Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1354 - 729: Illegal Resident

Beyond the borders of the Taiyi Spirit Realm lies a colossal star ring of unimaginable scale. This brilliant, shimmering celestial band resembles a magnificent Milky Way, housing thousands of star continents that have served as a protective "moat" for eons.

Space is incredibly unstable at the furthest reaches of this ring. Massive spatial folds are visible to the naked eye, occasionally splitting into pitch-black rifts where chaotic space-time currents surge through the treacherous zone.

Within this perilous region sits a vast void continent spanning tens of thousands of miles. It remains firmly anchored in the central zone, seemingly unaffected by the surrounding space-time turbulence.

Upon closer inspection, this continent is a vibrant world of undulating mountain peaks, lush greenery, and teeming life.

As Zhao Sheng emerged from the dazzling brilliance of the space-time passage, his five senses and seven consciousnesses gradually returned. Opening his eyes, he found himself in the middle of a massive, flat white square. The ground beneath him was encrusted with countless iridescent Spirit Pearls, and the entire plaza was etched with complex, intricate array patterns.

Suddenly, Zhao Sheng sensed someone approaching. He turned his head and looked up, spotting a plump-faced youth clad in white robes walking toward him.

The newcomer wore a friendly smile, and while his aura was restrained, he had already attained the late-stage Divinity Transformation realm.

Haha!

A burst of jovial laughter preceded the man's words.

Stepping forward, the white-robed youth cupped his hands in a respectful greeting toward Zhao Sheng. "I am Zuo Caihe. Congratulations, fellow Daoist, on reaching perfect mastery and successfully achieving ascension to Taiyi."

"I am Fang Tianhua. Is this truly the Taiyi Spirit Realm?" Zhao Sheng asked in a measured, calm voice as he withdrew his gaze.

Zuo Caihe was briefly stunned, sensing that something was wrong. This newcomer was far too composed; he lacked the typical awe of someone who had just ascended from the lower realms.

"Daoist Fang, you are mistaken. This is the Ascension Realm, which serves only as a transit station to the Spirit Realm. Once your name, identity, and origin are recorded upon the Jade Plate, you may use the short-distance transmission array to reach the various continents of the Spirit Realm."

Zuo Caihe explained the process patiently, an octagonal Jade Plate suddenly appearing in his hand.

"Might I ask which lower realm you hail from, and what your total life span is—"

Before Zuo Caihe could finish his inquiry, the shrill tolling of a bell echoed across the square. A vast expanse of black-and-white light flickered across the ground.

Simultaneously, a supreme aura descended from the heavens, instantly blanketing the entire Ascension Square.

Zuo Caihe’s smile froze instantly. His jaw dropped, and he found himself too paralyzed by shock to speak.

"Not good!"

Zhao Sheng’s expression shifted violently as he realized he had been discovered.

Though he didn't know how he had been exposed, he did not hesitate. He decisively triggered the Time-Space Great Teleportation Divine Power, vanishing just before the overwhelming aura could pin him down.

"How... how can this be? How did he escape the Time-Space Forbidden Zone?" Zuo Caihe watched Zhao Sheng disappear into thin air, his eyes bulging with disbelief.

The Ascension Realm was a location of paramount importance, surrounded by multiple Time-Space Forbidden Zones established by True Immortals. Escape should have been impossible for anyone below the True Immortal level, unless...

Zuo Caihe began to tremble. His face turned ghostly pale and sweat poured down his brow as he forced himself to stop thinking about the implications.

At that moment, a verdant jade leaf drifted down from the sky, landing softly in Zuo Caihe’s trembling palms.

Snapping out of his daze, Zuo Caihe hurriedly gripped the leaf with both hands, bowing his head deeply, not daring to glance at the sky.

"...Keep this matter silent; act as if it never occurred, and that this person never arrived..."

A cold, detached voice rang out in his mind, vibrating through his spirit like a massive bell.

"This lower cultivator, Zuo Caihe, obeys the decree of the Immortal Venerable!" Zuo Caihe replied with utmost reverence, dropping to one knee while holding the jade leaf aloft.

As he spoke, the supreme aura vanished instantly, and the piercing bell fell silent.

Tranquility returned to the Ascension Square, leaving Zuo Caihe standing there in a stupor, feeling as though he had just experienced a dream.

...

In a distant, sprawling swamp, thick grass grew in abundance and water snakes occasionally rippled across the surface. A misty gray shroud hung over the marsh, and the damp air held a biting chill.

Zhao Sheng stood atop the water, scanning his new surroundings.

This massive wetland was saturated with incredibly rich natural spiritual energy, nearly matching the intensity of a Third-rank Spirit Vein.

The previous encounter had been far too close. Because a True Immortal had personally intervened, he hadn't had time to calculate his jump coordinates; he had simply teleported in a random direction guided by his instincts.

Fortunately, his luck held. With a single teleportation, he had successfully reached a continent within the Taiyi Spirit Realm.

Suddenly, with a loud "boom," the water’s surface erupted. A massive spray of water flew into the air as a bloody, gaping maw lunged from the depths toward Zhao Sheng’s feet.

It was a green Water Python, its body as thick as a water barrel.

Zhao Sheng had sensed the beast long ago. With a casual flick of his toe, he tapped the head of the rising serpent.

Boom~

The green Water Python disintegrated like a keg of gunpowder. The explosion ripped from its head down to its tail, spraying gore and flesh in every direction. A massive amount of blood and debris rained down, quickly staining the surrounding waters a deep crimson.

After dispatching the Water Python, Zhao Sheng did not move to leave. Instead, he turned his gaze toward the west, where the thick marsh grass was swaying violently as if caught in a powerful gale.

As the fog ahead churned, a sinister wind blew from the distance. A massive shadow moved beneath the water, parting the waves as it surged rapidly toward him.