Demon Cultivator with Celestial Book

Chapter 359: Chapter 254: Today’s Inescapable Doom

A gateway to ascension?

Jin Wushu’s eyebrows shot up. As one of the world’s foremost experts, he naturally knew that since ancient times, the Twelfth Transformation of the Mortal Realm, Spirit Refinement, was the pinnacle of human achievement, a point beyond which it was nearly impossible to advance.

Looking back through the millennia, across the long river of time, those who shattered the void to ascend and become an Immortal were few and far between.

Even the leaders of the four great Martial Dao sacred lands mostly passed away with regret, fading into oblivion.

Ascending to become an Immortal was something countless Spirit Refinement Grandmasters who had reached the Twelfth Transformation of the Mortal Realm dreamed of day and night—an obsessive, fervent wish.

Yet even though they threw themselves at it one after another, fearing not a brutal death, very few ever succeeded.

"The Red Sun Grand Master wishes to become an Immortal?"

Jin Wushu’s heart trembled, and shock appeared on his face.

With the "Great Formless Bowl of Observing Life and Extinction," every successive Grand Master of Great Snow Mountain had been a Spirit Refinement Grandmaster at the Twelfth Transformation of the Mortal Realm.

Through generations of accumulation, their foundation had grown ever deeper. Passed down from one generation to the next, they were now, without a doubt, the unparalleled number one of all ages.

This was especially true of the current Red Sun Grand Master, who received his consecration at the age of twenty-two and stepped into the Twelfth Transformation of the Mortal Realm.

He then descended the mountain to travel the world, measuring the lands beyond the pass, and came to be known as a Living Buddha on earth, widely revered and worshipped by his followers.

At thirty-seven, he entered the lands within the pass and engaged in intense debates on the Dao with the ultimate figures from Zhixuan Temple, Skyscraper Cliff, and Vulture Palace, gaining the upper hand every time.

Thus, he secured his position as the number one person in the world.

If not for him, how could the hundred tribes beyond the pass, once like a tray of loose sand, have unified in just a hundred years, raised an elite force of over a hundred thousand iron-clad cavalry, and smashed their way into the pass like splitting bamboo to seize the foundation of the Great Enterprise’s empire?

"That is correct. My master’s cultivation has reached the level of creation itself. His Spirit Refinement has reached Perfection, and he spends his days and nights contemplating the will of heaven.

Three years ago, he sensed an Opportunity, and so he sent me down the mountain."

Sangji’s smile was warm and gentle, making one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze, inspiring an unconscious sense of affinity.

Seated in the host’s chair, Jin Wushu held his breath slightly, knowing this was due to Great Snow Mountain’s secret martial art, the "Heaven-Altering Earth-Striking Grand Technique."

This unparalleled divine art took a different path. It did not cultivate the physical body or nourish the muscles, bones, qi, and blood, but instead delved into the mysteries of the spirit.

Anyone who successfully mastered it would gain all sorts of special abilities, such as Soul Capturing and Spirit Stealing with their eyes, or a transformation of their aura that could unknowingly win people’s trust.

If one achieved Great Success, they would transcend all living beings. Their every move would be like that of a god or Buddha on earth, and they alone could make an army of a million surrender without a fight.

It was said that Wu Changgui, who commanded the two hundred thousand strong Border Army, had his mind bewildered by this strange art from Great Snow Mountain, which was why he opened the city gates and welcomed the Liyang forces into the pass.

Jin Wushu guarded his mind and asked with a serious expression:

"Could the Grand Master’s Opportunity for ascension be related to the descent of the upper god?"

Sangji nodded and replied:

"Indeed. Since ancient times, every martial world legend of shattering the void and ascending in broad daylight has been connected to the upper gods.

But millennia have passed in a flash. The upper gods no longer set foot in the mortal realm; they have vanished without a trace."

Jin Wushu understood in an instant why Great Snow Mountain had ordered His Majesty to spare the imperial relatives of the Great Enterprise.

Skyscraper Cliff has sealed its mountain for a hundred years, and Vulture Palace is nowhere to be found. Under all of heaven, the only "Opportunity" to find the upper gods lay with the Great Enterprise!

’Could it be that Liyang’s invasion of the pass and destruction of the Great Enterprise’s reign were also for this reason?’

The thought sent a chill down Jin Wushu’s spine.

The Spirit Refinement Grandmasters who controlled the sacred lands of the Martial Dao were truly unfathomable; their every word and action held deep meaning.

The Grand General of the North’s eyelids lowered as he spoke hesitantly:

"If the upper god descends, they will surely help the Great Enterprise’s imperial family restore their homeland..."

As if he had long anticipated this, Sangji said slowly:

"Great General, there is no need to worry. The Great Enterprise and the upper god merely share a karmic bond of incense offering. Great Snow Mountain has its own ways to resolve it."

Hearing Sangji’s confident assurance, Jin Wushu relaxed slightly and changed the subject:

"I have long heard that among Great Snow Mountain’s many wondrous martial arts, there is a physiognomy Spell, said to be able to determine fortune and misfortune by reading a person’s face.

I am sixty-nine, approaching the rare age of seventy. I would like to ask Master Sangji to read my fortune and see how many more years of peace I have left to enjoy."

Sangji readily agreed, turning to look at Jin Wushu, who was hale and hearty, his qi and blood vigorous, not at all like a decaying old man.

Those clear eyes, like azure mountain lakes, flickered a few times, and he said softly:

"When reading a face to determine destiny, there are four aspects: ’Nobility,’ ’Balefulness,’ ’Strangeness,’ and ’Antiquity.’

The Great General spent the first half of his life on the battlefield, ever-victorious. This is the aspect of ’Balefulness.’

You reached the highest position a subject can attain, received a noble title, are deeply trusted by His Majesty, and were granted the Red Book Iron Certificate. This is the aspect of ’Nobility.’"

Jin Wushu raised a hand to stroke his beard, a look of satisfaction on his face. He thought of how he had risen from a lowly sheepherder, advancing step by step to his current position, truly living up to the saying, "A true man should accomplish great deeds, worthy of his stature."

"An ordinary Mortal, if they possess but one of these four aspects and seize their opportunities, can escape mediocrity and rise above the rest.

The Great General possesses both Balefulness and Nobility; it was your destiny to soar into the heavens."

Sangji’s eyes grew deep and serene, and his aura shifted slightly.

Jin Wushu did not notice and instead pressed on with a smile:

"May I ask, Master Sangji, how many years do I have left?"

Although he was only at the Tenth Transformation of the Mortal Realm, he was a veteran of many battles. He had tempered and refined the True Form of the Army-Breaker, and had long had one foot in the door of the Eleventh Transformation.

If not for his advanced age and his qi and blood no longer being at their peak, making it difficult to break through, he might have been able to reach an even higher level.

But after being ennobled and granted the title of Great General, Jin Wushu had spared no effort in gathering all sorts of heavenly treasures to prolong his life. His body had remained strong and healthy; living to be one hundred and twenty would be no problem at all.

Sangji answered:

"As I read the Great General’s lifespan, it is sixty-nine."

Jin Wushu froze on the spot, then his brows furrowed tightly.

But he was, after all, a Great General who had fought his way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood. He did not lose his composure and fly into a rage:

"Does Master Sangji mean to say that I will meet a disastrous end this year, that my life is in danger?"

Sangji shook his head and corrected him:

"Not this year, but today."

’Today?’

Jin Wushu was stunned. Even facing a prodigy from Great Snow Mountain, he couldn’t hide the intense, baleful aura gathering between his brows.

Before he could voice his question, the sound of raging waves crashing through the sky approached from the distance.

It was as if someone had moved the Da Long River above the Great General’s manor. Billowing water vapor spread out, forming dark, heavy clouds as thick as mountains.

In an instant, the world was plunged into a dark and stormy gloom!

Jin Wushu had no time to think. He shot to his feet, strode out of the hall, and followed the Qi Mechanism to look up at the sky.

Surging waves and torrents roiled and churned, like a celestial river hanging in the sky. Amidst it all, the valiant and heroic figure of a young woman appeared.

"A divine will? Where did this Spirit Refinement Grandmaster come from? No, she only has half a foot through the doorway to the Twelfth Transformation of the Mortal Realm."

Jin Wushu’s eyelid twitched. Recalling Sangji’s recent prediction, his heart was instantly shrouded in gloom.

’Could it be that today I truly face an inescapable doom?’

Jin Wushu asked in a low voice:

"You’ve made quite a scene coming here. May I ask your purpose?"

According to the Grand General of the North’s temperament, any fool who dared to offend him would have already had their head hanging from the city gates, baking in the sun.

After Liyang invaded the pass and established its rule, many remnants of the Great Enterprise who couldn’t reach the inner palace came to the Northern Marches to assassinate Jin Wushu, only to be ruthlessly suppressed and executed with extreme prejudice.

Among them were many experts of the Eighth and Ninth Transformations of the Mortal Realm.

But this newcomer stood suspended in the air, her presence extraordinary, seemingly a Spirit Refinement master at the Twelfth Transformation of the Mortal Realm.

Such a pinnacle existence was no longer someone who could be opposed by mortal strength.

After consecutively killing Sheng Hailong and Tuoba Long, Yao Yun had gradually developed the bearing of a true expert, and her control over the True Form of Startling Waves had become even more proficient.

She circulated her internal breath slightly, and her every word landed like rolling thunder, shaking the roof tiles of the manor until they rattled and shed dust.

"By divine will, I am here to take your dog’s life. Just accept it peacefully."

Jin Wushu’s face was as dark as water. Knowing he could not resolve this peacefully, he decisively turned back to ask for help:

"Master Sangji, I implore you to help me survive this calamity! I will have no choice but to repay such a life-saving grace. I will certainly make offerings and donations to show my sincerity."

Unexpectedly, Sangji remained motionless and said with a smile:

"When calamity is upon you, it is unavoidable. The Great General can only save himself."

A cold light gleamed in Jin Wushu’s eyes. He couldn’t understand why the prodigy from Great Snow Mountain would stand aside.

After Liyang invaded the pass, they dispatched a million laborers to build a magnificent palace for Great Snow Mountain and offered countless cattle, sheep, gold, and silver to the Red Sun Grand Master every year.

’Shouldn’t the two of them be bound together for good or ill?’

’Flee? Or fight?’

Jin Wushu hesitated for a moment. He was the esteemed Grand General of the North of Liyang. What if he was scared into abandoning his home in a panic by some girl who had appeared out of nowhere?

Not only would he become a laughingstock, losing all face, but he probably wouldn’t have a place at the imperial court anymore either.

’The upper god instructed me to kill this old dog Jin Wushu with a single punch... I absolutely cannot be forced to use a second move.’

After a moment’s thought, Yao Yun wasted no more words. She clenched her fist, merging the internal breath accumulated in her body with her divine will’s True Form, and an overwhelming power exploded forth!

A great river crossed the sky, and a bright moon birthed the tide!

BOOM!

Like a torrent flooding the plains, a brutally powerful fist imprint pressed down!

"This junior has no martial virtue..."

How could Jin Wushu have expected that after he hesitated for only a moment, this girl who had inexplicably appeared at his doorstep would attack?

In less than the blink of an eye, the fist imprint, containing the force of ten thousand jun, crushed dozens of zhang of airflow into dust!

To an outsider’s eye, it looked like a giant waterfall cascading across the sky, enveloping more than half of the general’s manor!

Jin Wushu had no other choice. He had to muster one hundred and twenty percent of his internal breath and raise his palms to meet the attack!

As fist and palm met, the world instantly fell silent, utterly soundless.

After about two or three flicks of a finger, a violent sound erupted. Billowing clouds of dust soared into the sky like rising Jiao-dragons.

Jin Wushu’s face flushed crimson, his chest puffed up high. His boiling blood and qi felt like a river bursting its banks, seeping out of his pores from all over his body.

The Great General’s knees had been forcibly bent, nearly forcing him to the ground. His palms were raised above his head in a stance as if holding up a great cauldron.

’The martial arts created by the upper god are simply inconceivable.’

Witnessing Jin Wushu’s miserable state, Yao Yun’s reverence for the upper god grew even more. She then pushed her True Form of Startling Waves to its limit, and her continuous internal breath washed down like a surging tide!

After only two or three such waves, Jin Wushu could hold on no longer. With a pained cry, all the muscles and bones in his body were pulverized into dust!

’The enemy who helped destroy the Great Enterprise... died just that easily?’

Yao Yun felt as if she were in a dream. In just three short years, had she really killed the "Twin Dragons of Liyang" and now beaten a peerless expert like Jin Wushu to death with a single punch?

RUMBLE... The dull shockwave spread out in all directions like the waves of an angry sea, causing walls to topple and houses to collapse.

Sangji slowly walked out, his robes immaculate. The thick, curtain-like dust clouds automatically parted around him, clearing a pure space three inches from his body.

He placed his palms together and bowed his head slightly.

"Greetings, Emissary of the upper god."

Yao Yun stared at the young monk, a sudden sense of alarm rising in her heart.

Through her divine will’s perception, she could feel a powerful aura slowly brewing within him, its might like a blazing sun, illuminating the ten directions.

Before Yao Yun could speak, the young monk from Great Snow Mountain bowed respectfully, prostrated himself, and kowtowed heavily nine times.

Then he raised his head, his face a mask of utmost piety:

"I beseech the upper god to grant me the Opportunity for ascension."