Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1629 - 876: Visiting Great Saint Ridge (2)

Muttering anxiously with worry etched on its face, the Wood Spirit abruptly trembled from head to toe, immediately detecting the activation of the prohibition inside the Late Sun Tower.

"Ah, the master has finally returned!" The Wood Spirit bounded to its feet, its face brimming with boundless excitement.

In the very next instant, it morphed into a streak of verdant light, plunging into the earth and vanishing completely.

Let us turn back the clock just a bit.

The third level of the Late Sun Tower held a room layered thick with prohibitions, precisely the spot where Zhao Sheng had been in closed-door cultivation.

Right then, a lofty silhouette materialized out of thin air within the room—none other than Zhao Sheng, fresh from his return.

Unlike his prior departure, he now appeared utterly mundane and unremarkable, though in truth, he had attained the Returning to the Truth realm.

A hundred years of isolated enlightenment had propelled Zhao Sheng’s Dao skills to soar dramatically and elevated his cultivation to the point of "no more advancement, no further cultivation."

Right now, whenever he desired, he could form a grotto heaven at will and confront the Six Nine Tribulations head-on.

Yet prior to facing the tribulation, thorough preparations were essential.

With a mere thought, the Northern Mirage Cloud Mirror emerged from his body.

Grasping the Mirage Cloud Mirror, Zhao Sheng infused it with a Divine Thought.

Instantly, ripples danced across the mirror’s surface, gradually expelling another "Zhao Sheng" who had slumbered for countless years.

Zhao Sheng observed the avatar briefly before a brilliant glow erupted from his forehead, allowing the Returning to Void Splitting God to step out serenely and merge straight into the prone "Zhao Sheng."

Moments later, "Zhao Sheng’s" eyelids fluttered, then parted to unveil eyes sparkling with vitality and depth.

"Zhao Sheng" rose upright, saluting the primary body with a grin and declaring, "Main body, depart without worry. With me here, everything will proceed smoothly."

Zhao Sheng gave a faint nod: "Zhao Yi, stay low-key from now on, avoid alerting the Taiqing Sect’s higher-ups. Also, the ’Mixed Element Qi Cave True Scripture’ and ’Heaven-Supporting One Qi Technique’ share akin purposes. Delve deeper into their parallels and contrasts, hasten to master the initial layer of the Heaven and Earth Furnace, got it?"

The avatar Zhao Yi wore a distressed look: "I’ll give it my all. As you’re aware, this Heaven and Earth Furnace is incredibly tough; neither of us holds full assurance of success."

Zhao Sheng replied: "Be it a century or a millennium, we have the time to persist. If cultivating this Immortal Law weren’t impractical for me too, I wouldn’t burden you with it."

The avatar Zhao Yi nodded, adding: "The Ancient Immortal Path defies worldly norms, caution is wise, main body."

"Very well, cultivate here undisturbed. I’m heading back to the Divine Continent now."

Saying so, Zhao Sheng inclined his head toward the avatar and blinked out of existence.

Watching the main body vanish, the avatar Zhao Yi promptly dispatched multiple Divine Thoughts, dismantling the intricate barrier prohibitions encasing the chamber.

Two breaths afterward, the Wood Spirit surfaced from under the chamber’s floor.

Spotting its master, overwhelming joy surged through it; it dropped to its knees in haste, kowtowing fervently in greeting.

...

Taiyi Spirit Realm, Four Holy Continents, Ancestral Divine Land.

On this crisp autumn day, soft winds rippled across Heavenly Wave Lake, sending glittering waves dancing.

With a groan, the long-sealed door swung open, and Zhao Sheng emerged from within, stepping into the heart of the modest courtyard.

The yard remained spotless and orderly, peach trees flourishing vibrantly, branches heavy with ripe, juicy fruits.

Tilting his head skyward, Zhao Sheng peered into the distance as a Divine Thought unfurled swiftly, scattering the flock of Jade Talismans suspended over the courtyard.

Soon enough, he dispatched the pile of minor matters that had built up over the last century or so with ease.

Without dawdling in the yard, he swiftly became a beam of escaping light, hurtling toward the Great Saint Ridge in the Southern Divine Continent.

The Zhao Divine Continent stretched endlessly, brimming with myriad wonders and Spirit Realm Blessed Lands.

Yet amid these abundant Spirit Realm Blessed Lands, the Great Saint Ridge stood out as exceptionally unique.

Despite its name, the Great Saint Ridge encompassed a colossal territory of soaring mountains and myriad peaks, extending across more than three million miles.

Due to an ancestral decree left by their forefather, the Great Saint Ridge turned into a haven for numerous exotic Spiritual Apes.

Over more than two hundred thousand years, each elite generation from the Ten Lands Zhao Clan has followed that ancestral decree faithfully, searching across the entire Taiyi Spirit Realm through endless years to shelter exotic Spiritual Apes bearing the blood of the Ten Great Divine Apes.

The Great Saint Ridge serves as the home where these exotic 'Spiritual Apes' thrive and dwell.

In order to care for them properly, the Zhao Clan even sends a Returning to Void Realm elder to guard the Great Saint Ridge.

This individual is from the Xuan generation, formally named Zhao Xuan Ye, possessing cultivation around the seventh layer of Returning to Void Realm, and having lived for more than thirty-seven thousand years.

Zhao Sheng had no desire to conceal his approach, so as soon as he reached the skies above the Great Saint Ridge, Zhao Xuan Ye sensed it right away.

Over a lush green mountain woodland, Zhao Sheng silently halted his escape light, then sent out his Divine Thought, letting it sweep outward in every direction.

One breath later, in a certain empty space a few miles distant, a figure abruptly appeared from thin air.

Zhao Xuan Ye, his long beard fluttering, appeared elderly. Spotting the striking and noble Zhao Sheng, an odd gleam flashed in his gaze.

After a quick evaluation, Zhao Xuan Ye’s face lit up with joy, as he bowed and greeted warmly, 'So it’s the First Daoist gracing us with a visit. This old man Zhao Xuan Ye regrets not coming out to greet you sooner; please don’t hold it against me, Daoist.'

Seeing this, Zhao Sheng promptly returned the bow with a grin, 'Elder Zhao is overly polite. I came to the Great Saint Ridge without warning, hoping it hasn’t interrupted your cultivation, Elder.'

Zhao Xuan Ye burst into loud laughter, 'Haha, no interruption at all! Your visit to the Great Saint Ridge is truly this old man’s great fortune.'

With those words, he made an inviting gesture, 'Daoist, this isn’t the spot for talk. Please come with this old man to my cave mansion for a proper discussion!'

Zhao Sheng thought for a moment, then agreed with a nod, 'Alright! Please lead on, Elder Zhao.'

Zhao Xuan Ye let out a chuckle, then called forth a cloud of Qingyun that lifted him as it floated toward the west.

At the sight, Zhao Sheng moved in a flash, landing firmly on the Qingyun.

Shortly after, the pair reached a modest and tranquil cave mansion, stepping inside a elegant chamber where they sat down.

Following some tea sipping and casual conversation, Zhao Sheng at last revealed the reason for his journey to the Great Saint Ridge.

'Elder Zhao, could you tell me how many descendants carrying the bloodlines of the Ten Great Divine Apes exist now in the Great Saint Ridge? What are their cultivation stages? And how many males versus females?'

Though puzzled by Zhao Sheng’s questions, Zhao Xuan Ye saw no reason to withhold the information and replied straightforwardly, 'To tell the truth, Daoist, the Great Saint Ridge houses countless Spiritual Apes, including many Demon Monkeys with blood from the Ten Great Divine Apes, though most possess thinned bloodlines and weak cultivation.

Of course, some boast pure bloodlines, numbering fewer than one hundred in total.

The descendants of the Snow Mountain Spirit Monkey are the most plentiful, totaling nine, with six males and three females.

Close behind are the Six-Eared Macaque bloodline, numbering five, four males and one female.

Next come the Spiritual Divine Ape and Red Demon Horse Monkey bloodlines, each with four, though every Spiritual Divine Ape is male.

The Red Demon Horse Monkey bloodline fares a bit better, two males and two females, and the males among them have profound cultivation, almost rivaling any Half-Immortal of the Void.

Furthermore, the Extended-Arm Spiritual Ape...'

Zhao Sheng quietly absorbed Zhao Xuan Ye’s detailed report, tallying things mentally.

Should circumstances permit, he would prioritize the Red Demon Horse Monkey, then the rest with Divine Ape blood. After all, the Golden Crane Great Saint had originally achieved enlightenment as a pure-blooded Red Demon Horse Monkey.

It took Zhao Xuan Ye a quarter-hour to describe the status of the various Divine Ape bloodlines in the Great Saint Ridge.

Once Zhao Sheng had heard it all, he inquired further, 'Elder Zhao, which of the Divine Ape bloodlines are pregnant at present?'

At these words, a peculiar gleam briefly shone in Zhao Xuan Ye’s eyes.

'I fear this will disappoint you, Daoist. Not a single female among all the Divine Ape bloodlines is with child. As you likely know, the purer and stronger a demon ape’s bloodline, the harder it becomes to reproduce.

In the last thousand years, Great Saint Ridge has only added two more Divine Ape bloodlines, while losing four to death.'

Zhao Sheng's eyes flickered faintly,

Zhao Xuan Ye spent a full quarter of an hour detailing the conditions of the various Divine Ape bloodlines at Great Saint Ridge.

Once Zhao Sheng had heard everything, he inquired further, "Elder Zhao, may I ask which Divine Ape bloodlines are currently pregnant?"

A peculiar gleam flashed briefly in Zhao Xuan Ye’s eyes upon hearing this.

"This might disappoint the Daoist. None of the female monkeys among all the Divine Ape bloodlines are pregnant. The Daoist should know that the purer and stronger the demon ape’s bloodline, the harder reproduction becomes.

In the past millennium, Great Saint Ridge has only acquired two additional Divine Ape bloodlines, while four have perished."