abnabooks Chapter 37 Ascension
Chapter 37 Ascension
Three months after the Battle of Fengshentai, Ling Chen broke through to the Condensation Realm.
The breakthrough didn't occur in the training room of the Qingyun Sect, nor in some secret realm of the Spirit Realm, but rather at the Broken Sky Cliff—directly beneath the spatial rift that spans the mortal and spirit realms. Three months ago, when they set out from here, the sealing inscriptions at the edge of the rift were still being shattered by demonic energy. Now, the rift has shrunk to less than three zhang wide, and the inscriptions at its edge are as still as ever, with only extremely faint spatial fluctuations emanating from the crack.
After the Divine Realm's array foundation was activated, the Nine Revolutions Demon-Sealing Array stabilized again, and the spatial passage between the Spirit Realm and the Mortal Realm was slowly healing. According to Bai Ze's estimation, in at most another month, this rift would shrink to a point where cultivators could no longer pass through. At that time, the natural passage between the Mortal Realm and the Spirit Realm would be completely closed, and the only way to travel between the two realms would be through a teleportation array—and half of the construction materials for the teleportation array were in the Divine Realm.
Ling Chen sat cross-legged on the boulder directly beneath the crack, with Duan Nian lying across his knees. He had originally come to inspect the crack's healing progress for Jian Xuan's record-keeping, but after sitting down, the chaotic spiritual energy vortex in his dantian suddenly accelerated on its own. The Myriad Paths Returning to Ruins Diagram, which had been in a semi-dormant state after the third seal was completely broken, now seemed to sense some opportunity and slowly unfolded in his dantian. The threshold for the Condensing True Realm is spiritual energy liquefaction—compressing the gaseous spiritual energy in the dantian into a liquid state, with each drop of liquid spiritual energy containing dozens of times the energy of the gaseous state. Ordinary Qi Gathering Peak cultivators attempting to break through to the Condensing True Realm need to prepare a large number of Qi Gathering Pills and at least one Nascent Soul Realm protector in advance, in case spiritual energy liquefaction fails and the dantian collapses.
Ling Chen didn't take any pills. He simply focused his mind on the center of the chaotic vortex, slowly compressing the chaotic origin suspended there. The Myriad Paths Returning to Ruins Diagram absorbed the backlash from the liquefaction of spiritual energy, and the resonance of the three swords formed a stable sword intent barrier around his dantian. The leap from the peak of Qi Gathering to the early stage of True Condensation was, in his perception, not a painful transformation, but a natural progression.
Within a hundred feet radius, all the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was devoured in a mere ten breaths. The spatial turbulence overflowing from the crack in Broken Sky Cliff was swept into the dantian by the Myriad Dao Returning to Nothingness Diagram and transformed into fuel for liquefied spiritual energy. The Qingyun Sect disciples guarding the crack only saw a chaotic pillar of light shoot into the sky from the bottom of the cliff, with the faint phantoms of myriad Dao forms appearing within it. When Jian Xuan arrived at Broken Sky Cliff from the Transmission Hall, Ling Chen had already stood up from the boulder. His aura was completely different from three hours ago—all his sharpness had been concealed, yet he seemed even more unfathomable. The gaseous spiritual energy in his dantian had all been transformed into liquid chaotic origin, the flow rate of spiritual energy in his meridians was several times faster than when he was at the peak of Qi Gathering, and the spiritual energy reserves had increased nearly tenfold.
The Condensation Realm has been achieved.
"Your breakthrough to the True Condensation Realm almost made the Qingyun Sect's protective array think there was an invading enemy." Jian Xuan landed in front of him, his tone still indifferent, but a hint of relief was hidden in his eyes. "The fluctuation of spiritual energy shook open another crack on the sword tablet. That tablet has only cracked three times since the founding patriarch ascended to the present day—the first time was when the patriarch ascended, the second time was when he severed his will and recognized his master, and the third time was when you broke through to the True Condensation Realm. If it cracks again, the Qingyun Sect will have nowhere to test sword intent when accepting disciples in the future."
Ling Chen smiled, picked up Duan Nian from his lap and hung it back on his waist, then asked if there were any new developments in the Sword Profound Divine Realm.
Jian Xuan handed over a newly received jade slip. The slip was from the Central Continent Immortal Sect, signed by Su Qingyuan's master—the sect leader of the Central Continent Immortal Sect, a Mahayana realm cultivator, and the undisputed number one cultivator in the mortal realm. The message was brief. In essence, after the reopening of the divine realm seal, the divine realm passage, dormant for ten thousand years, showed signs of loosening. The Central Continent Immortal Sect, in conjunction with the remnants of the divine realm, had begun preparations for ascension and invited Ling Chen of the Qingyun Sect to participate in the first opening ceremony of the divine realm passage as the master of the Three Swords.
"Ascension." Ling Chen repeated the word. According to ancient records, the God Realm is the highest realm among the Nine Heavens and Three Realms, with a spiritual energy concentration dozens of times higher than the Spirit Realm. However, after the great war between gods and demons ten thousand years ago, the God Realm passage was personally sealed by the Celestial Venerable to prevent the remnants of the Demon Lord from escaping into the God Realm to recuperate. Now that the Demon Lord has been wounded and escaped, the seal has been restarted, and the seal on the God Realm passage has also loosened. For mortal cultivators, the opening of the God Realm passage means an opportunity to enter a higher level of world for cultivation; but for him, the God Realm has another meaning—although the final foundation of the Nine Revolutions Demon Sealing Array was activated at the Conferred God Platform, the core material of the foundation is the Celestial Venerable's natal sword intent, and the true source of the Celestial Venerable's natal sword intent lies in the Celestial Venerable's relics in the God Realm. In other words, the foundation of the Conferred God Platform is the lock, and the relics of the God Realm are the key. The lock has been activated, but only by finding the key can the seal be truly strengthened, preventing it from repeating this mistake.
"Go. When is the ascension ceremony for the Central Continent Immortal Sect scheduled?"
"Seven days later. Su Qingyuan is already on her way. The Frost Condensing Sword sensed your breakthrough and set off ahead of schedule. Ling Chen, the God Realm is unlike the mortal realm—there have been no sects or dynasties there for ten thousand years, only ancient races and shattered void realms left over from the war between gods and demons. The Celestial Venerable's ruins are in the far east of the God Realm, but no one knows their exact location." He paused. "Ascension is easy, but finding a way back to the mortal realm—is very difficult."
"I know."
Ling Chen stood up, put his things into the Myriad Dao Returning to the Void Diagram, and prepared to set off. Just before leaving, he suddenly stopped, turned around, and solemnly performed the master's salute of an inner disciple of the Qingyun Sect to Jian Xuan.
"Elder Jianxuan, I have been a disciple for over a year, and I am very grateful for your guidance. I am about to ascend to immortality, and I do not know when I will return. Please take care, Elder."
Jian Xuan stood with his hands behind his back at the edge of the Broken Sky Cliff. Behind him was a spatial rift that had shrunk considerably. Before him stood the disciple who had risen from a useless nobody to a True Immortal, who had received the sword manual from him, removed the sword tablet, entered the sword tomb, and slain a demon general. He was silent for a moment, then reached out and gently patted Ling Chen's shoulder: "Go. Do you still remember the 327th rule of the Qingyun Sect's inner sect?"
"Members of the Sword Pavilion will never abandon their fellow disciples."
"Your senior brother surnamed Xiao and junior brother surnamed Han will also go to the God Realm—they say they want to follow you and conquer the Three Realms. I've approved it. When you get to the God Realm and encounter opponents you can't defeat, don't force it. Although the sword mark on the back of your hand is broken, what your sword attendants taught you is still intact. Also—your two attendants," Jian Xuan's tone suddenly became somewhat meaningful, "when the God Realm passage opens, it will simultaneously activate the remaining traces of their past lives within them. The seal on past life memories is bidirectional—you can see their past, and they will see yours. Don't let the past crush you."
Ling Chen paused for a moment, then bowed again. He enveloped his entire body in the chaotic light of the Myriad Dao Returning to the Void Diagram, transforming into a streak of azure-gold sword light as he sped towards the Central Continent Immortal Sect. Behind him, the sealing inscriptions on the edge of the Broken Sky Cliff's fissure shimmered gently in the aftershocks of the True Condensation Realm spiritual power, like countless silent eyes bidding him farewell.
The Ascension Platform of the Central Continent Immortal Sect is located atop Tongtian Peak, at the very center of the Central Continent. The entire mountain was leveled by a single sword strike from generations of powerful figures within the sect, and its summit is covered with star-patterned stone slabs inscribed with ascension runes. At its center stands an ascension gate, tens of feet high. The gate frame is forged from ancient divine iron, and the lintel bears the four ancient seal characters "Passage to the Divine Realm," personally inscribed by the Celestial Venerable ten thousand years ago. Normally, the gate contains only a deathly still void, but today, that void is slowly rotating, forming a pale golden vortex. With each rotation of the vortex, the spiritual energy in the air thickens, and hundreds of auxiliary spirit stones on either side of the ascension gate simultaneously glow, enveloping the entire Tongtian Peak in a dazzling golden halo.
Su Qingyuan stood at the edge of the ascension platform, her white robes as pure as snow. The Frost Condensing Sword still hung at her waist, its cracks completely repaired, and the ice crystal pendant on the tassel had been replaced with a larger one—her natal ice essence, refined from her dantian after breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm. According to the rules of the Central Continent Immortal Sects, a Holy Maiden's natal ice essence was a betrothal gift or dowry upon her future marriage. She hung it on the sword tassel, and the elders collectively fell silent, then pretended not to notice.
Xiao Lie and Han Tie stood not far behind Su Qingyuan. Xiao Lie had already broken through to the mid-stage of the Condensation Realm, and his Crimson Flame Sword bore the sword mark from the battle of the Conferred God Platform. Han Tie's cultivation had also advanced to the peak of the early stage of the Condensation Realm, and his right arm, where it had been bandaged, now had a faint golden sword mark—a scar left after he withstood the aftershock of the Demon Lord's attack on the Conferred God Platform. He thought it looked bad, but several female disciples from Luoxia Valley said it added to his masculinity, so Han Tie decided he would never remove it.
Liu Yuan stood at the very edge of the crowd, sword untouched. He had once handed the soft sword to Ling Chen, saying, "Here you go," but Ling Chen returned it, saying, "Here's your sword back. You must repay the debt of life you owe the sect." Jian Xuan had given him a chance to atone, allowing him to enter the God Realm as an unofficial observer with the ascension team. His task was to record the spatial fluctuations after the opening of the God Realm passage, and to continue investigating any remaining network of Shadow Demon Generals' former subordinates in the God Realm. He still had much debt to repay, but at least the sword was in his hand, no longer wreathed in demonic energy.
Bai Ze also arrived, sitting on a hastily moved boulder next to the Ascension Platform, slowly sipping a pot of tea. Ghost Cry Mountain needed rebuilding, and the Netherworld Ship was stationed outside the Spirit Realm rift, awaiting orders. Yin Lin had been left in the Spirit Realm to oversee the reorganization of the remnants of the demon race. As for why he himself had come—in his own words, having lived a long life without ever visiting the God Realm, he wanted to go and see it while he could still move, and incidentally serve as a guide for the reincarnation of the Heavenly Venerable. In any case, most of the remnants of the God Realm still recognized the Demon Emperor's decree; they might not be good at fighting, but they were good at guiding.
Ling Chen glanced at the crowd, counted the steps of the ascension platform, and strode up to the summit. Presiding over the ascension ceremony was the master of the Central Continent Immortal Sect—Su Qingyuan's master, an elderly man at the Mahayana Realm with white hair and beard. He sized up Ling Chen a few times, his gaze lingering for a moment on the three attendant swords at Ling Chen's waist, before nodding slightly without saying anything more. The gathering of the three swords, the reincarnation of the Celestial Venerable, and the reopening of the divine realm's seal—these messages had already been relayed back to Central Continent through Su Qingyuan, so there was no need to elaborate.
"After the Ascension Gate opens, you will enter the outer void of the God Realm. That is a chaotic, undifferentiated void turbulence zone. You will need to rely on the resonance of the Three Swords to locate the Heavenly Venerable's relics in order to find the passage to the God Realm itself. After ascension, if the relics cannot be found within three months, the spatial passage will close automatically. At that time, you will be stranded in the God Realm for at least a hundred years until the next seal loosens. Are you all ready?"
Ling Chen looked behind him. Xiao Lie and Han Tie simultaneously raised their swords, their blades flashing in a golden halo. Liu Yuan opened the blank jade slip in his hand, indicating that the recording module was ready. Bai Ze put down his teacup, stood up from the boulder, dusted off his robe, and tossed a Demon Emperor Token to Ling Chen—in case they encountered an ancient race in the God Realm that only recognized the Demon Emperor and not the Heavenly Venerable, this token would be more useful than the three swords.
Ling Chen turned to Su Qingyuan. She was already standing directly in front of the Ascension Gate, the tip of her Frost Condensation Sword touching the ground, the icy blue sword intent flowing across the blade sensing the spiritual energy fluctuations of the divine realm passage and faintly glowing.
"Enter."
The seven stepped into the golden vortex one by one. The spatial tearing sensation was completely different from that of a teleportation array; their consciousness seemed to be stripped away for a moment. The instant his feet touched solid ground again, Ling Chen could see the world before him clearly—the void. An endless void. There was no sky above, no earth beneath his feet; all around were chaotic spatial turbulence, with only the outlines of a few floating islands faintly visible in the far distance. The largest of these islands was covered in ruins, and one could vaguely make out the remains of a city once occupied by the human expeditionary force during the war between gods and demons ten thousand years ago. Scattered lights could be seen within the city, indicating the presence of living people.
"The remnants of the divine realm. Descendants of the expeditionary force trapped in the divine realm during the war between gods and demons ten thousand years ago. For generations, they have guarded those ruined fortresses, waiting for someone who can reopen the passage to the divine realm to take them back. They have waited for tens of thousands of years. The Demon Emperor's decree is more effective than the Three Swords in front of them. Their ancestors were veterans of the expeditionary force under the Demon Emperor."
Ling Chen gripped the Demon Emperor's Token tightly, gazing up at the faintly visible outline of the city walls in the distance. Golden light flowed slowly across the token's surface, as if in response to something. Behind him, the golden vortex slowly closed, isolating the light of the mortal realm outside the spatial barrier.