Chapter 273: The Golden Book and Jade Slip Proclaim the Immortal Edict

"As for this matter…" Xu Xing withdrew his gaze from the Ascension Hall and looked at Xiang Yuanjun, "I can attempt it again once I've sorted out my thoughts."

"Are you about to take the next step, Elder Brother?" Xiang Yuanjun was slightly surprised.

I just gained insight from the Beast God Realm incident—how could your progress have accelerated so swiftly? "Somewhat, but whether it will succeed remains uncertain."

The Great Dao endures boundlessly; thus, I shall use my Dao as an anchor, mastering its beginning and end, transforming myself into the source…

This was the next step Xu Xing had deduced.

But how exactly to proceed, he still had no clear direction.

During the previous slaying of the Beast God, a single sword stroke had drawn forth countless sword-light responses from all realms, yet it was still lacking something.

"No wonder you're Elder Brother Xu," Ning Ruo chuckled lightly.

Xiang Yuanjun had intended to say something, but Ning Ruo spoke before her.

After a pause, she asked instead: "How are the Ascenders faring?"

"Almost ready."

Xu Xing turned his head toward the side, his gaze seemingly piercing through layers of obstruction, crossing the vast Chaos Sea, landing upon a world drifting uncertainly within chaotic qi.

"Everything is proceeding as planned."

The Ascension must be made grand in scale—only then will cultivators strive toward this goal.

………

Fuliu Realm.

Human territory, Ancestral Court! As the dominant race of the Fuliu Realm, the Human Ancestral Court was extraordinarily prosperous, housing two Void-Return Heavenly Immortals who protected the human race's countless li of territory.

No! Now there are three!

Beyond the towering gate, towering buildings rose in rows, stretching endlessly along both sides of the flat, wide roads.

Cultivators hurried back and forth in a ceaseless stream.

Above the high heavens, spirit beasts of exotic breeds pulled carriages, roaring in from afar.

At the very center of the Ancestral Court stood a magnificent structure—the Ancestral Hall! This was the core of the city-protection array and the human race's heritage site, personally guarded by the three Void-Return Heavenly Immortals.

Covering a thousand li in diameter, it was not large within the vast Ancestral Court, yet neither could it be called small.

Deep within its interior.

Was a temple radiating infinite ancient qi, its dark walls painted with murals, wisps of smoke curling upward.

A thin man in blue robes sat cross-legged on a mat, his expression complex as he gazed at the golden-white structure before him, resembling an altar.

"The Ascension Platform…"

A sigh echoed through the temple.

Since ascending to Void-Return three hundred years ago and becoming the pinnacle of the Fuliu Realm, he had resolved to protect the human race until his death—yet then a Ascension Platform appeared.

And that mysterious elder's revelation of a higher realm…

Just as he pondered, a figure entered the temple from outside, his aura slightly weaker but still at the Void-Return level.

The Grand Elder of the Human Ancestral Court.

"Grand Sacrificer, the envoys of the Feather God Clan and the Azure Dragon Clan have arrived at the Ancestral Court—what shall we do next?"

The Feather God Clan and Azure Dragon Clan were both races, like the humans, guarded by Void-Return Heavenly Immortals.

"Let me see."

The man in blue robes—the Grand Sacrificer of the Fuliu Realm's human race—rose to his full height and turned to gaze outward, his eyes reflecting the entire hundred-thousand-li territory of the Ancestral Court.

In his perception, the Ancestral Court remained as always, showing no sign of irregularity.

Could it truly be so peaceful?

His brow twitched slightly; golden light flared in his pupils, brilliant as radiant light.

The Divine Eye of the Floating World!

Not a power of the Fuliu Realm, but taught by that mysterious elder.

Its power was boundless, its mystery unfathomable.

After activating the divine eye, the Grand Sacrificer finally sensed five obscure yet powerful, heavy and vast auras.

Five Void-Returns!

The Grand Sacrificer's heart sank.

Beyond the Feather God Clan and Azure Dragon Clan, other races' Void-Returns had also joined!

Trouble.

He ceased the divine eye. The Grand Elder before him, seeing the golden light in his eyes fade, immediately asked:

"What is it?"

"Five Void-Returns. Aside from the Feather God Clan and Azure Dragon Clan, others must have joined."

With the human race's third Void-Return born, those old beasts could no longer sit idle.

No, the Ascension must be…

Just as the Grand Sacrificer prepared to delay the Ascension, a clear voice suddenly reached his ear.

"No need to delay. I'll handle it. When the time comes, I'll slay those five Void-Returns for you."

Elder?

The Grand Sacrificer froze, then snapped back to reality—his friend still wore an anxious expression. He immediately realized only he could hear that voice.

He remained composed: "Proceed as usual. Three days from now, you will assume the position of Grand Sacrificer."

The Grand Elder paused in shock, but years of companionship had taught him the Grand Sacrificer never acted without certainty.

"Understood."

He nodded and turned to leave.

"Wait!" the High Priest called out to him, and under his puzzled gaze, "The Immortal Scripture is now the Grand Rite—this will be the case from now on."

Void-returning Heavenly Immortal…

After receiving the guidance of that elder, looking at these four characters made him feel more and more embarrassed.

The Grand Elder understood, nodded, and turned to leave.

The High Priest watched his retreating figure, pondered for a moment, then followed him out.

He decided to make a few more arrangements.

Although that mysterious elder said he would help them slay the five void-returners, what if something went wrong? Human beings may seem powerful now, but it's like oil being poured over a blazing fire.

Under the immense pressure of three void-returners, other dominant races have begun to unite.

Every decision is like dancing on the tip of a blade—must be handled with the utmost caution.

He cannot afford to gamble, and neither can the human race.

The High Priest's figure quickly vanished, leaving only the Ascension Platform standing silently amid the curling incense smoke.

Meanwhile, in a space that did not exist in reality.

Xu Xing sat cross-legged in the boundless void, watching the High Priest's departing back, and nodded slightly.

Having come to this realm for many years, Xu Xing was deeply satisfied with this man's conduct.

His talent and character were both exceptional.

Too bad he was not a sword cultivator—otherwise, Xu Xing would have taken him as a disciple.

"Three days… is sufficient."

The Fuliu Realm is merely a world at the void-returning level; its time flow differs greatly from that of the Tai Xuan Realm.

As for the five alien void-returners, Xu Xing paid them no mind at all.

Though merely a sword-intention spiritual body, crushing five void-returners was still quite easy.

He had originally intended not to interfere deeply in this realm's affairs, but the Ascension Plan was involved.

Then the five alien void-returners had brought death upon themselves.

Organize and upload~~

…

…

Three days later.

The Human Ancestral Court was bustling with activity.

Seven-colored auspicious clouds swirled high in the sky, celestial music echoed everywhere, lanterns and decorations adorned every corner—even the usually hurried cultivators slowed their steps, their faces smiling.

Exquisite, ancient, and sacred chariots and flying vessels from various races arrived from all directions and hovered outside the Ancestral Court.

The human race has produced its third Void-returning Heavenly Immortal!

No other race in the Fuliu Realm can rival the humans! The Grand Rite venue hung in the clouds, with five colorful stone pillars winding like dragons around it.

Several cultivators with sharp auras, each at the Soul Transformation Realm, clad in armor and wielding spears, stood at the four corners, forming a mysterious array that made the Nascent Soul-level alien cultivators entering the venue shrink their pupils and become hyper-alert.

What are the humans planning?!

They've deployed Soul Transformation Immortals as guards!

Though shaken inside, they still forced down their unease and entered the venue.

Void-returning Ascension Grand Rite!

Previously, it had always been called the "Void-returning Ascension Immortal Rite."

The human race's sudden name change made many aliens speculate wildly—those who knew their own Void-returning Ancestors planned to strike could not help but suspect.

Could it be that the humans themselves have realized their situation is not favorable, and now intend to act discreetly? But changing just one word—what good does that do?

Three void-returners are simply too many—it's impossible to feel at ease.

The Ancestors of several dominant races have already united, preparing to cripple the human race in one blow—or at the very least, eliminate one human void-returner. Once fighting breaks out, they're certain other dominant races' void-returners won't be able to resist joining in.

Just as the alien races were lost in their own thoughts—

A flash of green appeared in sight.

Though his figure was slender and unremarkable, his appearance caused every alien present to hold their breath.

The Human High Priest! Though he had rarely fought in recent years, no alien dared underestimate him!

As one of the few Void-returning Perfect cultivators in the Fuliu Realm, his hands were stained with countless alien bloods; his fearsome reputation was enough to make any alien child fall silent.

He stepped onto the high platform and casually tossed something.

A golden-white structure resembling an altar rotated and expanded, finally settling at the highest point.

After completing this, he turned to face all the aliens present, his deep, dark eyes unnervingly calm.

What is he doing? The aliens' hearts grew cold, their unease reaching its peak in an instant.

"Thank you all for traveling countless miles to attend my Ascension Grand Rite."

Ascension?

Grand Rite?

Isn't this supposed to be the Void-returning Ascension… Grand Rite?

The Human High Priest spoke softly: "Five of you—will you not show yourselves?"

His voice was faint, yet to the ears of those in the venue, it sounded like ten thousand thunderclaps exploding.

Shock and terror surged within them; their bodies trembled uncontrollably.

"Hahaha! Of course you'd see through us, old devil!"

Amid booming laughter, five colors intertwined and swirled above the Ancestral Court, coalescing into a pale, moon-and-star-like palm that crashed down with a thunderous boom.

Heaven and earth trembled!

Under the violent pressure, the sky shattered, and vast ripples, like a raging tide, swept instantly across one hundred thousand li of the ancestral grounds.

As if the heavens had collapsed, it sought to sweep away the entire one hundred thousand li of ancestral grounds with a single palm.

At that moment, amid the tangible currents of qi, a figure rose against the tide.

It was indeed that newly arrived human Realm of Returning Void! "Overreaching," he sneered.

Then he brought two fingers together like a sword and uttered sharply: "Slice!"

Zzzz~!

The clear, resonant sword cry instantly drowned out all else.

A thin line of brilliant light, crimson as fire, like the first light of dawn, cleaved yin from yang.

The star-and-moon-like giant palm vanished, as if the preceding scene had been but an illusion.

Until a massive head fell from the sky, landing upon the arena before many alien races.

The head's face was flawless and exquisite, with a seven-colored gem embedded in its brow.

It was the Realm of Returning Void celestial immortal of the Feathered God Clan!

In his eyes still lingered a trace of disbelief, as if he had witnessed something impossible.

This was a Realm of Returning Void Hehuan Hehuan Laozu—killed by a single sword slash?! Before anyone could recover, a jade slip unfurled slowly from the horizon, revealing golden inscriptions of profound mystery etched upon it.

Following it came a voice that echoed through heaven and earth, audible to every single being within the realm.

"Li Ming of the Fuliu Realm, having cultivated for nine hundred and twenty-three years, has attained the peak of the Realm of Returning Void."

"He has accumulated three thousand external deeds, his Dao fruit now complete."

"His merit rivals creation; he has attained the Dao and ascended."

This was—

The Golden Book and Jade Slip proclaiming the Immortal Edict! Billions of beings suddenly understood.

Yet Li Ming, standing before the Ascension Platform—the human Grand Sacrificer—stared in shock.

Wait, has it already begun?!

(End of Chapter)