Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1734 - 929: Remodeling the Grotto Heaven, The Original Takes a Disciple (Part 2)

Seven centuries ago, a specific branch of the formidable Zhao Family established itself on Ming Guang Island, located in the vast Outer Sea. This island, stretching over a million miles, was blessed with numerous third-rank spirit veins, which further divided into more than a hundred secondary ones.

Back then, the clan’s ancestor, with incredible divine abilities, directly upgraded the island’s primary spirit vein to a mid-grade fourth-rank. He then meticulously established a fourth-rank Primordial Infinite Array at its heart, a powerful defense against any potential external threats. The ancestor’s prowess was so great, and the fourth-rank array so robust, that it could withstand combined assaults from multiple Divinity Transformation True Monarchs.

Over the span of seven hundred years, the Zhao Family's Earth Moisture clan experienced significant growth, its population soaring from a mere seventy to eighty thousand to an astonishing three million six hundred thousand. Within this massive populace, over twenty-seven thousand individuals possessed spirit root qualifications. Among them, thirteen had ascended to the Nascent Soul Realm, two hundred and ninety-six reached the Golden Core stage, more than a thousand were in the Foundation Establishment phase, and an innumerable number were in the Qi Refinement stage.

As the ancestor’s birthday drew near, the thirteen Nascent Soul Ancestors of the Zhao Family, who were stationed elsewhere, convened on Ming Guang Island to deliberate on the grand celebration plans for this significant centenary event. On this particular day, the thirteen Nascent Soul Ancestors were united in the Unison Hall, a rare gathering for such a momentous occasion.

Just as their discussion reached a fervent point, a figure, tall and slender, materialized in the air before all present. The newcomer was a towering nine feet tall, possessing a face as smooth as jade and a gentle, refined aura, strikingly resembling a learned and scholarly middle-aged scholar.

Witnessing an uninvited presence suddenly appearing within the Unison Hall, all the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Zhao Family were momentarily frozen in shock. In a flash, a venerable, long-bearded elder, known for his sharp observation skills, exclaimed, "Ancestor!" This sudden cry jolted the thirteen Zhao Nascent Souls back to reality.

With a resounding clamor, the hall erupted into a frenzy. Everyone hastily rose, then knelt in unison, offering a unified shout: "We unworthy descendants of Zhao... pay our respects to the Ancestor!"

Seven hundred years is a duration that can be perceived as neither excessively long nor particularly short. Of the thirteen Nascent Soul cultivators present, all but the youngest had, in their lifetimes, been fortunate enough to behold the face of the fourth ancestor. Consequently, they recognized Zhao Sheng’s identity instantly.

"Rise, no need for ceremony!" Zhao Sheng commanded with a calm tone. With a casual flick of his sleeve, he effortlessly lifted everyone with an unseen force. Zhao Sheng’s gaze then swept across the assembled cultivators before his figure flickered, reappearing in the main seat of the hall, where he then took his seat.

Observing this, the throng promptly descended from the platform, positioning themselves respectfully below to await their ancestor’s guidance. Zhao Sheng, his expression serene, then spoke, "Returning to this realm after seven centuries, and seeing that you have managed the Zhao Family’s foundation so admirably, thriving in peace, fills me with great gratification."

Upon hearing these words, every Zhao family cultivator present was overwhelmed with joy; some were even moved to tears, showcasing their remarkable acting abilities. Zhao Sheng, unfazed by their displays, soon revealed the reason for his appearance.

"Listen carefully. I require you to meticulously scour the genealogy records and swiftly locate a Foundation Establishment cultivator named Wang Sanbu. His ancestors were bound by a marital alliance to the Zhao Family. He is currently twenty-nine years old and possesses a Metal Spirit Root or a Gold Element Spirit Body... Whoever discovers this individual first will have one wish granted by me."

The promise from the ancestor sent waves of unparalleled excitement through the thirteen Nascent Soul cultivators. After a brief pause, one particularly bold individual dared to inquire, "We unworthy descendants yearn for the day we might return to the Divine Land Ancestral Land. Ancestor, is such a wish within the realm of possibility?"

"Yes!" Zhao Sheng affirmed with a placid expression, his single word of assent sending ripples of profound joy throughout the assembly. They now understood the immense significance of Wang Sanbu. Without any further prompting from Zhao Sheng, the thirteen Nascent Soul cultivators dedicated their full efforts to the task. Within a mere few days, every member of the Zhao Clan on Bright Island was mobilized. The ancient texts and records housed within the Clan History Pavilion were thoroughly scrutinized.

Numerous promising leads emerged shortly thereafter; it was discovered that three cultivation families bearing the surname Wang had historical marital ties with the Zhao Family. The thirteen Nascent Soul cultivators immediately divided into three distinct groups, setting out with utmost haste to visit the respective Wang families. Logically, with such a wealth of information, locating Wang Sanbu should have been a straightforward endeavor.

However, two months elapsed and every member of the three Wang families was scrutinized; their lineage was even traced back to collateral branches that had relocated centuries prior.

Perplexingly, Wang Sanbu appeared to have vanished without a trace. Despite countless individuals searching, not a single clue about him could be unearthed.

As reports of their fruitless endeavors continued to arrive, Zhao Sheng on Ming Guang Island began to exhibit signs of impatience.

This time, he personally employed a divination technique, aiming solely to ascertain Wang Sanbu's whereabouts.

...

While no headway was made in the Wind Realm, Dongzhenzi and Stone Spirit, who had ventured to Heavenly Pillar Cave Heaven, eventually made their return to the Five Elements Cave Heaven.

Upon his arrival, Dongzhenzi imparted his accumulated insights and experiences of a millennium to the original Zhao Sheng.

For two months, the original Zhao Sheng dedicated himself to studying, managing to gain a general understanding of the method for establishing the Qiankun Ten Thousand Spirits Array.

Following this, Dongzhenzi, accompanied by Stone Spirit, journeyed to Yu State with the intention of commencing the reorganization of the earth veins and the reconstruction of the spirit vein network.

Before long, the original Zhao Sheng and another avatar joined their efforts, with one heading to Yunzhou and the other to Hongzhou.

Rumble!

In a remote mountain region in southeastern Yu State, the peaks suddenly crumbled, and numerous deep, seemingly bottomless fissures rapidly rent the earth.

Substantial quantities of vibrant, pure spiritual energy erupted from these chasms, causing numerous nearby beasts to flee in alarm.

As days turned into weeks, Yu State transformed into an unrecognizable landscape; this seismic upheaval transcended any description of mere 'major change.'

Few grasped that beneath the surface, Yu State's metamorphosis was ten times more profound, with the majority of its earth veins and spirit veins being systematically reshaped, ultimately forging an immense 'network' that spanned the entire continent.

With the reconstruction of Yu State, Yunzhou, and Hongzhou successfully concluded, the focus shifted to the remaining four continents.

Concurrently, Dongzhenzi embarked on multiple expeditions to the Chaos Divine Prison, securing dozens of spatial-temporal bubbles.

The original Zhao Sheng personally affixed each of these spatial-temporal bubbles to the array's pivot points across the three continents. He then utilized the power of the Grotto Heaven to permanently 'seal' all the bubbles, thereby creating a series of pocket spirit realms.

Time flowed onward relentlessly, and in what felt like the blink of an eye, several centuries had vanished.

All seven major continents were now fully reconstructed, with only the Four Seas and the frigid polar regions remaining to be addressed.

It is worth noting that precisely three hundred years prior, an avatar representing a middle-aged Confucian scholar had successfully brought Wang Sanbu back.

Wang Sanbu possessed an Innate Sharp Gold Dao Body, benefiting from the Heavenly Dao’s protection from birth. This divine blessing rendered his movements and very essence veiled by the Heavenly Dao’s power.

To locate him, the avatar expended nearly all his spiritual energy and narrowly averted provoking a Heavenly Tribulation from the realm’s Heavenly Dao.

Fortunately, the avatar made a swift retreat, capturing Wang Sanbu into the Southern Golden Light Mirror mere moments before the Heavenly Dao’s fury could descend. The avatar then luckily escaped to the Burial Immortal Ruins.

Following this harrowing encounter, Zhao Sheng was deeply unsettled and compelled to abandon any further plans of seeking out other True Immortal Dao Seeds.

In truth, aside from Wang Sanbu, only Qian Jiuling held the potential to be brought back to the Divine Continent. The cultivation realms of any other True Immortal Dao Seeds were far too advanced, making them unsuitable for nurturing within the Divine Continent.

...

As the Cave Heaven's renovation project proceeded at full pace, Zhao Sheng allocated time to personally escort Wang Sanbu to meet Ancestor Zhao Xuanjing.

In the esteemed presence of Zhao Xuanjing, Zhao Sheng formally accepted Wang Sanbu as his disciple, thus making him his second disciple, following Yuan Hong.

Wang Sanbu, demonstrating remarkable acuity, seized this opportune moment to request formal recognition of his ancestral lineage and his rightful place within the family.

Zhao Xuanjing, filled with delight, personally bestowed upon him the new name: Zhao Xuanxian.

Upon Wang Sanbu's transformation into Zhao Xuanxian, the Ancestor presented him with a True Form Spiritual Treasure, the Demon Obliterating Divine Shuttle, for his protection.

Before long, several of the Zhao clan's Unification Realm Ancestors and a multitude of Returning Void Elders became aware that the fourth ancestor had accepted a new disciple.

Consequently, in the ensuing years, the second ancestor, Eternal Night, Wu Lei, and other Unification Realm Ancestors extended their congratulations.

Numerous Returning Void Elders exhibited extraordinary generosity, bestowing rare and precious treasures upon the new disciple.

As time marched forward, the Five Elements Cave Heaven underwent tremendous transformations, its overall power increasing by approximately thirty percent from its initial state.

It was readily foreseeable that with the continued passage of time, the Five Elements Cave Heaven would achieve even greater robustness and stability.

Two thousand years vanished in a fleeting instant.