Bluffed

Everyone's gaze turned toward her, their expressions varying greatly.

Some showed shock, while others revealed pity and bewilderment.

The severance of the path to Ascension was, for the Eighteen Immortal Sects and Tribulation Stage cultivators, practically a universally known fact.

Naturally, this universally known fact was confined to high-level cultivators.

Low-level cultivators might never reach the Tribulation Stage in their entire lifetimes, so whether the immortal path was severed had absolutely nothing to do with ordinary folks.

Ever since the Great Calamity, no cultivator had ascended.

Along the way, countless former geniuses had fallen and met their ends.

The last verification of this could be traced back to the Supreme Grand Elder of the Profound Clarity Heavenly Sect, who had attempted to ascend and question the heavens.

When Ascension became a dead end, everything drastically changed.

The current era was one with the highest number of Tribulation Stage cultivators.

The reason was simple. The most peak-level cultivators were exceptionally long-lived, yet they could not ascend and leave this world.

Chu Xingchen had sometimes darkly speculated that the Heavenly Dao was intentionally blocking Ascension to stop the Heavenly Demons from making a comeback.

If all the true chosen ones ascended, only the inferior batch would be left behind.

But no matter how much one speculated, facts were facts.

Bai Xuanling stood suspended in the air. Purple qi of the morning dew appeared on the horizon, and seven-colored radiant clouds descended from the sky.

The aura around her continuously condensed, and the already shattered earth began to tremble.

Dao Rhyme surged out from Bai Xuanling's body, transforming into specks of brilliant light. This was the legendary radiant light of immortal ascension.

Xu Linglong looked in Bai Xuanling's direction with an expression of shock and uncertainty.

The situation at this moment was extremely bizarre.

As a fellow cultivator at the Great Perfection of the Tribulation Stage, even though the cultivation methods of Heavenly Demons differed from those of human cultivators, she was completely aware that the heavenly path had been severed.

The Great Dao could not possibly just fix itself halfway through a battle and specifically allow Bai Xuanling to ascend.

Moreover, she currently possessed the Laws of Heaven and could sense the condition of the Great Dao. It was absolutely impossible for such a thing to happen.

Therefore, attempting Ascension right now was no different from courting death.

The most likely possibility was that Bai Xuanling intended to ignore the Immortal Ascension Tribulation and use her life for one final, desperate gamble.

But was that possible?

Xu Linglong's gaze swept over the other Heavenly Demons, silently conveying a look of caution to each of them.

The situation was unclear. If Bai Xuanling could truly break free from the tribulation's lock first and drag them down with her, it would be a massive loss.

Ascension was hopeless!

Since Bai Xuanling was willing to trade her life to stall for time, why couldn't they just wait a moment longer?

After all, Bai Xuanling was already at the Great Perfection of the Tribulation Stage. They would not have to wait long for the Heavenly Tribulation to arrive to understand the situation.

Once the Heavenly Tribulation struck, whether she was bluffing or not would be clear at a glance.

The unfurled crimson sky-curtain of her origin energy retracted, shifting from offense to defense. Xu Linglong flipped backward and retreated, and the other Heavenly Demons generally did the same.

Those left behind to delay the pursuit of the great sects' cultivators were all Mahayana and Tribulation Stage demons, along with massive demonic beasts.

Chu Xingchen also retreated slightly, looking at Bai Xuanling with a solemn gaze.

Although the System had stated this was a one-time opportunity for Tribulation Ascension, Chu Xingchen could not be certain whether Bai Xuanling's black trait would hinder the success rate of this ascension.

However, there was no other choice.

Soon, following the radiant clouds in the sky, an incredibly profound pressure of Dao Rhyme gathered from the horizon.

The Heavenly Tribulation was approaching.

Huang Miao's gaze also looked back, the emotions in his eyes difficult to read.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the radiant light surrounding Bai Xuanling slowly retracted. She raised her eyes, and her aura rippled outward.

Unlike the deep, oppressive pressure of a Tribulation Stage cultivator, Bai Xuanling's aura at this moment was almost akin to the Dao itself.

The mere aura exuded by Bai Xuanling, who had not yet even become an immortal, was already so utterly convincing and overwhelming.

As expected, the difference between becoming an immortal and not was like the difference between heaven and earth.

The Qingming sword orbited Bai Xuanling, its sword intent emitting a long, resonating hum.

Dao Rhymes from all directions transformed into colored lights and gathered, forming a patch of auspicious clouds. Lightning flickered within these multicolored tribulation clouds.

Chu Xingchen looked at the auspicious heavenly tribulation clouds that had finished gathering in the sky. It was completely different from the pitch-black, rolling thunderclouds he had imagined.

Perhaps Ascension was fundamentally a shedding of one's mortal body and bones, truly stepping onto the path of immortality.

The Heavenly Tribulation was born from the Heavenly Dao; one could say that this appearance was actually more befitting of the Heavenly Tribulation's status.

Bai Xuanling looked up. The faint feeling in her heart that the path ahead was severed had disappeared.

Chu Xingchen had spoken the truth. Today, as long as she survived the Heavenly Tribulation, she might truly ascend in broad daylight. Although the location of the ascension was wrong, and the circumstances were wrong, in this situation, beggars could not be choosers.

Bai Xuanling raised her head to look at the firmament, her expression utterly calm. As a cultivator, even though she knew the path ahead had been severed, she had naturally expended great effort to carefully study it.

After all, who among them had not possessed the arrogant mindset of the heavens are second, and I am first upon breaking through to the Tribulation Stage?

What severed heavenly path? I am a path unto myself.

Although she lost this mindset after reaching the Great Perfection of the Tribulation Stage, the research she had done back then was not lacking in the slightest.

The tribulation clouds accumulated, and the surrounding spiritual energy was forced to scatter by the oppressive might of the clouds.

Then, a bolt of lightning flashed down.

A smile appeared on Bai Xuanling's face. She raised the Qingming sword in her hand, pointing it directly at the Heavenly Tribulation.

Although there were many unexpected turns of events, she simply refused to yield to the heavens. She was going to do exactly what she wanted to do.

An incredibly blinding light illuminated everything, reducing the entire world to absolute white. No one could hear a single sound.

The divine senses in the area, which had become a chaotic mess due to the battle, were also completely swept clean by the Heavenly Tribulation.

Under the heavenly lightning, even long-established Tribulation Stage cultivators could perceive absolutely nothing beyond their immediate surroundings.

Following that came a domineering and unreasonable shockwave of residual power.

Chu Xingchen had thought he was far enough away, but the shockwave of the blast still sent him flying.

Wanban emitted a radiant light, protecting Chu Xingchen and preventing him from suffering any injuries.

As expected of an Ascension Tribulation; it truly did not even allow bystanders to spectate in peace.

It directly blinded the entire area, making it impossible to know Bai Xuanling's current condition.

However, as a veteran Tribulation Stage cultivator who had suppressed her cultivation base to the absolute limit, she should be able to withstand this level of Heavenly Tribulation.

After protecting Chu Xingchen, Wanban transformed back into its original brick form and began to swim through the residual power of the lightning tribulation, acting as if it had met an old friend.

Chu Xingchen thought for a moment, feeling that things were still not secure. Looking at the freely swimming Wanban, he decisively contacted it with his divine sense.

You definitely know this Heavenly Tribulation, otherwise, why are you so happy? You blocked most of the tribulation's shockwave just now. You understand the current situation. Either you go and talk about old times with the Heavenly Tribulation, or you hurry up and go protect Sister Bai.

Wanban's swimming motion paused for a moment, but then it continued moving as if it had not heard anything.

Chu Xingchen narrowed his eyes and threatened.

You have been by my side for so long, you should know my methods and my temper. If you are good, I am good, and everyone is good. I ask myself and know I have not mistreated you. But if you play these petty tricks, do not blame me for making life hard for you. At this point, how could I not know? We are all just working for the higher-ups. If there is really a system error, that is an internal matter.

If you drop the ball on me now, then it is an attitude problem.

Wanban trembled for a moment before finally transforming into the shape of a longsword and plunging into the white light.

Seeing this, Chu Xingchen breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, this sword had not inherited his brilliant intellect and had actually been bluffed.