Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1712 - 923: When the Sea Calamity Strikes, Bones Appear

Five decades hence, within the hallowed grounds of the Five Elements Cave Heaven.

To the eastern edge of Yu State, a boundless expanse of water stretches forth, known far and wide as the East Sea. This particular sea reigns supreme in its vastness and serves as the dwelling place for two colossal Mount-bearing Dragon Turtles.

On this particular day, the surface of the East Sea was alive with gentle undulations, and beneath the waves, patches of vibrant red and green seaweed could be faintly discerned.

As the sun climbed towards its zenith, a mystical bronze ancient mirror materialized in the heavens above the East Sea. With a blinding flash, several colossal icebergs, each spanning hundreds of feet, plummeted from the sky, crashing into the sea and unleashing tempestuous waves.

The mirror's light pulsed relentlessly, and one by one, titanic icebergs descended, rapidly forming a vast archipelago of frozen giants that commanded a sea area stretching for hundreds of miles.

Having completed its task, the ancient bronze mirror shimmered and vanished back into the void, leaving no trace of its presence.

Time, however, continued its inexorable march. Over a hundred icebergs, now adrift, bobbed gently on the water, carried by the ebb and flow of the tides towards the deeper ocean.

The sun began its descent towards the western horizon, casting long shadows as dusk approached. It was at this precise moment that a colossal vortex erupted upon the once-tranquil sea. Soon after, a gargantuan head, shaped like a mountain and colored a stark gray-white, emerged from the depths of the swirling waters. A torrent of frothy seawater cascaded down from either side of its massive head, resembling, from a distance, a series of majestic white waterfalls.

Moments later, trailing the colossal head, a gray-white 'island' ascended from the sea's surface. This island-like formation was immense, nearly a thousand miles in circumference, giving the impression of a miniature continent.

Upon closer, more discerning examination, it became evident that this was no mere island, but the unfathomably large shell of a turtle. Intricate patterns, reminiscent of the flawless Innate Eight Trigrams, adorned its surface, emanating an aura of profound Dao rhythm.

There was truly no need for further explanation; this magnificent, colossal creature was none other than a Mount-bearing Dragon Turtle making its grand return to the East Sea.

As if summoned by the arrival of the first behemoth, a second Mount-bearing Dragon Turtle, identical in its immense size, breached the surface of the sea.

When the night sky became a tapestry of stars, the two Mount-bearing Dragon Turtles, moving in unison, swiftly intercepted the floating iceberg cluster. Opening their cavernous maws, they commenced their feasting, devouring the icebergs that dotted the sea's surface.

In comparison to the gargantuan Dragon Turtles, the hundred-foot icebergs were laughably minuscule.

The two colossal turtles effortlessly ingested them whole, and in a remarkably short span, had consumed thirty-seven to thirty-eight icebergs in quick succession.

Amidst the Dragon Turtles' apparent enjoyment of their 'icy repast,' they remained blissfully unaware of a discreetly concealed formation, a mere ten feet wide, situated upon the back of one of the turtles. This formation pulsed with an invisible energy, emitting subtle waves.

Approximately an hour later, a pristine azure Cloud Boat sliced silently through the nocturnal sky, positioning itself directly above the aggregation of icebergs.

Shortly after the arrival of the first Cloud Boat, three additional vessels of similar design successively materialized in the vicinity.

Intriguingly, all four Cloud Boats maintained a silent vigil, hovering ten thousand feet in the upper atmosphere. No figures emerged from them, rendering them akin to passive observers marveling at the spectacle of the Dragon Turtles below continuing their relentless consumption of icebergs.

Perhaps sated by their immense meal, after consuming nearly eighty percent of the available icebergs, the two Dragon Turtles simultaneously emitted a prolonged, ancient roar before submerging beneath the waves, vanishing from sight with astonishing speed.

A patient wait of roughly an hour ensued before any discernible activity emanated from the four Cloud Boats. Initially, a figure of exquisite grace emerged from the lead vessel, followed swiftly by three more individuals disembarking from the remaining three Cloud Boats.

Each of the four possessed an aura that spoke of immense power and cultivation, exuding a palpable pressure that unmistakably identified them as four True Monarchs who had attained the Divinity Transformation realm.

"Brother Yu Yan, Brother Dian Miao, Sister Bai Zhen, it has indeed been a considerable time. I trust you have all fared well?" The first to break the silence was an elder, his hair a cascade of white, adorned with a regal high crown and a resplendent Purple Gold Eight Trigrams Robe.

"Zhao Zhongzhi, spare me your pretense. Our paths diverge, and we cannot possibly conspire together. Your words are nothing short of repulsive to me."

Three centuries hence, Zhao Yu Yan appeared with an aura of enhanced valor and an unyielding uprightness, seemingly having discovered his true essence following his advancement to the Divinity Transformation Realm.

"Yu Yan, my esteemed young associate, we are, after all, kinsmen. There is truly no need to harbor such deep-seated grudges. Let us allow the past to remain in the past," Zhao Dianmiao, whose youthful countenance belied his white hair, interjected swiftly, attempting to quell the rising tension.

Both he and Zhao Yu Yan hailed from the venerable Hundred Xia Peak, and their bond had only strengthened since their ascension to Divinity Transformation, evolving into a nascent, yet potent, alliance.

"I possess no interest in the nature of your past animosities. What concerns me is that I claim thirty percent of the icebergs currently adrift below!" Zhao Bai Zhen declared icily, her normally beautiful features momentarily obscured by a slight darkening as she spoke in a voice as frigid as the ice itself.

"Heh, and upon what grounds do you make such a demand?" The elder, Zhao Zhongzhi, adorned in his high crown, scoffed derisively at her assertion, "Is it because your considerable beauty is matched only by your lack of intellect?"

"Courting death!" Zhao Bai Zhen’s brows shot up in anger, and suddenly, behind her, a crystalline ice tree hundreds of feet tall appeared.

Seeing her ready to strike, Zhao Zhongzhi wasn’t one to back down easily, and atop his head rose suddenly a mass of purple light, transforming into a bewitching three-inch-long purple-red Curved Saber. This saber, also known as the Dragon-slaying Blade, was a rare Ancient Magical Treasure.

In the brink of a confrontation, Zhao Dianmiao suddenly intervened between them, spreading his hands to conjure a transparent water wall a thousand feet long and several feet thick.

"Sister Bai Zhen, there’s no need to resort to violence. Let’s talk this over!"

After speaking, Zhao Dianmiao repeatedly signaled Zhao Yu Yan with his eyes, hinting for him to step in and mediate as well.

After a moment of contemplation, Zhao Yu Yan suddenly spoke, "Sister Zhen, let’s not make a scene. Let’s stick to the old rules and divide evenly. If there’s any extra left over, it’ll go to the highest bidder!"

Zhao Bai Zhen frowned slightly, clearly upset, "Brother Yan, have you forgotten what happened last time? That scoundrel Zhao Zhongzhi..."

Before she could finish, Zhao Yu Yan interrupted her, "Zhongzhi isn’t someone who doesn’t know the importance of the matter. The last time he got away with such a huge gain was because we were blind. This time he won’t break the rules again. As it stands, with other Divinity Transformation individuals yet to set foot on the East Sea, the four of us absolutely must not fight among ourselves; otherwise, if the secret is leaked, everyone will end up big losers."