection force from the world had intensified a bit more.

Like a balloon being constantly inflated, it had reached the brink of bursting.

"Sigh."

He let out a sigh.

It seemed the time had come.

With a thought, an invisible order was instantly transmitted to the minds of every Elder and the other seven Personal Disciples of the Sect.

"Gather at the Sect Master Hall for discussion."

...Half an hour later.

Inside the Sect Master Hall, the atmosphere was solemn.

Nine Personal Disciples, including Ye Chenfeng, Su Linger, and Wang Duojin, stood in two rows.

Dozens of core Sect Elders, including Shi Potian, Enforcement Elder, and Chi Lan, stood below.

Everyone's gaze converged on the figure upon the main seat, a figure that made them feel as if they were looking up at a towering mountain.

"You're all here."

Chu Xuanjin's gaze swept across those below.

"I have summoned you all today to announce one thing."

He paused. His voice was calm, yet it exploded in the hall like a clap of thunder.

"I am about to undergo Ascension."

Within the hall, there was instant, dead silence.

Everyone was stunned, their minds going blank.

Ascension?

Although they all knew this day would come sooner or later.

When it actually arrived, it still stirred up massive waves in everyone's hearts.

"Revered Master!" Wang Duojin was the first to react, his eyes instantly reddening.

"You... how can you just leave like that! If you go, what will we do!"

His shout brought everyone back to their senses, and the hall was immediately filled with suppressed sobs and pleas for him to stay.

"Our Myriad Dao Divine Sect cannot do without you!"

"Enough." Chu Xuanjin raised his hand. His voice wasn't loud, but it instantly quelled all the noise.

"Weeping and wailing, where is your decorum?"

"I am going to the Upper Realm to enjoy life, not to my death. Who are you showing those mourning faces to?"

He changed the subject.

"Besides, who said I was leaving alone?"

Everyone was taken aback.

Chu Xuanjin's gaze swept over Ye Chenfeng, Zhao Wuyou, Su Linger, Ye Wushang, Zhao Wuji, and six Elders including Chi Lan, all of whom had already reached Mahayana Perfection.

"All those whose cultivation has reached Mahayana Perfection shall undergo Ascension with me."

Boom!

This news was even more explosive than the previous one!

Ascending together?

What kind of concept was that!

Since ancient times, those who ascended had all gone through narrow escapes, tearing through the Heavenly Dao alone to head to the unknown Upper Realm.

The Sect Master actually wanted to take a group of people and ascend as a team?

Ye Chenfeng and the others who were named were first stunned, and then uncontrollable ecstasy and excitement surged onto their faces!

To be able to follow in their Revered Master's footsteps to that broader world was something they had dreamed of!

"Your Disciples obey!" Ye Chenfeng and the others bowed together, their voices powerful and resonant.

In the crowd, Wang Duojin's face instantly slumped.

He was... Mahayana Middle Stage.

Just a tiny bit away!

Just that final step!

He felt as if his heart had been ruthlessly stabbed, the pain making it hard to breathe.

"Ma... Revered Master..."

Wang Duojin walked out tremblingly, forcing a smile that looked worse than crying.

"Um... you see, I'm only a tiny bit away from Mahayana Perfection."

"How about you wait a bit longer? Or... give me some more benefits?"

"Look at me these past few years, working myself to the bone for the Sect until my heart stops. Even if there's no glory, there's at least the hard work, right?"

Seeing Wang Duojin's pitiful appearance, Chu Xuanjin felt it was both funny and a bit heart-wrenching.

"You brat." He shook his head.

"Do you think I don't want to take you with me?"

"Forcibly elevating you will only ruin your path of the Dao."

"Staying in the Lower Realm is the best choice for you."

Hearing this, Wang Duojin fell silent.

He knew his Revered Master would not lie to him.

But he really wasn't reconciled!

"Revered Master!" He suddenly looked up, his eyes full of determination.

"Rest assured! Two and a half years at most! No! One year! I will definitely reach Mahayana Perfection through my own ability!"

"When that time comes, I will go to the Upper Realm to find you!"

"You must conquer a vast territory for me in the Upper Realm and save a good position for me!"

"Fine." Chu Xuanjin looked at him and nodded.

"I will wait for you in the Upper Realm."

He then looked at Zhao Wuji.

"Wuji, you are ascending with me. As for the throne of Great Chu..."

Zhao Wuji stepped forward, his expression calm.

"Reporting to Revered Master, I have already made proper arrangements."

"The throne will be inherited by a candidate selected by the Elders' Council from among the Inner Sect Disciples. State affairs will also be assisted by the Inner Cabinet; there will be no chaos."

"Good." Chu Xuanjin was very satisfied.

These Disciples finally didn't let him down.

He stood up.

"In that case, everything that needed to be said has been said."

"Ye Chenfeng, Zhao Wuyou, Su Linger, Ye Wushang, Zhao Wuji, Chi Lan... all those who are ascending with me, step forward."

"Follow me and ascend to the heavens!"

...Myriad Dao Divine Mountain, back mountain.

At the peak of a neglected, solitary highest summit.

Chu Xuanjin appeared out of thin air with over ten people.

"This is the place."

He looked around and waved his hand casually.

An invisible barrier that enveloped the entire mountain peak rose from the ground, isolating all internal and external auras.

"Alright." Chu Xuanjin looked at everyone.

"Release your suppression."

"Let this world see the grandeur of our Myriad Dao Divine Sect."

Ye Chenfeng and the others looked at each other and smiled.

The next second, more than ten terrifying auras that had been suppressed for years and had already accumulated to the peak erupted simultaneously!

Rumble—!

The entire Azure Cloud Continent shook violently at this instant!

Above the endless firmament, winds and clouds rolled back, and the sun and moon lost their light!

Thick, purple-black tribulation clouds, as massive as mountain ranges, converged frantically from the depths of the Void Realm!

That world-destroying pressure made every living being on the entire continent tremble!

"Heavens! This is... this is a Heavenly Tribulation!"

"What terrifying pressure! Who is undergoing a tribulation? Could it be one of the Old Ancestors of the Myriad Dao Divine Sect?"

"No! This power is a hundred times more terrifying than what was recorded in ancient texts when that great expert ascended a hundred thousand years ago! This is simply not a Heavenly Tribulation that a single person could attract!"

Countless old monsters in seclusion were shocked into breaking out, looking at the sky in horror.

They saw that in the center of the tribulation clouds, purple-black Thunder Dragons formed from pure Laws of Destruction were roaring and churning!

The aura of each Thunder Dragon was enough to easily strike a Mahayana stage Cultivator into a state where their Divine Soul was utterly extinguished!

And right now, within those tribulation clouds, there were thousands of such Thunder Dragons!

Doomsday!

This was a true scene of doomsday!

Just as all the Cultivators on the continent thought this world was about to be destroyed.

Above Tianxu City in the Central Continent.

A divine mountain shrouded in mist and vast Immortal Qi manifested in the world once again!

On the divine mountain, a figure in green robes stood with hands behind his back, looking up at the churning tribulation clouds with a calm gaze, even carrying a hint of disdain.

The tribulation clouds above the firmament seemed to have found an outlet for their venting and instantly became violent!

"Roar—!"

A dragon roar that shook the nine heavens!

A purple-black destructive lightning pillar, formed from the convergence of over ten thousand Thunder Dragons and so massive it was beyond description, tore through the sky. With a terrifying power enough to sink the entire continent, it slammed down towards that divine mountain!

The entire continent lost all sound at this moment.

In everyone's eyes, only that single light of destruction that pierced through heaven and earth remained.

It's over.

These words surfaced in everyone's hearts.

However, facing this world-destroying strike.

On the divine mountain, the figure in green robes merely slowly raised his hand.

Toward that lightning pillar, he gently flicked a finger.

"Disperse."

---

The End!