Chapter 165: The Second Heaven

"Ding, finally ascended, let's go watch the excitement!"

Shen Xitong wore a bright smile, her large eyes curving into crescents, looking exceptionally beautiful.

Lu Ye glanced at her and suddenly punched himself in the chest.

Shen Xitong ???

"Ding, stupid host, what's wrong? Are you sad seeing them ascend?" Shen Xitong asked with a probing look.

"No, my heart was being disobedient just now—it deserved a beating!"

His heart actually raced just from looking at Shen Xitong? Unacceptable. If it kept acting up, he wouldn’t mind digging it out and feeding it to the dogs.

"Ding, if your heart is disobedient, do you have heart disease?"

"You even know about heart disease?"

"Ding, yep, I know a lot."

The light screen had already shifted to the scenery of the Second Heaven.

Ascension Pool.

Those who successfully transcended their tribulation and ascended would undergo purification in the Ascension Pool, helping them quickly adapt.

Typically, within the Ascension Pool, newly promoted Mahayana cultivators could complete a full energy upgrade.

A group of powerful figures surrounded the Ascension Pool.

But at this moment, they were utterly bored.

Too few people were ascending. At first, Jiang Die had been full of momentum, and everyone had been eager to capture Lu Ye, the top-ranked prodigy on the Eternal Prodigy Leaderboard.

But they waited and waited...

Only to receive news that Lu Ye had already ascended.

Thus, the entire realm began searching for Lu Ye, checking for any unfamiliar arrivals.

Still, they found nothing.

What now?

Who the hell knew what to do.

Jiang Die showed no signs of giving up, so they had no choice but to keep waiting.

On this day, the Ascension Pool finally showed movement.

The powerful figures swiftly opened their eyes.

Within the Ascension Pool, four divine figures emerged.

Thick mist enveloped the four figures, but it was vaguely discernible that they were women, their auras rapidly intensifying.

Seeing they were female, the crowd was disappointed.

But they decided to capture them first and ask questions later!

The four figures flew out of the Ascension Pool, only to be met with a massive palm strike descending upon them in an instant.

The overwhelming aura of an Earth Immortal erupted, terrifying in its intensity.

"Fellow Daoist, what grievance do you hold against us to warrant such an attack?" Bai Qiulan swiftly formed hand seals, channeling Lunar Power into a massive hammer that smashed fiercely against the colossal palm.

Yue Hongling and Chu Ling also joined the counterattack.

With the combined force of the three, the enormous palm was shattered.

"Oh?"

The Jiang Clan's Earth Immortal let out a surprised sound, not expecting these newly ascended women to possess such formidable strength.

But the other experts had already launched their assaults.

In an instant, deafening explosions filled the air.

The four, having just ascended, were no match for such relentless attacks.

Their bodies were nearly torn apart.

"Void Fist!"

Another devastating punch arrived.

"Boom—"

Blood mist erupted from the four, their condition wretched beyond measure.

"That’s the Void Fist—you’re from the Jiang Clan? We know your Patriarch, Jiang Die!" Yue Hongling roared.

"Hmm?"

"Capture them alive!"

Since they could name their Patriarch, caution was warranted.

In an instant, four golden restraints sealed the four completely.

Jiang Riying took out a communication stone and spoke respectfully.

"Patriarch, we’ve captured four women who ascended from the First Heaven. They claim to know you," Jiang Riying reported.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Die was momentarily stunned before bursting into excitement.

Finally, some movement.

These four women were likely Bai Qiulan and the others—but why only four?

Shouldn’t there be five?

"Quick, bring them to me! You didn’t kill them, did you?"

"No, they mentioned knowing you, so we only sealed them."

"Good, good! I’ll come at once."

Over the past two years, Jiang Die had truly been restless, unable to eat or sleep. How could Lu Ye just vanish into thin air like that?

This was unacceptable!

Now that Bai Qiulan and the others had ascended, she finally had a way to strike at Lu Ye’s weak spot.

As for what the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion claimed—that Lu Ye no longer had any interest in women—she didn’t believe a single word of it.

Lu Ye must still hold some intention to forgive them. As long as they admitted their mistakes, he would surely pardon them.

She knew Lu Ye all too well—he was someone utterly starved for love. People like him loved with everything they had, never regretting it even if they ended up battered and bruised.

Besides, if Lu Ye truly had no intention of forgiving them or holding onto hope, how could these women still be alive?

If someone had blocked her own path to cultivation, she would have slaughtered them all upon rebirth…

Who would have thought Lu Ye still clung to such illusions?

Jiang Die’s heart swelled with delight.

When she had spoken to Lu Ye through the Heavenly Conch, the icy killing intent in his voice had genuinely frightened her.

But now, it seemed—ha!—Lu Ye was still the same Lu Ye after all.

Unable to contain her excitement, Jiang Die rushed toward the Ascension Pool.

Before long, she finally got her wish and saw Bai Qiulan and the others.

"Hahaha…"

"The four of you, gathered so neatly—wait, no, one’s missing. Where’s the Vermilion Bird?" Jiang Die asked with a loud laugh.

She had a decent relationship with the Vermilion Bird. Being near her and sensing the aura of the Celestial Four Spirits often made her cultivation more stable.

"Jiang Die, release us at once! We’ve come to the Second Heaven, and instead of welcoming us, you treat us like this? What are you planning?" Yue Hongling shouted.

Jiang Die wasn’t the least bit angered. Smiling, she waved her hand, and the four golden rings flew back into her grasp.

"Come, follow me back to the Jiang family. It’s been so long—I have much to discuss with you."

Chu Ling narrowed her eyes slightly.

This Jiang Die… probably had ulterior motives.

It seemed they’d need to find a chance to escape.

The group returned to the Jiang family.

Everywhere they passed, those they encountered bowed in respect.

"Greetings, Patriarch!"

"Greetings, Patriarch!"

"You’ve already become the Jiang family’s Patriarch?" Shangguan Huanling asked in astonishment.

"Since the Emperor has been reborn, isn't it perfectly normal for cultivation progress to be faster and strength greater?" Jiang Die said with a smile.

Shangguan Huanling...

Well, perhaps it isn't that normal after all.

"Where's Lu Ye? I heard he ascended ahead of time—why didn't he wait for you?" Jiang Die asked.

"Sigh..."

"Sigh..."

"Sigh!"

A chorus of sighs rang out.

Jiang Die was both amused and exasperated. "What's wrong with all of you?"

"Senior brother has changed. He's become someone we don’t even recognize anymore. His attitude toward us now is either indifferent or downright ruthless—it’s truly heartbreaking," Yue Hongling sighed.

"Ruthless? No way. He spared your lives—isn’t that good enough? How can that be considered ruthless?" Jiang Die asked in confusion.

"Why would he kill us?" Bai Qiulan also asked, puzzled.

"Elder Sister Bai, eight YinYang DaoDevouring Gus, eight deadly poisons, all erupting when Lu Ye was transcending tribulation to become a Saint. This grudge is worse than slaughtering one’s entire family. It’s perfectly normal for him to kill you, isn’t it? The real abnormality would be if he didn’t kill you!" Jiang Die said helplessly.

Bai Qiulan was momentarily speechless.

Well... that does make some sense...