Limitless Ascension: Strength Amid Adversity – Chapter 305

“Hmm?”

Hong Qianye turned around, a strange look in her eyes.

I didn’t come looking for trouble; yet you’re eager to walk to your doom?

Originally, Hong Qianye intended to just walk away and not take action against Litang City, after all, the entire operation was orchestrated by someone else. But just as she was about to leave, the cultivators of Litang City started yelling for a fight.

Can I put up with this?!!

Not only were Gui Jianchou and the others dumbfounded, but the cultivators of Litang City were shocked as well.

“Ding Zhen, are you out of your mind?”

That’s the infamous Red Demon, the ruthless guy who wiped out the Dao Sect coalition, and you dare to provoke him?

What a rookie mistake!!

“This, this…” The various family heads were terrified, cold sweat pouring down, unable to believe they were witnessing that old man in red.

The usually steady Ding Zhen was acting so impulsively?

Ding Zhen, the center of attention, wore a knowing smile.

To others, it looked like he was asking for death, but only he knew this was a one-in-a-million opportunity.

After several days of siege by the Fire Cult, he had been observing the situation, because with this bunch, they weren’t worthy of him pulling out his trump card.

But now, with the Red Demon personally showing up to attack, it was enough for him to use that treasure!

What Ding Zhen didn’t know was that the Red Demon originally wanted to leave, but because of him stirring the pot, things were heading into truly uncontrollable territory…

“What’s this old man’s status in the city?” Hong Qianye asked Gui Jianchou.

Gui Jianchou cupped his hands and replied, “Reporting to the Sect Leader, this is King Ding Zhen of Litang!”

“King of Litang, huh.”

Hong Qianye let out a cold laugh.

Truly, when the tiger’s away, the monkeys claim the throne.

Just a Celestial Immortal and he dares to shout about crushing me?

This Ding Zhen must be out of his mind!

“Hey, old man, are you sure you want to do this?” Hong Qianye’s figure shot up like a comet, reaching the same height as Ding Zhen, looking down with disdain.

Ding Zhen, emboldened, exclaimed with righteous fervor, “Red Demon, others may be afraid of you, but I am not. You’ve let your underlings attack, killing so many good men in North Origin State. Today, I’ll seek revenge for them and wipe you out, Great Demon!”

His tone was passionate, and he was spitting more than just words.

His heart raced, blood boiling.

If he could really take down the Red Demon, his name would echo throughout the Central Region, recorded in the annals of the cultivation world, forever undying!

“Ding Zhen…” The crowd gawked in shock, seeing the old man in red acting so abnormal, and a surge of hope began to rise within them.

Maybe he really could create a miracle!

Meanwhile, the Snow Leopard, watching from the shadows, saw Ding Zhen about to unleash that treasure and his eyes glinted with excitement—it seemed he had been waiting for this moment.

“Master, this is getting out of hand, shouldn’t we stop it?” Ku Wuchang, riding on Kunpeng, asked the young man beside him with a strange expression.

Ye Junlin, munching on some caramel-flavored seeds, replied with interest, “Let’s just watch the show; I’m really curious who gave this guy the courage to challenge little Hong.”

Since it’s a spectacle, let’s see it through!

In the sky, two figures stood opposed.

“Make your move,” Hong Qianye said dismissively, always looking down on Ding Zhen.

Feeling underestimated, Ding Zhen only sneered, quickly pulling out an Immortal Pearl from his pocket, its surface glowing with an icy blue light that radiated a chilling fear.

“What’s this?”

The crowd’s attention was immediately drawn to the pearl.

The Snow Leopard raised its head sharply, its gaze fixated on the Immortal Pearl, breathing becoming rapid.

Inside its mind, another excited voice echoed, “Finally, the Ice Spirit Immortal Pearl! The pearl I so crave has finally appeared!”

Then, Ding Zhen surged Immortal Power into the pearl, fully activating it.

Boom…

Snow fell heavily, the earth shook.

Whoosh!

The Ice Spirit Immortal Pearl erupted with an endless immortal light, sweeping an overwhelming chill in all directions.

Wherever it went, it felt like space itself would freeze.

This terrifying power was enough to annihilate the entire Demonic Path army.

Don’t even mention a Profound Immortal; even an ordinary Immortal King could be frozen to death under the influence of the absolute cold!

“Oh my God…” Gui Jianchou and the others were scared to death, finally understanding where that old man in red got his confidence.

“Hmm?”

Hong Qianye was also quite surprised but quickly made her countermeasures.

Previously, she really couldn’t have stopped it, but since her cultivation level had skyrocketed, her power had proportionally increased as well.

“Red Lotus Hellfire!”

A flame resembling a lotus bloomed in her hand, each petal crystal clear, with clear fiery patterns, exuding destructive energy capable of incinerating the heavens and boiling the seas.

Facing that penetrating Ice Spirit Immortal light, Hong Qianye didn’t hesitate to unleash the Red Lotus Hellfire.

Boom boom boom boom!!!!

The scene was magnificent and grand.

This was a clash of ice and fire, producing terrifying aftershocks that made countless people feel alternately cold and hot, their expressions quite uncomfortable.

“How, how is this possible?”

Ding Zhen’s forehead broke out in cold sweat, his face full of disbelief.

He knew well the power emitted by the Immortal Pearl; it could probably even take down an ordinary Immortal King. How could his opponent actually block it?!

What does this even mean?

An Immortal Lord’s combat power can rival that of an Immortal King?!!

Realizing this, Ding Zhen’s heart was racing like it was about to explode.

This Great Demon is terrifying!

Hong Qianye was exhilarated; even though the pressure was immense, she found it exhilarating.

Because her strength had taken an astonishing leap!

“Wipe them out!”

Suddenly, just as the Red Lotus Hellfire was about to be extinguished, it emitted a final burst of heat, directly obliterating the Ice Spirit Immortal light.

“Ugh,” Ding Zhen felt like he had been struck by lightning, spitting blood as he plummeted from the sky, crashing hard onto the fortress, the pearl in his hand dimming.

“It’s over.”

The cultivators of Litang City looked on with despair.

“Sect Leader’s might is unmatched! Boundless power!”

Gui Jianchou, witnessing Hong Qianye showcase her prowess for the first time, was deeply impressed, fervently raising his arms and shouting.

All the demonic cultivators followed suit, feeling like it was a blessing to serve such a leader.

Seeing this scene, the Snow Leopard looked astonished.

A deep voice echoed in its mind, as if some ancient being was whispering,

“Was that a block? I never expected such talent to emerge in later generations. Even in ancient times, they would have the potential to become an Immortal Emperor.”

“Sigh, times are changing; even the younger generation of the Human Race possesses this kind of capability. I must hasten to regain my strength to deal with future circumstances.”

As he spoke, his gaze focused on the Immortal Pearl in Ding Zhen’s hand, and the voice in his mind continued,

“Fortunately, I’ve assessed how that fellow controls the Ice Spirit Immortal Pearl—can only say poorly. If it were me controlling it, the power would be completely different.”

“Next, it’s time to find a chance to act…”

The voice in his mind fell silent, and the Snow Leopard’s eyes returned to clarity as it looked around, a bit bewildered.

At this moment.

Ding Zhen struggled to get up, his face pale, pleading, “Sect Leader Hong, from now on, Litang City belongs to your Fire Cult. Please, spare the lives of others.”

“As for me, kill or torture as you see fit!”

With the last shred of hope shattered, all the cultivators in the city were heartbroken, awaiting the judgment from the Red Demon.

Hong Qianye sneered, “Old man, this was originally a misunderstanding. I had no interest in your Litang City, but you insisted on starting a fight, leading to this outcome.”

“Ah?!”

Everyone exchanged glances, astonished.

“Deputy Sect Leader, is this true?” The other cult members asked carefully.

Gui Jianchou, not wanting to reveal the truth and cause a ruckus, could only put on a serious face and say,

“Originally, the former Deputy Sect Leader Ku Wuchang was out of line, falsely relaying orders, which led to the brothers causing chaos. The Sect Leader came this time just to set things right.”

Hearing this.

The demonic cultivators were shocked and furious; so that’s how it was.

That scoundrel Ku Wuchang dared to falsely relay the Sect Leader’s orders—what a grave sin!

The most chagrined of all was Ding Zhen.

So, this suffering he encountered was unnecessary—he invited this disaster upon himself by speaking out his thoughts.

Hong Qianye chuckled, “I can choose not to kill you all, but Litang City must pay tribute to my Fire Cult every year. Anyone who defies this will face the consequences!”

A misunderstanding, indeed; but since things had twisted this way, he might as well secure benefits for his own faction.

The cultivators in the city sighed with relief; this outcome was the best scenario they could hope for.

“As for you, old man, who offended me without realizing it.”

Hong Qianye looked at the disheveled old man in red, taunting, “So, how do you plan to punish yourself?”

Ding Zhen was sweating profusely, his thoughts racing.

If what he did didn’t satisfy the other party, he might really meet his end today.

In a stupor, Ding Zhen gritted his teeth, reaching out, forcefully gouging out his left eye and crushing it.

Blood streamed down his face, and Ding Zhen gritted his teeth against the pain, forcing a stiff smile, “Sect Leader Hong, since you say I have no eyes, I’ll remove one to remind myself to be vigilant!”

Now he had truly become…

The One-Eyed Ding Zhen!