The ascent seemed to take an eternity, yet also seemed to pass in an instant.
When Gong Caiyu opened her eyes, she saw the azure sky of the upper realm. Vast spiritual energy surrounded her, and she could faintly sense the laws of heaven and earth, perfected to their utmost.
Her body and soul were also undergoing the cleansing of ascension.
Danger...
The thought flashed through Gong Caiyu's mind.
She immediately concealed herself and flew away from the seat of power in the Thunderflame Domain.
According to the Central Court's records, the Sword Master had already concealed the auras of Northern Plains cultivators from the two great sects' ascension-detection artifacts. But whether someone stronger might notice and repair them remained unknown. She still had to prepare for the worst.
Combat, killing, and concealment had always been central to the training of the Tu Shan Maidservants.
Gong Caiyu moved without hesitation, speeding away as she silently weighed her options.
If the concealment in the great sects' ascension-detection artifacts had failed, and a Spirit Transformation cultivator came to capture her, she had a chance to escape.
If it was a Void Refining cultivator, she was certain to die.
If it was an expert from the Immortal Artifact Sect, she had best kill herself as quickly as possible, lest she implicate the Sword Master...
Suddenly, Gong Caiyu stopped.
At some point, a skin-and-bones old man had appeared before her. He was so gaunt that he looked as though fire had baked every drop of fat from his body, leaving only a tough hide wrapped around a skeleton of tempered steel.
The old man's eyes rolled as he stared at Gong Caiyu, suspicion on his face.
"This..."
Horror filled Gong Caiyu's face.
Her soul quaked and trembled, as though she had caught sight of