Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1749 - 940: Truth and Lies of the Future

Rumble~In the boundless firmament, a sudden thunderclap erupted from a clear sky; the endless Cloud Sea abruptly dispersed into nothingness, as if swept away by an unknown power.High above the heavens, the true body's eyes widened in utter disbelief. Within the depths of his pupils, countless 'shards of floating light' suddenly flashed, each one a 'scene' from the future.The Time-Space River flowed onward, vast and mighty, endlessly coursing towards an unknowable future.Long ago, across several past lives, the true body had already grasped a fundamental principle: the past is immutable, the present is singular, and only the future remains unpredictable.Perhaps with a single, unintentional shift in thought, a new future space-time could be born.After dozens of Ruins spent in secluded contemplation of the Dao, he had actually glimpsed the future.These 'scenes' of the future were not continuous images but rather one 'shard of floating light' after another.A few breaths later, a glimmer of comprehension flashed through the true body’s eyes. At this moment, he had already re-sorted all those future 'scenes' and ultimately discovered that there were a total of nine potential 'futures' that might manifest.The time spans of these nine 'futures' varied; the shortest lasted merely two Ruins, while the longest was simply impossible to estimate, spanning tens of thousands of years.This was because in the final 'scene' presented, only a single Great Sun of immeasurable size existed, its radiance illuminating the All Heavens and Myriads of Worlds.In a trance, Zhao Sheng 'saw' his Avatar, Zhao Qiongtian, standing on the peak of a high mountain outside Xiang’er Cliff. His avatar was transforming into a streak of rainbow light and charging into that distant, dark, and unfathomable Land of Nothingness, from which he never returned.In the second and third 'future' scenes, he witnessed himself spontaneously combusting out of thin air, then being burned by Heavenly Fire into ash and smoke, forcing him to reincarnate and be reborn.The fourth 'future' presented yet another possibility: 'he' never took that decisive step at all.Not until several hundred thousand years later, when his disciple Yuan Hong achieved the Dao and Ascended, did he then 'see' an indistinct existence emerge from the Ascension Gate, personally guiding Yuan Hong into Immortal Heaven.In the fifth 'future,' he 'saw' a horrific scene: the Divine Continent toppled, lifeforms plunged into misery, countless towering tentacles erupted from the ground... ultimately, Chaos broke free of its shackles!In the sixth 'future,' he 'saw' that just as the cultivation of the two Ancestors was nearing perfection, an uninvited Demon Path Great Venerable, who called himself Locust Taoist, appeared. This demon vowed to sever Tianyunzi’s path to Ascension, thus igniting a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering great war that lasted for many years until a boundless, dense fog suddenly surged forth from nowhere.This demon had attained the Dao from a primordial wild locust in the Ancient era, and in his hand was a Heavenly Spirit Treasure, the Blood Transformation Divine Saber. Locust Taoist was not one of the nine Demon Lords of the Taiyi Spirit Realm but a Demon Monster Great Saint from the Outer Domain Star River.The eighth future comprised only four 'scenes'; he 'saw' a place of peril and mystery, a strange and dangerous land densely packed with ancient ruins, where the vistas were bizarre, featuring countless ancient structures and quite a number of Ancient lifeforms.In these four 'scenes,' at times he hid within some Ancient Bronze Hall, seemingly avoiding some danger; at other times, he confronted several figures of overwhelming presence, with a bottomless Big Hole yawning beneath them; and at times, he rode the wind and cleaved the waves, flying towards an Immortal Mountain at the edge of the great sea...After a period of pondering and recollection, Zhao Sheng was shocked to discover that the place... seemed to be none other than the legendary 'No Return Heaven.'The ninth 'future,' with the longest time span, showed him successfully passing through the tribulations of Heavenly Fire, Majestic Wind, and Heart Demon, ultimately Ascending to Immortal Heaven.Yet, the scenes following his Ascension were exceptionally blurry, almost entirely obscured by white radiance; the vistas of Immortal Heaven could barely be discerned, with the only clearly visible element being that single, dazzling Great Sun of immeasurable size....No one knew how much time had passed before Zhao Sheng finally withdrew from the countless future scenes, and light gradually returned to his gaze.

After Zhao Sheng regained his senses, he raised his head to look at the two Avatars standing at his side and suddenly inquired, "Do you believe the 'future' I glimpsed will manifest?"

The moment the words left his lips, the middle-aged Confucian scholar couldn't help but chuckle, remarking, "Why should the true body trouble himself with such unnecessary concerns? How could you and I possibly ascertain the future? If you perceive it as truth, then it is so! If you deem it false, then it is false. In the end, how can one truly distinguish between truth and falsehood?"

The third Avatar, Zhao Qiongtian, appended with a nod, "Ruo Er speaks with wisdom. With the true body's profound Daoist understanding, how could he possibly succumb to a mere Heavenly Fire Tribulation? It would only be possible if that 'Fire Extinguishing Immortal Technique' is flawed..."

At this suggestion, Zhao Sheng's heart fluttered slightly, and he couldn't help but entertain the possibility.

The middle-aged Confucian scholar, upon hearing this, countered, "Considering Taoyue Immortal Venerable's character, it is highly improbable that he would impart a fraudulent Immortal Technique. It is more likely that you and I overlooked certain crucial details during our cultivation of this art. We ought to review this technique thoroughly once more. Furthermore, we must also seek further profound guidance from the two Ancestors."

Zhao Qiongtian exclaimed with sudden clarity, "Precisely! The two Ancestors themselves utilized the Fire Extinguishing Immortal Technique to surmount the Heavenly Fire Tribulation, which indisputably validates the immense efficacy of this technique. The issue must lie with you and me."

The true body listened intently, falling into contemplation, before abruptly shifting his gaze towards the middle-aged Confucian scholar.

With a single, piercing look, the Avatar instantly grasped the true body's intent: the Fire Extinguishing Immortal Technique must be mastered, and concurrently, the Sacrifice Body Technique could not be forsaken.

Each of the three Avatars was assigned distinct responsibilities: Dongzhenzi managed external affairs, Zhao Qiongtian dedicated himself to mastering the "Fire Extinguishing Immortal Technique," while the middle-aged Confucian scholar focused on cultivating the "Sacrifice Body Technique."

The so-called "Sacrifice Body Technique" was, in essence, a Tribulation Secret Technique accessible only to those at the Tribulation Crossing Venerable stage.

As its name suggested, this technique facilitated the traversal of the Heavenly Fire Tribulation or the Majestic Wind Tribulation through the voluntary sacrifice of one Avatar.

The "Sacrifice Body Technique" represented a strategic exploitation of a loophole. Throughout the vast expanse of countless years, the overwhelming majority of cultivators who employed this technique to overcome tribulations ultimately met with failure in their attempt to Ascend.

Consequently, unless faced with absolute dire straits, Zhao Sheng would refrain from resorting to its use for undergoing tribulation.

Before long, the two Avatars departed sequentially, leaving the true body in solitary contemplation at his original position.

Seated in a cross-legged posture upon Qingyun, Zhao Sheng gradually opened his Spirit, immersing himself within the boundless "Law Heaven and Earth."

Within this realm existed an endless, inexhaustible tapestry of Law Silk Strings, continuously transforming, accumulating, interweaving, deriving, and perishing moment by moment...

Here also resided myriad resplendent colors, numbering so vast they surpassed the limits of a mortal's imagination. Each hue represented a tangible manifestation of the evolution of Daoist Law, and concurrently, an embodiment of some specific Power of Laws.

It was only upon merging one's consciousness and Spirit with this domain that the concept of "depth" would reveal itself.

The closer one's proximity to the fundamental principles of the current universe, the brighter and more scintillating the colors of its Law Silk Strings became.

Conversely, the further a particular Daoist Law diverged from the present universal framework, the dimmer and more obscure its color grew, its inherent "concept" transitioning towards greater abstraction and peculiarity, with the Law "Silk Strings" at that level appearing exceedingly complex and indistinct.

This world of Law Silk Strings bore a resemblance, at times, to an immense, shoreless ocean.

The superficial waters were limpid and transparent, seemingly allowing for immediate perception.

Yet, as one ventured deeper, the illumination beneath the surface gradually waned, the very essence of the water grew increasingly turbid, accompanied by the emergence of countless enigmatic and kaleidoscopic "visions."

Upon reaching the "Abyss" of the Undersea, the surrounding environment was plunged into absolute darkness, devoid of light, rendering any perception of nearby vistas nearly impossible.

In such dire circumstances, the Tao True Texts served as individual torches, illuminating the pervasive darkness.

By virtue of their unique "radiance," one could perceive even deeper Daoist Laws.

The greater the number of Tao True Texts pertaining to the same Great Dao that one managed to comprehend, the wider the expanse of "darkness" associated with the Law that would be dispelled, thereby accelerating the comprehension of Daoist Laws.

Zhao Sheng, in his mastery of the Fire Dao, has accumulated a profound understanding of one thousand three hundred and eighty-seven True Texts. This remarkable feat alone eclipses the typical attainment of Tribulation Crossing Venerables specializing in this particular path.

In the timeless expanse of Cultivation, where years hold little meaning for those of extraordinary power, Zhao Sheng's realm becomes a testament to this very concept. Seven centuries dissolved like a fleeting dream, passing by in what felt like the blink of an eye.

...

Over the span of these recent seven hundred years, the Pure Light Realm has been plunged into an era of unprecedented grandeur and upheaval, a tempest unlike any seen in ten millennia. This period has been characterized by dramatic shifts, with prodigies and exceptional individuals constantly appearing. Numerous Cultivation forces either soared to prominence with the changing tides or were utterly annihilated overnight, weaving a tapestry of untold joys, sorrows, and legendary sagas.

Across the vast and seemingly endless territories of the Jingguang Continent, countless sects and clans have experienced cycles of rise and fall throughout these seven centuries. Furthermore, more than a dozen Nascent Soul Ancestors have emerged into existence.

Yet, amidst the multitude of burgeoning powers, one entity, the "Heavenly Alliance," stands preeminent, its influence now stretching across more than half of the Jingguang Continent. The Alliance is a formidable coalition, comprising three first-rate sects, over twenty second-rate sects, and a hundred more third-rate factions.

Within the Heavenly Alliance, the ranks of experts are as dense as clouds, their true strength remaining unfathomably deep. Merely counting the publicly acknowledged Nascent Soul Ancestors reveals a staggering number of seventeen.

The undisputed leader of the Heavenly Alliance is none other than the True Monarch of Heavenly Destiny, a figure acclaimed as "the foremost individual of a ten-thousand-year epoch."

From his position outside the Pure Light Realm, Zhao Sheng gazed down upon the world below, suspended in the Void. A faint, chilling smile touched the corners of his lips as he mused, "Heaven's mandate belongs to him? Hehe, what arrogant claims!"

Approximately a thousand miles distant, a venerable old monk clad in gray robes clasped his hands together, intoning, "Infinite Saint Ancestor! While those words may carry a degree of hyperbole, they are not entirely without substance."

With that, the Zizai Heavenly Demon Lord lifted his head, his gaze fixing upon Dongzhenzi, who was also a thousand miles away. He spoke in a tranquil voice, "When compared to the 'Great Cave True Monarch' chosen by Taoist Zhao, this young one still falls short."

Dongzhenzi's eyes flickered with a subtle light. He then offered a slight smile and replied, "Old monk, perhaps you are mistaken. That Great Cave True Monarch and this humble Daoist are fated to be apart. It is rather this True Monarch of Heavenly Destiny who is truly exceptional. He possesses the bearing of a Demoted Immortal and the countenance of a divine being. His wisdom is as profound as the ocean, and he keenly understands the nuances of the human heart. His heart is dedicated to the public good of the world, and his magnanimity is vast enough to encompass all rivers... Old monk, your discernment is keen; this child's future is indeed limitless."

The Zizai Heavenly Demon Lord responded with a placid tone, "Taoist Zhao bestows excessive praise! While this child demonstrates considerable talent and capability, he ultimately cannot compare to one whose Qi Fortune surges towards the heavens."

"Hahaha, more than half of the thousand-year cycle has already elapsed. It is now my turn to cast a piece upon the board. Old monk, observe closely." After Dongzhenzi concluded his laughter, he raised his hand, and a radiant mass of pure light abruptly materialized within his palm.

This light descended, piercing the atmosphere and plunging directly into the oceanic depths east of the Jingguang Continent. A low, mournful cry then echoed from the abyss.

Moo!

Before long, a desolate and elongated bellow suddenly resonated from the depths of the sea. The roar acted as a clarion call, instantaneously spreading across billions of miles of oceanic expanse, startling countless colossal beings of the deep.

Moments later, numerous Nascent Soul Demon Kings emerged from various sea regions. These powerful entities, typically dwelling in the abyssal depths, all converged beneath the East Sea's Eye, humbly awaiting the arrival of the new Dragon Emperor.

Concurrently, billions upon billions of sea beasts became visibly agitated. Soon after, under the guidance of their respective leaders, they continuously massed at specific points on the seabed, forming one immense aggregation after another.

Even before the Dragon Emperor's formal emergence, the outermost spirit islands had already experienced localized outbreaks of "sea beast tides."

Within a mere few decades, the four great Outer Seas encircling the Jingguang Continent were engulfed in conflict. Numberless spirit islands were systematically annihilated by the rampaging sea beasts, and countless mortals and Cultivators alike became sustenance for these monstrous creatures.

The dire reality of the sea beast invasion could no longer be hidden, plunging the entirety of the Jingguang Continent's Cultivation World into widespread panic, prompting countless factions to mobilize.

As the dominant force that had ascended over the past millennium, the Heavenly Alliance readily ''took on the weighty burden'' of repelling the sea beast onslaught.

Whether it was a calculated move by ancient rival forces or unwavering faith in their Alliance Hierarch's prowess, the True Monarch of Heavenly Destiny quickly solidified their position as the paramount Divinity Transformation True Monarch within this domain.

A dozen years hence, the Dragon Emperor made their appearance, subsequently leading thirty-nine Nascent Soul Demon Kings to descend upon the Jingguang Continent, leaving a trail of utter devastation in their wake.