Chapter 44: Master Ascends to the Upper Realm

Since that is the case, let us settle this with our true skills and fight it out today.

The True Monarch of Manifested Sanctity of Xihua, Yang Xiao, and Liu Xiaosheng stared at each other with intense vigilance.

Veins bulged on Yang Xiao's arms as he radiated immense power, swiftly wielding the tri-pointed double-edged spear in his hands and slashing directly toward Liu Xiaosheng.

Liu Xiaosheng did not show the slightest weakness. The frost sword in his hand flashed with a cold light, precisely blocking Yang Xiao's fierce strike. Where the sword and spear met, sparks flew in all directions, accompanied by a harsh, grating sound of clashing metal.

Immediately following, Liu Xiaosheng twisted his wrist, the blade sliding along the spear shaft toward Yang Xiao's hands in an attempt to slash his palms. Yang Xiao reacted with extreme agility, instantly retracting his long spear while simultaneously delivering a fierce kick toward Liu Xiaosheng. Leaping backward, Liu Xiaosheng evaded the kick, then used the momentum to lunge forward, the tip of his sword thrusting straight for the center of Yang Xiao's brow.

Yang Xiao sidestepped to dodge, using the reverse end of his spear to strike at Liu Xiaosheng's waist. Struck by the blow, Liu Xiaosheng let out a muffled groan, yet he adjusted his stance instantly, waving his ice sword to project several sharp ice prisms toward Yang Xiao.

Chanting incantations, Yang Xiao summoned a golden protective barrier before him, reducing the incoming ice prisms to fine dust upon impact. Following this, Yang Xiao let out a thunderous roar as immortal energy erupted from his body, enveloping Liu Xiaosheng entirely. Liu Xiaosheng felt a pressure as heavy as a mountain bearing down on him, causing his movements to become sluggish.

Quickly widening the distance between them, the two adversaries each resorted to the arts of transformation.

With a shake of his body, Liu Xiaosheng transformed into a spiritual crane, spreading his wings and soaring high into the sky.

Yang Xiao transformed into a golden eagle, pursuing him relentlessly. The crane maneuvered with supreme agility in the air, spitting out icicles from time to time to assail the eagle. Flapping its massive wings, the golden eagle stirred up howling gales that scattered the icicles before charging toward the crane with even greater velocity.

Just as the golden eagle was about to seize the crane, the crane suddenly reverted to its human form, wielding the frost sword to slash at the eagle. The eagle likewise transformed back into Yang Xiao, raising his tri-pointed double-edged spear to parry the blow. The two once more plunged into close-quarters combat, their figures interweaving and crossing paths amid swift exchanges of offense and defense.

At this moment, Puxuzi drew the Immortal-Binding Rope from his robes and tossed it toward Liu Xiaosheng.

The Immortal-Binding Rope hurtled swiftly toward Liu Xiaosheng while he was still locked in combat. Sensing the dangerous aura approaching from behind, Liu Xiaosheng found it difficult to instantly shake off Yang Xiao's entanglement.

In the nick of time, a layer of golden light erupted around Liu Xiaosheng's body—an auto-triggering defensive artifact that repelled the Immortal-Binding Rope the instant it touched the barrier.

Taking advantage of Liu Xiaosheng's momentary distraction, Yang Xiao thrust his spear forward and knocked the frost sword out of Liu Xiaosheng's grip.

Yet Liu Xiaosheng remained unpanicked, forming hand seals and chanting an incantation. The frost sword paused mid-air before reversing direction and hurtling back to pierce toward Yang Xiao.

Yang Xiao dodged in haste, but his robes were torn by the blade. Beside them, Puxuzi turned pale with shock, never expecting Liu Xiaosheng to possess such extraordinary techniques.

Having retrieved his frost sword, Liu Xiaosheng did not press his advantage. Instead, he glared furiously at Puxuzi and shouted, "You are truly still the same as ever, always fond of cowardly sneak attacks and hiding in the shadows."

True anger had now been ignited within Yang Xiao, but he was halted by the Master's voice.

"Hiding away and refusing to show yourself is no permanent solution either. You might as well go up and meet the Heavenly Emperor; after all, there is nothing he can do to you anyway," the Master said, casting his gaze toward Liu Xiaosheng, who still intended to continue the battle.

Seeing that the Master had stepped in to help their side, Puxuzi immediately put on a kindly facade once more and addressed Liu Xiaosheng: "Why must the Immortal Swordmaster make things difficult for us minor immortals? We are merely acting on orders. Besides, the ten thousand heavenly soldiers and the four demon generals have not even made a move yet."

"You are still threatening me, aren't you, Puxuzi?" Liu Xiaosheng swept a cold, piercing glare over Puxuzi.

With a cold snort, Liu Xiaosheng declared, "If the Heavenly Emperor wishes to see me, he can come himself."

An expression of awkwardness crossed Puxuzi's face, leaving him at a loss for how to respond. At that moment, the sky suddenly darkened, and amid rolling dark clouds, lightning flickered ominously. Lifting their gaze, the crowd beheld the majestic figure of the Heavenly Emperor manifesting high above the clouds.

"Liu Xiaosheng, persist no longer in your stubborn delusions," the Heavenly Emperor commanded, his voice resounding across heaven and earth like a great bell.

Raising his head to gaze directly at the Heavenly Emperor, Liu Xiaosheng showed not a trace of fear. "Your Majesty, what crime have I committed? I am merely pursuing the Dao within my heart." The Heavenly Emperor furrowed his brow slightly. "You oppose the heavenly court and disrupt the order of the immortal realm." Liu Xiaosheng burst into laughter. "The so-called order is nothing more than rules set by Your Majesty out of selfish desire."

The Heavenly Emperor's expression darkened as a formidable pressure bore down upon Liu Xiaosheng. Though feeling the immense weight, Liu Xiaosheng gritted his teeth and resisted.

"Come with me. Your old friends miss you dearly," the Heavenly Emperor said, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness and regret.

Liu Xiaosheng realized by now that ascending to the upper realm today was unavoidable.

Ceasing his resistance, he drifted gracefully toward the Heavenly Gate. Just before stepping through the threshold, he sent voice transmissions separately to the Master and Liu An.

"Old friend, I entrust my disciple to you. Do not let him know too much for now."

"Rebellious disciple, your master can no longer protect you from this day onward. You must cultivate diligently under the Master's guidance. I shall wait for you to come find me in the celestial realm."

At this moment, Liu An was acting like one driven mad, desperately attempting to shatter the barrier. Even though his fists bled profusely, the protective shield remained entirely intact.

"Disciple, today I will teach you how to read characters."

"Disciple, today I am roasting a rabbit for us to eat."

"Rebellious disciple, you plucked my beard in my sleep again, didn't you?"

"Rebellious disciple, you are not allowed to secretly drink the wine in this gourd."

Every single memory of the days spent with his master flashed rapidly through Liu An's mind.

As Liu An's figure vanished completely beyond the Heavenly Gate,

followed shortly by the departure of the ten thousand heavenly soldiers, the four demon guardians, Puxuzi, Yang Xiao, and the rest, the Heavenly Gate closed once more.

Only then did this monumental battle that shook the capital of the Wei State finally draw to its curtain.

Present in the region were only Liu An's group and the Master suspended in the sky.

With a wave of the Master's massive sleeve, the barrier that had hindered Liu An and the others dissolved away.

"Junior Brother, do not grieve. Your master is immensely powerful; even in the upper realm, no one will dare to treat him unreasonably. Your most urgent task right now is to strengthen your own cultivation so that one day, you too may ascend to the upper realm and reunite with your master," Jian Yi comforted, gently patting Liu An on the back.

Lin Yiyi looked at Liu An with a gaze filled with sympathy, though she did not express it as openly as Jian Yi.

The Four-Unlike creature nudged the back of Liu An's hand with its head from time to time.

"You four little fellows might as well come along with me." The Master had appeared beside Jian Yi without a sound.

"Master~" Jian Yi immediately stood up and bowed in salute.

Daring not show the slightest disrespect, Liu An and Liu Yiyi quickly mirrored Jian Yi's respectful bow.

"Very well, there is no need for such formalities. Let us go."

With an effortless wave of his sleeve, the Master enveloped the three youths and the beast within a beam of flying rainbow light, speeding far away.

Left behind in the wake of the great battle were naught but broken walls and ruins, with fewer than four out of every ten ordinary citizens of the Wei State surviving.

Yet none of this mattered to Liu An any longer for the time being. At this very moment, he had truly set foot upon the path of cultivation, embarking upon his own destiny.