7 005~006: Why bother hustling all day for fame and fortune?

Nanxun Kingdom, 211th year, July 13th.

In the extreme north, the Misty Cliff revealed itself in Ice Wind Forest. Celestial beings descended upon us, a hole tore open in the sky and wondrous scenes of stars and constellations appeared.

Among the stars and mists, five radiant celestial beings revealed their divine forms, with irresistible elegance, lightening the heart of anyone who laid eyes upon them.

Boom——

The Misty Cliff, as massive as a towering pillar, rumbled with thunderous roars. Amid the clash of winds and clouds, arcs of lightning vibrated and echoed with the sound of thunder.

A large swath of clouds moved like waves, revealing a myriad of crests and troughs. The clouds dispersed from the center, revealing a beam of light connecting to the shifting array above.

"Celestials!"

"It truly is the Celestials!"

Nangong Shuo and many other summit dwellers, even the innate Grandmasters of the mortal realm, who had never witnessed such an astonishing scene were so shocked they were rendered speechless. They bowed in awe, hair disheveled, faces trembling.

The so-called number one Martial Artist in the world seemed laughable at this moment.

Subsequently, people who received invitation began to find their invitations glowing with spiritual light.

This light emitted a peculiar force that enveloped their bodies in a shroud, making them feel light and float towards the shaft of light.

"Dammit! Nangong Shuo, you and Shaoyu Feng joined hands to steal my invitation! I, Hu Lei, and the Sword Sound Sect swear to never bow to you!"

Hu Lei, the seventh best martial artist in the world, watched as one by one, invitation holders ascended, his face contorted with unwillingness and ferocity. He cursed Nangong Shuo, his gaze fixed on him.

Nangong Shuo frowned, his gaze focusing on his disciple who had successfully ascended. With a faint smile, he said, "Sect Master Hu, can't you see the situation? Now that Brother Shaoyu and my grandson have successfully participated in the ascension grand assembly, if one of them becomes an immortal, will you and the Sword Sound Sect dare to stand against us?"

Upon hearing this, Hu Lei was taken aback. It felt as if a lump of hot coal had dropped into an ice pit. An icy chill traveled from the top of his head to the tip of his toes. His head drooped, limp as a wet rag.

Indifferent, Nangong Shuo chuckled. Confident of his victory, he was about to ridicule Hu Lei when he suddenly noticed something. His ear twitched, his eyes darted towards the mountain trail below, and he squinted.

"Finally arrived, huh?"

A thought struck him. Now would be a favorable opportunity to strike a deal and exact revenge.

Looking at the disheartened Hu Lei he surreptitiously sent a message, "Brother Hu, don't be too upset. I see that another invitation holder has arrived. If you manage to acquire the invitation from him, won't you be able to participate in the ascension assembly? In apology, I will provide assistance at an appropriate time. I only hope to turn hostility into friendship with Brother Hu. How about it?"

Hu Lei was stunned, but he also noticed a powerful aura moving up the mountain. His mind spun wildly before he made a decision.

At that moment, Chen Dengming tread lightly along the jagged steep mountain road as if walking on a flat path. The rate at which he drained his inner energy was equivalent to his restoration rate. His face wasn't the slightest bit flushed, and he was not panting.

"Is that Chen Paterfamilias, Chen Dengming?"

"Who would have thought that the Nanxun Blade King would arrive."

"He also received an invitation? This makes it seem like among the eight innate Grandmasters, only the second highest-ranked Northern Old man hasn't received an invitation, all the others have."

On the side of the mountain, many people who had gathered started to discuss when they noticed Chen Dengming quickly climbing up the mountain.

"Grand Preceptor Chen is here too..."

"This eighth-ranked martial artist usually keeps to himself and rarely crosses swords with others. Who would have thought he'd keep such a low profile? It seems the rumors of him receiving the Stay Young Pill from a celestial might be true. Perhaps he received the invitation along with that pill."

On the summit, those who stayed behind were lost in thought. Among them, an old eunuch with a cold and smirky demeanor wasn't surprised at all.

He had once interacted with Chen Dengming in the imperial palace and knew he was the eighth-ranked martial artist in the world with extraordinary abilities, a late bloomer.

Although he was the last among the eight Grandmasters to achieve the innate realm, he had accumulated profound knowledge and rapidly progressed from the innate first level realm to the seventh. He shouldn't be underestimated.

...

Whoosh——

Chen Dengming's Qinggong move was like a gust of wind. He arrived at the snowy platform on the mountain top in an instant, lightly as if leaving no trace in the snow.

In a flash, a number of stares fell on him, an overpowering pressure instantly descended.

Chen Dengming stayed calm, expressionless, he looked around, exchanging glances with the old eunuch, Nangong Shuo and Hu Lei, giving them a slight nod.

"Chen Blade King!"

"Grand Preceptor Chen!"

At that moment, a few people who were acquainted with him greeted him, expressing goodwill.

Chen Dengming responded to each greeting with a nod, then turned his gaze to the light column above. From afar, he could feel the weighty stares of the celestial beings they sent down. He was met with an immense pressure.

Chen Dengming understood well enough that whether the Ascension Assembly was risky or not, to gain something, one needs to take risks.

He was about to take out his invitation which had started reacting in his pocket and fly towards the light column under its pull when a probing and greedy voice suddenly sounded.

"Chen Blade King, living in seclusion all these years, I would have never thought you to be an invitation holder too?"

It seems the rumors of you receiving the Stay Young Pill from a celestial was not false after all. Besides the Stay Young Pill, you must have also obtained this invitation and some other treasures, right? You, my dear sir, have deep luck.

"Hmm?"

Chen Dengming turned to look and saw a middle-aged man with a pair of swords on his back. His cheekbones were high and his eyes narrow; he gave off a cold impression, his eyes shone with a cunning light.

As their eyes met, it was as if lightning had struck, and a collision of energies ensued.