Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1558 - 842: A New "Immortal" Arrives on Jixian Island

The Ku Rong Ancestor gave a quiet smile and abruptly pulled an item from his sleeve, passing it forward.

Zhao Sheng accepted it, noticing it was a Golden Core, glossy like a mirror, roughly the size of a fist.

On initial sight, the Golden Core's exterior gleamed with splendor, its golden radiance pulsing in and out without pause, almost as if alive.

"What could this be... oh?"

Zhao Sheng let out a sudden cry of astonishment, his eyes shooting forth two rays of Divine Light, fixed intently on the Golden Core's surface.

"Haha, Taoist Zhao truly possesses sharp Eye Power! You recognized at once that this pill is no ordinary thing."

Zhao Sheng commended, "Such impressive Artifact Refining skill! Even with just two damaged Treasure Restrictions, you've blended the ’Shell’ perfectly, while intentionally adding eight ’flaws’.

It looks like a master craftsman is using this to challenge my abilities."

The Ku Rong Ancestor chuckled and replied, "Taoist Zhao is spot on. The master himself gave me this pill and told me to deliver it to you.

Moreover, the master stressed multiple times that its background is shocking, so Taoist Zhao must treat it seriously and fully unravel it.

Should you succeed, it might turn into a tremendous chance for you, Taoist Zhao."

The Ku Rong Ancestor spoke with gravity, and Zhao Sheng felt his interest piqued upon hearing that.

He fiddled with the mirror-smooth Golden Core, then his right hand's five fingers swept across its face, sparking a burst of fire right away.

Crack!

The once flawless Golden Core let out a faint crack, its surface quickly riddled with fine fissures.

In the following instant, chunks of golden shards peeled away from the Golden Core's exterior, ranging from thumb-sized bits to tiny grains like rice.

Looking more closely, the Golden Core had diminished in size, its outer layer now dark and lustrous, subtly glowing with a dull sheen.

"Hmm, fascinating! They've switched up the approach this time. If I guess right, it's the Two Qi Circulation Yin Yang Forging Technique. An old Magic Skill, but cleverly done!"

Zhao Sheng commented casually as his right hand kept pressing against the "Golden Core"'s surface.

With each touch from his fingertips, bursts of "golden light" flared up, dazzling like bursting fireworks.

Within barely over a hundred breaths, a web of "light threads" emerged on the ebony "Golden Core", linking together to form an intricate, balanced map of the Two Qi Star Nebula.

Crack!

Another layer of fragments sloughed off the "Golden Core"'s surface, causing it to contract once more.

"This... it's progressing so swiftly!" The Ku Rong Ancestor gaped, his voice filled with amazement.

"Not a big deal! It's straightforward for experts, but baffling for outsiders. Once you've grasped the pertinent Artifact Refining methods, cracking it becomes simple enough!"

While Zhao Sheng explained, he flung the "Golden Core" upward, his hands swiftly weaving mudras.

A ray of spirit light lanced out, striking the "Golden Core"'s face and disappearing instantly.

"Hehe, they've ramped up the challenge this round, eh? Still, it won't baffle me. The Thousand Realms Traceless Layering Refining Technique is uncommon, but I'm somewhat versed in it."

As he continued, spirit light cascaded like a torrent, and the "Golden Core"'s surface exploded into vast expanses of "starlight", reshaping into a swirling Star Nebula that danced around the "Golden Core" in captivating patterns.

Now, the Treasure Restrictions numbered seven, boasting over a hundred "flaws". Certain "flaws" connected sequentially, so mishandling the order could spell catastrophe.

Yet Zhao Sheng, far from an average Refining Master, found these ploys child's play.

After the time it takes to burn one incense stick, the "Golden Core" shrank yet again, now no larger than an egg.

At this point, the Golden Core gleamed entirely in silver-white, radiating a cold, piercing Han Guang.

Zhao Sheng's eyes narrowed slightly, and he swiftly grabbed the "Golden Core" from the air.

Then, turning to the Ku Rong Ancestor, he surprisingly declared, "I'm fatigued for today. Please take your leave, Taoist!"

The Ku Rong Ancestor, engrossed in the display, was momentarily stunned by the remark but quickly regained his poise.

"I have matters to handle myself, so I'll not impose on your repose, Taoist. Farewell!" The Ku Rong Ancestor rose, his smile wide.

Having existed for tens of thousands of years, the Ku Rong Ancestor was sharper than the sharpest minds, so he clearly saw that the other had private issues to address.

Thus, he avoided prying, adeptly navigating the moment by suggesting departure.

Zhao Sheng mirrored the courtesy, discreetly tucking the Golden Core into his sleeve as he escorted the Ku Rong Ancestor from the chamber.

Once outside the cave mansion, the Ku Rong Ancestor remembered to advise, "Taoist Zhao, seize this rare chance firmly."

"Don't worry! I know the risks and rewards," Zhao Sheng replied, the nuance of "risks and rewards" clear only to the insightful.

The Ku Rong Ancestor feigned ignorance, offered another cupped-hand salute to Zhao Sheng, then his form gradually merged into the earth, vanishing completely.

As Zhao Sheng's grin dissolved, his eyes scanned the surroundings sharply, his Divine Thought sweeping across every direction in a flash.

Ah, ah...

A chain of anguished cries erupted nearby, as cultivators one by one collapsed senseless to the ground.

With an icy look, Zhao Sheng whipped his sleeves and strode back into the cave mansion.

...

Secluded Immortal Island.

After numerous days, the island's landscape had transformed dramatically, featuring undulating "mountain ranges", with ice forests dotting the valleys and cliffs, emitting a soft crystalline glow.

Inside a mountain blanketed in ice, a massive chamber had been carved out by hand.

The chamber spanned a whopping two thousand zhang, and on the southern ice wall, a several-zhang-high alcove had been chiseled.

Right now, numerous "Immortal Ruins Guests" lugged hefty packs of "trinkets" into the chamber, making a beeline for the southern alcove.

As moments passed, increasing numbers of Immortal Ruins Guests showed up, soon lining up in a lengthy row beyond the alcove.

Within the alcove, a colossal figure sat in meditative pose at the middle, its eyes blazing like stellar fires, scrutinizing every "Immortal Ruins Guest" who stepped in.

"Senior Nameless, here are the ’treasures’ I've carefully picked out. Kindly examine them!" A sturdy human cultivator with fiery red skin gazed up at the giant, bowing obsequiously.

"Hmm." Zhao Sheng gave a slight nod, his gaze skimming the "junk" before this individual.

Shortly after, two fractured sword segments, a shadowy metal shard, and a stack of bones lifted into the air, settling aside.

"This refuse can swap for one piece of Pocket World Jade plus items of matching worth, at best. Care to exchange?"

"Absolutely, senior is ever just! I have full faith in you," the red-skinned human cultivator agreed without delay. "I'd like spiritual elixirs in trade, ideally those aiding cultivation advancement."

No sooner had he spoken than a White Jade Pill Bottle dropped from above, into his grasp.

"Third-grade top-grade Yuan Essence Pill, each one spares a decade of grueling practice, with ten inside the bottle... Next!" Zhao Sheng stated flatly.

Ecstatic, the red-skinned human cultivator clutched the pill bottle to his chest, forsook his goods, and vanished straight to the "Lower Realm".

Zhao Sheng showed no surprise, his intent extending to whisk all the "trinkets" to a rear cavern.

At that instant, a peculiar black-robed visitor entered, hauling a load almost thrice a person's stature.

Clang!

The heavy pack thudded down, and the odd visitor hastily unbound it, uncovering a jumbled mass of "trinkets", encompassing magical artifact remnants, scorched timber, red crystal, pale skeletons, plus assorted unrecognizable bits.

Zhao Sheng posed no queries, his sight settling on the pile, swiftly spotting numerous salvageable pieces.

His will brushed across, and the valuable bits rose aloft, sorting themselves into a modest heap.

"These... have value! Three pieces of Pocket World Jade or equal-value treasures. Interested in swapping?"

"Senior, check once more. I went to great lengths to obtain these—"

"Scram!"

Before the words ended, the figure rocketed out like a projectile.

Instantly, a mound of trash blasted after, hammering the black-robed guest in a storm, burying him in a flash.

"Next!"

The lined-up Immortal Ruins Guests outside observed the event and went quiet, afraid to utter a word.

Long familiar with Secluded Immortal Island, they knew well what this display meant.

Such feats as directing objects with the mind and dominating the heavens with a single thought mark only Returning to Void Realm "Immortals".

The fool just now dared to strut before a Returning to Void Immortal; he was begging for doom.

It was solely Senior Nameless's fame for mildness and approachability that spared the offender's life.

"Next!"

The lead Immortal Ruins Guest trembled, plastering on his most deferential grin, before silently advancing into the alcove.