Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1714 - 924: Seizing the Remains, Freezing the Primordial Spirit

Within the Five Elements Cave Heaven.

"While this is the situation, I still harbor doubts about Lu Qing's sincerity. The old adage, 'Those not of our kind harbor different intentions,' holds true! Lu Qing is undoubtedly withholding crucial information, necessitating our utmost vigilance."

Following Lu Qing’s departure, Zhao Sheng swiftly returned to the Five Elements Cave Heaven. He relayed all encountered circumstances to his true self and, with firm conviction, delivered his assessment.

"Your distrust is warranted, yet with a binding oath in place, even if Lu Qing harbors minor stratagems, excessive caution is unnecessary. As he indicated, the most perilous juncture will likely be when the Gun God's Remains transition from ethereal existence to tangible reality... Allow the Five Zhas to accompany you! With their presence, no unforeseen incidents should occur."

Upon hearing his true self's words, the avatar rejoiced, understanding the formidable power wielded by the Five Zhas better than anyone.

Suspended above the Cloud Sea, a fleeting moment of elation gave way to anxiety for the avatar. "True self, who knows where Second Brother has gone with Huozha? If they return too late, could it jeopardize the grand scheme?"

Zhao Sheng’s true self arched an eyebrow and taunted, "And what if Huozha is delayed? Do you lack the confidence to secure the Gun God's Remains yourself?"

"That is not the case! I am brimming with confidence." The avatar recognized his true self’s words as a mere provocation, yet he still puffed out his chest and declared with unwavering assurance.

"That is good to hear then!"

Zhao Sheng's true self nodded before summoning Jin Zha, Tu Zha, and the remaining four Zhas, dispatching them to accompany the avatar to Jixian Island.

Before their departure, a lingering unease prompted the true self to entrust the Cold漓 Sword and the Ten Thousand Beasts Treasure to the avatar for defensive purposes.

It goes without saying that both the Cold漓 Sword and the Ten Thousand Beasts Treasure are True Immortal Devices of an indeterminate grade.

Since obtaining them, Zhao Sheng has dedicated centuries without discovering a method for their refinement, though he has devised several secret techniques for temporary utilization.

Should he encounter an insurmountable foe, the avatar can momentarily assume the form of a Demon God Realm Kui Niu, thereby withstanding and evading fatal calamity.

Seizing a brief window of opportunity, the avatar can then timely retreat to his cave mansion, thus averting certain death.

"Haha, with the Ten Thousand Beasts Treasure secured, obtaining the Gun God's Skeleton will be effortless. I shall depart now!"

Before his words fully concluded, four streams of light vanished abruptly into the avatar's sleeves, and Zhao Sheng's avatar disappeared without a trace in an instant.

...

Upon his return to Jixian Island, Zhao Sheng eschewed venturing outside, opting instead to enter a state of meditation within his cave mansion, awaiting the inevitable sea disaster.

Time flowed onward, and the Fire Spirit, Lu Qing, paid several visits, relaying intelligence regarding the arrival of another ancient powerhouse on the island.

Lu Qing clearly possessed an extensive network, leaving no significant development unnoticed.

Over the course of more than thirty Immortal Ruins days, Zhao Sheng learned from Lu Qing's reports that a minimum of three formidable "ancient powerhouses" from realms beyond the Unification Realm had discreetly arrived at Jixian Island.

An additional seven Ruins days passed, and Zhao Sheng finally witnessed the long-anticipated arrival.

The second avatar made a "covert" arrival on the island alongside Huozha, swiftly entrusting him before departing in haste. The implied message was clear: the true self had recently caused a significant disturbance and required immediate assistance back at their base.

Zhao Sheng harbored immense curiosity regarding this development, yet it was vexing that his second brother, privy to all the intricate details, refused to divulge them. This situation prompted him to consider returning to the cave heaven on multiple occasions, but time had become a critical factor.

On the third day following the second avatar's departure, the resounding roars of an approaching tsunami echoed from afar, rapidly engulfing the entirety of Jixian Island.

"Not good, the sea disaster is imminent! We must quickly return to the Lower Realm."

"Damn it, my luck is abysmal. I finally ascended, only to be met with a sea disaster! Such misfortune, such bad luck!"

"Flee, flee! If you don't run now, it means certain death!"

"Hey hey, don't you dare leave—"

"You scoundrel, attempting to escape after pilfering my treasure? Die!"

As the tsunami's roar intensified, the various Immortal Ruins Markets scattered across the island descended into pandemonium. The prudent immediately packed their belongings and logged off; the audacious seized an opportunity to pilfer treasures from others before retreating to the Lower Realm; opportunistic bandits emerged, slaying nearby Immortal Ruins Guests, confiscating all their possessions, and then making their escape to the Lower Realm.

While the vast majority of Immortal Ruins Guests opted to escape the calamity by returning to the Lower Realm, a small contingent of highly skilled individuals chose to remain.

As the great sea disaster descended, the island's vast ice sheet commenced a swift melt, revealing a multitude of treasures and presenting an unparalleled chance for acquisition.

For venerable figures such as Zhao Sheng and Lu Qing, whose cultivation surpassed the Unification Realm, the island's meager findings presented no allure; their singular objective was the legendary Gun God's Remains.

Approximately fifteen minutes later, significant transformations began to unfold.

In a sudden event, the ethereal barrier enveloping Jixian Island vanished without a trace, and an immense volume of dark water cascaded down, creating the illusion that the very heavens had shattered.

Rooooar...

Billions of tons of abyssal water surged downwards, obliterating the vast expanse of Jixian Island spanning thousands of miles and unleashing a thunderous clamor.

Innumerable ice formations were shattered by the onslaught of dark water, and the entirety of the island was rapidly engulfed.

With a hum, a radiant, five-colored Will Barrier materialized around Zhao Sheng.

This five-colored shield, spanning thirty to forty feet in diameter, effortlessly repelled the encroaching dark water.

Zhao Sheng tilted his head, his gaze piercing the gloom, only to find absolute blackness surrounding him.

The surrounding dark water possessed an uncanny quality, capable of absorbing every luminous ray.

The subsequent instant, with a subtle shift of his consciousness, his Will Heart Light surged forth, rapidly encompassing an area of several dozen miles in mere moments.

The sinister nature of the dark water significantly impeded the propagation of his will, drastically diminishing his perceptual reach.

Furthermore, the rate at which his Will Heart Light was consumed accelerated to tens of times its normal pace.

Zhao Sheng, already anticipating the dark water's capacity to consume Will Heart Light, remained entirely unfazed by this phenomenon.