Chapter 190: Mother

Chapter 190: A Mother’s Resolve

Chi Jing ascended the steps, stopping a few paces from Gong Sunxiong.

She lowered her gaze to the charred remains of his body, a faint smile playing on her lips. "With your cultivation base degraded and your physical form destroyed, how many more strikes of Heavenly Thunder can you withstand?"

Gong Sunxiong’s fury intensified, his eyes blazing as if to spew fire.

If he weren't preoccupied with repairing his body, unable to spare a moment, he would have long since struck down Xie Yuqing.

Gong Sunxiong hastily regenerated his right arm. His freshly formed fingers seized the white pagoda, hurling it with vicious force toward Chi Jing.

His voice suddenly rose, sharp and piercing, "How dare you! Such crude methods pose no threat to me!"

Chi Jing reached out, effortlessly catching the white pagoda as it flew toward her. The smile remained on her lips, but her eyes turned cold. "Grandmaster, you truly are as arrogant as ever."

Her tone was calm, her demeanor natural. Compared to the frantic and furious Gong Sunxiong, she appeared more like an aloof and noble immortal.

Everyone witnessing this scene couldn’t help but inwardly despise Gong Sunxiong and admire Chi Jing even more.

Gong Sunxiong gasped for breath, cursing angrily, "You traitor to the Immortal Clan! If not for your reckless meddling with the Principle for the sake of demons, how could the Immortal Clan have fallen? Once I recover, I will ensure your soul is scattered to the winds!"

Chi Jing’s voice was calm. "You are mistaken. The one who turned people into demons was not I, but you, Gong Sunxiong."

"It was you who, for cultivation resources, slaughtered the entire Yuque Sect, forcing Senior Murong to descend into demonhood out of hatred, igniting a two-hundred-year war between immortals and demons, bringing devastation and endless bloodshed."

"And now, it is also you who, to ascend to godhood, commanded the Immortal Clan to endlessly plunder the spiritual energy of the mortal realm, forcing them to turn to demonhood for self-preservation. A scourge like you, who seeks to pave your path to godhood with the flesh and blood of humanity, belongs not in the divine realm but in the eighteen layers of hell."

As this near-judgmental declaration fell, a blinding flash of thunder erupted from the rumbling Heavenly Tribulation above.

Gong Sunxiong’s face turned ashen. "What do you know? We cultivators are destined to defy the heavens for immortality. Those mortals are nothing but ants, squandering the world’s spiritual energy. That they can assist me in achieving the great path is a blessing they’ve earned over several lifetimes!"

The others, hearing his words, grew even more furious.

Though they had long known Gong Sunxiong to be a beast who treated human life as worthless, they never expected him to be so unabashedly monstrous.

They could only regret their inability to approach the Celestial Steps; otherwise, they would have rushed him long ago to cut him down.

The hatred in their eyes almost solidified into substance, stabbing toward him like blades, but Gong Sunxiong ignored them completely.

He sneered coldly. A bunch of low-level cultivators weren’t worth wasting his attention on.

The only reason he had the patience to waste words with Xie Yuqing was to buy time. Now, having recovered, his body once again brimming with spiritual energy and his powerful core energy flowing through his limbs, he felt capable once more.

Gong Sunxiong took a new robe and draped it over himself, standing up. His gaze turned cold and arrogant again. "Since you insist on acting the savior and pleading their case, then die in their place!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, one of his hands transformed into a giant palm, striking toward Chi Jing.

Chi Jing stood where she was, not even blinking. She simply raised her hand and tossed out the lightning-deflecting artifact.

The white pagoda hovered before Gong Sunxiong, instantly expanding severalfold, casting a thick shadow over his face.

With a deafening crash, the Heavenly Thunder descended like an arrow, striking the pagoda’s peak directly.

Gong Sunxiong’s heart leaped violently. Realizing the danger, he tried to withdraw his hand, but it was too late. His giant palm slammed hard into the pagoda’s body.

At the moment of contact, a terrifying and immense force of Heavenly Thunder surged along the pagoda. Gong Sunxiong’s newly restored flesh split and exploded once more under the lightning, pain searing to the bone.

As it ended, he immediately retracted his hand. Before he could even curse, another bolt of Heavenly Thunder struck down.

Gong Sunxiong’s pupils trembled. Without another thought, he turned and fled upward along the Jade Steps. Yet, to his dismay, the white pagoda followed closely, and the tribulation lightning struck him again!

Only then did he realize that the artifact had locked onto him. Whether he touched it or not, the Heavenly Thunder would be guided toward him.

But this made no sense!

What level of cultivation did Xie Yuqing possess? How could she possibly have such a heaven-defying artifact?

If he had possessed an artifact capable of guiding tribulation lightning, he would have long since transcended tribulation and ascended to godhood. Why would he still be here, subjected to criticism from mere mortal demons and ants?

The thought filled him with resentment.

However, the successive bolts of tribulation lightning left Gong Sunxiong no time to dwell on it. He could only desperately cast spells to defend himself.

He hated Chi Jing to the core, cursing her inwardly, yet he was powerless to do anything—even destroying the white pagoda was beyond him.

He panicked completely. If this continued, he would surely die under the Heavenly Thunder. Since that was the case, he might as well gamble—bet that he could reach the top of the Celestial Steps before the lightning struck him dead!

With this thought, Gong Sunxiong transformed into a streak of green light, shooting straight up the Celestial Steps. In an instant, he had surpassed Chou Qianling, ascending a hundred jade steps.

The tribulation lightning chased after him, the flickering arcs of thunder and electricity striking fear into all who saw it.

Chou Qianling watched as he climbed higher, his figure shrinking to the size of a small egg. Her tense nerves finally relaxed.

She turned to look at Chi Jing, who still wore her black robe, its wide hem fluttering in the wind. Her expression was calm, as if everything that had just happened was within her expectations.

Unlike her, Chou Qianling’s hand gripping the sword hilt was already soaked with cold sweat.

Though she was delighted to see Gong Sunxiong being chased and struck by the tribulation lightning, the thought that her master had ascended the Celestial Steps for her—and would likely meet the same fate—weighed heavily on her heart.

How could she be worthy of such sacrifice from her master?

Lost in her sorrow, a hand extended before her, its palm glowing with healing spiritual light. "Qianling, are you badly injured? Let me heal you."

Chou Qianling froze for a moment, looking up in surprise, only to meet a gaze filled with concern.

Her heart softened instantly, her eyes reddening, yet her words came out cold and harsh. "Why did you come? Even without you, Gong Sunxiong would have surely died!"

She turned away, refusing to touch the offered hand, and whispered, "Since we’re going to die anyway, what’s the point of healing?"

Chi Jing stared at her trembling shoulders, momentarily stunned. Had this child always been resolved to die?

Unfortunately, she felt no guilt over it.

She chuckled softly. "Why would we die? What if it’s me who ascends to the top of the Celestial Steps?"

Chou Qianling whirled around, her eyes wide with shock. "Wh-what?"

Though she didn’t know Chi Jing’s exact cultivation level, it couldn’t possibly be higher than Gong Sunxiong’s. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have needed to nurture her, the Demon Lord, to deal with the Immortal Clan.

Chi Jing offered no explanation, only smiling. "Alright, let me heal you first. Aren’t you in pain?"

As she spoke, she lightly touched Chou Qianling’s shoulder. The healing light transformed into a luminous sphere, enveloping her.

Chou Qianling’s eyes widened as a gentle spiritual energy flowed into her body, nourishing her damaged meridians and dried-up dantian. Her demonic power gradually recovered.

Chi Jing withdrew her hand. It was just a healing spell, costing her little energy.

"Next, stand here and watch me ascend to the top."

Chi Jing spun around briskly and continued ascending the jade steps.

Heavenly Thunder boomed in the sky. Gong Sunxiong had already reached the five-hundredth step, after taking ten strikes of Heavenly Thunder, yet he was barely hanging on.

But Chou Qianling's eyes could only see Chi Jing. At this moment, that solitary and resolute figure seemed to glow with dazzling divine light, like a goddess descending upon the world with her slow ascent up the jade steps.

Her heart leaped, and she recalled once again how Chi Jing had asked her to call her Mother in front of Shangyang Hall. Back then, she had thought Chi Jing was being fake and merely pretending. Only now did she understand how noble she truly was.

Unable to hold back any longer, she shouted loudly, "Mother—!"

The figure on the jade steps halted but didn't look back.

Tears welled up in Chou Qianling’s eyes. "Your daughter will be watching you, always! Please, you must come back victorious!"

Chi Jing’s eyelashes trembled slightly, a trace of helplessness flashing in her eyes, yet her lips curved up despite herself.

This foolish child had finally given her true loyalty.

It was a pity she didn’t know that everything, from beginning to end, had been all part of Chi Jing's plan.

She smiled and said, "Of course."

Then, she bought a teleportation spell from the Supreme God System and teleported to Gong Sunxiong’s location—the five-hundredth jade step.

Gong Sunxiong was already at death’s door. His body was charred black, with raw flesh sparking with arcs of electricity, faintly emitting a burnt scent.

Lying prone on the jade steps, his heart was filled with resentment.

When Chi Jing approached him, his five charcoal-black fingers were still tightly gripping the jade step in front of him, desperately struggling upward.

But no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn’t advance even a single step.

Chi Jing looked at him coldly and chuckled softly. "Isn’t this Grandmaster Gongsun, who’s determined to ascend and become a god? Why are you lying here seeking enlightenment? It looks truly pitiful."

Gong Sunxiong froze, his entire body stiffening.

Though he wanted to kill Chi Jing, he knew it was impossible in his current state, unable even to stand.

Now, more than wanting to kill, he feared that Chi Jing would kill him instead.

Opening his mouth, with only a few teeth left, he struggled to say, "Don’t be too pleased. Even if I die, you won’t survive the Heavenly Thunder either. Perhaps we should cooperate?"

Chi Jing raised an eyebrow. "Cooperate?"

Assuming she was tempted, Gong Sunxiong eagerly said, "I have the spirit liquid collected by the SpiritDevouring Cauldron and the SkyDevouring Beast. Just give me some time, and I can recover."

Seeing Chi Jing remain silent, he became even more humble. "Truly, I can even give you the chance to become a god. Just spare me, I beg you."

Chi Jing smiled, her eyes icy. "Your proposal is good, but rather than going through the trouble of cooperating, why not just give me your cultivation?"

A sword appeared in her hand, its tip pressed against his heart.

Gong Sunxiong stiffened, fear rising in his eyes. "No—!"

In the next instant, the long sword pierced through his heart, and a drop of heart's blood, condensed with the cultivation of the Tribulation Realm, floated out and landed on Chi Jing’s fingertip.

The surrounding demons, witnessing Gong Sunxiong’s death at Chi Jing’s hands, burst into cheers of joy.

They excitedly embraced one another, waving their arms toward the jade steps.

But the next moment, a thunderous roar from the sky and the flickering lightning snapped them back to reality.

The Heavenly Thunder had not yet dissipated.

Everyone turned their gaze to the figure high on the jade steps, their eyes filled with worry. Could the savior who had slain Gong Sunxiong truly safely endure the remaining ninety bolts of Heavenly Thunder?