Chapter 254

254. Chapter 251: The Bold Lanxing Sect Disciple

The entrance to the Ascension Platform looked like a gate, open for anyone to enter and challenge for free.

The first trial was simply to push open the door; if your strength was insufficient, or if you deliberately held back, you would fail this first trial.

As long as you pushed open the door and entered the Ascension Platform, the array would detect your cultivation aura and teleport you to the corresponding trial level.

The trial level for a Qi Condensation cultivator was absolutely different from that of a True Pill realm cultivator.

As for Primordial Soul realm cultivators, they did not need to pass trials—they could enter the Ascension Realm directly.

If you failed the trial, you would be teleported out.

If you succeeded, the Ascension Platform would emit radiant light, and the successful cultivator would appear upon the platform.

On the Ascension Platform stood a gate, directly leading to the Ascension Realm.

If you did not enter that gate, you could still descend from the platform with your own Ascension Token.

As long as you possessed an Ascension Token, you could use it at any time after descending to enter the Ascension Realm through another gate in the Two Realms Defense Array.

It could be said that the people of the Ascension Realm had gone to great lengths to design this Ascension Platform.

Because it was still in trial operation, many flaws remained.

For example, the entrance to the Ascension Platform had no guards; initially, this was no problem, but over time, trouble was inevitable.

For example, Ascension Tokens were not registered to individuals…

Mo Zheng of Zhenyun Dao City had come to the Ascension Platform specifically for this matter.

Besides Mo Zheng, there was Hu Wuxin, the leader of the Dao Cultivation Sect Alliance, and over a dozen sect leaders from major Dao Cultivation sects.

They had come here not only to improve the Two Realms City and select its mayor, but also to establish management protocols for the Ascension Platform's entrance.

There is a saying: no one rises early without profit. Mo Zheng and Hu Wuxin had come here to do these things because the business opportunities here were simply too great.

The radiant light bursting from the Ascension Platform caused everyone to cheer—it meant another cultivator had succeeded in the trial and earned an Ascension Token.

Indeed, after the light faded, a man appeared on the Ascension Platform, holding an Ascension Token in his hand.

"Brother Zhu, congratulations. Let's return and wait for news."

One man below the platform, upon seeing the man on the platform obtain the Ascension Token, also cried out excitedly.

The man on the platform tucked away the Ascension Token and hurried down, joining another cultivator below, then chuckled:

"I didn't expect the Ascension Platform to be this easy—I thought it would be much harder."

The male cultivator waiting below slapped Brother Zhu on the shoulder:

"Don't brag—Elder Liu said that as long as we wait…"

"Wait a moment. Our Two Realms City Guild is willing to pay a high price for your Ascension Tokens." A middle-aged female cultivator blocked their path.

"Sorry, we're not selling our Ascension Tokens," said Brother Zhu without hesitation.

The middle-aged woman chuckled:

"I'm not necessarily demanding you sell them—just that you didn't register with our Two Realms City Guild before coming here, and you challenged the Ascension Platform on your own. So, you two must come with me to the Guild."

"I'm Shen Jiankai of Lanxing Sect, this is my junior brother Zhu Feichong. Are you certain you want to take us?"

Shen Jiankai, influenced by Ding Huan's conduct, suddenly grew cold in tone.

Indeed, upon hearing these two were from Lanxing Sect, the middle-aged woman instinctively retracted her hand.

In the Dao Cultivation Realm, the most famous sect now was not a top-tier sect like Daxing Sword Dao, but Lanxing Sect.

Lanxing Sect was established on the territory of Zixia Valley, and since its founding, it had killed two Primordial Soul realm sect leaders, and its sect leader, Ding Huan, had eradicated the Shuanghun Sect.

If they had been lone cultivators, she could have taken them without hesitation.

But Lanxing Sect? She truly dared not.

Even the cultivators lurking at the edges, who had planned to rob Ascension Tokens, abandoned their intentions upon hearing these two were from Lanxing Sect.

Ascension Tokens were valuable, but Lanxing Sect was not a sect to be trifled with—they were the kind that wiped out entire sects and killed sect leaders without warning.

"Hmph, is Lanxing Sect so impressive? This is the Ascension Platform, established by elders of the Ascension Realm. Even Lanxing Sect must abide by the rules."

If you have grievances, you may explain them clearly to Elder Hu Wuxin or Elder Xin Can of the Guild.

Besides, there are Ascension Realm elders present here—how dare two Foundation Establishment disciples defy the entire Ascension Realm?"

A sudden voice rang out; the retreating middle-aged woman, upon hearing it, instinctively straightened her back.

Right—she represented the Two Realms City Guild. Why should she fear Lanxing Sect?

Besides, who was Hu Wuxin? Leader of the Dao Cultivation Sect Alliance, a Xuashen realm powerhouse.

These were merely surface-level strengths—the Ascension Platform had the Ascension Realm as its backer. Who dared act recklessly here?

Yet she forgot that while the Ascension Platform had indeed been set up by the Ascension Realm, the Ascension Realm had not stationed any strong cultivators here to guard it.

Moreover, her own actions could not possibly be protected.

Thinking of this, she barked sharply:

"Even Lanxing Sect is not exempt—you must go to the Two Realms City Guild and explain yourselves clearly."

Lu Yuan, who had stirred up the conflict from afar, exhaled in relief and swiftly entered the Two Realms City.

He knew Ding Huan was about to arrive—he would first provoke a conflict between Lanxing Sect's disciples and the Two Realms City Guild.

"Brother Zhu, let's go," said Shen Jiankai, grabbing Zhu Feichong's arm and turning sharply to leave.

"Arrest them," the woman ordered without hesitation.

Four Foundation Establishment cultivators immediately charged forward, summoning their artifacts.

Before Shen Jiankai could summon his own artifact, a blade of light slashed toward his back.

Zhu Feichong reacted instantly, punching forward.

The fist's aura collided with the blade, and Shen Jiankai twisted his body, dodging the strike.

But he heard Zhu Feichong cry out in agony—he turned to see Zhu Feichong clutching his waist, blood gushing profusely.

"Senior Brother, they're not here to capture people, they're here to kill." Zhu Feichong shouted sharply.

He clearly felt the aura of death, so he was certain the other side meant to kill, not to capture.

"Then we don't need to hold back either. Let's see how the Sect Master deals with those trash who invaded our sect."

Shen Jiankai summoned his long sword, true essence surging wildly, and a shower of sword screens swept out.

"Heh-heh…" The Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator at the very front let out a chuckle, not taking Shen Jiankai seriously at all.

The giant banner in his hand likewise swept toward Shen Jiankai.

He was at Foundation Establishment Late Stage Perfection, while Shen Jiankai was only at Foundation Establishment Late Stage — in his eyes, a full level beneath him.

Boom!

The magic treasures slammed together, true essence exploding apart.

What horrified this Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator was that the flames from his Long Flame Banner never even ignited before being torn apart by the other's sword screen.

He actually discovered that his true essence was on an entirely different level from the other's — the other's true essence carried a vast, starry-sky feeling.

The flames stirred up by the Long Flame Banner had no chance at all to erupt within that vastness.

Shen Jiankai held back nothing. After breaking through the Long Flame Banner's first attack, his greatsword transformed into a sword screen and hacked down.

This Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator retreated urgently, but he was within Shen Jiankai's sword domain, and his speed of withdrawal instantly slowed.

"Puh!" Shen Jiankai's long sword took off one of the man's arms.

"Stop!" This Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator was both shocked and furious, retreating madly while shouting at Shen Jiankai to stop.

He knew very well what he was about to face.

Having an arm severed meant his Dao body was incomplete; for the rest of his life he could only linger at the Foundation Establishment realm.

Given his status and position, obtaining heaven-defying treasures to restore his arm was almost impossible.

Stop?

Shen Jiankai had long ago learned a saying from the Sect Master: mercy toward the enemy is cruelty to oneself.

They were trying to kill him and he should stop?

His sword screen not only did not weaken, but surged a second time, sweeping up sword light across the sky.

At this moment he deeply felt the ferocity of cultivating the Minor Universe Art.

With his previous cultivation method, even if he wanted to surge again, his true essence couldn't sustain it. Now he realized his intent with ease, and his sword technique erupted with sword light a second time.

This Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator felt a chill on his neck; he stared at Shen Jiankai in disbelief — did this man dare to kill him?

Not long ago he had still been raging over his broken body, unable to advance to True Pill.

Now he understood — it wasn't that he couldn't advance to True Pill, but that he wouldn't need to cultivate ever again.

"You dare kill Niu He?" Another Foundation Establishment Initial Stage cultivator who had charged up also stared at Shen Jiankai in disbelief.

They were the official guard squad of Two Worlds City — did this man eat the gall of a bear or leopard, daring to kill Niu He? Did he not want to live?

Shen Jiankai had moved too quickly just now, and he hadn't had time to come support in the moment.

Shen Jiankai completely ignored his words, and the broad sword in his hand hacked out once more.

This Foundation Establishment Initial Stage cultivator was far, far weaker than the Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator Shen Jiankai had just killed.

Only now did terror seize him — what daring or not daring? The man had already killed, and he himself was now caught up in the sword screen.

With just one sword screen, this Foundation Establishment Initial Stage cultivator could not evade.

"Puh!" Blood light exploded, and this cultivator was once again killed by Shen Jiankai.

Zhu Feichong, also covered in fresh blood, came to Shen Jiankai's side:

"Senior Brother, I just killed one too."

The two of them had just killed three Foundation Establishment cultivators — two Foundation Establishment Initial Stage and one Foundation Establishment Perfection.

Another Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator saw things going badly and fled early.

These two were lunatics — they even dared to kill official guards of Two Worlds City. Was he going to stay here and wait for death?

That woman likewise stared at Shen Jiankai and Zhu Feichong in terror — these two had killed people from the Two Worlds City Guild at the Ascension Platform, three in one go.

"There's still one woman — let's kill her together." Shen Jiankai stared at this woman, his killing intent utterly undisguised.

He had gone berserk with killing.

Zhu Feichong pulled Shen Jiankai:

"Senior Brother Shen, let's hurry back to the sect."

Shen Jiankai came to his senses — at a time like this, slip away fast! Why stay here? Wait for a True Pill realm expert to arrive?

"What — after killing guards of the Two Worlds City Guild here, you just leave like that?"

A faint voice came over, followed by a powerful aura that pressed down on the two until even their breathing was not smooth.

Both of their hearts sank — this was definitely an expert who had surpassed the True Pill realm.