Chapter 837: Book of Ascension, Next Ascension, Sword Embryo Level 5
After the Spirit Realm Conference concluded, a wisp of Xie Lanyin’s consciousness crossed the Spirit Realm, heading toward the Central Apex Heaven on the 16th layer of Kunxu.
Along the way, waves of newly deceased wandering souls continuously poured into the Former Days Graveyard. Xie Lanyin seemed to foresee the booming development of related industries.
Watching these wandering souls, she couldn’t help but sigh, “If we weren’t exploiting them, they probably wouldn’t survive at all.”
Xie Lanyin was traveling to the 16th layer because she had been summoned.
The summons came from a being who could be called a Quasi-Immortal — an existence she rarely had the chance to meet. This being had called her consciousness to discuss matters concerning the Development Zone.
To meet this entity, Xie Lanyin had halted most of her work. The massive exchange of information that usually flowed through her every moment had temporarily ceased.
Only her magic power continued to circulate within her true body, allowing her to feel the mountain she had become constantly growing. This perpetual asset inflation was the only thing that brought her a sliver of peace.
“Xie Lanyin.”
A call echoed through the Spirit Realm, and in an instant, countless numbers formed from light and shadow converged.
Xie Lanyin glanced briefly at the rapidly fluctuating numbers and understood. They represented the changing stock prices of countless enterprises within the White Bone Cult, signifying the growth in the value of the other party’s shares.
These materialized numbers allowed Xie Lanyin to feel the staggering scale of the other party’s assets, which were expanding and growing wildly with every passing moment.
This sight prompted a thought in Xie Lanyin’s mind: “A true master should enter the market.”
The gap between herself and this Quasi-Immortal was laid bare before her as never before.
Without casting any daoist arts or displaying any cultivation, merely a glimpse of this asset inflation sent a crushing pressure washing over Xie Lanyin, forcing her to lower the proud head of a Void Refinement Cultivator.
Xie Lanyin said, “Greetings, Hall Master Bai Gusheng.”
She knew that the wisp of consciousness before her belonged to Bai Gusheng, the Hall Master of the White Bone Cult’s Karma Calculation Hall — a Rank 10 Ascension Realm Cultivator, a Quasi-Immortal.
The reason he was called a Quasi-Immortal was because Bai Gusheng was one of the top candidates for the next Ascension Selection, as well as a titan in the White Bone Cult’s Soul Cultivator Industry.
Although, in theory, Rank 10 Ascension Realm Cultivators were eligible to participate in the Ascension Selection, those who ultimately secured the right to ascend were typically Rank 10 cultivators — beings who ranked among the very top of the Ascension Realm in terms of cultivation, authority, and assets.
The voice emanating from Bai Gusheng’s wisp of consciousness was like the chime of colliding jade — crisp, serene, and profound.
But the information contained within his words sent Xie Lanyin’s magic power surging wildly.
“The Sect Leader has already given me the Book of Ascension. I am determined to win the next Ascension Selection.”
In that instant, a tempestuous storm erupted in Xie Lanyin’s mind. The Book of Ascension is in our White Bone Cult’s possession? And it was passed down to Hall Master Bai Gusheng?
“The Four Books of Feathered Ascension… How could he reveal such a closely guarded secret to me just like that?”
Sensing Xie Lanyin’s shock, Bai Gusheng said calmly, “Don’t overthink it. Before long, I will announce this throughout Kunxu and begin a campaign to build momentum for the upcoming Ascension Selection.”
Xie Lanyin’s heart jolted as understanding dawned on her. To become an Immortal, one must bear the Burden of Heaven.
For weak and impoverished cultivators, possessing a treasure like the Feathered Ascension Book would be a secret to hide at all costs.
But for someone like Bai Gusheng, who aimed to become an Immortal, it wasn’t a secret — it was a banner. It was the attention and pressure he had to endure to achieve his goal.
“After all, the prime age for striving is right after becoming an Immortal.”
Xie Lanyin knew that throughout Kunxu, no one earned more than an Immortal. If she could one day become an Immortal and earn such a high income, she would undoubtedly strive even harder.
At the same time, she realized another point: “The Ascension Selection involves countless expenses. Therefore, the revival of the Soul Cultivator Industry is a massive boon for Hall Master Bai Gusheng.”
At this moment, Xie Lanyin felt a surge of confidence. Bai Gusheng’s path to ascending and becoming an Immortal in the next cycle seemed increasingly secure.
At the same time, Bai Gusheng continued, “At your cultivation realm, there are many things I don’t need to explain; you should understand them.”
Xie Lanyin nodded. “Hall Master, I will ensure that Myriad Laws does not interfere with the Soul Cultivator Industry in this Development Zone.”
In that instant, Xie Lanyin understood his intentions even more clearly. She thought to herself, “If Myriad Laws gets involved, the profits of our Cult’s Soul Cultivator Industry will plummet. Hall Master Bai Gusheng’s earnings will decrease, which will in turn reduce the profits for his entire faction. His prestige will also suffer, and all of this will negatively impact his Ascension Selection.”
At that moment, the magic power nerves in Xie Lanyin’s body, which had been numb for years, trembled slightly under the stimulus of her emotions.
The thought that the Development Zone project was tied to Bai Gusheng’s Ascension Selection filled her with immense pressure.
Yet, the thought of contributing to his success, of having the chance to cling tightly to the thigh of this potential Immortal, ignited an irrepressible excitement within her — a boundless yearning for profit.
Bai Gusheng said calmly, “As long as you understand my meaning.”
“But just in case, you can contact a cultivator from Myriad Laws. He and the people behind him will help you.”
Seeing Bai Gusheng’s message, Xie Lanyin’s gaze sharpened slightly. “A cultivator from the Myriad Laws Sect?”
Bai Gusheng replied coolly, “Within sects, there are sects; within factions, there are factions. Just as there are those in the Myriad Laws Sect who support Soul Cultivators, there are also those who support Artifact Spirits. You must learn to use one faction to strike at another.”
“As for cooperating with Myriad Laws, don’t feel burdened.”
“This isn’t ancient times anymore. The so-called distinction between righteous and demonic, in my view, is merely a difference in artistic style.”
Xie Lanyin agreed and sent a message to the person Bai Gusheng had recommended.
Meanwhile, in the Former Days Graveyard…
Lu Hengzhang had just arrived at the Ethereal Communications Department.
As the Deputy Minister of the Edict Pavilion’s Review Department and a supporter of the Innate Dao Lineage, he had once clashed with Zhang Yu and been fined by Bu Yingshu, who had dragged him away by the head. This time, he had come to the Ethereal Communications Department ostensibly to organize a collaboration between their two departments.
Just then, his gaze shifted as he saw the message from Xie Lanyin.
And in Lu Hengzhang’s mind, the instructions from the upper echelons of the Innate Dao Lineage also surfaced.
“You must obstruct the construction of the Development Zone as much as possible.”
“If it becomes absolutely necessary…”
In the deepest recesses of Lu Hengzhang’s Sea of Consciousness, a four-character decree left by a high-ranking entity from the Innate Dao Lineage slowly materialized.
“Ruin the realm, flood the zone.”
The unknown upper echelons of Kunxu.
It was the same two Immortals whose consciousnesses had observed Zhang Yu before.
With each touch of their consciousnesses, indescribable information was exchanged between them.
At this moment, countless spaces in Kunxu, from the underground to the surface, were under their observation.
They were simultaneously discussing many matters, and the Former Days Graveyard, the Development Zone… was just one of them.
The young man’s voice spoke, “Twenty days? Normally, a Spirit Transformation Realm cultivator couldn’t achieve this without external help.”
Another voice, a woman’s, replied, “This boy has obtained Senior Brother’s legacy, which will surely enhance his abilities significantly. He must have other trump cards. If he can’t even handle this small matter, if he fails even with the opportunity given to him, it will only prove that Senior Brother chose the wrong person.”
The young man’s voice spoke, “What if he seeks help from Bu Yingshu or the Myriad Laws Immortal Clan?”
The woman’s voice snorted coldly. “Always running to his backers for help, wasting their energy and time. What use is he then?”
The young man replied, “You’re too harsh. Senior Brother must have had his reasons for choosing him. Perhaps he’s the owner of one of the Books.”
The young woman’s voice was indifferent. “The holders of the Four Books of Feathered Ascension have all emerged one by one. Zhang Yu is not among them. As for the remaining books besides the four, they are nothing special and not worthy of Senior Brother’s choice.”
“Besides, since taking his position, all he’s done is handle the duties of a Vice President, showing no concern for the true ecosystem of the Former Days Graveyard. If he solidifies his position only to exploit those below him like everyone else, then nurturing him would just be creating another Supreme Truth. There would be no point in supporting him.”
Pausing here, the young woman released another piece of information.
“The Innate Dao Lineage cannot be allowed to expand further. The High-Intelligence Artifact Spirit Industry must be suppressed.”
The young man remained silent. This was already their consensus.
And to achieve this goal, Zhang Yu was not indispensable. If he failed, they would…
…simply replace him.
They had already decided on a replacement.
The young woman said, “Before Senior Brother left, he suppressed Tai Yuebai and had him sent to the lower 18th Layer to be ‘frozen’ — all to protect him.”
“It’s about time he made his appearance.”
Before Zhang Yu emerged, they had always believed that Tai Yuebai, secretly protected by Ying Xintian, was the chosen successor.
Even now, in the young woman’s eyes, Tai Yuebai was far more suitable than Zhang Yu to be Ying Xintian’s heir.
The young man sighed. “Senior Brother is so farsighted, yet he willingly took such great risks, abandoning almost everything for the ‘New World’ he spoke of. Why?”
The young woman replied, “Perhaps the answer lies in the riddle itself. The ‘New World’… might not just be the stolen Sixth Layer, but a true new world discovered by Senior Brother. With his Spatial Immortal Dao Technology, that’s not impossible.”
“This would also explain why he kept everything about the New World so secret. Even what his disciples know is likely false.”
In a secret chamber within the Former Days Graveyard…
Su Lengyou saw the giant corpse from the depths of the labyrinth.
Looking at the corpse before her, she said respectfully, “Senior, the sect hopes you will return to assume a crucial role.”
A chilling laugh echoed from within the giant corpse. “I’m already dead. How can I help? Forget it.”
Su Lengyou seemed unsurprised by this refusal, or perhaps… someone had indicated to her that it wouldn’t matter if he declined.
Su Lengyou bowed and said, “Senior, the situation in the Former Days Graveyard is currently chaotic and confusing. I came here today to seek your guidance. Please offer me a few words of advice.”
In Su Lengyou’s view, the Former Days Graveyard was rife with conflict — from rivalries between different sects to clashes between various industries. From the personal interests of individual cultivators to the overt and covert struggles among the Great Dao Lineages, the more she thought about it, the more intractable the situation seemed.
The giant corpse replied faintly, “In the past, I tried to change Kunxu with the cycle of life and death, but I failed miserably.”
“My disciple is even more domineering than I am. To him, the most important matter concerning the Former Days Graveyard isn’t its development…”
“…but rather to obstruct the complete realization of the Artifact Spirit Dao Lineage.”
“To prevent the emergence of the first Immortal-level High-Intelligence Artifact Spirit.”
While the numerous factions and powerful experts of Kunxu were all undergoing subtle shifts due to the changes in the Former Days Graveyard, Zhang Yu continued to diligently build his power, enhancing his abilities for the tasks ahead.
At this moment, he circulated the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation, transforming into a wisp of gentle wind. Concealed by the power of his Immortal Spirit Root, he arrived at a deserted small building in the labyrinth’s Office District.
Upon entering a specific room inside, he found Bai Zhenzhen, who was also hidden and waiting for him.
Bai Zhenzhen immediately pressed herself against him.
“Yu Zi, you’re here.”
She lowered her head, listening to Zhang Yu’s abdomen, and said, “Do you feel it? It seems to be pulsing more forcefully lately.”
Zhang Yu nodded and touched his stomach, thinking to himself, The Azure Lotus Sword Embryo is about to upgrade.
The growth of his cultivation and the Azure Lotus Sword Embryo itself meant that this time, the nourishment of the Spirit Root was progressing much faster than before.
With each passing day of vigorous growth, he could feel the Immortal Spirit Root within him growing stronger, on the verge of a qualitative transformation.
Just then, Bu Yingshu’s avatar appeared before Zhang Yu’s eyes.
Bu Yingshu: “Zhang Yu, where are you?”
Zhang Yu: “I… I’m cleaning corpse components.”
Bu Yingshu: “Fine, if you’re working, then work properly. But remember to come see me the moment you’re back, or I’ll stomp you to death.”
After disconnecting the communication, Zhang Yu finally let out a sigh of relief, thinking, It’s not entirely a bad thing that Bu Yingshu can’t casually enter the Development Zone anymore. At least it’s less trouble for A-Zhen and me to enhance the Azure Lotus Sword Embryo together.
Still, the Immortal Grotto-Heaven is the safest place.
The next moment, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen quickly entered the Immortal Grotto-Heaven.
Just then, Bai Zhenzhen’s voice sounded beside him: “Bu Yingshu contacted you?”
Seeing Zhang Yu nod, the sword qi within Bai Zhenzhen trembled slightly.
Zhang Yu sighed. “Bu Yingshu’s cultivation is only at the Void Refinement realm, but her status is inexplicably high. She rampages through the sect, and no one dares to stop her. She can even hold her own against Tribulation Transcendence Cultivators.”
Bai Zhenzhen comforted him, “Yu Zi, just endure it a little longer. We endured high school and university; you’ve climbed all the way from the first layer to the sect. You must establish a firm foothold here and not let anything go wrong at this crucial moment.”
Bai Zhenzhen thought to herself, One day, Yu Zi and I will be able to meet openly, without having to sneak around like this.
After Bai Zhenzhen returned to her office, she heard the mysterious figure chuckle softly. “Interesting. Your Extreme Emotion Sword Intent and Sect Devotee Sword Intent are beginning to merge.”
“Hmm, let me think… Hehe, is it because snatching Zhang Yu from the Myriad Laws Sect’s Bu Yingshu has shown you a path to simultaneously embody both Extreme Emotion Sword Intent and Sect Devotee Sword Intent?”
“Continue. If you keep this up, you might have a chance to complete your Extreme Emotion Sword Dao and elevate it back to the Immortal Sect-grade.”
With the Heavenly Sword Sect’s advancements in Immortal Dao Technology, the sect now possessed an Immortal Sect-grade Extreme Emotion Sword Dao. However, compared to the version Bai Zhenzhen had cultivated since the Lower Realm, it was a completely different practice, a different version entirely.
Bai Zhenzhen seemed to ignore what the mysterious figure said, instead asking for intelligence about the Development Zone.
“Why did you arrange for me to be here? What’s your real goal? The Heavenly Sword Sect can’t have much to gain here, can it? Even if the Development Zone succeeds, how much profit could you possibly make?”
“Or are you just looking for an opportunity to watch me for your amusement? To see Bu Yingshu repeatedly humiliate me?”
The mysterious figure chuckled softly. “You think the Development Zone is just for development?”
“The Development Zone looks vast, but compared to the entirety of Kunxu… it’s just a tiny place. Yet behind it lies a conflict of paths, a war among Immortals.”
“In fact, from top to bottom, every corner of Kunxu is a manifestation of the Immortals’ struggles.”
“Some say the Great Righteous-Demonic War ended long ago? I say the war has never stopped; it has merely changed its form.”
“Today, from the 36 Upper Layers to the 18 Lower Layers, every inch of Kunxu is a battlefield, and every person is a pawn.”
The next day, as Zhang Yu was once again nurturing his Immortal Spirit Root, the Spirit Root in his Dantian suddenly began to tremble violently.
The next moment, the Azure Lotus Sword Embryo abruptly ascended to Level 5.
Through subsequent research with Bai Zhenzhen and insights gained from the Dao Seed Register, Zhang Yu gradually understood the abilities of the Level 5 Azure Lotus Sword Embryo.
After its last upgrade, the Azure Lotus Sword Embryo had already reached the level of an Immortal Spirit Root. Zhang Yu was filled with anticipation for this further advancement.
Ever since the Feather Spirit Root and True Spirit Root had grown strong, the Azure Lotus Sword Embryo’s evolution seemed to increasingly adapt to their state.
The Level 5 Azure Lotus Sword Embryo was no exception.
After gaining the ability for the Spirit Roots to teleport between each other at Level 4, the Level 5 Azure Lotus Sword Embryo, in addition to enhancing all its basic abilities, now possessed the power of Spirit Root Fusion.
Once the Feather Spirit Root and True Spirit Root fused, their wielder would gain a comprehensive and explosive boost to the abilities of both Spirit Roots.
The magnitude of this enhancement was so great that Zhang Yu hadn’t yet had a chance to test its limits.
Furthermore, the True Spirit Root and Feather Spirit Root had also evolved further along their respective paths.
Bai Zhenzhen’s True Spirit Root once again enhanced her comprehension and wisdom in the Sword Dao, granting her the ability to raise the grade of her cultivation arts.
Through day after day of cultivation and contemplation, she could elevate the grade of the cultivation arts she painstakingly practiced.
At this very moment, as Bai Zhenzhen repeatedly circulated the Extreme Emotion Sword Dao in her office, the sword qi and Sword Intent within her body gradually underwent a metamorphosis, seeming to gain a trace of life-like vitality.
With this transformation, Bai Zhenzhen sensed that her Extreme Emotion Sword Dao might reach the Immortal Sect True Inheritance-grade within a few months.
Watching this unfold, the mysterious figure was slightly astonished. “This trend… is she really heading toward Immortal Sect grade? Hahahaha, it seems sending you here was the right decision. My Heavenly Sword Sect will gain another version of the Extreme Emotion Sword Dao.”
But Bai Zhenzhen knew that all this was due to the transformation of her Spirit Root.
“With my current True Spirit Root…” Bai Zhenzhen thought to herself, “if I continue to cultivate and contemplate the Extreme Emotion Sword Dao, True Inheritance-Tier will definitely not be the end. In the future, reaching Strategic-Tier, Sect-Guarding-Tier, or even Heaven-Opening-Tier… might not be impossible.”
Of course, Bai Zhenzhen understood that this would take time. The weaker her foundation and cultivation, the longer it would take.
Zhang Yu’s Feather Spirit Root had also evolved based on his current circumstances.
“Originally, the Feather Spirit Root could adapt to my Chain Formation Diagrams, allowing their effects to solidify over time and take effect through the Feather Spirit Root even when not activated… though this passive effect was capped at 50%.”
“But now, the Fifth-Tier Feather Spirit Root has pushed that cap to 60%.”
Zhang Yu thought to himself, “If the Feather Spirit Root continues to evolve, could it raise this number to 100%? Would that allow most of my Chain Formation Diagrams to function even without being activated?”
Besides this enhancement, Zhang Yu also felt the Feather Spirit Root adapting to his Immortal Grotto-Heaven.
A deafening roar echoed as beams of light erupted from the Spirit Transformation-grade corpse component named the Light Cannon Array Dragon, violently bombarding Zhang Yu’s body.
Terrifying divine light swelled and burst, exploding like ten thousand thunderbolts, yet it failed to leave even a scratch on Zhang Yu’s body.
Zhang Yu wasn’t surprised. After all, his defenses, fortified by various cultivation arts, Chain Formation Diagrams, Physical Divine Abilities, and the Feather Spirit Root, had long become outrageously tough.
What did surprise him was that he hadn’t felt his body waver in the slightest.
“My physical body… it’s as if it’s being supported by the Immortal Grotto-Heaven.”
“While I’ll still get injured when I should, unless an attack can move the Immortal Grotto-Heaven itself, no one can budge my body… as long as I don’t want them to.”
Looking at his indestructible hands, Zhang Yu thought, “This new ability evolved from the Feather Spirit Root… I guess you could call it Hegemon Body?”
“Looks like I’ll have no choice but to be the frontline tank when we go to subdue the Void Refinement Corpse Components.”
As for exposing his strength, that was gradually becoming less of a concern for Zhang Yu.
He had already figured it out… if anyone asked, the answer was always the Immortal Legacy. Everything was a result of the power boost granted by the Immortal Legacy.
Just then, a figure abruptly materialized — it was Bu Yingshu.
With a thunderous stomp, she planted her foot directly on Zhang Yu’s body and snapped, “Didn’t I tell you to come see me as soon as you were finished?”
Although her foot didn’t make physical contact, the surging power pressed down on Zhang Yu from a distance.
Bu Yingshu had intended to stomp him flat on the ground.
But when her foot descended… it felt less like stepping on Zhang Yu and more like stepping on her own brother. Zhang Yu remained utterly motionless.
Bu Yingshu stared in astonishment, as if she’d just seen her pet cat suddenly do a backflip. “How are you not knocked down?”
Zhang Yu smiled. “Dao Monarch, it’s probably the power of the Immortal Legacy. I feel like I’ve merged with the Immortal Space.”
“This way, you won’t have to worry about sending me flying the next time you stomp on me.”
Seeing Zhang Yu’s obedient expression, Bu Yingshu swallowed the scolding she had prepared. She huffed and said, “You’re all talk. Have you reviewed the investment plan I gave you?”
Bu Yingshu intended to invest in the Former Days Graveyard on behalf of the Myriad Laws Sect. Naturally, she couldn’t go through the official Investment Promotion Department or Xie Lanyin’s channels. Instead, she planned to invest through Zhang Yu’s Land Management Bureau by purchasing land.
Zhang Yu said, “Dao Monarch, after reading your proposal, what struck me most was your judgment on the industry’s endgame. Your visionary perspective, looking beyond the short term, was truly enlightening.”
He glanced at the analysis he’d copied from the Celestial Inquiry Star and continued, “Especially your three trend predictions. After reading them, my understanding of this entire sector has reached a new level.”
Fu Ji sighed inwardly. “Times have really changed. Back in our day, if we wanted to praise someone, we had to painstakingly squeeze out every word from our own minds. It’s so much more convenient now.”
Meanwhile, Bu Yingshu listened to Zhang Yu’s praise, the corners of her lips curling upward. She gradually straightened her posture, puffing out her chest.
Although her report had been written with the aid of the Celestial Inquiry Star, it didn’t diminish the fact that her own spirit and vision were reflected within it.
“I really am capable. Even a Lower Realm Cultivator like Zhang Yu can see it.”
“Sigh, for all these past years, my talents have truly been buried.”
At this thought, Bu Yingshu waved her hand dismissively and said, “Alright, enough with the flattery. Aren’t you trying to subdue Void Refinement Corpse Components? One Immortal Shuttle won’t be enough, will it? You can borrow the one I’ve been using recently for a while.”
Just as Zhang Yu and Bu Yingshu were talking, Teacher Gao came running over from a distance, his face beaming with joy.
Zhang Yu’s mind stirred. “Teacher Gao… did he find something good?”
Recently, Zhang Yu had been using his Grotto-Heaven force to send Teacher Gao to the deepest parts of the labyrinth’s Laboratory District to scavenge for discarded items, keeping him away from the Office District.
Old Gao’s heart was pounding with excitement. Just moments ago… he had salvaged an unwanted Calculation Pool from a high-tech laboratory deep within the labyrinth.
And this Calculation Pool was so advanced that… aside from recognizing it was a Calculation Pool, Old Gao couldn’t make sense of anything else about it.