Chapter 139: Ascension

Chapter 139: Ascension/translatingnovice

Koogooogoo!

Numerous sounds and rays of light brush past me.

I grit my teeth, focusing on the Formless Sword throughout my body.

My whole body feels like it's about to be crushed!

Had it not been for the Formless Sword enveloping my body due to my attainments in Treading Heaven, my body would have instantly been crushed without a moment's notice.

The Heaven-Sealing Talisman!

Gritting my teeth hard enough for my gums to bleed, I tak out the Heaven-Sealing Talisman

Heaven-Sealing Talisman, activate!

Koogooogoo!

An immense force gathers in the talisman, and the power of the Heaven-Sealing Talisman envelops my body.

Heaven and earth spiritual energy even exists in spatial passageways.

The heaven and earth spiritual energy wraps around my body, creating a dense barrier that prevents even a single strand of energy from leaking out.

Cough! Huk!

I spit blood, barely regaining consciousness.

Damn it, what a mess this is!

Inside the spatial passageway of the Ascension Gate, I am being pulled upwards towards some [Above].

Kiiing!

The blessing of the Serving Command Seal within me is pulling me far away.

Upon entering the Ascension Gate, the Serving Command Seals blessing became a definite force, pulling me along, and I realized that this force is terrifyingly abnormal.

Koogooogoo!

Soon, I'll probably reach the upper realm. But

I grit my teeth, watching the barrier of the Heaven-Sealing Talisman trembling madly all over my body.

The Heaven-Sealing Talisman seems to be losing its effect faster than I thought. There's a possibility it might break before I reach the upper realm!

I clench my teeth, thinking of the Serving Command Seal.

Originally, even if I entered the Ascension Gate, I planned to return to that world with the power of the Serving Command Seal

I didn't expect that the Serving Command Seal itself would be repelled by some strange repulsive force.

Theres no other choice, I have to endure as much as I can!

Koogooogoo!

I frown, watching the Heaven-Sealing Talisman about to collapse any moment.

This wont do. Then

I look at Yuan Lis Blood Body, ascending alongside me.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

I recall one method of using the Blood Body, a technique passed down by Yuan Li.

I form a seal together with the Blood Body.

Blood Body Skin Armor! Open!

At the same time, the Blood Body opens wide.

Swooosh!

Its internal organs, muscles, and inner body are all exposed.

And then, from within, all the organs and muscles turn into blood, and a space large enough for one person to squeeze in is seen forming.

As I form a seal, the Blood Body flies towards me and envelops me.

The Blood Body covers my whole body, and soon seeps through every part of it.

Kugugugu!

As the Blood Body seeps through my muscle fibers, my entire body is further strengthened.

The strength and regenerative ability of my physical body increases tremendously, and in an instant, I can feel that Im able to use all the techniques that the Blood Body can use.

But whats most important is...

Wo-woong!

The energy of the Heaven-Sealing Talisman that had been residing in the Blood Body now merges with my Heaven-Sealing Talisman, significantly extending the duration of the talisman's effect.

Pa-aa-aa-at!

The barrier of the Heaven-Sealing Talisman, which seemed about to collapse at any moment, has now become more robust, and I can finally take a breath.

Good, I dont know when I'll reach the upper realm, but at least I can hold out for a while.

Now that I have some leeway for survival, I look around.

Numerous beams of light and sound are brushing past me.

Honestly, its hard to discern what is what.

Inside the Ascension Gate... perhaps there's a reason why we fell into this world here

I look around inside the Ascension Gate.

The spatial passage leading to the upper realm.

Piii-eeeeet!

Among the numerous beams of light, occasionally, stars that look like the universe reveal themselves.

I catch glimpses of what seems to be countless spaces and dimensions, and then, down below.

I faintly make out the form of the world I came from.

That world is...

Like...

...Huh?

I see it, and it sees me. Our eyes meet. Its a gigantic jade...

...Heok!

What was that?

What just happened?

Pii-eeet!

I realize Im still ascending to the upper realm.

Numerous beams of light are still passing by around me.

And from the scenes occasionally visible between the beams of light, I realize I have ascended quite a bit.

Just now, my consciousness cut off for a moment

I hold my throbbing head.

Why did I lose consciousness?

Was it because of the spatial pressure?

Even though theres the Heaven-Sealing Talisman, considerable pressure is still being transmitted through..

Of course, its bearable, but there are times when the pressure intensifies suddenly, so its possible that I lost consciousness due to the severe pressure at that moment.

But right before losing consciousness, it seemed like I saw something

I hold my throbbing temples and try to gather my thoughts.

Damn it, my head isnt working right.

Fortunately, things are stabilizing.

But the throbbing headache doesnt easily subside.

And also...

Kugugugu!

It seems quite some time has passed since I lost consciousness, as the Heaven-Sealing Talisman is already showing signs of collapsing.

Damn, what do I do if the Heaven-Sealing Talisman collapses?

The pressure increased even more than before.

The heaven and earth spiritual energy in the spatial passage becomes denser, but at the same time, the resistance beating against the Heaven-Sealing Talisman becomes stronger.

If this continues, once the effect of the talisman wears off, I will be crushed into a lump of flesh.

I can't let that happen!

While being pulled [Above], I take a stance.

I will. Divert the pressure!

I begin performing a sword dance towards the pressing force bearing down on me.

Kim Young-hoon had certainly performed Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains by himself.

A self-destructive technique that usually requires an opponent.

The fact that he performed Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains towards empty space meant that...

'It means that the world itself can become the subject of martial arts.'

Cutting through the void itself, exchanging and merging with that emptiness, I enter the state of Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains.

Of course, I have no intention of performing Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains to completion.

But if its just Endless Mountains Beyond Mountains

Shoong, shoong, shoong!

I swing my Formless Sword towards the void.

What Nascent Soul cultivators call planes.

I feel my sword brushing against the boundaries of dimensions.

Whoom, Whoom, Whoom!

Beyond the dimension.

I feel my sword colliding with the vital force (Qi) that makes up the world itself.

'Cut it.'

I slice through the vital force, and with that as a starting point, I perform a sword dance towards the immense 'pressure' that is assaulting me.

Whizz!

Crack!

My sword dance cuts through the spatial pressure.

At the same time, the pressure on the Heaven-Sealing Talisman decreases.

'I can't perform Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains. But'

I can still pour out every move from the beginning to the end without getting tired!

Horizontal slash, lower three cuts, upward slash, stab, change moves, offense and defense as one

Countless moves burst out almost simultaneously, forming a single shape.

Severing Mountain!

Whooooosh!

The pressure above is split.

The wooden man's aura envelops the area.

I struggle to breathe, falling to the ground and clutching my heart.

Actually, it felt like my heart would stop any moment, and I had to forcibly keep it beating with my Formless Sword.

'He-Heavenly Beings, how are they?'

Just then.

Suddenly, the eyes of the Heavenly Being cultivators, initially subdued by the wooden mans aura, shined.

And then, Seo Hweol, hands behind his back, started walking towards us.

[This guy?]

Then.

"!?"

My eyes widened.

Kugugugu!

Seo Hweol's aura is rising.

And the surrounding heaven and earth spiritual energy, hundreds of times denser than before, began to be absorbed by Seo Hweol.

Craaaaack!

Seo Hweol's aura began to push back the green-armored wooden man's aura.

With each step he took, his aura grew stronger.

"...I must say something to the Bright Cold Realm senior, lest there be any misunderstandings."

[What...!?]

Thud, thud, thud...

Not only Seo Hweol, but also Jin Byuk-ho, Heo Gwak, and Cheongmun Sunwoo approached. Absorbing the dense spiritual energy of the Bright Cold Realm, their auras intensified even more.

"We are not like those who fled to the upper realms merely to extend their lives. Rather, we had already reached the peak of Heavenly Being and gained enlightenment towards the Four-Axis but had to ascend due to a lack of resources to elevate our cultivation..."

Rumble!

Buzz, buzz...

Suddenly, it became difficult to even look directly at Seo Hweol.

I felt the same towards the other three Heavenly Beings.

Boom!

The next moment.

A brilliant light burst from Seo Hweol, Jin Byuk-ho, Heo Gwak, and Cheongmun Sunwoo, and their auras changed.

Simultaneously.

Whoosh!

The green-armored wooden man's aura was completely neutralized, and I finally found it easier to breathe.

"Even if you find the juniors from the lower realms somewhat lacking, we have worked hard in our own right and would appreciate a little respect."

With the end of Seo Hweol's words, I once again look at them, or rather, their shadows.

In the blink of an eye, after absorbing the spiritual energy of the upper realm, they have become Four-Axis cultivators.

The green-armored wooden man is suddenly surrounded by four Four-Axis cultivators.

[What, what is this! How can you elevate your cultivation without undergoing Heavenly Tribulation?]

"Haha. Before ascending, Sect Master Jin of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect used the sect's divine treasure to disperse the Four-Axis Heavenly Tribulation in advance. We reached the Four-Axis immediately, having already faced the tribulation beforehand, so it does not strike us now."

Azure Tiger Saint laughs heartily and pats the shoulder of the green-armored wooden man.

As they begin to pressure him.

Rumble!

In the sky, a massive aura stirs, and several more Four-Axis cultivators begin to descend.

[These ascenders are... all quite special.]

[Enduring added spatial pressure and ascending with their sects... They are monsters from the start....]

[To possess such talent to reach Four-Axis immediately upon arrival....]

They look at Jin Byuk-ho, Heo Gwak, Cheongmun Sunwoo, and Seo Hweol in awe.

At the same time.

Kugugugugu

From the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, Black Ghost Valley, Azure Heaven Creation Sect, Mighty Tiger, Holy Peng, Sea Dragon, and others.

Many Heavenly Being and Nascent Soul cultivators began to elevate their cultivation by absorbing the dense spiritual energy.

Rumble

They too seemed to have received help from the divine treasure of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.

None of them particularly caused Heavenly Tribulation.

Of course, none reached Four-Axis immediately like the first four.

Rumble!

And there, quietly beside them, Mad Lord Jo Yeon seems to have broken through some stagnant bottleneck, but has not reached Four-Axis.

He appears to have reached the peak of Heavenly Being, but likely...

'Given his personality, he probably didn't accept help from the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect and didn't face the tribulation in advance, so he couldn't immediately overcome the ascension tribulation and reach Four-Axis.'

As I survey the chaotic surroundings.

[Anyway, lower your auras, juniors. No matter how impressive your generation is, there are Integration stage Grand Cultivators nearby in this Flying Immortal Platform, so be careful. Seeing sects like Black Ghost Valley and Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, it seems you've ascended from the Head Realm. I'll guide your group to the Human Territory. And you, demon beasts...]

Kugugugugu

Before the cultivators could finish speaking.

Far away, thunder and lightning struck, and dark clouds gathered in the sky.

Soon after, the entity bringing the dark clouds descended.

Kuguguugugugu!

Its a gigantic dragon.

Larger even than Seo Hweol's original form, this Four-Axis dragon from the Earth Tribes True Dragon Alliance landed among the Sea Dragon Tribe.

[I am Elder Gyu-ryeon of the Earth Tribes True Dragon Alliance. This generation's Head Realm ascenders are indeed something. To have reached Four-Axis already. You demon beasts, follow me to the Demon Territory.]

"Haha, we've heard of your fame even in the lower realm, Elder Gyu-ryeon. We appreciate your guidance."

Seo Hweol greets Gyu-ryeon with a gentle smile, and Gyu-ryeon, seemingly a bit embarrassed upon seeing Seo Hweol's face, snorts.

[Anyway, let's get going. I don't want to be around these folks for too long.]

Gyu-ryeon declares, glancing briefly at the green-armored wooden man and the other human Four-Axis cultivators.

Then, turning to me, Seo Hweol says,

"Ah, please just wait a moment.There's a matter regarding this junior that needs to be addressed."

With a gentle face, he extends his hand to me as I lay on the ground.

"Haha, this really Getting caught between a dragons fight always hurts the ants back. I apologize for any distress. I don't know what unique talent you have, but it must have been difficult ascending all the way here, wasn't it?"

"...Thank you for your concern."

I reply, getting up on my own without taking his hand.

"By the way, kid. Just what kind of method did you use to follow us?

Azure Tiger Saint asks, passing by the green-armored wooden man to approach me.

"Indeed, we left several days before him, and yet he managed to catch up just as we ascended?"

'That's right, now that I think about it.'

Under normal circumstances, I shouldn't have been able to converse with them here. They had ascended days before me, and its odd that I, who left much later, arrived in the upper realm at the same time.

Mad Lord Jo Yeon, who has been quiet, speaks with a chuckle.

[Seems like he has a special connection or fate with the upper realm. Even just considering the blessing of the Serving Command Seal, those with stronger fates can reach the upper realm much faster, can't they? While it took us several days to barely ascend, this guy, with his extraordinary fate, might have managed it in just half a day. Kekeke]

'Because of the Serving Command Seal'

It seems that while they struggled for days to ascend through spatial pressure, I had ascended instantly thanks to the seal's blessing.

Suddenly...

The ground beneath me lights up and is covered by a strange barrier.

"This is?"

"It's called the Flying Immortal Platform. All cultivators ascending from the lower realms arrive here. Now that there are no more ascendants, the Platform is closing, and the barrier we broke through is being restored,"

Seo Hweol explains while walking.

The Platform, now covered in a barrier, makes the surrounding space feel more stable.

Seo Hweol asks me.

"So, what will you do?"

"...?"

He gestures around with a benevolent expression.

"Your colleagues' talents have already been recognized. By ascending on your own, you've proven your exceptional talent as well... Since everyone has ascended, if you're as talented as they are, I wouldn't mind taking you with me. I'm quite interested in you"

Intrigue sparkled in the eyes of everyone around me, including Seo Hweol.

"Make your choice. We'll soon scatter according to the guidance of the Bright Cold Realm's seniors. Which faction will you join?"

Hearing this, I relax my entire body.

My Formless Sword, which has been surrounding me, disperses into the air.

'Well, let's think about it.'

Just then.

[Hey, you...!]

The green-armored wooden man and other Four-Axis cultivators floating in the air, along with the dragon elder representing the True Dragon Alliance, all show signs of intense anger.

'What's happening?'

In my confusion, they react to my Formless Sword.

[Looking carefully, isnt this a spy from the Heart Tribe trained in the Heart Path Method? I knew something was suspicious!]

"What...?"

[Die, you spy! We'll extract your soul and interrogate you after death!]

"Wait a m-"

Boom!

I explode, not even realizing what hit me, and die instantly.

Thus, I died right after succeeding in ascension.

That is my thirteenth return.

Translator Notes: Weve finally made it to the upper realm. Chapters 136-139 (chunky-ass chapters) were all donated by Citino. Thanks for the support!

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