The immortal Qi became thicker and thicker. Soon, the silhouette of a white stage appeared. They could see flashes of lightning in the middle of the stage. The immortal Qi condensed as the lightning increased in intensity. The stage broke apart as a bolt of lightning struck the middle.

　　“Eh?” Bitao started. “The lightning tribulation has increased. It looks like someone brought something up into the immortal realm.” Is it characteristic of people from the Azure World to bring something up with them as they ascend to immortality?

　　The light from the lightning finally dissipated, as did the immortal Qi. Slowly, the immortal Qi condensed back together. After a full minute, the Immortal Ascension Stage formed once again. The lightning was no more. A golden beam of light shone from the center of the stage, straight into the sky.

　　The golden light illuminated half the skies. The gold mixed with the red in the sky, from where Lonemoon was going through his own Lightning Tribulation. The next minute, a black figure appeared within the golden light. The figure sped out of the light and ran toward the group. It attempted to land smoothly but it fell to the ground with a loud crash, as if it suddenly ran out of energy. The figure landed just a few metres from the group.

　　The welcoming light and the Immortal Ascension Stage disappeared.

　　Everyone took a few seconds to look at the lump on the floor… it was so black. The figure looked extremely burnt, and its body appeared like charred wood. There was smoke and heat emitting from the figure. All around, the smell of burnt meat lingered.

　　It looked like the Lightning Tribulation was extremely harsh on him. His entire body was curled up. His chest was rising and falling as he panted heavily. He sucked in several deep breaths and tested out his limbs. Then, shaking, he got to his feet.

　　Everyone stared blankly at him. Who was this companion who made it to the immortal realm? They exchanged looks with one another. One by one, they stepped forward to offer help.

　　Even Shen Ying subconsciously walked forward, behind her disciples. Before they reached the man’s side, they heard an extremely familiar and monotonous voice.

　　[Ding! Spotted Badass! Urgent mission: Kneel down toward the Badass and express your obsequious feelings!]

　　Immediately, the black figure who had used up all his remaining energy to stand on his two feet fell to the ground on his knees, facing Shen Ying.

　　Shen Ying: “…”

　　Yi Qing: “…”

　　Bitao: “…”

　　Everyone: “…”

　　This immediate elaborate greeting – suddenly, Shen Ying knew who this person was.

　　“Damn it!” The black figure cursed. He placed his palm on his pounding forehead and looked up. “System, what the hell are you doing? Where the hell are we now… Holy shit! Shen… Shen Shen Shen…”

　　Was he dreaming? What was this pervert doing here? Was he lost?

　　“Hey!” Shen Ying raised her hand to greet him out of habit. It had been a long time since she last saw him. What was his name again?

　　“Perfected Feng Ying!” Yu Hong recognised the man immediately. “No, I should call you Fellow Immortal Feng Ying now!” Who would have thought that he would be the first to ascend to immortality? When the Invincible Sect first came to the upper world, he was still a Nascent Soul.

　　“How are you all…” Feng Ying did not manage to finish his sentence before he spat out a mouthful of blood. His body was already lacking in immortal Qi, but now his immortal Qi was dissipating even more quickly.

　　Yi Qing frowned and started to step forward.

　　“Feng Ying!” A woman’s voice sounded from behind them. The shadow of a woman floated from his body, back-facing the crowd. Her voice full of worry and guilt, she exclaimed, “Why did you do this… I said it before, you cannot do this! If you listened to me and stopped caring about me, you would be able to ascend by yourself!”

　　“Little Yu…” Feng Ying reached out and held onto the woman’s hand. The corners of his mouth twitched, as if he was trying to smile at the woman. “I’m alright. Aren’t we… aren’t we up here now?”

　　“How can you be alright?” The woman sounded extremely anxious now, and her eyes were filling with tears. “If you had not used up all your immortal Qi to protect my soul throughout the lightning tribulation, you wouldn’t…”

　　“Didn’t I tell you before? I have a secret weapon: the system…” Feng Ying was again cut-off mid-sentence by his own coughing. He could not stop himself from coughing out blood. “System… wouldn’t let me die. It definitely has a way…”

　　Before he could finish, there was a familiar sound.

　　[Ding! The host’s health level is too law. Forceful mission: Host, please get on your knees and place your palms under your forehead. Position yourself in a kowtow position, facing the Badass. Shout a healing spell, “Grandma, save me!”. P.S.: Please repeat this three times with 200% volume!]

　　Shen Ying: “…”

　　Feng Ying: “…”

　　(╯‵□′)╯(┻━┻

　　Flips table! Is this the time to be playing a fool? Rotten system, all it’s interested in is boot-licking!

　　“Grandma can’t save you,” Shen Ying answered seriously.

　　“…” Whose grandma are you! Don’t think I wouldn’t hit you!

　　“Chef, you..”

　　She was just about to ask Chef to take a look at him, but the woman who was back-facing them suddenly turned right around to face them full-on. She had an incredulous expression. “Shen… Ying?”

　　“Huh?” Shen Ying subconsciously said. Then, she realised this woman looked.. familiar. “Roasted Chicken Gal?”

　　“Shen Ying! It really is you!” Her eyes became redder immediately. She turned to look affectionately at Feng Ying, then… she let go of his hand immediately and ran to hug Shen Ying. “That’s great! You’re alright! You’re really alright… you scared me.”

　　Yi Qing: “…”

　　Feng Ying: “…”

　　Little bastard , both of them thought at the same time.

　　Shen Ying: “…” What’s going on?

　　——————

　　Feng Ying brought Roasted Chicken Gal up to the immortal realm by force – that was why he had to go through the Lightning Tribulation twice. Although he had the help of the system, he still emerged thoroughly burnt. He clung on to his last breath as he ascended the Immortal Ascension Stage.

　　What’s more, he had already given half of his immortal Qi over to Qi Chengyu during the Lightning Tribulation. That was why his wounds did not heal throughout the process. As for Roasted Chicken Gal, the reason she was with him was related to Invincible Sect’s sudden disappearance.

　　At the time, they were pressed for time to save Father Niu. Lonemoon, who normally took control in desperate times, was unconscious. That was why the retarded master and disciple did not even think to inform others of where they were going. In addition, many immortals were dying in the lower realm at the time. Everybody thought that immortal ascension visions were appearing because of those immortals. Even Rabbit did not know that the Invincible Sect was ascending.

　　The four aristocratic families looked around for the longest time, but nobody could find any traces of the Invincible Sect. They had no choice but to give up. Later on, only Qi Chengyu and Feng Ying continued to look into these matters. The more they worked together, the more they took a liking toward each other. Roasted Chicken Gal was of a very high cultivation level – Soul Formation. But she was a demon cultivator afterall – the Lightning Tribulation would be harder for her than it would be for normal cultivators. That was why she suppressed her cultivation.

　　When they finally could not suppress it any longer, she decided that she had no choice but to go through the Lightning Tribulation. As she was becoming a Traveling Immortal, complications arose and Feng Ying did not make it in time to save her. Her bones were completely destroyed and she was gravely injured. She could only remain on the earth in a spirit body. Feng Ying decided to ascend to immortality to look for a way to help her.

　　“That’s right” She suddenly recalled something. “Little Red, didn’t you say two matters needed tending to? What was the other matter?”

　　“It’s not a big matter. There are two people at the bottom of the hill who are here to see you, Master,” Yu Hong replied.

　　“Oh,” Shen Ying did not bother. She continued to watch Bitao heal Feng Ying. Hopefully, he would turn out alright.

　　At the bottom of the hill.

　　The two Celestial Emperor animals: “…”

　　They had been standing at the bottom of the mountain for almost half a month.Why hadn’t the Exalted Goddess come down to see them? Was she angry with them? She must be!

　　Just because they were late by two days… Wa wa wa… What were they to do? They were doomed!

　　The two of them trembled uncontrollably.