Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1394: 749: Vermilion Bird Star System (Part 2)

A flicker of astonishment appeared in Zhao Xuanjing's gaze as he murmured involuntarily, “Eh? What brings him here!”

“His aim is simple to figure out! It has to do with the Order of Army Movement. He's likely seeking an alliance.”

“You're right! Nothing else makes sense besides that.”

With those words, Zhao Xuanjing rose elegantly and drifted leisurely out of the hall.

Seeing this, Zhao Sheng trailed right after him.

Soon enough, they greeted Master Huang Shi into the hall and settled into their seats.

Master Huang Shi wasn't by himself; Huang Hongxiang, another Returning to Void Ancestor from the Huang Family, came along with him.

Following some light conversation, Master Huang Shi at last disclosed his true purpose.

Just as anticipated, the Huang Family duo had arrived to propose an alliance. They too had obtained an Order of Army Movement, requiring them to dispatch a Half-Immortal of the Void to the battlefront.

The one dispatched by the Huang Family was, of course, not the prominent Master Huang Shi, but the rather ordinary Huang Hongxiang.

Zhao Sheng had encountered this individual on a few occasions. While they weren't intimate acquaintances, they knew each other well enough, and he was aware that Huang Hongxiang's cultivation remained at the Early Stage of Returning Void, with strength that wasn't particularly impressive.

Conversely, Huang Hongxiang held him in high regard. Having received repeated counsel from Master Huang Shi, he fully understood Zhao Sheng's formidable true power.

“Watching each other's backs is beneficial, yet traveling as a pair isn't necessary. I've long preferred solitary journeys and don't care for fellow travelers,” Zhao Sheng courteously turned down the Huang Family's “generosity” once he grasped their intent.

His refusal stemmed simply from wanting better terms; put another way, their proposal fell short.

Upon hearing that, a subtle shift occurred in Master Huang Shi's eyes, and he responded measuredly, “Fellow Daoist Zhao, perhaps you should think it over. Our Huang Family is prepared to…”

“…”

An hour afterward, Zhao Xuanjing and Zhao Sheng saw Master Huang Shi and Huang Hongxiang off the island, their faces lit with smiles as the pair soared gracefully into the horizon.

…

Three months flew by swiftly!

Situated six hundred Constant Years westward in the Taiyi Spirit Realm, the Constant Sun Star System boasts seven Spirit Stars and goes by the name Vermilion Bird Star System, derived from its primary star.

From the vast emptiness of the Void Sea, two silhouettes materialized out of the Dark Sky, popping into existence above a barren Dead Star.

Billions of miles distant, a blazing massive star loomed in the Void Sea, catching Zhao Sheng's attention.

“Fellow Daoist Zhao, that's the Vermilion Bird Main Star, serving as the stronghold for the Spirit-controlling Immortal Sect, guarded by more than ten fleets of Ten Thousand Techniques Level battleships—it's utterly unassailable,” Huang Hongxiang remarked, gesturing toward the distant blazing giant star.

Throughout their shared travels, the pair had engaged in plenty of discussions, which naturally drew them nearer.

After all, Huang Hongxiang was part of the Spirit-controlling Immortal Sect and held the position of an outer sect elder; his knowledge of the Vermilion Bird Fortress Group surpassed Zhao Sheng's by far.

Zhao Sheng cast several glances at the Vermilion Bird Star and replied coolly:

“Where's Qiming City? We should head there to report first; everything else can hold off.”

Huang Hongxiang paused briefly, then agreed eagerly, “Right, right, I'll guide you there to register immediately.”

In the next instant, they morphed into streaking rainbows, hurtling toward the Vermilion Bird Main Star billions of miles off.

Over half an hour passed before they materialized amid the expansive Cloud Sea of the Vermilion Bird Realm.

“Fellow Daoist Zhao, cast your eyes there,” Huang Hongxiang indicated with a wave.

Zhao Sheng looked along his gesture and spotted a splendid golden city emerging into sight.

The city sprawled magnificently across hundreds of miles, more akin to a fortress than a mere urban center.

Constructed entirely from a type of black Heavenly Essence Rock, its four walls towered over a thousand feet, bristling with dense prohibitions and fearsome war magical treasures.

At the city's heart, a tower soaring ten thousand feet high was visible from afar, crowned by a radiant white Light Ball that mimicked a mighty sun.

The city's outer walls bore pockmarks, evident remnants of fierce clashes. Though some sections had been mended, lingering cracks stretched long across them.

This revealed the ferocity of the Alien Demon Army's attacks, indicating that the frontline's state was far grimmer than it seemed outwardly.

Near the city in the lofty skies, hundreds of colossal flying ships hovered, each mountain-sized and radiating a grim, blood-soaked aura of slaughter.

Such floating fortress cities as Qiming City dotted the Vermilion Bird Star's atmosphere in abundance, their count surpassing three hundred.

“Not a bad setup!” Zhao Sheng pulled back his gaze and gave a nod.

“Naturally! Let's enter the city first. Every Human Clan Cultivator arriving at the Vermilion Bird Star frontline for the initial time needs to register identity at the Pocket World Tower, collect a magical artifact token, and get deployment spots from the superiors. Though we enjoy greater liberty and can pursue bounty missions freely…” Huang Hongxiang explained, darting into the city ahead, with Zhao Sheng activating his tunneling light to keep pace.

Just over a hundred zhang from the gate, four or five cultivators shot out from the wall, clad in uniform fiery red armor, and intercepted the duo.

“Halt!!” The group came to a stop more than a hundred zhang away, as the lead middle-aged cultivator cupped his fists toward Zhao Sheng and his companion, demanding sharply.

Zhao Sheng swept his Divine Thought over them, noting all were late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, except the leading middle-aged one, who was a Divinity Transformation True Monarch.

Huang Hongxiang's face grew serious as he produced a green jade token with a flip of his hand, displaying it briefly before stowing it away composedly.

The middle-aged cultivator and his group paled instantly, bowing low to Zhao Sheng and Huang Hongxiang, and declared: “We juniors have duties here and were rude earlier. Please pardon us, seniors!”

Huang Hongxiang responded indifferently: “No fault in ignorance! We have business inside the city—won't you clear the path!”

“This…”

The middle-aged cultivator wavered at those words.

Noticing that, Huang Hongxiang's face softened, and he chuckled abruptly: “I nearly overlooked it. Fetch the God-shining Mirror for inspection.”

Relief washed over the middle-aged cultivator, who promptly drew forth a misty white mirror, unleashing a surge of white light that bathed Zhao Sheng and his companion.

Zhao Sheng arched a brow, but since Huang Hongxiang stood unmoved, he stayed passive, letting the light wash over him.

A law ripple, refreshing as cool water, coursed swiftly across his form, racing through the Purple Mansion Soul Sea innumerable times.

“The God-shining Mirror detects nothing amiss; both seniors are cleared—enter the city freely!” The middle-aged cultivator swiftly stored the mirror, his tone now deferential.

Huang Hongxiang inclined his head, then smiled at Zhao Sheng: “Fellow Daoist Zhao, after you!”

Zhao Sheng gave a slight nod and proceeded into the city first.

Huang Hongxiang kept close behind, clarifying as they advanced: “The God-shining Mirror is a unique treasure crafted to detect Alien Demons. In the past, infiltrations by Alien Demons into the Human Clan forces led to devastating losses and routs, hence the strict entry protocols…”

As they conversed, the pair pierced through over ten barriers and entered the city proper.

Upon passing the gate, Zhao Sheng lifted an eyebrow, sensing the ambient spiritual energy surge a hundredfold in density, while the surrounding space-time hardened immensely, barring any shift into the Void Realm from inside.

He eyed the towering structures within the city, gaining some insight in his mind.

As a defensive bastion, Qiming City's buildings shared a consistent style, brimming with unyielding, robust fortitude—lacking in splendor yet radiating invincible durability.

Figures were sparse inside the city, lending it an empty vibe, with rare sightings of one or two individuals hurrying about, clearly swamped with tasks.

Huang Hongxiang clearly knew the area well, striding purposefully toward the Pocket World Tower, and Zhao Sheng trailed in quiet observance.

“Brother Zhao may not realize, but Qiming City teems with endless prohibitions—one step, one barrier; one misstep, one death! Beyond the active No-fly Absolute Array, lacking clearance, even Integration Realm powers must proceed on foot.”

Zhao Sheng nodded pensively, remaining silent.

Moments later, they reached the central tower's base.

Up close, Zhao Sheng could better grasp the tower's extraordinary nature, its body forged from some unidentified milky white jade, every surface etched with intricate, packed spirit patterns.

For reasons unclear, an odd link formed in his thoughts to the Sky-reaching White Tower of the Endless Tower, stirring faint waves in his consciousness.

“This Pocket World Tower falls under the watch of an Integration Realm Ancestor from our sect. We're meeting Master Bi Fang of the Feather Lineage. Master Bi Fang's temper runs hot, so we must tread lightly and avoid provoking the Ancestor.” Huang Hongxiang indicated the tower's uppermost level, his face taut as he spoke.

Zhao Sheng nodded calmly and entered the tower.