Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1582 - 854: The Frequencies of All Things and the Three Tribulations of Ascension

Zhao Sheng peered into the distance as his Divine Thought drifted outward, instantly blanketing the entire ocean.

Refining the source of the irregular disturbance in his mind, he erupted into a streak of light, rocketing toward a lonely stone island thousands of miles away.

Within a single breath of time, a small island emerged into view, its perimeter jagged with odd rocks and uneven, sprawling reefs.

The island was vibrant with greenery, marked by a thousand-foot Stone Peak rising in its heart. A small town rested in the southwestern region, surrounded by a thousand acres of fields where, even now, elderly farmers labored over their crops.

A few miles east of the village lay a wharf, though it remained unnervingly still and devoid of activity, save for the seven or eight ships moored alongside.

At the base of the central Stone Peak, a narrow, winding trail could barely be discerned through the weeds, snaking its way up to the summit.

As a gentle gust whistled through the thicket, a figure manifested silently upon the mountain path.

After glancing around, Zhao Sheng began his steady ascent.

With every step that brought him closer to the peak, the gravity in his vicinity shuddered with increasing intensity.

Halfway up the incline, the gravitational pull intensified, forcing the local thistles and weeds to grow stunted and flat against the earth.

As he climbed higher, the vegetation vanished entirely, leaving only exposed crags of varying dimensions dotting the mountainside.

Upon entering this desolate terrain, the ambient calls of birds and beasts were abruptly cut off, as if an unseen barrier had smothered every sound.

He pressed forward, traversing the broken scree, until he spotted an emaciated, stooped old man crouched beneath a Giant Stone, hammering away with a rhythmic, metallic clinking.

The man appeared as nothing more than an Old Stone Mason; he was gaunt and withered, though his frame retained a massive, sturdy structure, hinting that he had been a formidable figure in his youth.

Weathered by the passage of countless years, the man had lost both hair and teeth, his skin having tightened over his muscles like a thin, dark casing stretched over his very Bone.

Only his oversized, calloused knuckles remained robust, mirroring his former vitality, as his carving knife descended with a fluidity and precision that defied description.

The pristine blade traced across the Giant Stone as if guided by some innate spiritual awareness. Stone shards showered down like snow, each slice deftly scraping away excess debris without ever bruising the natural veins of the rock.

Under his expert hand, the Giant Stone shed its crude shell, slowly unveiling a sense of profound and breathtaking Divine Intent.

At this, Zhao Sheng narrowed his eyes, unconsciously holding his breath, before taking a single step that spanned several hundred yards to position himself directly behind the laborer.

Seemingly sensing a presence behind him, the Old Stone Mason abruptly stopped his blade, rose, and twisted to face him.

Zhao Sheng faltered, an instinctive urge to look away gripping him. It wasn't the man's elderly features that unsettled him, but those eyes—clear, yet bottomless and shrouded in mystery.

Confronted by a gaze that seemed to witness the depths of the world, he ignored the man's aged appearance, feeling his soul drift as his Spirit clouded over, forcing him to avert his eyes.

Hmm?!

A moment later, Zhao Sheng jolted back to alertness, forcibly suppressing the need to turn away.

The Old Stone Mason studied him for a heartbeat before remarking, "Big youngster, what brings you to this desolate, wild summit? Daylight is still generous; you ought to head back down the mountain while you can."

Zhao Sheng bowed slightly, his face solemn as he brought his hands together in a respectful salute. "Might I ask the venerable elder’s name? And to what name does this mountain answer?"

"Ahem, this old man is long in the tooth, and my memory has grown quite poor. Just call me Old Zhao. As for this peak, locals label it Stone Mountain. It is nothing more than a barren heap."

"Truth be told, I share your surname. I am Zhao Sheng, styled Chonghe. I have come here today in search of answers to a certain mystery."

Cough, cough!

The Old Stone Mason doubled over, coughing violently before wheezing, "This Stone Mountain has a habit of shedding Giant Stones; it can be quite perilous. You would be wise to depart at once!"

Zhao Sheng’s eyes flickered with concern as he pressed, "The venerable elder seems unwell? I possess some medical knowledge; perhaps I might take your pulse?"

"Unnecessary. This old man is merely suffering from a slight chill, which will vanish in time." The Old Stone Mason dismissed the offer with a wave of his hand.

"Big youngster, see yourself out! This old man must return to his labor."

As he spoke, he reclaimed his chisel, turned his back, and crouched once more, carving away the excess fragments.

The Giant Stone now appeared visibly smoother, slowly taking the shape of a standing rectangle, bearing the somber silhouette of a heavy tombstone.

Zhao Sheng stood in silence, watching the movements of the Old Stone Mason while closely monitoring the shifts in the surrounding gravity.

As time bled away, the sun dipped behind the horizon, plunging the area into a lingering silence, punctuated only by the crisp, steady strike of the tool.

In that moment, Zhao Sheng slipped into a peculiar trance. His Spirit and his Will began to map out a complex, enigmatically shifting trajectory that mirrored every strike of the chisel.

These patterns seemed etched into the very fabric of the heavens and earth, harmonizing perfectly with every ripple and wave of the gravitational field.

As dusk turned deep, the Old Stone Mason suddenly stopped and rose, tucked his chisel into his robes, and ambled down the mountain path.

He seemed to have entirely forgotten the presence of anyone standing behind him.

Only when the man vanished into the distance did Zhao Sheng snap back to reality, as though waking from a long, vivid dream, his Spirit finally settling.

Finding himself alone, a chill crept into his heart; he sent his Divine Thought sweeping across every inch of the island.

Yet, the Old Stone Mason had dissipated as if into thin air, leaving no traces for Zhao Sheng to follow.

"Indeed... it is you—Zhao Xuanjing!" Zhao Sheng murmured to himself, a cryptic, knowing smile playing on his lips.