In the Celestial Realm.
Ye Yu exhaled a long breath, clearing away the residual mortal air. This was his third time ascending to the Celestial Realm. Unlike the previous two times, fraught with danger and sword aura, this ascension had been remarkably calm. No threats, no peril—just a serene arrival.
The surrounding landscape was peaceful, almost tranquil, and the gentleness of it all left Ye Yu feeling slightly out of place.
Looking around, he noticed that each ascension brought him to a different location. He was certain he hadn’t been to this particular place before, but it didn’t matter much. This time, Ye Yu wasn’t disoriented; he had made preparations.
He planned to make the most of his time in the Celestial Realm this time. Joining an immortal sect seemed the most logical first step—not necessarily to master celestial techniques, but to learn about the political landscape, major factions, and the mysterious catastrophe that loomed over the Celestial Realm. And if he could discover a method for a demon to ascend here, that would be ideal, though he knew it was a slim chance.
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Shaking his head, Ye Yu set out eastward.
After flying for several hours, he hadn’t seen a single celestial being. Were it not for his knowledge of the celestial catastrophe, he might have felt uneasy, but now, he remained calm.
Finally, after an indeterminate amount of time, he spotted a grand bridge pavilion spanning a golden river flowing endlessly beneath it. Could this be the fabled Heavenly River?
Approaching to take a closer look, he suddenly found himself halted a hundred meters from the pavilion, blocked by an invisible barrier. Pressing his hand against it, he watched ripples spread across its surface, curious and mystified. Why would such a barrier exist in a place with no celestials around?
Bringing his hands together, Ye Yu prepared to attempt breaking through the barrier. But before he could act, a figure appeared—a stout, ruddy-nosed old man with a bamboo basket at his waist and a fishing rod slung over his back. Were this not the Celestial Realm, Ye Yu might have thought him some mountain fisherman.
This old man was Chang Zhige, a peak Profound Celestial (玄仙) cultivator.
(In the Celestial Realm, ranks from lowest to highest are: True Celestial, Profound Celestial, Earth Celestial, Heavenly Celestial, Golden Celestial, Celestial Lord, Celestial King, and Celestial Emperor!)
Chang Zhige looked Ye Yu up and down, his expression somber. "What are you trying to do, celestial friend?"
He quickly sensed that Ye Yu still carried traces of spiritual energy not yet fully converted into celestial energy. Without waiting for an answer, he raised an eyebrow, asking in surprise, “You’re new here, aren’t you? You haven’t been ascended more than three days, have you?”
Ye Yu didn’t deny it. “To be exact, it’s been less than half a day.”
Hearing this, Chang Zhige’s expression grew even stranger.
“Less than half a day? You?”
“Tell me, from which continent in the mortal realm did you ascend?”
Ye Yu sensed something off. Chang Zhige’s reaction didn’t seem like friendly curiosity. His eyes were filled with shock and suspicion, as if seeing a newly ascended being was a rare event.
Ye Yu responded calmly, “Does it matter?”
Chang Zhige paused, then replied, “No, it doesn’t. But if I ask, you must answer. In the Celestial Realm, respect for those of higher rank is the minimum courtesy expected. Or would you rather ascend and fall in one breath?”
Ye Yu’s expression immediately turned cold. “Are you threatening me?”
Chang Zhige chuckled. “To reach the Celestial Realm, you must be one of the most gifted, resilient, and skilled mortals. Yet here you are, clueless. I understand now—you were too strong in the mortal realm, grew arrogant, and forgot the need to bow your head upon arriving here.”
He took a step forward, preparing to cast a spell to teach Ye Yu a lesson. But he had picked the wrong target.
Ye Yu was the type to meet strength with strength. If shown respect, he would respond in kind, but a threat would be met with action.
Without a word, Ye Yu raised his hand, casting a forbidden technique—Burning Blood Inferno!
In an instant, Chang Zhige felt an overwhelming force envelop him, and his blood began to ignite at an alarming rate. Though he didn’t understand what was happening, he sensed the technique’s sinister nature and immediately made the desperate choice to abandon his body, escaping in spirit form.
Within moments, his physical body had burned down to nothing but skin, which fell to the ground like an empty husk.
Dark flames erupted in a towering inferno beneath him, surging dozens of meters high.
The sight was enough to make even a hardened celestial shudder. The fire was fierce, but the most lethal aspect of this technique wasn’t the black flames—it was the blood-burning power that couldn’t be resisted. It was as if his very essence was being consumed.
Now a spirit form, Chang Zhige was horrified by Ye Yu’s strength. How could a newly ascended celestial possess such fearsome power?
Desperate, he shouted, “How long are you two planning to watch? Are you not going to help? If we don’t take this one down, none of us will have peace!”