Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1361: 733: Nascent Souls Gather, Nine Nether Tower Illusion Realm? (Part 2)

Following this, two elderly figures descended from atop the dragon’s head, taking their place side by side before the assembled crowd.

Positioned on the far left was a man in a golden Daoist robe. With his snowy hair, long white beard, and a grave countenance, he was none other than Zhao Zhongping, the Divinity Transformation True Monarch with the greatest longevity.

Beside him stood the Zhao Family's other Divinity Transformation True Monarch, Zhao Xuanji. His aura surpassed even that of Zhao Zhongping, radiating a piercing and frigid killing intent.

The Nascent Soul Elders, who had been whispering moments before, fell into an immediate hush upon witnessing the simultaneous arrival of the two Divinity Transformation Ancestors.

“...We offer our respects to the two Divinity Transformation Ancestors.” The group of Zhao Family Nascent Souls bowed deeply, their voices rising in a synchronized salute.

Zhao Zhongping’s indifferent gaze swept over the crowd. With a casual flick of his sleeve, he drew the Golden Flood Dragon into a spirit beast bag before addressing them: “The Ancestor has shown profound benevolence by granting this special opportunity! This is a rare stroke of luck for the Zhao Family, and even more so for you juniors. We have gathered you today to identify the ‘talents capable of carrying great burdens.’ Whether our clan can foster more Divinity Transformation cultivators in the future, or perhaps even... Returning Void Venerables, depends entirely on today! Do you possess the confidence?”

The depth of Zhao Zhongping’s voice was such that Zhao Xiandu felt as though thunderclaps were erupting near his ears, making his heart race uncontrollably.

“We do!”

The hundred Nascent Soul Elders standing in the plaza shouted their reply as one, a sound so powerful it echoed through the Nine Heavens.

“Excellent! Your resolve pleases me! Behind me stands the Nine Nether Tower, which contains nine distinct layers of illusions. For every stage you successfully navigate, I shall personally grant a reward. The higher your ascent, the more magnificent the prize. Do not doubt the commitment of your elders; the rewards provided this time are vast, surpassing your wildest dreams!” Zhao Zhongping nodded with approval as he continued.

Filled with excitement, the Zhao Family Nascent Souls remained silent and focused, causing a heavy stillness to settle over the plaza.

After a brief silence, Zhao Zhongping’s voice boomed once more: “For this occasion, the sequence of entry into the tower will be determined by seniority rather than Cultivation level. The ‘Yan’ lineage shall lead, followed by the ‘Qinghua’ generations in order. A new generation will enter every hour. Let us dispense with further talk. Where are the members of the ‘Yan’ lineage? Step forward!”

As his command faded, three beams of light shot out from the group and landed before the two Divinity Transformation Ancestors, revealing three old men with heavily lined skin and an aura of fading vitality.

“Yan Guo, Yan Zhuo, Yan Mi! Your remaining time is short; this is your final chance, so you must value it immensely. I hope that once you emerge, you will grasp the opportunity while you still draw breath and fight with everything you have. Do you understand?”

“We... shall remember the Ancestors’ words! We will certainly not fail you!” The three men displayed looks of grim resolve, bowing low as they answered in unison.

At that moment, the sealed doors of the tower creaked open slowly, exposing a dark interior steeped in mystery and the unknown.

Zhao Xuanji, who had been silent until now, noticed the doors opening and gave a prompt reminder: “The time has come. You three, enter!”

“Yes!”

The three elders of the Yan lineage saluted once more, shared a look, and then the eldest, Zhao Yan Guo, led the way into the tower, followed closely by Zhao Yan Zhuo and Zhao Yan Mi.

The other Nascent Souls watched as the three elders vanished into the darkness beyond the door, and a sense of apprehension began to stir in many of their hearts.

An hour passed quickly, yet surprisingly, not one of the three elders from the Yan lineage reappeared.

The fact that the three had entered and not returned—leaving their status unknown—caused a wave of unease among the Nascent Souls, who began to murmur amongst themselves in disagreement.

“Qingjiang, Qing Su... Qing Guang, come forward! It is your turn now.” Ignoring the whispers of the juniors, Zhao Xuanji spoke up suddenly.

Upon his call, five members of the Qing lineage emerged and, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, entered the tower one by one.

Another hour went by, and still, none of the five from the Qing lineage came back out.

The Nascent Souls grew even more agitated at this, though some secretly felt relieved, assuming the trial was not fatal since no one had been ejected.

As time ticked away and the sun began its descent in the west, it finally became time for the ‘Xian’ lineage to enter the tower.

Suppressing his inner thrill, Zhao Xiandu maintained a composed front as he walked out from the group, standing third among his peers.

The ‘Xian’ lineage consisted of eight members, ranging from early to late-stage Nascent Soul. Zhao Xiandu himself was at the peak of the Sixth Layer of the Nascent Soul realm, requiring only a small spark of inspiration to reach the Seventh Layer and become the fifteenth Great Cultivator of the Zhao Family.

First to enter was Zhao Xiangang, followed by the second in line, Zhao Xianling.

Then, it was Zhao Xiandu’s turn!

“May your Cultivation endure; I wish the Third Master success in reaching the summit, and may your path be bright upon your return.”

Hearing that voice in his ear, Zhao Xiandu’s eyes sparkled. His body suddenly blurred into a bolt of Thunder Light, streaking instantly into the tower's entrance.

...

After a brief moment of vertigo, he opened his eyes to find a massive, endless prairie stretching out before him.

Lush green grass carpeted the earth like a vast rug. A light breeze drifted from the distance, making the blades of grass ripple and sway while carrying a clean, fresh scent.

Looking up, he saw white clouds drifting across a pale blue sky. The environment felt incredibly tangible, showing no obvious signs of being an Illusion Realm.

What shocked Zhao Xiandu most was the incredible density of the Spiritual Energy within this Illusion Realm; it was unlike anything he had ever encountered.

If one were to practice Cultivation here for a hundred years, it would be equivalent to thousands of years of secluded meditation in the outside world. The potential gains were staggering!

Nevertheless, he reminded himself that this was still an Illusion Realm and the trial was his priority!

With that thought, Zhao Xiandu released his Divine Thought, spreading it outward until it covered a radius of nearly a hundred miles.

A moment later, he frowned deeply, clearly facing a significant obstacle.

Even with his high realm, he was unable to detect any 'flaw' or inconsistency in this Illusion Realm.

It appeared as though this vast grassland was entirely real.

“How can this be? This is only the first layer! It shouldn't be this difficult!” Zhao Xiandu whispered to himself, his expression clouded with worry.

After closing his eyes to sense the surroundings for a moment, he snapped them open and transformed back into Thunder Light, flying rapidly toward the east.

In that direction, he had sensed a pack of demon wolves lurking in the tall grass.

Since no flaw was visible, he decided he would have to provoke the environment to see how it reacted and adjust his strategy accordingly!

The prairie seemed to go on forever.

However, at the speed of Zhao Xiandu’s light flight, he reached the location a hundred miles away in no time.

Throughout the flight, he saw no other signs of life, and the landscape below remained monotonous and unchanging.

Covering the distance in a heartbeat, Zhao Xiandu stopped his flight and, without hesitation, thrust a palm toward the grass below.

Bang!

A globe of Sky Blue Thunder fell instantly, exploding into a massive web of green lightning that charred the grassland for miles around.

Immediately, large shadows of green wolves leaped from the grass, surrounded by swirling demonic winds as they lunged upward.

In an instant, thunder boomed and lightning flashed, while a pungent, burnt smell filled the air.

The charred bodies of seven or eight massive green wolves fell from the sky. Each was several meters long, featuring a single horn on its head and jagged teeth, looking incredibly fierce.

The moment the wolf carcasses hit the ground, they dissolved into plumes of smoke and vanished, leaving behind green, thumb-sized Crystal Stones.

Zhao Xiandu’s eyes widened. He made a beckoning motion, drawing the green Crystal Stones through the air and into his palm.

The moment he touched them, he sensed something extraordinary, and his face twisted into a look of profound shock.

“This... could this be... a Wood Element Law Crystal?!” He cried out in shock, his voice trembling with a rare stutter.

“This... could this be... a Wood Element Law Crystal?!” He cried out in shock, his voice trembling with a rare stutter.

The moment he touched them, he sensed something extraordinary, and his face twisted into a look of profound shock.

“This... could this be... a Wood Element Law Crystal?!” He cried out in shock, his voice trembling with a rare stutter.

“This... could this be... a Wood Element Law Crystal?!” He cried out in shock, his voice trembling with a rare stutter.