The Key to Ascension

"Take risks?"

Su Ji reached out and gently pinched her delicate, flawless cheek.

The smooth and tender touch lifted his spirits considerably.

He let go, turning his gaze toward the distant horizon. His voice carried a rare sense of leisure.

"Actually, I don't want to take risks either."

"But these past few days, I can't shake the feeling that a pair of invisible hands in the dark is pushing me right into the center of a massive vortex."

"The skies over the Great Xia are about to change."

Su Jiu listened quietly, not interrupting.

"Think about all the things we've encountered recently."

"The Heavenly Dao Secret Realm, the Nascent Soul Cave Dwelling, the Dragon-Locking Abyss, the Anyang City of Death..."

"Which one of these isn't a major event capable of stirring up a storm in an entire region?"

"For an ordinary cultivator, stumbling upon just one of these in a lifetime would be considered a supreme blessing from their ancestors."

"But what about us? We've run into them one after another."

"Why is that?"

"Is it just because I'm a bit more handsome than most, a bit smarter than most, a bit more talented than most..."

Su Jiu really couldn't listen to this anymore. She interrupted him in exasperation.

"Is it possible that you're just a bit more shameless than most?"

Su Ji choked on his words. He rolled his eyes at her but didn't refute it.

"Anyway, since we can't hide from it, we might as well stand at the very crest of the wave."

"In half a year, this Xiangsi Sect will probably be even livelier than a bustling market."

"By then, you should have gotten your hands on the thing you want."

"Even if our strength falls short and we can't keep this Sect Master position, making a clean getaway won't be a problem."

Hearing these words, Su Jiu nodded, seemingly understanding yet not entirely.

She looked at Su Ji's profile. Bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, his usual frivolous demeanor seemed to take on a profound depth.

She suddenly felt that perhaps following this unreliable senior brother meant her future path of cultivation wouldn't be so boring after all.

Su Ji stretched lazily and let out a yawn, instantly tossing away that aura of a peerless expert.

"Alright, we've dumped all the work on them. It's time we talked business."

"Junior Sister, what treasure are you really after, staying in this Xiangsi Sect all this time?"

"You can tell me now, right?"

Su Jiu fell silent for a moment.

She gathered her thoughts before speaking slowly.

"It's a key."

"What key?"

Su Ji was somewhat curious.

"The key to ascending to the Upper Realm."

Hearing this, Su Ji's pupils slightly contracted.

Ascension?

"Although the spiritual energy in this world is still relatively abundant, the Heavenly Dao is flawed, and the path to the Nascent Soul realm has long been severed."

"If one wishes to ascend, taking the normal path is simply impossible."

Su Jiu's tone carried a heavy weight.

"I once caught a glimpse of the 'future' and saw a faint 'rift' appear within the Xiangsi Sect."

"Through this rift, there will be an opportunity to step into the Upper Realm."

"But I don't remember the exact time."

"So I can only use the dumbest method and stay inside the Xiangsi Sect, waiting for it."

As Su Ji listened, a considerable wave of shock surged in his heart.

No wonder this Little Fox insisted on staying in this rundown sect.

So she was waiting for this.

"Fair enough."

After digesting this information, Su Ji grabbed Su Jiu's hand, preparing to leave the ruins.

But after taking just two steps, he suddenly stopped.

He turned his head to look at the massive, empty crater, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face.

"Junior Sister, tell me..."

"Shouldn't the place where the Sect Master lives be grander than the main sect hall?"

Su Jiu was taken aback for a moment before realizing that he was scheming for something again.

She gave him an exasperated eye-roll.

"The Sect Master usually resides at the Green Pomegranate Peak in the back mountain. It is the place with the densest spiritual energy in the entire Xiangsi Sect, and it's also one of the sect's forbidden grounds."

"Green Pomegranate Peak?"

Su - New Sect Master - Ji stroked his chin and nodded.

"That name doesn't sound good."

He pondered for a moment, and a bright smile bloomed on his face.

"It needs to be changed."

"Let's go, Junior Sister. Take me to see our future new home."

Saying that, he pulled Su Jiu along, swaggering confidently toward the back mountain.

The back mountain of the Xiangsi Sect.

Shrouded in swirling clouds and mist, with immortal cranes flying in unison, it was practically a different world compared to the messy ruins of the front mountain.

A beautiful, towering peak stood out among the surrounding mountains like a crane among a flock of chickens.

Atop the peak were exquisite jade pavilions, cascading waterfalls, and flowing springs.

The spiritual energy was so dense it had nearly liquefied, forming visible streaks of seven-colored radiant light that circled the mountainside.

This was the place with the most abundant spiritual energy in the Xiangsi Sect, as well as the residence of the successive Sect Masters.

The two of them followed a mountain path paved with white jade, ascending the steps one by one.

The exotic flowers and rare herbs along the way were all priceless treasures hard to find in the outside world, yet here they could be seen everywhere, like common roadside weeds.

Taking just one breath of the spiritual energy permeating the air made one feel refreshed and invigorated, seemingly advancing their cultivation.

"What a bunch of prodigals."

Looking at these spirit herbs, Su Ji couldn't help but curse.

"With so many good things, they didn't even know to sell them for spirit stones. They just planted them all here to look at as scenery. What a reckless waste of heavenly treasures."

Su Jiu: ...

She couldn't even be bothered to retort anymore.

Soon, the two arrived at the summit.

An elegant palace appeared before their eyes.

The palace was constructed entirely of an unknown warm jade, emitting a gentle, lustrous glow under the sunlight.

Su Ji pushed open the palace doors.

The furnishings inside were surprisingly simple.

A warm jade bed, a writing desk, an alchemy furnace, and a few antique display shelves.

On the shelves were some jade slips and an assortment of bottles and jars.

Su Ji's eyes instantly lit up.

He dashed over in a single stride, picked up a white jade bottle, uncorked it, and took a sniff.

A refreshing medicinal fragrance wafted out, immediately lifting his spirits.

"Good stuff!"

He unceremoniously stuffed the jade bottle into his own storage bag.

Then, he picked up a jade slip and sent his divine sense into it.

[Xiangsi Heartless Incantation]

"Trash."

Su Ji curled his lip and casually tossed the jade slip back onto the shelf.

Like a mouse that had fallen into a rice bin, he rummaged around everywhere, muttering non-stop.

"This one's not bad, taking it."

"This one's okay too, I'll begrudgingly accept it."

"This... forget it, it looks too shabby."

Standing at the doorway, Su Jiu watched him act like a bandit raiding a village, and the corner of her mouth twitched uncontrollably.

She even began to doubt whether letting this guy become the Sect Master was actually a good thing for the Xiangsi Sect.

Just as Su Ji was joyfully plundering everything in sight.

He suddenly discovered a locked red sandalwood box on the very top tier of an antique shelf.

The wooden box looked utterly ordinary, yet several restriction talismans were pasted onto it.

"Oh?"

Su Ji raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued.

The more securely something was hidden away, the more precious the item inside had to be.

He reached out his hand, wanting to take the wooden box down.

But the moment his fingertips touched the wooden box, a chilling, sinister coldness traveled up his fingers and instantly spread throughout his entire body.

Su Ji's movements abruptly stiffened.

He slowly withdrew his hand, the expression on his face turning solemn for the very first time.

Su Jiu also sensed that something was wrong. She quickly walked to Su Ji's side and followed his gaze.

"Senior Brother, what's wrong?"

Su Ji didn't answer her.

His gaze remained deadlocked on that red sandalwood box.