"Has Jiang Yu lost her mind?"
Zhimeng, who had been invited out of her secluded cultivation, listened quietly to Gu Qing's account, her mind reeling.
She had just closed herself off for a bit of cultivation—how did it feel like the entire world had changed?
Gu Qing was only at the Saint Realm; ascending now really wasn't a good choice. After all, Gu Qing possessed so many treasures. The meager resources of the Immortal World wouldn't be of much help to her.
And then there was Jiang Yu.
She knew Jiang Yu's character all too well—cool as a chrysanthemum, never fighting or snatching for things, like a goddess sitting high above the clouds, looking down on the common people.
Jiang Yu wasn't interested in anything, only guarding her own little plot of land.
Now, suddenly, she was inviting her to ascend together, and even wanting to determine who was superior?
When did Jiang Yu change her nature?
And who gave Jiang Yu the guts to dare provoke her?
"That is exactly what she said."
Gu Qing looked at Zhimeng, whose expression was becoming increasingly haughty, and sighed internally.
Poor Master. She was being toyed with by Jiang Yu like a dog being walked.
Yet, Zhimeng was bursting with fighting spirit, feeling incredibly capable, as if she could take on ten Jiang Yus.
"Fine! Fine! Fine!"
Zhimeng sneered. She hadn't even looked for Jiang Yu to settle the score yet, and Jiang Yu dared to provoke her first. She was simply asking for death.
In the past, she indeed wouldn't have been confident in defeating Jiang Yu.
But things were different now.
She had already broken through to the peak of the God Fire Realm's sixth stage, and her comprehension of the Laws of Destruction had advanced another step.
Furthermore, she had completely digested the fortuitous opportunities and creations belonging to Lin Xuan.
Her foundation had risen several levels compared to before. What did Jiang Yu have to fight her with?
Thinking this, Zhimeng's aura erupted with a boom. Her Dao techniques reflected across the heavens, ten thousand laws circled her body, and she resembled a dominating god—cold, arrogant, and overbearing.
"Jiang Yu, get your ass out here."
Her voice was like the sound of heaven, containing terrifying might. It exploded across the boundless universe, striking directly at the souls of all living beings.
"Hiss~"
The faces of everyone in the Star God Palace changed drastically. They looked up at the starry sky in panic.
In the void, chaotic qi permeated the air, and ten thousand laws revolved. A figure stood hazy and indistinct, with an aura of terrifying extremity, like a god or a demon.
With just a single glance, it was as if they were witnessing a great terror; their souls felt ready to shatter.
Everyone quickly averted their gaze, daring not to look anymore, while waves of shock surged in their hearts.
It was Zhimeng.
Did Zhimeng want a death match with Jiang Yu?
"Cough!"
"Zhimeng, why are you so aggressive? If there's an issue, we can talk it out. This Seat will back you up."
"Indeed, you are both pillars of our Palace. You are both people who act as Masters; why make things so unsightly and let the younger generation laugh at us?"
The ancestors hiding in their coffins sent out their spiritual senses to persuade them one after another.
Initially, seeing Zhimeng break through to the sixth stage of the God Fire Realm, they were indescribably pleasantly surprised. After all, the stronger Zhimeng was, the more prosperous their lineage would be.
But hearing that Zhimeng wanted to challenge Jiang Yu, their faces darkened.
Both of them were peerless monsters unseen in the Star God Palace for ten thousand years; neither could afford to be lost.
If the two of them fought for real and got into a heated battle, they wouldn't even know who to help.
Zhimeng treated the ancestors' transmissions as if she hadn't heard them, her cold eyes fixed on Starlight Peak.
Defeating Jiang Yu was her lifelong pursuit.
Today, no matter who came to plead for mercy, it was useless.
There could only be one most dazzling pearl in the heavens.
And that person could only be her.
"Zhimeng, I have no intention of fighting you for fame and profit. Let's just consider this duel forgotten."
Jiang Yu's magnetic, gentle voice drifted out lazily, her tone tinged with helplessness.
"If you insist on fighting for the number one spot, then I concede."
"Ridiculous! Does my Zhimeng need you to yield?"
Zhimeng flew into a rage.
Gu Qing was stunned.
Why did Jiang Yu sound so... 'tea-like'*?
(*Note: 'Tea-like' refers to 'Green Tea Bitch'—a slang term for someone who acts innocent and pure but is actually calculating and manipulative.)
"However, I recently obtained an Immortal's inheritance, and my cultivation has already broken through to the peak of the God Fire Realm's ninth stage."
Jiang Yu revealed her cultivation. Her aura of laws and Dao rhyme was even more profound and unfathomable than Zhimeng's.
Zhimeng: "..."
"Im... possible..."
Zhimeng shook her head slowly, her expression cracking inch by inch.
Her fists clenched tight, and small veins popped out on her fair cheeks.
"Hahaha..."
"Too good."
"Heaven blesses my Star God Palace..."
The ancestors lying in their coffins let out hearty laughter of relief.
You bad seed, always causing trouble. You've been slapped in the face now, haven't you?
Although they didn't understand why the two of them had broken through so quickly, the world of these heaven-defying monsters was not something they could comprehend.
Just like Gu Qing.
Strong to the point of defying reason.
The Star God Palace had suddenly produced three monsters unseen since ancient times. Their lineage was destined to rise.
"Boom!"
Zhimeng gritted her teeth. Divine power rampaged within her, and her terrifying aura of the Divine Path crushed the void, presenting a scene of world-ending destruction.
The scalps of the people in the Star God Palace went numb.
Although there were formations blocking it, the terrifying and peerless divine might reflected across the heavens and struck their souls directly. They couldn't breathe, as if they were being suppressed by a great terror, their life and death no longer their own.
"You really deserve to die..."
Zhimeng looked frantic.
Why?
Why was it that every time she was about to surpass Jiang Yu, Jiang Yu would always obtain various fortuitous opportunities?
As she improved, Jiang Yu followed closely behind her.
Sometimes, she even surpassed her.
Just like right now.
That aura of laws and Dao rhyme was far more powerful than her own.
But so what?
She wouldn't admit defeat.
A high realm didn't necessarily mean strong combat power.
Her Laws of Destruction were invincible.
Even if Jiang Yu's realm was higher than hers, she was confident she could fight and win.
Zhimeng took a deep breath, just about to test her strength against Jiang Yu, when suddenly, the heaven and earth changed color.
Rumble!
The sky was suddenly covered in dark clouds; lightning birthed in the void, the firmament split open, and boundless immortal light descended.
This was the Ascension Tribulation.
"Do not resist. Success or failure depends on this one move."
Before Zhimeng could react, Jiang Yu used the technique 'Universe in the Sleeve', swallowing the both of them into her sleeve, isolating them from the Heavenly Dao.
In the strange space, Gu Qing and Zhimeng looked at each other.
"You knew long ago that Jiang Yu broke through to the peak of the God Fire Realm, didn't you?" Zhimeng gritted her teeth.
She felt like she had lost immense face today.
"Yes. She's the one taking us to ascend. I was just about to tell you, Master, but who knew you'd be in such a rush."
"Detestable!"
She had thought it was someone else taking them to ascend.
If she had known it was Jiang Yu, she wouldn't have come out of seclusion even if she was beaten to death.
Now it was done. Even if she defeated Jiang Yu in the future, the people of the Lower Realm wouldn't know.
They would only know that there was once a pair of unparalleled peerless geniuses, the most dazzling pearls in the myriad heavens.
"Master, you really don't need to be like this."
"You obtained Lin Xuan's opportunities; Jiang Yu will sooner or later become a defeat under your hand." Gu Qing comforted her.
"You don't understand." Zhimeng closed her eyes and shook her head slowly, putting on the mask of suffering.
"???
Is the desire for victory really that strong?"
Gu Qing was speechless.
Bang!
Zhimeng was shifted by a gentle force and crashed into a hard chest without warning.
"..."
Gu Qing was a bit dumbfounded, subconsciously hugging his Master.
Don't say it, but...
Zhimeng was domineering, and her mouth was hard, but her heart was harder.
However, her body was fragrant and soft.
Her slender, graceful waist was boneless and delicate.
[
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