Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1341: 723: Taoyue Immortal Venerable (Part 2)

Capítulo 1341: Chapter 723: Taoyue Immortal Venerable (Part 2)

Feng Yi felt a hidden surge of joy at these words, intending to use the moment to offer sycophantic praise and soften the other’s vigilance.

But before a single word could escape his lips, a sudden and indescribable agony tore through the core of his Primordial Spirit. The pain was so violent that his consciousness shattered instantly, casting his mind into a void of madness.

Buzz!

A breath later, Zhao Sheng pulled back his right hand. Across from him, the light in the spirit puppet’s eyes faded into darkness. Its massive frame stiffened before plummeting from the heavens like a falling boulder.

In the next heartbeat, a flash of spirit light swept up the leopard-headed spirit puppet, causing it to vanish completely.

Its master disappeared along with it.

…

Months passed, and a startling rumor began to sweep across the millions of miles of the Mountain Continent. This uncertain news brought a sense of unrest and hidden danger to the local Cultivation World.

According to "reliable" whispers, a titanic struggle had occurred months earlier at the summit of Qi Luo Mountain, the continent's tallest peak.

The stories claimed that the Luo Family True Monarch, who was stationed there, had been locked in a brutal conflict with an unidentified foe.

Following the clash, the peak of Qi Luo Mountain was found to be significantly leveled. Both the mysterious attacker and the Luo Family True Monarch had vanished. Even now, no one could say who emerged victorious or if either survived the encounter.

Though the Luo family attempted to suppress any information regarding the fight, the details eventually leaked out.

Consequently, the various Cultivation Sects and Cultivation Families of the continent soon learned of the Luo Family True Monarch’s strange disappearance.

The atmosphere within the Cultivation World turned incredibly strained, signaling a potential upheaval on the horizon.

However, because it was unconfirmed if the Luo Family True Monarch had actually perished, few major powers dared to move against the Luo Family—renowned for "One Breath Suppressing Thousand Mountains." Instead, they remained in a state of constant observation and probing.

Naturally, the fate of the Luo family meant little to the Cloud Mist Zhao Family. Very few were aware that the Luo Family True Monarch had actually fallen to a spirit puppet.

Zhao Menghan was one of the few who knew the truth. Ever since witnessing the spirit puppet’s world-defying power, he could no longer contain his desires. He repeatedly begged the Ancestor to transform his Nascent Soul into a Spirit Core.

Yet, these requests were met with cold refusal from Zhao Sheng, who simply stated that the timing was incorrect.

When would the time be right? Zhao Menghan had no answer, and in reality, Zhao Sheng was equally uncertain.

While Primordial Spirit and Nascent Soul sounded similar, they were fundamentally different and could not be equated.

Feng Yi’s Primordial Spirit was strong enough to survive the Spirit Core transformation, but the same could not be guaranteed for Zhao Menghan.

Without more rigorous study, Zhao Sheng had no intention of taking that final step unless Zhao Menghan reached the end of his lifespan.

…

Time marched on, and another year slipped by in a flash.

On this particular day, the strains of Immortal Music suddenly resonated over the Cloud Mist Mountain Range. Countless rays of Auspicious Light poured down from the heavens, only to vanish as quickly as they appeared.

Inside his secluded cave mansion, Zhao Sheng was jolted from his meditation. A sudden chill gripped his heart, sensing that an intruder had entered his domain.

His spirit shook violently. He spun around only to find a middle-aged man dressed in a green Daoist robe standing quietly just a few paces away.

The man was tall, possessing skin as clear as jade and a red mole centered between his eyebrows. Elaborate cauldron motifs were stitched into the hem of his garment.

Oddly, upon closer inspection, he carried the aura of a mere mortal. A soft white radiance veiled his face, hiding his features, though his eyes remained fixed peacefully on Zhao Sheng.

Zhao Sheng’s face paled as a wave of intense danger washed over him. He felt as though the man in green was peering into his very soul.

For a moment, Zhao Sheng searched his memories, thinking that perhaps only Fengfengzi could be compared to this individual.

He dismissed the thought immediately. His intuition screamed that even the Tribulation Crossing Venerable Fengfengzi was shallow compared to the bottomless depth of this stranger.

“Could this visitor be…”

Zhao Sheng went rigid. As he looked at the man again, a spark of realization flashed through his mind.

“Wait… the green robe, the red mole, those specific cauldron patterns…”

In that instant, Zhao Sheng recalled the green-robed elder he had once glimpsed within the Great Saint Thought Realm.

The features were the same: the red mole, the green robe, the mortal-like aura. Even the cauldron designs on the man’s clothes mirrored those found on the Three-legged Six-eared Ancient Cauldron.

“Immortal Venerable, please receive the humble respects of this small cultivator!” Zhao Sheng’s mind whirled as he immediately dropped into a deep bow.

“Hehe, you possess a sharp spiritual sense. It is no wonder the Residual Immortal Artifact has chosen you. Stand up; there is no need for such formalities,” the green-robed man said calmly, gesturing with his hand.

Zhao Sheng rose but remained in a respectful crouch, waiting for his fate to be declared.

He understood that there was no running from a True Immortal. He chose to face the situation head-on, knowing that the worst possible outcome was simply death.

Taoyue Immortal Venerable’s eyes shone with a strange light as he spent several moments silently evaluating Zhao Sheng.

Since the guest remained silent, Zhao Sheng did not dare to speak first.

Suddenly, Taoyue Immortal Venerable’s gaze intensified. Two shafts of white light burst from his eyes, darting forward like lethal arrows toward Zhao Sheng’s face.

Zhao Sheng’s expression twisted in alarm. Before he could move, the overwhelming Divine Light had already invaded his Purple Mansion Soul Sea, striking toward his Primordial Spirit with lethal intent.

He knew that if this Divine Light connected, he would be obliterated.

Gripped by terror, Zhao Sheng tried to activate his Time-Space Great Teleportation Divine Power. However, there was no response; it felt as though the local Taoist Law had completely locked down the surrounding space-time.

At the very threshold of death, a silver hoop surged from the depths of his Soul Sea. It shattered the incoming Divine Light instantly and hovered protectively above his Primordial Spirit. It vibrated steadily, emitting a soft, Five-colored Thunder Light.

A piercing pain throbbed in Zhao Sheng’s head. He let out a low groan and stumbled back several paces, struggling to regain his composure as the agony slowly receded.

“Marvelous! The fact that the Immortal Artifact moved to protect you on its own proves it has accepted you as its master! A Thunder-type Immortal Artifact? Ah… it is the Five Thunder Ring! I had almost forgotten it, as it has been millennia since I last saw it. With Mr. Lei’s passing, I lost a dear friend who shared my path,” Taoyue Immortal Venerable remarked, his voice tinged with nostalgia as the light in his eyes faded.

Zhao Sheng felt a wave of relief but kept his face neutral in the presence of the Venerable.

He noted with interest that this person had been an acquaintance of the Five Elements Thunder Ring’s previous owner. This connection might be his saving grace.

“Do not be troubled. I was merely testing you; I had no intention of taking your life. Had I wished it, you would have perished many times over by now,” Taoyue Immortal Venerable said, reading Zhao Sheng’s inner turmoil.

Hearing this, Zhao Sheng pushed down his lingering fear and anger. He took a steadying breath and bowed once more to Taoyue Immortal Venerable.