“Then where do you think I’ll ascend to, tree king?” Xiao An suddenly spoke up.
“I’m not certain either. Your cultivation method is special, which exists between life and death, buddhism and the demonic, and you were originally a human too. The Hell realm, Hungry Ghost realm, Heaven realm, and Human realm might all open up to you. The Demon domain might embrace you as well due to those twisted vows. However, only the Asura realm and the Daemonic Beast realm are least likely, the former because of your mental disposition and the latter because of your race. You have no fighting spirit, nor are you a daemon.”
“We must ascend to the same world, no matter what,” Li Qingshan said.
“Even if you end up in the Hungry Ghost realm?” the Great Banyan Tree King asked.
“Even if I end up in the Hungry Ghost realm!” Li Qingshan said firmly, “However, surely we can make a compromise and choose a world we both want to go to. I think the Human realm and Heaven realm are both decent choices.”
“But ascension is the world choosing you, not you choosing the world, and you better accept the world’s choice. Unlike the World of the Nine Provinces, high-level worlds like them have wills that manifest extremely well. In a suitable world, you’ll basically have the blessings of heaven for both cultivation and battle, making your life easier. It’s basically the principle of those who oblige prosper and those who defy die.”
Li Qingshan looked at Rāhu Xiaoming right before him. He was the most realistic example. An asura without a fighting spirit was probably as horrible as a living person in the Hungry Ghost realm!
The Great Banyan Tree King’s final word of advice echoed through his ears. “Instead of sticking together against the odds, why not just separate and wander off freely? You’ve already reached such a realm of cultivation together. If you take another step further, then the entire world is yours. Why must you persist with sticking together?”
“I’ll go to the Daemonic Beast realm.”
That was Xiao An’s answer.
In the Daemonic Beast realm, daemons ran amuck, and the myriad beasts were untethered.
It was said to be a world filled with life. While it did possess the brutality of the survival of the fittest, Li Qingshan was certain that it was the world that suited him the most. The Asura realm would only satisfy the tiger demon’s desire for battle, and the Heaven realm would reject his demonic nature. Perhaps the Human realm could accept the coexistence of his demonic and divine nature, but he had already had his fill of a life spent hiding among the crowds as a daemon. It definitely would not be as great as the freedom that came with just being a daemon.
Li Qingshan said nothing more. He nodded towards Xiao An. “Alright, then we’ll go to the Daemonic Beast realm.”
The two of them smiled at each other, making their decision like that.
They had no clues about how to control the world they ascended to right now, but it did not matter how the worlds chose. How could they be at ease if they just separated and wandered off freely? They would definitely go to the places they wanted to go together.
The Great Banyan Tree King had nothing to say either. Who knew whether he was happy for them or sighing.
“Come!” Li Qingshan waved his hand, and with a flash, the blade landed in his hand, plunging into the ground before him with a twirl. The Frenzy Flower Blade of Path’s End was covered in sword slashes. He stroked the blade and said, “That battle really has been tough on you.”
“Hmph, now that’s what you would call a battle. Though, please put me on the Asura Altar of Armament and sacrifice some scrap metal,” the Frenzy Flower Blade of Path’s End said proudly.
Apart from offering up weapons in exchange for new ones, the Asura Altar of Armaments also possessed the ability to repair or strengthen weapons. Many weapons would become divine artifacts renowned throughout the Asura realm step by step as they followed their masters.
“No problem!” Li Qingshan agreed happily. Before he knew it, the Blade Spirit of Frenzy Flower had already recognised him completely.
“What a good slave.” A sarcastic voice rang out from behind Xiao An. It came from the Sword Spirit of Immortal Relinquished.
“The fuck are you on about?” The Blade Spirit of Frenzy Flower flew into a rage, possessing instinctive hatred towards swords.
“I am disdained to speak with slaves,” said the Sword Spirit of Immortal Relinquished.
“It was my blademaster who won. Your swordmaster lost and died. You couldn’t do your job, which was why that happened.”
“That wasn’t my swordmaster, and weapons don’t lose. They will forever be wielded in the hands of the victor, such as right now.”
“Qingshan, I’ve already comprehended the path of the sword in it. You can use it to get a better weapon!” Xiao An drew the Immortal Relinquished sword and stabbed it into the Asura Altar of Armaments.
“You’re lying! With the depth and breadth of my path of the sword, how can you comprehend it all in such a short time!?” the Sword Spirit of Immortal Relinquished called out.
“You really don’t need it anymore?” Li Qingshan asked.
“Most of the path of the sword can only be unleashed through this sword. Just this sword is enough for me.”
Xiao An gripped the Buddha Slaying sword. The skull on the hilt grinned away viciously. The Buddha Slaying sword was her lifebound sword, not only startling in might, but also able to be further forged and strengthened. She did not have to worry about being betrayed either, so it was obviously a hundred times better than the Immortal Relinquished sword.
The blade and sword both fell silent. No matter how tough and sharp weapons were, they were still external weapons in the end. They would be replaced and relinquished the moment they were not required anymore.
“No, I’m not going to the Asura realm!” the Sword Spirit of Immortal Relinquished called out.
As the Five Absolutes Immortal’s personal sword, he knew no less about the Asura realm than Li Qingshan. If he ended up in the Armoury of War and Chaos, then it would definitely be reforged into an asura armament. That would basically be a devastating blow to it that constantly tried to become the master itself.
“How laughable. You’re afraid now?” The Blade Spirit of Frenzy Flower mocked.
“Aren’t you going to be abandoned too? Do you think that fool Li Qingshan will use two blades?”
“I knew this day would come a long time ago, but I didn’t imagine it to come so fast.” The Blade Spirit of Frenzy Flower’s voice was depressed, but she became reinvigorated again. “Alright. Kid, send me to the Armoury of War and Chaos. I’ve grown sick of this place a long time ago!”
As a result, Li Qingshan planted the Frenzy Flower Blade of Path’s End in the Asura Altar of Armaments too. “Hey, Xiaoming, move over!”
“Okay…” Rāhu Xiaoming rolled over, and then he rolled over again. Just like that, he rolled off the Asura Altar of Armaments.
Li Qingshan shook his head. He really had no fighting spirit at all!
He pressed down on the hilt of his blade and activated the Asura Altar of Armaments. He said to the Blade Spirit of Frenzy Flower, “I don’t have any scrap metal, but a sword should suffice!”
“You…” The Blade Spirit of Frenzy Flower was stunned. She sensed that not only had Li Qingshan decided against offering her up, but he was even prepared to repair her and further strengthen her.
“I was planning on switching you for a new blade, but considering how you’re obedient for once, I’ll see just how you do one more time!”
Li Qingshan laughed. He was rather eager to see how powerful of a weapon he could obtain from offering up the Frenzy Flower Blade of Path’s End and the Immortal Relinquished blade, but he still chose to further strengthen the Frenzy Flower Blade of Path’s End this time.
“Pah! Obedient my ass!” The Blade Spirit of Frenzy Flower cursed rather happily.
“If you want to strengthen the blade, then I’d advise you to do it in an orderly fashion and offer up some regular weapons. Otherwise, you might just break it.”
Rāhu Xiaoming’s lethargic voice rang out from beneath the Asura Altar of Armaments.
“Really?”
Li Qingshan scratched his head. He found this notification to be very familiar, and a few remote but terrifying memories filled his head, which made him shiver. He grabbed the hilt in a hurry, as if the Frenzy Flower Blade of Path’s End would shatter if he was not careful.
“It’s fine. Hurry up. I definitely won’t shatter!” the Blade Spirit of Frenzy Flower called out.
Only with power that could surpass the limits could she become intrinsically stronger. Otherwise, it would just imbue her with a layer of light, making her a little sharper, which would be worn down rapidly through battle.
“This… let me reconsider!”
“Hold on! I know where the Five Absolutes Immortal’s other secret tombs are! I can take you to collect the treasures!” the Sword Spirit of Immortal Relinquished called out.
