Blood God Palace Headquarters

“Apocalyptic calamity?”

Mo Tianxiao’s expression hardened as a sense of unease crept over him.

“Don’t joke around. Why would an apocalyptic calamity happen in our era?”

“And anyway, isn’t ascension supposed to require reaching a certain cultivation level before it even becomes possible? How can it be done in groups?”

Zhou Muxi’s words reminded Mo Tianxiao of what Huang Miaoyin had said back in the Myriad Great Mountains. Although ascension seemed fraught with danger, Huang Miaoyin had made it sound manageable. So why did Zhou Muxi make it sound like total annihilation?

Zhou Muxi’s face was deadly serious. “If even one cultivator suppresses their cultivation and chooses to ascend, it will trigger the Celestial Tide. A flood of perfected laws will pour into the Yellow Profound Realm, forcing cultivators at the Quasi-Emperor stage who can no longer suppress their power into the Emperor realm.

“Once they step into the Emperor realm, a terrifying Ascension Tribulation awaits. Those with shallow foundations or nearing the end of their lifespan are likely to perish under it. Only by overcoming the Ascension Tribulation can the Gate of Feathering open, leading to a world with more complete laws—what we call ascension.”

Mo Tianxiao hadn’t expected Zhou Muxi to know so much about ascension.

“But what does that have to do with the calamity facing the Yellow Profound Realm? How does their ascension affect our world?”

Zhou Muxi shook her head gently. “Records of the apocalyptic calamity during the ancient golden age are scarce. But based on ordinary Ascension Tribulations, it’s speculated that this calamity threatening the entire Yellow Profound Realm is connected to the legendary Gate of Feathering.”

“No matter what the true calamity is, if we can take control of the Blood God Temple’s power, our chances of surviving it will increase significantly. It might be called an apocalyptic calamity, but it likely won’t completely wipe out every cultivator and tradition in the Yellow Profound Realm. Otherwise, our world wouldn’t exist today.”

Zhou Muxi’s outlook was remarkably optimistic. She didn’t believe a calamity only found in legends would bring down the Grand Zhou Dynasty.

Mo Tianxiao wasn’t too worried either. “Forget it. It hasn’t happened yet. Maybe those ancient records are just meant to scare people.”

If a real apocalyptic calamity came, he could just hide beneath the Divine Tree of Passage in the Myriad Seas. That senior must have survived countless tribulations and have plenty of experience by now.

“Let’s focus on the present. First, we take the Blood God Temple.”

Zhou Muxi gave a sly smile, looking at Mo Tianxiao. “You seem quite interested. Do you have an eye on the Blood God Temple too?”

Mo Tianxiao didn’t hesitate to nod. “The number one assassin organization in the Yellow Profound Realm—of course I’m interested. And have you forgotten? Thanks to you, I’m now the next Blood Son, which means I’m technically eligible to become the master of the Blood God Temple one day.”

Zhou Muxi giggled softly. “If you help me take full control of the Blood God Temple, I’ll change the rules and hand the position of Blood God directly to you.”

“Sister Muxi, don’t joke with me. I might take you seriously.”

“Do you think I’d lie to you? I’m not kidding. The day you reach the Sacred King realm, I promise I’ll give you the seat of Blood God.”

Zhou Muxi wore a calm smile, not looking like she was playing games with Mo Tianxiao.

Mo Tianxiao hesitated. “Sister Muxi, you’re quite generous. But who knows how things will go? Let’s talk about it after you become the Blood God.”

The two fell silent.

The Cloud-Piercing Shuttle was incredibly fast. Within a few days, they had crossed the Western Regions and reached the Extreme West.

Once they arrived, the shuttle tore through space and stopped rushing at full speed, drifting slowly into the depths of the Extreme West.

Below, the land stretched white and endless, covered in thick snow. No color, no sign of life.

On the flying vessel, Mo Tianxiao and the others could even feel their spiritual energy flowing slower than normal.

“No wonder cultivators avoid this place,” Mo Tianxiao murmured.

The temperature here must have dropped below a hundred degrees below zero. Even ordinary cultivators with weak cultivation would struggle to endure, let alone common people.

And the spiritual energy here was so sparse it was nearly unfit for cultivation.

“If the Blood God Temple set up its headquarters here, how do their assassins get good cultivation resources?”

Zhou Muxi didn’t explain. She simply smiled faintly. “You’ll see when we arrive. We still have a long way to go before reaching the Blood God Temple’s headquarters.”

Mo Tianxiao didn’t press further, quietly memorizing their route.

Meanwhile, Huang Xiaoyao and the others were curiously breathing out puffs of air, watching the white landscape below. Snowflakes fell, freezing against the shuttle’s barrier for a moment before dissolving.

Aside from Mo Tianxiao and his three companions, Zhou Muxi had brought two masked Saint-level assassins, one of whom was Blood Butcher, whom they had encountered before.

After several more days of travel by shuttle, a new sight came into view. Beyond the snowy expanse lay a vast, pitch-black expanse stretching into infinity.

At first, Mo Tianxiao thought they had arrived at the core of the Chaotic Star Sea. But after scanning with his divine sense, he realized it wasn’t black seawater—it was a desert of black sand stretching endlessly.

And right at the border between the freezing snow and the scorching desert stood a massive tavern, strikingly similar to the Blood God Temple branch taverns Mo Tianxiao had seen in the Central Plains.

“This place is incredible!”

Huang Xiaoyao couldn’t believe her eyes. The shuttle stopped, and she stretched out her hands, standing on the dividing line to feel the vastly different temperatures on each side.

Yun Sangyi also opened her mouth in wonder, curious about the location. As a woman from a prominent Western Region family, she had visited the Extreme West before. But all she had seen was endless white, so she had never ventured deeper.

Ao Dalong crossed his arms, completely uninterested in the scenery. A dragon-shaped toy from the mortal world would have excited him more.

“Is that the Blood God Temple headquarters? A single tavern?”

Mo Tianxiao was curious about the strange terrain, but the shabby tavern ahead caught his attention the most. How could the top assassin organization in the Yellow Profound Realm have its base in something so humble?

Zhou Muxi put away her Cloud-Piercing Shuttle and descended slowly to the ground. “Follow me, and you’ll see.”

The group followed her to the tavern door. Inside, the noise was low. When they pushed the door open, they saw only a dozen or so people, split into two groups, quietly drinking.

Hearing the commotion, the patrons turned to look at Zhou Muxi and her party.

Meanwhile, an old man behind the counter brightened when he saw Zhou Muxi. “Muxi, you’ve come.”

Zhou Muxi nodded to him. “Uncle Li.”

The old man, whom Zhou Muxi called Uncle Li, studied the people behind her, his gaze finally settling on Mo Tianxiao. “So this is the one you chose? Tribulation Transcendence Peak—just like the other two we spoke of.”

Uncle Li nodded and said, "Aside from you two, the rest of you should stay here and rest. There's no point in going anyway—you wouldn't be of much help."