Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1543 - 834: Laying Low in the Lower Realm, A Century’s Preparation for Crossing Tribulation (Part 2)

The moment those words escaped his lips, his form blurred, vanishing completely in an instant.

Huangfu Yuli fixed his eyes on the spot where the elder had faded away, his expression turning intricate and layered with emotion.

...

Located twenty-three thousand miles westward from Songshan Square, this expanse is level and ought to be a bountiful area.

Yet, the plain stands barren, its soil tough and fissured, blanketed in thick layers of white saline-alkali deposits, dotted only with scattered patches of weeds.

Right in the middle of the plain sits a vast depression, and at its lowest point rests a lake whose green waves undulate, its waters displaying an enigmatic blend of blue and black, appearing endlessly deep.

At that precise instant, a streak of flowing radiance descended abruptly from the heavens, halting directly over the lake, where Zhao Sheng's silhouette materialized.

Zhao Sheng first cast his eyes downward at the lake beneath him, then lifted his gaze upward toward the firmament.

From his perspective, two 'suns' dominated the sky, one positioned east and the other west.

The 'sun' in the east resembled a massive wheel, brilliant and striking, radiating boundless illumination and warmth.

The 'Great Sun' to the west, however, was merely the size of a clenched fist, far less vivid compared to its counterpart.

These twin 'suns' serve as the primary tormentors of all life in the Daze Realm, rendering the lands infertile over innumerable years.

Within half a month's time, the western 'Great Sun' will expand to match the size of the eastern 'sun', unleashing scorching rays upon the ground, while the Earth Core Springs at key locations throughout the realm will burst forth as anticipated, sending enormous tidal surges to inundate the lower regions.

The depression underneath represents one such outbreak site, with the lake linking straight to the planet's core, its profundity beyond measurement.

Zhao Sheng pulled back his attention, and abruptly, a shaft of resplendent brilliance erupted from his body.

Like a shooting star, the light plummeted into the lake and unveiled an old, pale stone mirror.

The stone mirror gradually descended further, its face undulating softly, while it released a subtle yellowish glow.

In that instant, Zhao Sheng morphed into a beam of burrowing light, racing across hundreds of feet through the void, and dove into the mirror, soon reaching a strange domain.

This space measured roughly a hundred feet across, surrounded by lofty crystalline array pillars; the floor resembled polished jade, inscribed with elaborate array markings, and eight Principle Crystals were set into the array nodes in accordance with the Eight Trigrams and Five Elements.

In the heart of the Grand Array, heaps of earth-based Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures towered, including Five-Colored Stone, Pocket World Jade, Society Earth, Heavy Mountain Rock, Star Core, and more.

Zhao Sheng positioned himself within the Grand Array, easing into a cross-legged seated posture.

Dozens of Top-grade Spirit Stones were launched forth like bolts of lightning, exploding immediately with a thunderous crack, unleashing a vast surge of pure natural spiritual energy that the array's might contained entirely within this confined area.

Swiftly, vibrant spirit clouds formed, and before long, a soft spirit rain sprinkled down across the array's interior.

Zhao Sheng activated the Mysterious Skill, turning his Core Energy Sea into an insatiable void that voraciously absorbed the abundant natural spiritual energy enveloping him.

Threads of mana streamed forth like gentle rivulets, steadily gathering within the profound depths of the Qi Sea.

As moments ticked by, Zhao Sheng's cultivation steadily neared the pinnacle of Nascent Soul.

Moments fled, years raced onward, and a century slipped away unnoticed!

One hundred years onward, the Qinglu Qing Clan's Golden Core Ancestor had passed in seated meditation without fanfare, causing the clan's status to deteriorate sharply, while tensions in Songshan Square mounted with each passing day.

Though the workshop continued its regular operations, the security patrols multiplied in frequency, and the Qing Family's Foundation Establishment Elders overseeing the area made frequent appearances, swiftly settling numerous conflicts inside the workshop every time.

Outwardly, Songshan Square maintained an air of composure, yet beneath the surface, turbulent currents swirled relentlessly.

On this particular day, within a courtyard situated to the northwest of the workshop, a pair of enigmatic cultivators entered abruptly.

Not long after, a protective barrier enveloped the courtyard, severing its connection to the outside world for the time being.

Deep below the courtyard lay a hidden chamber where three robed mysterious cultivators convened.

'Third, you've called us here so urgently to this forsaken spot. What exactly is the matter?' A ruddy-faced elder with coarse red hair demanded sharply of the unassuming middle-aged Taoist.

The middle-aged Taoist looked toward his two senior brothers and replied steadily, 'Don't be impatient, senior brother. I've got a prime chance right here. But it's beyond what I can handle solo, so I've brought you both in to share this monumental endeavor.'

'What sort of prime chance? Are we to topple the Qinglu Qing Clan with just our three powers? The Qing Clan holds wealth, but that's hardly a windfall! Third, your habit of exaggeration is typical; no surprise Master holds you in low regard!'

The one who spoke was a scholar donning a square cap and bearing a pallid complexion, called Lin Yue. His cultivation stood at Golden Core Middle Stage, excelling in talisman crafting and beast control, earning him the moniker 'Double Extreme Scholar.'

Of the trio, the senior-most, Cang Yanzi, possessed the greatest might, his cultivation at Golden Core Ninth Layer, positioning him as nearly the foremost expert shy of Nascent Soul.

The middle-aged Taoist, dubbed Xuan Guang, had trained under Ancestor Tao Kan across four cycles, condensed his Golden Core merely fifty years prior, and lately advanced to Golden Core Second Realm.

Xuan Guang Taoist shook his head with a cryptic smile, 'Second senior brother, you've got it wrong. I'm not referring to the Qinglu Qing Clan, but to an individual. Someone Master often brings up, the one who haunts his thoughts.'

'Third, quit circling! Out with it directly!' The Double Extreme Scholar, though seeming refined and friendly, harbored a hot-tempered core and detested those who dodged straight talk.

Observing this, the eldest Cang Yanzi added his voice, 'Third, just who is this person you're mentioning?'

Trembling greatly before his eldest brother, Xuan Guang Taoist caught the icy undertone and grew restless, hastily answering, 'I'll be straightforward with my senior brothers. About half a month back, close to Qinglu Mountain, I spotted signs of Huangfu Yuli. This person is lurking in—'

Cang Yanzi cut him off mid-sentence with haste, 'Hold on! You mean Huangfu Yuli, the only disciple of the South Willow Old Monster?'

A flicker of dread crossed Xuan Guang Taoist's face, and he continued with residual unease, 'Yes, that's him! While I secretly infiltrated Qinglu Mountain, I stumbled upon his presence by chance. We clashed for merely one exchange, yet he inflicted a grave injury on me. Had it not been for Master's bestowed protective armor, his strike would have ended me.'

The Double Extreme Scholar knitted his brows, questioning dubiously, 'Huangfu Yuli has remained in hiding for more than a century. How could you confirm his location...'

Midway through, a spark of realization lit his eyes, and he abruptly quieted.

Xuan Guang Taoist picked up smoothly, 'I wouldn't summon both senior brothers from distant places without at least eighty percent assurance.'

Cang Yanzi drew in a steadying breath, quelling the excitement surging within, and declared gravely, 'Third, should this indeed be Huangfu Yuli, you'll receive the lion's share of the merit. Upon securing him, I'll make sure to inform Master of this feat.'

'Eldest brother, I've already dispatched word to Master. Yet he's given no reply. To avoid any mishaps, I've convened you both here.'

Cang Yanzi, upon hearing this, regarded Xuan Guang Taoist with a blank stare, offering no further words.

The Double Extreme Scholar, on the other hand, let out a laugh, 'Splendid, splendid! Master must be tied up with other affairs, unable to intervene. Perfect timing for us three brothers to seize Huangfu Yuli without complication!'

'Second senior brother, don't take it lightly! He wounded me terribly in just a single bout. His cultivation level is profound, probably no lower than Late-stage Golden Core.

More than a hundred years past, he was only at Foundation Establishment. In a single century, his power has surged ahead, rivaling the old South Willow Old Monster.

Should he slip away now, in a few centuries he might emerge as yet another 'South Willow Old Monster.' You can imagine the peril we'd face then.'

'Hmph, let's see what remarkable abilities this fellow possesses. No time to waste; Third, guide us so we can confront this successor of the South Willow Old Monster,' Cang Yanzi responded, his gaze igniting with fervor as he stood sharply and marched toward the door.

Xuan Guang Taoist and the Double Extreme Scholar rose promptly and trailed after him.

Shortly thereafter, a Cloud Boat ascended suddenly from Songshan Square, speeding toward Qinglu Mountain hundreds of miles distant.

...

Boom, boom!

A multitude of dark tribulation clouds materialized from nowhere, rapidly blanketing the skies over a thousand-mile expanse. The vault of heaven darkened under the overcast veil, exuding a palpable aura of dread.

Abruptly, myriad lightning strikes rent the gloom, bathing the landscape below in searing brilliance. Profound lakes mirrored the flickering waves, as surging currents swiftly swelled on their surfaces.

In that instant, the gray-white stone mirror surfaced from the depths, its face aglow, from which a figure stepped forth.

As Zhao Sheng emerged, the tribulation clouds roiled ferociously overhead, thunder dragons and electric serpents weaving through them, unleashing a deafening thunder that echoed throughout the world.