Day of Ascension

Chapter 46 - Silver Linings and Hidden Truths

Xu Ying sighed inwardly. Escape was impossible. The Zhou clan’s old ancestor, Zhou Qiyun, was a legendary figure and the most powerful existence in the world.

Xu Ying had no hope of fleeing from him.

A sense of absurdity filled his heart. Zhou Qiyun was a snake catcher over three hundred years ago. While hunting a strange snake, he accidentally entered the Qin Yan Cave and obtained the Mud-Pill Palace’s legacy.

More than three hundred years later, Xu Ying, another snake catcher, had entered the Qin Yan Cave because of a strange snake.

An unseen force seemed to connect them through a wondrous twist of fate.

With a light wave of his hand, Zhou Qiyun lifted the five bull demons silently and set them to the side. Granny Zhou Yu endured her injuries and struggled to her feet. She took her place beside him and remained silent.

Xu Ying sensed a stream of mysterious power surge through him. It dispelled the Scattered Bean Soldiers technique and restored him to normal. Yuanqi also returned to his original form.

Zhou Qiyun approached Xu Ying, examined him from top to bottom, and said, “You unlocked your Mud-Pill Secret Trove, yet you didn’t practice his cultivation techniques? Of course, I took all the scriptures worth keeping and burned the rest. You never inherited his legacy."

Xu Ying was momentarily dazed.

This matter should have been shameful, yet Zhou Qiyun spoke of it so openly that he seemed like a villain with nothing to hide.

Xu Ying asked, “Senior Zhou, why did you burn away the life’s work of the Mud-Pill Palace’s master?”

Zhou Qiyun walked ahead and said calmly, “Back then, I entered Qin Yan Cave to catch a strange snake and stumbled into the stone chamber by chance. I was overjoyed to obtain the legacy of the Mud-Pill Palace. I even kowtowed to the white skeleton and accepted him as my master.

“I thought I would rise above my station and never catch snakes again. But the chamber contained countless scriptures: martial arts, divine abilities, all kinds of inheritances.

“I couldn’t take them all with me. I also didn't want to leave them for future generations, much less let someone wander in and learn the same things I did. So, I steeled my resolve and burned everything I couldn’t take with me!”

Xu Ying furrowed his brow slightly as he followed Zhou Qiyun.

Zhou Qiyun smiled. He clearly believed that he had merely done what was natural and nothing wrong.

Walking leisurely, he said, “I knew the secrets within Qin Yan Cave were of grave importance. If anyone discovered the Mud-Pill Palace Grotto Heaven and its unfathomable legacy, they might follow the clues back to me. So, I left a scripture and a gourd of elixirs behind.”

Deeply shaken inside, Xu Ying cried out, “You left behind the gourd of elixirs Yuanqi’s grandfather found!”

“Yuanqi’s grandfather?” Zhou Qiyun glanced at Yuanqi in surprise. “You’re that strange snake’s grandson? Hahaha, it seems the affinity between our families runs deep.”

Yuanqi was equally shocked and exclaimed, “You chased my grandfather and drove him into Qin Yan Cave? He often talked about you before he died. He said he never would have discovered the cave within Qin Yan Cave if not for that snake catcher. He never would have become a demon either."

Zhou Qiyun smiled. “Your grandfather became a demon because of me. The master of Mud-Pill Palace left many spirit elixirs in the stone chamber to help me build my foundation in cultivation. Since that strange snake led me there, I left a gourd of elixirs for him."

“After consuming it, his spiritual sentience awakened. I still remember leaving him a scripture known as the Great-Sun Guiding Method. It was one of the few cultivation techniques for demons among his collection.”

Yuanqi quickly added, “The Great-Sun Guiding Method also includes a martial art known as the Elephant-Bull Demon Fist!”

Zhou Qiyun thought for a moment, then said, “That martial art should indeed be there. I had ulterior motives back then. I figured that if I could find this place, others could as well.

“If they discovered that the treasured collection of the Mud-Pill Palace’s master had fallen into my hands, they would do everything possible to eliminate me and take it. So I gave that strange snake the elixirs and the Great-Sun Guiding Method.”

Yuanqi still didn’t understand, but Xu Ying caught on and said, “Great plan, Senior Zhou. Even if someone found this place, they would assume the strange snake had inherited the legacy. They would think that was all there was and stop investigating."

Yuanqi finally understood and cried out, “You used my grandfather as a scapegoat!”

Zhou Qiyun said indifferently, “Would you have existed if I hadn’t left behind that gourd of elixirs and cultivation technique?”

Yuanqi fell silent.

Xu Ying asked, “Senior Zhou, how old were you back then?”

Zhou Qiyun glanced at him. “About the same age as you are now.”

Xu Ying sighed with admiration. “I’m nowhere near as meticulous as you. You considered so many possibilities in such a short time. You think far ahead."

Zhou Qiyun sighed. “I later realized I had been too cautious. No one went to Qin Yan Cave at all, and no one cared about a snake turning into a snake demon. Meanwhile, I gradually rose to prominence in Lingling County. By the time I reached adulthood four years later, I was already the strongest person in Yongzhou.”

A dilapidated temple came into view ahead. Xu Ying looked closer, and his heart skipped a beat. It was the Water Entrance Temple.

Now the temple was no longer atop the massive fissure. Instead, it had shifted thirty li south!

Xu Ying’s heart jolted. The dilapidated temple is shifting toward Mount Wu Wang! It seems the white-clothed Exorcist Immortal knows I live there. Fortunately, he still doesn't know that Mount Wu Wang has already suffered a disaster!

Heading straight toward Water Entrance Temple, Zhou Qiyun continued, “I opened my eighth grotto heaven at the age of fifty-seven, unlocking the eighth level of my Secret Trove. At that time, I was the most prominent rising star of exorcism art across the Divine Land.

“Emperor Zhidao Dasheng Daming Xiao personally met with me, patted my head, and praised me as an all-around genius. Since I could grasp one concept and understand them all, I was worthy of that praise."

Xu Ying’s heart stirred. Being acknowledged by everyone as a genius was indeed something to take pride in.

Zhou Qiyun stepped through the Water Entrance Temple’s doors. The temple was no longer a gateway to a different world. Instead, it was an ordinary temple, no different from any other.

“Eighth level at the age of fifty-seven... It wasn’t until I was one hundred forty-three that I unlocked the ninth level. Everyone claimed that I was a washed-up genius, mocking and humiliating me.

“The truth was that I had discovered a trap hidden within the cultivation techniques by the master of the Mud-Pill Palace.”

Zhou Qiyun walked straight toward the central hall with a sorrowful expression on his face.

Xu Ying furrowed his brow slightly. “A trap? What trap?”

He suddenly recalled what had happened when he unlocked his Mud-Pill Secret Trove and immediately realized. “Senior Zhou, did the master of the Mud-Pill Palace help you unlock your Mud-Pill Secret Trove?”

Now in the central hall, Zhou Qiyun gently flicked his sleeve, and the space shook. The central hall and the rippling space parted to both sides.

As the space shook violently, lightning clashed, and thunder roared constantly. Rolling fire and thunder burst from the space distortion, erupting with boundless energy!

Xu Ying watched in terror as Zhou Qiyun opened the path to the other world hidden within the Water Entrance Temple, revealing the five immortal mountains and the grand temple!

Yuanqi gasped in awe. “The Zhou clan’s ancestor is so powerful!”

Granny Zhou Yu glared at the huge snake viciously. Yuanqi barked, “Keep glaring at me, and I’ll have Ah Ying’s ox whip[1] you!”

Granny Zhou Yu shuddered and glanced at the five bull demons behind Xu Ying timidly.

Xu Ying looked around and noticed that the world of the dilapidated temple had undergone significant changes since his last visit. The huge boulders suspended in the sky and the enormous chunks of flesh flailing with blood-vessel-like tentacles were both gone.

Instead, crimson flesh writhed on the five immortal mountains. Thick, muscular threads crawled on the mountains like blood-colored pythons, seemingly still growing.

Xu Ying felt a chill in his heart. That evil Exorcist Immortal must have devoured many people’s flesh and blood! After being devoured himself, he’s trying to seize the flesh and blood of others to resurrect himself!

Clouds formed beneath Zhou Qiyun’s feet and lifted the group into the sky. With leisurely steps, he strolled toward the grand temple between the five immortal mountains.

He said, “When I kowtowed to the remains of the Mud-Pill Palace’s master inside the stone chamber, the skeleton suddenly raised its hand and pointed a finger at my glabella, unlocking my Mud-Pill Secret Trove.

“That was indeed a trap. I realized it when I unlocked the fifth level. So, I destroyed all five grotto heavens and started cultivating from scratch. I nearly died in the process.”

Xu Ying withdrew his gaze, filled with both shock and admiration. “Senior, you’re someone with great courage, perseverance, and wisdom. Unlocking five levels of your Secret Trove and achieving five grotto heavens already makes you a dragon amongst men.

“That alone made you worthy of becoming a regional military governor and shouldering immense responsibility. Yet, you destroyed it without any hesitation and cultivated it all again from the beginning. Your talent is truly astonishing!”

Zhou Qiyun said, “You’ve also unlocked your Mud-Pill Secret Trove. Did the skeleton point at your glabella when you kowtowed to it?"

Shaking his head, Xu Ying replied, “Why would I kneel to him? I can unlock the Mud-Pill Secret Trove myself. Why would I need to ask others for help?”

His tone carried a hint of quiet confidence.

Zhou Qiyun glanced at him in surprise. A moment later, he continued, “The trap I was referring to was a trap hidden within the cultivation technique. After unlocking the Secret Trove, it's difficult to draw out its power without a corresponding cultivation technique.

“When I was fifty-eight and preparing to break through to the ninth level, I discovered the flaw and broke out in a cold sweat."

By then, they had already arrived at the grand temple. Its doors stood wide open. Wind and rain raged outside, while the flying waterfall had become even more frightening. The thousands of divine abilities hidden within the waterfall were on the verge of eruption.

In addition, several hundred gods, each seven to eight zhang tall, stood before the doors. They all radiated a murderous aura. Incense qi swirled around them, and chants echoed from them like roaring thunder.

Through the wide-open doors of the grand temple, one could see the white-clothed Exorcist Immortal sitting upright before the immortal hall. His white hair fluttered in the wind as immortal light, sharp as swords, encircled him, as if he were facing a formidable enemy.

The moment Zhou Qiyun stepped into the Water Entrance Temple, Chen Mianzhu had sensed his arrival. He knew this newcomer possessed unfathomable strength and harbored hostile intentions.

So, he had laid down an inescapable net of heaven and earth in front of the grand temple long ago, quietly waiting for Zhou Qiyun and the others to arrive.

Zhou Qiyun ignored this formidable setup and bowed slightly toward Xu Ying. “My apologies.”

With that, he floated up gracefully, as if transformed into a streak of immortal light. He weaved through the erupting waterfall and hundreds of murderous gods.

In the next moment, he appeared within the grand temple, just before the immortal hall.

Before the white-robed Exorcist Immortal, Chen Mianzhu, could rise to his feet, Zhou Qiyun tapped him on his glabella with a finger. Immediately, the skin on his back burst open. Essence poured from him. He rapidly withered, collapsing into a shriveled sheet of human skin that drifted backward.

Smack!

The human skin hung in the main hall of the immortal hall, sticking closely to the wall.

Xu Ying’s heart skipped a beat. Dazhong’s voice echoed in his mind. “Ah Ying, this man is incredibly powerful! With just one finger, he shattered the evil Exorcist Immortal’s resentment and killed him completely!”

Zhou Qiyun turned his head back to look at Xu Ying, as if he had sensed something unusual.

Dread filled Dazhong. “He noticed me!”

Xu Ying’s heart tightened as well. Wearing a smile, he stepped forward. Just as he arrived before the temple, the Radiant Vestige waterfall containing countless Manifestations of the Great Dao suddenly fell apart. Simultaneously, the heads of the hundreds of majestic gods exploded with a loud bang!

Before he could reach the temple doors, the dust had already settled.

Xu Ying was astounded. Earlier, I only saw his figure rush forth like a flash of lightning, but I couldn’t see when he struck and shattered everything. That evil Exorcist Immortal is also a pitiful person.

Zhou Qiyun stood in the immortal hall with his hands clasped behind his back. Facing away from Xu Ying, he looked up at the human skin pinned to the wall.

He quietly waited for Xu Ying to approach and said, “I discovered a massive flaw hidden within Exorcist cultivation techniques, but he didn’t. As a result, even while living in seclusion within his land of sublimation, he was caught off guard and was devoured. Heh, his skills were inferior to his opponent's. He deserved his fate."

Xu Ying arrived behind him. Upon hearing this, he cried out, “You mean this Exorcist Immortal’s exorcism art contained a trap that allowed someone else to devour him? But who could have known a trap existed within the cultivation technique?"

As he spoke, he suddenly came to a realization.

The one who knew of the trap in the cultivation technique was naturally the one who created it!

Beads of cold sweat broke out on his forehead as he recalled the Mud-Pill Palace Master’s legacy. If the Mud-Pill Palace Master had unlocked his Secret Trove, or he had practiced the master’s cultivation technique, wouldn’t that be the same as walking into a trap and placing his life in the other party's hands?

Zhou Qiyun waved his hand, and the human skin drifted down.

He examined the human skin carefully and said, “Do you know how I escaped the trap of the Mud-Pill Palace’s legacy?”

Just as Xu Ying was about to shake his head, a flash of inspiration struck him. “Demonic art! No, it’s Qi Cultivators’ techniques!”

Zhou Qiyun looked up at Xu Ying in surprise, the corner of his eye twitching. After a moment, he finally said, “You’re so clever that, for an instant, I felt the urge to kill you. I'm not accustomed to seeing people smarter than myself."

He paused for a moment, then picked up where Xu Ying had left off, “That’s right. It’s the Qi Cultivators’ techniques. After discovering the trap, I pondered bitterly for a long time, but I never found a way to resolve it.

“For eighty-six whole years, I traveled far and wide, searching for traces of Exorcist Immortals. During this time, I found the Radiant Vestige land of sublimation of a total of seventeen Exorcist Immortals.”

He exhaled a breath of turbid air and said calmly, “They all died within their land of sublimation without exception. Heh, the so-called ascension into a miniature immortal realm within one’s body is nothing but a joke!”

1. There’s a double meaning here in Chinese, meaning he’ll get Xu Ying to slap her with his dick. Ox whip literally means a bull’s penis. ☜