Chapter 593: Ascension and the Dao Source

After all, this kid nearly died because of his own actions due to that Death-Stealing Pill.

As a morally upright, high-quality cultivator of the new era, I ought to make amends and help this kid walk his path more smoothly.

Of course, that’s all.

If you think she developed any fondness for this kid because of it…

That’s not the case.

Since she began cultivating, through her failure to merge with the Dao and becoming a shattered soul, how many people hasn’t she seen?

“Since you’ve made your choice,” Xu Xing tossed the blood jade in his hand.

Leng Rou hurried to catch it, but the vivid red jade passed straight through her hand, transforming into a crimson stream that sank into her soul-body.

Instantly, she felt her spirit grow warm.

Gentle streams of warmth spread from deep within her soul, continuously nourishing her broken and weak spirit.

The vitality she felt each second was a thousandfold greater than what she experienced during her dormant rest.

It was like a man on the verge of dying of thirst drinking cool, sweet spring water—an indescribable bliss that intoxicated her.

Bliss!

Fortunately, her consciousness remained clear; she knew Xu Xing was nearby, so she quickly suppressed the urge and bowed respectfully.

“Thank you, Ancestral Master.”

The Sword Ancestral Master bestowed a divine opportunity.

This was something she’d only heard of in legends, and now she’d somehow been lucky enough to encounter it herself.

Once I return to the Taishang Dao Sect, I must brag to my senior and junior brothers and sisters, and the new disciples!

Hehe!

Xu Xing said no more, gave a slight nod, and his figure gradually faded and vanished.

The surrounding white, endless, lonely space began to contract, and the scenery that had just receded rapidly restored itself.

In the blink of an eye, Gu Wangjun found himself back in the bustling Free Trade Zone.

People came and went, noisy voices constantly reaching his ears.

Yet no one noticed his sudden disappearance or sudden reappearance.

“Stop zoning out, kid.”

Leng Rou floated beside him, her soul-body noticeably more solid than before.

“Let’s leave here first, then check out the Nine Li Zhen Zhang the Ancestral Master mentioned.”

Hearing this, Gu Wangjun snapped out of it, glanced at Leng Rou still beside him, and felt much more at ease.

“Oh.”

He immediately stopped dawdling and walked straight out of the Free Trade Zone.

Leng Rou floated beside him, slightly behind, as if lost in thought.

The Nine Li Zhen Zhang…

The book picked up from that brainless, low-quality body cultivator’s stall must be something valuable.

According to what the Ancestral Master said earlier:

“Collect the Three Lights as the mash, cut the rainbow as the ferment.”

If interpreted literally, this Nine Li Zhen Zhang might be a wine recipe?

Could it be that the Ancestral Master values it because it was written by the legendary founder of the Drunken Immortal Sect?

If it’s true…

Then we’re rich!

…

…

On the other side.

Zhou Kongming had just exited the Ascension Hall and was preparing to return to rest, readjusting to the rules of Tai Xuan Realm, and also finding a new vessel for Heng.

On the way back, he couldn’t help but send a message in the group where he and the other first batch of Ascension Envoys gathered.

That is, the group titled “Whoever Voluntarily Volunteered Is a Fool * Real Names Only.”

Zhou Kongming: “Anyone here?”

His current feeling was exactly like most people after an exam.

He kept telling himself not to compare answers, yet couldn’t help wondering how many points others scored.

But his message sank without a trace—no one replied.

With no choice, he put away his phone and hurried toward the inner sect of Jianzong.

Soon, Zhou Kongming arrived at the cave entrance.

Just as he was about to open the door, his phone in his pocket rang.

He pulled it out and opened it.

Chen Xuanqing: “1”

What the hell does “1” mean?

Why is it this weirdo Chen Xuanqing?!

Zhou Kongming suddenly didn’t want to speak in the group anymore, but curiosity still gnawed at him.

Zhou Kongming: “Were you the first to complete the task?”

Chen Xuanqing: “Who else could it be?”

Chen Xuanqing: “Getting first place so easily—no challenge at all. How boring.”

“…”

What’s the point of finishing first? This task isn’t about who finishes fastest.

Chen Xuanqing: “I know you’re thinking finishing fast doesn’t matter.”

Chen Xuanqing: “But how do you know the first to complete the task gets no bonus?”

Tsk~

So it’s a bonus, is it?

Like I don’t have one!

Of course, the reason I got my bonus is too bizarre—I’d better not mention it.

He opened the door and stepped inside the cave.

Zhou Kongming activated the spiritual energy flow system with his spiritual sense, readjusting the internal spiritual frequency to adapt faster to Tai Xuan Realm’s heavy, dense laws.

After sitting by the window, he continued typing.

Zhou Kongming: “There’s a bonus too?”

First, pretend ignorance and see what his bonus is.

Chen Xuanqing: “Hmph.”

What the hell are you “hmph”ing about?!

Zhou Kongming’s eyebrow twitched, but to confirm his suspicion, he patiently kept messaging.

After circling around for a while, he finally extracted the information he wanted from Chen Xuanqing.

Both carefully avoided mentioning how many Ascension Points they received after settlement.

At this stage, only the two of them had chosen to settle and returned to the Tai Xuan Realm from the task world.

Also, Chen Xuanqing’s bonus for being the first to settle was the same as his: “Perception Ascension”-level observation of the Chaotic Sea.

Judging by this…

Are they just making up excuses to hand out bonuses?

But…

Why would they do that?

Zhou Kongming lightly tapped the armrest, pondering for a long time without understanding.

Forget it.

He put down his phone and retrieved the Golden Core, entirely composed of data, stored within his personal cave dimension.

Hummm~

As soon as it emerged from the personal cave dimension, Heng sensed the omnipresent, dense, heavy laws of the realm.

The consciousness network that once spanned an entire Qixing now couldn’t even detach from this tiny data Golden Core under the crushing pressure.

Fear from the “unknown” filled her with dread; she wanted to call out to Zhou Kongming for help, but found she couldn’t even speak.

She could only tremble anxiously, vibrating uselessly in the air.

“A sentient artifact requires a physical foundation to perceive heaven and earth and reflect the eight directions.”

Zhou Kongming explained, then flicked his finger, summoning a nearly ethereal, handleless flying sword, invisible in form.

A faint hiss sounded in the air.

“Any sentient artifact capable of leaving its physical foundation and walking the world as pure spiritual essence is among the highest-ranked of its kind.”

“Your Golden Core, though ingenious, still cannot serve as a physical foundation in Tai Xuan Realm.”

“So for now, reside within this flying sword.”

With that, Zhou Kongming raised his hand and slashed.

The hovering data Golden Core, as if drawn by an invisible force, sank into the nearly ethereal handleless flying sword.

The flying sword’s blade rippled like water.

The entire sword stretched and expanded, glowing with a dim gray light.

Soon, a tall figure landed lightly.

Silver-gray pupils, chestnut-brown short hair, a silver fitted suit outlining her graceful curves.

She was indeed identical to her appearance in Task World 1.

A trace of lingering fear remained in her eyes.

That sensation—of perception and selfhood alike compressed into a tiny space…

Since her spirit had been awakened, she had never experienced anything so terrifying.