Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1490 - 805: The Phoenix Pursues, Return to the Desolate Wall Settlement (2)

As a Guest Elder, Zhao Sheng has no choice but to offer his respects to the new Palace Master. Skipping this would prove not just terribly impolite, but also a direct slight against the Taiyi Spirit Palace, inviting grave repercussions.

After all, those "suspicions" remain nothing more than suspicions. Should he let fear grip him so tightly that he hides away at home and skips the inauguration ceremony altogether?

Should news of that spread, his hard-earned reputation from a lifetime would be completely shattered, making him a target of endless jokes from fellow daoists—a perpetual source of scorn!

He needs to attend; he absolutely must!

With that thought, Zhao Sheng's determination hardened in an instant.

...

Every flower blooms with its unique brilliance!

Meanwhile, across a full century, the Phoenix roamed the Four Holy Continents in search of the Kui Niu's location, but her efforts yielded nothing.

Out of options, she at last decided on a barren, empty plain in the Central Land of the Four Holy Continents to start her gradual setup.

After three months, the whole plain fused into a massive jade slab, its surface glossy like a mirror, etched all over with ancient symbols—some old and vague, others highly detailed and twisted, some eerie, resembling spectral talisman sketches.

On that profound night, with the moon dipped low and stars thinly scattered, darkness enveloped everything deeply.

Wearing a robe of feathers, the Phoenix positioned herself barefoot at the heart of the Great Array, then began to dance abruptly, her skirts swirling and releasing tiny sparks of fire.

Bit by bit, the myriad ancient symbols lit up, peeling away from the earth, lifting toward the heavens, and casting a gentle glow, much like a starry canopy overhead.

A timeless, expansive chant laced with arcane cadences started to resound, the ground humming in harmony:

"...鎃讙矞㸨坣䉅蔘鸻攩梕祝阿..."

No soul could tell its duration, yet abruptly the quiet night sky split apart, dropping a thread of shimmering light.

That dreamlike light drifted down, blending seamlessly into the crown of the Phoenix's head.

In a flash, the Phoenix underwent a change, her gaze turning profoundly detached, her presence otherworldly and faint, as though she belonged to another realm entirely.

She, or maybe the Divine within, clasped hands behind her, ascending leisurely into the air, surveying the lands below.

The horde of stellar glyphs trembled as one, like they had found their guide, rushing instantly toward the "Phoenix," draping over the feathered robe in thick layers of solid seals that locked away every trace of aura.

At the same time, certain highly elaborate glyphs soared upward, weaving into an unseen, ethereal shield that wrapped around the entire plain.

This plain faded from sight in the world for the moment, invisible to all save a True Immortal who might arrive.

Next, the Divine hovered motionless in the air, gazing over the earth, seemingly anticipating something...

...

Two full Jiazhi cycles (120 years) passed like a mere blink.

This particular day brought spotless skies, clear for ten thousand miles without a single cloud. Zhao Sheng at last emerged from the Five Thunders Cave Heaven, materializing high above the Wolong Mountain Range.

The instant he showed, a powerful Divine Thought burst out, sweeping across a vast area spanning tens of thousands of miles.

Having scanned the region multiple times over without spotting any oddities, he let out a long breath of relief.

"Good thing it was just my imagination from before?" Zhao Sheng's features softened a bit as he mulled it over quietly.

Right as he prepared to teleport off, the space ahead tore open, revealing a red-clad woman, barefoot and masked, stepping through.

Spotting her, Zhao Sheng's expression twisted in shock, and he reflexively triggered Space-Time Teleportation, blinking out of existence.

But the very next instant, he tumbled out from the void with a heavy thud, his face ashen with hopelessness.

Without his knowledge, the surrounding space-time had been locked by some unfathomable power; his escape attempt slammed straight into an unyielding barrier.

"Phoenix?!" Zhao Sheng stared into those unyielding eyes, his spirits plummeting, as he ventured the question.

Boom!

His words barely left his mouth when thunder crashed across the heavens, dark clouds materializing in droves, rapidly blanketing the firmament and plunging the once-bright sky into nighttime gloom.

A colossal, almighty, terrifying pressure seeped from the cloud depths, stirring the world briefly, like Heaven itself sensed a forbidden being and readied its furious lightning.

Hm!

The Phoenix shot a sharp look at the Tribulation Cloud, her eyes flashing with intensity, but a faint, chilling huff escaped her, and her detachment melted away at once, her gaze sparkling back to life.

Zhao Sheng caught that odd shift clearly, his heart racing, and he fired off Space-Time Teleportation again in his mind.

Swish!

His form blurred and vanished into nothingness.

The Phoenix, freshly clear-headed, watched the "prey" slip free once more, a spark of fury igniting in her eyes.

A flicker of flame rose and faded, and she was already in pursuit.

...

Divine Palace Heaven

Zhao Sheng poured everything into fleeing, jumping a hundred Constant Years to land in a pitch-black void.

Yet before he could even relax, the Phoenix materialized close by, staring at him blankly, sending a Divine Thought right away.

"Escape from me is impossible—"

Shaken, Zhao Sheng bolted without hesitation.

Another hundred Constant Years leaped by, bringing him to a new spot, but the Phoenix trailed right behind, offering no break.

Trapped with nowhere to go, Zhao Sheng's heart dropped.

Whew~

He drew in a slow breath, lightning crackling around him, his face hardening with resolve. Lifting his right hand, the Five Thunder Ring quivered faintly, stirring from its slumber, releasing subtle rays of five-hued thunder.

No way out? Then it's time for battle!

A flicker of astonishment crossed the Phoenix's eyes at the sight of the Five Thunder Ring, clearly aware of its exceptional origins.

"Kui Niu, so you're pinning your hopes on this damaged Immortal Artifact. Were it whole, even I might back off. But as it stands, ruined and weakened, why should I dread a mere remnant? And do you really wish for your own end?" The Phoenix's stare intensified, as a massive fiery bird phantom rose behind her, radiating an immense, regal, devouring force of ruin.

Hearing that, Zhao Sheng felt a stir inside, the Five Thunder Ring's glow faded, and he responded gravely: "Phoenix, there's no grudge or hatred between us—why keep attacking me? And now you've chased me all the way to the Taiyi Spirit Realm?"

The Phoenix sneered: "Kui Niu, still pretending ignorance! You've got two paths now: first, give up and return with me to the Desolate Wall Settlement to face our lord's judgment. Second, I'll drag you there myself. What's your pick?"

As she spoke, the flame-wreathed bird stretched its wings wide, endless fire erupting from nowhere to engulf billions of miles of space-time.

Those words hit Zhao Sheng like a revelation—the foe didn't aim to slay him but to haul him back to the Desolate Wall Settlement.

That realization brought secret relief, and he promptly bowed his hands: "I'll come along with you."

Truth be told, even armed with the Five Thunder Ring, he stood no chance against a Tribulation Crossing Venerable.

After all, beyond the Unification Realm, a Cultivator's power isn't judged just by Mana, Divine Thought, Will, or the might of Divine Skills alone, but by the "capacity" of their Grotto Heaven.

A Grotto Heaven mirrors a Cultivator's grasp of the Daoist Laws; typically, the larger its "capacity," the richer and more layered the laws within, boosting the core strength accordingly!

Picture an Integration Realm's Grotto Heaven as a mere planet, while a Tribulation Crossing Venerable's is like a blazing Great Sun, dwarfing it entirely.

The Phoenix showed no shock at Kui Niu's yielding; the gap between Tribulation Crossing and Integration Realm is vast as sky and soil—only a madman would risk death over it.

The Phoenix inclined her head: "Fine! Our lord tires of waiting. I'll bring you back now."

With those words, she flicked her long sleeve, and the Phoenix Dharma Aspect blazed brightly, shifting into a deep gray-white whirlpool.

Just then, the Phoenix's look grew icy, fixing straight on Zhao Sheng.

Zhao Sheng quivered inwardly but moved ahead without pause, stepping into the gray-white whirlpool.

Seeing him enter, the Phoenix's eyes gleamed, and her form dissolved into the vortex.

After a wild spin of the cosmos.

Zhao Sheng found himself on a broad avenue, intricate Array Patterns etched densely into the pavement, lined with aged, crumbling shops that stood empty and forlorn.

Around him, the people passing by looked odd and peculiar, yet each carried deep secrets, radiating a thick air of killing intent.