Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1598: 860: Hengxu Square, Return to the Divine Continent (2)

The heavens hung low and overcast, with thick clouds piled high above, and from the depths of those clouds, odd and mysterious growls echoed sporadically.

Hot and suffocating air pressed in from all sides, myriad ghostly murmurs endlessly seeped into the consciousness, building a mounting burden of dread and restlessness.

Snow-white ground stretched out, smooth and fine to the touch, yet not crafted from jade but resembling bone matter instead.

Zhao Sheng gazed toward the east, a flicker of shock suddenly appearing in his eyes.

For about five or six miles distant, a massive rift tore open in the cloud cover overhead, starlight pouring through the gap to blanket the rundown workshop beneath.

From a distance, it resembled a colossal pillar of light linking sky and earth, the Nameless workshop nestled squarely within it.

Viewed from afar, the workshop bustled serenely, figures coming and going in steady streams.

Zhao Sheng’s gaze wavered, surprise and uncertainty mingling as he muttered: “Is this truly Gui Yuan Ruins? Why the drastic changes! Did the Trajectory Diagram perhaps lead me astray?”

With that thought, he strode toward the workshop several miles off.

Moments later, Zhao Sheng entered the dilapidated workshop without hindrance.

The instant he passed the starlight barrier, the whispers assailing his ears cut off sharply.

A wave of ease washed over Zhao Sheng, as though some unseen chain had snapped free.

Surveying the area, he noted the workshop’s modest size—a single cross-shaped avenue lined with weathered structures on either side.

Each one stood distinct; some were two-level timber edifices, others like miniature peaks hewn with cavernous doorways.

A few mimicked venerable shrines, topped by an Immortal Seal signboard inscribed with “No Light Temple” in bold ink strokes.

Among the rest were a weathered bronze palace, a mastless ocean vessel, a fissured stone pagoda, and more…

Zhao Sheng strolled down the lane, marveling in stunned awe at the eccentric, timeworn “edifices” flanking him.

These weren’t ordinary structures but outright manifested “Grotto Heavens.”

Clearly, some almighty existence had employed Supreme Divine Power to shift them here magically, depositing them within this workshop.

All that lay before him evoked memories of the ancient “Gui Xu Square”—likely this was Gui Xu Square after twenty thousand years!

As ideas swirled in his mind, Zhao Sheng abruptly advanced and halted a pale-skinned cultivator with verdant eyes.

He cupped his hands in salute: “Greetings, fellow Daoist. I’ve just arrived in these parts; might you tell me what this place is called?”

The green-eyed cultivator sized him up briefly, then whispered lowly, “This is Hengxu Square. If you stumbled in by mistake, you’d best depart quickly—this isn’t somewhere welcoming.”

With those words, the green-eyed cultivator glanced skyward on reflex before brushing past Zhao Sheng.

Hearing “Hengxu Square” uttered, Zhao Sheng grasped the full picture in a flash.

He had erred, landing in Hengxu instead of his target Gui Xu.

Gui Xu and Hengxu formed twin facets, together termed Gui Yuan Ruins.

In a previous life, he’d never crossed paths with Hengxu, yet here he was on his debut trip this lifetime.

That realization struck, and like the green-eyed cultivator, Zhao Sheng glanced upward instinctively.

The very next instant, shock gripped him at the sight of myriad stars.

Through the cloud rift’s depths gleamed a dazzling stellar expanse, weaving a breathtaking Star River across the void.

The Star River twisted and spanned endlessly, like a stellar Dragon Serpent enduring through endless Constant Years, awe-inspiring beyond measure.

One mere look sent tremors through Zhao Sheng’s soul, starlight searing his vision, agony stabbing both eyes while bloody tears streamed unbidden from their edges.

He hastily averted his gaze, unwilling to confront the heavens directly again.

Right then, a mocking chuckle rang out nearby: “Haha, yet another idiot shows up!”

Zhao Sheng dabbed away the crimson tears, turned toward the sound, and spotted a squat figure with a bucket-like head, clad in Red Robe, eyeing him with odd amusement.

Sensing opportunity, Zhao Sheng approached at once, saluted, and inquired: “I’ve only just reached Hengxu Square, clueless about its prohibitions. Fellow Daoist, you seem well-versed here—would you share some wisdom?”

While speaking, Zhao Sheng drew a Top-grade Spirit Stone from his sleeve and presented it to the Shorty.

The Shorty’s eyes gleamed greedily; he snatched the Top-grade Spirit Stone swiftly and stowed it away.

“Certainly, certainly. I know Hengxu Square inside out. As for taboos, plenty exist. The biggest is the Gang Sha Star Lords—they’re undead fiends; cross them, and death becomes a luxury.

Second comes the ‘Managers’ of the Grotto Heavens…”

“…beyond those three taboos, avoid lingering outside Hengxu Square too long, no brawls in the workshop, no theft or seizing others’ belongings… break the rules, and you’ll wish for death…”

Paid with the Spirit Stone, the Shorty proved thorough, detailing numerous taboos and stressing repeatedly to never anger the Market Master, the Gangsha Immortal Monarch.

Zhao Sheng absorbed it all carefully, piecing together knowledge of Hengxu Square, when a shrewd notion sparked within.

Not long after, the Shorty pocketed two Top-grade Spirit Stones with glee and hurried off.

Gazing after his departure, Zhao Sheng turned back and resumed browsing the workshop.

He roamed every nook for an hour, verifying a total of forty-two “Grotto Heavens” present.

After brief reflection, Zhao Sheng neared the ancient temple and settled against a quiet stretch of its wall.

He shed his Daoist robe, spread it flat, and unpacked over a dozen “items” from within, arranging them upon it.

Among them: a top-grade flying sword, an alchemy furnace stocked with High-level Spirit Pills, a Principle Crystal, chunks of Star Iron, and seven Pocket World Jades.

Perched by the wall, Zhao Sheng diligently arranged his stall.

Soon enough, an Immortal Ruins Guest paused before it, fixating on a choice item and launching into bargaining.

After heated exchange, Zhao Sheng traded the High Grade Magical Treasure flying sword for ten Pocket World Jades.

Once the buyer departed sword in hand, his stall saw no visitors for quite a while.

Zhao Sheng felt no rush; selling wasn’t his sole aim, after all.

And so he lingered in Hengxu Square, day by day.

Seven or eight Ruins cycled by without a glimpse of any Gang Sha Star Lords.

Encounters with them evidently demanded repeated tries.

With time ebbing away, Zhao Sheng gathered his wares, ceased resisting the ambient space-time rejection, and vanished instantly, returning safely to the Lower Realm.

…

Taiyi Spirit Realm, Ten Thousand Peak Spirit Domain, Zhao Clan Ancestral Land.

That day brought vast clear skies, utterly cloudless.

In the southeast reaches of the Divine Land Ancestral Land, upon Hualong Island’s courtyard, a figure materialized abruptly.

Zhao Sheng touched down, scanned his surroundings, and found all as he’d left it, a profound relief surging through him.

At that instant, nearly a hundred streaks of light swirled overhead in the courtyard.

Zhao Sheng summoned with a gesture, drawing all lights down to reveal themselves as Jade Talismans.

He extended a thread of Divine Thought, quietly scanning every Jade Talisman as floods of data poured into his awareness.

In a heartbeat, he absorbed the Jade Talismans’ contents, apprised of key happenings in the Zhao Family since his departure.

The paramount issue showed promising progress toward settlement.

Though the Three Ancestors avoided direct words, their Jade Talismans conveyed subtle cues.

The Ten Lands Zhao Clan’s might was immense, effortlessly amassing required Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.

Zhao Sheng reckoned the timeframe, surmising Zhao Xuanjing might already be refining the Small Wind Stabilizing Pearl.

Uncertain how long refining the Small Wind Stabilizing Pearl would demand.

With that in mind, Zhao Sheng produced a sheaf of Jade Talismans, infused each with Divine Thought, and triggered them sequentially.

Abruptly, radiant streams lanced skyward, streaking toward distant corners of the Divine Continent.

With that in mind, Zhao Sheng produced a sheaf of Jade Talismans, infused each with Divine Thought, and triggered them sequentially.

Abruptly, radiant streams lanced skyward, streaking toward distant corners of the Divine Continent.