Euphorbia Bashes the Door, Wuji's Apprehension

The Path to Ascension, a Journey Sung in Triumph!

The twenty-four Supreme Sovereigns had never felt better in their lives. Their surging auras continued to rise uncontrollably, as if they had ingested some divine elixir. Their long-depleted vitality boiled with renewed vigor, even surpassing their peak days!

"Roar—what in the heavens did that fellow shove into me?! I feel like I'm about to explode!!!"

"A power unheard of—this is magnificent!"

"In my previous state, I could barely last three breaths. But now, I can march forward endlessly!"

"Stay sharp, everyone! We fought our way through mountains of corpses—don’t embarrass yourselves now!"

"Hahaha, this is exhilarating!!!"

With Chen Yi’s unwavering support, the twenty-four Supreme Sovereigns reclaimed their once-dominant Dao hearts, striding boldly up the celestial staircase formed by the Ascension Grand Array, their spirits unbreakable, their resolve unyielding!

At the end of the staircase stood a towering white jade Immortal Gate, as eternal as the myths themselves.

The gate stretched ten thousand zhang high, its surface shimmering with nine-colored radiance—shifting between vast starry seas and towering immortal mountains, a kaleidoscope of breathtaking visions. Dark golden immortal runes rippled across its surface, exuding an ancient and overwhelming pressure that instantly forced the twenty-four Supreme Sovereigns to their knees, unable to move an inch.

The Immortal Gate was within reach—eternal life lay beyond!

Yet, no matter how desperately they struggled, the Supreme Sovereigns could not even lift their heads, crushed beneath the gate’s boundless might.

"Argh!!! For a hundred thousand years, I clung to life, waiting for this moment of immortality—why must fate be so cruel?! To see the gate yet be denied—"

Before he could finish, the Supreme Sovereign spat a mouthful of heart’s blood onto the pristine white jade steps, staining them crimson.

"Gah—!!!"

"I refuse to accept this! I refuse!!!"

"......"

The others fared no better.

The pressure from the Immortal Gate grew heavier, cracking their imperial bodies apart, their sovereign blood splattering in all directions.

Meanwhile, in the Hall of Infinite Treasures...

Immortal Emperor Wuji stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze cold and detached as he observed the bloody scene outside the Immortal Gate through the Mirror of Heaven’s Observation. His resolve remained unshaken.

But then—

The mirror’s image flickered, distorting for a fleeting moment.

Though it quickly returned to normal, a tempest of shock surged in Wuji’s fathomless eyes.

One of the Supreme Sovereigns, who had been on the brink of collapse, suddenly straightened up. The dim light in his eyes blazed with an unprecedented intensity!

Without hesitation, he pulled out a massive black halberd, dragging it behind him as he advanced step by step. The weapon’s edge scraped a shallow mark into the celestial staircase until he stood before the Immortal Gate. Then, with a mighty swing—he smashed the halberd into the gate!

BOOM—!!!

The colossal gate trembled violently, its dark golden runes scattering like dust. A narrow gap was forced open, and a dense surge of immortal qi gushed out!

"Koff—ack...!"

"This immortal energy—it burns the throat...!"

"It’s... poison!!!"

The already-dying Supreme Sovereigns, sensing the immortal qi, desperately inhaled—only for their bodies to ignite like kindling. Their decayed imperial forms dissolved instantly, their eyes rolling back as they collapsed, lifeless.

On the other side of the Immortal Gate...

Immortal Emperor Wuji descended in person, his icy gaze fixed on the violently shaking door.

Though he didn’t know what that bizarre creature outside was, one thing was certain—here and now, he was invincible!

If that fool dared to step inside, he would annihilate it with his supreme might!

What he feared was the unknown, not some overambitious upstart!

Admittedly, that thing outside was... unusual. It might even be the greatest variable in play.

But the timing was wrong. The destined calamity had yet to arrive, and variables remained in flux. Even if he crushed that thing now, the anomaly wouldn’t vanish—it might only grow more unpredictable.

So, you’d better not enter. I gave you time to grow, not to rush here and throw your life away!

Fortunately, after a brief period of violent shaking, the Immortal Gate stabilized.

The intruder let out a mournful sigh before retreating in dejection.

Only then did Wuji exhale in relief.

"Hah..."

"Damnable variable. To think you’d unsettle me so. I’ll remember this humiliation. When the time comes, and you face your destined calamity, I’ll make sure you beg for death!"

"But there’s something I’ve overlooked... Why now? Of all times, why did it come knocking right after I severed the path between heaven and earth?"

As he pondered, his most trusted subordinate—Revolving True Monarch, the Heavenly King of Fate’s Reversal from the Supreme Void Heaven—rushed in, panic-stricken.

"Your Majesty, disaster looms! I sense signs of revival from Chen Lingxiu, the Radiant Grace Heavenly King we executed long ago!"

Wuji’s thoughts shattered. His brow furrowed. "Didn’t you claim to have erased every trace of her?"

Revolving True Monarch trembled. "Your Majesty, I—I bear this sin. At the time, I did cleanse all records of Chen Lingxiu from the River of Time. But..."

"Speak!" Wuji’s eyes turned piercing.

The True Monarch dared not hide the truth. "While her existence was purged from the main flow of time... the tributaries across the myriad realms still hold traces of her."

"It wasn’t negligence! The Heavenly King of Eternal Mystery from the Purple Star Heaven—that defiant lord who ignored imperial decrees—intervened back then. With a single strike, he severed the tributary of time linked to Chen Lingxiu’s homeland. He was already half-step into the Primordial Origin Realm at the time... I was no match for him..."

Before he could finish justifying himself, Wuji cut him off. "Why wasn’t this reported?!"

Revolving True Monarch shivered. "I thought... a mere lower realm couldn’t possibly facilitate her return. I grew greedy for merit, planning to descend later and wipe out the remnants on the Purple Star Continent. But..."

He trailed off, not daring to continue.

Severing the path of ascension had been Wuji’s first decree upon taking the throne. Not only were lower realm cultivators barred from ascending—even immortals were forbidden from descending. Violators faced execution.

How could he have confessed this oversight without inviting punishment?

But now that the truth was surfacing, keeping silent would only lead to catastrophe.

"Worthless fool!" Wuji’s voice was glacial. "Do you realize the scale of the disaster your greed has invited?"

Revolving True Monarch’s scalp prickled. "Grant me a chance to atone, Your Majesty! I will descend and eradicate this threat permanently!"

Wuji sighed deeply. "Enough. Go mine five hundred million Chaos Origin Stones in the Primordial Minefield."

The True Monarch’s lips twitched, but he dared not protest. "This lowly one... thanks Your Majesty’s mercy."