Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1472 - 796: Broken Pen (2)

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Without a second thought, Zhao Sheng unleashed three rapid punches right after his successful strike, each one slamming into the foe's Adam's apple.

A sharp crack echoed as Su Heihu's neck bone shattered in an instant, forcing him to crumple onto his knees with his head drooping low.

Advancing quickly, Zhao Sheng delivered a powerful kick that hurled the opponent off the riverbank and tumbling straight into the flowing water.

Once Su Heihu perished, the Will Heart Light eased up noticeably.

A sense of renewal washed over Zhao Sheng, like he had cast off a heavy burden from his frame.

"Help! There's someone in the water!"

Shortly after he departed, a passerby spotted the drifting body in the river and yelled out, drawing a throng of onlookers in no time.

In Mingxi Town, folks often say the east side thrives with wealth while the west struggles in poverty. The town's pier sits on the east, so impoverished folks scraping by near it cluster in that area.

Years of this led to a sprawling slum district, filled with rundown shacks, cramped lanes, and dismal hygiene.

Zhao Sheng searched for a resident in this very neighborhood.

As he navigated a tight alleyway, dodging several puddles of filth, a large yellow hound burst from the mouth of the path, tail wagging furiously as it dashed by him, sporting a vivid yellow collar as thick as a thumb.

This sight stirred something in Zhao Sheng, prompting him to trail behind quietly.

Unaware of the follower, the yellow dog bounded through a couple of alleys before slipping into a modest yard with crumbling walls.

Zhao Sheng drew near and peered over the damaged barrier into the yard, spotting a boy of seven or eight sprawled on the dirt, sketching away.

Though the boy's garments were threadbare, his young face stayed spotless. Right then, he gripped a snapped brush in his fist, scribbling nonstop across a flat stone.

Even with the yellow dog leaping and yapping nearby, the boy stayed utterly absorbed, his features locked in deep concentration.

The sight struck Zhao Sheng, leaving him lost in contemplation.

He observed quietly for some time, waiting until the boy completed his work on the stone and rose to his feet.

At that, a gleam sparked in Zhao Sheng's gaze, and he moved ahead to shove the wooden gate open, stepping into the yard.

The boy noticed the intruder and tensed up, eyes flickering with caution.

Offering a soft smile, Zhao Sheng spoke kindly: "Don't fear, young one. Is this the Li household?"

"Yes, our family name is Li, that's correct, but I'm the sole survivor here. Have you got the wrong spot?" The boy nodded at first, then queried with a confused look.

Zhao Sheng kept his grin steady and pressed on, "Does your father go by Li Zhi?"

The boy gasped in astonishment, "How do you know about my father? He's been gone for three years now, though—tracking him down won't help."

"Your father may have passed, but you're still here, aren't you? I'd like to purchase this yard—state your price."

With those words out, as if recalling something, Zhao Sheng added, "Oh, and what's your name?"

The boy's thoughts spun from the offer, and he blurted out instinctively, "They call me Li Wuhui, Wuhui meaning No Regrets!"

Realizing what he'd said, Li Wuhui refocused and pressed seriously, "What you mentioned earlier... you're not tricking me, are you?"

Zhao Sheng chuckled and replied, "I don't jest like that. I'll take the yard and all its contents. What if we settle on one hundred taels total?"

"Fine, it's a sale!" Li Wuhui jumped at the deal without pause.

One hundred full taels! Enough to snag two yards like this. Only an idiot would turn it down!

"Agreed!" Zhao Sheng beamed in approval and continued, "I don't carry the hundred taels on me at the moment. How about you come with me to the estate for the silver and to sign the deed?"

Sharp as he was, Li Wuhui paused at the suggestion, showing some reluctance.

Spotting the hesitation, Zhao Sheng clarified right away, "Why would I, Zhao Sheng, swindle a kid like you? Everyone knows my clan runs multiple grain and oil stores across Mingxi Town. A trifling hundred taels means little to us."

Li Wuhui eyed him doubtfully at first, scrutinizing Zhao Sheng's face, until his suspicions faded mostly away.

"Very well, I'll accompany you," Li Wuhui relented at last, then instructed the yellow dog to watch over the place.

With that, he prepared to head out.

Zhao Sheng laughed lightly and guided Li Wuhui from the yard, making their way to the Zhao Mansion.

During the trip, he probed casually into old stories about the boy's father, Li Zhi.

Harboring no doubts, Li Wuhui answered each query with enthusiasm.

Through this, Zhao Sheng pieced together more about Li Zhi, a man utterly devoted to his art of painting.

To chase the fabled heights of mastery in painting, Li Zhi offloaded his family inheritance and roamed far and wide for over a decade.

Back home, yielding to his parents' wishes, Li Zhi wed, but his passion for painting never wavered.

For his dream of crafting the ultimate Hell Creatures Painting, Li Zhi poured in a full decade plus every ounce of his vitality.

In those years, his child entered the world, dubbed Wuhui to signify a life without regrets.

An hour passed before Zhao Sheng and Li Wuhui arrived back at the Zhao Mansion. He convinced the family head to acquire Li Zhi's former home for one hundred taels of fine silver.

Aware of his youth and inability to protect the funds, Li Wuhui asked Zhao Sheng to store the silver temporarily at the Ten Kings Temple, handing it over to the priest there for security.

Zhao Sheng accepted the idea without complaint.

…

Not much later, Zhao Sheng and his group revisited the rundown yard.

Woof woof!

Spotting his young owner return, the yellow dog thumped its tail in delight, circling the boy with excited leaps.

Li Wuhui wrapped his arms around the dog's neck, his innocent face lit up with joy—after all, he was merely eight years old.

Zhao Sheng observed their frolic with amusement, then remarked, "Wuhui, that collar on the yellow dog's neck catches my eye too. Would you part with it for me?"

Stunned by the request, Li Wuhui pondered briefly before nodding firmly: "Everything in this place is yours now, except for the dog itself."

"What a fine lad!" Zhao Sheng commended.

As he spoke, he strode over to the stone slab, stooped to grab the damaged brush, and inquired, "So, this worn-out brush belongs to me as well, doesn't it?"

Li Wuhui watched in bewilderment, baffled by the grown-up's interest.

Just a useless scrap of a brush—why make such a fuss over it?

Though he couldn't grasp the man's motives, Li Wuhui nodded sincerely and stated, "Father used that brush. If Young Master desires it, take it freely."

A faint smile crossed Zhao Sheng's lips as he tucked the broken brush into his sleeve without delay.

Afterward, he roamed the yard thoroughly, examining each piece closely, ultimately gathering seven or eight items like a frayed brush, a carving tool for paintings, and an ink slab.

Li Wuhui observed the whole process, growing more perplexed, but wise beyond his years, he held back from asking and simply tucked the curiosity away inside.

…

Deep into the night, the Ten Kings Temple lay shrouded in gloom and stillness, its occupants lost in slumber.

As clouds veiled the luminous moon, a dark figure vaulted the wall, slinking like a nocturnal bird into the rear grounds.

Soon enough, the figure arrived at a chamber's window, easing it ajar without a sound to slip inside.

In that instant, a wave of intent washed across the intruder like a tide, causing blood to stream from his senses before his form went rigid and toppled bonelessly.

With the clouds parting, Zhao Sheng materialized by the window, gazing down at the fallen boatman with a subtle grin.

This so-called "boatman" ranked among the scant Immortal Ruins Guests still clinging to life.

He hadn't found the moment to handle them sooner, yet here one delivered itself right to him.

Zhao Sheng hoisted the man up, tapped lightly on the earth, and vanished into the shadows.

Moments afterward, before the Netherworld Sea Death Map in the Yama Divine Hall, Zhao Sheng flung the boatman aside casually.

With a mere flicker of intent, the boatman coughed up blood that gathered into a glob in the air.

Retrieving the broken brush, Zhao Sheng dabbed its point in the crimson pool and sketched with swift, flowing lines on the artwork, swiftly forming a bridge to the far shore.

As the Naihe Bridge took shape, the All Living Beings Map burst into radiance, and the dormant brush stirred to life, exuding a profound and awe-inspiring presence.

Right then, the temple, altar, village, and all else dissolved into nothingness, giving way to an endless crimson glow.

This crimson glow stemmed from a Blood Pearl.

Zhao Sheng appeared to witness a droplet of Blood Pearl seeping gradually from the severed tip of the brush.

At the same time, from the depths of Zhao Sheng's Soul Sea, a jade tome ascended slowly.

The tome released a soft white radiance that, meeting the crimson light, melted it away instantly.

Wherever the white light extended, space and time grew firm and unyielding,