A world-shaking strike, a display of absolute authority...
The nine demon immortals were the first to recover from their shock. Suppressing the tremors in their hearts, they maintained a calm facade as they stepped past Xu Xian and crossed the boundary wall.
After countless ages, they had finally returned to the mortal realm across the sea in their true forms.
“Returning this to you!” Tu Sisi said.
Xu Xian took the chain from her.
“That sword strike just now was quite impressive,” Tu Sisi added with a sudden note of praise.
Xu Xian chuckled.
“Heh.”
The other great demons of the beast god stage didn't dare linger. They followed suit, some sighing, some shaking their heads, and others wearing sour expressions.
Xu Xian was simply too powerful.
Even more so than he had been four hundred years ago.
With such strength, Fanzhou's fate was now set in stone.
His word was law. None of them wanted to die. Even if the path to the heavens was a mountain of blades or a sea of fire, they had no choice but to walk it.
In the depths of the North Sea, high above the clouds, two pairs of eyes watched the scene unfold.
One was the overlord of the North Sea, the first demon immortal, the Phantom Beast Venerable. The other was shrouded in a black mist, their face invisible.
“This kid is truly a freak,” the latter remarked.
He knew Xu Xian well, so he was aware that the strike which shattered the boundary wall was not even Xu Xian's ultimate trump card.
His strongest strike was the manifestation of the Book Sword Immortal.
If that sword were unleashed with full power, an entire province’s mountains and rivers would likely be ground into dust.
Hearing this, the Phantom Beast Venerable replied respectfully, “He has indeed grown rapidly. To reach this level in a mere four hundred years... I was far inferior to him when I was at that stage.”
The figure in the black mist glanced sideways and sneered. “Your talent was mediocre to begin with. How could you possibly compare yourself to monstrous geniuses like us?”
He said "us," not "him"...
The Phantom Beast Venerable accepted the rebuke with humility. “The Sovereign is right.”
“Sigh... it’s quite a headache that such a freakish little fellow was born in an era like this,” the black mist lamented.
The Phantom Beast Venerable was quick to state his position. “Rest assured, Sovereign. No matter how peerless his talent, he is but a mere mortal being. Once he ascends to the Heavens, I will ensure he is strangled in the cradle and suppressed within the Nine Nether...”
The black mist stared at him. The eyes hidden behind the haze seemed to say: Are you really that good at boasting?
He said nothing and simply vanished.
Leaving the Phantom Beast Venerable alone to face the wind in the vast sky.
Once he was gone, the Phantom Beast Venerable straightened his back. Beneath his black cloud fur coat, he stood with his hands behind his back, gazing in the direction where the North Sea demons had vanished, lost in thought.
“He truly makes one envious!” he muttered in a raspy voice, his eyes narrowing.
He had followed the Emperor since the very beginning, starting from the Boundary Sea. Yet never once had he seen the Emperor look at someone with such an expression.
Nor had he ever heard the Emperor place someone on the same level as Himself.
How could one not be envious of someone who received such favor from the Emperor?
...
In the Northern Borders, at the Ascension Platform, another group of newcomers arrived after a few days.
At first, people only noticed the thick demon qi surging into the sky north of the horizon, putting them on high alert.
Then, as over a hundred powerful auras drew closer, feeling as though they were right in front of them, their first instinct was to treat it as a major threat.
It wasn't until the owners of those auras finally appeared before their eyes that they realized what was happening, and their racing hearts finally settled...
A commotion broke out amidst the sea of Cloud Boats gathered to witness the event, filled with noisy chatter.
On a high platform, the old monsters who had been waiting for a long time finally allowed a rare smile to touch their faces.
Whether it was schadenfreude or just relief, it didn't matter.
What mattered was that if everyone was unlucky, it was the same as not being unlucky at all...
There was no longer any reason to feel frustrated or distressed.
After all, even the group from the North Sea had compromised. What else was there to say?
“Are those the demons of the North Sea?”
“Look! Those are demon immortals...”
“If even the demon immortals have come in person, does that mean the boundary line no longer exists?”
“Who knows?”
“Tsk, things are really getting lively now.”
“It seems only the ones from the Demon Abyss are missing...”
“I’m really looking forward to it. Hundreds of people ascending to the Heavens together... what kind of sight will that be?”
As people talked and anticipated, the demon immortals led the North Sea demons onto the Ascension Platform under Xu Xian's direction and the watchful eyes of the crowd.
Xu Xian had been very thoughtful, preparing prayer mats soaked in the essence of immortal plants on the platform. The demons joked amongst themselves as they each chose a spot to sit.
Some were sullen and wore long faces, looking as if someone owed them money.
Others had a better mindset and didn't forget to crack a few jokes.
“Not going to lie, this Leader of the Sword Dao of ours is quite considerate. These prayer mats are pretty good; they can calm the mind and stabilize the spirit...”
“Haha, he’s put some heart into this...”
Naturally, some were acquainted with those already on the platform, leading to inevitable greetings filled with sarcasm and mockery.
“Heh... you three old fogies, you got here pretty early, didn't you?”
“Stinky Taoist, so you’ve also met your match today...”
“Once we ascend, how about we have another go at each other?”
Faced with the mockery and teasing of the North Sea demons, the old monsters from the Central Plains either ignored them or snapped back, though only with words.
It was a cacophony of noise and bickering.
High in the sky, Tu Sisi looked down and said to Xu Xian, “It’s quite lively, isn’t it?”
Xu Xian smiled but said nothing.
Tu Sisi pointed at the platform and asked, “Do I need to go down there and behave myself?”
“Of course not,” Xu Xian replied with a smile.
Tu Sisi was very satisfied, her eyes full of pride as she swaggered away. “I’m going to see Kongkong...”
Xu Xian watched her go.
This scene naturally didn't escape the notice of certain people on the platform, leading to inevitable speculation—like from the Little Azure Dragon, Ao Ba.
He spat in disdain. “Traitor.”
Ao Tian shook his head and laughed. “She’s different from us. She’s an exception. If she doesn't want to go, she doesn't have to.”
“I know,” Ao Ba said coldly. “Isn't it just because of her brat?”
“Not just that,” Ao Tian corrected him. “Four hundred years ago, she did ultimately act to protect the Wendao Sect. If you had done the same back then, you could have also...”
At the mention of this, the hatred in Ao Ba's eyes intensified. “If I had known this day would come, I should have fought him to the death back then. Perhaps there would have been a sliver of hope...”
Ao Tian didn't respond further.
If I had known then what I know now...
He had heard those words far too many times. They were utterly meaningless now.
Days passed one after another. Xu Xian remained busy. No newcomers were added to the Ascension Platform, but the arguing had gradually died down.
Perhaps they were simply tired.
The day of the Awakening of Insects drew closer.
The clusters of Cloud Boats in the mountains grew even denser, hanging in the air like a city that never set by day and a city that never darkened by night.
There was a sea of people and a tide of noise. There were humans from the Central Plains, demons from the East Desolation, and even many from the North Sea had come...
They gazed from a distance, looking up at the high platform.
They all knew very well that their own ancestors were seated right there.
Five days after the North Sea demons had been subdued and brought back by Xu Xian, the twelve demon gods of the Demon Abyss arrived, accompanied by two demon dragons.
They had arrived five days earlier than the agreed-upon time.
After paying their respects to Xu Xian, they ascended the platform just like those who had come before them.
At this point, every living ninth-stage expert in Fanzhou, with the exception of the Wendao Sect, had gathered together.
And there were still seven full days left until the appointed date: the day of the Awakening of Insects!
Yet everyone, whether inside or outside the mountains, on or off the platform, was already brimming with anticipation.
Xu Xian's true body still hadn't appeared; he was making the final preparations before ascending to the heavens.
He sought out his senior brothers and sisters, and just like the scene that had played out in the dream, he said to them, “I need your help!”
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