Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1422: 763: Return to the Endless Tower, A Hefty Bounty! (Part 2)
Though Zhao Sheng's teasing of Wu Yue carried good intentions, he worried that Wu Yue could disrupt the Summoning Ceremony partway through, so he chose his words carefully to soothe him beforehand.
Wu Yue's failure to access the Space Immortal Heaven stemmed from his own problems, leaving no fault on Zhao Sheng's side.
Right after Zhao Sheng stepped into the Space Immortal Heaven, only moments later, the demon fog blanketing the world came to a sudden halt. In the next instant, a massive face featuring sharp ears and simian features, resembling a Thunder God Face, formed high in the distant sky. Blazing crimson fury shot from its eyes.
Wu Yue's form went rigid all at once, and he lifted his head gradually to stare at the heavens, his complexion draining to a ghostly white in a flash.
The instant he tried to trigger self-detonation, the space around him hardened without warning, and mighty Laws of immense power flooded into him forcefully, sealing his Primordial Spirit and every bit of his Mana right away.
His self-detonation attempt was thwarted! Despair overwhelmed Wu Yue completely, and a savage, vicious roar boomed inside his thoughts: “Where’s the other ant? Quickly! Where did he go?”
His skull throbbing in agony, Wu Yue fought to stay aware and yelled: “He, he—”
But before the words could fully escape, an overwhelmingly wicked Will barged into his Primordial Spirit with brutal force, shattering all his defenses immediately.
Moments later, a deafening bellow shook the skies and lands: “Damn ants! No matter where you hide, you won’t escape My Demon Empire’s grasp in the end!”
…
Endless Tower,
On a hallway within one of its floors, a burst of radiance flared up, and Zhao Sheng appeared out of nowhere.
Even before his feet touched down, his Will Field expanded outward dramatically, covering dozens of miles in the blink of an eye.
The lively Human Clan Market went quiet instantly, as all eyes turned toward the majestic Zhao Sheng, filled with awe, respect, and jealousy.
Zhao Sheng's eyes scanned the gathering slowly, then shifted past the Endless Corridor to where the immense White Tower pierced the clouds, glowing with the same brilliant radiance it had held for ages untold.
He pushed down the excitement bubbling inside him, pulled his gaze from the Sky Tower, steadied his breathing, and moved into the market area.
As he went by, the people cleared a path on both sides, stepping back willingly to let him through.
His face showing no emotion, Zhao Sheng strode by one stall after another, paying no mind to the array of valuables laid out or the admiring looks from the crowd.
A handful of breaths passed, and he halted before the biggest stall there.
“Senior, take a look—” the stall owner started with a sycophantic grin, but Zhao Sheng cut him off sharply: “Step aside, I’m taking over this spot!”
The owner's expression shifted, and he scrambled to gather his goods, bowing his head over and over: “Of course, of course, I’ll clear out immediately!”
In short order, the stall owner bundled up items taller than his own height and rushed to the market's side to reopen his setup.
Zhao Sheng's features stayed neutral as he went to the middle of the open space. With a turn of his palm, a crimson banner towering several zhang emerged in his grasp, a Magical Treasure known as the Ghost God Banner.
Bang!
He seized the flagpole and drove it down hard into the ground, sinking its base firmly into the floorboards beneath. In this way, the flag rose tall in the market's heart.
Letting go with his right hand, Zhao Sheng pressed together his index and middle fingers to inscribe rapidly across the flag's fabric.
Spiritual characters the size of fists soon materialized for all to see: “Heavy Treasure Reward: Techniques to escape or kill a Unification Realm cultivator… If accepted, a generous reward shall be given!”
Once the final stroke was done, the flag lifted proudly, its spiritual script sending out a distinct Will Wave that gradually covered the whole market, making it impossible to overlook.
Anyone stepping into the area would spot this prominent flag first thing.
Zhao Sheng pulled back to glance over the flag's message once more, gave a small nod, and then flicked his wrist casually.
Clatter!
A torrent of odd artifacts, jade slips for cultivation methods, and Dao Pill items poured down like a cascade, quickly piling into a modest hill.
The Pocket World Jade sat within the heap, though it wasn't the standout piece, surrounded by even rarer and more valuable items aplenty!
The market's cultivators stared in shock at such an extravagant pile, their thoughts swirling with covetous hunger and longing.
Zhao Sheng ignored the onlookers entirely, shutting his eyes and settling into a cross-legged position, ready for fate to bring the right person while he mulled over ideas quietly.
After all, staying in the Endless Tower indefinitely wasn't an option—he'd have to “return” to the Lower Realm sooner or later.
If he failed to devise an escape plan before the repulsion hit, the fallout would be too dire to fathom!
Yet Zhao Sheng held one last secret weapon, which he'd only unleash in total desperation, since its repercussions lay far beyond what he could predict.
Not much time elapsed before a bold elder clad in yellow robes drew near, asking about the details with care.
Zhao Sheng's eyes opened, and he sent a private message detailing his dire situation to the man.
Having heard it out, the elder's thick brows furrowed deeply, and after deep, troubled thought, he regretfully confessed his inability to help and begged pardon.
Zhao Sheng hadn't pinned high hopes on him, so he felt no resentment, simply motioning for the elder to depart without delay.
The elder, tension easing, offered a hasty bow and swiftly “logged off.”
This sight encouraged others, drawing more to step up and ask.
With steady patience, Zhao Sheng shared his troubles again and again.
Most who heard shook off their optimism fast and walked away let down.
Still, a few sharp-minded folks dashed back to the Lower Realm right away, seeking advice from their sect or family seniors on possible fixes.
This outcome was exactly what Zhao Sheng had counted on, as he'd foreseen such reactions long before!
One Immortal Ruin, a fleeting moment!
The Human Clan Cultivators in the market cycled through, but none provided even a halfway decent answer.
With that in view, Zhao Sheng swept his hand to store the treasure mound back into the Sumeru Space, then made for the stairs.
In a flash, he climbed the steps, heading to other spots where Immortal Ruins Guests congregated.
The reward flag, however, stayed planted in the market's core, catching the eye of every Immortal Ruins Guest who passed.
For more than a dozen Immortal Ruins, Zhao Sheng checked out all the assembly points he knew of, from Three Demons Square to the Flame People, Cold Ice Demons, and various Alien Race Markets.
At every market, he planted a reward flag and lingered from half an Immortal Ruin up to a whole one.
As moments ticked by, word of the bounty raced through the key gathering spots, its reach exploding across All Heavens and Myriads of Worlds via the tales of Immortal Ruins Guests.
Some Immortal Ruins Guests stuck in the Constant Sand World lacked the means to act, but those in great Spirit Realms wielded vast connections and sway thanks to their unique roles!
Via their stories, many Unification Realm Great Powers and even Tribulation Crossing Venerables across different Spirit Realms learned of this “strange affair.”
A “day” inside the Space Immortal Heaven often stretched to months or far more in the Lower Realm.
Owing to varying time flows and world levels, one Immortal Ruin translated to anywhere from months to years in Lower Realm terms, though it usually fell in that span.
Zhao Sheng's stay in the Endless Tower spanned over a dozen Immortal Ruins, which added up to nearly ten full years in the Lower Realm.
This lengthy stretch allowed the news to circulate broadly, giving ample time to await the “answer” he so desperately needed.
Astonishingly, the first to respond came from an “old acquaintance” among the demons.
The arrival featured a bald head and wide eyes, topped with a horn on his nose—he hailed from the Pi Xi Clan, known as Qi Wu Yan.
Back when they first met, their cultivation levels matched closely. Yet now, Zhao Sheng had advanced to a “lofty” stage in Late-stage Returning to Void.
Meanwhile, Qi Wu Yan had only just surpassed the Demon King barrier, scraping into the Demon Emperor Realm at last.
So during their meeting again, Qi Wu Yan showed clear discomfort, his words carrying a hint of distance mixed with respect.