Ascension and Realms Unknown

‘There are quite a few elixirs available. I should prioritize increasing my cultivation first. With four Creation Pills alone, I should be able to reach at least the thirteenth level of Qi Condensation.’

Luo Yingkong mused, knowing that cultivation became increasingly difficult in later stages. Thus, she decided to save the Creation Pills and use up the other elixirs first.

Swallowing a Qi Condensation Pill, she immediately began refining its medicinal properties, then focused on circulating her Qi Gathering Art.

Within the Spirit Gathering Formation, the spiritual energy was incredibly dense, causing Luo Yingkong’s cultivation speed to advance by leaps and bounds.

For cultivators, five months was merely a blink of an eye. During secluded cultivation, one would forget time, forget everything external, and immerse themselves in their own world.

This sensation was marvelous; there was no weariness, no irritation, only a profound sense of inner peace.

During this period, Jiaofeng had diligently cultivated spirit herbs, feeding more than half of them to the Corrupting Butterflies. Had the spiritual energy here not been so abundant, they might have devoured all the spirit grasses.

The number of butterflies had also progressed, nearly doubling repeatedly. From over eighty, they multiplied to two hundred, then five hundred, and finally, twelve hundred!

At this point, their numbers ceased to grow. They seemed to understand that any further increase would be unsustainable for Luo Yingkong. Consequently, their focus shifted from reproduction to self-enhancement.

The following day, a pristine blanket of snow fell from the sky, covering Hidden Forest Mountain in a dazzling white. The heavens themselves were a somber gray.

Suddenly, the gates of the Thousand Mechanisms Tower swung open, and a white-haired girl, clad in white robes, emerged. Her appearance was utterly unchanged from before, a testament to the efficacy of the Face-Setting Pill she had consumed.

Luo Yingkong touched her shoulder, feeling a distinct chill. Her small face was flushed pink from the cold, her white hair mirroring the snow, and the warm breaths she exhaled dissipated into the frigid air.

Her cultivation had now reached the thirteenth level of Qi Condensation, with one Creation Pill still remaining. She was reluctant to use it too hastily, fearing instability in her realm. First, she needed to move about, solidifying her current stage.

Just then, the appointed time for her meeting with Qian Yuling was approaching. Luo Yingkong headed towards her cave dwelling, where she found Jiaofeng feeding spirit grasses to the Corrupting Butterflies.

Before even reaching the entrance, Luo Yingkong sensed a myriad of dense mental connections. Her first layer of the Mad Soul Art was now complete, granting her a divine sense comparable to a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

However, controlling so many butterflies was a daunting task. With a thought, over twelve hundred butterflies soared out of the cave dwelling! Jiaofeng, still engrossed in feeding, looked back in stunned bewilderment.

These butterflies, entirely unfazed by the cold, danced and circled around Luo Yingkong, making her appear like an ethereal fairy. Even Jiaofeng was momentarily captivated.

Having consumed numerous spirit grasses, they had undergone a complete metamorphosis. Previously, they were only insects, seemingly devoid of combat prowess.

Now, each butterfly radiated vitality—these were the true Corrupting Butterflies!

“In just five short months, Master has advanced four cultivation levels. This surpasses even the most exceptional geniuses. I truly did not follow the wrong person,” Jiaofeng remarked, stepping out of the cave. He had donned a thick black overcoat.

“This is largely thanks to your Spirit Gathering Formation, Brother Jiaofeng, combined with a plethora of elixirs. Have I had any visitors during this time?”

“None.”

‘Ah…’ A sudden wave of loneliness washed over her. If her fourth elder brother, Luo Tao, were still here, he would have surely sought her out countless times by now.

“Actually, there was one who mentioned wanting to play chess with you, but I sent him away.”

“Chess? You met someone, Brother Jiaofeng? Is there any impropriety in that?” Luo Yingkong’s brow furrowed slightly.

“Don’t worry, he’s only at the Qi Condensation stage. I suppressed my cultivation, so he naturally couldn’t tell. What do you plan to do now that you’re out of seclusion?”

“I’m going to the capital for an appointment. It might be somewhat dangerous. Will you come along, Brother Jiaofeng?”

“To the capital again? Of course, I’ll come. My Vital Soul Tablet is still with you; if something happens to you, I wouldn’t fare well either.”

“You offered the token to me, Brother Jiaofeng. If you want it back, I can return it.” Luo Yingkong began to reach into her storage bag.

“Hey, you! If you’re going, hurry up! I’m restless here and could use some exercise.” Jiaofeng stopped her from retrieving the bag, urging her on.

“Wait, Brother Jiaofeng. These butterflies are hard to control. We need to select two leaders for easier command.”

“Ah, I already took care of that for you. The two with reddish wing patterns are the leaders. You only need to control them, and the other butterflies will follow suit.”

Two butterflies with blue wings adorned with vivid red patterns were indeed the original pair, seemingly having undergone some mutation.

Luo Yingkong summoned the two butterflies. When they settled like clasps on either side of her head, the other butterflies naturally gathered around her.

‘Hmm… Going out like this seems a bit improper. I’ll need to buy a large spirit insect pouch, big enough to hold them all. So, I should visit the market first.’

“No need, I have one.” Jiaofeng spat out a green cloth bag from his mouth, though it was coated in a rather repulsive slime.

It was difficult to imagine such an action coming from a handsome and elegant individual.

“Your former master left this behind. It’s capable of holding tens of thousands of spirit insects, more than enough for your use.” Jiaofeng pushed the slimy bag into Luo Yingkong’s hand.

“Ugh… Brother Jiaofeng, what exactly do you keep in your stomach? How can you store so many things?”

“Me? I’m a descendant of the Sky Devouring Beast and the Poisonous Flood Dragon. I can consume anything. Even you, I could swallow and store in my belly. Would you like to try?”

“Absolutely not… What descendant are you again, Brother Jiaofeng?” Luo Yingkong thought she had misheard.

“A descendant of the Sky Devouring Beast and the Poisonous Flood Dragon. You should feel honored to be my master.” Jiaofeng proclaimed, his face brimming with pride.

“A hybrid?”

“Well… that’s also correct, but it sounds a bit strange…”

Luo Yingkong nodded. “I’ve never heard of the Sky Devouring Beast or the Poisonous Flood Dragon. They sound formidable?”

“Of course! Setting aside the Poisonous Flood Dragon, the Sky Devouring Beast is among the top ten divine beasts…”

As they boasted, the two walked out. Luo Yingkong collected all the butterflies into her new spirit insect pouch, leaving the two mutated ones on her head. This way, if she needed them urgently, she wouldn’t have to bother searching for the leaders.

Inner disciples were permitted to enter and exit the mountain gate freely. They deliberately skirted around certain cave dwellings, quietly slipping away.

Once clear of Hidden Forest Mountain, Jiaofeng transformed into a Flood Dragon, carrying Luo Yingkong as they soared away.

Now in the late Foundation Establishment stage, Jiaofeng’s body had grown considerably larger than before, and his flight speed had significantly increased.

Snowflakes drifted through the air, and a biting cold wind made Luo Yingkong shiver. Jiaofeng deliberately slowed his pace, gradually flying towards the capital.

“Brother Jiaofeng, how high can you fly?” Luo Yingkong gazed into the distance, where mountain ranges obscured the horizon.

“Why the sudden question?”

“Have you never wondered what this world is truly like? Or what lies beyond the heavens?”

“Hah, who hasn’t wondered? Only powerful cultivators know such things. What’s the point of us thinking so much at our cultivation level?” Jiaofeng shook his head dismissively.

Luo Yingkong had hoped to calculate the size of this planet by observing the horizon, but there was no such thing to be seen. Distant views were merely a hazy expanse, obscured by airborne dust.

“I’ve heard some things before. If you want to know, I’ll tell you.”

“Really?! Please do, Brother Jiaofeng.” Luo Yingkong’s interest was piqued; exploring the unknown was her sole hobby.

“This world we inhabit is called the Mortal Realm. It is a realm primarily populated by mortals, with scarce spiritual energy. Even a Nascent Soul cultivator, exhausting their lifespan, could not traverse this entire realm.”

“Are you saying this place is incredibly vast, Brother Jiaofeng? And besides our Mortal Realm, are there other worlds?”

“Of course, there are many Mortal Realms. When cultivators reach the Soul Transformation stage, they find ways to ascend to the Spirit Realm above. I don’t know much about that place.”

“I see.”

“Below the Mortal Realm lies a Demon Realm. There are no humans or cultivators there, only vast numbers of wild beasts. Once these beasts gain sentience, they ascend to the Human Realm…”

With this initial understanding of the world, Luo Yingkong’s mind was filled with fantasies. “Brother Jiaofeng, if this Mortal Realm is so vast, how can one traverse it? Surely, some seniors must have verified this to possess such knowledge?”

“Indeed. There are large teleportation formations. Some ancient ones could even cross realms, but those formations have long been lost.”