93: One-Sword Man 5

These were two true experts whose strength had reached the Peak of the First Heaven, even showing faint signs of a Breakthrough.

Although their coordination wasn't deliberate, their combination of offense and defense, speed and stability, formed a perfect complement.

Qin Jiuge took half a step back, and his saber finally left its sheath completely; the black blade seemed capable of swallowing all light.

The saber light was no longer just a single beam but transformed into a black storm that completely enveloped the two men.

"What kind of saber technique is this?!"

The Middle-aged Saber User said in horror, finding that all his attacks were easily neutralized and all his defenses were rendered useless.

The Young Swordsman's expression also changed drastically; his sword light dissolved like ice and snow before the black saber storm.

"Retreat!"

Both men retreated simultaneously, wanting to create distance.

But Qin Jiuge's figure followed them like a shadow, the saber light clinging to them like maggots on a bone, relentlessly pursuing.

Three breaths later, the battle ended.

The Middle-aged Saber User's saber broke in two, his throat slit; the Young Swordsman's heart was pierced.

"Good... saber..."

The Young Swordsman spat out his last two words and fell dead.

Qin Jiuge turned and walked toward the exit; with a flash of light, he appeared on the Life and Death Stage.

Nine people were already standing on the stage, including Zhang Tie.

When Qin Jiuge appeared, everyone's eyes focused on him.

On the high platform, the Heavenly Lord of the First Heaven looked down at the final ten, a look of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

"Congratulations on becoming the top ten of this competition."

His voice echoed throughout the venue,

"You will gain the qualification for Ascension to the Second Heaven, escaping your fate at the bottom from now on and stepping into the true world of Martial Arts!"

Thunderous cheers erupted from below the stage,

It was the audience cheering for the Martial Artists they supported,

And the people at the bottom cheering for dreams they could never realize.

But Qin Jiuge knew how much of these cheers were false hope and how much was blind faith.

Ascension?

It was nothing more than a higher-level slaughterhouse.

But he didn't care, because his purpose in coming here was to kill his way up to the Ten Heavens and cut down all injustice.

"The Ascension ceremony will be held in three days."

The Heavenly Lord announced,

"During these three days, you can enjoy the best treatment the First Heaven has to offer; this is the reward you deserve."

The ten people were led off the stage and sent to the best residences in Dustlight City.

Each person was assigned an independent courtyard, with servants to attend to them, fine food and wine, and beautiful women to accompany them.

But Qin Jiuge refused all service, sitting alone in the courtyard, wiping his saber.

Zhang Tie came to see him once, excitedly saying he had finally obtained the medicine to save his mother.

But Qin Jiuge knew that the medicine was just a temporary placebo; how could a true Spirit Medicine appear in the First Heaven?

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

On the day of the Ascension ceremony, the ten people were brought to a high platform.

In the center of the platform was a glowing teleportation array, said to be the passage to the Second Heaven.

"Step into the teleportation array, and you will begin a new life!"

The Heavenly Lord announced loudly,

"Go, warriors, and pursue a higher Dao!"

Nine people walked excitedly toward the teleportation array, with only Qin Jiuge walking at the very back.

The moment he stepped into the teleportation array, he looked back at the sky of the First Heaven.

Gray, oppressive, and hopeless.

But he knew that the Second Heaven, Third Heaven... all the way to the Ten Heavens, were all just larger cages.

"Just wait,"

He whispered,

"I will kill my way up layer by layer until I completely overturn this sky."

The light flared brightly, and the figures of the ten people disappeared into the teleportation array.

The Heavenly Lord of the First Heaven looked at the empty teleportation array, a cruel smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

"Excellent consumables... The lords of the Second Heaven should be satisfied."

What he didn't know was that what he sent up this time was not a submissive consumable, but a Devil King who would turn the Ten Heavens upside down... The dizziness of the teleportation lasted for about three breaths.

When Qin Jiuge's senses returned, he found himself standing in a completely unfamiliar place.

This was a white jade square, the ground smooth as a mirror, surrounded by towering buildings that reached the clouds, with carved beams and painted rafters, magnificent and resplendent.

The concentration of Spiritual Qi in the air was more than ten times that of the First Heaven; every breath made one feel refreshed.

This was the Second Heaven.

The nine people who had teleported with Qin Jiuge, including Zhang Tie, were greedily breathing the air here, their faces filled with excitement and joy.

"So this is the Upper Realm... the Spiritual Qi is so dense!"

A Martial Artist said excitedly.

"I can feel my Bottleneck loosening! Cultivating here for one year is worth ten years in the First Heaven!"

"Ascension is real! We've finally escaped our fate at the bottom!"

Everyone cheered and jumped for joy, only Qin Jiuge's expression remained calm, his Divine Sense having already swept across the entire square.

Standing around the square were twelve silver-armored guards, each with an aura thirty percent stronger than the strongest Martial Artist in the First Heaven.

On the high platform, a middle-aged man in purple robes stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at these "ascenders" with an arrogant expression.

"Quiet."

The purple-robed middle-aged man spoke; his voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable authority.

The square fell silent instantly.

"I am Zhou Tong, the 'Reception Envoy' of the Second Heaven."

The purple-robed middle-aged man said indifferently,

"Welcome to the Second Heaven."

"The fact that you ten could stand out from millions of contestants proves you are qualified to enjoy better resources and pursue a higher Dao."

His gaze swept over the ten people, pausing slightly when he saw Qin Jiuge.

This blind man actually ascended too?

"According to custom, ascenders need to bathe in the 'Dust-Washing Pool' to wash away the filth of the Lower Realm before they can officially become residents of the Second Heaven."

Zhou Tong pointed to a palace on the west side of the square,

"Follow me."

The ten people followed Zhou Tong toward the palace; Zhang Tie quietly approached Qin Jiuge and whispered:

"Brother Qin, I feel like something is wrong..."

"Mm."

Qin Jiuge just gave a brief response.

Inside the palace was a huge pool with milky-white water that emitted a faint fragrance.

Eight maids stood by the pool, holding clean clothes.

"Take off your old clothes and enter the pool to bathe."

Zhou Tong commanded.

Nine people excitedly stripped off their clothes and jumped into the pool.

Only Qin Jiuge stood by the pool, motionless.

"You're not bathing?"

Zhou Tong frowned.

"No need."

Qin Jiuge said calmly.

Zhou Tong's face darkened:

"This is the rule; all ascenders must bathe and wash away the dust."

Qin Jiuge's Divine Sense swept over the pool water and found a special medicine added to it,

Capable of temporarily suppressing a Martial Artist's True Qi circulation, making them weak and powerless.

Obviously, this was to make it easier to control these "Materials."

"I said, no need."

Qin Jiuge repeated, his hand already on the hilt of his saber.

The atmosphere became tense instantly.

The nine people in the pool also sensed something was wrong, but after soaking in the water for a while, they already felt weak all over, their True Qi circulation sluggish.

"You!"

A flash of anger appeared in Zhou Tong's eyes, but it was quickly suppressed,

"Fine, since you are unwilling to bathe, we will proceed directly to the next step."

He clapped his hands, and more than twenty silver-armored guards suddenly emerged from around the palace, surrounding the pool.

At the same time, the palace doors slammed shut.

"Lord Zhou, what is the meaning of this?"

A Martial Artist in the pool asked in panic.

Zhou Tong sneered:

"What's the meaning? You really thought Ascension was for you to enjoy yourselves? Too naive."

He walked to the edge of the pool, looking down at the nine terrified people inside:

"The Second Heaven never lacks Martial Artists; what it lacks are 'Materials'—Materials for Alchemy."

"Wh... what?!"

Everyone's expressions changed drastically.

Zhang Tie finally understood; his father's warning before he left was true! Ascension really was a scam!

"As for you,"

Zhou Tong looked at Qin Jiuge,

"I was going to let you live a little longer, but since you're looking for death, I'll start with you."

He waved his hand:

"Take him down!"

Four silver-armored guards lunged at Qin Jiuge, their spears thrusting out like venomous snakes, blocking all his paths of evasion.

Qin Jiuge finally drew his saber.

The moment the black saber left its sheath, the temperature of the entire palace seemed to drop several degrees.

The saber light was like ink, drawing four arcs in the air.

"Puff, puff, puff, puff!"

The four silver-armored guards' movements froze; their throats were slit simultaneously, and blood gushed out.

Fast! Too fast!

So fast that even Zhou Tong didn't see clearly how Qin Jiuge had struck!

"You..."

Zhou Tong's face changed drastically,

"You're not a Martial Artist of the First Heaven! Who exactly are you?"

Qin Jiuge didn't answer, just slowly walked toward Zhou Tong.

His bamboo staff had been cast aside; although he was blind, those empty eye sockets seemed capable of seeing through everything.

"Kill him!"

Zhou Tong roared.

The remaining silver-armored guards all rushed at Qin Jiuge, spears like a forest, cold light flashing.

Qin Jiuge's figure wove through the forest of spears; every time the black saber swung, someone was bound to fall.

His saber technique was simple to the extreme—just basic slashes—but with the enhancement of Devilish Qi, every strike carried the power to cut through everything.

Within ten breaths, all twenty-plus silver-armored guards were on the ground, with no survivors.

The nine people in the pool were stunned; they had never seen such terrifying slaughter.

Qin Jiuge was like a walking god of death; wherever he passed, life was harvested like weeds.

Zhou Tong was finally afraid; he turned to flee, but a saber light had already slashed toward his legs.

"Ah!"

Zhou Tong screamed as his legs were severed at the knees, and he tumbled to the ground.

Qin Jiuge walked up to him, the tip of his saber pressing against his throat.

"Speak, where is the Heavenly Lord of the Second Heaven?"

Qin Jiuge asked calmly.

"You... what exactly do you want to do?"

Zhou Tong asked in terror, enduring the intense pain.

"Kill him, and then go to the Third Heaven."

Qin Jiuge's tone was as flat as if he were talking about what he was going to eat today.

Zhou Tong was stunned, then laughed maniacally:

"Hahaha... Madman! You're a madman!"

"You think killing the Heavenly Lord of the Second Heaven will let you go to the Third Heaven?"

"The passages between each heaven are strictly controlled; without the Heavenly Lord's permission, it's impossible to pass through!"

"That's not for you to worry about."

Qin Jiuge's saber moved forward an inch, piercing Zhou Tong's skin,

"Tell me, where is the Heavenly Lord.""}],