Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1392: 748: Refining Demon and the Mark

Previously on Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension...

Zhao Sheng sensed the Tribulation Demon Thought overwhelming Mountain Dragon Little Gold, whose eyes darkened as he struggled against surging animal instincts and began transforming into a massive, tentacled shadow. Zhao Xuanjing urgently warned Zhao Sheng to intervene or flee, but Zhao Sheng swiftly unleashed strands of five-colored thunder from the Five Thunder Ring, striking Little Gold and eradicating much of the corrupting gray-black light. Securing Zhao Xuanjing's distant flesh from further invasion, Zhao Sheng fully deployed the ring, forming a boiling Thunder Pool that chased the fleeing Demon Thought through Little Gold's body, though the artifact's sudden awakening intensified the drain on his mana and divine thought, threatening loss of control.

In a flash, innumerable dark demonic thoughts got wrapped up by the five-colored Thunder Light, dissolving swiftly just like snow under the sun's rays, vaporizing away...

The patches of dark blotches rapidly diminished in size, their shades lightened, until they vanished entirely.

Moments later, Little Gold shuddered violently, a fissure cracking open in its hand, expelling a faint "smoke" from within.

Mid-flight, the "smoke" contorted into a horrifying ghostly visage, letting out a chilling wail as it tried to plunge into Zhao Xuanjing's body.

"Boom!"

A barrage of intensely fierce purple lightning burst forth from his skin's surface, swallowing up the leftover "demonic thoughts" in an instant.

With its combined might of heavenly tribulation and utter annihilation, the Purple Cloud Divine Thunder left no chance for the demonic thoughts to fight back, wiping them all out into oblivion.

"Ahhh..."

The Five Thunder Ring gradually lifted upward, while Little Gold's features contorted in torment, releasing agonized shrieks that tore at the heart.

Clearly, despite its tough and sturdy hide, it barely endured the onslaught of the Five Elements Divine Thunder.

Right then, Little Gold resembled a vibrant porcupine, threads of five-colored lightning weaving in and out, its form marred by burns across the body, with certain spots charred black from the shocks.

"It hurts so much, it hurts... ah!" Little Gold wailed pitifully, tumbling across the floor.

As Zhao Sheng completely withdrew the Five Thunder Ring, a massive surge of Profound Yellow Earth Qi erupted from the cavern's base, flooding into Little Gold's frame and visibly mending its injuries.

The Mountain Dragon's fame for toughness meant it could endure even being sliced into seven or eight chunks.

Hence, such minor bodily harm meant little.

Little Gold swiftly mended itself, then leaped up from the ground with a beaming grin, darting to Zhao Sheng's side to cling to his leg and express loud gratitude.

"Hehe, I'm okay! That didn't hurt one bit earlier, honest!"

"Good that you're alright, now release me—you're nearly snapping my leg." Zhao Sheng softly ruffled Little Gold's head, replying as he turned his eyes to Zhao Xuanjing.

There, Zhao Xuanjing had shut his eyes once more, the Demon Refining Heart Fire swirling about him and seeping into his form via eyes, ears, mouth, and nose, slowly veiling his face and rendering it somewhat blurry.

"Zhao Xi, hurry and aid the master! See how he's suffering!" Little Gold's heart ached as it pleaded, shoving Zhao Sheng with hopeful eyes.

Zhao Sheng shook his head, responding steadily, "Jing Ancestor's condition differs from yours. Demonic thoughts serve as tribulations, yet they also forge strength. Surviving this trial will elevate his Dao heart and resolve to greater heights. It's vital for his path ahead in cultivation!"

Grasping the wisdom in those words, Little Gold ceased its pleas and fixed its stare on its master, gripping its fists hard.

Time raced forward, months slipping by unnoticed.

Now, no further demonic thoughts arose from Zhao Xuanjing's Primordial Spirit; his spirit had condensed into a more lifelike state than ever, akin to a True Immortal, barely separable from the real.

All at once, a thunderous "boom" resounded, and Zhao Xuanjing's primordial spirit ignited in fierce flames, a piercing wail of anguish resounding from its core.

In the blink of an eye, the wails cut off sharply, the final remnant of demonic thoughts fully purified by the Heart Fire, converted into nourishment for his practice.

Zhao Xuanjing gradually parted his eyelids, a hundred feet of Divine Light surging around him, and he murmured inevitably: "...only by grasping my own fate can I sow a Golden Lotus amid flames! At last, my Dao stands complete today!"

His words barely ended when the Primordial Spirit transformed into a rainbow streak, fusing back into his distant fleshly body.

The very next instant, Zhao Xuanjing rose gently into the air, a radiant halo manifesting behind his head.

At the halo's heart lay a Chaos Vortex, as if something stirred on the verge of breaking free.

Zhao Xuanjing's form then lowered, his feet brushing the earth lightly. As his eyes opened, a serene and innate presence emanated from him.

Witnessing this, Zhao Sheng's furrowed brow eased, a grin lit his features, and realization dawned: Jing'er has hit the pinnacle of Returning to Void, poised for the twin ordeals of the Unification Realm!

However, these dual challenges prove immensely grueling, often deemed a gauntlet of a hundred perils for one survival!

Zhao Sheng remained uncertain if Zhao Xuanjing could forge his Lifebound Cave Heaven successfully or navigate the Six-Nine Thunder Tribulation flawlessly to ascend as a supreme Unification Realm authority.

Nearby, the Mountain Dragon Little Gold's eyes bulged wide, smacking its paws in delight: "Amazing! The master has shattered his inner demons at last and advanced to the Great Perfection Realm. After nearly ten thousand years of tireless toil, the Dao Fruit ripens today!"

A faint smile crossed Zhao Xuanjing's lips at those words; he advanced with a single stride, silently reaching Zhao Sheng and offering a deep, respectful bow: "This time, I've transformed disaster into fortune, owing it mostly to your aid. Kindly receive my respects!"

Zhao Sheng refrained from helping him up, accepting the gesture without hesitation.

Zhao Xuanjing spoke the truth; his progress to this point relied heavily on Zhao Sheng's unseen labors, though he knew it not.

With the bow concluded, Zhao Sheng extended a hand to steady him, insisting repeatedly that it was unneeded!

Once Zhao Xuanjing straightened once more, his look turned grave as he unfurled his hand slowly.

From his palm, a veil of Profound Yellow Light abruptly emerged, dimly outlining a ghostly pale countenance, wavering and trembling as if a flame buffeted by gusts, teetering on extinction.

"Sigh, it appears our power fell short, missing by a mere fraction!" Zhao Sheng lamented.

He recognized immediately that the pale face formed a mark, its source plain to see.

"Don't fault yourself...it's the will of fate and destiny...no one bears the blame...yet fear holds no place in me; I suspect it won't manifest. Should it, it'll serve as a whetstone for my cultivation road." Zhao Xuanjing remarked calmly to Zhao Sheng.

"This mark lacks the strength to sway your Dao heart. Truly, a hidden boon!" Zhao Sheng breathed a soft sigh, uttering deliberately.

"The Heavenly Dao holds fifty paths, yet one slips away...who knows if this mark heralds some chance." Zhao Xuanjing mused reflectively, a trace of contemplation etching his expression.