Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1485: 803: Layers of Backup Plans

As if detecting Zhao Sheng's approach, Zhao Xuanjing gradually lifted his eyelids, a flicker of fierce battle lust igniting in his stare.

Before Zhao Sheng could utter a word, Zhao Xuanjing burst into a hearty laugh, declaring: “Haha, your timing is perfect! Allow this old man to demonstrate a technique on you first!”

Without pause, Zhao Xuanjing flicked his expansive sleeves, unleashing a burst of golden-yellow radiance that shot skyward. In a blink, it morphed into a jagged peak of stone, dominating the cavern's overhead space. The mountain's surface crawled with intricate Earth Element True Text, radiating immense dominance as it plummeted straight toward Zhao Sheng's skull.

Even prior to impact, an immense, oppressive weight had already swallowed Zhao Sheng whole, nearly solidifying the nearby emptiness.

A deafening “Boom” exploded, shattering the void bit by bit, its force utterly horrifying!

Surprisingly… Zhao Sheng made no attempt to evade or retreat; instead, he grinned while thrusting his arms upward to confront the assault head-on.

The peak thundered as it descended, unleashing a roar like crashing thunder, quaking the earth and peaks throughout the cave and splintering the void into myriad spatial tears.

Yet, the mountain halted its plunge; incredibly, it came to a dead stop suspended in the air.

At this sight, Zhao Xuanjing's grin turned rigid, a flash of shock crossing his features.

This Xuanhu Mountain had been forged by Zhao Xuanjing through endless toil across millennia with a Star Core, then bolstered by a thousand layers of Gravity Law True Text. No one understood its terrifying might better than he.

In that instant, the peak began rising gradually, as though hoisted from beneath!

And so it was!

Beneath the colossal Xuanhu Mountain loomed a towering figure, nine zhang in height, built like an unyielding ridge, glowing with subtle golden hues across his frame, effortlessly supporting the mass like a simple boulder.

Zhao Xuanjing stared in disbelief, blurting: “How can raw bodily power possibly elevate Xuanhu Mountain!”

Remember, he himself had delved deeply into Body Refinement, confident his skills rivaled those of top-tier cultivators at his level.

Still, even with his robust physique, his body alone couldn't endure the mountain's casual descent.

Right then, Zhao Sheng let out a mighty breath, bellowing like thunder: “Rise… Open!”

As his command echoed, his form doubled in stature, muscles bulging as he balled his fists, sparks of brilliant lightning crackling from them, and hammered the underside of Xuanhu Mountain with a fierce yell.

A cataclysmic blast rang out, even more thunderous than the mountain's initial strike.

Xuanhu Mountain hurtled back, tearing open the void to form a vast black rift over ten miles wide, spewing forth raging space-time tempests.

But in the following instant, Zhao Sheng swept his arms, summoning a vast web of electric glow that blanketed the void's gash and drove back the chaotic storms.

Zhao Xuanjing drew in a sharp breath of alarm, swiftly deploying his Divine Thought to envelop Xuanhu Mountain and yank it to a standstill in the sky.

With a quick mental shift, the peak contracted swiftly, reverting to a streak of yellow brilliance, vanishing into Zhao Xuanjing's form in a mere heartbeat.

Observing all this, the combat fervor in Zhao Sheng's eyes faded, his body reverting to its usual proportions. Then, amid a surge of thunderous light, he dashed forward in an instant.

“Impressive! This Big and Small Ruyi Immortal Skill truly lives up to its name! Your sheer physical might makes you a legend among peers. Without a mid-stage Integration expert stepping in, early-stage Integration foes have slim odds against you!” Zhao Xuanjing scanned Zhao Sheng from head to toe, expressing awe.

Hearing that, Zhao Sheng responded modestly: “The Taiyi Spirit Realm teems with concealed talents. Big brother, don't overlook the vast world. I hold an immortal technique, yet Taiyi Spirit Palace and fellow Immortal Sects possess their ancient inheritances; true superiority emerges only in actual clashes.”

Zhao Xuanjing agreed with a nod, adding: “That's a wise perspective. Consider the Spirit-controlling Immortal Sect—its core text, the ‘Spirit-controlling Immortal Ascension Scripture,’ culminates in the ‘Fetal Transformation and Shape-shifting’ chapter, a supreme method straight to the Dao. Sadly, joining midway as I did, I may never grasp this immortal art!”

“Rest easy, big brother! Once you reach Crossing Tribulation someday, the Spirit-controlling Immortal Sect will surely seek to bind your loyalty. At that point, they'd never withhold the ‘Fetal Transformation and Shape-shifting’ chapter!” Zhao Sheng reassured.

“Crossing Tribulation? You dream big! But I hardly dare to hope…” Zhao Xuanjing shook his head, his tone laced with faint self-deprecation.

“Enough of that. Did you seek out this old man today for some specific purpose?”

At those words, Zhao Sheng began: “To be frank with big brother, I earlier went to the Immortal Qi Lake. On my way back, I was suddenly…”

He detailed the ambush he had faced upon returning. Next, he produced the Void Pupil Pearl and passed it along.

Furthermore, with a light brush of his palm, ripples stirred in the space ahead, projecting a strikingly real image of a Gun Robe Elder.

Zhao Xuanjing accepted the Void Pupil Pearl, threading a wisp of Divine Thought inside as he studied the Gun Robe Elder's projection, his face turning grave.

“Tough to pinpoint! I've just entered Integration and met numerous peers, but this face is unfamiliar, and no rumors have reached me. The treasures within the Void Pupil Pearl are plentiful, yet nothing identifies… hold on!”

Mid-discussion, a gleam of crystalline light sparked in the air, revealing a statue of crystal depicting a beast-headed, human-bodied form.

Zhao Xuanjing's eyes locked onto the crystal likeness, scrutinizing it intently before murmuring in contemplation: “This object feels familiar, like I've encountered it before. Give me a few days to head back to the Spirit-controlling Immortal Sect and investigate.”