Chapter 105 New Regulations

After breaking through to the Mahayana Peak, Emperor Cao Xukun became the undisputed "ceiling" of the Xuanhuang Mortal Realm, and even the Heavenly Dao had to act according to his mood.

However, the chaotic state of ascension for cultivators in the Xuanhuang Mortal Realm had become the most troublesome issue at hand—previously, there were no unified ascension channels, so cultivators either blindly barged into spatial rifts or snuck through illegally, resulting in missing limbs at best, or being torn apart by spatial turbulence at worst, with hundreds of cultivators dying on the path of ascension every year.

This day, Emperor Cao Xukun brought Li Tieniu and Crown Prince Cao Hao to the old site of the ascension platform outside Luoyang.

They saw that the area was littered with rubble, with spatial rifts visible everywhere and occasional streaks of turbulence flashing past; a few daring cultivators were wandering around aimlessly with compasses, trying to find a gap for ascension.

"Holy crap! These people are really risking their lives!" Li Tieniu pointed at a cultivator who had almost been swept away by turbulence and exclaimed, "This crappy place is like a sieve, and they dare to rush into it? I don't think they want to ascend; they want to go straight to reincarnation!"

Crown Prince Cao Hao sighed, "That is true, Father. Previously, the Xuanhuang Mortal Realm was divided, and no one managed ascension, which is why it has become like this. Last month, three cultivators at the Mahayana Stage in the Western Desert tried to rush through a spatial rift together, and they were all torn to pieces, leaving not even their souls behind."

Emperor Cao Xukun nodded, his gaze sweeping indifferently over the chaotic area, "It is time to reorganize. The rules of the Xuanhuang Mortal Realm must be set by me. From today on, all private ascension channels are abolished, and official ascension platforms will be established uniformly. All cultivators must hold a permit to ascend."

"Hold a permit to ascend?" Li Tieniu scratched his head, "What kind of permit? An ascension license?"

"Exactly." Emperor Cao Xukun smiled, "I intend to establish one hundred and eight official ascension platforms across the five regions of the Xuanhuang Mortal Realm, with each platform guarded by designated personnel. If cultivators wish to ascend, they must first register at the local government office, pass an assessment, and obtain an ascension license before they can ascend at the designated time and designated ascension platform."

"I have already ordered the three ancient guardian clans to take action and mobilize all the Chaos Stones and Star Iron; within three days, all one hundred and eight ascension platforms will be completed."

As soon as he finished speaking, Emperor Cao Xukun slowly raised his right hand. The pressure of the Mahayana Peak erupted, and the spiritual energy between heaven and earth gathered frantically. With a tap of his fingertip, a golden beam of light shot into the sky and landed in the center of the old ascension platform.

"In the name of the Master of the Xuanhuang Mortal Realm, I decree: The first official ascension platform of the Xuanhuang Mortal Realm, rise!"

In an instant, the earth shook violently, and countless Chaos Stones surged from underground, automatically stacking themselves into a ninety-nine-zhang-tall white jade ascension platform. The platform was carved with Chaos runes and teleportation array patterns, and a huge Star Stone was embedded at the top, emitting a soft light. The spatial rifts around the ascension platform healed instantly, and the turbulence disappeared without a trace.

"Holy cow! That's awesome!" Li Tieniu widened his eyes, "Emperor Xuan, you built an ascension platform with just a wave of your hand? This speed is faster than me building a house! If craftsmen were to build it, it would take at least half a year!"

"Basic operation, don't be surprised." Emperor Cao Xukun said indifferently, "The remaining one hundred and seven will rise simultaneously across the five regions. From today on, there will be no more talk of illegal ascension in the Xuanhuang Mortal Realm."

Just then, a sharp piercing sound came from the sky. A young man dressed in white immortal robes, with six pairs of white wings on his back, slowly descended while stepping on auspicious clouds. He had a handsome face, held an Ascension Scepter, and was surrounded by a faint aura of the Immortal Realm, his pretentiousness fully maxed out.

This person was none other than Ling Yunxiao, who called himself the "Ascension Saint Lord," and was also the last surviving Son of Destiny of the Heavenly Dao. He had awakened the bloodline of an ancient ascender and could travel through space freely, having made a fortune by helping cultivators ascend illegally. Upon learning that Emperor Cao Xukun was going to establish official ascension platforms, which cut off his source of income, he had come specifically to cause trouble.

"Emperor Cao Xukun! You have a lot of nerve!" Ling Yunxiao pointed at Emperor Cao Xukun and roared sternly, "Ascension is a right granted to cultivators by the Heavenly Dao; how dare you interfere with it at will? You actually dare to build private ascension platforms and monopolize ascension channels; this is simply acting perversely and going against the heavens!"

"I am the Ascension Saint Lord, the manager of ascension for the Xuanhuang Mortal Realm personally appointed by the Heavenly Dao! All matters of ascension should be under my control! Tear down these crappy platforms immediately and hand over the management rights of ascension, otherwise, I will trigger the Immortal Realm's thunder punishment and strike you dead, you traitor!"

Following behind him were hundreds of rogue cultivators who made a living from illegal ascension, who raised their weapons and jeered, "The Ascension Saint Lord is invincible! Emperor Cao Xukun, get lost! Return our right to free ascension!"

"Why should we listen to you when you say no illegal ascension? We want to ascend on our own!"

Li Tieniu was so angry that his nose was crooked; he brandished his giant axe and cursed, "You birdman! You have the nerve to call yourself the Ascension Saint Lord? You help people ascend illegally, take half of their net worth, and how many cultivators have died because of you? Do you have any self-awareness? Now that Emperor Xuan has built safe ascension platforms, you come to cause trouble just because your source of income has been cut off; you are purely a black-hearted capitalist!"

"Insolent!" Ling Yunxiao was furious and waved his hand, sending a white spatial blade straight at Li Tieniu.

Crown Prince Cao Hao was quick-witted and drew his sword to block in front of Li Tieniu. With a "clang," Crown Prince Cao Hao was knocked back three steps, the webbing between his thumb and index finger splitting open.

"You have some skill, but that's about it." Ling Yunxiao looked disdainful, "Emperor Cao Xukun, are you only capable of hiding behind children and subordinates? If you have the guts, come out and fight me one-on-one! If you can beat me, I will never interfere with ascension matters again; if you can't, then obediently tear down the ascension platforms and get back to your palace!"

Emperor Cao Xukun slowly turned around, looking at Ling Yunxiao with an indifferent gaze, without a ripple of emotion. The pressure of the Mahayana Peak quietly spread out, and the whole world instantly became quiet. The rogue cultivators behind Ling Yunxiao turned pale, kneeling on the ground, unable to even lift their heads.

Ling Yunxiao was also trembling all over, feeling as if he were being pressed by a huge mountain, making even breathing difficult. Yet he still braced himself to act tough, "Emperor Cao Xukun! Don't think you are amazing just because your cultivation is high! I am the Ascension Saint Lord; I can communicate with the Immortal Realm, and the Heavenly Dao will help me! If you dare to touch me, the Heavenly Dao will not let you off!"

"The Heavenly Dao?" Emperor Cao Xukun sneered and walked slowly to him, "In the Xuanhuang Mortal Realm, I am the Heavenly Dao. My words are the laws of the Heavenly Dao. Your so-called management rights of ascension are nothing but an excuse for your swindling."

He extended a finger and tapped lightly.

"Crack—!"

The six pairs of wings behind Ling Yunxiao snapped instantly, and white feathers flew all over the sky. The Ascension Scepter in his hand also broke into two pieces and fell to the ground.

"Ah—! My wings! My scepter!" Ling Yunxiao let out a shrill scream and collapsed to the ground, "You actually dare to destroy my Ascension Saint Body! I'll fight you to the death!"

He violently urged the power within his body, wanting to trigger spatial turbulence to perish together. But he discovered that the surrounding space had been completely imprisoned, and he couldn't even mobilize a trace of spiritual energy.

"I said, the rules of the Xuanhuang Mortal Realm are set by me." Emperor Cao Xukun's tone was cold, "From this day on, all cultivators in the Xuanhuang Mortal Realm must abide by the 'Ascension Management Regulations.' Anyone who dares to ascend illegally will have their cultivation abolished and be forbidden from ascending for eternity; anyone who dares to collect ascension fees privately will be treated as guilty of treason and have their nine generations exterminated!"

He flicked his fingertip, and a golden beam of spiritual energy shot into Ling Yunxiao's dantian. Ling Yunxiao's cultivation instantly vanished, and he became an ordinary person.

"Considering that you haven't caused any loss of life, I will abolish your cultivation and banish you from the core area of the Xuanhuang Mortal Realm. If there is a next time, I will definitely execute you without mercy."

"I don't accept this! I am the Ascension Saint Lord! I don't accept this!" Ling Yunxiao roared hysterically, but he was dragged away by guards. The rogue cultivators who had followed him to cause trouble were scared out of their wits and knelt on the ground, "Your Majesty Emperor Xuan, spare us! We know we were wrong! We will never dare to ascend illegally again! We will definitely abide by the regulations and hold a permit to ascend!"

"Get up." Emperor Cao Xukun waved his hand, "Considering this is your first offense, I will spare you this time. Go back and tell all cultivators that in three days, the one hundred and eight ascension platforms will officially be put into use, and the 'Ascension Management Regulations' will be implemented simultaneously. Those who want to ascend, hurry and go to the local government office to register for the assessment."

"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!" The rogue cultivators felt as if they had received a pardon and scrambled away.

Just then, one hundred and seven golden beams of light lit up in the sky, spreading across the five regions of the Xuanhuang Mortal Realm. The one hundred and eight white jade ascension platforms rose from the ground simultaneously, echoing each other from afar, forming a huge ascension formation that enveloped the entire Xuanhuang Mortal Realm.

Emperor Cao Xukun waved his hand, and a bright yellow imperial decree appeared out of thin air, hovering above every ascension platform, with the contents of the "Ascension Management Regulations" clearly written on it:

1. Cultivators in the Xuanhuang Mortal Realm who reach the Mahayana Stage may apply for an ascension assessment at the local government office; after passing the assessment, they will receive an ascension license;

2. All cultivators must ascend at the designated ascension platform and at the designated time; it is strictly forbidden to break into spatial rifts privately;

3. It is strictly forbidden to carry contraband when ascending, and it is strictly forbidden to maliciously damage the ascension platforms;

4. After ascending, one must report to the Great Xuan office stationed in the Immortal Realm and submit to the management of Great Xuan;

5. Anyone who violates the above regulations will have their cultivation abolished and be forbidden from ascending for eternity.

"Long live Emperor Xuan! Long live Great Xuan!"

Cultivators everywhere knelt on the ground one after another, cheering loudly. Previously, ascension was a matter of nine deaths and one life, but now with safe official ascension platforms and clear rules, they no longer had to gamble with their lives.