Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1438: 778: Forming a Benevolent Connection

“This… what is this?”

Zhao Sheng drew nearer to the stone pavilion in front, his inner shock growing stronger by the moment, for the structure in his sight was expanding swiftly and looked even more timeless.

Once inside the pavilion, the eight-sided stone edifice had transformed into something as vast and eternal as an imperial palace. Every part—the stone table, the columns, the balustrades, the floor tiles—radiated an ineffable essence of the Dao.

Right then, the immortal-like Taoist loomed as tall as a towering peak, but to Zhao Sheng's senses, the figure possessed no spiritual power and seemed utterly mundane, like any common person.

No, that couldn't be accurate!

Rather than the surroundings "growing larger," it was he himself who had unwittingly "shrunk."

This realization hit Zhao Sheng like a bolt, filling him with terror as he halted abruptly. Fierce lightning suddenly wrapped around him, erupting into vivid, scorching fires.

Noticing this, the elderly Taoist spoke softly, “Young friend, there's no need to fear. Had I harbored ill will, I could have ended your life the instant you entered Divine Palace Heaven. Why would I delay until now, just to draw you into this pavilion for conversation?”

These words stunned Zhao Sheng at first, but then he let out a quiet breath of relief, his guard easing considerably.

He saw that despite the enigmatic and profound nature of the man across from him, there was truly no hint of hostility.

Putting aside his worries, Zhao Sheng strode forward confidently to the stone table and eased himself into a seat.

Yet it was only now that he noticed the oddity; the oppressive weight that had been everywhere before had inexplicably disappeared.

Startled inwardly, Zhao Sheng glanced at the elder Taoist seated opposite and ventured, “Junior Zhao Xi, might I inquire about senior's honorable name? What brings senior to summon me here?”

“I am Wu, given name Hua. I've been waiting here today just for you, with no other motive than to establish a positive affinity.”

Zhao Sheng jolted in surprise once more and quickly followed up, “My visit to Divine Palace Heaven was a spontaneous decision. How did senior foresee it?”

The elder Taoist Wu Hua replied with a smile, “You might not realize, young friend, but from the second you ascended from the lower realm into Divine Palace Heaven, the Celestial Star Battle Formation had already locked onto your position. I was guarding the closest node at the time. Observing your bold approach, I decided to greet you myself—to build that good connection and offer some advice.

Without it, had you blundered ahead blindly and stumbled into the Celestial Star Battle Formation, your life would have been lost for nothing.”

A chill ran through Zhao Sheng at these words. He ought to have known better; Divine Palace Heaven wasn't some "wild frontier" without rules.

At minimum, across the Taiyi Spirit Realm's domains—from Dark Sky to Longevity Heaven—there were bound to be endless restrictions, arrays, shields, and defenses, both overt and covert. These served not only to ward off assaults from the Void Realm but also to curb chaos from powerful locals.

Looking back on his earlier rash moves, Zhao Sheng broke into a cold sweat and couldn't help feeling grateful for his fortune.

“Many thanks for the caution, senior! This junior is deeply appreciative.” Grasping the seriousness, Zhao Sheng rose swiftly and offered a profound bow to the elder Taoist.

“Take a seat at once! It's a trivial thing, young friend; no need to fuss.” The elder Taoist Wu Hua motioned for Zhao Sheng to resume his place while adding, “Over the last few centuries, Divine Palace Heaven has been far from peaceful, with Alien Demons slipping close time and again, always scheming to breach the lower realm. I've slain plenty, yet they keep coming; now and then, one slips away. It's quite the headache.”

Light dawned on Zhao Sheng, and he mused, “The hidden conflict between the two races has never truly ceased, with the front lines extending all the way to Divine Palace Heaven. A clash with an Alien Demon foe could erupt anytime.”

With that in mind, Zhao Sheng respectfully asked the elder Taoist for pointers.

The elder Taoist Wu Hua, maintaining his amiable demeanor, took time to describe key safety measures for journeying through Divine Palace Heaven and shared a wealth of "examples."

Among them were tales of Alien Demons masquerading as Human Clan Cultivators to waylay prominent Human Clan experts, along with accounts of various Human Clan experts delving into "Cave Heaven Ruins."

Through this guidance, Zhao Sheng's grasp of Divine Palace Heaven sharpened immensely, heading off numerous potential dangers beforehand.

What they called forging a benevolent tie was simply the elder sharing hard-earned knowledge and warnings with the newcomer.

Zhao Sheng naturally welcomed it with open arms.

After about half a day, when it seemed there was no more to discuss, the elder Taoist Wu Hua indicated the stone table and remarked, “This is the All Sky Star Map, crafted especially for you, young friend. Accept it; there's no reason to refuse.”

Zhao Sheng peered down at this and felt a surge of astonishment. The once-barren surface of the table now displayed a enigmatic scroll.

At its heart, myriad stars dotted the vast blackness of space in diverse zones, shifting gradually along some cryptic rhythm.

Stellar paths wove together without pause, building up an extraordinarily intricate 3D star chart, every bit as elaborate as the Dao True Text.

Moreover, around those paths, innumerable "light spots" gleamed in shades from faint to brilliant, hues ranging wildly, strewn everywhere.

As Zhao Sheng directed his Divine Thought toward one, a particular "light spot" ballooned enormously; a shimmering, radiant "lake" materialized in his mind, rendered with stunning realism down to the finest detail.

Shifting his Divine Thought to another "light spot," it morphed into a tiny landscape spanning hundreds of miles, littered with dilapidated structures and shattered remnants, hinting at yet another forgotten site.

Overwhelmed with awe, Zhao Sheng let his Divine Thought roam across countless such spots in an instant, uncovering bizarre and marvelous vistas that deepened his wonder.

In the end, down in the scroll's lower left corner, a pristine white light spot pulsed steadily, standing out sharply amid the gloom.

He knew right away that this spot marked his own location.

Though he couldn't fathom why the elder Taoist offered this artwork, Zhao Sheng recognized its priceless worth.

He wanted to turn it down, but the refusal stuck in his throat.

After all, such a treasure was far too vital for his path.

After much inner debate, Zhao Sheng lifted his gaze to the elder Taoist, who met it with a quiet smile, sparking an idea.

“Given senior's generous favor, how could this junior decline? I gratefully accept the scroll and vow to return the kindness someday.” A faint smile crossed Zhao Sheng's face as he claimed the scroll without reserve, then cupped his hands in thanks to the elder Taoist.

“Such politeness isn't necessary, young friend. Long ago, when I first arrived in Divine Palace Heaven, a senior extended the same courtesy to me. Today, I'm just passing it on; it's no big deal.” The elder Taoist dismissed it with a wave, his tone casual and relaxed.

With that, the elder Taoist produced yet another scroll from his sleeve and passed it over, adding, “This is a work I created over millennia ago but never put to use. Now seems as good a time as any to hand it to you. It holds further secrets, which you can uncover once you're back in the lower realm.”

Zhao Sheng received the scroll promptly, thanking him once more.