Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1705 - 918: The Avatar Returns, Comprehending the True Text

Five Elements Cave Heaven, Yu State East Domain, Qixia Mountain Range South Slope.

As dawn broke, within the secluded valley encircled by mountains, the earth began to tremble with alarming intensity. A cascade of rocks tumbled down the slopes, their descent accompanied by a deafening rumble that mimicked a powerful earthquake.

"What is this... an earthquake! Everyone, get up quickly!" Dozens of men and women, spanning all ages and residing in the valley, scrambled from their dwellings and congregated in the open courtyard.

Even as consternation gripped the crowd, a colossal roar emanated from the very ground beneath them. In an instant, the distant Qixia Peak dramatically collapsed with a resounding crash, and a brilliant yellow beam of light ascended skyward. This radiant pillar pierced the clouds, bathing the ancient forests and mountains within a thousand-mile radius in its glow.

The column of light stretched from the heavens to the earth, a colossal structure that dwarfed the surrounding peaks, rendering them seemingly insignificant.

After a duration of several breaths, the dazzling yellow light pillar dissipated, morphing into a vast expanse of luminous clouds that dispersed in every direction.

At this juncture, the seven or eight beams of descending light that had been hovering above the valley returned to the ground.

As the intense radiance subsided, seven or eight individuals materialized. Leading the group was an elder possessing a youthful countenance and snow-white hair, clutching a dragon-headed crutch. Accompanying him were numerous young men and women, all of whom had achieved cultivation beyond the Foundation Establishment stage.

Observing the rapidly advancing sea of effulgent clouds, the faces of these young cultivators were alight with palpable excitement.

"Grandfather, first the earth shook, and then came the spiritual energy eruption phenomenon; there must be a significant treasure emerging at Qixia Mountain. Let us hasten to Qixia Mountain," a handsome young man exclaimed to the white-haired elder.

The others readily concurred, their eagerness to seek fortune evident.

"Do not act rashly. While this phenomenon may indeed signify the appearance of a treasure, it could also simply be a natural earthquake," the white-haired elder stated with composure, his gaze fixed on the swirling spiritual energy.

This elder, whose name was Zhao Tianyue, had taken up residence within the Five Elements Cave Heaven nearly two centuries prior.

Through extensive exploration and accumulated wisdom over the years, Zhao Tianyue was well aware of the abundance of treasures within the Five Elements Cave Heaven. In fact, the dragon-headed crutch he held was a potent ancient artifact he had fortuitously discovered a century ago.

Since his breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage a hundred years past, he had lived in reclusion with his companion on the southern foothills of the Qixia Mountain Range, eventually establishing a cultivation lineage comprising fewer than a hundred individuals.

Just then, two additional beams of descending light streaked in from the south, swiftly reaching the valley. Two young cultivators appeared, both clad in pristine white robes. One was male, the other female, and both possessed strength at the Golden Core Realm.

"It's, Grandfather and Grandmother have arrived," a young man standing behind Zhao Tianyue whispered to his companion.

The newcomers approached the group, and the assembled young men and women bowed respectfully, addressing them with familial titles such as Grandfather and Grandmother.

Zhao Tianyue exchanged greetings with his in-laws, then gestured towards Qixia Mountain, inquiring, "Xuanhe, my brother, what is your assessment?"

Zhao Xuanhe first glanced at his wife and then replied with a smile, "My wife and I shall defer to my elder brother's judgment."

Zhao Tianyue paused, his dragon-headed crutch momentarily still, his expression solemn. "If this were merely an ordinary earthquake, that would be one matter. However, observing such a profound phenomenon suggests the likely emergence of a significant treasure. Such an opportunity is exceedingly rare and should not be overlooked. Xuanhe, my brother, shall we embark on this exploration together?"

"Very well, there is no time to waste; let us depart immediately!" Zhao Xuanhe readily agreed.

The couple had remained at the Perfect Golden Core stage for years, merely awaiting an opportune moment to break through.

This rare chance was now within reach; it absolutely could not be missed!

Zhao Tianyue summoned three descendants from the Golden Core realm, then cast his dragon-headed crutch into the air. The crutch soared upward, transforming into a magnificent golden dragon, stretching a hundred feet long. It shimmered with golden light, its scales radiating brilliance as it spiraled in the sky.

Zhao Tianyue and five others ascended onto the back of the golden dragon. With a thunderous roar, the colossal dragon surged into the sea of luminous clouds, vanishing from sight.

...

Several days elapsed. The members of the Zhao Clan who cultivated in proximity to the Qixia Mountain Range converged at the primary summit of Qixia Mountain. Upon disembarking, they swiftly commenced a thorough search of the surrounding areas, soon discovering the landscape expanding dramatically.

Mountains began to rise one after another, and precious Heavenly Materials, Earthly Treasures, and ancient magical artifacts, previously buried deep beneath the earth, continuously surfaced, eventually being claimed by fortunate individuals.

Naturally, clashes over treasures occurred, but due to their familial ties, lethal force was never employed.

Over time, the Qixia Mountain Range expanded significantly, adding thousands of miles with newly formed mountains and valleys. Seven or eight volcanoes spewed lava day and night, cloaking half the range in thick, black smoke.

This transformation of Qixia Mountain was but a small illustration of the greater changes sweeping across the Yu Zhou continent. Even more dramatic geological shifts reshaped the uninhabited wilderness.

As the Yu State grew, the other five continents also underwent profound alterations under Zhao Sheng's guidance.

...

Within the Five Elements Cave Heaven, suspended above the endless Cloud Sea, Zhao Sheng had remained for more than two hundred years.

Before him, a miniature celestial body, shrunk by billions of times, levitated.

This miniature planet boasted a complete atmosphere and six continents of varying sizes. Oceans, a deep blue hue, covered sixty percent of its surface.

Zhao Sheng's intense focus was fixed on the diminutive planet, his expression shifting subtly from time to time.

As his thoughts flowed, minute alterations occurred within the planet's terrestrial regions.

Ten years elapsed swiftly, and the miniature planet perceptibly enlarged.

Zhao Sheng remained utterly absorbed in the Five Elements Cave Heaven, the passage of time lost to him.

One day, a decade later, a figure materialized before him.

Zhao Sheng snapped to attention, his gaze rising to meet the newcomer, only to behold another version of himself.

"You have returned. What treasures did you acquire this time?" Zhao Sheng greeted the Avatar familiarly.

The Avatar offered a faint smile, its experiences throughout the years flowing telepathically into the main body's consciousness as a torrent of information, negating the need for spoken words.

Zhao Sheng's lips curved upward as he rapidly processed the incoming data, comprehending the Avatar's entire journey.

At this juncture, Mu Zha emerged from his sleeve, exclaiming, "Mu Zha pays respects to Master!"

"This time, I have brought you a trove of treasures... Ah, and two Mount-bearing Dragon Turtles."

Mu Zha glided to Zhao Sheng's side, then reached within its own form.

Subsequently, it extended its right hand, launching a luminous orb into the swirling Cloud Sea below.

The orb dispersed into countless brilliant rays, streaking towards the Six Continents and Four Seas. "Treasure rains" subsequently descended upon the lands and oceans, scattering Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures for future discovery.

Concurrently, two colossal Mount-bearing Dragon Turtles, dwarfing mountains, plunged into the sea. This expansive ocean, the largest body within the Five Elements Cave Heaven, proved an ideal habitat for the turtles' procreation.

Following this, tens of thousands of tons of diverse algae rained down, dispersing across various marine zones.

Zhao Sheng observed this with a slight flicker in his eyes. His immense Divine Thought gently enveloped the entire Grotto Heaven, commencing the meticulous adjustment of water temperature, quality, and Spiritual Energy concentration within the Four Seas to foster optimal algae growth.

Responding to an unseen summons, multitudes of sea creatures surged towards the location where the two Mount-bearing Dragon Turtles had landed.

The young turtles quickly acclimated to their surroundings, voraciously consuming the abundant marine life presented to them.

Above the Cloud Sea, a resplendently hued Light Ball gradually surfaced from the brow of Zhao Sheng's avatar.

The Light Ball drifted towards its origin and seamlessly integrated into the Purple Mansion situated between the brows.

Zhao Sheng's expression shifted subtly as he promptly closed his eyes, endeavoring to fully absorb the Light Ball containing a million years of evolutionary memories from the Red Sea Realm.

The avatar, witnessing this, promptly recalled Mu Zha and assumed stewardship of the Grotto Heaven, continuing its observation of the Five Elements Cave Heaven's ongoing evolution.

...

At the farthest northern reaches of the Hongsi Spirit Realm lies a desolate and immense Cold Plain.

A dense, lead-gray cloud layer blankets the entire sky, as snowflakes the size of fans drift downwards.

Upon the tranquil, snow-covered expanse, an elder clad in white robes, with matching white hair, materialized without warning.

The white-haired elder possessed a truly striking appearance: a fleshy protrusion adorned the center of his smooth forehead, three crystalline whiskers graced each cheek, and his eyes, as large as copper bells, emitted divine light with every blink.

The moment his return to the Spirit Realm was complete, he immediately dropped to the ground and assumed a cross-legged sitting position, completely unmindful of the incredibly harsh surroundings.

However, after a single breath, his eyes suddenly snapped open, and he turned his gaze sharply toward the western horizon.

In the next instant, his form flickered, vanishing without a trace.

Several hundred miles away, a slender figure materialized silently. It was none other than Zhao Sheng, who had been pursued from the Lower Realm.

What he had not anticipated was that the instant he stabilized himself, a peculiar old man, clad in white robes and with white hair, appeared not far away.

"Is it really you?!" the white-haired elder exclaimed, his voice a hoarse, unpleasant sound akin to a night owl's hoot, as he stared at Zhao Sheng in disbelief.

"Morri, please listen to my—" Zhao Sheng began, a bitter smile playing on his lips as he immediately opened his mouth to offer an explanation.

He had never conceived that upon entering this realm, his movements would be detected by Moli Jueye, another Immortal Ruins Guest, who would track him down on the spot.

However, Moli Jueye, filled with rage and surprise, had no intention of hearing any explanation. A cold light erupted from him, instantly transforming the vast Cold Plain into his personal domain.

In a fraction of a moment, the world seemed to slow down to an almost imperceptible pace, and countless crystalline ice cones materialized out of thin air, hurtling toward Zhao Sheng like streaks of lightning.

Zhao Sheng merely waved his sleeve, and the ubiquitous ice cones abruptly halted in mid-air before shattering into countless fragments.

"Aargh..."

The only sound heard was Moli Jueye letting out a sharp cry. The Power of the Ice Law, permeating the very fabric of heaven and earth, instantly descended upon Zhao Sheng, encasing him in an ice sculpture.

"Boom!"

With a resounding crash, the ice sculpture detonated, and the thick cloud layer overhead was instantaneously blasted away, creating a massive void.

The Power of the Ice Law was dispelled by scorching flames, yet Zhao Sheng's figure was nowhere to be found.

In the next moment, Moli Jueye's gaze snapped toward the enormous hole in the sky, a flicker of astonishment registering in his eyes.

Within that void, a colossal Bronze Ancient Realm had imperceptibly materialized, and it was from this realm that Zhao Sheng emerged.

The Ancient Mirror reflected with perfect clarity the frigid ground below, as well as Moli Jueye's imposing figure.

"Freeze!" Zhao Sheng's expression darkened slightly as he pointed at Moli Jueye and uttered a soft command.

Moli Jueye's heart pounded violently within his chest, and he internally exclaimed, "Not good."

Yet, as he attempted to evade, it was already far too late.

The Central Earth Mirror radiated with immense brilliance, its light engulfing a thousand miles of space-time. The supremely pure Power of Laws pressed down with the 'weight' of the entire thousand-mile Cold Plain onto Moli Jueye.

Despite his profound Daoist attainments, he was crushed by the sheer gravity, his body slammed heavily into the ground.

When he finally extricated himself from the binding force and emerged from the earth, he discovered with bitter disappointment that Zhao Sheng had long since vanished.

"Damn it all!" Moli Jueye bellowed, his voice a mixture of surprise and fury. He was utterly bewildered, completely clueless as to how his opponent had managed to infiltrate the Hongsi Spirit Realm, and by what method.

...

Five Elements Cave Heaven, high above the Cloud Sea.

Zhao Sheng had just returned to the Cave Heaven when he was immediately detected by another avatar.

"Tsk tsk, you've returned at such a perfect time! What were the spoils from this excursion?"

Although they were avatars, the two possessed distinct experiences, resulting in subtly different personalities and perceptions.

The two avatars engaged in a silent competition, each striving to subtly overshadow the other.

It was an undeniable truth that the original form of "One Qi Transforms Three Pure Ones" was, in the end, imperfect. When separated for extended periods, each avatar would inevitably develop a unique "personality" and a distinct understanding of the world.

Zhao Sheng was well aware of both the advantages and disadvantages of this situation. Consequently, he frequently recalled the two avatars to his side, temporarily deferring the nurturing of a third avatar.

Observing the main body engrossed in meditation, after a few rounds of lighthearted banter, the two avatars commenced their respective duties with a tacit understanding between them.

One avatar continued to oversee the operations of the Grotto Heaven, while the other summoned the Central Earth Mirror, commanding it to meticulously distribute the treasures accumulated over the years throughout the expansive Cave Heaven.

Concurrently, he took out the latest collection, comprising over two thousand Dao Golden Pearls, and bestowed several hundred upon the other avatar.

As he began to delve into the comprehension of the Tao True Text inscribed within the Golden Pearls, the other avatar also received a Dao Golden Pearl, similarly immersing himself in the study of its profound True Text.