Chapter 147: Entering the Gate of Ascendants

Al and Afa raced toward the Gate of Ascendants, only to spot a familiar figure standing right in front of them.

They stopped short. Looking closer, they realized it was actually Gu Xiaoyao, standing perfectly still, not moving an inch!

Both of them froze in disbelief. Then, suddenly, laughter erupted from their lips.

“What’s wrong? Wised up at last, kid? Finally figured out that resistance is useless? At least you know when to bow your head—I’ll make your death a little easier!” Afa said.

“Exactly! Bet you never thought you’d pay for looking down on us. Next life you’d better think twice!” Al sneered.

With smug grins, the two dashed forward, each striking straight at Gu Xiaoyao’s unmoving figure.

As they basked in pride over their joint attack, what happened next pretty much matched their expectations: Gu Xiaoyao’s figure was blasted apart by their combined force.

Al felt a strange sensation—almost like hitting a real person, but something about it was off. Still, he brushed the feeling aside.

Afa burst out laughing. “Ha! That’s the price for looking down on us, human! Next time don’t be so arrogant in your next life!”

“Pity. That body looked delicious. Shame we smashed it; now I can’t even taste it,” Al said with a long, disappointed sigh.

“You two are celebrating a little too soon.” Suddenly a voice rang out. “Killer Sword Array—activate!”

“What?!” Al whipped his head around, scanning the area in shock.

Ninety-nine dazzling Killer Sword Arrays lit up beneath their feet. At the center stood the Extinction Sword and, with Xuyan’s support, the whole array’s power had tripled.

Sensing trouble, the two leapt to their feet, trying to bolt, but eight figures suddenly appeared, blocking every escape.

Afa stared at the eight figures, each identical to Gu Xiaoyao, eyes wide in disbelief. “What the—? Weren’t you already dead over there?!”

“You idiot! I knew something felt off—that was just a clone. We’ll wipe out these fakes together and get out of here!” Al shouted, raising his hand and instantly destroying one of the clones.

Afa caught on and joined in. It took only a few seconds to reduce all eight clones to nothing.

The two grinned wide, about ready to leap away and regroup somewhere else.

A sharp, commanding voice cut through the air.

“Absolute Frost!”

“What!?” Both Afa and Al spun around in shock, only to be instantly frozen into ice statues.

Ninety-nine Killer Sword Arrays erupted at once. A million swords surged out from the arrays, stabbing and weaving through Afa and Al from every possible angle.

In a blink, the two were covered in bloody wounds. Sword after sword hacked off their wings and horns, leaving their godlike bodies battered and torn.

A golden orb—the Divine Crossing Orb—fell from Afa, rolling to the base of the Gate of Ascendants. At that moment, the gate itself flared into existence: mighty, brilliant, and golden.

Gu Xiaoyao and Xuyan, drawn by the commotion, appeared at the gate. The ice sealing Afa and Al shattered as they caught sight of the massive doorway.

Ignoring his wounds, Al roared, “Damn it, not this gate again! We can’t let him open it—die!”

Afa and Al unleashed their strongest attack ever, striking where Gu Xiaoyao stood. Sensing danger, Gu Xiaoyao rushed forward, shoving the great gate open.

At the very last second, Gu Xiaoyao slipped through the Gate of Ascendants just as it snapped shut—and vanished completely.

With the gate gone, the golden orb rolled to the ground once more.

Afa and Al’s ultimate attack struck nothing but air, leaving the void to sink once more into darkness and stillness.

Al let out a furious howl, anger and unwillingness shaking his voice.

“Damn it, that’s the third now! Another one slipped inside—next time, kid, you’re not getting away!”

………………

On the other side, within the Gate of Ascendants.

Inside was a different world. Birdsong filled the air, flowers bloomed everywhere, and the air was thick with the aura of great Dao—all overflowing with powerful spiritual energy.

At the center of the Gate stood a flower pool, alongside a tall stone monument inscribed with bold words.

“Congratulations, traveler, you have crossed the Divine Path and arrived here. You now have two choices for ascending to Godhood.”

“First: Refine the Divine Lotus Fruit to shield yourself from fate and break the shackles of Heaven. This path is difficult and you must be deeply compatible with the fruit—failure is likely, but you’ll succeed quickly if it works.”

“Second: Absorb the spiritual energy of this place, and study the Divine Crossing Scripture. This route is stable but takes much longer.”

“You may only choose one—pick, and the other vanishes.”

“If you ascend, please remember to offer help to the Human Race.”

Right in front of Gu Xiaoyao sat a crimson fruit with seven leaves—the Divine Lotus Fruit—and a small booklet radiating golden energy—the Divine Crossing Scripture.

Both options lay before him, waiting for his decision. After some hesitation, Gu Xiaoyao made the cautious choice and took the Divine Crossing Scripture.

But the Divine Lotus Fruit remained. He remembered the monument’s rule and frowned. Shouldn’t it have disappeared?

He stared in confusion—he definitely picked one, but the other didn’t vanish.

“Maybe it’s my turn? Let me try,” Xuyan said, jumping out from Gu Xiaoyao’s body.

As soon as Xuyan landed, the Divine Lotus Fruit drifted toward her, as if offering itself.

“What the—? I can’t believe this is allowed!” Gu Xiaoyao rubbed his eyes, convinced he was seeing things.

“I must owe you for this, Host. Looks like this place thinks I can become a god too. Still, this fruit is better for you—I’d have no use for it.” Xuyan beamed as she handed Gu Xiaoyao the fruit.

Gu Xiaoyao gazed at Xuyan’s beautiful eyes and, after a moment’s hesitation, accepted the fruit from her.

“Alright, I’ll keep it. And this Divine Crossing Scripture—we’ll study it together, Xuyan. Maybe you’ll become a god too.”

“Really? Thank you, Host! Then I’m not holding back!” Xuyan beamed and hugged Gu Xiaoyao’s arm, nuzzling closer.

Together they opened the first page of the Divine Crossing Scripture. After grasping its key points, they sat cross-legged, drawing in spiritual energy from all around.

With scripture in hand, their cultivation began in earnest.