Su Mei slowly, deliberately, calmly, and unwaveringly moved toward the group, black scabbard in hand, each step producing the faintest of ripples on the lake. A heavy, tense, and grim atmosphere formed around the gathered Ascendants, perfectly representing their heartfelt feelings. There was no exception among them.
They realized that she was involving herself as if replying to their earlier words and agreement to move out. And her reply was firm and clear.
Whenever you're ready.
"She's coming," Shui Fengbao slowly exclaimed. He could hear his heart pounding in his chest and through his ears. Su Mei, the first Ascendant. It's been said that since His Majesty started his journey, leaving his sect, she had been with him throughout it all. In fact, she had been with him before he left his sect, long, long before.
"..." Everyone.
Moreover, she wasn't the unapproachable type nor the reclusive figure. Su Mei often interacted, taught, participated, or oversaw many areas of the Ascendants. None of them were unfamiliar with her. She sparred, she ate, she traveled, she listened, and she delivered resources, Cultivation Methods, Arts, Spells, and instructions. She was a figure that was known by all.
If Wei Wuyin was the unimaginably spectacular heavenly star that shone brilliantly in the sky, unmissable by even the blind, reshaping the era with earthshaking feat after feat, then Su Mei was the shadow that gave them all shade and comfort.
If not for their incredible familiarity with her, would they ever consider gathering together at this moment? How many of them had strong, unyielding, and dominant personalities? Whether they were the trio of Saintesses or the Commanders, they were all prideful existences that would never ally otherwise. Unless they had no choice.
They all simultaneously came to a thorough and irrefutable conclusion that going against her alone in this competition was an extraordinarily difficult battle. And from the beginning, they allied for that one reason and only that reason-Su Mei.
Xue Yifei took a deep breath, inhaling all she could, and then exhaling with force, expelling all her doubts, fears, and hesitation.
09:57.
"Since she's coming, what else is there to think about?" Xue Yifei channeled her inner-Da Shan, forceful and simple. She didn't hesitate to unleash her Demonic Dragon Armor.
Da Shan nodded. Her thoughts exactly. She didn't hesitate to enlarge herself to 5,000 feet, tapping into the depths of her titan's lineage, exuding the heavy presence of a violet mountain.
"We'll stick to your plan," Yao Huoyi said. He withdrew his bow, pulling back his headband, exposing two eyes that were closed, and lightly touching his string with his pulling hand.
"For now," Hong Chunhua added, gripping her sword as spiritual flower petals seemingly forged from the purest, earliest form of light manifested around her. A sharpness emitted from the edges of each petal as the world quivered.
Sword Heart Intent!
One of the most important things taught to the Ascendants was to remain flexible like liquid, capable of adapting to situations at the ready, and never restricting oneself with a rigid outline. Because while man plans, the heavens laugh. It was Wei Wuyin's curriculum for cultivators. For his Ascendants.
"..." They all took this to heart.
They readied themselves.
Boosh!
Shui Fengbao transformed into an embodiment of pure fire! All of his flesh, bone, and blood energies, from his cells to his Dantian and even his Sea of Consciousness rapidly transformed into fire in its purest form.
Absolute Flame Transformation!
09:55.
There were a total of 117 Ascendants. Of the 117, only 19 were beneath the Star Core Phase. They all were outstanding individuals, blessed by heavenly daos or innate talent by luck of a good, exceptional birth. All of them were seasoned warriors of a hundred battles and ten thousand training sessions. They fought against each other and seized various opportunities from the Chosen King Competition thus far. They survived the onslaught of multiple Mystic Heart Intent possessing Earthly Saints.
None of them were ordinary amongst the Ascendants.
An Biru and An Feijin held each other's hands tightly. From their bodies, watery blue and fiery red light leaked from their orifices, pouring between them, mixing exquisitely into a purplish light that engulfed them both. A unique duality of Intents was formed by a harmonious fusion.
Fire Intent! Water Intent!n.(o-)V()e--l(/b.(I.-n
A Unique Intent!
As mysterious and profound as Nirvanic Flame Intent and Necros Intent! The combination of two diametrically opposing elemental powers.
Aquaflame Intent!
The two sisters were enveloped in a sphere of purplish liquid flames that moved with the smoothness of water yet burned as hot as a star's flames. Their figures could no longer be seen.
Solar Stars of numerous colors graced the skies as they each exuded remarkable radiance upon the vast lands. The abnormal beauty of it was soul-snatching, heart-shaking, and mind-seizing.
Bo Kay's body unleashed a flurry of verdant wind filled with leaves and spiritual manifestations of leaves, channeling his Gale End Lead Demonic Lineage to its fullest extent. His body grew slender and his tribal runic markings on his cheeks and forehead began to release a verdant glow that emitted a demonic feeling. His dark greenish skin slowly shifted to a lighter tone, glistening as if freshly polished. And his silky white hair grew out a little more, fluttering chaotically with the wind he generated.
The Second Commander of the Ascendants' Legion looked exceptionally fierce, extremely demonic, and gave off a presence of incredible strength.
"Guess I'm up first," Bo Kay bitterly muttered as he gave Da Shan's gigantic figure which was still growing to its fullest extent a look. While his emotions were unsaid, from his expression, one could see the kindling hope of an uncle toward their niece to do well, and most importantly-survive.
The various Ascendants realized that none of them was holding back in the slightest. All sorts of exceptional transformations took place, many exuding similarities to the Grand Transformations of the Imperial Heaven Qi Method. It was clear that their methods had often been improved with the foundations and profundities of this exceptional Cultivation Method. Even Shui Fengbao's transformation bore remarkable similarity to the 3rd Grand Transformation. Moreover, they were all extremely, terrifyingly powerful!
Various World Heart Intents flared into existence! Many of these Ascendants were the lucky recipients of the Obelisk, gaining incredible enlightenment. With the Neo-Dawn Vortex-Zone Pellet at their disposal, they had condensed decades of cultivation in a few short years.
Step. Step. Step.
Su Mei halted at the third step and inclined her head a little to see the raging Solar Stars in the sky, gigantic Da Shan, and geysering auras of the Ascendants. While her eyes revealed none of it, her heart was feeling a sense of pride and satisfaction. These were the Ascendants that she had assisted to reach this level, and seeing their strength fully brought out without the slightest holding back was evidence of their success, which felt like her success.
Her lessons were ingrained in their hearts.
Unfortunately...
BOOSH!!!
Bo Kay's form swirled with endlessly ravaging, gushing wind, sharp, cutting leaves, and a demonic presence that could stifle entire worlds.
He was the first to act!
The Gale Wind Leaf Demon was known for its egregiously horrifying speed. Before its passing, it was known as the fastest demon in the Everlore Starfield for hundreds of years. While it never reached the Mystic Heart Intent, it was said that, as a mortal, it had escaped from the Demonic Abyss Mountain Lord after offending him. At the time, the Demonic Abyss Mountain Lord was a genuine Ascended being!
It was due to his racial lineage as a Gale Wind Leaf Demon that he could establish himself in the highly competitive Myriad Monarch Sect! A place that determined status by strength, talent, and effort. And then earn a place as the Second Commander, in an even more competitive environment with outstanding talents. His elven lineage did not hold him back in the slightest.
His movements were like a devilish whirlwind, moving as fast as lightning, blitzing toward Su Mei at speeds that were baffling to those Chosen from the two worlds observing. Even the remaining Earthly Saints were astonished to their core. The path he took was stirred into a frenzy, and sounds of slicing wind swept the myriad regions.
Up above, the verdant green and violet Gale End Solar Star shone brightly, providing him a boost of incredible power. Bo Kay brought out a short spear, held it tightly in his hands, and erupted with Demonic Gale Starforce!
The corner of Su Mei's clothes and her short hair fluttered rapidly with the incoming wind, yet her expression remained as serene as an empty, starless night sky. They were thousands upon thousands of miles away. Bo Kay covered this distance at rates unheard of for a mere mortal.
Meanwhile, there were other Ascendants that took action; they unleashed their various forces and executed profound movement arts, flashing across the landscapes like unseen ghosts, ghoulish demons, flashing lights, or dark shadows. None of them were slow!
Numerous Solar Stars above erupted with startling solar radiance! Providing power to their owners. All of their power!
Su Mei took another step. She extended two fingers with her free hand. A jet-black light was born, swirling exquisitely around her fingers, forming a sharp edge bearing a strong resemblance to a saber. Her two fingers released a sky-quivering saber howl. The Ascendants jetted forth at different angles, from up high to down below, with Bo Kay at the lead with eyes focused solely on Su Mei.
"Ready!" Wu Baozhai's Imperial Heaven Aura exploded as she entered the 2nd Grand Transformation, her eyes starry, her breathing exuded white, multicolored star-filled smoke, and her halberd was held firmly in her hand. Her body was abnormally tense, primed to attack.
"Ready." Xue Yifei let Ernu leave her embrace. The dragon dug violently into the ground and vanished in a flash of darkly colored silver light. The eyes of the Dragonborn Saintess were dilated to an extreme and her heart was pounding with the intensity of a thousand dragon's roars.
Yao Huoyi lifted his bow.
Shui Fengbao's flaming body shook.
The rest all readied themselves.
Waiting.
Waiting for...
SHIIIIIIIIING!!!
Bi Kay was first; the Gale Wind Leaf Demon Cultivator was the fastest out of them all, his short spear thrust toward Su Mei from a distance, yet that distance was covered in a literal flash. In the blink of an Ascended's eye, he was directly in front of her, and the short spear was aimed toward her heart.
Bo Kay felt his short spear's blade feel resistance. Two fingers swathed toward its side, smacking it to the side with preternatural precision and skill. As if expecting it, he spun, briefly transforming into a windy tornado, almost instantly shifting into another position, unleashing yet another strike!
Clang!
Yet again, he felt resistance and his piercing momentum shifted.
BLOCKED!
But he didn't dare stop moving and attacking. He kept spinning again and again, unleashing thrusts again and again. A flurry of violently demonic thrusts left the surrounding fixed space heavily scarred, tainted, and quivering. His striking and readjusting form was impeccable, and the fluidity of his attacks and starforce was remarkable to the eye.
09:54.
"She won't move!" He shouted in his heart as he attacked over a hundred times! However, Su Mei remained where she was, not taking a single step back, nor did she seem pressed by the onslaught of attacks. Each strike could pierce a planet. Each strike was handled with ease.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Three of the fastest Ascendants arrived a few hundred feet away. They formed hand-seals, unleashing spiritual spells toward Su Mei, seeking to distract her, causing an eclipse in focus and thus an opening to be seized. Simultaneously, they conjured their strongest defensive Astral Wards, layering them multiple times over. Their forms could barely be seen due to the radiant light of their starforce.
Their spells shook space as they blasted through the air. Su Mei conjured no defense. The spells smashed against her Sea of Consciousness. Bo Key's eyes lit with a distinct brilliance. He summoned forth his greatest strength, unleashing a Spiritual Art!
From his Dantian, the Galestorm World Rune Seed infused with his Wind Heart Intent. The two attempted to merge to bring forth Mortal Heart Intent!
"..." Suddenly, Bo Kay felt an incomparably dangerous sensation coursing through his heart. It gripped hard and tight, threatening to pull him to an abyss of no return. With a shout, he erupted with a windstorm of starforce, hurriedly tossing his short spear as he beat a retreat.
His eyes bulged explosively; he saw a jet-black light erupt from Su Mei's fingers. It was brief. It was almost an instance. It was as world-consuming as a supernova. His heart pounded as he observed her making four waves of her hand. They seemed slow, but he knew they were unnaturally fast.
From his vision, as it expanded further and further away, he noticed the three Ascendants enveloped in their reinforced, empowered, multi-layered Astral Wards vanish in a flash of jet-black light. He felt, in real-time, each of their life auras end.
When he pulled back far enough, he saw a familiar sight as well. A body.
It was falling at the edge of the lake at an angle.
When he focused on that body, noticing that it was headless, he could feel his vision darken from the edges. A jet-black, sharp, all-encompassing saber light was invading his vision.
"Oh."
The other Ascendants rushing forward didn't halt after seeing Bo Kay decapitated.
They fearlessly pushed onward!
