Chapter 556: The Ascender About to Appear in the Tai Ping Realm

Earth Immortal Realm.

They changed the world's name to this in memory of the ancient Immortals from the Immortal Realm who descended and gave humanity the chance to escape its tragic fate.

You paused, then quickly recalled the world Xu Xing had mentioned:

"Could it be the Dongzhen Bie Dajie you mentioned when you gathered us at Qing Xu?"

"Senior's keen eyesight." Xu Xing nodded slightly. "Indeed, that world."

When the Five Xuanyuan Immortals departed from the Beast God… Earth Immortal Realm, to swiftly end the war between the two races and fulfill the requirements of the 'Ascension Plan',

they adjusted the flow of time within the realm.

Of course, considering the world was still recovering, the time flow adjusted by the Five Xuanyuan Immortals was not as extreme as that originally set by Hun Tian Yi.

Later, the Divine Fragment of Xuanyuan entered the realm, laid out schemes, transmitted teachings, and established Dao anchors.

When Xu Xing and others were expelled from the Xuanyuan Realm, the Earth Immortal Realm was also stimulated by the repulsive force of the Xuanyuan Realm.

Thus, the manipulated time flow gradually recovered.

After Xu Xing returned, remembering how much the Earth Immortal Realm had helped him when he fell out of the realm, he did not tamper with its time flow again when re-sending his Sword Intent Spiritual Body.

Instead, he allowed it to gradually return to normal.

Moreover, during this period, the Sword Intent Spiritual Body stationed there intervened multiple times to aid its restoration.

"Did the people of that world win?" You asked.

He already knew the answer in his heart, but still wished to confirm it once more.

That world had Xu Xing's Sword Intent Spiritual Body stationed there—there was almost no other possible outcome.

"Yes, they won." Xu Xing sighed. "But it was not easy at all."

If counted from the moment the Five Xuanyuan Immortals left the Earth Immortal Realm, the resurgent human race and the Beast God race fought for over six hundred years!

After all, although the Five Xuanyuan Immortals wiped out the vast majority of the Beast God race,

the Beast God race itself, after centuries of development, was superior to humanity in every aspect.

Thus, even the remaining few were extremely difficult to defeat.

If not for the backup plan left behind by Huo—

Xi Yun breaking through to the peak of Fan Xu and achieving pseudo-Heaven-Union, the war might have dragged on another one or two hundred years before ending completely.

"So, does that mean someone from that world will soon ascend?"

"It will still take some time—until they complete post-war reconstruction," Xu Xing explained.

He paused. "Senior said 'also'? Does that mean someone from the Tai Ping Realm is also about to ascend?"

The Earth Immortal Realm is relatively close, has his Sword Intent Spiritual Body stationed there, and previously left behind a lineage transmission—he naturally kept constant watch.

But the Tai Ping Realm is far away, and with a fragment of Senior You's power projected there, he did not leave a Sword Intent Spiritual Body.

"Hehe! There's a promising seed who barely meets the 'ascension' requirement."

You chuckled, then continued: "You still remember the Elder Xuanling Daoist, right?"

"Of course I remember." Xu Xing nodded slightly. "So Senior means that young man."

Elder Xuanling Daoist was once the Elder Xuanling Jie E Yan Sheng Star Lord of the Divine Dao Heavenly Court.

He was the first human in the previous cycle of the Tai Ping Realm to ascend to godhood, and also the first divine spirit to descend from the heavens in the new Immortal Dao cycle.

He was aloof and detached, with unwavering devotion to the Dao.

Yet he was not without compassion for the world; in some of the 'Immortal Dao Seeds'' 'past-life' memories, he died protecting an entire city's people during chaotic times.

While holding his divine office, he fulfilled his duties faithfully, safeguarding peace in his domain without ever slacking—he was a true, genuine divine spirit.

Even Jiang Lin was willing to entrust him with her complete lineage transmission.

If it were him, he truly might meet the ascension requirement.

"… " After a brief pause, Xu Xing spoke again: "Very well. If that young man ascends, I'd trouble Senior to lend a hand."

"Oh? How so?" You immediately became interested.

"When that young man is confirmed to be ascending, Senior could intervene to create a grand spectacle—to intimidate those who have long been stuck at Tong Xuan…"

Xu Xing still admired Jiang Lin's actions.

Before leaving the Tai Ping Realm, he had manifested his divine presence, giving those long-stuck Tong Xuan cultivators a glimpse of further hope.

Thus, they frantically sought methods to advance their cultivation.

But over time, the influence of his initial 'manifestation' would inevitably fade.

It would be better if Senior You intervened now, to deepen the impression.

After all, the next ascender from the Tai Ping Realm might not appear for many more years.

"Of course, how exactly to arrange it—Senior, you decide."

This matter is simple—Senior You wouldn't act recklessly!

"Hehe! Don't worry, Xu Xing kid—I'll handle it perfectly!"

The twisted black shadow writhed, its sinister, chilling aura sending a chill through the bones.

"… "

It shouldn't…

As they spoke, the two had nearly reached the foot of the mountain.

"Alright, Xu Xing kid, we've said enough—I'll take my leave now."

He had no desire to get involved in what came next.

With those words—

Amidst a series of "Jie jie jie" laughs, the twisted black shadow vanished completely.

Xu Xing soon descended the final step.

Yet ahead, not far off, a slender, beautiful woman with white gauze over her eyes carried a small banner, chatting with a distant, refined figure.

Xiang Xiang Yuanjun had previously said that during this journey away from the Tai Shang Dao Sect, she intended to first visit the Xiang Jianzong.

Now, having arrived as agreed, she somehow ended up chatting with Bie Xuening first.

Seeing this scene, Xu Xing halted his step, pausing for a moment at the mountain steps before slowly walking forward.

Meanwhile, above the inner gates of the Xiang Jianzong, a twisted black shadow hovered, chuckling down at the scene below.

Still, he felt a certain pang of reflection.

In his youth, he too was famously amorous, but time had passed and all his beauties had turned to dust… yet someone like Xu Xing? Truly one of a kind.

You remained perched atop the Xiang Jianzong, watching the spectacle until the three left the mountain front and found nothing more entertaining, then finally turned away.

…

…

"Why has Elder You come?"

Xiang Xiang Yuanjun had already tucked away her small banner and walked on Xu Xing's right side.

"Because of some matters in the Tai Ping Realm."

"Tai Ping Realm?" Bie Xuening, walking on Xu Xing's other side, asked in confusion.

"That's the world we stopped in after falling beyond the boundary," Xu Xing explained. "A junior in the Tai Ping Realm has reached the standard for ascension, so Elder You came specifically to inform me."

Xiang Xiang Yuanjun frowned slightly: "That junior who received my brother's inheritance… he should still be far from returning to emptiness, right?"

So little time has passed—after all, they didn't adjust the flow of time in that world.

With that junior's talent, he'd at most have reached Nascent Soul mid-stage.

"Not him. It's Elder Xuanling Dao Ren, who descended during the ancient shift between Immortal and Divine."

Hearing this, Bie Xuening was about to speak.

Ding-ding~!

A sudden alert interrupted her.

She pulled out her phone—it was a message from the Boss Group.

Master Mei Zu: "I heard Xiang Xiang Yuanjun arrived at the Xiang Jianzong today!"

Master Mei Zu: "By the way, won't the Sword Sovereign fight her? /shocked"

Master Mei Zu: "Brother Dao, hurry and film a video—I want to see them fight."

This person somehow found out the news and, in full mischief-mode, started stoking the fire in the group.

Since Bie Xuening had set her phone to Do Not Disturb, she ignored her, so Master Mei Zu sent a flood of new emoji packs she'd made.

Master Mei Zu: "Why aren't you coming out yet? /yellow duck rolling on the ground"

Master Mei Zu: "It's time to use the summoning technique now. /serious"

Master Mei Zu: "/yellow duck summoning array"

Master Mei Zu: "@Sword Sovereign"

"…," Bie Xuening fell silent for two seconds, then said, "Younger brother, I have something to attend to—I'm leaving first."

She'd originally thought it was her rebellious disciple's message.

Hearing this, Xu Xing paused, then nodded:

"Alright, Senior Sister, take care on your way."

…………

Meanwhile.

Tai Shang Dao Sect, Outer Gate Trading Zone.

Before a stall piled high with jade boxes, Chi Jiuyu sat on a small stool, one hand propped on the counter, the other scrolling through her phone.

Every so often, she yawned.

On her other side, also seated on a small stool, Zhao Ruohan was scrolling through her phone too.

After a long while, Chi Jiuyu put down her phone and stretched:

"Little Zhao, it seems you were wrong—setting the price this high means no one will buy."

Today, the talisman hall she attended for class was closed.

Word was, the teacher's son had secretly bought simulated soul fragments to forge the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, then used its power to illegally refine stars and sell star components on the black market—until he got caught.

The talisman hall teacher was also under investigation and wouldn't be free anytime soon.

The substitute teacher wouldn't arrive until tomorrow.

So she'd taken advantage of the break to invite Zhao Ruohan to the trading zone to sell her processed "Qi of Heaven and Earth."

But they'd been sitting here for two hours—and not a single buyer had shown up!

Zhao Ruohan put down her phone and said seriously:

"I think the price is still too low. But we can sell this batch at thin margins for volume—build a reputation first, then raise the price for the rest."

Chi Jiuyu: "…"

Thin margins?

This is already 30% more expensive than the official website!

It's more like exorbitant profit with no sales…

She was starting to doubt her reputation as the number one prodigy across countless worlds.

Especially seeing her own name on the sign—it made her feel like a clown…

She should've never added it in the first place.

"Don't worry," Zhao Ruohan said calmly.

She had personally used this batch of refining materials that Chi Jiuyu had brought, so she naturally knew just how excellent their quality was.

For cultivators who needed this kind of refining material, the current price was absolutely not high—in fact, it was even a little low…

"The reason they won't sell is that the location you picked has a problem."

"Mm?" Chi Jiuyu blinked.

Then she looked around at the bustling flow of people.

What was wrong with this location? This was one of the spots with the largest foot traffic in the entire trading district.

Placed in the Xiang Jianzong, it would be the kind of spot people would fight over and still not get, okay!

Zhao Ruohan saw her confusion and immediately explained:

"If this were the Xiang Jianzong, or some other Xian Sect, choosing a location like this would of course be no problem, but our Taishang Dao Sect is different."

"Just selling a few things, how could there be any difference…" Chi Jiuyu muttered.

But the next moment, she caught on, and her whole person sat bolt upright.

"Holy crap!" (End of chapter)