Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1539 - 832: Jixian Island Insights and Taking Action to Refine Treasure (2)

Zhao Sheng grasped the Dragon Scale, gave a nod to the shopkeeper, and then spun around to exit the ice house.

Once outside the ice house, he skipped the adjacent chamber and headed straight for the mine passage.

Soon enough, Zhao Sheng navigated through the passage, departed from the Ice Mountain housing the workshop, and started roaming alongside the valley's rim.

During his journey, he spotted all sorts of strange items embedded beneath the icy surface.

Far inside the translucent Ice Mountain, even older oddities lay concealed.

An hour passed before Zhao Sheng selected an empty mine shaft and ventured in.

This shaft wasn't extensive; its farthest point reached merely around twenty zhang.

Gazing at the numerous carving traces on the ice barrier, Zhao Sheng turned his palm over, letting a one-foot-long crimson short sword drop into his grasp.

Crack!

The sword's gleam flickered and vanished, as the crimson short sword stabbed into the ice barrier, leaving just two inches of its edge protruding.

This ice barrier proved remarkably tough, exceeding Zhao Sheng's initial assumptions.

With a subtle twist of his wrist, Zhao Sheng freed the crimson short sword from the ice barrier with ease, making it disappear up his sleeve.

After a brief reflection, Zhao Sheng decided against carving the ice and instead pivoted to leave the mine.

He located another Ice Mountain and once more thrust the sword directly into its external ice layer.

On this occasion, the short sword plunged much deeper into the ice barrier far more readily than earlier.

Zhao Sheng nodded faintly. As he had foreseen, the surface ice crystals were gentler, growing tougher with greater depth in the inner layers.

To put it differently, the more ancient the ice formation, the more unyielding it turned, rendering excavation progressively challenging.

Zhao Sheng lifted a ice crystal the size of a fist and inspected it meticulously.

The ice crystal shone with perfect clarity, but in his hold, it lacked any chill, akin to a flawless, see-through premium crystal piece.

Bai Hemi referred to it as 'Pure Water,' though the reason for this odd title stayed a mystery.

Zhao Sheng mulled it over briefly, then offhandedly tucked the ice crystal into his sleeve.

Next, he sought out a secluded spot and quietly retreated back to the Lower Realm.

…

A few days afterward.

Ku Rong Ancestor returned to the Heavenly Number Six Cave Mansion and easily encountered Zhao Sheng, fresh from his seclusion.

The pair stepped into the reception hall, and right after Ku Rong Ancestor settled in, he promptly withdrew a hefty pile of bulky invitations and offered them forth.

Zhao Sheng received the invitations and started examining them right there.

He swiftly scanned every invitation and, true to his expectations, the valuables presented by those issuing them were typically rarer and more valuable than previous ones.

'Brother Zhao, you should at least see one person! I've rejected wave after wave of fellow Daoists for you lately. I've reaped little reward and merely antagonized numerous Divinity Transformation Fellow Daoists.' Ku Rong Ancestor remarked with a wry grin, half in jest as he grumbled.

Zhao Sheng dismissed it with a wave, replying indifferently, 'No rush, the moment hasn't arrived. I'll step in during another year or so.'

Ku Rong Ancestor, experienced in dealings, of course grasped the logic.

In truth, Zhao Sheng's abrupt prominence had quietly stirred resentment among fellow Refining Masters. Should he act too often without regard for repercussions, he would surely draw unwanted conflicts.

Zhao Sheng concentrated entirely on gathering treasures and lacked leisure for rivalries with other Refining Masters.

Besides, while Ku Rong Ancestor appeared to press him on refining artifacts, one could only wonder at his true delight in the matter?

With myriad groups competing to enlist Master Shaoling, how could the Wanyou Trading Company stand apart?

Noting his inability to sway him, Ku Rong Ancestor drew a single invitation from the pile, carefully unfolding it anew and setting it before Zhao Sheng.

'Brother Zhao, disregard all the rest, but this one demands your serious thought.'

Oh?

Zhao Sheng arched his brows a touch, idly lifted the invitation, and skimmed its opening, where a distinguished name promptly drew his notice.

'Qingxu Zi? Is this the exalted Divinity Transformation True Monarch who ascended more than seventy years back?'

Ku Rong Ancestor whispered, 'Precisely! Qingxu Zi, born of loose cultivator roots, boasts exceptional aptitude and peerless Divine Skills, standing as Jiuxuan City's premier loose cultivator Divinity Transformation for the past century. Whispers suggest this talent holds Unification promise, and upon the century's end, Red Cloud Venerable will accept him personally as disciple. Thus, slighting this figure is unwise.'

Zhao Sheng kept his face composed as he lightly flung the invitation onto the table, stating evenly, 'Then, I'll encounter this exceptional loose cultivator.'

Ku Rong Ancestor beamed with delight, nodding eagerly in approval while dispatching a Divine Thought outward to relay the positive update.

Half a day on, a youthful, striking Daoist arrived astride a cloud, shortly stepping into the Heavenly Number Six Cave Mansion amid the stunned stares of the cultivators.

'Qingxu Zi?! Isn't he the Mystic Spirit Tower's Guardian? What's brought him here now?'

'Oh dear, alert the Ancestors at once! Inform them Qingxu Zi visits Master Shaoling this day. This event holds immense weight and requires swift report to the Ancestors.'

'Sigh, clear out the crowd. With Qingxu Zi present, our chances fade. We'll return in six months!'

'Ha! Excitement brews now. Qingxu Zi already dominated his level; should he gain a fitting Spiritual Treasure, none could challenge him henceforth?'

'Indeed, no argument there. We're unconcerned, but the Divinity Transformation True Monarchs in Mystic Spirit Tower surely fret. Tales say Fire Dragon Taoist gears up to assault the Spirit Tower outright. A spectacle awaits. Before Golden Hook Workshop shifts the stakes, I'm heading to wager—who joins?'

'Include me, include me!'

As they chatted, crowds of cultivators vanished from the cave mansion's exterior.

In the meantime, Zhao Sheng guided Qingxu Zi within the cave mansion, and following brief courtesies, Qingxu Zi first offered a Sumeru Ring, handing it to Zhao Sheng.

Zhao Sheng directed a thread of Divine Thought into the Sumeru Ring, lifting his brows with a hint of astonishment in his gaze.

Apart from the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures listed in the invitation, there lay an uncommon and valuable item he'd long sought: 'Ten Earthly Miasma.'

'Excellent, excellent, Fellow Daoist Qingxu Zi shows true sincerity. I'm quite satisfied. Might I ask what sort of Spiritual Treasure you seek to forge?'

At the question, Qingxu Zi grinned and drew forth a Golden Silk Scroll, offering it once more.

Zhao Sheng accepted the Silk Book, unfurled it, and faced an antique token etched with an extraordinarily intricate three-dimensional Tao True Text.

The Tao True Text felt deeply recognizable, none other than the Thunder Dao mastered in a prior life!

Zhao Sheng inwardly marveled, then reviewed the Spiritual Text notations alongside the Golden Silk Scroll, which detailed a unique refining technique for a specific Magical Treasure.

This artifact was truly distinctive, its function highly specialized, suited solely to separating and diminishing Thunder Power.

Furthermore, this artifact bore a somewhat nostalgic title: Thunder Emperor Tribulation Order!

Spotting this title, Zhao Sheng at once summoned floods of recollections from his Sixth Life, bringing back the intense escapade at the Ghost Gate.

Even Qingxu Zi, known for his steady demeanor, betrayed a quiver in his tone regarding his prospective Dao path: 'Master Shaoling, is refining this order feasible?'

Zhao Sheng gradually shut the Silk Book, rapped it lightly several times, then stated steadily, 'Indeed, it is possible!'

Qingxu Zi rejoiced greatly, promptly bringing out yet another Sumeru Ring to offer anew.

Upon taking the Sumeru Ring, Zhao Sheng abruptly swept his long sleeve, sending an aged, aromatic Golden Mirror flying out, ascending into the air. Its face undulated in waves, casting a subtle crimson glow.

'Follow me!' Zhao Sheng declared, rising abruptly, vanishing into the mirror's surface shortly after.

Qingxu Zi paused briefly, then gritted his teeth and abruptly rose, darting into the mirror.

After a spell of dizziness, Qingxu Zi regained his footing, discovering himself hovering over a volcano.

The heat here scorched intensely, the atmosphere thick with sulfurous odors.

Gazing skyward, he beheld a staggering nine 'suns,' each dazzlingly radiant, radiating boundless Light Heat.

Qingxu Zi vaguely detected a fearsome presence emanating from the nine suns, his face paling somewhat.

At that instant, Zhao Sheng ascended from the volcano's depths, gesturing for him to approach.

Witnessing this, Qingxu Zi hastened downward, trailing Zhao Sheng sequentially into the volcano's mouth.