Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1351 - 728: Return to the Tianzhu Realm (2)

The three eyes remained hideously repulsive, yet they had lost their former spark. Now dull and vacant, they resembled the glazed stare of a corpse.

The moment Zhao Sheng emerged from his secluded Cultivation, the earth before him split apart. From the subterranean depths, the Tiger Head Spirit Puppet ascended directly to the surface.

With movements that were slightly labored, the Spirit Puppet offered a respectful bow. "Meng Han offers greetings to the Ancestor!" it announced in a hollow, muffled tone.

"Stand up; there is no need for such ceremony," Zhao Sheng replied, his expression remaining neutral and unsurprised.

The Tiger Head Spirit Puppet straightened its posture and waited in silence, poised for the Ancestor’s commands.

Observing the creature, a flicker of sorrow passed through Zhao Sheng’s eyes before he abruptly declared, "I am departing!"

"To what destination does the Ancestor travel?" the Spirit Puppet inquired, notably failing to ask him to stay.

It was clear from this interaction that the transformation into a Spirit Puppet had stripped away most of Zhao Menghan’s humanity—a heavy price to pay indeed.

"The Tianzhu Realm!"

"And when shall the Ancestor return?"

"It is uncertain. Perhaps it will be soon, or perhaps I shall be gone for a very long time."

The Tiger Head Spirit Puppet fell into silence upon hearing this.

Zhao Sheng expected nothing more. With a final wave of his hand, his form began to blur, vanishing into thin air in an instant.

Though a distance of sixteen Constant Years lay between the Spring Birth Realm and the Tianzhu Realm, Zhao Sheng managed to complete the journey back to the Tianzhu Realm in a mere thirteen days.

This journey had taken him two days less than his previous trip to the Spring Birth Realm.

Tianzhu Realm, the Ascension Platform.

On this particular day, a commanding figure materialized suddenly above the massive runic courtyard of the Ascension Platform. It was Zhao Sheng, returning in great haste.

His abrupt arrival startled the Qi Mountain Taoist, who had been focused on Cultivation beneath the Ascension Tower.

Springing to his feet, the Qi Mountain Taoist glared at Zhao Sheng with a mixture of alarm and fury. He shouted, "Who are you to trespass upon the Forbidden Land of the Ascension Platform? Be gone at once!"

However, he had barely finished his threat and had no time to trigger the defensive arrays before an overwhelming wave of malice struck him. It pierced straight into his Purple Mansion Soul Sea, rattling his very Divine Soul.

In the following breath, the Qi Mountain Taoist felt a sharp agony in his eyes followed by intense vertigo. He was violently flung from the Ascension Platform, tumbling down toward the Nine-layered Cloud Sea.

Simultaneously, a frigid and deep voice resonated within his mind: "If your eyes cannot perceive the truth, then they are useless to you. Consider this a minor lesson; in the future, do not bark like a common dog before you know who you face.

Return and deliver a message. This Ascension Platform is now under my temporary control. If anyone else dares to intrude, I will not show mercy for old times' sake. My name is Zhao, of the Tianzhu Zhao!"

Overcome with terror, the Qi Mountain Taoist realized he had offended an unstoppable power, fearing the damage done was permanent.

He was blind, but he counted himself fortunate to have kept his life.

While the Qi Mountain Taoist retreated to tend to his wounds, Zhao Sheng landed and paced around the Nine-layered Ascension Tower twice.

Noticing the fading glow of the structure and the web of deep fractures along its exterior, he sensed that something was wrong.

His suspicions were confirmed.

A closer look revealed that the Ascension Tower was not the only thing damaged; the surrounding Great Ascension Array was riddled with hundreds of flaws. Most of the array pillars were cracked so severely they seemed ready to shatter.

Zhao Sheng was uninterested in the history of the violence that had ruined the platform, nor did he care about past feuds.

However, it was now obvious that his plan to use this specific platform to reach the Spirit Realm was ruined.

Fortunately, he had a backup plan; the Ascension Platform in the Spring Birth Realm remained functional, though its exact destination was a mystery.

If it sent him too far away, locating the gates of the Spirit-controlling Immortal Sect would be a difficult task.

With these thoughts in mind, a beam of Divine Light shone from Zhao Sheng’s forehead as he projected a Divine Thought toward the mountain city below.

Inside the City Lord’s Mansion, Zhao Dingshan was jolted awake by the sudden mental transmission.

Upon understanding the message, his face lit up with pure joy. Without a second thought, he transformed into a streak of light and raced toward the edge of the city.

An hour later, Zhao Dingshan reached the peak. Crossing through the protective barrier, he stepped onto the Ascension Platform and immediately saw Zhao Sheng standing there with his hands clasped behind him.

Zhao Dingshan ran forward and knelt repeatedly in greeting. "Junior Zhao Dingshan welcomes the Ancestor’s glorious return!"

Zhao Sheng signaled for him to stand and began asking about recent events.

Zhao Dingshan hid nothing, quickly summarizing the major occurrences of the past years, such as the destruction of the Ghost God Sect and the relocation of Flying Immortal City.

Crucially, he reported that the unification of the clan—the task assigned by the Ancestor—was off to a strong start.

Brought together by the promise of resources and status, the North and South Sects had joined quickly. Only the Four Seas Sects remained hesitant, wary of the Central Sect’s true goals.

"I will be staying for some time now that I have returned. If the various sects have concerns, they can come here to the Ascension Platform. I will address them personally."

Feeling honored, Zhao Dingshan replied, "With the Ancestor’s involvement, their doubts will vanish. Our Tianzhu Zhao has been fractured for millennia; to see it reunited is a dream. If this succeeds, I could die content."

These words prompted Zhao Sheng to act. With a wave of his hand, a Leopard Head Spirit Puppet two zhang tall crashed onto the ground, radiating a fearsome pressure.

Before his return, he had purged the Primordial Spirit of Fengyi True Monarch from the Spirit Core, leaving the puppet without a master.

Zhao Dingshan stared at the Leopard Head Spirit Puppet, his eyes wide with shock.

"Be at ease, it is harmless for now," Zhao Sheng said before asking, "Tell me, what do you intend for your future? Given your current talent and comprehension, reaching the Divinity Transformation stage is nearly impossible for you."

Zhao Dingshan was confused at first, but as he looked at the puppet, a sudden realization struck him, and his expression shifted.

"I shall follow whatever path the Ancestor suggests!" Zhao Dingshan answered, trusting his instincts and showing deep devotion.

Zhao Sheng was impressed by the man’s quick wit and ability to read the situation.

"I possess an unorthodox Longevity Technique. It does not offer true immortality, but it can grant a lifespan of ten thousand years. Is this something you desire?"

"I do desire it. I beg the Ancestor to grant me this technique."

"Even if you become something neither human nor ghost? Even if your emotions and desires are mostly extinguished? Do you still want it?" Zhao Sheng pressed.

After a brief pause, Zhao Dingshan nodded firmly. "I have considered it. No matter the price, I will not turn back."

"Excellent! I was right about you," Zhao Sheng said with an approving smile.

"This Spirit Puppet is meant to be your new body. I will fuse your Nascent Soul into its Spirit Core. You will be its soul, able to command it to destroy your foes and safeguard the Zhao Family.

The power of this puppet is equal to a Divinity Transformation True Monarch, and it functions perfectly in areas devoid of Qi. In the Tianzhu Realm, it will be truly peerless. With this puppet acting as a guardian, the Tianzhu Zhao clan will remain secure."

Zhao Dingshan’s eyes burned with excitement, wishing for the process to begin immediately.

"Do not be hasty. Go back and spend a month in purification and reflection. Use this time to decide if becoming a Spirit Puppet is truly what you want. If your resolve holds, settle your affairs and return to the Ascension Platform in one month," Zhao Sheng cautioned.

"Understood, Dingshan takes his leave!" Zhao Dingshan replied, calming his heart. He bowed deeply before departing from the Ascension Platform.

With the strength of a Divinity Transformation True Monarch and the ability to thrive in spiritless environments, the puppet was invincible in this realm. Zhao Sheng knew that with this guardian in place, his clan would be protected.

Thinking of these words, Zhao Dingshan felt a surge of anticipation, eager for the Ancestor to begin the transformation.