Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1737 - 931: Tribulation Exhausted, Dao Attained, Sweet Rain Descends from Heaven

Amidst the jovial exchange between the Painting Saint, Zhao Xuanjing, and Zhao Sheng, a majestic six-tusked white elephant, its form a luminous white comparable to jade, emerged silently from the shadows.

The colossal white elephant, with its six tusks, possessed a body as vast as a towering mountain, capable of traversing immeasurable distances of the void with a single, effortless stride.

Zhao Sheng and his two companions took notice of the elephant's sudden appearance, their gazes lifting to peer beyond it.

Upon the back of this magnificent six-tusked white elephant sat a portly old monk, his chest bare, radiating an aura of profound benevolence and gentle kindness.

The elder monk was clad in a flowing, loose robe, and the amiable curve of his smile lent him an air of unburdened freedom and cheerful optimism.

"Oh, it appears... Little White Elephant Monk graces us with his presence. What a delightful surprise!" The Painting Saint's eyes narrowed slightly as he jested.

As his words were spoken, the six-tusked white elephant continued its stately approach, its imposing presence growing more apparent.

The White Elephant Arhat gracefully dismounted from the elephant's broad back, his immense Arhat Golden Body, which had stood thousands of feet tall moments before, rapidly diminished in size as he descended.

By the time he stood before the trio, his physical form had returned to that of an ordinary person, save for an even more pronounced, spherical roundness to his belly.

"This humble monk, Bai Xiang, offers his greetings to the Painting Saint, Elder Xianglong, and Benefactor Shenglongzi," the White Elephant Arhat intoned, pressing his palms together in a respectful bow to all three.

Zhao Sheng observed this gesture and returned it with a dignified nod.

Zhao Xuanjing's brow furrowed slightly, his demeanor cool as he inquired, "White Elephant, were you not occupied with meditation at the Great Brightness Temple? What business brings you here today?"

"Please do not take offense, Elder Xianglong. This humble monk was merely traveling through when I happened upon the manifestation of a Grotto Heaven. Thus, I came to extend my felicitations!"

The White Elephant Arhat chuckled warmly and then produced a lustrous, multicolored Treasure Bead from the folds of his robe.

"This is a Shariputra, a relic left behind by the Great Freedom Bodhisattva upon his Rainbow Ascension from our temple. Today, I bestow it upon Benefactor Shenglongzi, with the fervent wish for your swift Ascension to Immortal Heaven."

Although the White Elephant Arhat's words were filled with auspicious intent, they carried a peculiar, slightly awkward resonance.

Zhao Sheng reached out and accepted the Shariputra, immediately conveying his thanks: "Your kind sentiments are most appreciated, Fellow Daoist Bai Xiang. I shall shamelessly accept this precious gift and pledge to repay your generosity in the future."

"Little monk, the bald disciples of the Great Brightness Temple are typically so frugal, yet you display such remarkable generosity! To think you would part with a Bodhisattva relic so readily," the Painting Saint remarked with a trace of sarcasm in his voice upon witnessing the exchange.

Zhao Xuanjing’s gaze lingered on the Shariputra, his eyes reflecting a contemplative gleam, though he remained silent.

Undeterred, the White Elephant Arhat smiled and replied with a hint of self-deprecation, "You jest, Painting Saint Elder. For those of us who have forsaken the worldly realm, all things are transient! This humble monk searched extensively before arriving, and only this Shariputra deemed worthy of offering."

Hearing this, the Painting Saint could not suppress a laugh, accompanied by a playful chiding, "Ah, you artful-tongued little monk. Everyone knows that you, White Elephant Arhat, are famed for your vast collection of treasures! Why the pretense of indigence today?"

The White Elephant Arhat listened, clasped his hands together, bowed his head, and murmured respectfully, "Amitabha Buddha, a monk does not utter falsehoods! This humble monk has long since relinquished all worldly possessions; now, everything is but ephemeral."

"Oh, have you truly... attained enlightenment?" The Painting Saint's beard and eyebrows twitched, his tone shifting to one of genuine solemnity.

Abruptly, the White Elephant Arhat began to speak in a manner akin to riddles: "Enlightenment is non-enlightenment; non-enlightenment is enlightenment! The Buddha's doctrines are merely fleeting, for both enlightenment and its absence reside inherently within."

Zhao Xuanjing's expression shifted perceptibly, his gaze now fixed intently and solemnly upon the White Elephant Arhat.

Zhao Sheng felt an inner resonance, his perception of the White Elephant Arhat subtly altered.

If this monk spoke truthfully, the White Elephant Arhat might soon achieve the esteemed status of Bodhisattva.

The Painting Saint was poised to ask a further question when, unexpectedly, two distinct waves of Divine Thought swept in from a distance.

Subsequently, two powerful cultivators at the Integration Realm arrived in unison.

These newcomers were none other than the renowned couple from the Taiyi Spirit Realm: Mr. Zhu Shu and Lady Yu Zhi.

Indeed, Zhao Sheng's grand ceremony of star elevation had successfully drawn the attention of numerous fellow Daoists in the Integration Realm.

It was a known fact that within this dark and serene Divine Palace Heaven, the majority of Great Powers in the Integration Realm maintained their Grotto Heavens in concealment, wary of their locations being discovered by external parties.

The ascension of a star was much like igniting a flame within the profound darkness, not only drawing in countless Tao Spirit Mechanisms, which converged like moths to a flame, but also distinctly announcing one’s very "existence."

While this action offered benefits, its disadvantages far outweighed its merits!

Zhao Sheng mustered the courage to undertake such a momentous step solely due to the formidable backing provided by two Tribulation Crossing Realm Ancestors.

Indeed!

The very moment he initiated the star's ascension, it summoned the presence of the Painting Saint, the White Elephant Arhat, and the Taoist pair, Zhu Shu and Yu Zhi.

It was readily foreseeable that numerous Integration Realm Great Powers would grace the event in the ensuing days, alongside those with sinister intentions lurking in the shadows.

However, Zhao Sheng was thoroughly prepared and remained entirely unperturbed.

Following the appearance of Zhu Shu and Yu Zhi, a multitude of dozens of Integration Realm Great Powers arrived in succession.

It goes without saying that any Integration Realm Cultivator bold enough to present themselves at this juncture invariably maintained profound connections with the Ten Lands Zhao Clan, including those who had previously benefited from the kindness of Zhao Xianglong and Tianyunzi.

Through this grand spectacle, Zhao Sheng truly grasped the immense influence wielded by the two Tribulation Crossing Realm Ancestors!

For several consecutive decades, Integration Realm Great Powers made persistent appearances, each presenting magnificent gifts.

During this extensive period, an astonishing three Tribulation Crossing Realm Venerables materialized one after another.

The presence of these three Venerables proved overwhelming for Zhao Sheng, compelling him to immediately summon his ancestors as a gesture of utmost respect.

......

Decades elapsed as swiftly as a fleeting moment.

Since the grand unveiling of the Five Elements Cave Heaven, at virtually every passing instant, tens of thousands of Tao Spirit Mechanisms ceaselessly flowed into its expansive domain.

As this colossal influx of Tao Spirit Mechanisms was assimilated by the Cave Heaven, the concentration of Spiritual Energy within its confines experienced a continuous escalation. Concurrently, the two monumental super arrays smoothly navigated their integration phase, gradually unveiling their inherent, formidable power.

Simultaneously, the potent Laws carried by the Tao Spirit Mechanisms served as a crucial counterbalance, effectively compensating for the deficiencies in Laws that arose from the Cave Heaven's rapid expansion, thereby enabling Zhao Sheng to profoundly enhance his comprehension of the Taoist Laws.