The ascension glow caught up, sluggishly dragging the World-Crossing Golden Ship through the starry river. Suddenly, the golden ship accelerated, sailing out of the stellar river and shattering the void, leaving the ascension glow far behind.
Xu Ying activated the golden key, controlling the golden ship's helm as they traversed the boundless, starry expanse, passing through a land of the Great Dao.
It was likely a realm formed by the death of an archaic powerhouse; the expert's Dao realm had become a micro-universe, possessing its own ecology and thriving civilization.
Xu Ying and Yuan Weiyang brought the vessel to a halt to observe the civilization within this micro-universe. When the ascension glow caught up again, they sailed away once more.
They arrived at a magnificent nebula, watching new planets and suns take form. Next, they traveled to Guixu, witnessing the primordial cosmos meet its end as black holes swallowed star after star that had been burned to cinders.
They sped through giant bolts of lightning spanning hundreds of millions of li, where palaces left behind by people of archaic times still stood, along with the remnants left by deities presiding over thunder.
Entering the former residence of an archaic Qi Refiner who had once cultivated in this place, they fetched out fishing rods and went fishing for the silver thunderfish swimming within the colossal lightning.
When the ascension glow caught up once more, Xu Ying and Yuan Weiyang hastily leaped back onto the World-Crossing Golden Ship. The white bone divine dragon was still swimming through the massive lightning, chasing schools of thunderfish and gorging itself. Seeing them depart, it scrambled out of the thunder and lightning, racing toward the ship.
Yuan Weiyang exerted her magic power, her long sleeves billowing as she swept it up and brought it aboard.
Xu Ying set the World-Crossing Golden Ship on its voyage again. The ascension glow chased after them, but whenever it drew near, it was thrown off once more.
The World-Crossing Golden Ship toured cosmic wonders one after another, passing through blessed lands and cave heavens that had dried up since archaic times, emerging on the other side of the starry sky.
They also visited the birthplace of the Ancestral God, the most ancient of stellar domains, where countless motes of spiritual light formed his colossal body.
As they sailed past the Ancestral God, he raised a hand, and they began tumbling helplessly toward the Heavenly Dao Ancestral Court.
Yet the World-Crossing Golden Ship still broke free of the Ancestral God's palm and sailed away with a flourish.
Only after playing for a long time did the World-Crossing Golden Ship finally come to a stop. Two streaks of ascension glow frantically caught up with them and hauled the colossal tower ship toward the Earth Immortal Realm.
The golden tower ship passed through the gelatinous zone between the Earth Immortal Realm and the Mortal Realm. Time and space seemed frozen and still; only the ascension glow could traverse such a bizarre place with such ease.
Yet as soon as the ascension glow dragged the ship clear of the gelatinous zone, Xu Ying and Yuan Weiyang mobilized the golden key again, fleeing with the vessel and throwing the two streaks of ascension glow far behind.
They swept across the Earth Immortal Realm's Heavenly Sea, the massive hull skimming low over the surface at breakneck speed, churning up towering waves. In the next breath, they soared into the sky, roaming the Realm of the Great Void, only to plunge into the Underworld a moment later, sailing above the Nai River and watching countless spirits drift along its currents.
They drifted through the Underworld's starry sky, watching its territory expand continuously as star after star appeared on its perimeter.
The Underworld was advancing toward the Mortal Realm; sooner or later, it would incorporate the Mortal Realm into its dominion.
Divine power congregated within the Underworld, forming myriad fluttering paper offerings that turned into silver ravens. There was also a Golden Crow dragging a dark red sun, giving chase to their golden ship.
The Nether Sea flooded, Mount Fengdu standing within. A towering, majestic fiendgod opened his eyes, beams of flame shooting from his gaze as he broodingly watched the golden ship circle past him.
The power of the Underworld's fiends and gods was quietly growing. They sailed through the cycle of reincarnation, where the Female Emperor manifested in countless avatars, ferociously shuttling across the cycles to intercept the living beings attempting to flee.
The World-Crossing Golden Ship left the cycle of reincarnation and flew out of the Underworld. Xu Ying and Yuan Weiyang leaned against each other, watching the Immortal Court's fleets set sail—one bound for the Mortal Realm, the other ascending toward the Heavenly Immortal Realm.
Their World-Crossing Golden Ship fell in with the fleet heading for the Heavenly Immortal Realm. Aboard the Three Realms Golden Ships, soldiers of the Immortal Court manifested their Primordial Spirits and channeled their bodhimandas, laboriously driving their golden vessels forward.
Meanwhile, the World-Crossing Golden Ship was dragged along by two streaks of ascension glow, leisurely keeping pace with them.
The soldiers on the Three Realms Golden Ships were straining hard, and the two streaks of ascension glow were straining just as hard.
Xu Ying and Yuan Weiyang, however, were chatting and laughing. Beside them, the white bone divine dragon was diligently training, its punches and kicks whistling with fierce, domineering force. Its sheer martial prowess made the soldiers on the golden ships stare with wide eyes.
"Imperial Lord Xu!"
The leader on the golden ship was the newly elevated Heavenly Venerable of the Fire Department, Xun Lingyu. Recognizing Xu Ying, he stood on his ship and offered a salute, saying, "I heard that you had met your demise, Imperial Lord. I never expected to meet you here. Where are you heading?"
"Ascending," Xu Ying replied with a smile.
Xun Lingyu was stunned, staring blankly as those two streaks of ascension glow, trembling with exertion, dragged this tower ship—over a hundred times larger than their Three Realms Golden Ship—upward toward the Heavenly Immortal Realm.
The World-Crossing Golden Ship sluggishly overtook one Three Realms Golden Ship after another, rising higher and higher. Ahead, numerous golden ships had already entered the gelatinous zone between the Earth Immortal Realm and Heavenly Immortal Realm, crawling forward like insects trapped in pine resin.
Above these vessels, a colossal skeleton of a dragon came into view.
The Three Realms Golden Ships were certainly not small, but before this gigantic dragon skeleton, they appeared as tiny as gnats.
Even the World-Crossing Golden Ship was not as large as the dragon's eye socket.
Beside Xu Ying, the white bone divine dragon suddenly raised its head and gazed at the colossal dragon skeleton, lost in thought as if recalling something.
"Xu Ying! You're actually still alive!"
A familiar voice sounded from ahead. Xu Ying looked over and saw Jiuyou Emperor leading a group of Immortal Court soldiers, exploring the colossal dragon skeleton.
They flew along the bones; some were trying to pry loose ribs, while others attempted to harvest dragon horns and dragon teeth to forge into weapons.
This colossal dragon skeleton was a treasure from head to toe. In this day and age, no such colossal beasts existed, let alone such formidable skeletons. If refined, it would rival a Daluo magical treasure.
Jiuyou Emperor's eyes flashed with malice as he probed, "Xu Ying, you died once and are cultivating from scratch. What sort of cultivation do you possess now?"
Xu Ying smiled without answering.
Without a word, Yuan Weiyang channeled the golden key and thrust the ship straight toward Jiuyou Emperor.
Jiuyou Emperor laughed heartily. "Good timing! Let me test your mettle today!"
*Boom!*
The World-Crossing Golden Ship swept sideways, shattering his bones and tearing his tendons, plastering him against the bow. He lay motionless, only his legs twitching every now and then.
The two streaks of ascension glow continued straining to drag the golden ship upward. Jiuyou Emperor lay flat against the prow, blood trickling down the hull.
Xu Ying said, "There was no need to ram Jiuyou Emperor. Keeping him around would have let us test our cultivation progress."
Hearing this, Yuan Weiyang felt a bit sheepish and said, "I thought he was formidable, so I made the ship go a bit faster. I didn't expect him to be so fragile. But fortunately, he's still breathing!"
She said rather cheerfully, "Once his injuries heal, we can have him spar with us to test our progress."
Xu Ying agreed.
The white bone divine dragon leaped onto the colossal dragon skeleton, letting out deep, low dragon roars as if trying to wake the mammoth creature. But the dragon skeleton possessed none of its spirituality; its soul had long since scattered.
Many Immortal Court soldiers were already on the dragon skeleton, exploring and recording the dragon patterns on its bones. Clinging to the gigantic skeleton, they looked like tiny ants.
However, the higher one flew, the fewer people there were. Only a scattering of powerful Heavenly Monarchs remained to study the dragon patterns.
The closer one got to the Heavenly Immortal Realm, the thicker the permeating gelatinous substance became. Without formidable cultivation, one could easily become trapped in frozen time, turning into an insect encased in amber.
Suddenly, the ringing of a bell and dragon roars echoed from ahead. Xu Ying paused in surprise upon hearing them. "Lord Bell, Lord Dragon!"
When the World-Crossing Golden Ship drew near, sure enough, a Dragon Bell was advancing along the colossal dragon skeleton toward the Heavenly Immortal Realm. The Dragon Bell chimed repeatedly, driving back the intangible gelatinous substance around it.
"Lord Bell!" Xu Ying called out loudly.
The large bell spun around. It possessed dragon eyes, and upon seeing Xu Ying, it was both shocked and overjoyed. Hastily flying toward the World-Crossing Golden Ship, it rejoiced, "Ah Ying, it really is you! You're still alive! I thought you had been killed by that scoundrel Mingzun!"
Xu Ying laughed. "The Underworld is entirely my people. Who would dare take me if I died? How did you two end up here?"
The Big Dragon's Primordial Spirit emerged from within the bell, speaking solemnly, "A good person doesn't live long, but a scourge lasts a thousand years. Ah Ying, it's wonderful that you're alive."
Xu Ying burst into laughter. "Lord Dragon, you really know how to flatter someone! Don't flatter me like that in the future."
Noticing the Big Dragon's head, the white bone divine dragon froze. It leaned close, looking it up and down repeatedly, then suddenly leaped onto the Big Dragon, letting out mournful cries.
The Big Dragon asked in astonishment, "Where did you get this white bone divine dragon?"
"Right from this ship," Xu Ying replied.
The white bone divine dragon clung tightly to the Big Dragon, leaving him unable to break free.
The big bell said, "After you disappeared, many people in the Ancestral Court cultivated the New Dao, only to undergo ascension, ascending to the Heavenly Immortal Realm and vanishing without a trace. Your disciple, Little Celestial Venerable, disappeared like that too. So Lord Dragon and I decided to head to the Heavenly Immortal Realm to inquire about Little Celestial Venerable's whereabouts. The Heavenly Immortal Realm has shown signs of its presence, and lately, tremors have been felt constantly. Some say the Grand Three Realms Tide is approaching, and the tremors are caused by the Heavenly Immortal Realm and Earth Immortal Realm drawing too close. But despite the tremors, the two realms haven't drawn any closer. It just so happened that the Immortal Court finished building their Three Realms Golden Ships to explore the Heavenly Immortal Realm, so Lord Dragon and I borrowed one of their ships to get here."
As for how they borrowed it, the bell did not elaborate.
Still, given how formidable the two were now, their power was no less than that of a Wondrous Realm treasure, and if the Big Dragon went all out, he was even stronger than a Supreme magical treasure. Borrowing a ship was naturally trivial for them.
Xu Ying looked upward. The Dragon Bell flying toward the Heavenly Immortal Realm could likely follow this colossal dragon skeleton all the way in.
"Ah Ying, why are you here?" the big bell asked.
Xu Ying smiled. "Weiyang and I intend to ascend to the Heavenly Immortal Realm to see what it's like. You don't need to fight your way up—just ride on my ship."
Only then did the big bell notice Yuan Weiyang. Staring at her as if seeing a ghost, it stammered, speechless.
Yuan Weiyang smiled. "Lord Bell doesn't recognize me? It's me, Yuan Weiyang. I used to dress in boy's clothing, but now I've switched back to women's attire."
The big bell remained terrified. It looked at her, then at Xu Ying, thinking to itself, *These ill-fated lovers were supposed to be dead. Is the Heavenly Immortal Realm haunted?*
Just then, a voice rang out: "Since you are ascending to the Heavenly Immortal Realm, this one would also like to borrow Dao Ancestor Xu's momentum and ascend along the way."
Hearing this voice, Xu Ying was both startled and pleased. Turning his head, he saw the Last Lord of Ziwei arriving in an imperial carriage, holding aloft the Taicang Dongzhen Glazed Lamp. Its leisurely lamplight repelled the intangible gelatinous substance around him.
Xu Ying looked at the canopy on the imperial carriage with immense envy. He had once possessed an imperial carriage himself, but after its canopy was ruined in battle, he rarely used it again. Without a canopy to shield him, his head was far too vulnerable to flying swords.
The Last Lord of Ziwei boarded the golden ship, put away his glazed lamp, and surveyed the vessel with admiration. "With such a treasure ship, there is no need for the glazed lamp, which saves some magic power at least. Dao Ancestor Xu, I met Xu Jing and heard you had survived, but I never expected to meet you here."
Xu Ying smiled. "Why is the Last Lord heading to the Heavenly Immortal Realm as well?"
The Last Lord of Ziwei sighed, giving him a deep look. "My disciple Nan Ziyan cultivated your New Dao and underwent tribulation during the ascension phase. After the tribulation, he was guided by an ascension glow and ascended to the Heavenly Immortal Realm."
Xu Ying smiled. "That is a good thing. Could it be that you miss your disciple, Last Lord?"
The Last Lord of Ziwei shook his head. "I also heard that many who cultivate the New Dao have ascended to the Heavenly Immortal Realm. Thus, I prepared in advance, telling Nan Ziyan that if all was safe after ascending, he should use the incense arts I taught him to establish contact from the Heavenly Immortal Realm. Yet three years have passed since his ascension, and there has been no word at all."
During this time, the Immortal Court's Three Realms Golden Ships had not yet been completed. Once the ships were finished, the Last Lord of Ziwei seized the opportunity to slip aboard, intending to enter the Heavenly Immortal Realm to rescue his disciple.
"Many powerful beings in the Ancestral Court and the Immortal Court severed their own realms to recultivate the New Dao, only to meet with ascension along the way," the Last Lord of Ziwei said. "After ascending, every single one went missing, as if they had vanished from the world. Thus, I believe there must be something strange about the Heavenly Immortal Realm!"
Xu Ying looked up. The Heavenly Immortal Realm seemed close at hand, but in truth, it was still unimaginably distant.
However, from here, one could already see the massive rift torn open when the Emerald Rock struck through the Heavenly Immortal Realm.
The rift was distinctly visible, offering a glimpse of the tip of the Heavenly Immortal Realm's iceberg. Yet if such a gap existed, why had no one been able to send word back to the Earth Immortal Realm?
"How many people have ascended over these six years?" Xu Ying asked.
The Last Lord of Ziwei replied, "At least a hundred to two hundred thousand."
Xu Ying felt a jolt of alarm. One to two hundred thousand New Dao immortals had ascended to the Heavenly Immortal Realm, and not a single one had returned. Was the Heavenly Immortal Realm so wonderful that they were content to forget home, or was it so perilous that ascension meant certain death?
Just then, two more streaks of ascension glow tore through layers of space and time, arriving from afar. These were streaks of ascension glow from the other shore, arriving to guide Xu Ying and Yuan Weiyang there.
Without even looking, Xu Ying summoned the Landscape Heaven-Measuring Ruler. Instantly, landscape scrolls filled the sky. With two sharp cracks, he shattered the ascension glows meant for himself and Yuan Weiyang, saying in a low voice, "Let us go take a look at the Heavenly Immortal Realm first!"
Chapter 643