Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1330 - 718: Spirit Core Secret and Entering the Mountain Gate

"Haha! It looks like our Zhao Family is about to produce another Golden Core Elder!"

"This is disastrous! These atmospheric shifts don't resemble a Heavenly Tribulation at all; they look more like a celestial punishment!"

"Issue the command immediately! Fully engage the Mountain Protection Array to keep out any uninvited guests!"

The Zhao Family reacted with lightning speed. Under the direction of the Golden Core Elders, numerous clan members scrambled into action as defensive formations and barriers began to rise at critical points.

Before long, a massive shield of light spanning hundreds of miles gradually formed, shielding the entire Zhao Family Station.

Although Zhao Sheng was perfectly aware of the commotion outside, he had no intention of revealing himself.

The Five-colored Spiritual Light remained trapped within the bamboo tower, lasting less than a heartbeat before it vanished into nothingness. Subsequently, the Spiritual Light Cloud inside the Crystal Ball grew incredibly faint, and several remnants of the light cloud disappeared in an instant.

Observing this, Zhao Sheng exhaled a long breath, a flicker of surprise crossing his features.

The fleeting transformation in that spirituality had unintentionally unveiled many mysteries, allowing him to grasp a vague opportunity. Even if he couldn't put it into words, he now felt about thirty percent confident that he could mend this Spirit Core.

With this thought, Zhao Sheng suppressed the excitement in his heart and redeployed his Will Field. He enveloped the Crystal Ball once more, continuously funneling his power into the Spirit Core's inner space through the "breach" carved out by the Divine Thought light silk.

While Zhao Sheng began his profound study of the Spirit Core’s secrets, Zhao Menghan traveled via tunneling light with a burning heart, quickly landing on the barren, lifeless soil of a Dead Star.

He scanned the area, noting the landscape while projecting his Divine Thought, which instantly blanketed a radius of hundreds of miles.

"Zhao Menghan, the ‘Heavenly Array Hermit’ of the Cloud Mist Zhao Family, has come to visit the mountain gate! Fellow Daoists of the Supreme Sensing Sect, please show yourselves!"

His clear, steady voice resonated through the void via Divine Thought, covering a thousand-mile area in moments.

He shouted the greeting three times!

Soon, from a circular mountain three hundred miles away, a cluster of apricot-yellow auspicious clouds rose and drifted toward his position.

The clouds arrived quickly, carrying a middle-aged Daoist with a thin frame and a healthy, ruddy complexion.

Upon seeing the man, a look of shock crossed Zhao Menghan’s eyes. He immediately cupped his hands and smiled, "Senior, I arrived without warning. I never expected to trouble Senior Qingqiu to greet me personally. I am truly apologetic!"

Daoist Qingqiu was the most powerful cultivator of the ‘Qing’ generation within the Supreme Sensing Sect. As far back as eight centuries ago, he had already reached the Late-stage Nascent Soul, making him a pinnacle Nascent Soul Cultivator in the Spring Birth Realm.

Publicly, Daoist Qingqiu was considered the "face" of the Supreme Sensing Sect, wielding not just high status but immense authority and reach.

In recent centuries, however, he had lived in seclusion away from the Cultivation World, never appearing in public. This led some Sects to speculate that he had already passed away in meditation.

Consequently, seeing the man in person left Zhao Menghan stunned and increasingly wary!

"Fellow Daoist Menghan, it has been centuries since our last meeting. Why so distant today? We are old acquaintances; there is no need for such formality!" Daoist Qingqiu replied with a bow and a smile.

This strange behavior confused Zhao Menghan once more, leading him to wonder: "Something is off! What is happening here? Daoist Qingqiu is normally prideful and looks down on everyone. Since when did he become so friendly and kind?"

Before he could process this, Daoist Qingqiu spoke again, "Regardless, I haven't asked the reason for your visit. Our sect’s mountain gate is hidden on an Outer Realm Dead Star, and visitors are rare over the millennia. I assume you have significant matters to discuss."

His train of thought broken, Zhao Menghan replied, "To be honest, I have come today hoping to reclaim my clan’s ancestral treasures from your sect."

"Oh? Which treasures are those? Please, speak freely," Daoist Qingqiu said, looking inquisitive.

Zhao Menghan took a deep breath and declared loudly, "The items belonging to our ancestor Qiong Tian: the Chasing Sun Bow, the Sumeru Ring, and... the Nine Nether Tower!"

Daoist Qingqiu’s expression shifted slightly as he fell silent, his aura surging and receding like the ocean tide.

Zhao Menghan kept his face unreadable, though he was incredibly anxious inside, fearing a direct rejection.

Yet, observing the other man's reaction, his heart finally began to steady.

There was a chance!

The Nine Nether Tower... it was almost certainly in the possession of the Supreme Sensing Sect!

However, Zhao Menghan was entirely unaware that his every movement was being scrutinized by others.

These "others" were not just a single person, but a group of Nascent Soul Giants; even Fengyi True Monarch had joined them.

Inside the Supreme Treasure Hall, seven or eight Nascent Soul Ancestors sat at the center of the Magic Platform. Their eyes were fixed on the "Spirit Light Realm" floating in the air, carefully watching everything Zhao Menghan did.

Fengyi True Monarch stood before the "Spirit Light Realm" with his arms crossed, his face grim as he watched the reflection in the mirror.

It was no surprise that these Nascent Soul Ancestors were so on edge!

They were like "startled birds," terrified of being found by "that Half-Immortal of the Void."

Yet, only days later, Zhao Menghan had appeared out of nowhere, claiming he wanted to take back ancestral relics.

Such an odd occurrence was bound to terrify these Nascent Soul Ancestors.

When the name "Nine Nether Tower" was mentioned, Fengyi True Monarch’s pupils narrowed instantly, like a cat that had been spooked.

A moment later, he forced himself to relax, though his gaze turned increasingly cold.

"Qingqiu, lead him inside the mountain gate!" Fengyi True Monarch suddenly commanded. His voice transmitted through the Spirit Light Mirror, reaching Daoist Qingqiu’s mind instantly.

Daoist Qingqiu was briefly taken aback before he smiled warmly at Zhao Menghan, saying, "Taoist Zhao, this isn't the right place for a conversation. Follow me inside quickly!"

He made an inviting gesture and then steered his auspicious cloud toward the circular mountain from which he had emerged.

Seeing this, Zhao Menghan followed closely in his tunneling light.

The two of them quickly traversed hundreds of miles of the void, descending into the circular mountain range.

After just a few breaths, Zhao Sheng, still inside the bamboo tower, suddenly gasped in surprise. He looked up sharply, his gaze seeming to pierce through the bamboo walls to see the distant Dead Star in the outer realm.

"...How strange! Is it possible that the Supreme Sensing Sect’s mountain gate is actually a transformed Grotto Heaven? Why else would the connection be severed upon entering?"

With those thoughts, Zhao Sheng rose slowly. With a sweep of his sleeve, he gathered the Puppet parts from the floor, and the Spirit Core Crystal Pearls floating in the air flew into his robes and vanished.

In the next instant, he took a single step forward and completely disappeared into thin air.

When he reappeared, he was hovering above the circular mountain.

Currently, Zhao Sheng was like a phantom drifting over the peaks, silently observing the scene unfolding below.

Inside the Supreme Treasure Hall, seven or eight Nascent Soul Ancestors remained seated at the Magic Platform, staring intently at the "Spirit Light Realm" as they monitored Zhao Menghan’s every move.

Fengyi True Monarch stood near the "Spirit Light Realm," watching the mirror with a very solemn expression.

There was a clear reason for the alarm felt by these Nascent Soul Ancestors!

They were acting like "startled birds," fearing any contact with "that Half-Immortal of the Void."

Then, within a matter of days, Zhao Menghan had arrived unexpectedly to demand his family's treasures.

How could such a suspicious event not set these Nascent Soul Ancestors on high alert?

At the mention of the "Nine Nether Tower," Fengyi True Monarch’s pupils contracted sharply, mirroring a frightened animal.

He calmed himself a second later, though his expression grew frigid.

"Qingqiu, bring him into the mountain gate!" Fengyi True Monarch ordered, his voice echoing through the Spirit Light Mirror directly into Daoist Qingqiu’s consciousness.

Daoist Qingqiu was momentarily surprised before continuing.