“Bang!”
“Bang!”
“Bang!”
Over a dozen gunshots rang out in rapid succession across the campsite. Several Russian soldiers, eyes bloodshot and foaming at the mouth, were swiftly restrained and rushed to the medical area.
Even on the Huaxia side, quite a few people were gasping for breath, slumping to the ground.
Evidently, they had yet to recover from the sheer shock of what they had just witnessed.
Zhang Daowei sat cross-legged in meditation, a light sheen of sweat beading between her brows.
Hu Manni lay dumbfounded on the ground, staring blankly up at the sky.
Lyu Dongfang, Liu Guansheng, and several others went so far as to slap each other across the face, terrified that they would succumb to mental demons and deviate into madness.
“Phew... Absolutely terrifying.”
Yu Lan squeezed her eyes shut tightly. Relying on years of training and discipline, she minimized the psychological impact of the spectacle she had just witnessed.
Yet even so, she could still feel her heart pounding uncontrollably against her ribs. Every single cell in her body cried out in desperate longing:
Let me look just once more!
The chance to attain immortality was right before your eyes; how could you bear to watch it slip away?
Let me see it just one more time!
“Never mind you; even I couldn't resist wanting to stay there forever.”
Qin Yue gripped the shoulder of a Russian soldier who had descended into madness, knocking him unconscious before tossing him to the Russian fighters stationed in the campsite.
—Outside the secret realm, everyone's faces bore the same familiar look of shock and daze.
Just moments ago, a few minutes before everyone suddenly reappeared, they had also heard that proclamation delivered by the crisp, infantile female voice.
Qin Yue's heart skipped a beat, and she spun around abruptly.
She had a bad premonition.
As if echoing her thoughts, all the communication devices in the campsite suddenly began ringing simultaneously, shrieking in mad frenzy:
“Beep, beep, beep, beep!”
“Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep!”
“Ring, ring, ring, ring!”
“Beep, beep, beep, beep!”
All communication equipment wailed together, and every device carried by personnel chimed nonstop. Urgent messages from the Special Investigation Bureau flooded in like a deluge, threatening to overwhelm the campsite.
After checking the messages, Qin Yue's expression became exceedingly colorful.
Just moments ago, throughout Huaxia, Russia, and indeed across the entire world, all of humanity had heard that classical prose proclamation.
Huaxia, America, Russia, Britain, Germany, Japan, Kimchi Nation, Vatican City, Rome...
Even the researchers at desolate polar research stations in the Arctic and Antarctic, sailors aboard submarines hundreds of meters beneath the sea, and astronauts carrying out missions aboard space stations.
Every single person.
They had all clearly, distinctly, and without missing a single word heard that classical prose proclamation descending from the sky.
It was like a virus that had materialized out of thin air, detonating softly above everyone's heads before engraving itself straight into their minds.
—Even Alzheimer's patients, despite having no comprehension of its meaning, could recite the complex, archaic prose in its entirety.
Qin Yue turned around abruptly, staring at the long-vanished entrance to the secret realm, feeling as though a monstrous, world-shaking tidal wave was surging toward them.
This time, the world was truly about to be turned upside down.
Before the thought could even fade, faint light shimmered in the air above the grassland. Moments later, three figures descended one after another, and the one leading them was none other than Nan Zhi in full finery.
“Qin Yue! It really is you guys! When Senior Sister Ma told me earlier, I could hardly believe it!”
Nan Zhi’s eyes lit up. She descended straight down, the ornaments on her person chiming musically with every step.
Her attire today was exceptionally distinct.
She wore a long, brilliantly colored purple robe, a heart-protecting mirror inlaid with precious gems and jade over her chest, three storage sachets hanging at her waist, along with a cluster of safety jade pendants glowing with treasure light.
Her waist-length hair was neatly pinned up into a delicate flying immortal bun, adorned with giant clam pearl hairpins, coral, and jade gems. Between her brows lay a wisteria forehead ornament that shifted in color as sunlight refracted against it.
Trailing behind her head were two ribbons woven from heavenly silk, their ends loosely strung with several thumb-sized luminous pearls.
Around her exposed wrists were a pair of armlets carved with dragons and phoenixes, depicted in exquisite, lifelike detail.
Looking closely, one could see the dragons and phoenixes faintly writhing, continuously exhaling mist.
—With just a single glance, anyone could tell that she was covered head to toe in treasures, exceptionally doted upon.
Behind her followed two tall female sword cultivators adorned with swords and jade ornaments. Their expressions were aloof and icy.
Apart from a faint sliver of warmth when looking at Nan Zhi, their eyes held no focus when regarding anyone else.
They were almost like two cold figurines crafted from pure jade.
“Little Aunt!”
Hu Cuiying bounced up from the ground and went to throw herself onto Nan Zhi, but the two sword cultivators drew their blades immediately. Fortunately, Nan Zhi managed to restrain them in the nick of time.
“Martial Nieces, there is no need for this. I am not some fragile jade figurine. Master only told you to protect me; she never told you to restrict my friendships.”
Nan Zhi took a few helpless, hurried steps, taking Qin Yue's hand and pulling her to the side before speaking quickly in a hushed tone:
“The Return to the Sect Ceremony is about to begin, so I cannot stay long. I will keep it brief. You must have heard what Master announced: the Ascension Assembly will be held three months from now. Just earlier on the Splendid Platform, Senior Sister Ma mentioned seeing you and told me to come over and take a look, and while at it, give this to you.”
With that, Nan Zhi produced a palm-sized jade token. The front was engraved with the words “Ascension,” while the back bore the patterns of the Four Sacred Beasts.
The jade token grew warm to the touch; holding it felt like gripping a constant heat source. Qin Yue looked up in astonishment, asking silently with her eyes.
“Simply put, this secret realm happens to be the Miaoling Secret Realm of the Ten Directions Mountains, formerly belonging to the Three Great Sects of the cultivation world—the Wuwei Sect, Hehuan Sect, and Qingjing Sect. The Demon Suppression Division also belonged to the Three Great Sects in the past. But after the Great Calamity of heaven and earth, Master sealed the Demon Suppression Tower inside a secret realm, thereby losing contact with the Three Great Sects. Now that the Miaoling Secret Realm of the Ten Directions Mountains has reopened, the Demon Suppression Division is returning to its ancestral fold. Lamenting the decline of the Demon Suppression lineage, Master relocated the induction trial to the Miaoling Secret Realm. Senior Sister Ma asked me to pass you a message: circumstances have changed, and the Demon Suppression Division's induction examination has been moved up, taking this secret realm entry token as the standard. All who find this token may hold it and enter the Ten Directions Mountains for trials on the fifteenth of the month three months from now, under the full moon. With this token, they may tread the Path to Immortality, step upon the Wenxian Platform, and enter the immortal sect.”
Nan Zhi patted Qin Yue's hand and murmured:
“Although this disciple recruitment is only for our Demon Suppression lineage, one might encounter an immense stroke of fortune and gain the chance to join the Three Great Sects and cultivate the techniques of the Three Great Sects. Though Senior Sister Ma doesn't say it aloud, she has long considered you her disciple in her heart. Otherwise, she wouldn't have told me to secretly deliver this Ascension Token to you. As for Manni and the rest of you—”
Nan Zhi lowered her voice and spoke to Hu Manni and the others, who had their ears pricked up listening in:
“Ascension Tokens have already been distributed to various parts of the world. Unlike Senior Sister Ma, I cannot take disciples and lack the authority to issue Ascension Tokens, so I cannot help you directly. However, these things are not restricted from being bought, sold, or gifted. I suggest that while not many people know about this yet and your chances of finding an Ascension Token are still higher, you hurry and search for them.”
The group beside them, who had originally felt disheartened, suddenly felt their fighting spirit rekindled.
Immortals! True immortals!
That was a romantic yearning etched into their very bones.
Who hadn't heard the tale of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea?
Who hadn't fantasized about soaring through heaven and earth, looking down upon all peaks?
Who hadn't dreamed of flying on a sword across the world, standing tall as a great immortal, and composing heroic songs?
The opportunity had arrived!
“Thank you. Farewell.”
Without needing a second thought, Zhang Daowei turned around and left.
Hu Manni, Lyu Dongfang, and Liu Guansheng swiftly sent the acquired intelligence back to their families, aiming to mobilize their family resources to find an Ascension Token as quickly as possible.
—Having seen a genuine Ascension Token with their own eyes, they held a slight advantage over others.
Perhaps this immense stroke of fortune might just land on their heads.
After finishing her words, Nan Zhi departed in a hurry.
Qin Yue did not ask further questions either.
After all, it was the Demon Suppression Division's Return to the Sect Ceremony; as a direct disciple of a True Immortal, Nan Zhi naturally could not be absent.
Busy as she was, she had still managed to find the time to pass along a message for Ma Guniang.
Qin Yue gripped the Ascension Token in her hand, feeling a sense of inadequacy.
Ever since she had begun cultivating, she seemed to be perpetually on the receiving end, never having had the opportunity to repay Ma Guniang and Nan Zhi.
She had to pass the trial so as not to fail the goodwill of so many people.
...
Although the Spiritual Resurgence brought novel occurrences every single day...
News stories like the “Loch Ness Monster,” “Tianshan Dragon Shadow,” “Shennongjia Bigfoot,” and “British Vampires” had long ceased to surprise the public.
On the internet, one could even find vampires livestreaming, offering to turn you into a genuine vampire for a mere eighty thousand dollars.
Yet the shock that this “Voice of the Firmament” delivered to the people of the Blue Star was simply too immense.
Online, countless people began learning Huaxia language, and translated versions of the “Ascension Proclamation” in various languages spread across the globe.
Regardless of race, regardless of gender.
Humanity's fear of death and craving for longevity would never change.
Whether it was white-haired magnates seeking to cure diseases through whole-body blood transfusions;
Or nine-to-five office workers content with modest comforts;
Whether it was top superstars drowning in luxury and squandering fortunes;
Or ordinary laborers working diligently and conscientiously;
Everyone had the chance to change their lives.
The Ascension Assembly had no age restrictions, nor limitations on nationality or race.
Capital began moving, and governments sprang into action.
No one knew exactly how many Ascension Tokens existed.
Yet everyone understood clearly that holding one was the only true ticket to cultivation.
Thus, a frenzied global craze to search for the Ascension Tokens was fully ignited.
Rate on N.U.
