Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1442: 781: The Victor Advances, the Loser Dies

Qi Wu Yan's eyes gleamed with excitement, and he questioned urgently, “Senior Shi? Or… portal?”

Kuimu Xiao hesitated briefly, then uttered slowly, “Por… tal!”

“This…” Qi Wu Yan's face shifted, his voice turning grave: “Senior Shi’s fate remains uncertain! I beg you, Senior Kui Mu, to try once more; we need to locate Senior Shi’s position.”

His words barely ended when Kuimu Xiao rejected outright: “No… way!”

Before Zhao Sheng or the rest could inquire, Kuimu Xiao clarified in broken phrases: “This… water… is… odd… I… can’t… endure… much… longer… escape… now!”

Qi Wu Yan heard this, his countenance growing somber, and his gaze soon shifted to Zhao Sheng.

“We shouldn’t stay here any longer; the wisest choice is to depart swiftly!” Zhao Sheng considered for a short while, then resolutely gave up on the idea of hunting for Stone Jade.

In truth, no bonds connected them before; their assembly stemmed entirely from Qi Wu Yan's initiatives. So why endanger themselves for an unfamiliar face?

Qi Wu Yan took in the words and gave a quiet nod, ceasing his pursuit of Stone Jade’s location. After all, those who court their own demise can't fault others.

Shortly after, guided by Kuimu Xiao, Zhao Sheng and Qi Wu Yan plunged deeper into the underwater depths following the vines, uncovering a “portal” at about a thousand feet below.

The portal in this spot was shadowy and lightless, utterly concealed unless one's hand brushed against it.

Awareness dawned on Zhao Sheng, filling him with relief; without Kuimu Xiao's presence, he might have overlooked this concealed gateway for ages.

Qi Wu Yan, the frailest among them, feared tarrying in Weak Water; he dashed straight through the portal upon arrival.

Zhao Sheng's eyes landed above the portal, where shockingly, a row of crimson script read: “Zhao Wuming, you’re doomed!”

“Hehe! Resorting to petty illusions once more… My destiny belongs to me, not the Heavens.”

With a scornful chuckle, Zhao Sheng parted his lips, expelling a miniature tripod.

Immediately, the tiny tripod expanded to a few feet across, its cover popped open, and vast amounts of Weak Water rushed into the Immortal Awakening Tripod.

Weak Water ranks among the rare Innate Divine Waters!

Zhao Sheng seized the chance without hesitation, collecting as much as possible.

After some time, the cover sealed shut, the Immortal Awakening Tripod diminished drastically, and in a streak of light, it returned to Zhao Sheng's mouth, vanishing from sight.

Following that, Zhao Sheng spun about, hurrying through the portal and disappearing entirely.

Witnessing the scene, Kuimu Xiao swiftly withdrew his true form, his enormous tree trunk contracting at speed, shrinking to just a few feet tall in an instant, then bolting into the portal.

Regarding Stone Jade?

Whether he lives or perishes is known only to the Heavens!

…

Merely crossing the portal, Zhao Sheng sensed an abrupt weight descending, making his frame dip faintly.

Hmm?

The instant after, while Zhao Sheng struggled to discern his environment, a crimson colossal claw emerged abruptly, slamming viciously at his skull.

A resounding crash echoed as Zhao Sheng's right fist tightened, its power smashing squarely into the claw's core.

The crimson colossal claw broke apart right away, dissolving into myriad blood rays that scattered away.

Zhao Sheng's eyes scanned around, absorbing the nearby vista.

This area was another expansive blank void, featuring portals set in the four cardinal points: southeast, northwest.

Yet, the western portal glowed with a subtle blood-red hue, matching the one Zhao Sheng had just exited.

Over the remaining two portals hovered streaks of scarlet text: “Winner advance” and “Loser cannot enter.”

Right then, Qi Wu Yan was struggling fiercely against a pair of foes.

Spotting Zhao Sheng's arrival, delight surged through him, and he yelled promptly, “Senior Zhao, strike now!”

At the call, Zhao Sheng glanced toward the far-off adversaries, then blurred forward, materializing behind a stern elder clad in blue armor with verdant locks, hoisting a fist to pound his rear.

Surprised and unprepared, the stern elder took the full blow.

Damn!

The stern elder's features twisted in alarm, a piercing ache exploding in his consciousness.

With terrific might slamming into him, the stern elder's form and Primordial Spirit turned to dust, perishing without a cry.

Meanwhile, Qi Wu Yan brandished a Green Jade Horn, from which bursts of toxic flames erupted nonstop, enveloping a wide radius around him and scarcely fending off the encroaching dark crimson blood radiance.

The dark crimson blood radiance originated from a blood-red lotus the size of a millstone, centered by a diminutive red-bearded elder merely three inches high.

The red-bearded elder possessed deep cultivation, radiating a formidable aura that dominated the whole expanse.

This figure's power was exceptional, surely surpassing the Returning to Void stage.

Noticing the new threat, the red-bearded elder's look altered faintly, abruptly directing the Blood Lotus to withdraw dozens of feet in a flash, while fixing a chilly stare on Zhao Sheng's group.

In that instant, a silhouette burst forth from the western portal.

The arrival gripped a Door Board Giant Axe, stood over three feet high with a hulking build like a peak, bore a blue visage and fangs, and sported a lone upright eye claiming half his countenance.

These striking traits were unmistakable; Zhao Sheng identified him at once as a member of the famed One-eyed Giant tribe from the realms above.

“Kill!” The One-eyed Giant bellowed with thrill upon entry, lifting his massive axe and charging at Qi Wu Yan, the closest target.

Qi Wu Yan's expression paled sharply, and without pause, he soared back, ducking instantly behind Zhao Sheng.

Zhao Sheng narrowed his eyes, his Will Field erupting, summoning a Thunder Spear from nowhere, its point aimed at the giant's solitary eye, murder intent blazing.

The following instant, the One-eyed Giant froze abruptly, bashfully dropping the axe, and gradually fell back to join the red-bearded elder.

Precisely then, Kuimu Xiao emerged through the portal as well, entering the area.

He scanned the circumstances rapidly, then aligned with Zhao Sheng and Qi Wu Yan without delay, unleashing his immense aura.

Three versus two—our side holds the edge!

After a tense standoff, the red-bearded elder felt mounting caution toward the rivals' mysterious prowess, particularly the Human Clan Cultivator gripping the Thunder Spear, who posed a grave peril.

By this point, Zhao Sheng had already exchanged countless thoughts with Qi Wu Yan and Kuimu Xiao, hatching a covert plan: steer clear of combat if feasible, probe first, then act accordingly.

“I am Tuohechi; might I ask your honorable name?”

Zhao Sheng's Will Field rippled from an incoming mental pulse, abruptly catching a neutral tone.

“I am Zhao Wuming; do you seek battle or slaughter?” Zhao Sheng replied similarly.

“Oh, what constitutes battle, and what defines slaughter?” The red-bearded elder countered swiftly, though his tone stayed flat.

Zhao Sheng sneered coldly: “Battle signifies settling victor without claiming lives. Slaughter is straightforward: victor claims all, loser perishes!”

“I suggest this; prior to clashing, shall we verify if those two portals allow passage?”

What fortune!

The red-bearded elder's suggestion matched Zhao Sheng's own design exactly.

Hence, Zhao Sheng nodded promptly, sending back: “Agreed.”

Next, he alerted Qi Wu Yan and Kuimu Xiao, who voiced no dissent.

The red-bearded elder's demeanor eased, as he turned to cue the One-eyed Giant.

The One-eyed Giant comprehended, seizing his huge axe at once and marching toward the eastern portal.

A thunderous noise rang out.

The One-eyed Giant collided with the portal, getting hurled back immediately.

Regaining his footing, he attempted once more, tumbling even more forcefully this time!

The One-eyed Giant endured the agony in fury, reluctantly testing the other portal.

Identical failure, utter frustration.

Kuimu Xiao watched closely, then imitated the attempt to breach the portal.

As anticipated, the result mirrored the prior tries.

With the ploy thwarted, the air thickened abruptly, charged with intense strain!

“You Jiu, withdraw!” The red-bearded elder shot a glance at Zhao Sheng, declaring icily.

The One-eyed Giant seized the relief, scrambling back toward the portal they had first used.

Zhao Sheng observed with icy detachment, signaling the others discreetly to restrain themselves.

True enough, that gateway proved unyielding, barring any return.

“Die!”

Observing the outcome, Zhao Sheng's eyes ignited with fierce lethal resolve, bellowing as his Thunder Spear launched forth.

Simultaneously, a barrage of Thunder Spears materialized, resembling a tempest, hurtling at the red-bearded elder and sealing every path of retreat.

Qi Wu Yan and Kuimu Xiao held off briefly, then unleashed in unison, both targeting the One-eyed Giant.

In this way, a ferocious confrontation ignited without warning!