Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1637: 881: If One Day I Become the Sect Hierarch

Through the scrutiny of the Divine Eye of Fate Observation, the Qi Fortunes belonging to the eighteen Returning Void elders emerged into view, each crowned by a blooming Destiny Golden Lotus above their heads.

Sizes differed among these Destiny Golden Lotuses, petals counting from three up to seven, every one resembling flawless glass while radiant light blazed upward.

Moments later, Zhao Hongyun directed his sight toward the remaining clan members.

Hmm?!

Shock jolted his heart, and he swiftly hid the odd glint in his eyes. His face grew instantly stern and serious.

For among the assembly just now, he had shockingly spotted two 'outcasts'.

No other clan member's Qi Fortune escaped his divine eye, save for Zhao Chonghe and Zhao Luo Mo.

One appeared as a black hole, utterly impenetrable and impossible to discern.

The other draped in a starry river, shining like a majestic galaxy, dazzlingly bright and impossible to overlook.

Excitement sparked in Zhao Hongyun's eyes, his heart trembling deeply. Across his long life, he had observed myriad individuals and seldom erred in fate reading, rarely facing those he could not 'pierce'.

Yet on this day within the Ancestor Hall, two such enigmas appeared one after another.

Zhao Hongyun masked the Divine Light in his gaze, his lips twitching faintly as he sent a covert transmission to Zhao Sheng and Zhao Luo Mo.

Zhao Sheng abruptly lifted his head toward the Second Ancestor, replying to that hopeful stare with a subtle nod barely noticeable.

Right then, following a ferocious storm of Divine Thoughts, the final among the eighteen elders delivered his decisive vote.

With all votes placed, Zhao Dashan marched to the bronze tripod, plunging his hand inside to draw out a bundle of golden silk pages.

Next, he spread open the golden pages and announced the names for all to hear.

“Zhao Tongxuan, one vote!”

“Zhao Tianyi, one vote!”

“Zhao Xuan Yu, one vote!”

…

Golden pages dwindled swiftly, propelling certain elders ahead while laggards sank into despair, faces etched with utter dejection.

Soon enough, the seventy-eight golden silk pages were all gone, crowning the final champion.

To everyone's astonishment, the inheritor of Eternal Night Cave Heaven turned out to be him—the third Daoist, Zhao Tongxuan!

Over the Zhao Family's two hundred thousand years, when ranking the finest in talent, insight, and wit across generations, Zhao Tongxuan ranked firmly in the top three.

Setting aside Zhao Luo Mo, hailed as the 'Reincarnated Immortal' and 'born saint,' Zhao Tongxuan stood as the prime candidate among seventy-eight Returning Void elders to forge a Grotto Heaven.

Yet this figure shunned the orthodox path, opting for a 'shortcut'—one branded a hopeless dead end.

Not only the throng of Returning Void elders but even Third Ancestor Zhao Dashan brimmed with doubt, often shooting 'disappointed' looks toward Zhao Tongxuan.

Zhao Hongyun, by contrast, betrayed no shock, behaving as though he had long foreseen Zhao Tongxuan's bold decision.

One hour passed, and the Returning Void elders departed the Ancestor Hall bit by bit, leaving solely Zhao Sheng, Zhao Luo Mo, and Ancestor Hongyun behind.

“You two, follow me!” Zhao Hongyun summoned them, then pivoted toward the rear hall.

Zhao Sheng and Zhao Luo Mo shared a quick look before trailing in silence.

Before long, the trio entered the rear hall adorned with ancestral Divine Statues.

Guiding the pair, Zhao Hongyun hastened to the spot beneath the Ancestor Altar, where the Heavenly Book Ancestor Register floated steadily over it, softly glowing.

Zhao Hongyun whirled about abruptly, fixing his eyes on Zhao Sheng and Luo Mo, and demanded solemnly, “Do you know why I brought you to the Ancestor Altar today?”

Zhao Sheng's heart flickered, yet he answered, “Chonghe does not know!”

Zhao Luo Mo cast him a pensive glance but held his tongue.

Zhao Hongyun locked his stare on Zhao Sheng, declaring weightily, “I have reached Perfection and stand on the cusp of 'decline and then flourish'. I summoned you today for one sole purpose. I merely want to know which of you desires to take up the role of Supreme Sect Guardian?”

Hearing those words, Zhao Sheng pondered swiftly and responded firmly, “I have always preferred a free life like idle clouds and cranes, and hold no desire to enter the Supreme Sect.”

Scarce had his words faded when Zhao Luo Mo interjected, “Second Ancestor, the Supreme Sect’s rules are strict, and Luo Mo also does not wish to be bound by them. Moreover, I have already cultivated the Spirit Control Immortal Scripture to the Sixth Great Perfection, and will soon start establishing a Grotto Heaven, so it’s difficult for me to divert my attention.”

Zhao Hongyun gave a nod and said, “That’s correct, opening a Grotto Heaven ties to one’s destiny; you must avoid any distractions. Yet… Zhao Luo Mo, in this lifetime, are you planning to halt merely at the Unification Realm?”

These words made Zhao Sheng seem to grasp something, leading him to think the rumors of a “Reincarnated Immortal” might actually hold some truth.

This individual… is genuinely extraordinary!

After the Second Ancestor uttered those words, Zhao Luo Mo slightly creased his brows and promptly inquired, “Second Ancestor, what exactly do you imply?”

“Back then, I wouldn’t have brought this up. But circumstances have changed dramatically now. We owe it all to Zhao Chonghe.”

While speaking, Zhao Hongyun cast an approving glance at Zhao Sheng, prompting Zhao Luo Mo to look over in astonishment.

“Dozens of years back, Chonghe returned with a collection of incredibly scarce Immortal Law inheritances for the clan, including a piece of the Supreme Yin Talisman Scripture.”

“What?!” Zhao Luo Mo exclaimed in shock.

Zhao Hongyun smiled, finding Zhao Luo Mo’s reaction perfectly reasonable since he knew well this man’s background from his previous life.

“Few in the Taiyi Spirit Realm are aware. The Supreme Yin Talisman Scripture stands as the Supreme Sect’s core immortal scripture. Only successive Sect Hierarchs can practice it, rumored to be the sole supreme text handed down by the Taoist Ancestor—”

Before he could complete his statement, Zhao Luo Mo’s excitement burst forth, cutting in: “Second Ancestor, I’m ready…”

A faint smile appeared on Zhao Hongyun’s lips as his eyes fixed sharply on Zhao Luo Mo. “Luo Mo, do you truly desire to become the Supreme Sect Guardian? Without reaching the Unification Realm, even with my full backing, your chances remain slim.”

“I’ve considered it carefully. Armed with the Supreme Yin Talisman Scripture, the Supreme Sect isn’t the fierce lair it once was. Besides, this presents a once-in-ten-thousand-years chance for the Zhao Family. Should I seize control of the Supreme Sect later, our family will swiftly rule the Taiyi Spirit Realm.”

Zhao Luo Mo’s gaze burned with fierce ambition, laying it bare right before the two elders.

The Taiyi Spirit Realm’s apparent overlord is the Taiyi Spirit Palace.

Yet truly, the Supreme Sect alone dictates the destinies of every being there.

All three men knew this reality intimately.

Zhao Hongyun nodded faintly, then abruptly faced Zhao Sheng with a question: “Chonghe, does this intrigue you?”

Zhao Sheng shook his head firmly, responding courteously, “Second Ancestor, Chonghe bears grudges against the Supreme Sect, and I refuse to join them!”

Zhao Hongyun pondered briefly before letting out a sigh. “Fine then! The path of Cultivation is one’s own, so if you decline, I won’t press. Still… the Supreme Yin Talisman Scripture is deep and arcane! Since you’ve gained Dharma Transmission, can you share its profound mysteries?”

“Of course.” Zhao Sheng nodded and began right away: “The core of the Supreme Yin Talisman Scripture spans more than eight hundred characters, opening with: Talisman is the contract of heaven and earth; Blessings are the foundation of the Five Virtues. The Yin Talisman isn’t some hidden technique, but the key pivot in shifting the Five Innate Virtues, using delicate talismanic pacts to tap heaven and earth’s vast virtues, turning Cause and Effect into power, reshaping Karma into Dao Foundation. Rather than fights and clashes, this scripture stresses the Dao of Blessings and Legacy, declaring, ‘All laws are void, only Virtue carries all; Indestructible by myriad calamities, Yin Blessing naturally protects’…”

Scarcely had he started when Zhao Hongyun cut in: “Hold on!”

Zhao Sheng turned to Zhao Hongyun, puzzled.

Averting Zhao Sheng’s eyes, Zhao Hongyun drew a golden silk scroll from his sleeve.

With utmost gravity, he regarded Zhao Luo Mo and declared solemnly, “Luo Mo, swear a Dao vow before the Heavenly Book Ancestor Register right now. Once done, I’ll pass you the Supreme Yin Talisman Scripture.”

Hearing this, Zhao Luo Mo didn’t hesitate, forcing out a drop of Heart Blood to his brow before swearing a grave, binding Dao vow in their presence.

With the vow complete, Zhao Hongyun’s face softened a bit as he nodded and passed the golden silk book over.

Zhao Luo Mo swiftly unrolled the silk book, his eyes gleaming as he absorbed every word hungrily.

Hours passed before he finished the fragment’s text, closing it contentedly as the Divine Light in his gaze slowly dimmed.

With deep respect, Zhao Luo Mo handed the golden silk book back to Zhao Hongyun, then bowed gratefully toward Zhao Sheng in salute.