Chapter 212: Ascension Platform, Immortal Washing Pool (Combined)

Ascension.

To Xu Xing, it was not unfamiliar, but to the vast majority of cultivators in the Xuan Realm, it was a completely alien concept.

Qi Gathering, Foundation Establishment, Jin Dan, Nascent Soul… all the way to Tong Xuan, Dong Zhen after He Dao, and beyond them, the "Immortal."

As long as one walks the path step by step, there is always a chance to reach it.

The cultivation system is complete, and the path ahead is still being opened—it has not yet been completely severed.

Xu Xing looked at Ning Ruo.

The swirling multicolored lights within the passage fell upon her, casting her expression in an obscure, inexplicable gloom.

"Those worlds all have low upper limits; few reach the Return to Void level, let alone the 'Immortal' tier," Xu Xing said slowly.

The power of a True Immortal is boundless; once, two Dao companions in the starry sky explored beyond the realms. Though their journey was brief, the scope they covered was extraordinarily vast.

Yet the highest world they encountered was no higher than the Return to Void level.

The Xuan Realm seems truly to have reached the pinnacle.

"There is no need to become an Immortal—those prodigies who rise above their world naturally possess abilities far beyond ordinary mortals."

Even if one cannot become an Immortal, the likelihood of reaching He Dao is somewhat higher than for ordinary people.

"Isn't this just like the previous attempts?"

The human beings from outside the world are not recognized by the Xuan Realm—they cannot achieve He Dao at all.

This is the greatest problem.

"Just follow me, Xu Dage. Over these past thousand years, I've deduced countless possibilities, and finally found one that's somewhat viable."

Light came from nearby; the swirling multicolored lights within the passage dimmed considerably.

That was the exit.

"It might succeed, or it might not—but we must try," Ning Ruo said softly.

Xu Xing nodded slightly and said nothing more.

To utterly eradicate the Cang Clan, any method is worth attempting.

The two arrived at the end of the passage; the swirling colored lights on either side had grown extremely dim, as if suppressed.

A bright, gentle white light blocked their path; the vast power flowing upon it was several times more terrifying than all they had seen before combined! Xu Xing's expression remained unchanged as he stepped forward with Ning Ruo.

The gentle white light shimmered faintly, filling their vision, and they felt a slight resistance.

But soon, the view ahead opened up abruptly.

Before them stretched a vast, desolate desert—rolling dunes like the spines of colossal beasts, silently extending to the horizon, devoid of any trace of life.

The sky was dark and heavy; searing heat waves struck their faces, as if ready to evaporate everything.

Utter silence reigned—even the whisper of wind-blown sand was absent, as if silently speaking of the desert's eternal solitude.

This was a lifeless, ashen, scorching space.

Xu Xing paid no heed to the environment, but gazed toward the center of the desert.

There stood a magnificent, sacred structure of gold and white.

It was a building resembling a "sacrificial altar," towering dozens of zhang high, suspended above the sand, its tier upon tier of steps extending to its summit.

Each step glowed with intricate, star-river-like patterns; golden, mysterious runes flowed around all four sides of the altar, flickering on and off.

As their gaze settled upon it, the eternal, ashen solitude of the space seemed to resonate with grand Dao-sounds, expounding the ultimate truths of the Dao, manifesting countless scenes of worlds arising, perishing, sinking, and floating.

The exquisite star-river patterns and the swirling runes on all sides transformed at once into countless Dao-inscriptions, each elucidating the true essence of the Dao, fully revealing its profound meaning.

"What is this?"

"The Ascension Platform—just as Xu Dage once described."

Ning Ruo directly took Xu Xing's hand and stepped forward, ascending one step at a time toward the Ascension Platform.

"This one is the central Ascension Platform. If my plan succeeds, it will become a beacon, providing coordinates for the countless Ascension Platforms scattered across other worlds."

The sand beneath their feet was slightly soft, sinking slightly underfoot, but Xu Xing paid no mind, still gazing at the majestic structure at the desert's heart.

The method sounded feasible, yet the most critical point still could not be avoided.

But he did not interrupt; after all, Ning Ruo surely understood this point—he only needed to listen as she continued.

Before the towering Ascension Platform, the two stood beneath its grandeur, appearing utterly insignificant.

As they ascended the steps, one by one, Ning Ruo looked upward and explained: "Many years ago, when I heard Xu Dage speak of Ascension, I wondered: what would the Immortal Realm truly be like?"

"If I became an Immortal, could I also Ascend to that Immortal Realm?"

"Even until I heard that Xu Dage had become an Immortal, I still wondered why you had not Ascended."

"Only when I finally cultivated to Immortality did I understand…"

Ning Ruo turned to look at Xu Xing, her tone solemn beyond measure.

"With True Immortals like us dwelling in this world, the Xuan Realm *is* the 'Immortal Realm!'"

"…."

Xu Xing fell silent for a long while, then suddenly smiled.

"Daoist, you have great audacity!"

The very notion of "Ascension" was something he had casually mentioned before becoming an Immortal.

Back then, his image of an "Immortal" was one who plucked stars, seized the moon, lived forever, and traveled from the Northern Seas to the Cangwu Mountains in a single day.

But plucking stars and seizing the moon—any cultivator in this system who reached the Soul Transformation Realm could do that.

He Dao cultivators could command star-rivers, roam vast stellar domains; if they appeared in worlds with low power levels, they needed do nothing—simply by their immense scale, they could crush those worlds outright.

In such worlds, would such beings not be called "Immortals"? Just as in ages past.

The Dao companion and elder in the starry sky, when exploring beyond, had their gaze alone affected tens of thousands of worlds.

Had they not intervened in time, those worlds would have been obliterated into the Primordial Void.

It was like a cultivator traveling to the Starry Sky and suddenly gaining immense power.

After the Immortals of the Xuan Realm left the Xuan Realm, even the smallest action they took would trigger terrifying consequences.

Upon thinking this through.

The Xuan Realm truly does have the credentials to be called an 'Immortal Realm'.

"Xu Dage promised not to call me that," Ning Ruo suddenly said. "I naturally remember, but just now, addressing you by your name alone lacked a certain nuance."

"You mustn't do this again."

Xu Xing nodded slightly, agreeing.

Arriving at the summit of the Ascension Platform, before them appeared a neatly shaped hexagonal platform, utterly empty, smooth and bright as a mirror.

The Dao sounds echoing in their ears grew even more majestic.

"I've been planning this scheme for a long time; every aspect has been prepared, but only after Xu Dage's recent emergence from seclusion was the most crucial piece of the puzzle completed."

Ning Ruo opened her palm, and a tiny Ascension Platform hovered above it, delicate and exquisite.

Yet its appearance was clearly a scaled-down version of the Ascension Platform beneath their feet.

Around it, the void itself subtly warped.

Moreover, Xu Xing could sense that this tiny Ascension Platform maintained a faint, almost imperceptible connection to the central core of the one beneath their feet.

"Before this, I and several other Dao companions restrained Hun Tian Yi and could not move freely; the remaining unbound Dao companions either guarded the frontlines of the Starry Sky battlefield or watched over the Ancients still lingering on the Central Continent." In short, there were no hands to spare.

"But now that Xu Dage has emerged from seclusion, you—who are no longer bound by Hun Tian Yi—can begin exploring the outside world and seek suitable worlds to plant Ascension Platforms."

Though one of the Dongzhen realm can leave the Xuan Realm, it is still a first attempt; a higher realm is preferable.

Xu Xing, who has taken half a step beyond the Immortal realm, is undoubtedly the most suitable candidate.

Xu Xing did not immediately respond, but said:

"Ascension and guidance are not difficult for us, but the more important matter is whether the Xuan Realm will recognize it."

Not only planting an Ascension Platform, but even seizing an entire world was no challenge for him.

The key is how to make the Xuan Realm recognize outsiders of the human race as belonging to the Xuan Realm.

"I understand this well," Ning Ruo said, gazing forward.

Zhum~ The mirror-bright platform surfaced with array patterns, lighting up one by one until the entire hexagonal platform was fully covered.

A pale golden light rose, swirling and intertwining.

"Xu Dage, upon emerging from seclusion, must have learned about 'False Foundation Establishment,' correct?"

Though phrased as a question, it carried a tone of certainty.

Previously, Xu Xing had mentioned in the group chat the events in Xuan Jian City, including Xiao Fan, who advanced to False Foundation Establishment by taking Breakthrough Elixir at the seventh layer of Qi Condensation.

Although he did not reply at the time, Ning Ruo had seen it.

"Correct," Xu Xing nodded.

At the time, he found the method of advancing to Foundation Establishment at Qi Condensation seventh layer intriguing and intended to investigate further, but later set it aside due to dealing with the Ancients.

False Foundation Establishment...

"I recall the Breakthrough Elixir used for False Foundation Establishment was a byproduct of Ling Yin Fang's research into Creation Foundation Establishment."

"Yes, I indeed developed it," Ning Ruo said, gazing at the rising, intertwining pale golden light. "Cultivators comprehend principles and forge a Creation Dao foundation—that is, a clear declaration of their own path in advance."

The swirling, intertwining pale golden light began to fade.

On the neat hexagonal platform, a thumb-sized white Qi rose, drifting upward to a foot in height.

Hu~ As if the sea of clouds churned, the thumb-sized white Qi suddenly expanded like a burst.

In but an instant, it filled the entire platform, revealing within a clear pool of water, shimmering with ripples, its surface ablaze with auroras, surrounded by rolling mists.

"But in a certain sense, it also claims a sliver of the world's 'weight'."

As the white Qi completed its manifestation as a pool, Ning Ruo's voice fell.

Looking at the aurora-wreathed pool before him, Xu Xing understood Ning Ruo's method.

This technique might truly work! Xuan Realm cultivators, once reaching the Dao-Union realm, can claim the world's weight.

Those who achieve Creation Foundation Establishment, by clearly defining their path in advance, can partially manifest Dao-Union abilities and thus barely qualify as claiming a sliver of the world's weight.

The current False Foundation Establishment is an infinitely weakened version of Creation Foundation Establishment—it cannot even be called 'weight,' only possessing a faint echo of the Creation Foundation Establishment's aura.

But this faint aura is enough! Within this pool, unmistakably, was the mysterious aura once seen in Xiao Fan's fragile Dao foundation back in Xuan Jian City—and far superior by a thousandfold.

"The Breakthrough Elixir currently used for False Foundation Establishment is a byproduct of this 'Wash Immortal Pool'."

Wash Immortal Pool...

Xu Xing's gaze flickered slightly.

"So the several sword qi you borrowed from your senior sister were used here?"

"Correct. The Sword Sovereign's killing sword path is ferociously violent; only her sword qi could achieve this!"

What use was borrowing the Sword Sovereign's sword qi? Where did the pool's mysterious aura come from?

She used the Sword Sovereign's supreme killing sword qi to scour away and neutralize the restrained Hun Tian Yi, transforming it into its purest essence, then spent a century refining it to forge this 'Wash Immortal Pool'.

Waiting for Dao-Union cultivators to naturally emerge in sufficient numbers would take far too long! But if Ascension Platforms are used to draw in talented humans from countless worlds, and the Wash Immortal Pool grants them a sliver of aura...

Then the Xuan Realm should recognize them.

The time required to reach the necessary world weight would be drastically shortened.

"Xu Dage, what do you think of my plan?"

"Highly feasible," Xu Xing said calmly, yet with great seriousness. "But whether it proceeds as envisioned, we must test it to know."

Even so, whether the faint aura granted by the Wash Immortal Pool can gain the Xuan Realm's recognition remains uncertain.

All of this requires practical verification.

"Therefore, this task falls to Xu Dage to verify."

"Mm."

Now, only he is best suited to do this.

Even the issue of world coordinates need not be worried about; afterward, we can go to Qing Xu and see what Yuan left behind.

If any are suitable, simply pick one.

After a pause, Xu Xing suddenly thought of something.

"We must set some restrictions—if extremely wicked beings ascend here, they might be swayed by the Cang Clan and become a hindrance."

"Xu Dage, rest assured—I've already considered this," Ning Ruo smiled lightly. "Even if one's cultivation is sufficient, a cultivator must have rendered great service to their world and performed great deeds in ancient and modern times to be permitted to ascend."

For this initial attempt, the rules can be strict; if unsuitable, adjustments can be made later based on circumstances.

It's better to move slowly at the start of the plan than to run into problems.

"That is naturally best," Xu Xing nodded slightly.

Only when one achieves Creation's fulfillment, completes the Dao Fruit, and accumulates three thousand external deeds—when the external fruit is perfected—may one ascend.

It truly carries a hint of the "Immortal Realm."

…………

Meanwhile, inside the Ling Yin Fang.

Golden sunlight spilled down; the snow along the roads had melted somewhat, and most of the snowmen from last night had become unrecognizable.

Only a small portion still retained their original form.

Snow-themed amusement parks had sprung up everywhere—some Ling Yin Fang inner sect disciples had seized this rare opportunity to earn extra income.

All facilities were made from the snow that fell last night; the only cost was the fee paid to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall for venue rental.

Chi Jiuyu had originally been very interested and wanted to play, have snowball fights, and such.

But those having snowball fights were all Return to Void or Soul Transformation cultivators—joining them would mean getting beaten into a dead fish. With no choice, he could only try other attractions.

"Wuhu!"

Sliding on his snowboard, Chi Jiuyu shot toward a hundred meters in the air, then plummeted rapidly.

This was one of the larger investments among the snow amusement parks—besides various attractions, beside the ski slope, array patterns glowed, suppressing part of a cultivator's realm to make the experience more thrilling!

Yuan, Ning Wan Zhu, and Ming Yu stood beside the ski slope.

After yesterday's events, Yuan had decided not to go out—he didn't believe Huo would dare enter!

Two chapters combined and posted together.

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