Limitless Ascension: Strength Amid Adversity – Chapter 199

Shanhai Pass.

The terrain here is steep, with dark, vast mountain ranges coiling like a mighty dragon, creating an overwhelming atmosphere. Behind it lies the boundless ocean, waves crashing violently, sometimes resulting in waves several meters high that roar against the rocks.

This place is particularly special because just fifty miles north, there’s a forbidden land for the Human Race, isolated from the fourteen states of the Eastern Domain—the Underworld Abyss!

As the leader of the Eastern Domain coalition, the Yuhua Sect Master had arrived at the assembly point early, along with the elders and disciples.

The crowd was packed and bustling, standing all over the mountain, with a flag representing their sect fluttering in the wind. The words “Yuhua Sect” shone brightly in gold, particularly eye-catching.

“Master, everything is progressing smoothly,” said Old Liu, dressed in gray robes with white hair and a lively spirit despite his wrinkled face, which bore a smile that was somewhat chilling.

The Yuhua Sect Master had deep, starry eyes, hands clasped behind his back, standing tall like a spear, exuding an otherworldly aura, as if he was ready to ascend to immortality at any moment.

As soon as Old Liu finished speaking, a cold smile formed at the corner of the Yuhua Sect Master’s mouth.

Indeed, the recent commotion was due to him secretly hiring eight hundred thousand professional water army members, creating chaos throughout the Eastern Domain.

Though the premium spirit crystals spent during this process were an enormous burden, even for a figure like him, he believed it would all be worth it if the plan succeeded!

After all, to catch fish, one must first put in the effort with the bait.

Now with the plan reaching its perfect expectations, once all the powerful practitioners of the Eastern Domain gathered at Shanhai Pass, he could execute the final and crucial step, leading them all into the Underworld Abyss in one fell swoop.

If the plan went smoothly, it would greatly weaken the fourteen states of the Eastern Domain, resulting in a lack of vitality and interrupted succession.

At that point, the game would be set, and there would be no chance for a comeback!

As these thoughts crossed his mind, the Yuhua Sect Master sighed dramatically and pretended to be pitiful, saying, “Ah, I hope they won’t blame me down in the Ninth Underworld; this was a forced choice.”

Behind him, Old Liu nodded in agreement and said solemnly, “What the Sect Master is doing is under pressure from the greater situation. What’s wrong with that? If anyone is to blame, it should be their bad luck!”

“Mm.”

The Yuhua Sect Master glanced at him and nodded appreciatively.

Not bad, you know how to console people.

“Master, look! They’re coming!” Old Liu suddenly noticed something and quickly reminded.

Boom! Boom! Boom—!!!

At that moment, a massive shadow began to shroud Shanhai Pass. Upon closer inspection, it was countless formidable warships soaring through the sky.

A dense array of cultivators stood on the decks, swords on their backs, their eyes ablaze with fierce battle intent.

Alongside them were the various armies representing the dynasty, riding war beasts and wielding long spear, clad in metal armor, roaring through the wind, with war flags billowing ominously.

A multitude of high-level cultivators followed, exuding radiant brilliance, like stars dotting the sky, releasing an overwhelming aura.

“I, from the Qingmu Dynasty, have come to lend support!!!”

“I, from the Canghai Sect, have come to lend support!!!”

“I, from the Xuanji Sword Sect, have come to lend support!!!”

“I, from the Wendaozong, have come to lend support!!!”

“I, from the Great Zhou Dynasty, have come to lend support!!!”

“I, from the Xue Family of Lingzhou, have come to lend support!!!”

…

Across the sky, countless voices rang out, brimming with battle intent, echoing for miles.

Looking around, the imposing presence of this Eastern Domain coalition filled every inch of Shanhai Pass with a chilling air of slaughter.

Faced with this scene, the Yuhua Sect Master, standing on the cliff, squinted slightly, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes, and an involuntary smile tugged at the corners of his mouth before quickly returning to his usual expression.

Having seen many grand spectacles, he, a high-ranking official, understood what was expected of him in such a crucial moment.

At this instant, in front of everyone, the dignified middle-aged man clasped his hands in salutation and sincerely spoke:

“On behalf of the Yuhua Sect, I thank all fellow Daoists for coming to lend your support!”

At such a time, maintaining etiquette and humility can greatly enhance favorability, earning the trust of others.

That’s emotional intelligence!

“Master Wan is being too polite. Helping the Yuhua Sect is also helping ourselves,” replied Fan Dezhen from the Wendaozong, clasping his hands.

“Exactly!”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

“Since the Yuhua Sect is determined to invade the Underworld Abyss, we will certainly lend our full support. This battle involves the honor of our Human Race; we cannot afford any mishap.”

A cold voice rang out like a chill wind in all directions.

The speaker was a stern man dressed in pure white, standing with a sword, his eyes blazing like the sun, with wisps of celestial energy spreading around him.

This individual was none other than the newly promoted sword immortal, Xue Wuhen!

Behind him stood the Xuanji Sword Sect’s team of sword cultivators, each standing tall with bright eyes, their hearts racing with excitement, for being personally led by a true sword immortal was an exhilarating honor for them.

Upon hearing Xue Wuhen speak, Wan Changwei’s expression changed, cold sweat beading on his forehead as he hurriedly clasped his hands and said, “What Sword Immortal Xue says makes perfect sense.”

Under the immortal, all were but ants.

Even though he held a high rank, he was merely an accomplished cultivator; until he became an immortal, he was ultimately still just a fleeting cloud.

Before a powerful being who ascended through the Sword Path, Wan Changwei felt incredibly insignificant, even without the deliberate release of pressure from Xue Wuhen, he still felt his scalp prickle and hair stand on end.

“Hmph, so what if you’re a sword immortal? Once you’re drawn into the trap set by the Divine Envoy, whether you live or die will no longer be up to you!” Wan Changwei thought darkly.

“Ha ha, with Sword Immortal Xue joining us, what do we have to fear?”

“Rest assured, fellow Daoists, with all of you gathered here today, victory is assured!”

“By the way, if Senior Ye were here, it would surely be even more certain!”

“Wait, where is Senior Ye? Didn’t the Xuantian Sect make any moves?”

…

Suddenly, whispers erupted, all pointing towards the Xuantian Sect, specifically towards Ye Junlin.

After all, he was the undisputed top figure in the Eastern Domain; having him come to support at such a critical moment would definitely boost morale!

Thus, the presence or absence of Ye Junlin was of great concern to the attending cultivators.

Hearing the murmur, Wan Changwei’s expression darkened.

To be clear, the main goal of this plan was to eliminate that person. If he were present, they could consider it a success; if he really didn’t come, it would indeed be a regret.

“Ahem, everyone, please don’t panic.”

Wan Changwei feigned a cough and earnestly said, “Perhaps Immortal Ye predicted that we could easily flatten the Underworld Abyss by ourselves, so he chose not to come support after all.”

This statement not only soothed the crowd but also maintained the image of others, a perfect example of a win-win situation, showcasing the charm of verbal artistry.

Upon hearing this, many couldn’t help but sigh in admiration for the Yuhua Sect Master’s emotional intelligence.

“Senior Ye, are you really not coming?” Xue Wuhen sighed lightly, a trace of regret in his voice, still wishing he could fight side by side with that figure.

Boom! Boom! Boom…

But at that moment, a thunderous roar echoed like heavenly thunder, the overwhelming presence of a king surged uncontrollably, startling everyone to look up.

A sound resembling a blue whale’s cry came from the distance, shaking countless cultivators’ heads, causing their blood to surge within.

It was a mythological beast of colossal size, blocking out the sun as it flapped its wings, stirring up unparalleled gusts that rippled through the surrounding void, creating a frightening spectacle.

Having been fed premium beast feed, Ah Kun had quickly grown to the level of a full-fledged tribulation overcoming beast, unleashing a pressure far stronger than before—an impressive presence!

In that instant,

The mounts of others felt a suppression of their bloodlines, trembling in fear, eyes full of terror.

“I know it! That’s Immortal Ye’s mount, the Kunpeng!” someone exclaimed.

“Oh my, a majestic Tribulation Overcoming Monster Emperor even has the status of a mount—truly incredible!” another person remarked in shock.

“What’s wrong with being a mount? It’s Immortal Ye’s mount! Does having a celestial as a mount demean one’s status?!”

Suddenly, a voice rose from the crowd.

At this remark,

Everyone found it quite sensible.

True, even if it’s a monster emperor, serving as a mount for an immortal doesn’t diminish its stature; on the contrary, it elevates its status even more.

“If given the chance, I’d also love to be a mount for Immortal Ye~” one swirling figure, a stunning female cultivator, said softly, her cheeks flushed.

Swish, swish, swish~!

As the Kunpeng made a grand entrance, countless powerful beings unconsciously parted a path, paying their respects with awe.

“Master, he’s here…” Old Liu swallowed hard, feeling alarmed, recalling the previous conflict back at the Wendaozong with that figure left him feeling cold all over and filled with trepidation.

“Hmph, such a grand display!” Wan Changwei felt unhappy inside, as the level of the opponent’s mount matched his own.

But then he thought, being the Yuhua Sect Master, why should he compete with someone else’s mount?

Just as Wan Changwei grappled with his complex feelings, the Kunpeng arrived above Shanhai Pass, its fiery eyes like two blazing suns, staring fixedly at the Yuhua Sect’s team.

“This…”

The disciples and elders of the Yuhua Sect took a few steps back, revealing fearful expressions.

As the first holy land of the Eastern Domain, they could be arrogant with anyone, yet they felt distinctly lacking in confidence only towards the Xuantian Sect.

“Ah Kun, tone it down; you’re frightening the others.” A crisp voice floated down from the Kunpeng.

“Senior Ye, it’s a great honor to see you again!” Xue Wuhen’s expression was electric.

Since witnessing how Ye Junlin wiped out the wrathful demon dragon comparable to a true immortal with a mere spit, his admiration reached an unprecedented level.

Moreover, he was the mentor who guided him to become a sword immortal and also his savior!

“Who are you again? Oh, I recall now—Little Snow, right?” That familiar voice casually remarked,

This address left everyone momentarily dumbfounded.

The renowned white-clad sword immortal, Xue Wuhen, was actually referred to as “Little Snow” by that figure—unthinkable!

When everyone expected Xue Wuhen to show signs of displeasure, to their surprise, upon hearing the nickname, he happily replied, “Aye!!”