Chapter 1398: Ascension

Two ascending lights descended from the sky, like two sharp swords piercing the firmament, pointing directly at the Eastern Continent.

This scene naturally captured the attention of all the top cultivators in the Heavenly River Realm.

“The Eastern Continent!”

“One of them must be the Azure Emperor of the Eastern Desolation.”

“Could it be that both Void Refinement cultivators of the Five Elements Sect are ascending?”

As numerous Soul Transformation cultivators from the Five Continents and Four Seas felt surprise, they all manifested their Nascent Soul Dharma Idols and soared into the Ninth Heaven, heading towards the Eastern Continent, eager to witness firsthand what was happening.

Although the last ascending light proved to be a dud, this time there were two. Even if the Azure Emperor of the Eastern Desolation used void secret arts to evade again, they would at least be able to witness another sixth-tier being ascend.

As the target of the ascending light, the Earth True Locust looked up at the sky, a hint of terror flashing in its crimson compound eyes.

When it was in slumber, this rule was not yet part of the Great Dao rules of the Heavenly River Realm.

However, with its sixth-tier cultivation, it could sense that it was locked onto by an irresistible force. It felt that even if it recovered to its peak state, it would be helpless against this descending light.

Trembling all over, the Earth True Locust emitted a hoarse voice: “What divine ability is this?”

In its view, Chen Mobai had brought this upon it.

Although there were two lights, it guessed that Chen Mobai intended to perish with it, an ancient being.

“This is the ascending light…”

Chen Mobai’s expression was calm, his Primal Chaos Bell slowly rotating above his head, as he introduced it in a flat tone.

For him, this was a plan that aligned perfectly with his intentions.

Because with him in the Eastern Continent, no evil spirits or demons would dare to show themselves.

While this was a good thing, it merely delayed the disaster.

Given Chen Mobai's current cultivation progress, he might soon be able to attempt Dao integration. If all these dangers erupted at that critical moment, Soul Transformation cultivators like Qing Nü and Ku Zhu, even with the Sky Veil Earth Net Grand Array, might not be able to withstand them.

After all, those who had opposed Chen Mobai and were still alive were either at the peak of Soul Transformation, half-step Void Refinement, or even true Void Refinement cultivators.

Moreover, after more than a hundred years, the changes in the Heavenly River Realm’s Great Dao rules would be complete, allowing for the presence of Void Refinement cultivators.

By then, the sixth-tier specters and deities in the Underworld could directly descend through the omnipresent Yellow Springs Road. It would be best to deal with all the calamities in the Heavenly River Realm before that, to avoid being attacked from both front and back.

And once Chen Mobai ascended in public, enemies like the Central Demonic Path Lord, who had been lying low for a long time, would certainly not miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Even if they didn't attack the Five Elements Sect directly, they would at least storm the Eastern Continent, causing the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect to face a great calamity formed from tens of thousands of years of intertwined karma.

At the moment the ascending light descended, Chen Mobai’s mind raced with countless thoughts, and in an instant, he formulated this plan.

It was also a good opportunity to visit True Monarch Taixu in the Spirit Void Immortal Realm and inquire about the situation.

“No! I’ve been dormant for ten thousand years, just awakened, how can I leave like this? This must be Yellow Dragon trying to kill me…”

Once the Earth True Locust understood what the ascending light was, it immediately let out a sharp shriek, its six wings flapping madly, fleeing thousands of miles in an instant, trying to break free from the ascending light’s pull.

But no matter where its body moved, the descending point of the ascending light always remained where its true body was.

How could the Heaven and Earth rules set by mighty beings like True Monarch Taixu allow a mere sixth-tier True Spirit to defy them!

Just as the Earth True Locust was about to flee again, the ascending light had already descended, covering its entire body. No matter how it struggled, its body was uncontrollably drawn towards the Ninth Heaven Tribulation.

Chen Mobai, seeing this scene, also looked up with interest at the ascending light above his head.

Although he was confident he could return, he feared the “what ifs”—for example, if True Monarch Taixu wouldn’t let him return. So, Chen Mobai took out the Myriad Objects Merit Cauldron from his Dharma Realm before ascending.

“If you refine half of this Earth True Locust and the Earth Dao essence from this inner core, you can advance to the sixth-tier. Don’t forget to give back to Ming’er.”

Chen Mobai said to the Merit Cauldron. A cute artifact spirit with a bun hairstyle, round face, and rosy cheeks emerged from the cauldron’s mouth, nodding repeatedly at Chen Mobai in gratitude.

“Go!”

After giving his instructions, Chen Mobai waved his sleeve, about to use the void to send the Myriad Objects Merit Cauldron into Zhuo Ming’s hands, when he suddenly remembered something else.

“I almost forgot!”

Chen Mobai slapped his forehead, reopened his Dharma Realm, and new satellites flew out, arranging themselves neatly into the Myriad Objects Merit Cauldron.

After dealing with matters of the Immortal Sect, Chen Mobai instructed Yun Yangbing to manufacture 1,000 satellites for setting up the Sky Veil Grand Array.

He supplied the materials, almost exhausting the treasures from the Dragon Palace, all to create the best satellites in preparation for the future seventh-tier Zhou Tian Heluo Star Array.

Previously, Chen Mobai had refined some himself, but refining such high-tech magic artifacts alone was very time-consuming, so he stopped after making a few dozen.

Upon returning to the Immortal Sect, Chen Mobai directly delegated this task.

As a Void Refinement Patriarch, anything he commanded was treated as a top priority by all departments of the Immortal Sect’s three great halls. No one dared to ask why Chen Mobai ordered 1,000 satellites when only 360 were needed.

The high-grade materials of the Heavenly River Realm, combined with the Immortal Sect’s precise production lines, completed the manufacture of 1,000 satellites within just a few decades. With so many, even if some were to break in the future, new ones could be taken from storage as replacements.

Chen Mobai left 500 for the Immortal Sect and brought 500 back with his Dharma Realm, to resolve the biggest issue with the Five Elements Sect’s Sky Veil Earth Net Grand Array.

However, upon his return, he found the Turtle Treasure acting strangely and was eager to comprehend it, so he forgot about this matter. After that came True Monarch Wuchen’s demise, the discovery of creation power at the deepest part of the sea eye, and his attempt to gain enlightenment through the Immortal Water Spirit Root, among other things.

“Ming’er, I’ve put some things in the Merit Cauldron…”

Chen Mobai, covering tens of millions of miles, moved the Myriad Objects Merit Cauldron above Beiyuan City, simultaneously sending a telepathic message to Zhuo Ming on top of Beiyuan Mountain.

“Yes, Master!”

Zhuo Ming thought Chen Mobai was nearby. After receiving the incredibly heavy Merit Cauldron, she stood up and bowed towards the surrounding void.

“Your master will ascend to take a look around the Spirit Void Immortal Realm. I hope to see you make further progress and achieve Soul Transformation Dao completion when I return.”

After speaking his last words to Zhuo Ming, Chen Mobai precisely located Qing Nü.

“Husband, I’ll see you off!”

Upon hearing he was ascending, Qing Nü immediately dropped everything she was doing and, bearing the Sea-Calming Pearl and Sea-Calming Sword, headed towards the Ninth Heaven Tribulation.

“Wife…”

Chen Mobai originally wanted to persuade her a little, as he wasn't not coming back.

But on second thought, this was Qing Nü’s first time being able to witness an ascension up close; seeing more of it would count as broadening her horizons, so he swallowed the rest of his words.

At this moment, the second ascending light had also fallen into the Endless Sand Sea, enveloping Chen Mobai’s entire body.

Ascension was a miraculous feat.

Throughout the Eastern Continent, all Soul Transformation cultivators rushed towards the Ninth Heaven at the first instance, wanting to witness which True Monarch had broken through the limits.

And the nearby Nascent Soul cultivators of the Five Elements Sect also looked towards the Endless Sand Sea with hopeful eyes, fantasizing that they too would have such a day.

E Yun, who was handling sect affairs in the grand hall, immediately thought of Chen Mobai when he saw the direction of the ascending light falling outside the window.

After all, Chen Mobai had just gone to the Endless Sand Sea.

“Patriarch, are you ascending?”

E Yun murmured to himself, somewhat disbelieving. His usual composure, as if Mount Tai crumbling before him wouldn’t faze him, was now tinged with a slight nervousness.

After all, the Five Elements Sect had become the Eastern Continent’s foremost sacred land in just a few hundred years, entirely thanks to Chen Mobai.

Now that this pillar holding up the sky was about to ascend, E Yun felt his backbone couldn’t quite straighten.

However, cultivators in the Heavenly River Realm yearned for ascension more than anyone else.

This was because legends said that an immortal substance permeated the Spirit Void Immortal Realm, which, if refined by cultivators, would greatly increase their lifespan, even granting eternal life.

“Respectfully seeing off the Patriarch as he ascends to immortality!”

After composing himself, E Yun straightened his attire in the grand hall and respectfully bowed deeply towards the direction of the Endless Sand Sea.

Beside him, several Five Elements Sect elders, upon hearing his words, showed expressions of both surprise and joy, and quickly followed suit in bowing.

But immediately, their faces showed fear.

After all, once the Patriarch ascended, the Five Elements Sect would lose its greatest foundation.

“No need to worry, True Monarch Danxia’s master is still at the Profound Sea Dragon Palace.”

E Yun stood up, saw the expressions on everyone’s faces, and understood that Chen Mobai’s ascension could certainly not be kept secret. He spoke to remind them that the Five Elements Sect still had another Void Refinement cultivator presiding.

As expected, thinking of Spirit Venerable, everyone in the hall relaxed.

RUMBLE!

At this moment, the closest lightning tribulation layer to the Heavenly River Realm had already begun to thunder, striking down upon the Earth True Locust, which was struggling within the ascending light.

However, it was clear that for a sixth-tier True Spirit, these attacks would at most consume some essence.

And when Chen Mobai followed, he didn't even need to act himself; the Violet Lightning Sword floated beside him, devouring all the striking lightning like a long whale drawing water.

“Fellow Daoists, long time no see.”

Upon reaching the Ninth Heaven Tribulation, Chen Mobai saw many familiar faces, such as Immortal Taixu, Immortal Haoran, Feng Qingshu, and others. He smiled, raised a hand, and greeted them.

“Greetings, Azure Emperor!”

And when everyone saw that he was indeed among those enveloped by the ascending light, they respectfully addressed Chen Mobai by his Daoist title.

“No need to be so polite. I’m just taking a step ahead; we’ll meet again in the Immortal Realm.”

Chen Mobai, enveloped by the ascending light, could briefly stay in the tribulation layer, but seeing that the Earth True Locust had already passed the lightning tribulation and was heading for the next fire tribulation, he stopped exchanging pleasantries.

He intended to conveniently slay it on his way up.

“Husband!”

At this moment, Qing Nü finally arrived.

Her cultivation was still a bit weak; she could only break in here by relying on the power of her magic artifacts.

“Wife, you came just in time. This sixth-tier Earth True Locust would be a rare treasure for medicine.”

Seeing Qing Nü, Chen Mobai immediately used void manipulation to move her to his side, taking her hand and flying upwards.

Immortal Taixu, witnessing this scene, widened his eyes, his face filled with disbelief.

Among those present, perhaps only he truly understood the profound mastery Chen Mobai displayed in void arts.

Immortal Haoran and the others might think this was a standard technique for Void Refinement cultivators. But once enveloped by the ascending light, one effectively formed a small independent world, and no void techniques could penetrate the light to affect the outside.

Perhaps a seventh-tier True Immortal could do it, but none of the past ascending cultivators from the Supreme Void Ethereal Palace had ever been able to.

Therefore, Chen Mobai’s move indicated that his control over the Great Dao of Void was already far beyond Void Refinement.

Is this the Innate Void Spirit Physique!

Immortal Taixu was secretly alarmed, and remembering what the Supreme Void Sky-Measuring Ruler had said, he suddenly felt that after Chen Mobai’s ascension this time, he might have to greet him as a junior at their next meeting.

While Immortal Taixu was lost in thought, in the next layer of the Heavenly Tribulation, a dense and heavy force of the Great Dao suddenly erupted, carrying a terrifying aura that struck fear into all Soul Transformation cultivators present, tearing open the boundary between the lightning tribulation layer and the fire tribulation layer.

“Junior, this Heavenly Tribulation becomes more terrifying the higher you go. You’ve just entered Void Refinement, and fighting me has depleted too much of your magic power; you might perish halfway because of it. Why don’t we stop for now and decide the victor after reaching the Immortal Realm?”

Peering through the tribulation clouds, the Soul Transformation cultivators of the Heavenly River Realm saw the Earth True Locust, on one hand, forming armor with the Earth Element Great Dao to resist the fire tribulation, while on the other, frantically flapping its wings and fending off Chen Mobai’s Violet Lightning Sword and Primal Chaos Bell.

“And you think you’re worthy to ascend with me?!”

In response, Chen Mobai spat, unleashing the power of the Primal Chaos Bell in his hand.

Previously, to avoid sinking the Eastern Continent, this peak sixth-tier magic artifact had always been restrained, but now, within the Ninth Heaven Tribulation, Chen Mobai no longer held back.

With an earth-shattering roar, the Earth Element armor on the Earth True Locust’s body, like weathered sandstone, was stripped away and dispersed under the five-colored ripples. Even its own shell cracked into fine fissures, with blood oozing out.

Under one strike of the bell, the Earth True Locust felt a tearing sensation as if its entire body was disintegrating. It couldn’t help but let out a sharp shriek, immediately rushing towards the next layer of the Heavenly Tribulation, desperately trying to escape from its formidable enemy, Chen Mobai.

This scene left the observers below full of admiration.

“The Primal Chaos Bell truly lives up to its reputation as the Eastern Continent’s foremost treasure!”

“Remarkable, remarkable! It truly subdues all Five Elements in the world, not just an empty boast!”

“Only in the hands of the Azure Emperor of the Eastern Desolation does it possess such power. True Monarch Yiyuan’s artifact refining skills are not at this level.”

The last sentence was spoken by Immortal Haoran. The grudge between the Thousand Autumn Brush and Ink Forest and True Monarch Yiyuan had never been resolved.

As for Chen Mobai, he was already implicitly recognized as the successor of a Celestial Venerable, unrelated to True Monarch Yiyuan.

“Hmph, still trying to run? I said you would die today!”

Chen Mobai watched as the Earth True Locust flew into the Ice Tribulation, gave a cold snort, and with a wave of his sleeve, the Violet Lightning Sword and Primal Chaos Bell followed closely behind.

As for himself, he held Qing Nü’s hand, strolling leisurely and unhurriedly through the Heavenly Tribulation.