Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1713 - 923: When the Sea Catastrophe Arrives, the Remains Appear_2

"Brother Yu Yan’s words are entirely sensible. I am still young and aspire to reach the Return to Void Realm in the future. If I were to forfeit this significant chance below, how could I possibly achieve that breakthrough!" Zhao Dianmiao’s blunt declaration carried a sound rationale.

The cluster of ice mountains beneath them was undeniably crucial for their future Dao paths.

Although the four of them had already amassed a wealth of treasures, none would ever complain about possessing too much.

While the other Divinity Transformation True Monarchs had not yet discovered the "heaven-sent opportunity" hidden deep within the East Sea, accumulating as many treasures as possible remained the wisest course of action. Any uneven distribution or internal conflict would inevitably jeopardize their respective paths.

Zhao Bai Zhen grasped this principle, yet she found Zhao Zhongzhi’s excessive avarice intolerable, especially after he had previously crossed the line by surreptitiously pilfering treasures from the ice mountains belonging to others.

Perceiving Zhao Bai Zhen’s anger slightly ebbing, Zhao Dianmiao seized the opportune moment. "I’ve just done a headcount; there are still twenty-one ice mountains remaining below. Let us adhere to the established protocol and select them one by one. Last time, it was Brother Zhongzhi who had the first pick; this time, the honor falls to you, Brother Yu Yan."

Zhao Yu Yan, seeing her chance, indicated an ice mountain that jutted nearly two hundred feet above the sea’s surface. "I shall claim that one," she declared.

"Very well, Sister Bai Zhen, it is now your turn," Zhao Dianmiao said, turning his gaze to Zhao Bai Zhen.

Zhao Bai Zhen’s eyes scanned the ice mountains below. After a brief observation, she singled out a mountain approximately seventy to eighty feet in height. Though not substantial in size, this mountain held a considerable quantity of sealed "items," including a mostly intact bronze tripod that appeared remarkably distinctive.

Her selection was motivated by the presence of the tripod.

Once she had made her choice, Zhao Dianmiao swiftly selected an ice mountain for himself.

Finally, it was Zhao Zhongzhi’s turn to choose. He opted for an ice mountain encrusted with numerous corpses, a perfect match for the Corpse God Path he practiced.

Following the initial round of selections, the pace of the subsequent choices accelerated considerably.

Within the brief duration of a single cup of tea, all twenty ice mountains were distributed, leaving only the final one, a diminutive ice mountain standing about thirty feet tall.

Despite its seemingly insignificant appearance, no one knew what treasures lay sealed within this last ice mountain, prompting all four to hesitate from underestimating it and eagerly anticipate bidding for it.

"One Top-grade Spirit Stone!" Zhao Zhongzhi, possessing the least patience, naturally initiated the bidding.

Zhao Dianmiao promptly countered with, "I offer one piece plus two hundred top-grade spirit stones."

"One piece plus five hundred top-grade spirit stones!"

"One piece plus eight hundred..."

...

While Zhao Yu Yan and the others were engaged in bidding for the final ice mountain, Tu Zha, having concluded his duties, had already returned with his master to Jixian Island.

This time, Zhao Sheng bypassed further tunnel carving and instead embarked on a tour of all the workshops on the island, visiting each one sequentially.

At every workshop, he implanted a Heart Light Seal, intending for other high-level Immortal Ruins Guests to sense his presence.

Furthermore, embedded within each seal, he left subtle clues indicating that those high-level guests aware of the island's true "truth" would undoubtedly seek him out.

As anticipated, his expectations were realized.

After a three Ruins Years’ wait on the island, an individual finally triggered the Heart Light Seal he had left.

At the heart of Jixian Island rose an imposing ice peak, soaring nearly three thousand feet into the sky. Within it was carved a colossal cavern, functioning as the island’s principal Immortal Ruins Market.

On this particular day, a surge of scorching, flame-like will emanated from afar, abruptly rousing Zhao Sheng from his meditation.

"Hmm? The seal has been broken; who could it possibly be?" Zhao Sheng’s head snapped up, his sharp gaze piercing northwestwards, seemingly penetrating the dense ice walls to perceive the figure hurtling over like lightning.

In the subsequent moment, his form flickered, vanishing from the cave mansion.

...

A single breath later, Zhao Sheng stood atop the ice peak, his gaze fixed northwest as a wave of potent, fiery will expanded across the heavens, growing in intensity and power.

In just two breaths’ time, the northwestern sky erupted in a fiery crimson hue, as if on the verge of combustion.

Following this, a cloud of fire rushed in from the horizon, swiftly approaching within a thousand feet before abruptly halting its advance.

Upon the fiery cloud rested a gigantic Fire Man, standing three feet tall and enveloped in dazzling white flames. This being appeared to be of an exotic, fire-based origin rather than belonging to the Human Clan.

The world is indeed vast, filled with myriad wonders!

Just as the myriad universes are filled with creation spirits like the Sea God and Mountain Spirit, innate Fire Spirits naturally also exist.

Upon witnessing the sudden manifestation of the Fire Spirit, Zhao Sheng clasped his hands and spoke, "I am Zhao Qiongtian, and I offer my greetings."

"I am King Lu Qing, and I return the greeting to Daoist Zhao," the Fire Spirit replied, mirroring the polite gesture of cupped hands.

Zhao Sheng cast a glance at the icy peak below and then proposed, "Daoist Lu, this locale is not conducive to our discussion. Might we find a more suitable place to converse?"

"That aligns perfectly with my own desire!" Fire Spirit Lu Qing responded with refined grace.

"Please, lead the way!"

With that, Zhao Sheng ascended into the sky, gliding towards the periphery of the island, while Lu Qing commanded his fiery cloud to follow suit.

Before long, the two formidable experts reached the island's edge, where the dark, outer waters converged with the icy expanse—a perilous zone rarely frequented by any living beings.

Zhao Sheng alighted upon a level stretch of ice, turning to face the rapidly descending fiery cloud.

"Daoist Lu, let us dispense with pleasantries. I require a portion of the Gun God's Skeleton, and you?"

"By sheer coincidence, that is precisely what I seek!" Lu Qing stated with candidness.

"However... the ice layer here is excessively thick, rendering access to the Gun God's Skeleton a formidable challenge," Zhao Sheng remarked, deliberately tapping the icy surface.

"Haha, were it not so arduous, Jixian Island would have long since vanished from existence," Lu Qing chuckled, the flames encircling him swirling in constant motion.

Zhao Sheng inquired, "I have a question for Daoist Lu. Might I ask how one might obtain a piece of the Gun God's Skeleton?"

Lu Qing paused briefly before answering, "You will eventually discover the truth, so there is little harm in revealing it now. When the sea calamity descends, the Gun God's divinity will enter a dormant state. At that juncture, the ice layer will melt, and the skeleton will be exposed."

Sensing an underlying issue, Zhao Sheng pressed further, "If such is the case, acquiring the Gun God's Skeleton should not be difficult. Then why...?"

"Not difficult? You shall soon ascertain for yourself whether it is difficult or not," Lu Qing's flames flickered, as if amused by a jocular remark.

Zhao Sheng's gaze sharpened, and he posed another question, "Daoist Lu, how much time remains until the next sea calamity?"

The underlying reason for this query stemmed from his awareness that beings beyond the Unification Realm incurred substantial costs when traversing to and from the Burial Immortal Ruins.

Consequently, cultivators of Zhao Sheng's caliber generally abstained from frequent entries and exits of the Burial Immortal Ruins, unless engaged in matters of great importance.

Lu Qing's unexpected appearance today served, in an indirect manner, as confirmation that the sea calamity was rapidly approaching.

From this point forward, Jixian Island would witness the arrival of more enigmatic "ancient powerhouses," whose primary objective, predictably, would be the Gun God's Skeleton concealed beneath the ice.

Lu Qing, having existed for over two million years, undeniably possessed profound wisdom and strategic acumen, making it impossible for him not to grasp the implication behind Zhao Sheng's inquiry.

"A year at most, a few days at the very least. The sea calamity is bound to occur. As I am exceedingly frail and live in solitude, I wish to forge an alliance with you, Daoist, to contend against other formidable adversaries. What are your thoughts, Daoist Zhao?"

Zhao Sheng readily assented, "I wholeheartedly welcome such a proposal. However, you and I must first partake in an oath."

"Agreed!" Lu Qing responded without the slightest hesitation.

A short while later, the two Integration Realm titans exchanged solemn Daoist vows, pledging mutual non-aggression and committing to collaboration in the pursuit of the Gun God's Skeleton.

Whether by design or by accident, neither party broached the subject of how the skeleton would be divided once obtained.

Exhibiting considerable magnanimity, Lu Qing, subsequent to solidifying their alliance, commenced recounting his prior unsuccessful attempt to claim the Gun God's Skeleton.

According to his account, the Gun God's Skeleton situated beneath Jixian Island was of immense size, rendering its entirety unmovable, with only diminutive fragments capable of being severed on each occasion.

Whenever the sea calamity manifested, a multitude of ancient powerhouses would endeavor to detach a segment of the skeleton.

Nevertheless, the Gun God's Skeleton, in its dormant state, exhibited peculiar behavior; its Divinity seemed illusory, impervious to all attempts at interference.

Only when the Divinity briefly "reawakened" did the skeleton transition from a state of void back into tangible reality, signaling the optimal moment for its dismemberment.

"The window of opportunity is exceedingly brief; success hinges entirely on our swiftness. Rapid action ensures triumph, while delay spells failure! Furthermore, we must remain vigilant against the designs of other ancient powerhouses seeking to seize it..."

After a period of conversation, Zhao Sheng and Lu Qing returned to the cave mansion. En route, Lu Qing continued to speak, projecting an aura of utmost sincerity.