The moment Blue Goat grabbed the True Martial Exorcising Sword, the immortal blade instantly erupted with immortal might, radiant light billowing like dawn. As Blue Goat waved the sword, auroral light poured in from all directions, following the sword’s glow.
The radiant light danced with the swordlight, and in an instant filled the Blue Goat Palace!
The glow drifted between the realms of yin and yang, weaving and intersecting. Even in the underworld where Black Pot stood, those rainbow-like streaks of light flew past him at high speed—mysterious, beautiful, and unbelievably deadly!
Without thinking, Chen Shi charged toward the hall exit, shouting, “Yu Lingzi, stay close to me, avoid the radiant light!”
He had already seen how terrifying the glow could be. Even a former ruler of the Heavenly Pool Ghost Nation, a figure comparable to the Great Ascension Realm, had been buried beneath this kind of radiance!
Anyone who even slightly brushed the light would have half their flesh cut away. Even semi-immortals like Daoist Tianzhen could die from it!
If the True Martial Exorcising Sword struck Jinghong, Jinghong would surely die!
But staying inside Blue Goat Palace was equally perilous!
The sword’s power was too great; the radiant light spread everywhere. Even if it did not stab directly at them, being swept by it would mean utter annihilation!
The immortal sword’s power was inconceivable. Chen Shi didn’t know how to resist it, all he could do was flee, put as much distance as possible between himself and the danger!
Yu Lingzi did not fully understand, but knowing this was a matter of life and death, he hurried after Chen Shi like a shadow, rushing out of the palace.
At the same time, Chang Ying Daoist paid no heed to the palace’s glow. He triggered the Tai Zhen Jade Art, and a brilliant light exploded behind his head, like a jade-lustered lingzhi bursting out of the void, sending ripples that spread outward, ring after ring. Those were the growth rings of the lingzhi, washing outward in circles.
The lingzhi’s root anchored at the back of his head, connected to his mind.
This lingzhi was his Realm of Emptiness.
When the Tai Zhen Jade Art is cultivated to its extreme, this is the external manifestation.
This technique is one of the Ten Books of Cultivation, unfathomably profound, a method reserved for the sect master’s lineage. Chang Ying Daoist’s progress had been rapid; in ten years he had broken through Return to Emptiness and forged a Great Ascension. Later he passed this art to Yu Lingzi, subtly treating Yu Lingzi as the next sect master.
At the same time, a jade ruyi appeared in his hand, about one and three-quarters feet long, shaped almost identically to the Realm of Emptiness behind his head.
This treasure is called the Tai Zhen Ruyi, the Blue Goat Palace’s chief relic. Though not an immortal weapon like the True Martial Exorcising Sword, it was forged by the Three Saints and harmonizes perfectly with the sect masters’ cultivation arts.
Chang Ying Daoist held up the Tai Zhen Ruyi, and the lingzhi-shaped Realm of Emptiness behind him immediately fused with the ruyi, causing the treasure’s power to surge!
When the Tai Zhen Ruyi struck down, Blue Goat Palace was already pulverized by the raging force!
Above Blue Goat Palace, storm clouds thickened, then a vast chunk of the clouds caved inward, about a hundred li across—this was the effect of the treasure’s might!
Chang Ying Daoist was Jinghong’s disciple and knew his old master’s ferocity well, so he decisively struck!
Chen Shi, carrying Yu Lingzi, reached the palace gate—only one step from leaving—when Chang Ying Daoist’s Tai Zhen Ruyi hovered above Jinghong, supreme power about to fall, while Blue Goat held the True Martial Exorcising Sword, its tip wrapped in streaks of auroral light, poised before Jinghong.
The drifting radiant light froze.
Chen Shi stopped abruptly, startled, nearly crashing into the motionless glow ahead.
He sensed disaster and spun around to face Blue Goat and Chang Ying Daoist.
The Tai Zhen Ruyi that Chang Ying Daoist had raised hung above Jinghong, not yet falling.
The middle-aged Daoist’s body trembled, his voice hoarse as he said, “I see it, I see the feathered transformation and ascension. Master did not lie to me, no…”
Blue Goat’s claw gripping the sword trembled.
He had seen it too.
He had seen the ascension, the immortal realm, the mystery of metamorphosis into feathered transcendence!
He couldn’t help but burst into delighted laughter: “Little Ten, I have comprehended it! I have grasped the transformation into feathered ascent, the ceaseless Dao of creation! Ah—this is marvelous!”
Snap!
There was the crack of sheep hide splitting at the back of his neck; he was shedding his cicada skin, trying to peel away the sheep pelt, and he said, “I followed Chen Yindu for so long, searching for lost methods, seeking vanished arcane arts, trying to restore the history of the old world, yet I never reached the immortal Dao. Who would have thought that today I could become immortal!”
Chen Shi shouted, “Uncle Blue Goat, this is not ascension! It’s an aberrant illusion!”
Blue Goat’s eyes overflowed with hot tears as he shouted, “Little Ten, I won’t wait any longer! I won’t keep sending away one generation after another! I don’t want to send your grandfather away and then send you away too! The Golden Cicada Shedding Immortal Diagram, it’s an immortal art; it can cause ascension!”
Just as Chen Shi was about to speak, Yu Lingzi suddenly said, “Chen True King, this is not an illusion.”
A chill ran down Chen Shi’s spine. He hurriedly looked at Yu Lingzi and saw that the little Taoist’s eyes had turned grey-white—this was the sign of impending shedding!
The skin at the back of Yu Lingzi’s neck grew itchier and began to split, but he laughed and said, “This is true immortality. Although different from the rising-glow ascension, it is still ascension. Master Jinghong will bring us and lift the entire sect to the Immortal Realm!”
Snap!
The skin at his nape split open entirely.
After all, he had not mastered yin-yang purgation; relying on Chen Shi’s yin-yang purgation, he could not resist Jinghong’s influence at such close range.
Chen Shi felt his own neck itch and reached up to touch it, but his hand found a smooth surface—no sign of cracking.
Jinghong smiled: “Everyone else may ascend, but you cannot. Now I will elevate my sect—how could there be no witness? You are Chen Yindu’s grandson; your grandfather offended me, so I will keep you to witness my bringing all Blue Goat Palace disciples to ascend, so they may become immortals like me! I want you to sing the praises of today’s grand feat!”
He tilted his head back and laughed: “Qiongyang junior sister, I know you’re hiding up there! Come down, join us—this ascension cannot lack you! Let us ascend together to the Immortal Realm!”
The storm clouds above gathered and grew heavier.
Jinghong was unconcerned and said, “Qiongyang, it’s useless, you cannot stop me.”
Chen Shi suddenly relaxed a little and straightened his expression: “Senior Jinghong, I won’t hide it—I'm the current top scholar, well-versed in the classics. I have read of rising-glow ascension and tribulation ascension, though I have never seen them. If I can witness this today, my life will not be in vain.”
Jinghong’s gaze settled on him and he smiled: “You are more pleasing to my eye than your grandfather.”
Chen Shi replied, “Though you were defeated by my grandfather, senior, your talent remains exceptional.”
While they spoke, Blue Goat had already half-emerged, stepping out of his sheephide. The True Martial Exorcising Sword clattered to the ground.
He was covered in blood, without skin.
Jinghong said, “If Patriarch Blue Goat sheds a few more times, he will be left with only an immortal body!”
Lightning flashed and thunder roared; the thunderclouds thickened and obscured the moon. From time to time a bolt struck, cracking trees in the mountains, splitting ancient trunks.
These clouds and thunder did not seem naturally formed.
At that moment Jinghong saw a little Taoist the size of a palm drop another shed skin, but this time the skin split and nothing emerged from inside.
“Little one, your immortal fate is insufficient.”
He moved away. Chen Shi’s eyes flickered as he triggered the Western King's Jade Seal and, without hesitation, stamped it upon the struggling Blue Goat, shouting, “Blue Goat, today I enfeoff you as Mountain Lord of Tai Hua, commanding the Tai Hua peaks and the Eighty-eight Demon Peaks, ruling over the Tai Hua gods! Vast divine power, gather into one body! I decree—”
Chen Shi roared, driving the Western King's Jade Seal. Instantly, all the mountain spirits and manifestations he had already enfeoffed on Tai Hua’s twenty-eight peaks unleashed their extraordinary power, rushing forth with howls and pouring into Blue Goat’s body!
These mountain gods also commanded the varied spirits and manifestations of Tai Hua Mountain; the surging divine power swelled, making Blue Goat’s whole body shine with resplendent divine light!
Jinghong turned and, both shocked and angry, shouted, “Chen Shi, you spoiled my plan!”
Chen Shi bowed slightly. The True Martial Exorcising Sword on the ground flashed and shot toward Jinghong with a whistling sound!
But although the swordlight was swift, the gap in cultivation was simply too great. The True Martial Exorcising Sword halted in midair, unable to move forward another step.
Just as Jinghong stabilized the sword, Blue Goat’s cultivation surged, breaking Jinghong’s influence. His sanity returned; he shrank down, slipped back into his sheephide, planted his feet, and grabbed the sword’s hilt!
He thrust the sword, auroral light streaking and twining as it flew toward Jinghong!
Suddenly countless bolts of lightning erupted in the air, pouring down and converging into a torrent of thunder, roaring toward Jinghong!
Patriarch Qiongyang stood within the thunderclouds, her stature towering, transforming into a thousand-zhang goddess who wielded celestial thunder and bellowed, “If you want to ascend, first pass the tribulation! Jinghong senior brother, have you survived the heavenly tribulation?”
Chen Shi’s eyes brightened: “Grandma Qiongyang cultivates the Thunderous Great Vigor Mantra! No wonder she’s so fierce!”
Jinghong retreated rapidly. Suddenly a sharp buzzing of wings sounded—cicada wings had sprouted from his back, vibrating at incredible speed. He darted and weaved up, down, left, and right, avoiding streaks of radiant light and the falling thunderbolts, breaking away from this killing strike!
Blue Goat roared and charged with all his might, his flesh swelling as he sprinted through the air like an enraged ram!
Patriarch Qiongyang stood amidst the clouds, slamming one hand downward. Instantly innumerable bolts of lightning assembled and crashed toward the swiftly moving Jinghong. With her other hand she pulled countless thunderbolts from the cloud and hurled a fist; thunder surged, gathered, and smashed toward another spot!
She commanded the heavenly tribulation like a deity, striking wherever she aimed, pillars of lightning continually cleaving down!
Blue Goat furiously pursued from behind, wielding the True Martial Exorcising Sword. The swordlight accelerated in the air, oscillating up and down, left and right, suddenly turning directions and trailing mesmerizing auroral light as it attacked Jinghong.
However, Jinghong’s speed was unbelievably fast. He flashed between peaks like a true immortal; Blue Goat and Patriarch Qiongyang could scarcely track him!
All their attacks were dodged by Jinghong Master!
“Is the Golden Cicada Shedding Immortal Diagram really this powerful?” Chen Shi couldn’t help but be shocked.
The Golden Cicada Shedding Immortal Diagram was a technique abandoned by his grandfather, said to create a false immortality. But Jinghong’s displayed strength was extraordinarily formidable, like nothing Chen Shi had seen before!
Suddenly, Jinghong turned into a streak of light in the air, and in the next moment darted into the thundercloud!
Blue Goat rushed up to rescue, but heard a muffled grunt from Patriarch Qiongyang. The massive figure fell from the sky, rapidly shrinking as she dropped hard in front of the palace that had been pulverized.
Chen Shi hurried to Patriarch Qiongyang’s side. Her face wore a strange smile, frozen as if she had seen the ascension she had longed for.
“Little Ten, don’t try to stop me.”
Patriarch Qiongyang raised her hand and smiled, “After I ascend, maybe I can save your grandfather from suffering.”
Snap.
The skin at her nape split—she was about to shed.
“Chen True King, I’m so happy!” Yu Lingzi, having successfully shed his skin, was covered in blood and cried out joyfully.
Chang Ying Daoist also crawled out of his skin. This normally steady Daoist now laughed crazily: “Let go of self, shed the shell and ascend!”
In the air, Blue Goat frantically drove the True Martial Exorcising Sword, yet could still not touch Jinghong.
His swordsmanship was not highly refined. Though the True Martial Exorcising Sword was a weapon of tremendous might, he could not unleash its full potential.
Enraged, Blue Goat suddenly threw down the sword; the immortal blade slid free and plunged into the valley with trails of auroral light.
Blue Goat ripped out his own horns—two blades—and with one cut in front and one behind, he crouched with legs bent, looked up and shouted, “Jinghong, come on! Fight the patriarch and let me see this so-called immortal body of yours!”
The light that had been dancing in the air suddenly paused. Jinghong’s cicada wings vibrated and accelerated, surging toward him!
“Please, patriarch, teach me!”
Blue Goat roared and the twin blades spun, charging through the air at Jinghong!
Boom!
Within the chaotic thunderclouds, lightning flashed as a large and a small silhouette collided under the storm. Blue Goat and Jinghong smashed together; blade light cleaved the heavy thunderclouds. Moonlight spilled through the rifts, only to be blocked again by the dense clouds!
Crack! Crack!
Bolts struck and sheets of rain poured down, drenching the mountains.
Chen Shi looked up, anxiously following the duel. Suddenly the rain above turned crimson—blood mixed with the downpour.
Under the thunderclouds, the fast-moving strong body and the elusive figure made it impossible for him to tell who was wounded!
Standing in the blood rain, Chen Shi suddenly realized that all around him people were shedding their skins!
Lightning illuminated Tai Hua Mountain.
On the slopes, the shed human pelts lay everywhere!
Chen Shi cried out loudly, “Black Pot! Black Pot!”
But Black Pot did not answer.
That great black dog had not run out from the underworld for a long time.
Chen Shi emitted a mystic light from his gaze, piercing yin and yang, and saw Black Pot.
One Black Pot after another.
Countless sizes of Huo Dog stood at the foot of Tai Hua Mountain in the underworld.
Those were the skins Black Pot had shed time and again.
Even Black Pot had not escaped Jinghong Master’s influence!
Chen Shi gritted his teeth and sprinted toward where the True Martial Exorcising Sword had fallen.
He had to find that immortal sword!
He had to find it!
He lacked the strength to kill Jinghong and save everyone, but the True Martial Exorcising Sword did not!
He remembered the direction Blue Goat had thrown the sword and charged straight for it. Just as he was about to reach the blade, there was a tremendous roar. Blue Goat, his mighty body bearing down, dropped onto Jinghong Master from the sky—his left horn plunged into Jinghong’s chest and they crashed into a nearby valley!
Blue Goat swung his right hand backward in a backhand slash; with a hiss he severed Jinghong’s white-haired head.
He howled to the heavens, bleeding all over, his flesh torn and flayed, wounds beyond imagination.
Chen Shi was both shocked and overjoyed—Victory!
Blue Goat had fought Jinghong hand-to-hand and actually won!
“Uncle Blue Goat is still powerful!”
He rejoiced. Were it not that Uncle Blue Goat had already died and become an evil spirit, this strike would have surely cut down Jinghong much faster!
Blue Goat staggered, leaning on his horns so he would not fall, a smile appearing on his face.
“You little brat, your old ram watched you grow up—what could you do to him?” He spat a breath, relaxing.
At that moment a tearing whistling sound came. From behind Jinghong’s headless corpse, strips of blood-and-flesh tentacles shot out, embedding into the void and suspending Jinghong’s body in midair.
Chen Shi and Blue Goat were startled. They heard the popping of skin splitting that made their scalps tingle.
“Thank you, patriarch; your disciple can shed once more.”
From behind Jinghong’s corpse came Jinghong’s voice. A new Jinghong slowly pulled a head out from the chest cavity in his back, without skin, staring at them.
“I have moved one step closer to true immortality!”
