Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1442: 781: The Victor Advances, the Loser Dies

Qi Wu Yan’s eyes brightened instantly, and he questioned with urgency, “Senior Shi? Or… the portal?”

Kuimu Xiao hesitated briefly, then uttered slowly, “Por… tal!”

“This…” Qi Wu Yan’s face shifted, his voice turning grave: “Senior Shi’s situation remains uncertain! I beg you, Senior Kui Mu, to try again, and uncover Senior Shi’s location.”

No sooner had he spoken than Kuimu Xiao rejected it outright: “No… way!”

Before Zhao Sheng and the rest could inquire, Kuimu Xiao clarified in broken words: “This… water… is… odd… I… can’t… endure… much… longer… escape… now!”

Qi Wu Yan heard this, his look grew somber, and his gaze shifted soon to Zhao Sheng.

“We shouldn’t stay here; departing at once is wiser!” Zhao Sheng thought for a short while, then resolutely dropped the idea of hunting for Stone Jade.

Truth be told, they shared no old bonds; their assembly stemmed solely from Qi Wu Yan’s initiatives. So why endanger themselves for an outsider?

Qi Wu Yan took in the words and gave a quiet nod, ceasing his pursuit of Stone Jade’s position. In the end, someone seeking their own doom can’t fault the rest.

Shortly after, guided by Kuimu Xiao, Zhao Sheng and Qi Wu Yan plunged deeper into the depths via the vines, locating a “portal” almost a thousand feet below.

The portal in this spot was shadowy, devoid of any glow, utterly concealed unless one reached out to feel it.

Upon this realization, Zhao Sheng felt a surge of relief; without Kuimu Xiao’s presence, he might have overlooked this concealed entrance for ages.

Qi Wu Yan, the frailest among them, feared tarrying in Weak Water; as soon as he arrived at the portal, he dashed right through.

Zhao Sheng’s eyes landed atop the portal, where he spotted a row of crimson script: “Zhao Wuming, your end is near!”

“Hehe! More petty illusions… My destiny belongs to me, not the heavens.”

With a sneer, Zhao Sheng parted his lips, expelling a miniature tripod.

Right away, the tiny tripod expanded to a few feet across, its cover popped open, and vast amounts of Weak Water rushed inside the Immortal Awakening Tripod.

Weak Water ranks among the rare Innate Divine Waters!

Zhao Sheng seized the chance, of course, collecting as much as possible.

After some time, the cover sealed shut, the Immortal Awakening Tripod diminished vastly, and in a blink, it zipped back into Zhao Sheng’s mouth, vanishing.

Next, Zhao Sheng wheeled about, swiftly crossing the portal and disappearing entirely.

Upon witnessing that, Kuimu Xiao swiftly withdrew his true form, his enormous tree trunk contracting fast, shrinking to just a few feet tall in a flash, then hurrying into the portal.

What about Stone Jade?

Who can tell if he lives or perishes!

…

Merely stepping beyond the portal, Zhao Sheng sensed an abrupt weight pressing down, making his frame dip a bit.

Hmm?

The instant after, while Zhao Sheng struggled to make out his environs, a crimson colossal claw emerged abruptly, slamming viciously at his skull.

A thunderous crash echoed as Zhao Sheng’s right fist tightened, its power smashing squarely into the claw’s core.

The crimson colossal claw broke apart at once, dissolving into myriad blood rays that scattered away.

Zhao Sheng’s eyes scanned around, absorbing the nearby vista.

This space stretched wide and blank in white, featuring portals set in the four cardinal points: southeast, northwest.

Yet the western portal gave off a dim blood-crimson glow, much like the one Zhao Sheng had just traversed.

Over the remaining two portals hovered streaks of blood-crimson text: “Winner advance” and “Loser cannot enter.”

Right then, Qi Wu Yan struggled to fend off a pair of foes.

Spotting Zhao Sheng’s arrival, delight flooded him, and he yelled promptly, “Senior Zhao, strike now!”

At those words, Zhao Sheng glanced at the far-off adversaries, then blurred forward, materializing behind an icy elder clad in blue armor with green locks, raising his fist to hammer the elder’s rear.

Taken unaware, the icy elder took the full blow.

Damn!

The icy elder’s features twisted in shock, a piercing agony exploding in his consciousness.

With that terrific impact ravaging his form, the icy elder’s flesh and Primordial Spirit turned to dust, perishing without a cry.

Meanwhile, Qi Wu Yan brandished a Green Jade Horn, from which gushed wide swaths of venomous flames, enveloping a few feet nearby and just managing to counter the encroaching crimson blood radiance.

That crimson blood radiance stemmed from a blood-crimson lotus the size of a millstone, where a three-inch red-bearded elder perched at its heart.

The red-bearded elder possessed deep cultivation, radiating a formidable pressure that blanketed the whole area.

This figure’s power stood unmatched, surely surpassing the Returning to Void stage.

Noticing the new threat, the red-bearded elder’s look altered faintly, abruptly directing the Blood Lotus to pull back dozens of feet in haste, while fixing a chilly stare on Zhao Sheng’s group.

In that instant, another form burst from the western portal.

The arrival gripped a Door Board Giant Axe, towered over three feet, built like a peak, with a blue visage and fangs, a lone upright eye dominating half his countenance.

This being’s traits were strikingly bold; Zhao Sheng identified him right away as a member of the famed One-eyed Giant tribe, known throughout the realms.

“Kill!” The One-eyed Giant bellowed with thrill the moment he showed, hoisting his massive axe, charging at the closest target, Qi Wu Yan.

Qi Wu Yan’s expression paled sharply, and without pause, he retreated, instantly sheltering behind Zhao Sheng.

Zhao Sheng narrowed his eyes, his Will Field flared, summoning a Thunder Spear from nothing, its point aimed at the giant’s solitary eye, murderous aura surging.

The following instant, the One-eyed Giant froze, bashfully dropped his axe, and edged back toward the red-bearded elder.

Precisely then, Kuimu Xiao emerged through the portal as well, entering the scene.

He scanned the circumstances swiftly, then aligned with Zhao Sheng and Qi Wu Yan at once, unleashing his immense aura.

Three versus two—we hold the upper hand!

After a tense standoff, the red-bearded elder’s caution deepened toward the rivals’ hidden strengths, particularly the Human Clan Cultivator grasping the Thunder Spear, who posed a grave peril.

By this point, Zhao Sheng had already exchanged numerous thoughts with Qi Wu Yan and Kuimu Xiao, quietly forming a plan: steer clear of combat if feasible, probe first, then choose the path.

“I am Tuohechi; might I know your honorable name?”

Zhao Sheng’s Will Field rippled from an incoming intent, abruptly catching a flat tone.

“I am Zhao Wuming; do you seek battle or slaughter?” Zhao Sheng replied evenly.

“Oh, what defines battle, and what marks slaughter?” The red-bearded elder countered swiftly, though his tone stayed neutral.

Zhao Sheng let out a frosty laugh: “Battle decides a victor without claiming lives. Slaughter is straightforward: victor claims all, loser perishes!”

“I suggest this; prior to clashing, shall we check if those two portals allow passage?”

What perfect timing!

The red-bearded elder’s suggestion matched Zhao Sheng’s own thoughts exactly.

So Zhao Sheng nodded promptly, sending back: “Agreed.”

Afterward, he alerted Qi Wu Yan and Kuimu Xiao, who voiced no dissent.

The red-bearded elder’s demeanor eased, as he turned to cue the One-eyed Giant.

The One-eyed Giant got the hint, at once lifting his huge axe, marching to the eastern portal.

A resounding thud followed.

The One-eyed Giant slammed into the portal, bounced back violently.

Regaining his footing, he attempted once more, crashing even more forcefully this time!

The One-eyed Giant endured the ache in fury, reluctantly testing the other portal.

Again, the same failure, utter frustration.

Kuimu Xiao watched closely, then imitated the One-eyed Giant, attempting to breach the portal.

As expected, the result mirrored the prior tries.

With the ploy exposed, the air thickened abruptly, charged with intense strain!

“You Jiu, withdraw!” The red-bearded elder shot a glance at Zhao Sheng, declaring icily.

The One-eyed Giant, relieved, scampered back to the portal they’d first used.

Zhao Sheng observed with detachment, signaling the others discreetly to stand down.

Sure enough, that entrance proved unyielding, barring any return.

“Die!”

Seeing the outcome, Zhao Sheng’s gaze blazed with fierce intent to kill, bellowing as his Thunder Spear launched.

In the same breath, a barrage of Thunder Spears formed, resembling a tempest, hurtling at the red-bearded elder and sealing every path of retreat.

Qi Wu Yan and Kuimu Xiao held off a beat, then struck together, both targeting the One-eyed Giant.

And so, a fierce fight broke out without warning!