Chapter 537: Ascension Tribulation Arrives
Chapter 537: Ascension Tribulation Arrives
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A massive airborne fortress, absurdly huge, broke through the clouds, its pale golden prow cutting through the air like the jaw of a colossal beast. Disciples stood along the deck’s edge, gazing into the distance, as the thousand-zhang-long ship slowly skimmed past the mountain ridges. The fierce wind fluttered their robes, creating a wildly elegant scene.
Chen Huaian stood at the very front of the Golden Scale Flying Fortress, his dark robe billowing in the wind. Beside him was Li Qingran, wearing a cyan long skirt with a thin shawl draped over her shoulders.
Behind him, three gigantic masts—each as thick as a hundred men embracing—creaked with a teeth-grinding sound.
Golden tadpole-shaped runes shimmered faintly on the surface of each mast, glowing softly under the stimulation of spiritual energy.
This grand entrance and overwhelming presence instantly silenced everyone along the Dragon Spring Mountain Range.
All eyes were wide with shock, staring at the enormous flying vessel in the sky. Even the three Real Person Jade Compassion’s incarnations sitting cross-legged on the main peak couldn’t help but glance sideways.
When Rice Bucket saw the flying fortress, she froze completely. The divination coins in her hand clattered onto the bluestone floor, and her mouth, agape in shock, could easily fit an egg inside.
“W-What is Sword Master Chen planning to do?!”She roughly estimated the size of the flying ship, realizing it was entirely within the range of the thunderclouds.
Although the Heavenly Eye would definitely only open above her head, wouldn’t such a dazzling golden flying fortress be targeted and struck down?
“I still haven’t eaten enough.” After a moment, Rice Bucket sighed upon regaining composure. “Eating just one high-grade spirit vein was too merciful of me.”
What did such a large flying fortress imply?
It meant Sword Master Chen was immensely wealthy, with money to spare!
After the moment of regret, Rice Bucket’s lips curved into a subtle smile.
Although the Moon Shadow Sect’s actions were a bit exaggerated, it was good that they came. At least they could have a final farewell with everyone.
Unbeknownst to them, on a western mountain peak, a group of Demon Race, or more precisely, a single Demon Race member, completely lost their composure the instant they saw that flying fortress.
“Ahhhh! My children!” The Roc Sage stared at the flying ship, his eyes bloodshot with rage, struggling fiercely. He shouted to the other four Demon Sages blocking him, “Do not stop me! Today, I will reduce the Moon Shadow Sect to dust and ashes!”
“Old Peng, calm down! We’re currently under the Ascension Tribulation!” The Mountain-Moving Sage pleaded patiently. “Besides, that ship’s hull isn’t necessarily made from Golden-Winged Roc feathers. This place is over a million li from the Hundred Thousand Mountains’ depths. Even a Great Ascension Stage cultivator would take a long time to fly there. We’ve been near Cangbo Mountain this whole time. If the Sword Pavilion’s Ancient Ancestor had really shown up, we’d know, wouldn’t we?”
“You know nothing!” The Roc Sage trembled with fury. “Can’t I feel if my children’s aura is on that flying ship? It must be that Sword Pavilion Ancient Ancestor sneaked into the Hundred Thousand Mountains while we were distracted! Killing my children and using their skins to make the flying fortress!”
The four Demon Sages exchanged glances and reluctantly believed the Roc Sage’s words more than before.
The connection between bloodlines could never be mistaken. Could it be that the Sword Pavilion Ancient Ancestor was truly that formidable?
To sneak under the noses of both them and Tu Shan Yue, the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon Sovereign, and head into the Hundred Thousand Mountains? Then skin the entire Golden-Winged Roc family?
Such audacity!
Were they not afraid of exposure?
That was indeed a blood feud to the death. The Mountain-Moving Sage was the first to release his grip, followed by the Manifestation Sage, Venomous Foe Sage, and Black Wind Sage.
With the four Demon Sages no longer blocking him, the Roc Sage immediately surged forward a few steps.
He stopped and looked back in shock. “Why… why aren’t you stopping me anymore?”
The Mountain-Moving Sage sighed with regret. “The hatred of a slain child is an irreconcilable grudge. I understand your pain. Go, Old Peng. I will care for your wife… Oh, sorry, your wife is probably also material for the flying ship now.” His words carried a sorrowful tone.
The Manifestation Sage took over. “Dapeng, the hatred for a slain wife is also irreconcilable. Go, I will care for your concubine!” Looking up, he noticed the peacock feather hanging from the sword cultivator statue at the ship’s prow and his expression darkened. He sighed, “Sorry, it seems your concubine didn’t escape either…”
The Roc Sage’s expression flickered unpredictably before he finally withdrew.
“Dapeng, why… why aren’t you going to avenge them?” The Black Wind Sage asked in disbelief. “Aren’t you furious? Don’t you hate them?!”
“I do!” The Roc Sage ground his teeth in rage. “But attacking now would be suicide. If I die, I can’t avenge my children! So… what I have to do now is survive and stay alive!”
Upon hearing this, the four Demon Sages looked at the Roc Sage with disdain.
The Roc Sage’s face flushed slightly but he pretended not to see.
…
“Why does it feel like there’s murderous intent?”
Chen Huaian looked around, but inside the thundercloud’s range, the heavenly mechanisms were chaotic, and his spiritual perception couldn’t fully extend. He wasn’t sure if it was just a feeling.
They couldn’t advance any further.
Three hundred zhang from Dragon Spring Mountain was already the best viewing distance. Within three hundred zhang, the thunderclouds roiled like ink, collapsing into a vortex around the three figures atop the mountain.
Though three hundred zhang away was still within the thundercloud coverage, no lightning flashed within the clouds there, so it should be safe.
Besides, even if it wasn’t safe, the Electronic Girlfriend system claimed it shared the same “underwear” as the Heavenly Dao of the Cangyun Realm—there was no way it would strike him.
“Reef the sails!” He raised his hand and tapped the ship’s side. The twelve giant sails made from cyan jade rhinoceros leather immediately rolled up.
The flying fortress stabilized in midair, ceasing its advance. The wildly swirling spiritual energy inside the ship gradually calmed.
“That’s Sword Master Chen? Truly peerless elegance!”
“Nowadays, Sword Master Chen can be called the top sword cultivator in the Cangyun Realm, right?”
“Is that Qingran Fairy beside him? So beautiful!”
Inside the Dragon Spring Mountain Range, the cultivators looking up at the sky whispered among themselves.
The Qingyun Ancestor stared at the figure at the flying fortress’s prow, mesmerized, contemplating when to approach and get closer.
Yet, she felt deeply inferior due to the gap in cultivation.
Once, her cultivation had allowed her to speak with Chen Huaian.
Now, compared to him, she was but a speck of dust. After living so long, she still had to keep her dignity.
Among the crowd, a resentful gaze also appeared.
The sect leader of the Xuanhe Gate, Real Person Yuyao, disguised as the Celadon Daoist Nun, stared darkly at the flying fortress.
She hadn’t expected that in less than half a month, Chen Huaian would already have cultivation at the Great Ascension Tribulation stage.
How had he cultivated?
Heavenly Dao infusion?!
If this continued, would she not even be worthy to tie his shoes?
For now, she could still fight him. She had to strike first!
“However, today is senior sister’s day to sever the three corpses and ascend. No major battle can be waged.” Yuyao touched her chin, pondering.
After Real Person Jade Compassion’s ascension was complete, regardless of success or failure, she would settle the score with the Sword Pavilion Ancient Ancestor!
Boom—!
At that moment, a tremendous roar echoed from deep within the thunderclouds.
As if a giant were striking a huge bell, the heavens and earth trembled violently.
Golden lightning flickered deep within the clouds, like a slumbering beast slowly opening its ferocious eye.
In fact, it was indeed an eye.
The Thunder Eye, representing the Heavenly Dao’s way of slaughter.
When the Thunder Eye appeared, the power of the Heavenly Tribulation multiplied exponentially, with the Ascension Tribulation being the strongest!
Real Person Yuyao’s heart trembled as she stared at the Thunder Eye, a stabbing pain radiating through her body.
Even she, a Great Ascension Stage cultivator, could not withstand the Thunder Eye’s might. Some weaker cultivators were already trembling uncontrollably, their minds lost as they knelt to the ground.
Countless Great Ascension Stage cultivators had died beneath the Thunder Eye throughout history.
Now, the Thunder Eye was fixed mercilessly on the three figures atop Dragon Spring Mountain, seething with killing intent!
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