Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1430: 771: Does the Tao Distinguish Between Good and Evil?
Previously on Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension...
In the heart of the Bitter Prison, an endless chant reverberated, holy and mysterious beyond comprehension.
Zhao Sheng gradually appeared, his eyes abruptly locking onto the figure seated in meditation, back to the entrance.
The meditating individual detected the presence, causing the chant to halt suddenly.
“Father, you have returned.”
Following a prolonged quiet, the Red Dragon Son at last uttered words, his tone devoid of joy or grief, remarkably composed.
Zhao Sheng let out a soft sigh, “Silly boy, from times immemorial, the righteous and the demonic have never coexisted; it's still not too late for you to repent!”
“What constitutes righteousness? What defines the demonic? Within the myriad paths of existence, do true divides between righteous and demonic truly exist? The error lies not with your son, but with father's profound limitations in understanding.”
With those words, the Red Dragon Son gradually pivoted, at last confronting his “father” directly.
Zhao Sheng regarded that strikingly familiar visage, and a heavy weight settled in his chest.
What an odd countenance! The left side bore a dignified air like that of an enlightened sage, whereas the right side perpetually grinned, a chilling and haughty smirk, full of smug assurance.
The Red Dragon Son appeared unaware of any abnormality, his stare serene like still water, undisturbed.
What incredible technique!
Through Zhao Sheng’s discerning vision, he instantly recognized that his son’s essence and practice had attained a deeply advanced state, surpassing the capabilities of typical cultivators.
Shock and fury gripped Zhao Sheng, intensifying his loathing for the Great Freedom Heavenly Demon Path.
After all, the Red Dragon Son represented his sole heir, now twisted into this half-mortal, half-spectral form. How could this fail to shatter his heart!
“Hong’er, for this so-called Great Freedom, would you truly cast aside family and blood ties, severing every bond?” Zhao Sheng advanced, urging with deep sincerity yet again.
“Father, you're mistaken once more; your son harbors no lack of emotion or essence, but has achieved profound enlightenment. This Great Freedom signifies ultimate release. The myriad laws of the realm morph into something anew. This transformation isn't escape from the world, but elevation beyond it while remaining within. To navigate the world unhindered; to alter within the world, untouched by its essence. Thus, such transformation ultimately yields true liberation.” The Red Dragon Son elaborated his path of cultivation with growing gravity and conviction.
“…Upon my ascension to the Dao, I shall liberate my wife, children, and kin from the ocean of mortal woes, encompassing you as well, father.”
Zhao Sheng, upon absorbing these words, deemed them completely absurd and couldn't suppress a thunderous outburst, “Rubbish, complete rubbish! Hong’er, if you persist in this stubbornness, don't fault your father for intervening. Once I uproot your demonic core and cleanse your mind, you'll undoubtedly thank me for today's actions.”
As he declared this, Zhao Sheng materialized before the Red Dragon Son in a flash, his right palm descending upon the Red Dragon Son’s crown with blinding swiftness, and instantly, bolts of thunder erupted from his hand, threads of Exorcism Divine Thunder writhing like serpents, burrowing into his senses and apertures as if alive.
In a flash, thunderous radiance engulfed the Red Dragon Son, his form seeming to radiate light, brightening the shadowy confines.
Simultaneously, Zhao Sheng’s divine sense unleashed at full intensity, morphing into a raging flood that surged toward the Red Dragon Son’s forehead at the Purple Mansion, swiftly forming into chains of five hues, which bound the Red Dragon Son’s primordial spirit in an instant.
“…Om Ma Ni Pad Me Hum… Silly boy, haven't you awakened yet?”
“…Gate gate, pāragate, pārasaṃgate, bodhi svāhā… Red Dragon Son, awaken at once!”
Over the Purple Mansion Soul Sea, Dao chants boomed like thunder across the Purple Mansion, while the soul sea beneath churned with massive billows.
Yet, the nine-inch Nascent Soul form of the Red Dragon Son, eyes shut tight, began intoning the Great Freedom Heart Sutra: “All beings possess self-nature. The self-nature is originally empty, without…”
The intonation, faint and barely audible, persisted without end, mirroring the Red Dragon Son’s unyielding “devotion to the Dao.”
Much later, Zhao Sheng gradually retracted his right palm, his face etched with unusual gloom.
He had been unsuccessful!
Even employing his utmost abilities, he failed to sway the Red Dragon Son’s commitment to the Dao.
Zhao Sheng’s eyes settled on his son, noting the growing determination in his gaze, and he couldn't help releasing a deep sigh: “Alas, foolish boy, foolish boy, you… look after yourself!”
With that, Zhao Sheng spun and departed through the entrance, his figure carrying a touch of loneliness.
…
The reappearance of Ancestor Xi surely stirred a massive commotion throughout the Zhao family.
Thus, as Zhao Sheng entered the Bitter Prison, the attending Zhao Family Elders wasted no time in broadcasting the intelligence worldwide.
Within mere half an hour, the whole Zhao Family buzzed with excitement.
Likewise, upon getting wind of this bombshell report, Zhao Family disciples scattered across distant regions of Tian Nan hurried back to the clan home at top speed.
Longshan City lay nearest to the Wolong Mountain Range, and news of this prompted the Golden Core and Nascent Soul experts of the Zhao clan there to race to Dragon Head Peak on the same day.
For hundreds of years, the clan at last encountered a fresh pivotal moment.
Ancestor Xi’s comeback could represent a vital chance for the clan to convert peril into security.
Indeed, ever since the revelation of the Ancestor’s shattered cultivation, the Divine Artisan Zhao Clan had endured relentless downturns year by year. Their territorial sway had contracted time and again, with even Yellow Wind Immortal City clinging by a thread.
Zhao Xiandu, in urgent consultation with the other two clan True Monarchs, resolved to organize a lavish ceremony to commemorate Ancestor Xi’s triumphant return.
Notably, the Divine Artisan Zhao Clan once boasted three Divinity Transformation True Monarchs: besides Zhao Xiandu’s recent breakthrough to Divinity Transformation, there stood the veteran True Monarch of the Xuan Generation, Zhao Xuanji.
The final one, famously dubbed the “Yao Yue Fairy,” was Zhao San Yue.
Owing to her extraordinarily potent strength, unmatched among peers, her renown echoed across vast expanses, celebrated throughout much of the Four Holy Spirit Continent.
The Divine Artisan Zhao Clan’s endurance during its slump hinged largely on the legendary prestige of Yao Yue Fairy.
After departing the Bitter Prison, Zhao Sheng promptly called for Zhao Xiandu to probe the clan’s condition and the key occurrences in the Taiyi Spirit Realm across the ages, naturally including details on the Great Freedom Heavenly Demon Path.
Zhao Xiandu arrived prepared, swiftly offering a Jade Scroll brimming with reports for Ancestor Xi’s perusal.
Zhao Sheng gave an approving nod before channeling his divine sense into the Jade Scroll.
After several breaths, he raised his head once more, his countenance layered with intricate emotions.
In the past few centuries, the Taiyi Spirit Realm had faced nonstop upheavals, not quite chaotic to the core, yet undeniably an era of strife.
While the alliance between the Red Eyebrow Demon Path and the Alien Demon Clan posed a persistent danger, against the backdrop of the Star River grand clash that imperiled the Human Clan’s destiny, it amounted to a trivial concern at best.
Nevertheless, Zhao Sheng paid no heed to those “epic tales,” focusing solely on the clan’s roots and the individuals or affairs he held dear.
“What… you mentioned Ancestor Jing suffered grave wounds and ruined cultivation, is that accurate?” Zhao Sheng expressed profound astonishment, inadvertently letting a trace of his aura slip.
Zhao Xiandu felt a profound tremor, somewhat cowed by his ancestor’s presence, but pressed on to clarify: “To Ancestor Xi, this came straight from the Seventh Ancestor himself; it ought to… hold true.”
The referenced Seventh Ancestor was the Mountain Dragon Little Gold, who fancied the title Xiao Qi, leading the Zhao Family to honor him as “Seventh Ancestor.”
Hmm?
At this revelation, a spark of insight ignited in Zhao Sheng’s thoughts, as though he seized upon a clue. He inquired further, “Since Ancestor Jing’s injury, has anyone laid eyes on him in person?”
Zhao Xiandu shook his head, replying with utmost sincerity: “Never. Yet, following the Ancestor’s cultivation collapse, he met with just one individual face-to-face. That was Zhao San Yue.”
“Oh?!”
Hearing this, Zhao Sheng grew convinced of hidden depths to the story and forthwith directed, “Where is San Yue at present? Summon her to me without delay.”
Observing this, Zhao Xiandu nodded swiftly in assent, then retrieved the Communication Jade to transmit Ancestor Xi’s supreme command.
Astonishingly, within under half an hour, Zhao San Yue had reached the cave mansion’s exterior, seeking an audience with Ancestor Xi.
She entered the cave mansion promptly and lingered there for quite some time, eventually exiting with poise, her demeanor serene.