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Lily had faced strikes from warriors like Yoritomo himself, but even with her doubled physical strength from absorbing the Lunar Crystal, she found herself heavily injured after the giant black monk’s attack. This monk’s power seemed to rival that of a Quintuple-soul Big Dipper and his sheer brute strength alone could be compared to a Sextuple-soul Big Dipper.

“Huh?” As Lily was struck and began to fall, she braced herself for severe internal injuries based on her past encounters. However, to her surprise, the injuries were not as severe as expected. Although her body wasn’t inherently more resilient, her newfound flexibility allowed her to absorb and deflect blows more effectively. Additionally, her vitality had substantially increased, leading to faster recovery from injuries. The Lunar Crystal’s effects went beyond mere strength enhancement.

Incredibly, her body recovered in less than two seconds, defying expectations. But the giant monk didn’t relent, swinging his weapon horizontally towards Lily. Reacting quickly, she leaped back, narrowly avoiding the attack.

“He’s too fast! This giant monk is even faster than me!” Lily exclaimed, flicking the scrolls in her hands and summoning multiple Yomi Archdemons as she retreated.

The Yomi Archdemons pounced at the giant monk, but were swiftly obliterated by his whirlwind-like counterattacks. However, Lily continued to manipulate the Archdemons, orchestrating their attacks from different directions and at different times. Though they were being defeated one by one, their purpose was to divert the monk’s attention.

It became apparent that this giant monk lacked consciousness. He pursued the Archdemons without realizing that Lily was behind the diversion. Seizing this opportunity, Lily and Ayaka made their escape, running deeper into the depths of the Ascending Road.

“Sister Ayaka, let’s keep moving!” Lily called out, urging Ayaka to continue running alongside her.

In a matter of seconds, the remaining twenty Archdemons were swiftly defeated by the relentless giant monk. With no obstacles in his path, he resumed his pursuit of Lily and Ayaka at an astounding speed.

However, thanks to Lily’s earlier strategic release of Archdemons, attacking from various directions, the giant monk’s progress was significantly impeded. The hindrance caused him to slow down considerably. As the distance between them grew, the giant monk eventually vanished into the fog of the surrounding mountain range.

Lily and Ayaka continued their rapid advance until they noticed that the Yomi Archdemons left behind as guards were no longer being attacked. It appeared that the giant monk had lost their trail.

After running for another dozen miles, both Lily and Ayaka finally came to a halt, gasping for breath. Even for individuals with the strength of a Big Dipper, continuous sprinting would inevitably induce fatigue in their physical bodies. Although their spirit power remained intact, the physical strain was undeniable. Despite this, Lily was surprised to find that her exhaustion seemed to dissipate rapidly after taking a few deep breaths. It appeared that her physical fatigue had been remarkably alleviated.

“Could this be another effect of the Lunar Crystal?” Lily pondered aloud. It was highly likely. While Lily had already possessed good health, the Lunar Crystal seemed to have enhanced her endurance and accelerated her recovery from fatigue to a substantial degree.

“It’s unfortunate that a Throned Sovereign can only absorb one Lunar Crystal. Even if I desire more, it’s merely wishful thinking,” Lily contemplated, acknowledging the limitations of her abilities. Finding another Lunar Crystal was a daunting task, considering the rarity of such a treasure. The one she acquired by chance today was already a significant stroke of luck, highly valued even by individuals like Yoritomo and Ayaka.

“Sister Ayaka, that black giant monk we encountered earlier possessed strength comparable to the three great Archdemons and four great Vengeful Spirits. Who could he be? I’ve never heard of him before,” Lily questioned, her curiosity piqued.

Ayaka, visibly exhausted with a flushed face and radiating intense heat, shook her head in response. “I am equally unaware. It’s possible that the world is in a state of upheaval, giving rise to another demon of immense power near the Ise Heavenly Gate. Alternatively, he could be the guardian deity of this Heavenly Gate.”

Lily contemplated the implications. “If we encountered such a powerful demon halfway, I wonder how perilous our journey becomes when we approach the Heavenly Gate.”

“Let us proceed with caution,” Ayaka advised, still filled with trepidation. “If it weren’t for your skills that lured the black giant monk away, we would have found ourselves in grave danger. The intense Resentment Energy within him was driving him to madness.”

“Agreed. We are caught between the Vengeful Spirit and the Heavenly Gate at this point. Our only choice is to press onward,” Lily concurred.

“What lies deeper in these mountains?” Lily inquired.

“This is the Ascending Road. The fate of those who dare to deviate from the path and venture into the mountains remains unknown. Unless absolutely necessary, we should avoid taking such risks¹. If we were to bypass the dangers of the Ascending Road by traversing the mountains and still manage to reach the Heavenly Gate, then it wouldn’t truly be the Ascending Road, would it?” Ayaka reasoned, drawing a conclusion.

Lily nodded, and the two resumed their journey.

The immense power displayed by the giant monk had left an indelible impression on Lily. Even Yoritomo himself would have struggled against such an opponent. Fear coursed through her as she pondered the identity of this mysterious black giant monk. A powerhouse of his caliber could not have emerged in the Heian Dynasty without reason. Could he truly be guarding the Ascending Road? His resentful demeanor and words suggested otherwise; he didn’t resemble a guardian at all.

Lily and Ayaka had been traveling for three consecutive days, gradually sensing the mounting oppressive force around them. Fortunately, they encountered no further troubles along the way.

Finally, they emerged from the dense forest, greeted by a gloomy weather. The vast sea stretched out before them, its surface veiled in a shroud of mist that rose like towering mountains towards the heavens.

A naturally formed rocky path, several feet wide but hundreds of feet high, curved its way through the clouds, leading upwards. It was the Ascending Road, winding above the ocean, with endless cliffs on either side.

“Sister, we have finally reached the true Ascending Road. Thankfully, we encountered no demons or guards during our journey,” Lily remarked with relief.

Ayaka nodded in agreement. “Legends can only describe it to a certain extent. Now, standing here, I can truly grasp the magnificence of the Ascending Road.”

“Let’s proceed,” Lily suggested.

“Yes,” Ayaka replied, and the two of them joined hands as they approached the Ascending Road.

Suddenly, at that moment, a puff of smoke materialized at the entrance of the road, forming into a colossal three-eyed ox demon. Standing at about four meters tall with a pitch-black body, the demon exuded an aura of mystery. Adorned with golden runes and standing on a flaming cloud, it wielded an ancient giant axe embedded with a beast skull.

Curiously, they couldn’t discern the demon’s true strength. Was it so powerful that Lily couldn’t sense it anymore? That possibility sent a shiver down her spine.

“Who are you? Do you know where you stand?” The demon bellowed, emitting sparks from its nostrils.

Lily replied, “My sister and I seek to train near the Heavenly Gate. Hence, we must pass through this place. Who are you, and why do you impede our way?”

The demon retorted, “Who am I? I can be anyone, and yet, I am nobody. If you are aware of the Heavenly Gate, then you must understand the arduousness of traversing the Ascending Road and entering it. I am the guardian entrusted with protecting the lower part of the Ascending Road. If you can defeat me, you may proceed.”

Lily realized that this demon was indeed a guardian of the Ascending Road. However, it appeared more reasonable than the black giant monk they had encountered earlier.

“Dear guardian, we have no intention of entering the Heavenly Gate. We merely seek to remain by its side and train in a place brimming with divine energy. Our sister…” Lily’s words were interrupted by the demon’s dismissive tone.

“Silence! I care not for your intentions. If you wish to traverse the Ascending Road, you must defeat me. Humans always find excuses. Your reasons hold no weight. Otherwise, turn around and leave, return after you train for another hundreds of years.” The ox demon snorted, emanating an air of disdain.

With no alternative but to fight the guardian, Lily and Ayaka found themselves at a crossroads.

“In that case, dear guardian, we accept your challenge,” Lily declared.

“Allow me to warn you beforehand. Judging by your appearance, reaching this level of strength is undoubtedly challenging. It would be a shame if you were to meet your demise. Generally, I refrain from killing, but in the heat of battle, I may lose control. Furthermore, if you fall into the ocean, you will never return. Are you certain?” The demon cautioned, aware of the inherent danger of combat.

Lily nodded resolutely. “I understand.”

“Very well. Will both of you fight me together, or will you face me one by one to pass?” the demon inquired.

Perplexed, Lily asked, “What difference does it make?”

“I am not physically an ox demon, as you perceive. Instead, I am an illusory manifestation created by a powerful entity from ancient times. My form and strength will adapt based on the abilities of my challengers.”

“Must we defeat you together, or can we conquer you individually to proceed?” Lily sought clarification.

“Moo! How audacious. It matters not. Whether you defeat me as a duo or individually, this formation will deactivate for ten breaths. During that time, anyone can pass. Throughout history, some have walked the Ascending Road with their loved ones or servants. However, those lacking exceptional strength would never enter the Heavenly Gate, no matter how they traversed the Ascending Road,” the ox demon replied.

“Dear guardian, I have another question. Have any individuals managed to enter the Heavenly Gate in the past?” Lily inquired, curiosity piqued.

The demon fell silent for a moment, his anger apparent when he responded, “Do not ask questions you should not ask! If you wish to challenge me, then do so swiftly. If not, leave! Do not assume my leniency because you are beautiful women. I am merely a formation, devoid of the emotions of a living being.”

Understanding the boundaries, Lily nodded in acknowledgment. “Understood. Then, I shall face the challenge alone.”

“Lily, this formation’s strength adapts to the challenger’s abilities. It possesses a mystical nature. Given my greater combat experience, why don’t I take the lead?” Ayaka suggested.

“No, Sister Ayaka. Allow me to face this ox demon,” Lily insisted determinedly.

1. Robinxen: So that’s going to happen then.