Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1324 - 715: Cloud Mist Zhao Family

Zhao Sheng decided that manual interrogation was far too tedious. Instead, he unleashed a Soul Searching technique, ruthlessly rifling through the life memories of everyone present.

His actions were without mercy, for every disciple of the Ghost God Sect was a hardened criminal whose atrocities merited nothing less than death!

"Hmph, a complete waste of time! Even the Nascent Soul cultivator is ignorant of its location. It appears the reports were wrong; the Nine Nether Tower is not held by the Ghost God Sect. Who could have taken it?"

A dark cloud settled over Zhao Sheng’s features as he finished scanning their minds, and he let out a sharp, freezing snort.

In the following breath, the heads of the eight captives erupted simultaneously, painting the sky with a grisly spray of red and white. Their headless remains collapsed into the dirt, reduced to a mangled heap of gore.

After a moment of reflection, Zhao Sheng realized he had been "climbing a tree to catch a fish." Since the Ghost God Sect proved to be a dead end, his best course of action was to locate the local Zhao Clan members in this world and seek answers from them.

With his new objective set, his form flickered and vanished from the heavens.

...

The Mountain Continent was aptly named, defined by its rugged and labyrinthine geography. This land was a maze of mountain chains and plunging valleys, with a subterranean world of winding caves, hidden rivers, and three vast underground oceans hidden beneath the crust.

Located in the eastern reaches of the continent lay the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, a place of dense spiritual Qi. Enveloped in a perpetual shroud of fog, its treacherous paths kept most travelers away, though it remained a famous source of rare spiritual medicines.

Few were aware that deep within these mountains lay a hidden, man-made spiritual realm. At its heart sat a magnificent mountain city, stretching across hundreds of miles of pristine landscape.

This was New Zhao City, a primary stronghold for the branch of the Zhao Family residing in this realm.

It was the middle of the day in a vibrant valley just outside the city walls. The air was thick with the scent of blooming exotic spirit flowers and herbs, creating a picturesque sanctuary.

Within this garden, a young girl in a lotus-patterned dress, her skin as pale as snow, walked a half-step behind a poised woman dressed in green.

They were mother and daughter.

The mother, Zhao Xingyu, belonged to the Xing generation and possessed a cultivation at the late-stage Golden Core level.

Her daughter, Zhao Lian’er, was the sixth-ranked member of the Bo generation. She had achieved Foundation Establishment a decade prior.

"I often think of our forefathers who bled and struggled to carve out a place for us here in the Mountain Continent. It is tragic that a millennium later, their descendants have completely forsaken their original purpose. I truly misjudged the depths of human nature," Zhao Xingyu remarked, her smile tinged with bitterness.

"Mother, you have only just finished your seclusion. Finally, we have some time together, yet you insist on such gloomy topics!" the girl in the lotus dress sighed, her voice carrying a trace of playful resentment.

"Lian’er, you cannot fathom the glory our ancestors once held. It is a shame that we, their offspring, have proven so inadequate. Now, our family is forced to seek protection under the banner of another Sect," the woman in green said, pausing to look at the sky with a distant, hollow gaze.

Nearly five centuries had passed since she had traveled from the Supreme Divine Continent to the Spring Birth Realm.

Over those five hundred years, the memories of her distant home had faded, appearing now only as blurry fragments in her dreams.

"Lian’er, did you know? Two millennia ago, our clan was guarded by seven Nascent Soul Ancestors. A thousand years ago, that number dwindled to three. Today, only Ancestor Meng Han remains, struggling alone to maintain our standing. The decline of the Zhao Family is heartbreaking. With my meager talent, I doubt I will ever reach the Nascent Soul Realm in this life."

The young girl felt a wave of dejection, mixed with a hint of frustration. Yet, as she considered the family's dire straits, her eyes filled with sorrow.

"Mother, please do not be so hard on yourself! Resources are so scarce that the family could barely support Third Uncle’s breakthrough to the Nascent Soul. We can no longer even find the ingredients for a second Nascent Soul Pill."

The woman in green turned to her daughter, shaking her head with a gentle smile.

"I know. Without a miracle, I have reached my peak. But you, Lian’er, possess the Wood Spirit Body and a sharp mind. Since joining the Supreme Sensing Sect, you reached the mid-stage Foundation Establishment in only thirty years. If fate is kind, your future will eclipse mine. You might even surpass the Nascent Soul Realm."

"I am deeply grateful for my Master’s guidance and the precious elixir pills she has provided. She treats me as her true successor, and I owe her everything," Zhao Lian’er said with sincere devotion.

At this, the woman in green hesitated. She studied her daughter’s beautiful face, letting out a quiet, secret sigh.

"Your Master was an old traveling companion of mine. We roamed the Cultivation World together long ago. Now, after centuries, she is a Supreme Elder of the Supreme Sensing Sect. I fear she may have forgotten our old ties. Lian’er, in the future, you must..."

Her warning to "be extra careful" was cut short.

Abruptly, a figure materialized in front of them.

The man was strikingly handsome, projecting an aura of such profound grace that he seemed to exist in perfect harmony with the world around him.

It was Zhao Sheng, who had just shifted through space to arrive there.

Seeing him appear out of thin air, Zhao Xingyu’s expression shifted instantly to one of alarm. She pulled her daughter behind her, her hand suddenly gripping a green basket filled with jade-like, crystalline spirit flowers.

"Be at ease. I mean you no harm," Zhao Sheng stated calmly.

His voice acted like a cool spring, washing away their hostility and replacing it with an involuntary sense of trust.

"Honored Senior, may I ask who you are? Why have you come to our Baihua Valley?" the woman in green asked with a respectful bow.

She realized the terrifying gap in power between them and knew she had to proceed with extreme caution.

Ignoring the question, Zhao Sheng scanned the valley. He released a gargantuan wave of Divine Thought, blanketing everything within a thousand-mile radius in a split second.

"Mm, it seems my search was successful. However, the current generation is quite a disappointment. A clan as large as the Zhao Family, yet only a single Nascent Soul to protect it? Truly pathetic. It seems I must put in some work to properly train these youngsters," Zhao Sheng muttered to himself with clear disdain.

Despite his low volume, the mother and daughter heard every word.

Zhao Xingyu’s pupils contracted sharply before widening in shock. Her heart raced as a realization struck her with the force of a tidal wave.

His tone was arrogant, but his words were revealing. He was clearly a member of the Zhao Family, though she had no idea from which branch he hailed.

She recalled the stories told by the elders—that the Zhao Family was spread across myriad worlds with vast influence. Their founding ancestor was said to be a Returning to Void Realm Venerable, famous even in the Upper Realm.

Suppressing her trembling excitement, Zhao Xingyu bowed low. "Zhao Xingyu of the Xing generation greets the Clan Elder! Please forgive my earlier rudeness; I did not recognize your presence!"

Seeing her mother’s reaction, Zhao Lian’er quickly mirrored the deep bow, her face tense with focus.

Zhao Sheng gave a slight nod and flicked his sleeve, using a gentle force to lift them both. "There is no need for you to know my history. It is enough to know that we share the Zhao bloodline. Since our paths have crossed, I shall grant you both a small blessing."

With a flick of his fingers, several streaks of Flowing Light shot forward. As they reached the pair, the light divided and settled into their hands.

Before she could even inspect the gift, Zhao Xingyu began to stammer her thanks. "I would not dream of refusing the Elder’s kindness! We are eternally grateful for this opportunity. Pray, tell us the Elder’s name so we may honor you—"

"Mother, stop! The 'Elder' is already gone! Look at what he gave us! We’ve... we’ve truly met a godsend!" Zhao Lian’er tugged at her mother’s sleeve, her voice trembling with urgency.

Looking down at the items in her grasp, the woman in green was struck dumb with shock.

"Nas... Nascent Soul Pills... and there are two of them!"

Along with the two bottles of top-tier pills, she held a translucent Medicine Pestle that shimmered with an extraordinary, radiant light. It was clearly a treasure of immense value.