After Faking Her Death and Escaping, the Junior Sister Fell to the Demonic Path - Chapter 82

Ascension.

It was the fervent dream of all cultivators in the Xuan Tian Realm.

It was said that after enduring the Heavenly Tribulation and ascending to the Upper Realm, one could enjoy inexhaustible spiritual energy, and one’s cultivation would advance by leaps and bounds, unlike the stagnation experienced in the Xuan Tian Realm.

No one knew what the Upper Realm was like, only that it was teeming with ascended cultivators and geniuses as numerous as the fish in a river, countless in number.

A “barrier of ascension” existed between the Upper Realm and the Xuan Tian Realm. Without sufficient strength, a cultivator from the Xuan Tian Realm could spend their entire life and still not touch the threshold to the Upper Realm.

And once a cultivator ascended to the Upper Realm, there was no possibility of breaking through the barrier and returning.

However, the path to ascension in the Xuan Tian Realm had been severed, and no one had ascended for a thousand years. Cultivators had long since despaired. Now, when True Person Wen Qing claimed to have found the method of ascension, how could they not be excited?

The suppressed discussions around them were rustling, and as they exchanged glances, their excitement was palpable.

Ascension!

Who didn’t want to ascend?

Since they had chosen to cultivate, ascension was the ultimate goal for all cultivators.

Cultivators of the past had exhausted every means to ascend. However, most people, even those who touched the threshold of ascension, either turned to dust under the Heavenly Tribulation or suffered damage to their foundation, causing their cultivation to regress. Few were genuinely able to ascend to the Upper Realm.

All those who could ascend were exceptional talents.

But after the ascension channel was broken, cultivators in the Xuan Tian Realm discovered that even by enduring the oppression of the entire Xuan Tian Realm’s Heavenly Dao and surviving the Heavenly Lightning infusion, no Heavenly Ladder of Ascension would descend—

No one could ascend anymore.

Upon realizing that no matter how they cultivated, they could only stop at the half-step ascension realm, and no matter how hard they struggled, even if they became demonic cultivators at great cost, they still could not ascend—and instead were pursued by the Heavenly Dao for pushing the limits of what the Xuan Tian Realm could bear, forced to live the rest of their lives in fearful evasion—they eventually gave up their desire to ascend, quietly enduring until their lifespan ended, dying a frustrated and miserable death in some forgotten corner.

Since they couldn’t ascend, there was no need to cultivate so painstakingly.

Following that, the Xuan Tian Realm entered a long period of decadent practices.

Without the ascension channel, cultivation was no longer worth the effort. A predictable dead-end was the most disheartening thing. Cultivators began to “lie flat,” no longer striving desperately to cultivate, instead starting to enjoy life, becoming non-competitive and detached. This surprisingly improved the former situation where cultivators would draw swords at the slightest disagreement over treasures, leading to a false sense of fraternity and politeness.

This situation lasted for centuries.

Hundreds of years was enough time for the Demon Race to recuperate and grow several times stronger.

During these centuries of decline in the Xuan Tian Realm, the Demon Race never stopped cultivating. In fact, they were more diligent than before. The three realms’ defenses were weak, and people were living in drunken stupor, which gave the Demon Race an opportunity to infiltrate silently. They quietly permeated the three realms and strengthened themselves while the Human Race was at a low ebb, laying the foundation for the later destruction of the Nether Ghost Realm and the Human Realm.

To be honest, the current predicament was largely the Human Race’s own fault.

Becoming utterly demoralized after the ascension channel was gone showed the fragility of the Xuan Tian Realm’s cultivators. A small setback almost caused them to fall apart. In a way, they deserved the path they had taken.

It wasn’t until later that some people finally woke up, realizing that if they continued in such decline, the Human Race would bring about its own demise.

Coincidentally, the Demon Race launched a large-scale sneak attack on the three realms, which suffered heavy losses. Prior to this, many ascending cultivators had perished resisting and slaying demon gods, sacrificing their lives to secure a path for those who lived. Yet, those who had survived under the protection of others were now completely lacking in ambition. When the Demon Race attacked, they had no power to fight back, merely allowing the demons to slaughter them.

The people of the three realms underwent a painful self-reflection, concluding that if things continued this way, the Human Race would inevitably be defeated by the Demon Race—either becoming their slaves or being entirely wiped out. This realization prompted them to resume cultivation, determined to fight the Demon Race to the bitter end.

At the very least, they had to create a relatively clean cultivation environment for those who came after them.

However, such faith was ultimately abstract. Without the drive of self-interest, how could they talk about dedication?

Now, the mere mention of “ascension” was the best possible shot of adrenaline.

The surrounding chatter gradually subsided, because True Person Wen Qing in the projection stone was still speaking.

“Perhaps no one will believe that the method of ascension lies in the deepest part of the Demon Race’s lair.”

The image shook, and in the gloom, True Person Wen Qing leaned against the stone wall again.

She looked close to exhaustion, clutching her abdomen with one hand, breathing slowly and with difficulty.

After a while longer, she continued to walk, using the arm partially infested with the demon seed to support herself against the stone wall, inching forward.

Qin Qingyi stared intently at True Person Wen Qing in the projection stone, her eyes slightly moist.

The dim, shaking image continued, often only the sound of True Person Wen Qing’s painful gasps could be heard.

No one dared to interrupt. They were all holding their breath, not wanting to miss any clue in the projection stone.

It wasn’t until a faint light appeared ahead in the passage that True Person Wen Qing showed a hint of a smile. She lifted the projection stone to illuminate the light.

“We’ve arrived.”

She took a breath and sped up her steps.

When she fully entered the lighted area, everyone realized it was a secret chamber.

“This is the Demon Race’s lair.”

True Person Wen Qing showed everyone the entire scene inside the secret chamber. Thick, malevolent red color almost dominated the entire image. Her hand was not steady, so for a time, the crowd couldn’t discern exactly what this place was.

But Qin Qingyi recognized it.

The place where her Master was standing was identical to the blood pool at Blackwater Cliff.

It was the place where demon god seeds were cultivated!

Sure enough, the image stabilized shortly after. True Person Wen Qing stood by the blood pool. She picked up the projection stone and gave a clear view of the area around the blood pool.

Scattered around the blood pool were many fragmented demon cocoons, as well as many half-human, half-demon creatures that looked like they had been dead for a long time.

The surroundings were a mess, suggesting a fierce battle had taken place not long ago.

True Person Wen Qing’s gaze swept mercifully over the dead young ones of various races, and she then spoke calmly:

“This is the body-snatching place the Demon God made for itself. Those surrounding creatures were once gifted children of various races, including the Human Race, stolen by the Demon Race from all over.”

This matter was no longer a secret within the Sword Gate, but knowing and seeing with one’s own eyes were two different things.

A sudden uproar of gasps sounded around Qin Qingyi and Zhou Zhixue.

Qin Qingyi could feel Zhou Zhixue’s hand clench tightly. She squeezed the other’s hand reassuringly.

She knew her Junior Sister was afraid.

The blood pool reminded her of being suddenly dragged into the blood pool at Blackwater Cliff before, which might have scared her.

“Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”

She comforted her softly.

The Zhou Zhixue next to her let out a quiet “Mm.”

True Person Wen Qing in the image did not linger. She stood at the edge of the blood pool, raising both hands.

“Underneath this blood pool is the method of ascension.”

As soon as she stood at the edge, the originally calm blood pool suddenly began to boil like water, with gurgling blood bubbles rising from the bottom, only to ‘pop’ open upon reaching the surface.

Everyone was shocked and apprehensive, but then they saw True Person Wen Qing close her eyes.

The next moment, several fleshy tentacles suddenly stretched out from beneath the blood pool, dragging True Person Wen Qing’s body down with lightning speed.

A wave of gasps erupted around them.

True Person Wen Qing, however, was calm and composed. She did not even open her eyes, willingly allowing the tentacles to drag her into the blood pool.

Her Master had encountered the same thing as her.

This realization made Qin Qingyi’s breathing quicken.

“So, this was the result Master chose for herself.”

She murmured.

The voice was so low that only the two people near her could hear it.

Shangguan Yu heard it, but she said nothing, remaining silent, merely watching everything unfold in the projection stone.

True Person Wen Qing was dragged into the blood pool, and the image recorded by the projection stone turned into a field of crimson.

This was the interior of the blood pool, and it was normal to see nothing.

The image remained unchanged for a long time, only the dull water sound caused by True Person Wen Qing being dragged downwards.

This sound continued for a long time until the surrounding blood color lightened, and the tentacles released True Person Wen Qing.

The image finally changed slightly.

Qin Qingyi’s heart suddenly began to pound.

When she was dragged into the blood pool, she had quickly fallen unconscious due to the overwhelming pressure, so she never saw what was at the bottom of the blood pool.

In her fragmented memories, she only remembered the Immortal Venerable Wu Wang taking over her body and seeming to wrestle with something.

So…

She might get an answer from her Master here.

True Person Wen Qing in the projection stone moved again, appearing to swim forward. Qin Qingyi slowed her breathing, afraid of missing anything.

The surrounding crimson gradually lightened, allowing everyone to finally see clearly.

Upon seeing it, a wave of sharp intakes of breath, “hiss,” swept through the crowd.

The reason was simple: the bottom of the blood pool was completely covered in intertwined, fleshy tentacles, clustered at the bottom, undulating rhythmically as if they were breathing.

This sight alone was enough to make one uncomfortable. Staring at it for a few moments produced a sticky sensation, as if the tentacles were crawling on one’s body, causing a sense of disorientation.

“These tentacles have a hallucinatory effect and seem to interfere with the mind.”

True Person Wen Qing explained to the projection stone.

She concentrated fully, striving not to look at the tentacles.

“But as long as one doesn’t look, it seems to be somewhat manageable. I just don’t know if watching through the projection stone will also cause an effect.”

True Person Wen Qing smiled slightly.

Outside the image, the crowd was clearly affected. Their eyes were glazed over until Shangguan Yu shouted sharply, which brought them back to their senses. Realizing their minds had been disturbed, they awkwardly shifted their gazes, not daring to look directly at the projection stone again.

Qin Qingyi was similarly affected, but Zhou Zhixue was by her side, holding her hand. The cool Ice Spirit Root was extremely friendly to her now, intimately winding around their clasped wrists, which lessened the interference she felt.

“Thank you, Junior Sister,” Qin Qingyi sincerely thanked her.

Zhou Zhixue squeezed her hand back, warmly replying, “Senior Sister need not thank me.”

She had also been affected, but she hadn’t paid excessive attention to the content in the projection stone. Coupled with her frequent disturbances from the inner demons, this minor interference was not serious for her, hence she was not as deeply affected as others.

Thinking of this, Zhou Zhixue’s mind stirred.

Perhaps, the more one focused on it, the deeper the influence?

However, this idea was yet to be proven, so Zhou Zhixue did not plan to state it yet. She merely suppressed it for the time being, deciding to observe more, to speak out only once she had a firm conclusion.

True Person Wen Qing kept swimming forward, indeed managing not to focus excessively on the tentacles. However, the viewpoint offered by the projection stone was limited, and most of the time the screen was filled with those eerily bizarre tentacles, making it impossible not to look.

After having their minds affected several times, many people were distressed and simply covered their eyes, intending to open them again only when True Person Wen Qing spoke.

However, not long after, True Person Wen Qing stopped.

The sound of swimming water disappeared. She stabilized her body, stopping in an area that was still vaguely crimson.

She had not yet spoken, but Qin Qingyi’s pupils constricted. She stared intensely at the scene in the image, her fingers unconsciously clenching.

She recognized this place!

The excessive clenching made Zhou Zhixue look sideways. She first glanced down at the hand that her Senior Sister was gripping until it turned white, then she carefully observed her expression before slowly shifting her gaze to the projection stone.

This single glance caused her breath to hitch as well.