Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1392: 748: Refining Demon and the Mark

In a flash, the five-colored Thunder Light ensnared countless black demonic thoughts, causing them to evaporate like snow melting under a scorching sun.

The dark stains rapidly diminished, their murky colors fading until they vanished entirely.

A short moment later, a tremor ran through Little Gold’s entire frame. A fissure suddenly opened in its palm, and a faint "smoke" was expelled from the gap.

This "smoke" twisted in the air into a ghastly ghost face, emitting an eerie screech as it tried to burrow back into Zhao Xuanjing’s flesh.

“Boom!”

Violent bursts of purple lightning surged from the surface of his skin, instantly drowning the remaining "demonic thoughts."

The Purple Cloud Divine Thunder carried the dual destructive forces of heavenly tribulation and total obliteration; the demonic thoughts were powerless to resist and were reduced to nothingness.

“Ahhh…”

As the Five Thunder Ring ascended slowly, Little Gold’s features contorted in agony, and it let out heart-wrenching wails of pain.

Clearly, despite its incredibly thick skin, it could barely endure the onslaught of the Five Elements Divine Thunder.

Little Gold currently resembled a multicolored porcupine, with threads of five-colored lightning weaving in and out of its body, leaving it covered in burn marks and charred patches from the electricity.

“It hurts, it hurts… ah!” Little Gold cried out piteously, rolling across the floor.

Just as Zhao Sheng began to fully retract the Five Thunder Ring, a massive surge of Profound Yellow Earth Qi rose from the ground of the cave mansion. It poured into Little Gold, visibly mending its injuries.

The Mountain Dragon was famous for its tenacity, capable of surviving even if its body were sliced into several pieces.

Consequently, such physical damage was of little consequence.

Little Gold recovered in an instant and leaped up from the ground. With a wide grin, it jumped to Zhao Sheng’s side, clutching his leg tightly and shouting its thanks.

“Hehe, I’m fine! It didn’t hurt at all just now, really!”

“As long as you are alright, let go of me; you are about to snap my leg.” Zhao Sheng patted Little Gold’s head gently, his attention already shifting back toward Zhao Xuanjing.

He observed Zhao Xuanjing closing his eyes once more. The Demon Refining Heart Fire circled him before entering his body through his sensory orifices, gradually masking his features until his face became indistinct.

“Zhao Sheng, quickly help the master! Look how much pain the master is in!” Little Gold pleaded, its heart aching as it pushed Zhao Sheng with an expectant gaze.

Zhao Sheng shook his head and replied calmly, “Jing Ancestor’s situation is different from yours. Although demonic thoughts are a tribulation, they are also a form of tempering. Once this trial is over, his Dao heart and willpower will certainly reach a new height. It is vital for his future Cultivation!”

Understanding the weight of those words, Little Gold stopped its urging and watched its master intently, its fists clenched tight.

Time passed quickly, and several months went by in the blink of an eye.

By now, no further demonic thoughts surfaced from Zhao Xuanjing’s Primordial Spirit. His spirit had solidified so thoroughly that it looked like a True Immortal, nearly impossible to distinguish from a physical body.

Suddenly, a thunderous “boom” echoed, and Zhao Xuanjing’s Primordial Spirit erupted into fierce flames, accompanied by a high-pitched cry of despair from within.

The screaming stopped abruptly as the final remnant of demonic thoughts was refined by the Heart Fire, turning into "resources" for his growth.

Zhao Xuanjing opened his eyes slowly, surrounded by a hundred feet of Divine Light, and he couldn't help but recite: “…if my life is in my hands, only then can I plant a Golden Lotus in fire! Today, my Dao is finally achieved!”

As his voice trailed off, the Primordial Spirit transformed into a rainbow and merged into his physical body several hundred feet away.

A second later, Zhao Xuanjing drifted into the air, a radiant halo manifesting behind his head.

At the center of this halo sat a Chaos Vortex, with something seemingly prepared to emerge from the depths.

Zhao Xuanjing’s body descended, his feet touching the ground softly. As he opened his eyes, a natural and harmonious aura flowed from him.

Seeing this, Zhao Sheng’s expression relaxed into a smile, realizing that Jing’er had reached the peak of Returning to Void and was about to face the dual trials of the Unification Realm!

However, these two trials are notoriously difficult, often described as having only one chance of survival in a hundred!

Zhao Sheng was uncertain if Zhao Xuanjing would successfully form his Lifebound Cave Heaven or survive the Six-Nine Thunder Tribulation to become a mighty expert of the Unification Realm.

Beside him, the Mountain Dragon Little Gold’s eyes went wide as it clapped in joy: “Amazing! Master has finally shattered his inner barriers and reached the Great Perfection Realm. After nearly ten thousand years of bitter Cultivation, the Dao Fruit is finally seen today!”

Zhao Xuanjing smiled at the words, took a step, and appeared silently before Zhao Sheng, bowing deeply: “I have turned this disaster into a blessing, largely due to your assistance. Please accept my gratitude!”

Zhao Sheng did not move to stop him, choosing to accept the bow.

Zhao Xuanjing’s statement was accurate; his progress to this point was heavily indebted to Zhao Sheng’s immense efforts, even if Zhao Xuanjing didn't know the full extent of it.

Once the formal bow was finished, Zhao Sheng reached out to steady him, insisting that such ceremony was unnecessary.

After Zhao Xuanjing regained his composure, his face turned grave as he slowly opened his palm.

Within his hand, a layer of Profound Yellow Light flickered, revealing the faint image of a pale face that shook like a candle flame in a draft.

“Alas, it seems our power was slightly lacking, just by a hair!” Zhao Sheng sighed.

He recognized immediately that the pale face was a mark, and its source was obvious.

“Do not blame yourself… it is a matter of fate and destiny… there is no one else to fault. I have no fear in my heart; I doubt it will manifest. If it does, it will simply be a whetstone for my Cultivation,” Zhao Xuanjing told Zhao Sheng calmly.

“This mark is too feeble to disturb your Dao heart. It is a hidden blessing!” Zhao Sheng remarked with a light sigh.

“The Heavenly Dao has fifty paths, yet there is only one way of escape… perhaps this mark is its own kind of opportunity,” Zhao Xuanjing added, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.