Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1755 - 942: Passing the Heavenly Fire Tribulation with Ease, Obtaining the Great Brightness Root Mantra (2)

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Previously on Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension...
Zhao Sheng met with two Ancestor avatars, Zhao Xuanjing and Zhao Hongyun, to discuss their cultivation and future ascension. Zhao Sheng revealed insights that seemingly altered their preordained tribulations, increasing their chances of ascending but also introducing uncertainty. After two months of discussion, Zhao Sheng's main body felt a breakthrough and prepared to face his own heavenly tribulation.
The main body vanished, and the two avatars within the Grotto Heaven immediately felt a connection. They involuntarily lifted their gazes to the heavens, a divine light gleaming in their eyes. ... Approximately half an hour later, amidst the Ruins, a mysterious visitor materialized in the sky above a continent in the southeastern Xuandou Spirit Realm. Zhao Sheng, not daring to linger, seized the moment before the local Heavenly Dao could detect him. He instantly ruptured the space-time barriers, hurrying towards the Third Inch Heaven. After traversing the Near Heaven for over thirty thousand Constant Years, Zhao Sheng found himself back in the present world's starry expanse. Within a vast, dark, and unfamiliar Star Domain, a multi-colored vortex of space-time abruptly materialized. Zhao Sheng emerged from its depths. The space-time vortex quickly faded. Zhao Sheng surveyed his surroundings, unleashing his formidable Divine Thought like a torrential storm, covering billions of miles of the surrounding Void. As he suspected, this region lacked any star systems, presenting an entirely empty and desolate dark expanse. Zhao Sheng nodded slightly in satisfaction. His gaze then shifted upward to a mighty, ancient Bronze Gate. The Ancient Bronze Gate appeared starkly out of place, suspended alone in the dark Void, exuding an eerie and discordant aura. However, Zhao Sheng was fully aware of this Bronze Gate's origin. This gate was identical in function to the Stone Pillar Gate Tower situated above the Taiyi Spirit Realm; both served as entrances to Ascension Immortal Heaven. The key difference lay in the specific Immortal Heavens they connected to. The Stone Pillar Gate Tower led to the Supreme Immortal Heaven. The Ancient Bronze Gate, on the other hand, was an entry to an Immortal Heaven belonging to an unknown Supreme Dao Ancestor. Moments later, Zhao Sheng reined in his wandering thoughts, his entire being gradually radiating powerful, terrifying fluctuations of Law. These Law Fluctuations expanded outwards, coalescing into billions of dazzling, piercing strands of Law Radiance. Their brilliance rivaled that of a Great Sun, progressively illuminating the surrounding billions of miles of dark Void. When a Tribulation Crossing Venerable fully unleashed their Power, all beings bore witness to the terrifying might of a Venerable. Crack, crack... The fabric of space in the present world was the first to buckle under the Venerable’s Power, beginning to fracture on a grand scale. This damage rapidly extended into the more distant dark Void. Concurrently, Zhao Sheng felt his body infinitely 'expanding,' while the surrounding space rapidly 'contracted,' becoming as fragile as thin parchment. Even an inadvertent movement could easily pierce the space-time barriers, potentially triggering a Space-Time Storm. Before long, Zhao Sheng inexplicably felt a searing heat erupt from within his body. Instantly, as if a spark had ignited a cauldron of oil, his boundless mana was suddenly 'ablaze.' BOOM BOOM BOOM~ Within a mere ten-thousandth of a moment, Zhao Sheng experienced unbearable agony. His mana, once smooth and flowing, abruptly transformed into an endless inferno, rapidly consuming his entire form. In a single thought, Zhao Sheng became a colossal, blazing figure. The raging flames immediately surged into his Purple Mansion Soul Sea, igniting it as well and transforming it into an boundless Sea of Fire. At this juncture, Zhao Sheng lost all connection to the external world, feeling as though he had been plunged into the mythical Sea of Hellfire. The excruciating pain, originating from the very depths of his soul, threatened to obliterate his consciousness and thoughts, causing his resolute Dao heart to falter. "In the beginning, Chaos and Yin Yang first divided, the Red Spirit took charge as the Flame Ancestor, Universe fires, heed my command..." Amidst his muddled consciousness, Zhao Sheng managed to recite the Fire Extinguishing Spell. The 'frequency' of his soul began to shift. Upon uttering the spell's final verse, the horrific pain emanating from his soul vanished instantly, replaced by an overwhelming sensation of relief and tranquility. He now felt as if he were a part of the Heavenly Fire itself, impervious to its burning. But... the Heavenly Fire Tribulation was far from simple! This tribulation consumed a Venerable's mana and Primordial Spirit as fuel. Once ignited, it could not be easily quelled. Pain was merely one hurdle; the true challenge lay in extinguishing the Heavenly Fire. Zhao Sheng was indeed fortunate, as the Second Ancestor, Zhao Hongyun, had provided him with the most exemplary demonstration.

Leveraging the Second Ancestor’s profound understanding and past experiences, Zhao Sheng swiftly recalibrated his soul’s 'frequency.' He then employed his Primordial Spirit and Will Heart Light, gradually imposing control over the Law Fluctuations emitted by the Fire of Tribulation.

The passage of time became an unknown entity!

The once fiercely burning Fire of Tribulation began its slow demise. The encroaching darkness launched a swift counter-offensive, causing the expanse illuminated by the flames to rapidly shrink. From billions of miles, it contracted to millions, then further compressed to a scale of mere hundred-thousand miles.

Three months would later transpire, and within this Outer Domain Void, only a ten-zhang diameter cluster of five-colored flames remained.

These five-colored flames appeared almost sentient, continuously expanding and contracting. The Law Fluctuations they emitted grew progressively calmer.

Nine more days elapsed, and the five-colored flames suddenly condensed to an ultimate point before abruptly ceasing to exist.

At that precise moment, a man, entirely unclothed, materialized from the void at the original spot.

With a sudden flash of light, a simple white Magic Robe materialized upon Zhao Sheng’s person. This robe, clearly having materialized from the very flames, still exuded faint Law Fluctuations.

"The Heavenly Fire Tribulation is nothing more than this!"

Murmuring these words, Zhao Sheng’s figure flickered, and he vanished entirely from sight.

...

Coincidentally, at the very same moment Zhao Sheng triumphantly navigated the Heavenly Fire Tribulation, his avatar, Dongzhenzi, located far beyond the Pure Light Realm, experienced a sudden premonition.

With startling speed, Dongzhenzi’s mounting pressure abruptly surged, and his aura wavered momentarily, immediately drawing the attention of the Zizai Heavenly Demon Lord.

The old monk, clad in gray robes, shifted his thoughts subtly and inquired, "Taoist Zhao, could this be a moment of great fortune? I sensed a subtle wave of joy emanating from your heart just now."

Although the gray-robed old monk was but an avatar of the formidable Zizai Heavenly Demon Lord, he was recognized as a distinguished monk of considerable virtue within Lantuo Temple. Furthermore, he possessed exceptional mastery over Telepathy, one of the Buddha’s Six Great Divine Skills.

Being most adept at discerning the emotional shifts of others, the gray-robed old monk perceived Dongzhenzi’s surge of happiness the instant it arose.

Dongzhenzi managed to compose his emotions, responding with practiced calm, "It is nothing significant! This humble Taoist merely feels the approaching millennium mark and could not help but experience a fleeting moment of joy."

Despite his suspicions, the gray-robed old monk refrained from pressing the matter further.

Seizing the opportunity, he put forth a proposition: "In my estimation, both individuals from the Lower Realm are truly outstanding figures of this era. Over the past several centuries, they have engaged in combat nine times, yielding inconclusive results, with neither fully establishing dominance. I propose we declare this a draw. What are your thoughts?"

Dongzhenzi found himself somewhat swayed by this suggestion.

Long ago, Han Lin and Zhang Xusheng, once bitter rivals, crossed paths in the Outer Sea. Subsequently, through a series of unforeseen events, a deep and seemingly unbreakable enmity gradually formed between them.

Over the preceding two hundred years, these two formidable combatants had clashed nine distinct times.

During the initial three encounters, Han Lin held a slight advantage, solely due to the assistance provided by the Dragon Emperor.

Later, the Dragon Emperor fell victim to a treacherous plot, sustaining severe injuries and necessitating a return to the Dragon Nest to recuperate.

Consequently, in the subsequent six confrontations, Zhang Xusheng emerged victorious four times. Han Lin, facing adversity, managed to narrowly escape on multiple occasions, his strength undergoing a dramatic and continuous improvement.

In the final two encounters, he even managed to turn the tide of battle, transforming defeat into victory and, in one instance, even shattering Zhang Xusheng’s Heavenly Human Dharma Aspect.

On one hand stood the lord of the Heavenly Alliance, dominion over billions of miles of mountains and seas, commanding an army of ten thousand cultivators.

On the other, a supreme talent who subdued the formidable Dragon Emperor. Moreover, due to his singular feat of quelling a devastating sea beast invasion, Han Lin's prestige had ascended exponentially, placing him on an equal footing with the so-called 'First of Ten Thousand Years,' the True Monarch of Heavenly Destiny, Zhang Xusheng.

Observing that neither combatant could secure a decisive, fatal victory in the immediate future, Dongzhenzi began to seriously contemplate the Zizai Heavenly Demon Lord’s proposal.

The gray-robed old monk, exceptionally skilled at discerning the hidden thoughts of others, sensed Dongzhenzi’s wavering resolve. He swiftly enticed him further: "Taoist Zhao, there is no need for concern. I harbor no malicious intent. Should we agree to this draw, I am prepared to bestow the entirety of the 'Great Brightness Root Mantra.' All you need to do is relinquish your claim to the position of Star Lord."

With the Golden Silk Scroll clasped firmly in hand, Dongzhenzi simultaneously detached a wisp of his Divine Thought, delving into its depths. In an instant, he became aware of the resonating incantations from within, accompanied by an boundless radiance that bathed his Spirit.