Limitless Ascension: Strength Amid Adversity – Chapter 123

At the same time, the Sovereign of the Pure Land Kingdom struggled desperately, blood flowing from his seven orifices, looking like a blood-soaked person, his vision blurring as he managed to say, “Who are you? Why are you doing this?!”

“Blame your bad luck. That door just happens to be here,” one of the Black-robed Men sneered.

“Once we deal with you, the Underworld Abyss creatures will take their chance to launch an attack. This country will soon be occupied. Don’t worry, the people here will be of great use later,” said another companion.

“Door?” The Sovereign’s eyes filled with confusion; he didn’t know about any door, but it was clear that these people were insane, colluding with Underworld Abyss creatures to harm their fellow beings, presumably backed by a prominent power in the Eastern Domain!

“A conspiracy, it’s a huge conspiracy…” Soon, the Sovereign of the Pure Land Kingdom could no longer withstand it, being pulled apart by terrifying forces, disappearing into particles at a visible speed.

The four Black-robed figures stopped, exchanging cold sneers.

The Imperial Palace was drenched in blood, utterly turned into a dead zone.

Not long after.

A low, heavy horn sounded, echoing a thousand miles away from the Pure Land Kingdom.

“Charge!!!”

A group of eerie armored creatures, resembling anything but humans, ridden on ancient warbeasts, struck forward with long halberds in hand.

They were indeed the Underworld Abyss creatures!

Without the shelter of the Hanging Temple and the strongest figures of the Imperial Palace, it’s clear what fate the Pure Land Kingdom was about to face.

…

Four months later.

In the vast sky, a massive Treasure Ship sailed through the air, many Cultivators on board had furrowed brows, looking worried.

“Damn, this world is getting crazier and crazier!”

“Yeah, I just escaped from Luo Province; my hometown was invaded by Underworld Abyss creatures recently. Many resisting Cultivators were suppressed, and the remaining ones were treated like livestock.”

“Oh? Didn’t expect this fellow Daoist to have a similar experience; what are your plans for the future? Where do you want to go?”

“Not quite sure for now; I’ve heard many places in the Eastern Domain are engulfed in war, with beings suffering. Sigh, such a vast world, where can we call home?”

As soon as he said that, it resonated with everyone, and the conversation opened up.

“Damn it, the Underworld Army is coming on strong, having defeated who knows how many lower and middle-tier sects. Are those high-and-mighty Immortal sects just going to sit back and wait?”

“Long ago, the ancestors of the Human Race suppressed the Underworld, making it so the Abyssal clans didn’t dare to covet the Eastern Domain. Now, after so many years, they are invading again. If this keeps up, the Eastern Domain will be in danger!”

“But now we’re a scattered mess, who’s going to take charge?!”

…

Everyone’s faces showed anger and concern over the current situation, filled with both fear and hatred towards those ancient Underworld Abyss creatures.

“Is the situation this chaotic?” In a corner, a middle-aged man with a sword at his waist and a straw hat leaned against the wall, arms crossed, with a scruffy beard and sharp-eyed like a hawk, deeply furrowing his brows as he listened to the discussions.

“News! Fresh news! The latest issue of the Cultivation World Daily is hot off the presses, get yours now!” A young boy in green was peddling newspapers, weaving through the crowd and shouting enthusiastically.

“Kid, give me a copy.”

“Here, two low-grade Spirit Crystals!”

After the transaction.

The middle-aged man in the straw hat took the newspaper and instantly vanished from the spot.

“Wait, I don’t remember this guy getting on the ship; how did he appear?” The captain, with an impressive memory, stood nearby, looking bewildered.

“Look! What’s that?!” Someone pointed, their face filled with shock.

Everyone turned in unison, losing all color from their faces.

High above in the vast sky, a gargantuan creature, a hundred thousand meters long, emerged from the clouds, flapping its wings and soaring across the skies.

The heavy airflow was so immense it started to shake the Treasure Ship, the captain hurriedly shouted for the helmsman to steer clear, and when he looked back, his pupils shrank in horror.

There stood the previously vanished Straw Hat Man, now a streak of light landing on that colossal creature.

“With a mount like that, he still wants to hitch a ride on my ship? What kind of big shots are roaming around these days?” the captain lamented with a wry smile.

On a beautiful vacation island.

Li Wujie teleported down to the ground, gazing at the scene before him with a hint of envy, he respectfully said, “Master, as you instructed, I have brought the latest newspaper.”

“Oh~”

“Easy, easy now, ah~”

In front of him, a silver-haired youth lay half-naked on a long chair, uncaring of his image, occasionally letting out moans that could lead one’s thoughts astray.

Hong Qianye bit her lip, her stunning face flushing faintly as she held back her inner shame, using her hands to knead and punch the silver-haired man’s back.

Her palms grew hot, emitting wisps of smoke as an auxiliary heating function.

Not long ago, this guy, for reasons only he knew, tossed her a book on massage techniques, saying she needed to master it quickly to serve their Master, under the pretense of filial piety.

At that moment, Hong Qianye was truly furious!

She wanted to rip the book apart and scream, “Why should I serve you?” Or simply throw the book in his face and strut away.

But those were just thoughts.

If she really did that, she would face unimaginable consequences!

So, under extreme anger, Hong Qianye endured the whole day!!

The next day, she started to practice…

Ye Junlin squinted his eyes in enjoyment, “Little Hong, your techniques are getting more and more skilled, you have talent!”

Hong Qianye’s smile was exceptionally stiff, “Master, as long as you’re satisfied, that’s enough.”

But inside her mind, she was already scolding Ye Junlin’s ancestors eighteen generations over.

“Little Li, read the newspaper’s contents; we can’t fall behind the international community,” Ye Junlin leisurely said.

International community?

Li Wujie was confused, but understood the prior context.

“Ahem.”

Li Wujie opened the newspaper, focused, and his eyes widened in disbelief at what he read.

“Why haven’t you started reading?”

“Master, they say you destroyed the Hanging Temple and, in a fit of rage, implicated the Pure Land Kingdom, wiping out the Imperial Palace and slaughtering the royal family. Now, the Pure Land Kingdom is in disarray and has been occupied by the Underworld Army.”

Swish!

Ye Junlin, who had been lounging in his chair enjoying a supreme massage, shot open his eyes, emanating a chilling glare.

Hong Qianye’s hands trembled, feeling like she was facing a primordial beast, her heart racing and she didn’t dare to move.

Ye Junlin slowly sat up, strong as a perfectly carved marble statue, with hair like silver starlight, each strand gleaming.

“You say the Hanging Temple was destroyed?”

“Yes, there’s no longer such a lineage in the world.” Li Wujie braced himself, not daring to meet the young man’s gaze.

Ye Junlin narrowed his eyes, “Damn it, I just left, and someone’s already stirring up trouble? And they even pinned all the blame on me; who in the world is this unreasonable?!”

Ye Junlin was truly speechless.

Is being famous, and looking good, meant to always take the fall?!

Is this the traditional culture of this cultivation world?

“The Hanging Temple was destroyed, the royal family implicated, and then the Underworld beings smoothly occupied the Pure Land Kingdom. It seems the puppet master has planned this for a long time, and I was just a fuse.” Calming his emotions, Ye Junlin stroked his chin, analyzing.

“Master, could they be after that door?!” Li Wujie suddenly recalled what they encountered in the Great Zhou Dynasty, exclaiming.

“Exactly!”

Ye Junlin’s eyes sparkled.

Everything revolves around the Star Gate; combined with what the Abbot of the Hanging Temple revealed about the Immortal Realm’s secrets, it’s conceivable that foreign powers are eager to breach the Kunlun Realm through the Star Gate.

“Just now, I gathered information on the passenger ship and found many people were fleeing. They complained that many places in the Eastern Domain have already been invaded by Underworld creatures, and the situation is dire,” Li Wujie fumed, “These despicable beasts, I’ll chop them down one by one!”

“Any other news?” Ye Junlin inquired.

“I’ll take another look.”

Li Wujie scrutinized the paper closely, and his face changed drastically, “Master, there’s trouble in the Arid Province, and the Xuantian Sect…”

“Hmm?”

Ye Junlin stretched out his hand, seizing the newspaper from Li Wujie, then lowered his head to read carefully.

It turned out that the Arid Province had also been invaded by the Underworld Army, with the Xuantian Sect bearing the brunt, leading various sects to resist. Initially, their achievements were remarkable, but then top-tier powerhouses appeared on the opponent’s side, turning the tides, and now the Arid Province had fallen, with the Xuantian Sect only able to play defense, besieged for a long time.

“Guess it was too far; even the Sound Transmission Talisman failed to work.” Ye Junlin frowned.

No wonder he hadn’t heard anything; he thought the Xuantian Sect was safe and sound.

“Master, with our sect in trouble, we’ve got to rush back!” Li Wujie was anxious; after all, since joining Ye Junlin, the Xuantian Sect became his home.

With home about to be stolen, how could he stay calm?

“Ah Kun, turn around for the Arid Province!” Ye Junlin ordered.

[Ding, congratulations to the host for triggering a random sign-in mission. Sign in at the Arid Province to receive a Divine Ability reward: Law of Heaven and Earth!] The system prompt chimed.

“Kid, ever since you joined me, you’re getting sharper,” Ye Junlin remarked.

[Ding, more or less, hehe.]

Kunpeng knew the urgency of the situation, flapping its wings fiercely, its speed skyrocketing, transforming the surrounding scenery rapidly.

Hong Qianye seemed indifferent, having no attachment to the Xuantian Sect.

Then, Ye Junlin took off his boots, reclining in the chair like a lord, wiggling his toes, oozing arrogance.

“What are you standing there for? Hurry up and give me a foot rub!” Ye Junlin urged.

Boom!

Hong Qianye completely exploded with anger, rolling up her sleeves.

And thus, under intense fury, she spent the whole day giving Ye Junlin a foot massage.