Entering the Road to Ascending Heaven Once More!

The Kunwu World! The Giant Axe Immortal had brought Lu Changsheng straight to the Kunwu World. This was something Lu Changsheng had not anticipated. Yet on closer thought, it seemed only natural. It was common knowledge that a Road to Ascending Heaven lay within the Kunwu World. In fact, Lu Changsheng had visited this very Road to Ascending Heaven in the past. Back then, it had been severed, but now it was fully restored, reconnecting with the Heaven Realm. "Giant Axe Immortal, we are in the Kunwu World. Do you plan to ascend to the Heaven Realm through the Road to Ascending Heaven here?" Lu Changsheng asked. "Indeed." "The Kunwu World is a very special place. It has existed ever since the Archaic Era." "Back in the Archaic Era, immortals descended and used greater divine abilities to reshape this world, effectively making it a coordinate anchor." "As long as the Kunwu World remains intact, the immortals of the Heaven Realm can track the location of the Boundary Sea and reopen the Road to Ascending Heaven." Lu Changsheng had an epiphany. He had investigated the Kunwu World before, but had never learned its true origins. Now it became clear that the Kunwu World was truly extraordinary. It had actually been created by Archaic Era immortals through greater divine abilities specifically to serve as a coordinate anchor for the Boundary Sea. In truth, other Roads to Ascending Heaven could serve as coordinates as well, but the Kunwu World was clearly different. The Kunwu World was virtually indestructible. Even Immortal Realm mighty figures could not destroy it. No matter how many years passed, the Kunwu World would endure to serve as an anchor. "The Heaven Realm Upper Immortals in the Kunwu World have all departed for the ancient battlefield. Now is our chance," the Giant Axe Immortal said, his eyes burning with eagerness. "Wait, Giant Axe Immortal. The Kunwu World repels any cultivator above the Ancestor Realm," "How are we going to enter?" Lu Changsheng asked. Having stayed in the Kunwu World for so long, he knew its circumstances intimately. Even Ancestor Realm cultivators faced repulsion upon entering the Kunwu World. Lu Changsheng was currently a supreme Ancestor Realm expert, but that still fell under the Ancestor Realm. As for the Giant Axe Immortal, he had surpassed the Ancestor Realm entirely, so the repulsion against him would be even harsher. "Indeed, it repels outsiders." "In truth, the Kunwu World's repulsive force is a formation-like method established by Heaven Realm Upper Immortals with greater divine abilities." "Anyone entering above the Ancestor Realm is rejected by the entire world. But how did those immortals of the Archaic Era live here back then?" "And what about their servants? Were they all below the Ancestor Realm?" "How could the Ancestor Realm cultivators who served the Archaic Era immortals remain in the Kunwu World without being repelled?" "The answer is quite simple: they needed identity tokens." "Virtually all the identity tokens of the Kunwu World have been destroyed over time. Only Heaven Realm Upper Immortals possess special methods to stay within it." "However, this old man just so happens to have obtained some identity tokens known as Kun Tokens!" The Giant Axe Immortal was clearly well-prepared. He produced a Kun Token and handed it directly to Lu Changsheng. As long as one carried the token, one could linger in the Kunwu World at will without suffering the slightest repulsion. "A Kun Token..." Lu Changsheng's eyes lit up. With the Kun Token granting entry into the Kunwu World, the first step was already a success. Still, would the Kun Token truly work? "Let us go," the Giant Axe Immortal said without further explanation. Stepping forward, he flew straight into the Kunwu World. Lu Changsheng followed closely behind. *Whoosh.* Space twisted faintly around Lu Changsheng. In the next instant, he passed from the Boundary Sea into the Kunwu World. Lu Changsheng and the Giant Axe Immortal stood quietly in the void, gazing down at the world below. Lu Changsheng immediately sensed the repulsive force. The Kunwu World's collective rejection swiftly bore down upon him. Unlike before, however, he was not expelled. The Kun Token on his person emanated a refreshing, cool aura that wrapped around him. The moment the world's repulsive force met the power of the Kun Token, it receded on its own accord. "It truly stops the repulsion!" Lu Changsheng's eyes brightened, a look of pleasant surprise gracing his face. "The Kunwu World is vast. Where are we headed?" Lu Changsheng asked. In truth, he knew the specific locations of several Roads to Ascending Heaven, but not all of them were usable. Moreover, since the Giant Axe Immortal had specifically come to the Kunwu World, he had surely planned everything out in advance and would not be wandering aimlessly. "There are many immortals connected to the Kunwu World at present." "These immortals are tied to those from the Archaic Era, or at least share some connection with them." "The clue I obtained points toward the Guixi Mountain Range. In the Archaic Era, an immortal resided there, though of little renown—a rather ordinary immortal." "The immortal who descended through the Road to Ascending Heaven connected to the Guixi Mountain Range this time is named the Xishui Immortal." "I do not know whether this Xishui Immortal is related to the ancient Guixi Immortal, but our objective is the Road to Ascending Heaven where the Xishui Immortal descended." Lu Changsheng understood. It seemed the Giant Axe Immortal was thoroughly prepared, possessing remarkably detailed intelligence. During his time in the Kunwu World, Lu Changsheng had never heard of any Guixi Mountain Range, let alone a Guixi Immortal. If such a place existed, it had to be extraordinarily remote and obscure. The Giant Axe Immortal had even taken the relative strength of the Xishui Immortal into account. To ensure absolute safety, they naturally had to target a "weaker" immortal. Better safe than sorry! Without delay, the two departed. They flew for an entire month before finally arriving at the Guixi Mountain Range. The moment they arrived, Lu Changsheng sensed that something was amiss. He was now a supreme Ancestor Realm expert, and his Mortal Immortal Dao analytical capabilities had grown tremendously. Consequently, he spotted the abnormality in the Guixi Mountain Range at a single glance. "Fellow Daoist Lu, did you sense it?" the Giant Axe Immortal asked. "Yes, I felt it." "The entire Guixi Mountain Range has been concealed. The mountain range we see before us is not the true Guixi Mountain Range," Lu Changsheng answered with certainty. "Indeed." "This is an immortal array." "However, it is merely an ordinary immortal array. Fellow Daoist Lu, you must find a way to analyze it so we can slip into the Guixi Mountain Range smoothly." The Giant Axe Immortal was capable of breaching the array by force, but that would create too great a disturbance. Who knew whom it might attract? What if an immortal still remained in the Kunwu World? Not even the Giant Axe Immortal could guarantee against that. If an immortal remained hidden or had not departed, the commotion caused by forcing open the array would certainly draw their attention, landing them in tremendous trouble. This was where Lu Changsheng was needed. "Very well." Lu Changsheng did not refuse. The Giant Axe Immortal had brought him along precisely to serve this role at such a juncture. Lu Changsheng sat cross-legged upon the ground. With a sweep of his consciousness, his formidable analytical power easily locked onto the immortal array. An immortal array indeed blanketed the vast expanse. Slipping inside silently would certainly not be easy; he had to analyze it first. Lu Changsheng began his analysis. One day, two days, three days... After three days, Lu Changsheng had gained a clear assessment. It was indeed an immortal array, but not an exceptionally powerful one. To analyze it completely and guide them inside undetected would take roughly six months. "Giant Axe Immortal, I will need six months to analyze this immortal array," Lu Changsheng stated truthfully. "Six months?" "Very well. This old man shall stand guard for you!" The Giant Axe Immortal nodded, quite pleased. A mere six months was remarkably brief. He had already estimated the timeframe: the Xishui Immortal had only just left the Kunwu World for the battlefield, and a round trip would take far more than six months. Thus, these six months were very likely to be safe. With that, Lu Changsheng devoted all his efforts to analyzing the immortal array. One month, two months, three months, four months, five months... Finally, precisely six months passed. *Swish.* Lu Changsheng opened his eyes. At the same time, ripple after ripple stirred across the void. As the ripples spread, the surrounding light appeared to distort. In truth, it was not distortion, but the array losing its effect—or at least, part of its effect. "Did it succeed?" The Giant Axe Immortal's eyes brightened, a spark of excitement rising within him. "It succeeded! Giant Axe Immortal, please follow me." Lu Changsheng took the first step forward. His figure blurred slightly before vanishing into thin air. Without hesitation, the Giant Axe Immortal followed right behind. *Whoosh.* When their silhouettes reappeared, they stood within an entirely unfamiliar mountain forest. Streams babbled past towering peaks, and the fragrance of wild blossoms drifted through the air. "Yes, this is the true Guixi Mountain Range!" "Incredible, truly incredible! To breach an immortal array completely without a sound..." The Giant Axe Immortal was thrilled. As an Immortal Realm mighty figure himself, he understood the power of an immortal array, especially one personally laid down by a Heaven Realm Upper Immortal. Even if he had attacked it with full force, it would have taken him a long time to break through. Yet Lu Changsheng had breached it in a mere six months through pure analysis. It was simply astonishing. "Where is the Road to Ascending Heaven?" Lu Changsheng asked. "To the north of the Guixi Mountain Range." The Giant Axe Immortal flew swiftly toward the north. As they flew, a mountain peak came into Lu Changsheng's view. The two landed directly atop it. The moment they set foot upon the peak, they immediately sensed a difference. Immortal spirit qi. Rich, dense immortal spirit qi. For such potent immortal spirit qi to gather here could mean only one thing: the Road to Ascending Heaven! The Road to Ascending Heaven of the Guixi Mountain Range was situated on this very peak! Lu Changsheng swept his gaze across the area and found no one present. A cave dwelling sat atop the peak, and the two walked straight inside. Within the cavern, Lu Changsheng and the Giant Axe Immortal beheld the Road to Ascending Heaven. Wreaths of immortal spirit qi drifted outward from its depths. Yet the Giant Axe Immortal did not step excitedly onto the path. The reason was simple: An immortal array! Around the Road to Ascending Heaven lay another immortal array. This array was formidable. A mere brush of its aura sent a chill of dread through the heart. Forcing one's way into it would inevitably trigger an attack. This array was built to kill! No, it was far more than that—it could likely slay immortals! This was precisely why the Giant Axe Immortal had insisted on bringing Lu Changsheng: to breach immortal arrays. The previous array had been a mere appetizer, simple and effortless to resolve. This one, however, was a true killing formation. Anyone rash enough to barge in risked severe injury or death. This was also why the immortals had felt secure leaving the Kunwu World. Protected by such an array, even an Immortal Realm mighty figure could not hope to break through anytime soon. "Fellow Daoist Lu..." The Giant Axe Immortal turned his gaze back to Lu Changsheng. Lu Changsheng understood what was expected. Taking a deep breath, he said nothing and sat cross-legged upon the ground. First, he had to comprehend the array as a whole. One day, two days, three days, four days, five days... This time, it took Lu Changsheng a full ten days just to grasp the overall structure of the array. The previous array had taken only three days to comprehend, yet this one required ten, attesting to its extraordinary nature. Even then, he had only gained a broad outline. The more he learned about the array, the heavier his heart grew. It was exceptionally difficult—so difficult that even Lu Changsheng lacked confidence. "Fellow Daoist Lu, is there a problem?" Seeing Lu Changsheng open his eyes, the Giant Axe Immortal looked at him with an expression filled with tension and urgency. The look on Lu Changsheng's face had already revealed much, and an uneasy premonition stirred in the Giant Axe Immortal's chest. Lu Changsheng took a deep breath. Without concealing anything, he stated directly, "Giant Axe Immortal, by my estimation, analyzing this immortal array will take at least ten years!" "What? Ten years?" The Giant Axe Immortal's eyes widened, his expression changing drastically. Ten years! Under normal circumstances, ten years was nothing. Under current conditions, however, who could guarantee that the Xishui Immortal would not return within a decade? The moment the Xishui Immortal returned to the Guixi Mountain Range, all their efforts would come to naught. "Ten years... does it truly take ten years? That is far too long." "Can it be done faster?" "Ten years is simply too dangerous. The Xishui Immortal might not return in two years, and three years should still be fine." "After three years, however, he could return at any moment..." the Giant Axe Immortal said with a grave expression. Even the window of two to three years was merely his own prediction. A return within two or three years was unlikely, as the journey itself took considerable time. Even an immortal could not cross such distances in a single day. To an immortal, the vast Boundary Sea remained immense. Beyond three years, however, all bets were off. In truth, the duration of the Xishui Immortal's excursion to the ancient battlefield was unpredictable. If intense fighting broke out, the contest could drag on for ten, twenty, or even thirty years. It all depended on whether the ancient battlefield truly held clues left by an archaic immortal. If it did, he might be delayed for a long time. If it did not, the Xishui Immortal and the others would likely return to the Kunwu World very quickly, which would spell disaster. The Giant Axe Immortal fell silent, merely gazing at Lu Changsheng. He had brought Lu Changsheng along so that his Mortal Immortal Dao analytical capabilities could prove useful, but it seemed they were insufficient for the task at hand. Ten years carried far too great a risk; the slightest mishap would plunge them both into dire peril. Lu Changsheng pondered for a long time. He spoke slowly, "The time can be shortened; it might not take ten years." "Perhaps five years would suffice. No—if I go all out, three years! I only need three years to analyze this immortal array!" Lu Changsheng gritted his teeth and made his decision. Three years! The reason he could state this with such certainty was simple: he could consume comprehension points to enhance his analytical capability and crack the array. In fact, he had no choice but to spend them. Otherwise, he would have to gamble on taking ten years, and if the Xishui Immortal returned, they would be in grave danger. Lu Changsheng dared not take that gamble! "Three years?" "Good, three years it is!" "I trouble you with this, Fellow Daoist Lu. Do your utmost to cut down the time as much as possible. The less time we spend, the safer we will be!" the Giant Axe Immortal said in a heavy voice. In truth, the Giant Axe Immortal understood that reducing the time from ten years to three would surely come at a massive price for Lu Changsheng. Yet this was their only option. As long as they could breach the array and enter the Road to Ascending Heaven, any price was worth paying. "A pity this is the Kunwu World..." Lu Changsheng shook his head. The Kunwu World was isolated from the outside. Even if his avatar obtained Great Dao fragments and refined them, his true body inside the Kunwu World was severed from the avatar's connection. The comprehension points gained by the avatar could not reflect upon his true body. From this point forward, the comprehension points of his true body would not increase in the slightest; they would only decrease, as he had to consume them for deduction. "Let us begin." Lu Changsheng wasted no time and commenced the analysis immediately. As he analyzed, he consumed comprehension points. With every point spent, his analytical capabilities multiplied. In Lu Changsheng's eyes, the originally labyrinthine immortal array seemed to grow far simpler under the influence of his boosted comprehension. He peeled away the layers like unraveling a cocoon, gradually grasping the array's profound secrets piece by piece. Yet no matter how much simpler it became, unraveling it still required time. Lu Changsheng's comprehension points depleted continuously. Though not consumed in bursts of hundreds of thousands or millions at a single stroke, the steady daily drain supporting his deduction amounted to a terrifying sum over time. Nonetheless, the results were remarkable. Lu Changsheng made steady progress, unraveling the immortal array step by step. No matter how intricate the array, it could not hide from his gaze and was gradually brought under his control. One year, two years... In the blink of an eye, nearly three years had elapsed. At most two or three months remained before the three-year mark. The one growing most anxious was the Giant Axe Immortal. With the three-year deadline looming, Lu Changsheng showed no sign of waking. *Could it have failed?* The Giant Axe Immortal's heart clenched. Ever since the two-year mark had passed, he had kept close watch over external movements, especially within the Kunwu World. The moment an immortal returned, he had to be on high alert—what if it was the Xishui Immortal? Fortunately, no immortal had returned to the Kunwu World yet. Even so, the Giant Axe Immortal could not pin his hopes on sheer luck. What if the Xishui Immortal did return? He desperately hoped Lu Changsheng could completely analyze the array within the three years. In truth, Lu Changsheng had reached a critical juncture. He was by no means oblivious to the passage of time; on the contrary, he had monitored it constantly. Almost exactly three years had passed. He had unraveled the vast majority of the immortal array, yet one pivotal node remained unsolved. If he could not decipher it now, that single issue might drag on for several more months. Lu Changsheng had no time to waste, and placing his hopes on the Xishui Immortal's continued absence was far too reckless. He checked his comprehension points. Over the past nearly three years, he had expended close to thirty million points. This was no time to be stingy. *Deduce!* Steeling his resolve, Lu Changsheng made his choice. *Boom!* A jolt ran through his entire frame. Comprehension points burned away furiously: a hundred thousand, a million, ten million... In that instant, Lu Changsheng felt his comprehension soar, and his analytical power surged along with it. It was as if an epiphany had cleared his mind completely. The problem that had confounded him for so long unraveled in a flash. Lu Changsheng had taken a calculated gamble. His earlier method of burning points gradually had been the safest approach, hoping to finish within three years. Alas, man proposes and heaven disposes. The immortal array was indeed extraordinarily difficult, leaving him one crucial step short after three full years. To overcome this final hurdle, he could only pour in his comprehension points, expending ten million in a single breath! The instantaneous expenditure granted him terrifying analytical power. One day, two days, three days... *Boom!* The immortal array suddenly shuddered. In just three days, Lu Changsheng completely solved the final critical problem. "Suppress!" Lu Changsheng uttered softly. The immortal array fell under his control. Indeed, he had not merely analyzed it; he had taken command of it. *Swish.* Lu Changsheng opened his eyes. Seeing this, the Giant Axe Immortal immediately stepped forward. "Fellow Daoist Lu, the array..." In truth, the Giant Axe Immortal had already guessed the answer. "I have not failed your trust. The array is breached..." Lu Changsheng smiled. Three years—exactly three years. He had truly unraveled the immortal array. The Giant Axe Immortal was wild with joy. Bringing Lu Changsheng to the Kunwu World had truly been the right choice. Lu Changsheng was equally delighted. He immediately brought up his attribute panel to examine his status. Host: Lu Changsheng Comprehension: 46,080,000 (Peerless Through the Ages) Mortal Immortal Dao: 82% (Enter the Dao) Myriad Spirits Immortal Body Foundation: 64% (Incomplete) Physical Immortal Dao Foundation: 83% (Incomplete) Annihilation Divine Eye: Supreme Ancestor Realm Level Slaughter Dao: Six Revolutions Flesh Martial Dao: Denary Growth (Ancestor Realm) Comprehension Deduction: Deductions can be performed by consuming massive comprehension points On the attribute panel, his comprehension had decreased by forty million. This was only natural, given the immense amount consumed during the deductions. Meanwhile, his Mortal Immortal Dao had reached eighty-two percent, an increase of seven percent, all thanks to analyzing the immortal array. Nothing else had changed significantly. "Fellow Daoist Lu, there is no time to lose. Before the Xishui Immortal returns to the Kunwu World, let us hurry to the Road to Ascending Heaven!" The Giant Axe Immortal could wait no longer. Lu Changsheng nodded. "Open." Manipulating the immortal array, he parted an opening through it. The Giant Axe Immortal and Lu Changsheng passed directly through the array and stepped onto the Road to Ascending Heaven. The road was pitch-black. Yet within that darkness surged rich, dense immortal spirit qi. Lu Changsheng activated his Myriad Spirits Immortal Body. Instantly, the immortal body turned like a black hole, voraciously swallowing vast quantities of immortal spirit qi to strengthen itself. A wave of profound comfort washed over him. In truth, he belonged in a place like the Road to Ascending Heaven, or anywhere brimming with immortal spirit qi, for it was immensely beneficial to cultivating the Myriad Spirits Immortal Body. Without immortal spirit items, his Myriad Spirits Immortal Body had stagnated for a long time. Even now, it sat at only sixty-four percent progress, lagging far behind his Mortal Immortal Dao and Physical Immortal Dao. Back then, the Myriad Spirits Immortal Body had been his strongest asset, yet now it lagged behind purely due to the absence of immortal spirit items and immortal spirit qi. If possible, Lu Changsheng would have loved to cultivate here indefinitely. With such dense immortal spirit qi, even without immortal spirit items, he was confident he could push the Myriad Spirits Immortal Body to an extraordinary height in several centuries or millennia. Unfortunately, he was not the sole master of this Road to Ascending Heaven. He could not linger here forever. He still had to reach the Heaven Realm. Once in the Heaven Realm, the immortal spirit qi would be countless times richer, not to mention the abundance of immortal spirit items. Why worry about failing to bring the Myriad Spirits Immortal Body to consummation then? Thus, Lu Changsheng remained resolute. He had only one objective: The Heaven Realm! Both men marched forward with unyielding determination. However, enveloped in pitch-black darkness with no telling where the end lay or what dangers might lurk ahead, they proceeded slowly. One day, two days, three days... This time, they walked for ten whole days. Because they moved with extreme caution, their pace was slow, but ten days was still enough to cover a tremendous distance. Finally, after ten days, the two came to a halt. Looking at the scene before them, excitement gleamed in their eyes. Directly ahead lay the end of the Road to Ascending Heaven. At the terminus stood an enormous, pitch-black gateway, from which drifted strands of incomparably dense immortal spirit qi. Beyond that gateway lay the Heaven Realm passage. Stepping through that portal and crossing the passage meant ascending to the Heaven Realm! "The Heaven Realm passage... it truly is the Heaven Realm passage!" The Giant Axe Immortal's voice trembled. Even as an Immortal Realm mighty figure, he could not suppress the surging emotion in his chest. How long had he waited for this day? He could no longer remember. Thousands of years? Tens of thousands of years? He knew not how long it had been, only that he had spent an eternity awaiting this single opportunity. Now, at last, it had arrived. Once upon a time, the Giant Axe Immortal had feared he would never ascend in this lifetime, doomed to be trapped in the Boundary Sea until death claimed him despite his immortal might. Who could have foreseen such a turn of events? What extraordinary fortune! Just as Lu Changsheng had said, the Giant Spirit Ancestor and the Mortal Immortal Liu Yun had been unfortunate. Even with the limitless potential of a Mortal Immortal, even with the earth-shattering combat prowess of a Physical Immortal that swept all before it across the eight desolations, what had it availed them? In the end, they had perished in sorrow and regret, unable to live to see this chance. Yet he had. "Fellow Daoist Lu, this old man shall step into the Heaven Realm passage first to test it." "If there are no problems, you may follow." "Remember, once you enter the passage, there is no turning back. You can only forge straight ahead, enduring the pressure to ascend to the Heaven Realm!" the Giant Axe Immortal warned solemnly. Lu Changsheng nodded. He understood full well that entering the Heaven Realm passage was a point of no return, leaving no room for regret. Saying no more, the Giant Axe Immortal flew toward the portal and stepped into the passage. *Rumble!* At that very moment, when only one of his feet had crossed the threshold, the Heaven Realm passage shuddered violently.