Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1485: 803: Layers of Backup Plans

It appeared that Zhao Xuanjing detected Zhao Sheng's approach, gradually lifting his eyelids, while a flicker of fighting spirit appeared in his eyes.

Before Zhao Sheng could utter a word, Zhao Xuanjing burst into sudden laughter, declaring: “Haha, your timing is perfect! Allow this old man to demonstrate a technique on you first!”

Not giving the statement time to linger, Zhao Xuanjing swept his lengthy sleeves, sending a burst of golden light shooting skyward. In a flash, it morphed into a rugged mountain peak, dominating much of the cave's overhead space. The Earth Element True Text, etched densely across the peak, radiated immense force as it plunged fiercely toward Zhao Sheng's crown.

Even prior to the descent of the mountain, an immense, hard-to-describe pressure had already wrapped around Zhao Sheng entirely, making the nearby void almost solidify.

A deafening “Boom” echoed, shattering the void bit by bit, its destructive force utterly horrifying!

Surprisingly… Zhao Sheng chose not to evade or retreat; rather, he lifted his arms grinning and charged straight into the assault.

The mountain thundered downward with a booming roar, quaking the earth and peaks throughout the whole cavern, splintering the void into myriad spatial fissures.

Still, the mountain failed to descend further; incredibly, it halted dead in the air.

At this sight, Zhao Xuanjing's grin turned rigid on his features, instantly showing a hint of surprise.

This Xuanhu Mountain had been forged by Zhao Xuanjing after pouring endless toil across millennia with a Star Core, then bolstered by a thousand layers of Gravity Law True Text. Only he truly grasped its terrifying might.

In that instant, the mountain began to rise gradually, as though something underneath was hoisting it upward!

And so it was!

Beneath the enormous Xuanhu Mountain stood a colossal figure, towering nine zhang high, sturdy like a peak, glowing with subtle golden radiance over his frame, effortlessly supporting the mountain like a simple boulder.

Zhao Xuanjing stared in complete shock, blurting: “How can raw bodily power alone hoist Xuanhu Mountain!”

Remember, he himself had trained rigorously in Body Refinement, convinced his skills matched those of top cultivators at his level.

Nevertheless, for all his impressive corporeal strength, his own body couldn't endure the casual crush of Xuanhu Mountain.

Right then, Zhao Sheng let out a mighty breath, bellowing like thunder: “Rise… Open!”

As soon as he voiced it, his form doubled in scale, gripping his fists tightly while brilliant lightning sparked from them, slamming into Xuanhu Mountain's base amid his cry.

A tremendous blast resounded, even more thunderous than the prior mountain strike.

Xuanhu Mountain shot back, tearing open the void to form a vast black “chasm” stretching beyond ten miles, unleashing boundless space-time tempests.

But moments later, Zhao Sheng swung his arms, summoning a vast lightning glow from thin air that sealed the void's “chasm” and drove back the space-time storm.

Zhao Xuanjing inhaled sharply in disbelief, swiftly deploying his Divine Thought to encase Xuanhu Mountain and stop it abruptly in the sky.

With a quick shift in his mind, Xuanhu Mountain shrank swiftly, reverting to a beam of golden light that vanished into Zhao Xuanjing's form in an instant.

Observing this, the fighting spirit in Zhao Sheng's gaze faded away, and his body returned to its usual proportions. Then, amid a streak of thunder, he dashed forward in a blink.

“Well done! This Big and Small Ruyi Immortal Skill truly stands out! Your sheer physical might makes you a legend among peers at this level. Without a mid-Integration expert stepping in, early Integration cultivators have slim odds against you!” Zhao Xuanjing scanned Zhao Sheng from head to toe, expressing admiration.

Hearing that, Zhao Sheng responded modestly: “The Taiyi Spirit Realm teems with concealed talents. Big brother, don't overlook the vast world. I hold an immortal technique, yet Taiyi Spirit Palace and fellow Immortal Sects possess their inherited methods; superiority emerges only in true clashes.”

Zhao Xuanjing agreed with a nod, adding: “That's a wise perspective. Consider the Spirit-controlling Immortal Sect, whose core text, the ‘Spirit-controlling Immortal Ascension Scripture’, ends with the chapter ‘Fetal Transformation and Shape-shifting’—a deep technique straight to the Dao. Sadly, joining midway, I may never master this immortal law!”

“Rest easy, big brother! Upon reaching Crossing Tribulation someday, the Spirit-controlling Immortal Sect will surely seek your loyalty. At that point, they'd never withhold the ‘Fetal Transformation and Shape-shifting’ chapter!” Zhao Sheng reassured.

“Crossing Tribulation? You dream boldly! But I scarcely dare to hope…” Zhao Xuanjing shook his head, his tone laced with faint self-deprecation.

“Enough of that. Did you seek out this old man today for some purpose?”

To this, Zhao Sheng replied: “To be frank with big brother, I earlier went to the Immortal Qi Lake. On the way back, I was suddenly…”

He described the ambush he faced upon returning. Next, he produced the Void Pupil Pearl and passed it along.

Furthermore, with a light brush of his palm, ripples stirred in the space ahead, revealing a strikingly realistic image of a Gun Robe Elder.

Zhao Xuanjing accepted the Void Pupil Pearl, threading a strand of Divine Thought inside as he studied the Gun Robe Elder, his face turning grave.

“Tough to tell! I've just entered Integration lately and met numerous fellow daoists, but this individual is unfamiliar, and no rumors mention him. The Void Pupil Pearl holds various items, yet nothing identifies… hold on!”

Mid-discussion, a gleam of crystal light sparked in the air, abruptly manifesting a crystalline statue of a beast-headed, human-bodied form.

Zhao Xuanjing fixed his eyes on the crystal depiction and scrutinized it intently, pondering: “This object feels familiar, as if I've encountered it before. Wait a few days patiently while I head back to the Spirit-controlling Immortal Sect to investigate.”