Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, the twentieth day arrived. Less than half a month remained until the day of the Awakening of Insects, the date Xu Xian had set for the ascent to the Heavens.
Figures were scattered across the Ascension Platform.
Some had come voluntarily and were composed, while others were covered in wounds and bound to stone pillars by chains...
A careful count revealed more than two hundred people.
Demons from the East Desolation, monsters from the mountains, and tribulation transcendence experts and saints from the Central Plains...
One of Xu Xian's spirit bodies still stood before the Ascension Platform, while three divine swords—crimson, black, and blue—hung at the peak of the firmament.
The swords were unsheathed, their edges pointing downward, constantly monitoring the platform. It seemed that if anyone made a move, the swords would strike instantly, staining the platform with blood.
Outside the Ascension Platform, among the mountains of the Northern Borders, numerous groups of cloud boats had gathered in recent days.
They had come from afar, flying various flags and carrying the younger generations of various sects and races. They anchored far from the platform.
Cultivators of the seventh and eighth stages from various races also hid by streams, in forests, and on mountain peaks, silently watching and waiting...
The scene was similar to the standoff at the Demon Abyss hundreds of years ago. However, the roles were reversed.
Those who were once ransomed were now the spectators, while those who had done the ransoming were now in the cage.
They hadn't come to rescue anyone.
They were there simply to observe the ceremony.
Reopening the path to the Heavens and recreating the way to immortality.
Xu Xian had tacitly allowed this, and the Wendao Sword Sect had explicitly permitted it.
Out of a sense of human morality, Xu Xian felt there was nothing wrong with letting them see off their elders and ancestors.
At the same time, he wanted to use this opportunity to plant a seed in the hearts of all living beings in Fanzhou.
He wanted them to see what the Sky Gate was. He also wanted them to see what the world beyond the Sky Gate was like, even if it was just a fleeting glimpse.
...
Time flowed silently, days and nights alternating. The fleet of cloud boats outside the mountains grew more massive, and the noise within the mountains became louder.
A few days later, Xu Xian's true body returned, bringing back dozens more people.
These were fellows who had hidden themselves extremely well. Since the divine swords couldn't find them, Xu Xian had to go personally, knocking them out one by one and bringing them back.
He tossed them onto the high platform and, with a thought, locked them in the cage. He ignored their curses and "greetings," turning and walking away.
On the high platform, the situation felt familiar.
The early arrivals felt fortunate that they weren't the only unlucky ones, while the latecomers felt regret. If they had known everyone would end up here, why had they bothered struggling so hard?
Those who knew each other felt a mutual sympathy. Rivals mocked one another. Others simply found each other annoying and traded insults.
Of course, some had excellent mindsets, remaining calm and even beginning to fantasize about life after becoming immortals when the Sky Gate opened.
For those at the ninth stage, ascension was still a ways off, but for the saints who had already reached the peak of the mortal realm, it was just the right time.
Xu Xian's true body had just returned, but he immediately set off again. This time, he headed north. Time was running short, and it was time to settle matters with the North Sea.
Jiang Wanyin and the others had been on guard in the Northern Borders, fearing unexpected changes. Watching their junior brother come and go, busy as could be, they couldn't even get a word in.
They couldn't help but feel a bit frustrated and often gathered to discuss things in low voices.
“Judging by the direction, Little Eleven is going to move against the North Sea?”
“The demon immortals of the North Sea can't cross over. Is it useful for our junior brother to go?”
“Since he's going, he must have a way.”
“Should we help?”
“Little Eleven didn't ask, so let's not cause trouble...”
Ye Xianyu felt somewhat depressed. “Are we just going to watch and do nothing?”
Lei Yunche folded his arms and shrugged. “What else can we do?”
...
On that day, Xu Xian crossed that line and stepped into the true North Sea. The Living Flora came to meet its master.
“Master.”
Xu Xian nodded slightly and said, “Continue your watch.”
Then he brushed past The Living Flora and vanished into the vast blue ocean.
The Living Flora stood quietly.
Its arrival in the North Sea wasn't like the other three swords; it didn't need to capture anyone. After all, the North Sea was recognized as the place with the strongest combat power in all of Fanzhou.
Outside the North Sea, its influence was limited. Inside the North Sea, there were ten demon immortals whose true bodies could arrive in an instant, and even The Living Flora would find them difficult to face.
Years ago, Li Taibai had spent some effort dealing with them and had even been injured in the end.
It was here to prevent the demons of the North Sea from sneaking into the Fanzhou continent, saving Xu Xian the trouble of searching for them later. It would be a waste of time.
...
The Eight Immortal Islands of the North Sea.
As soon as Xu Xian stepped into the North Sea territory, several demon immortal experts sensed him.
Their true bodies awoke, their deep demon eyes opening.
Four hundred years ago, this youth had cut down their demon immortal spirit bodies, causing them to retreat in the Northern Borders.
Four hundred years later, he had entered the Saint Realm and wished to ascend to the Heavens.
Fight him? With what? They weren't that foolish.
Therefore, none of them intended to fight. They remained seated in their respective islands, watching to see what would happen.
After a while, Xu Xian, deep in the North Sea, chose a lonely island to land on. At a sea cliff, he summoned the Void Mirror and connected with it via his divine sense.
He activated one of the Bixu Mirror's divine abilities: Bixu Reflection.
After chanting the incantation, Xu Xian barked a single word: “Manifest!”
Almost simultaneously, ripples appeared in the space above the Eight Immortal Islands of the North Sea. Then, the clear day suddenly darkened, and a blue light curtain descended.
Within the light curtain, a figure solidified from illusory to real, manifesting like a deity before them. The various demons on the eight islands were thrown into a frenzy, as if facing a great enemy.
“What is that?”
“An enemy attack...”
“Prepare for battle.”
“Quick, report to the Ancestor immediately...”
Within the Eight Immortal Islands, the descendants of the demon immortals hurriedly prepared for battle. Streaks of light crossed the sky, and giant beasts roared.
Outside the islands, the calm sea erupted into furious waves, and fierce winds howled... They stared at the sky, alert and wary, scrutinizing the figure...
Within the blue light and shadow was a youth in human form. He wore sword robes, his hair tied high. His eyes were like stars and his brows like swords as he looked down upon all living beings.
Even though it was just a phantom and he did nothing, the demons of the Eight Immortal Islands could still feel a surging sword intent falling from above like a waterfall. Endless Vitality!
All the demons knew that this was a powerful expert, a sword immortal who could rival or even surpass a demon immortal.
Most of the demons didn't recognize him. But the Beast God experts who were fortunate enough to have participated in the universal crusade against the Wendao Sword Sect four hundred years ago recognized him at a glance: it was Xu Xian.
They would not remember wrongly. This face had become a lingering nightmare in the depths of their minds over the past four hundred years.
That day, the youth had challenged the world with his sword. They had been ruthlessly ravaged by his sword intent.
Having survived by chance, the shadow in their hearts remained. Seeing him again today, fear and panic instantly grew, taking over their bodies.
“It's Xu Xian...”
“He still came...”
“Such sword intent... terrifying.”
“He's grown even stronger...”
Hearing it was Xu Xian, the demons on the Eight Immortal Islands all trembled. Their expressions grew more solemn, and the atmosphere became even more heavy.
They had not seen the man, but they all knew his name. A junior in the crowd looked up in admiration, murmuring softly, “So that is Xu Xian... the Leader of the Sword Dao, the number one person under the firmament...”
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