Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1682: 903: Stone Spirit Acknowledges Master, Tianyunzi Achieves Breakthrough (Part 4)

After considerable hesitation, the Stone Spirit finally stammered, “You… perhaps you should move this Inverted Mountain away too!”

Hmm?!

Zhao Sheng’s heart stirred upon hearing this, and he couldn’t help but inquire, “If I move it, where will you reside?”

“I… I shall accompany you.” The Stone Spirit wiggled its form and shyly stated in a soft voice.

Zhao Sheng immediately fell silent upon hearing this.

Bringing the Stone Spirit back to the Lower Realm would not be a task of great difficulty, but he harbored a fear it might “feign weakness to feign strength.” If it were to turn on him upon their return to the Lower Realm, would he not be ensnaring himself?

After all, the rules of the Burial Immortal Ruins were exceptionally peculiar, rendering it impossible to accurately gauge a creature's true might when merely observing its surface appearance.

The Stone Spirit seemed to perceive his apprehension and swiftly became exceedingly anxious.

It had endured countless years of waiting for an Immortal Ruins Guest capable of relocating the Inverted Mountain. Should it let this chance slip by, who could tell how many more millennia it would need to endure?

Having dwelled in solitude and profound loneliness for billions of years, the Stone Spirit harbored no desire to continue in such silence.

It yearned to—defy—fate—and—transform—its—destiny!

In a state of sheer panic, the Stone Spirit abruptly cast aside its final vestiges of reserve and transmitted a piece of information directly to Zhao Sheng.

Zhao Sheng’s eyebrow arched slightly as a peculiar Magic Skill, known as “Heaven and Earth Same Life,” materialized within his mind.

This was not merely a Cultivation Method; it was also an exceptionally unique Contract.

Engaging with it for even a moment caused his Will Heart Light to undergo some inexplicable transformations.

What astonished him further was that the initial stage of “Heaven and Earth Same Life” achieved Great Success instantaneously, without any need for arduous cultivation on his part.

At this juncture, without any further prompting from the Stone Spirit, Zhao Sheng grasped the entirety of the situation.

He opened his mouth and expelled a mouthful of Heart Blood, which merged with his Will Heart Light and rapidly descended upon the Stone Spirit.

The faintly golden blood was quickly absorbed into the stone and vanished without a trace.

The Stone Spirit’s spirits elevated, and it instantly became aware of the mental shift within Zhao Sheng.

It had willingly pledged allegiance as its master, and from that moment forward, it was bound to heed Zhao Sheng’s every command.

This was the stipulated price for its attainment of “freedom.”

With a subtle alteration in Zhao Sheng’s thoughts, the Stone Spirit plunged downwards, disappearing into the earth in the blink of an eye.

Subsequently, his figure flickered, and he arrived at the summit of the Inverted Mountain, where he promptly assumed the form of a colossal seventy-nine-foot-tall golden giant.

Zhao Sheng then lifted the Inverted Mountain, and with a thunderous surge of immeasurable Power, he maneuvered the thousand-foot-high mountain several tens of feet.

In the very next second, both the man and the mountain dematerialized entirely.

…

With a deafening impact!

A mountain reaching a thousand feet in height plummeted from the heavens, striking the ground with such force that its very mass sank nearly a hundred feet into the earth.

This locale was situated in the Hongzhou region, characterized by its exceptionally dense Spiritual Energy, encircled by majestic peaks and deep valleys, with summits soaring ten thousand feet into the sky in every direction.

Positioned amidst these towering mountains, the Inverted Mountain failed to attract any particular notice.

Shortly thereafter, the Stone Spirit emerged from within the mountain’s core and, upon surveying the surrounding lofty peaks, emitted a wild, ecstatic cry.

In the subsequent moment, it abruptly transformed into a celestial meteor, streaking towards the distant horizon.

Zhao Sheng remained suspended above the mountains, observing with silent contemplation as the Stone Spirit vanished at the far edge of the sky.

Within this Five Elements Cave Heaven, he reigned as the sovereign of this domain; no entity possessed the capability to evade his vigilant gaze.

The Stone Spirit, having been held captive within the Burial Immortal Ruins for eons, now unexpectedly reclaimed its liberty, inevitably experiencing a surge of elation bordering on utter delirium.

Approximately an hour later, Zhao Sheng’s brow creased in a frown, and he abruptly raised his hand in a sweeping gesture.

In the following instant, a monstrous golden ape, rivaling a mountain in size, materialized from the void not far away.

The golden ape’s countenance was etched with fury, and its entire being radiated an aura of potent dominance, as if poised for immediate combat.

However, the golden ape quickly discerned Zhao Sheng’s presence nearby and instantly adopted an attitude of deference.

With a flash of golden luminescence, the colossal ape abruptly shifted its form, transforming into a handsome young man standing nine feet tall.

This individual gracefully descended, respectfully bowing to Zhao Sheng: “Disciple Yuan Hong greets his Master!”

Zhao Sheng offered a slight nod: “There is no need for such formalities!”

Yuan Hong stood erect, his right hand unconsciously finding its way to scratch his head as he cautiously inquired, “Master, you summoned me… for a particular reason?”

This single question instantly shattered the image of obedience and reverence he had previously projected.

A wave of frustration washed over Zhao Sheng. He had instructed the creature eight hundred times, yet this obstinate monkey failed to grasp the lesson, squandering that precious strand of Tai Chu Golden Nature.

“Disciple,” Zhao Sheng’s voice was stern, his gaze fixed on Yuan Hong, “I entrusted you with the guardianship of Hongzhou, but you treated it as your personal domain. Do you confess your transgression?”

Yuan Hong shuddered, immediately bowing in submission. “Your disciple acknowledges the error! Please mete out your punishment, Master!”

Zhao Sheng let out an internal sigh, knowing his words were likely futile, as they often were.

At that precise moment, a celestial body blazed across the heavens, traversing half the sky in a blink before descending directly in front of Zhao Sheng.

As the ethereal glow subsided, a roughly head-sized stone, dark and lustrous, materialized—it could be none other than the Stone Spirit.

Upon the Stone Spirit’s arrival, Yuan Hong’s demeanor shifted drastically; he braced himself as if confronting a formidable adversary, baring his fangs and glaring with unbridled fury.

“Hmph, you fiend! You dare show your face again? Taste the might of old Yuan!”

Before the words had even fully left his lips, a dazzling golden staff, thick as a bowl and eighteen feet in length, materialized in Yuan Hong’s grasp. Intricate, majestic patterns adorned its surface, emanating vibrations so potent they felt utterly unbreakable.

Zhao Sheng’s brow twitched subtly. With a swift, pointed finger, Yuan Hong was instantly petrified, rendered immobile.

“The Stone Spirit is one of my Dao companions. Disciple, you must show it utmost respect!” Having spoken, Zhao Sheng released Yuan Hong from his immobilizing hold.

Yuan Hong’s anger subsided. He bowed respectfully to the Stone Spirit and offered his apologies.

It transpired that mere moments before, Yuan Hong had discovered the Stone Spirit encroaching upon its perceived territory, igniting his rage.

Just as he was preparing to engage the Stone Spirit, his Master had summoned him. This sequence of events led to the confrontation that had just transpired.