Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1625: 874: The Greatest Secret of All Universes (Part 2)

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Previously on Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension...

Zhao Sheng presented the tower sealing Shuangling’s Remnant Soul to the Golden Crane Great Saint, who recognized the Power of Reincarnation inscribed upon it. When Zhao revealed the Reincarnation Pen, the Thought Realm trembled on the brink of collapse, but the Great Saint stabilized it with its braid's white light. Recognizing Zhao as the Pen's master, the Great Saint offered to impart all its lifelong learnings and tasked him with purifying the remnant soul for reincarnation into a monkey fetus, while hinting at the Pen's immense cosmic significance.

Listen closely, kid. Until you've accomplished Harmonization and earned the Ancestor title, you'd better keep the Reincarnation Pen's presence a secret from everyone else. If not, I assure you, even Supreme Dao Ancestors on the verge of transcendence would move to claim it, because...

Zhao Sheng's heart sank deeper with every word he heard, leaving him filled with despair by the finish.

The fact that Supreme Dao Ancestors crave the 'Reincarnation Pen' proves just how invaluable and dangerous it truly is!

Wearing a wry smile, Zhao Sheng remarked, 'Senior... is it too late for me to toss away the Reincarnation Pen now?'

'Haha, that's hilarious! You're killing me with laughter!' The Golden Crane Great Saint chuckled wildly, barely catching its breath.

Truthfully, its humor threshold seems awfully low—maybe too much time in Forgotten Heaven has scrambled its thoughts.

'Haha, a treasure chased by every Supreme Dao Ancestor, and you wanna throw it out? Are you out of your mind, Zhao kid!'

Expressing deep disappointment in him, the Golden Crane Great Saint continued, 'Do you realize that among all Supreme Dao Ancestors, two stand unrivaled? The foremost is the primordial Ancestor: Reincarnation!'

Not giving Zhao Sheng time to inquire, the Golden Crane Great Saint launched into tales of the legendary Reincarnation Dao Ancestor.

According to legend, Reincarnation Dao Ancestor became the inaugural Supreme Dao Ancestor across the All Heavens and Universes to attain Harmonization and the Ancestor honor.

The tool he used for Harmonization was none other than the 'Reincarnation Pen' now in Zhao Sheng's grasp.

Mastering the Dao of Reincarnation, he ensured no other Supreme Dao Ancestor could emerge in the All Heavens and Universes without his approval.

Naturally, this very power led to Reincarnation Dao Ancestor being surrounded by numerous Taoist Ancestors, sealing his tragic end.

But how did the Reincarnation Pen end up in the Burial Immortal Ruins?

As the Golden Crane Great Saint recounted the events, Zhao Sheng uncovered the truth from that era.

The two peerless Dao Ancestors among Supreme Dao Ancestors, 'Yu Kong' and 'Reincarnation,' had allied to call forth an Outer Universe 'Demon' Ancestor, aiming for ultimate transcendence.

Unexpectedly, this Outer Universe Demon Ancestor schemed maliciously, attempting to 'corrupt' Yu Kong Grandmaster.

Caught unprepared, Yu Kong Grandmaster received a Devilish Thought implant, prompting him to betray Reincarnation Dao Ancestor in secret.

Then, a colossal upheaval erupted, uniting all Dao Ancestors in their first joint assault against the invincible duo, Yu Kong and Reincarnation.

This clash was without parallel, almost shattering the universe and extinguishing the Three Thousand Great Dao.

The battlefield of that epoch-spanning war engulfed the All Heavens and Universes; even Golden Crane Great Saint charged into Space Immortal Heaven alongside myriad Daluo Golden Immortals.

Spanning two Meeting Elements, the conflict concluded with Yu Kong's eternal vanishing and Reincarnation's total demise, closing this cataclysmic strife.

The Golden Crane Great Saint fell in that very battle.

Though vague, Zhao Sheng detected lingering grudge in its words, likely aimed at the Supreme... Taoist Ancestor.

Believing its end neared, Golden Crane Great Saint cast aside all restraints and spoke without reserve.

Its fervor mounted as it ranted, while Zhao Sheng quaked in terror, a cold dread rising, fearing some Supreme Dao Ancestor might detect them and obliterate this Thought Realm with a mere notion.

'...Kid, you missed that epic clash. I reveled battling through Ten Thousand Immortals, smashing at least two Daluo Golden Immortals with my bare fists—not to mention the hordes of Golden Immortal Emperors and True Immortals. Had the Supreme Old Thief not watched from the sidelines, I wouldn't be like this now...'

'...You know zilch, kid! Ever since Ancient Immortals got eradicated, you human cultivators lost the way. That 'Creation of Heaven and Earth, Only I Am Supreme' nonsense? Pure crap!'

It's all a plot by Primordial Ancestors and Supreme Dao Ancestors!

A plot—get it?'

To ensure Zhao Sheng grasped it, Golden Crane Great Saint stressed once more.

Stunned and skeptical, Zhao Sheng promptly questioned, 'Great Saint, does the 'scheme' you refer to mean...'

'Spot on! You're treading the 'Open Heaven first, then Achieve Dao' route. Yet billions of years back, Ancient Immortals followed 'Achieve Dao first, then Open Heaven.'

Every Supreme Dao Ancestor without fail pursued 'Achieve Dao first, then Open Heaven.' Understand the gap between these approaches?'

Drawing a deep breath, Zhao Sheng bowed deferentially: 'Please enlighten me, Great Saint!'

Grinning, Golden Crane Great Saint declared, 'Stick to your present cultivation path, and you'll peak at Daluo Golden Immortal—no chance ever for Harmonization or Ancestor status.'

'Why is that?' Zhao Sheng blurted instinctively.

With a cryptic air, Golden Crane Great Saint answered, 'No why to it. Even I wonder. Maybe Primordial Ancestors block any being from Harmonization, since each new Supreme Dao Ancestor spells a Primordial Ancestor's doom.'

Upon finishing, a peculiar gleam lit Golden Crane Great Saint's eyes as it marveled, 'You're unfazed. Looks like you've heard... no, encountered a Primordial Clan member.'

Un able to conceal it, Zhao Sheng admitted with a nod, 'Junior was indeed lucky enough to encounter the Life Demon clan.'

'Life Demon?!' Golden Crane Great Saint lifted a hand to rub its chin thoughtfully: 'Life Demons wield Destiny Dao. Those fiends aren't met by just anyone—only a Child of Destiny might cross paths!

Yes! With the Reincarnation Pen yours, meeting a Life Demon makes sense.

Still, Life Demons love 'gifting' upon encounters.

Those 'gifts' come with heavy strings attached!'

Golden Crane Great Saint's gaze flickered, as if tempted to probe Zhao Sheng, but it abruptly halted, holding back for some reason.

Moments later, the thought slipped away, and Golden Crane Great Saint resumed discussing the divergences in Modern versus Ancient Immortals' cultivation paths.

Though both Ancient and Modern Immortals gathered power within themselves,

Ancient Immortals favored 'using power to attain Dao,' while Modern Immortals opted for 'using power to open heaven.'

After the final Ancient Immortal fell to Primordial Clan, their path was sealed and purged collectively by Primordial Clans.

Curiously, Supreme Dao Ancestors silently endorsed the Primordial Clans' moves.

Thus, post the downfall of Reincarnation and Yu Kong, no fresh Supreme Dao Ancestor has arisen in the All Heavens and Universes.

'...Zhao kid, the Reincarnation Pen choosing you as master hints at your slim shot at Harmonizing with Reincarnation. Grasp what that implies?

I'll be straight: my wish for you to guide me into the Dao stems exactly from this.'

Out of some caution, Golden Crane Great Saint revealed this candidly.

Having pieced together the full story, Zhao Sheng nodded earnestly: 'Junior won't disappoint you!'

'Good, trifles aside, onto the real stuff. I recall just three full Immortal Laws; other Magic Skills are mostly lost or fragmented.

We'll begin with the 'Heaven-Supporting One Qi Technique'! Crafted by Qingtian Great Saint, it emphasizes pure 'Power Dao.'

Qingtian Great Saint, inaugural Great Saint of the Ape Clan, possessed the Innate Divine Ability 'Fatian Xiangdi.'

Both 'Heaven-Supporting One Qi Technique' and 'Big and Small Ruyi Immortal Skill' derive from this Divine Ability, the One Qi Technique's essence captured in 'Swallowing and Refining.'

Swallowing and Refining signifies nothing can't be devoured, nothing can't be forged...

Provided the two Immortal Laws reach