Ascension

The talk about fate was just a casual conversation between Zhuge Xiang and Liao Wufa over drinks. But unexpectedly, the so-called fate was completely different from what Zhuge Xiang had imagined.

In Zhuge Xiang's view, so-called fate should be something predetermined by the Heavenly Dao, and then people follow the arrangement of fate to do this thing. Fate controls people. However, the fate that Liao Wufa talks about is not like this at all.

When a person encounters a certain event in the future, they decide to deal with it in a certain way. Before the event occurs, they use Divination to glean some clues about it. This is the Truth of Divination. As for so-called fate, it is nothing more than foreseeing the choices a person will make in the future.

In Zhuge Xiang's mind, or in the minds of the world, fate is something predetermined, forcing people to act like puppets. But now, Zhuge Xiang finally understands that it is not so-called fate that determines what people should do in the future, but rather what a person should do in the future to have a so-called fate.

Drinking and chatting, Liao Wufa, being a powerful cultivator who had cultivated for thousands of years, made Zhuge Xiang, who had only cultivated for a little over ten years, feel enlightened whenever Liao Wufa mentioned anything about cultivation. Zhuge Xiang Liao Wufa also talked at length about many strange people, events, and mysterious places.

Rumble...

However, just as Zhuge Xiang and Liao Wufa had been chatting away until dawn, suddenly, a majestic thunderclap resounded between Heaven and Earth. This thunder seemed to penetrate deep into one's soul, instilling a sense of awe from the depths of one's heart...

"That thunder? Could it be!?" Zhuge Xiang was still surprised by the appearance of the thunder, but Liao Wufa stood up, his expression very complicated.

The two rushed out of the Great Hall, only to see that a rift had suddenly opened in the sky, revealing an incomparably magnificent gate stretching across the heavens...

This colossal gate, seemingly spanning the entire Heaven and Earth, stands tens of millions of feet tall. Before it, everyone feels insignificant. Even from thousands of miles away, the characters on the gate are clearly visible. The gate, as white as jade, bears three large characters at the very top: South Heaven Gate.

"Indeed, it is the South Heaven Gate. The South Heaven Gate the Immortal Realm..." Liao Wufa murmured, looking up at the colossal gate that was tens of millions of feet high in the sky, his eyes filled with undisguised envy.

The opening of the South Heaven Gate of the Immortal Realm —what this meant was clearer to no one than this powerful being who had lived for thousands of years.

Suddenly, a crack appeared beside Zhuge Xiang and Liao Wufa, and Jin Lingzi and Jin Mingzi emerged one after the other. Jin Mingzi was still in the form of the Golden Winged Corpse King, with a pair of golden Bone Wings slowly vibrating on his back. However, compared to the incredibly dense evil Corpse Qi before, Jin Mingzi now carried a strong holy aura, giving the impression that he had returned to his previous state as Golden Body Bodhisattva.

Of course, the one who changed the most was Jin Lingzi. He had a smile on his face, which was infinitely kind and made people feel extremely friendly, but it was also majestic and made people dare not disrespect him. He exuded an incomparably magnificent sacred aura. He was the same as the Sea God he had encountered in the East Sea, but he had been sublimated in this respect.

The feeling it gives is very different from before, but I can't quite put my finger on what's different...

As Jin Lingzi appeared, countless petals drifted down from the sky, creating a rain of petals—an endless beauty. At the same time, a faint, ethereal melody filled Heaven and Earth Human Heart, soothing and uplifting to the soul...

"Heavenly Flowers Falling, celestial music filling the air, the South Heaven Gate? Someone has ascended to immortality?" In a corner of Xiaoshan, Ying Qianshan, dressed in a black robe, stood atop the mountain peak, gazing up at the magnificent South Heaven Gate in the sky. His voice, aged and filled with envy and astonishment, carried a complex mix of emotions. Who on earth had opened the South Heaven Gate and ascended to the Immortal Realm?

"Amitābha Buddha, how enviable..." Zen Master Da Wu of Heavenly Dragon Temple clasped his hands together and murmured a Buddhist chant. Even if one has reached the Great Accomplishment Stage and survived the Immortal-Demon Tribulation, taking the final step to ascend to the Immortal Realm is a hundred times more difficult than Tribulation Transcendence. Otherwise, there would be more people who can take the final step than so few, perhaps even once in a hundred years.

"Oh? Who is this?" Luo Ba, suppressed beneath the Jade Bodhi Tree, also wore a look of surprise. No matter how powerful one is, no matter what kind of cultivation Cultivation Technique one practices, the ultimate goal is to ascend to the Immortal and Demonic Realms. Today, someone has actually succeeded? Who is it? Who has taken the final step?

"Congratulations, fellow Daoist, on taking the final step. Indeed, you have always been stronger than me..." Even Liao Wufa bowed respectfully to Jin Lingzi and said. In any case, ascending to the Immortal Realm meant that Jin Lingzi had taken the final step and was undeniably one step ahead of him.

"I must thank you both for this matter. If it weren't for you, I don't know if I would have been able to Dusty Ties. I hope we can meet again someday..." Jin Lingzi said with a faint smile on his face after hearing Liao Wufa's words.

"Farewell. You are Divine Path, so you will naturally ascend to the Immortal Realm. But my Big Brother and I, even if we ascend, will go to the Demon Realm. Immortals and demons are irreconcilable. When we meet again, it may be a matter of life and death," Zhuge Xiang said, shaking his head after hearing Jin Lingzi's words.

"I admit I misspoke," Jin Lingzi readily admitted his mistake, finding Zhuge Xiang's words reasonable.

As he spoke, his gaze fell on Jin Mingzi beside him, and he said, "Senior brother, you have always been pure of heart. If it weren't for the conversation between Master and me back then, you wouldn't have fallen into the demonic path. Although you are now Zombie, Buddhist Sect teaches that one should lay down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot. I hope that one day I can meet you again."

"Junior brother, you can wait in the Immortal Realm with peace of mind. Although I am not as good as you, I will never be left far behind or unable to keep up. Once I ascend to the seat of the Buddha of the Western Heaven, we will surely meet again," the Golden Winged Corpse King, also known as Jin Mingzi, nodded and said. Although he was Zombie, without any mental entanglements, his aura exuded a magnificent and sacred feeling.

Buddhist Sect emphasizes opening the door to all, and anyone who is truly enlightened can Buddhist Sect. Therefore, there are many Demonic Creatures within the Buddhist Sect. As for the Golden Winged Corpse King, if he is truly willing to lay down his weapons and enter Buddhist Sect, it is not impossible for him to become a true Bodhisattva or Buddha in the future.

From the South Heaven Gate, a beam of light shot out and landed on Jin Lingzi. Although Jin Lingzi was originally from the Buddhist Sect, he had switched to the path of the Divine Path halfway through his life. After taking that final step, naturally, he was headed for the Immortal Realm...

"Everyone, I hope we will meet again someday," Jin Lingzi said, his figure slowly rising within the beam of light. As he spoke, he waved his hand, and the Southern Bright Bird King appeared within the beam of light, rising with him towards the South Heaven Gate: "Bird King, how about coming with me to the Immortal Realm?"

"Thank you for your mercy, sir," said the Southern Bright Bird King, who was Jin Lingzi's Mount and accompanied him to the Immortal Realm, repeatedly expressing his gratitude.

When one attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. As Mount, even if one only barely reaches the level of Demon Monster, one still goes to the Immortal Realm with them.

"As expected, he has always been very strong. Today, he actually managed to take the final step..." Looking up at the Jin Lingzi, who entered the South Heaven Gate and then disappeared into the South Heaven Gate, Liao Wufa spoke, his eyes filled with envy.

All cultivators, whether Demon Cultivator, Buddhist, or Demon Cultivator, have only one goal: ascension. Naturally, which Cultivator doesn't hope to ascend as soon as possible?

"Junior brother is intelligent. If it weren't for the knot in his heart that he has carried for so many years, he would have ascended to heaven long ago. I have wronged him," said Jin Mingzi, the Golden Winged Corpse King, gazing at the sky.

At this point, the Golden Winged Corpse King paused slightly, then turned his gaze back to Liao Wufa and said, "And you? Logically speaking, your cultivation has reached this level, and you are only one step away from ascension. I wonder what knot in your heart you cannot let go of, which is why you have been unable to ascend for so long?"

"Me?" Upon hearing Jin Mingzi's words, Liao Wufa was slightly taken aback, then his face was filled with a complicated expression. He did not answer him, but changed the subject and said, "It seems that the knot between you and Jin Lingzi has been untied. I congratulate you. The path to the Great Dao is within reach."

"Benefactor Liao Wufa, I have offended you in my words some time ago. I hope you will forgive me," Jin Mingzi, the Golden Winged Corpse King, said solemnly to Liao Wufa with his hands clasped together. A faint Buddhist light shimmered around him, and he did indeed have some of the demeanor of the Golden Body Bodhisattva from that day.

"No, the past is the past. You can let go of the hatred that destroyed your Myriad Buddha Temple back then. How could I, Liao Wufa, be so petty?" Liao Wufa waved his hand and laughed.

"Although it was Benefactor Liao who personally destroyed my Myriad Buddha Temple, it was ultimately the Ying Clan's order. Even if Benefactor Liao hadn't taken action, someone else would have. In the end, the enemy of my Myriad Buddha Temple is the Ying Clan," Jin Mingzi, his eyes flashing with light as he expressed his opinion on the destruction of Myriad Buddha Temple.

"Master, I have come here today with a request, and I hope you will be generous in helping me." Zhuge Xiang had no intention of getting involved in the grudges from thousands of years ago, so he stepped forward and spoke to the Golden Winged Corpse King.

"Benefactor Zhuge, there's no need for such formalities. That Jade Bodhi Tree is my most treasured possession. Even if you hadn't begged me, I would have retrieved it myself. Besides, I was able to meet my junior brother today and let go of my obsessions thanks to your help, Benefactor Zhuge. I owe you a favor, and if you ever need my help in the future, I will certainly do my utmost."

Before Zhuge Xiang could even voice his request, the Golden Winged Corpse King interrupted him. (To be continued...)