Chapter 334: Unstable Ascension Platform

Above Fuming County, the cold wind howled bitterly as snow fell in thick flakes.

A man with gray-white hair and strikingly beautiful, eerie features stood silently in midair, his wolf-like eyes radiating gloom.

In his palm rested a treasure pearl wreathed in five qi, within which a green jade dragon leaped and twisted, astonishingly vivid.

It was none other than Cangyun Yaojun!

Leveraging his foreknowledge and mastery of esoteric methods that would only emerge in future immortal eras, he had acquired the Shanhe Pearl and was now on the verge of touching the threshold of Foundation Establishment.

He had come to Fuming County to seek revenge on the still-undeveloped Qianyan Daozhu—but…

"The Thunder Bureau's divine spirits…"

Gazing at the several solemn golden-armored divine generals, Cangyun Yaojun's mood plummeted to its lowest point.

The Shanhe Pearl he possessed could absorb fortune and amplify his own strength and battle formations, and it exerted powerful suppression over divine spirits, partially severing the divine position's enhancement of the spirits.

This was why he had defeated the imperial court's armies and shattered the spirit-body of the mountain deity of Cangyun Mountain.

The Shanhe Pearl manifesting the green dragon's form had already reached Jin Dan-level power; even if the Qianyan Daozhu were a prodigy of unparalleled talent, he could never possibly reach Jin Dan at this stage!

Yet after thorough searching, the man was nowhere to be found within Fuming County…

Moreover, Fuming County had inexplicably gained several Thunder Bureau divine spirits.

The Thunder Bureau's divine spirits were no match for the mountain deity of Cangyun Mountain—they were not only immensely powerful but also direct servants of the Heavenly Palace; if trouble arose here…

"Forget it."

There was no need to clash head-on with the Thunder Bureau's divine spirits now—he would simply search the surrounding area once more.

A swirl of pure qi carried Cangyun Yaojun away.

He felt his own actions had begun to alter the current trajectory of this world, hence all these anomalies.

Like the prematurely departed Qianyan Daozhu, the Thunder Bureau's divine spirits, and these mysteriously appearing Tai Ping Dan fruits…

But it mattered little—as long as several pivotal nodes remained unchanged, his advantage of foreknowledge would let him ride the winds of this great era's transition and soar upward!

Qianyan Daozhu…

Even if he grows stronger in the future, that future is still future—he can never surpass me, who has been granted a second chance!

The pure qi dissipated into the snowstorm.

Yet Cangyun Yaojun was unaware that, within a cave outside Fuming County at this very moment…

A faint glow from a spirit pearl in the cave wall's niche illuminated the cavern; He Yunqi held in his hand a pearl wreathed in five qi, within which a green jade dragon leaped and twisted.

But compared to the one Cangyun Yaojun held, this one was far more illusory.

【Yan Xu Wei Shi: Shanhe Pearl Illusion (Green Dragon Form)】

【Not Held, Thus Illusory; Disappears One Moment After Use】

He had exchanged one Fa Yan opportunity to obtain it—and it was a single-use item.

After over a dozen Fa Yan attempts, he realized that conventional escape or concealment methods could not possibly counter Cangyun Yaojun.

"Shanhe Pearl…"

It was this very treasure that had driven him into a corner, with no escape above or below.

Now he possessed one too—though its duration lasted only one moment—he could now recklessly drain its fortune without restraint…

He clenched his palm, and the Shanhe Pearl vanished.

Gazing at the two remaining Fa Yan opportunities, He Yunqi hesitated no longer and began another Fa Yan.

…

…

The next morning.

The snow had ceased after falling all night.

In the pine forest, squirrels leapt among the branches, shaking down soft showers of snow.

Cangyun Yaojun walked slowly, his steps leaving not a single trace on the snow.

He casually killed a black bear that roared at him, tore out its heart, and plucked several Tai Ping Dan fruits from beneath the pine trees, swallowing them.

The translucent pills dissolved instantly upon entry; feeling the yuan qi surge, he bit into the still-steaming heart.

With a wet *plop*, blood splattered, making his face appear even more eerie.

Continuing forward, blood dripped from his fingers and palms, staining the snow beneath his feet red.

His fruitless search all night had left him irritable.

Where the hell had the Qianyan Daozhu run off to!

Suddenly, his movements froze; his gloomy eyes locked onto a distant point.

With his keen vision, he clearly identified the tiny, slowly moving dot ahead.

A feral grin twisted his lips as he tossed the remaining half of the bear's heart aside.

"Found you!"

His already sharp canines elongated further; gray fur sprouted across his face and exposed hands, his palms transforming into razor-sharp claws.

He silently activated the Shanhe Pearl; as the green dragon writhed, his aura surged rapidly.

Crouching low, he became a gray shadow, streaking soundlessly toward the distance.

He had directly used the Shanhe Pearl's fortune enhancement!

Being granted a second chance did not mean he would grow complacent!

This was the Qianyan Daozhu!

Even in the future, amid that golden age ablaze with brilliant stars, he remained unquestionably among the top tier!

Only a handful could rival him!

Whoosh!

The wind howled, and the surrounding scenery rapidly receded; Cangyun Yaojun stared fixedly at the figure drawing ever closer, his malevolent eyes churning with uncontainable excitement.

He felt as if he had already seen Qian Yan Daozhu's head severed, and himself drinking deeply of his blood!

Closer, closer…

Just as the talons were about to touch the figure in his sight!

That figure suddenly turned around, his gaze profoundly strange.

Hm?

Before he could react, a visible distortion spread between the two of them. Boom!!

The surging air currents exploded with thunderous force; a terrifying shockwave radiated outward from the center, instantly shredding the surrounding pine trees into microscopic wood splinters, while those farther away were ripped from the ground and flung skyward like straw.

Snow waves rose several zhang high, yet melted away in an instant.

At the very heart of the shockwave, Cangyun Yaojun's eyes were filled with boundless shock.

How long has it been?!

How could Qian Yan Daozhu have reached Jin Dan already?!

Shocked as he was, he did not halt his attack; his form pierced through the steam rising from melted snow, his razor-sharp talons wreathed in five-qi, lashing straight for He Yunqi!

Yet the next moment, something even more incomprehensible occurred.

Yin~!

The green jade dragon leapt upward, transforming within the blazing golden aura-fire into a primordial true dragon: antlers like a deer, head like a camel, eyes like a rabbit, neck like a snake, belly like a sea shell, scales like a fish, claws like an eagle, paws like a tiger, ears like an ox, its back adorned with eighty-one scales, embodying the perfect yang number of nine-nine.

Cangyun Yaojun's attack was effortlessly blocked.

He Yunqi's five-qi swirled around him as he ascended into the high heavens, guarded by the true dragon.

Please... Your Lordship... collect_(!)

The terrifying shockwave and the rising snow waves calmed instantly.

Igniting aura, elevating the green dragon into a true dragon!

Even the real Shanhe Pearl, if used in such an overdrawn manner, would rapidly burn out its internal aura.

The Shanhe Pearl itself might even be damaged!

"Fucking hell! What did I ever do to you?!"

Stepping through empty air, He Yunqi, guarded by the aura-enshrouded true dragon, wore a grim expression and roared curses at Cangyun Yaojun!

Cangyun Yaojun said nothing, only stared dumbfounded at the Shanhe Pearl resting in his palm.

Isn't there only one Shanhe Pearl?!

…………

"Even between divine tools, there are differences."

Far away, above the clouds, Xu Xing slightly shook his head.

Naturally, neither Cangyun Yaojun nor He Yunqi, who had obtained Dao Yan Da Qian Lu, escaped his gaze.

Honestly, Cangyun Yaojun had done quite well.

Not only had he forged the form of a green dragon from the aura of Cangyun Mountains, but his own cultivation realm far surpassed He Yunqi's, who had begun cultivation earlier.

He also denied him excessive time to grow, striking while he was weakest.

But alas…

He couldn't outmatch a cheat.

This "rebirth" was already a formidable divine tool, but it couldn't compete with someone else's cheat simulator that turned illusion into reality.

Especially after seeing He Yunqi directly overdraw the Shanhe Pearl, Cangyun Yaojun's entire psyche shattered.

The Shanhe Pearl he cherished so dearly—someone else didn't care at all…

After watching for a while, Xu Xing ceased paying attention to the scene below and slowly descended from the clouds.

Protected by the phantom Shanhe Pearl, safety was assured—but killing Cangyun Yaojun now was nearly impossible.

Below, he saw a waterfall.

On the cliffside beside it stood a small hut, grown naturally from earth and wood.

Yes, this was where Bie Xuening and Xiang Yuanjun were.

After wandering together with Hong Zun across this world, Xu Xing had parted ways with him to find his senior sister and Yuanjun.

As for Hong Zun, he claimed he wanted to record the scenery of this world to share with his wife and children later.

After sitting too long, he simply couldn't stay still.

Thinking thus, Xu Xing had already landed before the small hut.

There, Yue Ling held a bundle of Tai Ping Dan fruits, standing at the cliff's edge, dropping them one by one into the below emerald-green water.

In the water, several spirit fish swam, leaping from the surface to open their mouths and catch the falling Tai Ping Dan fruits.

Beside her stood several snowmen, varying in height, lifelike and vivid.

Herself, Chi Jiu Yu, Bie Xuening, Xiang Yuanjun—and Xu Xing.

Of course, her own snowman was the tallest.

Lost in the joy of feeding the fish, she only noticed Xu Xing when he had already reached behind her.

She spun around sharply, then tilted her head upward in confusion, her eyes finally brightening with a trace of delight.

"Lord Sword Ancestor!"

"Feeding the fish?"

"Mm-hmm!"

She nodded vigorously, then tossed the remaining Tai Ping Dan fruits into the water—the emerald pool seemed to explode instantly.

Many spirit fish scrambled forward, vying to snatch the falling pills.

"The master is still in seclusion, so I'm bored!"

"Xiang Yuanjun spends every day busy recovering her body, but she's nearly fully restored."

"By the way, by the way, there's also the Moon Spirit who came to this world yesterday—called Taiyin Star Lord..."

Before he could even ask anything, she chattered away a whole stream of words herself.

When she finished speaking, Xu Xing was just about to say something, when suddenly his heart stirred.

Hm?

He opened his hand, and a small, exquisitely crafted golden-white Ascension Platform appeared, hovering above his palm.

A faint fluctuation was emanating from it. (End of Chapter)