Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1505 - 814: Beat the Young, Here Comes the Old

Zhao Sheng wrinkled his forehead and bellowed icily, "Noisy, slap him!"

Right after those words escaped his lips, Zhao Jincheng sensed a scorching sting on his face, while clear slapping echoes resounded around him.

In the following instant, his attractive features ballooned noticeably and flushed crimson, swelling up to resemble a pig's head.

"How dare you!" Rage exploded in the black-robed elder at the sight, and he impulsively unleashed his Mysterious Skill. His palms grew huge and darkened, resembling twin fans that reeked horribly, lunging savagely at Zhao Sheng’s skull.

Even before those lethal palms could strike, thick noxious fumes had already billowed outward. Any ordinary Qi Refining cultivator brushing against the mist would melt instantly into a pool of dark liquid.

Zhao Sheng kept his gaze down, apparently oblivious to the elder's ambush.

Delight surged through the black-robed elder, who promptly poured vast Spiritual Power into his palms, making them twice as big, comparable to grinding stones.

Boom!

In that pivotal instant, a colossal five-hued hand materialized from nowhere, its digits clenching to seize the black-robed elder firmly.

With one crush, the elder's face twisted in horror. He lacked even a moment to cry out before his form collapsed into a mound of decayed meat.

Suddenly, five-colored flames erupted without warning, swiftly burning the decayed mass to cinders.

Chaos gripped Zhao Jincheng's mind, forcing him to stumble back a few paces while flailing his arms rapidly. Beams of Sword Light burst from his cuffs, spinning swiftly to encircle him and weave a thick sword barrier shielding his entire frame.

Simultaneously, a shadowy colossal centipede, stretching more than thirty feet, erupted from the lake, beat its wings, and charged wildly at Zhao Sheng.

Zhao Sheng gave a faint nod, then abruptly snapped his fingers in its direction.

With a loud crash, enormous rocks hammered the winged centipede, sending its body plummeting directly into the lake and kicking up a spray of water.

The lake waters roiled violently, as numerous see-through water chains stretched forth, slithering across the centipede's form before hauling the beast down into the depths.

Zhao Sheng spun to face Zhao Jincheng and remarked calmly, "Since you carry the Zhao name as well, I spare your life. Get lost!"

Zhao Jincheng's chest heaved dramatically, his eyes darted with hesitation, a cruel glint sparked briefly, yet he retained enough sense.

He knew perfectly that the foe who had slain Elder Yang in a single strike could dispatch him just as effortlessly.

Thus, he refrained from spitting threats, mounting his flying sword in silence before transforming into a rainbow streak and fleeing the island at top speed.

Zhao Sheng observed the vanishing sword rainbow, shook his head abruptly, then waved his sleeves and strode into the Waterside Pavilion.

Only after he vanished did the elderly Fisherman and the middle-aged Spirit Plant Cultivator dare to creep out warily.

Terror filled the pair, leaving them mute for a stretch.

The old Fisherman tugged his friend along until they hit the pier, where he hissed anxiously, "Disaster's here! If things sour, we could get dragged in."

The Spirit Plant Cultivator shared the dread, blurting out, "What now? Shouldn't we bolt while there's a chance?"

"Have you lost your senses? Our ’lifebound soul lamps’ remain with the Main Family—if you run, where exactly would you hide?" the old Fisherman scolded softly.

Every cultivator tied to the Three Extremes Zhao Family deposited a lifebound soul lamp in the Soul Hall. Primarily, it allowed instant checks on the owner's survival, and secondarily, it served as a control mechanism.

Holding the lifebound soul lamp granted the Main Family numerous methods to discipline the owner. From tracing locations to remote curses, nothing was impossible if the cost was covered.

Truth be told, this ritual of "lighting the lifebound soul lamp" prevailed widely in the Taiyi Spirit Realm. Any decent cultivation faction adopted this simple, effective Magic Skill.

Zhao Sheng was well aware of it, yet dismissed it entirely.

A mere lifebound soul lamp posed no threat to a veteran reborn nine times.

...

Delving into the enigmatic void, shadows swelled like waves, as stars flickered into view one after another, totaling more than a hundred.

Still, despite racking his mind, Zhao Sheng elevated his Divine Soul endlessly to its peak, but that enchanting, radiant star eluded him completely.

It was as if it had never been there, or perhaps it shunned his pursuit on purpose.

After an indeterminate span, Zhao Sheng's Soul Power neared exhaustion, compelling his Divine Soul to descend from boundless expanses back to his Purple Mansion Soul Sea.

This chance had slipped away pointlessly, with the following one delayed until three months from now.

Xiang’er Cliff!

After much reflection, Zhao Sheng settled on dubbing the Singularity within the Burial Immortal Ruins "Xiang’er Cliff."

...

With the main family pair dead or escaped, tension thickened daily on Seven Stars Island.

The old Fisherman and the middle-aged Spirit Plant Cultivator lived in constant fright, yearning to flee yet paralyzed by fear, resigning to destiny in hopes of dodging the fallout.

Time dragged on, but inevitability struck regardless.

As dusk painted the west, faint rays bathed the lake, birthing countless shimmering gold ripples.

Occasionally, plump spiritual carp vaulted from the depths, eager to snatch the lingering Great Sun Essence after the light's fiery dissipation.

Soon after, the lake inexplicably dimmed, and vast shadows loomed.

The spiritual carp panicked, plunging back underwater and disappearing instantly.

Just then, the lake's shadow broadened, as a silver behemoth ship the size of a mountain eased down from above.

The giant ship's shade soon sprawled from the water onto the island.

Servants across Seven Stars Island spotted the descending silver colossus, their faces paling in terror as they dropped to their knees, bowing low without lifting their heads.

The Spirit Plant Cultivator midway through Cloud Rain Technique in the Medicine Field, and the old Fisherman mixing fish feed, both paled sharply, abandoning tasks to race toward the massive vessel as swiftly as possible.

By the Lakeside Pavilion, a lake-view window flew open abruptly, revealing a lithe silhouette at the frame.

Zhao Sheng gazed coolly at the score of figures drifting from the silver giant ship, his eyes settling on the leader.

This fellow seemed around sixty, his lengthy beard cascading like a azure cascade over his torso, featuring a broad face and prominent ears that suggested great fortune.

Above all, a enormous illusion of a dragon-headed human hovered behind him, clad in scarlet scales—a form of Golden Core Phenomenon.

Zhao Sheng paused briefly, swiftly identifying the arrival.

Among the Three Extremes Zhao Family's trio of Golden Core Masters, just one bore the dragon-headed human Golden Core Phenomenon, famed as "True Dragon’s Reincarnation" Zhao Yongxian.

"True Dragon’s Reincarnation? Hmph, better watch that boasting doesn't trip your own tongue! These youngsters lack power but boast loudly," Zhao Sheng grumbled inwardly, his form blurring as he materialized high above the Waterside Pavilion.

Zhao Yongxian's gaze pierced like lightning, locking onto him directly, then boomed out, "Three Extremes Zhao Family’s Golden Core True Cultivator Zhao Yongxian greets this Taoist. Might I inquire your esteemed name?"

"Zhao Sheng, nothing but a nobody!" Zhao Sheng swept his eyes over the followers, noting Chen Polu staring at him wide-eyed.

Zhao Sheng sighed to himself and pressed on, "Why not send these youngsters away, and we two chat indoors?"

With that, he gestured toward the Lakeside Pavilion beneath.

"Very well..." Zhao Yongxian wavered briefly, appraising Zhao Sheng, then inexplicably eased his stance and consented with a nod.

As the pair drifted into the Waterside Pavilion, a Zhao Family Foundation Establishment cultivator swiftly neared Chen Polu and demanded sharply, "Well? Is that the one?"

Chen Polu faltered several times before murmuring guardedly, "It appears so, but I can't confirm for certain."

His response stayed ambiguous, yet the listeners grasped it fully.

On the surface, the individual matched the "Zhao Sheng" listed in the Life Book.

However... per the Life Book, that "Zhao Sheng" possessed Five Spirits Roots, was shy of thirty, and hadn't achieved Foundation Establishment.

But encountering him now, how could anyone credit the Life Book's account?

This figure matched a Golden Core Ancestor evenly, holding his own in presence without faltering.

Furthermore, the Ancestor's actions had subtly verified the foe's identity; he was plainly some obscure Golden Core Master.

No Zhao Family member would accept that a base Mixed Spirit Root holder could reach Golden Core under thirty.

It made far more sense to assume "Zhao Sheng" had perished ages ago, supplanted by a enigmatic Golden Core expert.

In a way, their theory rang true, though reality proved far more arcane than they dreamed.