Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1541: 833: Refining Treasure and Selecting People (Part 2)

Qingxu Zi prepared to open his mouth once more, only to notice Zhao Sheng's countenance brighten with delight, and abruptly he chuckled: “Haha, today truly proves to be a fortunate day, with double joys descending!”

The moment his voice ceased, a subtle aroma wafted toward Qingxu Zi, seemingly originating from the celestial realms.

He lifted his gaze skyward, and to his astonishment, a massive Great Sun began its gradual descent from the firmament, aiming straight for this volcanic depression.

Like a shooting star, the Great Sun plummeted swiftly, vanishing into the crater in mere instants, its brilliance fading just as quickly.

In that very instant, an antique three-legged, six-eared cauldron for elixirs materialized from the heart of the Great Sun.

This alchemy furnace, no larger than a human head, bore a lid adorned with vivid illusions of dragons and tigers, surrounded by swirling elixir mists, releasing an intensely potent medicinal scent.

As the Great Sun swiftly lost its glow and disappeared, the three-legged elixir furnace morphed into a glowing orb, landing right before Zhao Sheng and hovering steadily in place.

With a sweep of his expansive sleeve, Zhao Sheng caused the furnace's cover to soar upward, unleashing three rays of golden luminescence that burst forth in various directions.

Right then, a mighty and expansive divine sense surged outward, enveloping the entire thousand-foot expanse of emptiness around them, halting all three golden cores suspended in the air.

A mere shift in his mind brought the three golden cores reversing course, meekly returning to his sleeve and vanishing completely.

Though the sight was brief, Qingxu Zi managed to glimpse the cores' form, his heart jolting in surprise as he quickly inquired: “Master, were those... the Fourth-grade top-grade treasure pill, Yuxu Primordial Spirit Pill?!”

Zhao Sheng affirmed with a nod, replying, “Daoist, your eyesight is keen indeed. Correct, it was the Yuxu Primordial Spirit Pill. This elixir has matured over an entire year, and it chose today to emerge.”

At these words, various feelings flickered across Qingxu Zi's face: “I've heard tales of the master's mastery in Dan, Artifact, and Talisman. I never imagined they held such truth. If Master can produce the Yuxu Primordial Spirit Pill, that marks you as an Alchemy Grandmaster. I hadn't anticipated your alchemy prowess to reach such heights; I assumed...”

His sentence trailed off, Qingxu Zi's visage tinged with slight embarrassment.

“Hehe, beside the grand path of cultivation, alchemy and artifact forging remain mere side pursuits! Daoist Qingxu, your aptitude shines brightly, and with the Thunder Emperor Tribulation Order safeguarding you, you'll undoubtedly overcome the heavenly tribulation and ascend to Returning to Void someday. In this regard alone, I fall short.”

A wry smile crossed Qingxu Zi's features: “Ascending to Returning to Void is incredibly arduous! Even aided by the Thunder Emperor Tribulation Order, my odds stand at barely ten percent.”

“Enough of that, let's set it aside. This Daoist seeks two Yuxu Primordial Spirit Pills; might Master be willing to part with a couple?”

Zhao Sheng chuckled, responding, “Should the Daoist meet the cost, handing over all three poses no issue at all.”

Elation surged through Qingxu Zi, who promptly declared: “I'll take all three Primordial Spirit Pills. Pray tell, what does Master require in exchange?”

“This old man's desires are no hidden matter in the world. If the Daoist is inclined, the ideal would be to procure Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures bearing Five Elements and space-time properties—the greater the quantity, the better; this old man accepts them gladly,” Zhao Sheng stated forthrightly.

Upon hearing this, Qingxu Zi cast an involuntary look at the nearby surroundings, his expression turning pensive.

“It's settled then! I'll hasten to gather the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures Master seeks. One further request: I hope Master can keep these three Primordial Spirit Pills under wraps for now. I realize this ask is rather bold, but—”

“No need for explanations! This old man consents.” Zhao Sheng well understood Qingxu Zi's reasoning, for the Yuxu Primordial Spirit Pill ranked as a premier treasure pill that fortified the Divine Soul and bolstered divine thought.

Such a pill offered immense aid to those facing tribulations, thus becoming one of the most desired Fourth-grade treasure pills among myriad Divinity Transformation True Monarchs.

In crafting this elixir, Zhao Sheng held no intent to trade for treasures, regardless of the recipient.

Presenting it to Qingxu Zi at this juncture not only garnered goodwill but also spared unnecessary explanations—truly a worthwhile exchange.

Shortly thereafter, Zhao Sheng escorted Qingxu Zi from the cave dwelling himself, observing as he departed into the horizon.

He had just begun to head back inside when he detected seven or eight divine senses penetrating the void, accompanied by a rush of voices flooding his ears.

“Master Shaoling, wait a moment! I am Qi Wufeng…”

“…I, Lei Huai, implore Taoist Zhao to offer some leeway…”

“Senior Zhao, I possess a supreme treasure…”

“I serve as a disciple of Red Cloud Venerable… My master requests the master's assistance on one occasion…”

Zhao Sheng's face remained impassive as he pivoted and reentered the cave mansion, the entrance sealing with a resounding thud, severing all divine senses and inquisitive stares.

Merely over thirty days passed before Qingxu Zi came calling again.

Soon enough, he emerged from the cave mansion with a composed demeanor, then departed at ease atop a cloud.

…

Clink clink clink!

Near the base of an ice mountain soaring seventy to eighty meters tall, the distant clamor of ice being hacked away echoed clearly.

Currently, a robust and towering form positioned itself before a sheer cliff, hoisting a pickaxe overhead with both arms, striking forcefully at the ice crystals ahead.

In short order, chunks of ice scattered across the ground, the cliff wall notably indented, unveiling the outline of a cavern exceeding a meter wide.

A few meters off, Zhao Sheng kept his hands tucked within his sleeves, observing the strapping youth labor intently on the excavation, a grin on his face as he remarked: “Little Zizi, feeling weary? Care for a rest?”

“No, Senior Zhao, I feel no fatigue.” The tall youth answered without turning, his pickaxe whirling with rapid precision like a bolt of lightning, as though dreading the loss of this task.

Hehe, what a naive lad!

Seeing the youth toil so earnestly, a hint of approval appeared on Zhao Sheng's countenance.

The individual standing there was the fortunate soul he had meticulously chosen.

This youth went by the name Huangfu Yuli, hailing from a Constant Sand World known as Daze Realm, where his cultivation lingered at the Foundation Establishment Realm, yet his bodily constitution proved solid, hinting at traces of an ancient human race bloodline.

Thanks to his inherent gifts, the youth had drawn his master's attention early and been accepted as a pupil.

His master, Old Man Nanhua, served as an Immortal Ruins Guest who had taken Huangfu Yuli under his wing upon recognizing his space-time aptitude.

A few days prior, Old Man Nanhua had met an untimely end on Jixian Island.

Huangfu Yuli lingered in wait, yet his master never reappeared in their realm, confirming the grim outcome.

The youth strained every effort to amass sufficient Void Nether Stone, then employed the technique imparted by his master to activate a space-time vortex, arriving at Jixian Island for the first time.

There, he nearly met his doom, trapped inescapably, until Zhao Sheng's timely rescue preserved his life.

With Zhao Sheng's profound abilities, a handful of words sufficed to earn the youth's utter loyalty, prompting him to trail along willingly to unearth treasures here.

Another three-quarters of an hour elapsed before Huangfu Yuli halted his swings, exclaiming in thrill: “Senior, senior, hurry over! I've discovered it.”

At the call, Zhao Sheng approached, peering into the cavern's depths, where a leg-sized, gently arched rib bone gleamed with a jade hue, lodged beneath the ice crystals.

After thorough examination, Zhao Sheng's mouth curved into a smile, nodding approvingly: “Well spotted, young one! Now, make way.”

Huangfu Yuli obediently shifted aside, clearing the path.

Zhao Sheng moved beyond the youth to stand over the rib, gently prodding the ice with his foot.

Crack!

The dense ice layer fractured at once, exposing the full length of the jade-resembling rib.

Zhao Sheng extended his hand to grasp the sturdy rib; the instant he touched it, certainty washed over him that this was precisely the item sought.

This rib had belonged to a Half-Immortal of the Void, aged by ages yet astonishingly intact for reasons unknown.

…