Chapter 173 ·Yingluo Ascends

Not ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍long afterward, a sharp cry of a roc echoed across the horizon as a golden figure tore through the sky.

It ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was the Great Peng Demon King.

Behind ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍him followed dozens of demon generals, every one of them possessing formidable auras, the weakest among them already at the Integration Realm.

The ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Great Peng Demon King landed beside the Heaven Burning Demon Sovereign and glanced at the injury on his chest, his brows slightly furrowing.

“Heaven ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Burning, this is…”

“Enough ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍nonsense!” the Heaven Burning Demon Sovereign gritted out. “Help me capture her! I’ll double the terms!”

The Great Peng Demon King glanced toward Yingluo, a trace of light flashing through his eyes.

Spirit-Nurturing Heavenly Sound Stone…

No wonder Heaven Burning was fighting so desperately.

This thing truly was an exceptionally rare cultivation furnace choice for those cultivating fire-attributed demonic arts.

However…

The Great Peng Demon King glanced again at the Heaven Burning Demon Sovereign and secretly shook his head.

For the sake of personal desire, he had even disregarded the greater plan of invading the Central Lands.

What a lunatic.

Still, with the conditions doubled, he had no reason to refuse.

“Attack.”

With a single order from the Great Peng Demon King, dozens of demon generals charged toward Yingluo simultaneously.

Yingluo’s expression shifted slightly. Her jade flute swung repeatedly as flute melodies surged forth like tides, forcing several charging demon generals backward.

But the enemy vastly outnumbered her. Her strength alone was ultimately limited.

Moreover, the Great Peng Demon King had yet to make a move.

He stood at the side with cold eyes, clearly waiting for her to reveal an opening.

Yingluo sighed inwardly.

She knew she would not be able to leave today.

No.

There was still one path remaining.

She raised her head toward the heavens, determination flashing through her eyes.

She had long since reached the Ninth Layer of Tribulation Crossing and could summon heavenly tribulation to ascend to the Immortal Realm at any moment.

The reason she had not left until now was because she still wished to see more of the Spirit Realm’s scenery.

But now, she had seen enough.

It was time to leave.

Yingluo took a deep breath as the aura around her violently surged.

The winds and clouds changed color across heaven and earth.

A massive tribulation vortex condensed in the sky above, lightning flashing within it as mountainous pressure descended.

The heavenly tribulation of ascension had arrived.

The Heaven Burning Demon Sovereign’s expression changed drastically.

“She’s ascending! Stop her!”

The Great Peng Demon King’s face also darkened. Brilliant golden light erupted from his hand, transforming into a gigantic golden peng claw that seized toward Yingluo.

But in the end, he was still one step too late.

The heavenly tribulation descended, engulfing Yingluo entirely within lightning.

The moment the golden peng claw touched the tribulation lightning, it shattered instantly.

The Great Peng Demon King let out a muffled grunt and staggered backward several steps, his expression uncertain.

The power of heavenly tribulation was not something he could contend against.

Within the lightning, Yingluo’s figure gradually became illusory.

Her gaze passed through the lightning and looked toward the distant direction of the Azure Wave Sect.

From beginning to end, she never used the talisman Nether Soul had given her.

Not because she forgot.

But because she did not wish to use it.

That person had gifted her the talisman out of goodwill.

She did not wish to involve him because of her own affairs.

Besides, ascending to the Immortal Realm might not necessarily be a bad thing.

She had long desired to see different scenery.

As the lightning faded, Yingluo’s figure disappeared from the heavens.

She had ascended.

The Heaven Burning Demon Sovereign stood within the void, his face deathly pale as his entire body trembled.

The injury on his chest still ached faintly, but compared to the pain in his heart, it amounted to nothing.

She escaped.

That Spirit-Nurturing Heavenly Sound Stone, that cultivation furnace capable of greatly increasing his battle strength, had escaped.

Now that she had ascended to the Immortal Realm, he would never be able to catch up to her in this lifetime.

Because he was destined to never ascend to the Immortal Realm…

What he found even more unbearable was that he had been injured.

Injured severely by a woman relying solely upon herself.

If word of this spread…

The Heaven Burning Demon Sovereign’s breathing became increasingly heavy as his eyes gradually turned bloodshot.

Suddenly, he turned and smashed a punch into the nearby mountain wall. The entire mountain collapsed with a thunderous roar as shattered rocks flew everywhere.

“AHHHHH!!!!”

He released a beast-like roar filled with fury and unwillingness.

The surrounding demon generals all retreated, fear appearing upon their faces.

The Great Peng Demon King frowned but remained silent.

He understood the Heaven Burning Demon Sovereign’s temperament. At times like this, nothing anyone said would matter. It was better to let him vent on his own.

The Heaven Burning Demon Sovereign’s furious roars echoed throughout the valley for a long time without fading.

Right at that moment, the voice within his mind rang out once again, cold and indifferent.

“Trash.”

Just two words.

Yet they struck his soul like a thousand-jun hammer.

The Heaven Burning Demon Sovereign trembled violently as his face instantly turned pale.

“M-Master…”

“I told you to maintain chaos within the Spirit Realm, not to truly attack the Central Lands,” the voice said indifferently.

“And for the sake of your own selfish desires, you abandoned your duties and even dragged the Great Peng Demon King into your nonsense. Do you know your crime?”

“This subordinate knows his crime! This subordinate knows his crime!” The Heaven Burning Demon Sovereign kowtowed repeatedly, his forehead smashing against shattered stone until blood flowed freely. “Please forgive me, Master!”

“Forgive you?” the voice sneered. “Receive your punishment yourself.”

As the words fell, an intense agony suddenly erupted from the depths of the Heaven Burning Demon Sovereign’s soul.

It was an indescribable pain.

As though millions of needles pierced his soul simultaneously.

As though raging flames were burning his spirit alive.

The Heaven Burning Demon Sovereign screamed miserably as his entire body curled upon the ground, convulsing violently.

He clenched his teeth tightly, not daring to cry out too loudly.

Because he knew the more miserable his screams sounded, the longer the punishment would last.

Standing nearby, the Great Peng Demon King watched the Heaven Burning Demon Sovereign rolling upon the ground, his brows furrowing more deeply.

He could not hear that voice.

But he knew exactly what the Heaven Burning Demon Sovereign was enduring.

To be honest, there were times he found the Heaven Burning Demon Sovereign rather pitiful.

The dignified lord of the Northern Plains, a mighty existence at the peak of Tribulation Crossing, yet controlled completely by an unseen and untouchable master, living a life worse than a dog.

But pity was pity.

More often than not, he thought this man was insane.

A madman driven insane by oppression.

And when such a madman lost control, there was nothing he would not do.

For example, right now.

The Heaven Burning Demon Sovereign climbed up from the ground, covered entirely in blood. His eyes were scarlet red, yet an eerie smile hung upon his lips.

He slowly swept his gaze across the surroundings.

Wherever his eyes landed, there was only madness.

The Great Peng Demon King silently retreated another two steps.

......

This scene caused Gu Yan, seated within the Hall of Longevity, to slightly furrow his brows as he remained silent for a long while.

Yingluo ascending to the Immortal Realm was indeed a wise choice.

It was just unfortunate that Nether Soul had finally found a kindred soul, only to lose her so quickly.

Thinking of this, another trace of displeasure arose within Gu Yan’s heart.

That damned Heaven Burning Demon Sovereign actually dared lay hands upon the kindred soul of his incarnation.

After all, although he and Nether Soul were in a relationship of main body and incarnation, in essence, Nether Soul was himself.

His will was Nether Soul’s will.

Naturally, Nether Soul’s kindred soul was also his kindred soul.

If someone provoked his kindred soul like this and he made no response whatsoever, that would truly be too unreasonable.

Gu Yan pondered briefly before sending a strand of divine intent directly toward the Azure Wave Sect within the Spirit Realm.

Nether Soul was currently sitting absentmindedly within the bamboo grove when he suddenly received the transmission from his main body. He was slightly startled.

Soon after, the corners of his lips rose slightly.

The instruction sent by the main body was extremely simple.

Whenever idle, he could use that technique, 《Great Luo Heaven Five Elements Heavenly Mandate Divine Curse》, to curse the Heaven Burning Demon Sovereign a little.

But he had to pay attention to moderation and avoid cursing him to death all at once.

After all, that fellow was a chess piece of an old Immortal King devil from the Immortal Realm. If he simply died like this, who knew what madness that Immortal King might unleash.

Most importantly, if the Heaven Burning Demon Sovereign died, the other side would arrange a new chess piece, requiring further effort to locate.

Thus, rather than killing him outright, it was better to make the Heaven Burning Demon Sovereign unable to live yet unable to die.

Within the Hall of Longevity, after arranging matters on Nether Soul’s side, Gu Yan shifted his gaze back toward the Haotian Mirror.

The affairs of the Spirit Realm would remain like this for now.

Next…

It was time to look at the Demon Realm.

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