Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1396: 750: Void Fortress and Guardian (Part 2)

The squad's limited size stems from the fact that each member is a powerful Returning to Void Cultivator.

The duties of the Demon-slaying Team remain straightforward, focusing primarily on scouting the Star Domain Frontline and carrying out targeted assassinations.

After finishing their core assignments, team members enjoy downtime where they can roam at liberty and pick up bounty tasks whenever they please.

To sum it up, the Demon-slaying Team offers tremendous liberty, making it far more laid-back and unrestricted than serving as a Void Realm Guardian.

Huang Hongxiang simply couldn't grasp why “Zhao Xi” opted to take on the role of Guardian!

Even though a Guardian's responsibilities weigh heavily and merits along with military exploits build up rapidly, it strips away personal freedom, forcing one to simply bide their time in a grueling role that yields scant rewards.

Right after stepping out of the tower, Huang Hongxiang turned to Zhao Sheng with a look of astonishment and inquired: “Brother Zhao, why pick the ‘Guardian’ role? Aren't you aware it's typically chosen only by Returning Void Practitioners? You might want to withdraw from that ‘Guardian’ spot before it becomes official—”

Before he finished, Zhao Sheng cut him off firmly: “Mr. Huang, I know what I'm doing, so there's no need to try convincing me further.”

“Sigh, in that case, I hope Brother Zhao stays safe without any mishaps. Goodbye!”

As the old proverb warns, it's wise to drop a conversation when views collide!

Noticing how “obstinate” the other was, Huang Hongxiang lost his drive to persist, offered a quick bow, and readied himself to depart.

“Mr. Huang, stay safe! We'll cross paths again someday. Farewell!”

Zhao Sheng mirrored the gesture, gave a nod in his direction, and then pivoted to head toward the city entrance.

As he observed the receding silhouette, Huang Hongxiang abruptly pulled out an old mirror and spat a droplet of essence blood upon it.

A subtle glow emerged across the mirror's face, rapidly shaping into a person's visage.

Though the details were hazy, it clearly depicted Master Huang Shi's likeness.

“Ancestor, the target didn't bite! What's our next move?” A flicker of Divine Light danced across Huang Hongxiang's forehead as he sent his Divine Thought in secret.

“Hmm, we anticipated the target might slip the hook! Success was never guaranteed anyway. I've devised a fresh strategy—stick to the initial blueprint. Xin Bulie, leader of the Geng Metal Demon Hunting Squad, counts as my ally. Upon entering the squad, he'll look after you well. Seek him out promptly and avoid any holdups.” Master Huang Shi stayed composed, betraying no hint of fury.

“Understood, Ancestor!” Huang Hongxiang inclined his head in deference.

Just then, Master Huang Shi's form in the mirror faded abruptly, leaving the surface to grow dull at once.

With that, Huang Hongxiang stored the mirror, scanned his surroundings quickly, and veered off toward the city's western edge.

Meanwhile, Zhao Sheng had passed through the gates, a profound sense of ease washing over him as Mystic Light burst forth from his frame.

Swipe!

The very next moment, he dissolved into nothingness without a trace.

…

Within the outer reaches of the Vermilion Bird Star System, the far side of the present Void lies shrouded beneath the boundless gloom projected by the Dark Sky.

Right now, amid the turbulent and murky Dark Sky, an enormous black “orb” the size of a peak ignored the furious Space-Time Storm encircling it, firmly dominating the nearby space-time with an imposing presence akin to a steadfast peak defying colossal surges.

This colossal, sleek black orb stands as the A3 Virtual Realm Fortress, an advanced war engine surpassing a Returning Void Level Battleship by a tier and rivaling the might of a Ten Thousand Laws Level Main Ship.

All of a sudden, a silhouette materialized from nowhere before the Void Fortress; Zhao Sheng turned his palm to produce a dark gold token, which he softly charged with a thread of mana.

Immediately, the token erupted in radiant splendor, firing a beam of dark gold light directly at the fortress.

Soon enough, a Light Gate materialized on the fortress's exterior, prompting Zhao Sheng to tuck away the token with a faint grin before entering.

Upon traversing the Light Gate, Zhao Sheng entered a vast, brilliantly lit chamber.

Presently, four Human Clan Cultivators stood within the chamber, all fixing grave stares upon him.

Three men and one woman made up the group. The lady donned a crimson gown, boasting striking beauty, with her cultivation hovering around Late-stage Divinity Transformation.

Among the male cultivators, one was an elderly figure bent with age and thinning hair on top; the next, a burly warrior clad in white armor bearing a massive blade slung across his back, sported rugged looks and a fierce aura.

The final member appeared as a refined young noble, his poised demeanor evoking an aristocratic heir from mortal realms.

Zhao Sheng's eyes scanned the quartet, already weaving several notions in his thoughts. All four qualified as Divinity Transformation Realm Practitioners, their levels generally at Late-stage Divinity Transformation.

Yet the most potent among them was the young noble, who had attained the Perfect God Transformation Realm.

“Might you be the fresh Guardian?” The young noble eyed Zhao Sheng openly for a beat before voicing the question.

The moment his words ended, the four adjusted their positions discreetly, blending their auras into a unified whole.

The young noble's aura exploded manifold in intensity, exceeding the Divinity Transformation boundary by a wide margin and unleashing a formidable suppressive might toward Zhao Sheng.

“Are you the officers serving beneath me?” Zhao Sheng's gaze shimmered; he advanced steadily, aura loosening just a touch, and addressed them coolly.

Why would he fret over the feeble feint from mere Divinity Transformation Practitioners?

A fully outfitted Void Fortress typically includes several Returning Void Level Battleships, enabling layered setups for offensive and defensive maneuvers in three dimensions.

Such Returning Void Level Battleships navigate the Dark Sky with ease, their total battle prowess matching that of Returning Void experts.

Thump, thump, thump!

The young noble paled sharply, staggering back seven or eight paces, nearly retching up blood from the queasiness.

The Four Symbols Formation shattered in a flash, sending the other trio's mana into disarray within themselves, their expressions etched with astonishment.

The balding elder and the armored brute exchanged a glance, then moved ahead together, clasping hands in salute to Zhao Sheng: “Junior Qi Wuxiu (Jiang Haichao) greets the Guardian!”

Over on the side, the striking woman hastened to steady the young noble, though her effort came a tad belatedly.

The young noble eased her aside with care, then offered a profound bow of respect to Zhao Sheng: “Junior Yue Longpeng greets the Guardian!”

The striking woman mirrored the action, curtsying and stating her name.

“I've only just stepped into the Guardian role and remain unacquainted with the A3 Fortress's affairs. For the moment, the fortress's regulations stay as they are. All of you must carry out your roles with utmost diligence, avoiding any errors. Do that, and I'll overlook this incident. Fail, and I won't hesitate to act harshly. Clear?” Zhao Sheng delivered the words in a flat, unyielding voice.

He hadn't sought to assert dominance, yet these four had tested him upon arrival, so courtesy was off the table.

Wherever one serves, defiance ranks as the gravest offense in armed forces!

By picking this reckless path, the four surely hid some hidden agenda!

Zhao Sheng harbored certain guesses but refrained from rash moves.

To him, the noble Qi Wuxiu undoubtedly possessed profound connections.

Without such backing, the rest wouldn't have joined in his folly.

Qi Wuxiu's complexion had steadied, though his look toward Zhao Sheng carried lingering respect and caution.

“This subordinate complies, and henceforth, will support you fully while fulfilling missions to the utmost.”

With Qi Wuxiu submitting first, the remaining three held their tongues and echoed their agreement.

Zhao Sheng's demeanor eased a bit; he gave a casual fist salute and dismissed the others, keeping only Qi Wuxiu behind.