Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1474 - 797: Zhao Xuanjing Appears, Great Success in the Unification Realm (Part 2)

It seems like some unfathomable existence lurks beyond, staring through the "bottle neck" to watch the inhabitants of the realm, holding a rank so lofty and strength so overwhelming that it's utterly horrifying to even contemplate.

The woman draped in feathers prostrated herself deeply on the ground with complete devotion, uttering in profound respect, "Master, I chanced upon a fleeing Divine Beast Envoy. My strikes revealed that this envoy must be a Kui Niu."

"... Find... him... bring... back... here!"

A thunderous bellow resounded across the skies and land, making the whole grotto heaven tremble fiercely, as the Flame Sea churned with endless massive waves in an instant, and the fabric of space-time warped subtly, on the verge of shattering anytime.

"I shall obey the master's command! I will surely escort him back to the Desolate Wall Settlement," the feather-clad woman bowed low once more, her voice firm and resolute.

...

A thousand miles beneath Dragon Head Peak, close to the Jade Void Spring Eye, a silhouette materialized from thin air.

Boom!

The moment Zhao Sheng reentered the lower realm, an intense burning sensation gripped him within, wrapped entirely in scorching five-colored flames that seared right into his primordial spirit, fusing with his very bones, forcing a pained expression as his mana teetered on the edge of chaos.

With a heavy splash, he plunged into the Jade Pond underneath, his body fully immersed in the liquid form of Mystic Crystal Origin Qi.

In a surge of intent, a void-like vortex emerged inside Zhao Sheng, greedily devouring the Mystic Crystal Origin Qi and converting it into immense reserves of mana, slowly dousing the rampant five-colored blaze.

These five-colored flames carried an unyielding essence, flaring up again just as swiftly as they were quelled, presenting a relentless challenge.

Luckily, Zhao Sheng ranks as an advanced Thunder Cultivator, his mana infused with traits of ruin and renewal.

Thunder's might eradicates all in its path, and thus it can smother even an eternal fire.

Though the ordeal proves arduous and drawn out, a spark of hope for endurance remains.

Were it any other void half-immortal, doom would surely come as the five-colored flames reduced them to cinders.

...

While Zhao Sheng labored to suppress the five-colored flames, time raced forward at an unimaginable pace, with ages slipping by in mere moments.

At first, the Zhao Clan folks dwelling in the Wolong Mountain Range spotted no irregularities.

Yet as days turned to years, the Zhao Family's two Divinity Transformation True Monarchs sensed the irregularity first.

The reason lay in the rapid depletion of natural spiritual energy around Dragon Head Peak.

Merely over a decade in, the spiritual energy levels across a thousand-mile area around Dragon Head Peak plummeted to dire lows, nearly forming a barren zone starved of spirit.

Across that thousand-mile span, countless spirit herbs and precious flora shriveled and perished, while the vast lands and summits swiftly decayed into barrenness, shifting from lush vitality to a lifeless desert.

This staggering occurrence threw the entire Zhao Family into chaos.

Facing the looming crisis, Zhao San Yue and Zhao Xiandu ventured together to breach the depths under Dragon Head Peak, only to escape soon after with faces etched in alarm.

Following that, the Zhao Family's pair of Divinity Transformation True Monarchs decreed a ban, marking Dragon Head Peak and its thousand-mile environs as a Forbidden Land, barring all clan members from nearing it.

As the saying goes, fortune fades quietly, but calamity echoes far and wide!

The shocking shift at Dragon Head Peak soon roused endless nearby powers, with groups like the Huang Family from Five Emperor Mountain and Piaomiao Feng of the Diwu Clan dispatching elites to sneak into Dragon Head Peak.

Though many came back empty-handed, a handful brought back valuable insights.

Not long after, elite factions in Yellow Wind Immortal City rumored that the Zhao Clan's Divine Artisan void-level Demi-Immortal "Thunder God" had likely botched his cultivation or even devolved into a Fallen Demon.

To probe this theory, the leading powers, spearheaded by the two Small Immortal Factions, unleashed more agents and tried diverse tactics to gauge the Zhao Family's inner workings.

Yet the Divine Artisan Zhao Clan proved no pushover, retaliating with fiercer defenses that sparked widespread clashes, leaving heavy losses on every side and compelling the forces to pull back for now.

More than thirty years on, the Huang Family of Five Emperor Mountain abruptly issued an invite, heralding the upcoming Kunyuan Meeting and summoning the esteemed Thunder God senior to join.

The Divine Artisan Zhao Clan got the invite, yet the Huang Family's Special Envoy never laid eyes on the Thunder God himself.

A year flew by, and when the Kunyuan Meeting dawned, throngs of void half-immortals gathered, but as dusk fell, no Zhao Family figure showed.

Witnessing this, the void half-immortals displayed a mix of reactions—some scheming darkly, others smirking in schadenfreude, a few aloof, and most watching with predatory intent.

As the slim moon climbed and stars blanketed the firmament, still no sign from the Zhao Family.

At that point, the Huang Family ancestor rose to declare the Kunyuan Meeting's official start.

Right then, amid the myriad stars, one massive star blazed to life, its radiant glow briefly eclipsing the starry expanse.

The very next breath, that massive star hurtled down, smashing toward Five Emperor Mountain with ferocious speed.

Even before impact, an oppressive force barreled across, jolting the gathered immortals' souls and draining color from their faces.

Sensing the doom approaching, the immortals wore masks of hopelessness.

In the vital instant, the massive star grew translucent, vanishing in a blink into Five Emperor Mountain, leaving no remnant.

At the same time, within the Five Elders Palace, a colossal form emerged without warning.

On first sight, it resembled a grand, awe-inspiring mountain range piercing the heavens, eternally steadfast.

Ah!

A void half-immortal, recognizing the arrival, let out a horrified shriek.

That cry pierced the hall's hush, startling everyone from their lotus seats to leap up, swiftly straightening and offering profound bows to the intruder, their faces a tapestry of emotions.

What figure could incite such dread among all these void half-immortals?

It was none but the fabled "Dragon Subduing Divine Monarch" Zhao Xuanjing, whispered to have long passed from shattered cultivation.

No soul foresaw that after a millennium, he hadn't only survived but pierced the grotto heaven, ascending to Integration Realm Great Power.

The immortals trusted their vision, as the arrival's crown floated a vivid yellow ring.

This stands as the clearest mark of an Integration Realm Great Power: the Grotto Heaven Halo.

None but Integration Realm Great Powers could dominate the assembly with a mere thread of presence.

Zhao Xuanjing's eyes roamed over the group, prompting them to bow their heads in homage, shunning his gaze.

After scanning the assembly, his sight turned to Master Huang Shi at the head, and with a grin, he remarked, "My tardy entrance—I trust Mr. Huang bears no ill will!"

Master Huang Shi quivered at the words, hastily stepping down from the lotus platform to bow low to Zhao Xuanjing, stating, "Huang Shi salutes Zhao Dongzhen! This junior offers congratulations to Lord Zhao on achieving Integration's pinnacle, with ascension drawing near. Please, Lord Zhao, claim the highest seat."

In the Taiyi Spirit Realm, Integration Realm Great Powers earn the honorific "Dongzhen" as well.

Naturally, "Dongzhen" feels overly stiff; usually, they're hailed as Venerable.

Zhao Xuanjing gave a faint smile, striding forward to appear at the main lotus platform's heart, easing into position.

Abruptly, the Five Elders Palace faced a monumental, peak-crushing aura, altering every cultivator's complexion.

"After a millennium apart, I trust all fellow Daoists thrive?" Zhao Xuanjing inquired amiably.

Noting the cultivators' shivers and silence, he caught on, drawing back his halo and reining in his presence.

"Haha, my recent breakthrough leaves me yet to master hiding my aura fully. Forgive any discomfort, everyone!"

"Never, never!"

"Lord Zhao's Integration triumph blesses Yellow Wind Immortal City greatly; we're overjoyed beyond measure."

"...To encounter Lord Zhao this day is the utmost luck—how could there be any resentment."

"Lord Zhao, heaven's own prodigy, fills me with deepest honor. I yearn to enter your school and learn at your side each day." A void half-immortal groveled brazenly.

Such flattery drew sidelong glares from the cultivators, yet it sparked many others to bow eagerly, pleading for Lord Zhao to take them under his wing.

Why did these void half-immortals humble themselves so, casting aside pride?

It stemmed not just from fear of Zhao Xuanjing, but from the heavenly impossibility of unlocking a grotto heaven!

Besides, Integration Realm Great Powers boast spans of life vast and near-endless.

Barring calamity, any Integration Realm expert endures beyond a million years, outlasting void half-immortals by scores of lifetimes.

Thus, with Zhao Xuanjing enduring, the Divine Artisan Zhao Clan gains eternal prosperity, bearing immense weight and boundless potential.

Henceforth, Yellow Wind Immortal City gains a fresh "Immortal Gate," far worthier than the existing pair.