Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1496 - 810: Inverted Mountain

Previously on Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension...
Two months after arriving, Zhao Sheng agrees to ally with Wu Chengsi, the ambitious leader of Geng Hall, despite Chen Polu's warnings, setting the stage for unified forces among the Lower Six Courtyards. Three months later, the harsh culling begins, with non-Qi Refining disciples from Geng Ninth Room vanishing, leaving only five survivors amid improved rations and cultivation access. As alliances solidify under Wu Chengsi's command, the chubby elder announces the mandatory Magic Battle in seven days—no holds barred, with life-or-death stakes and rewards for the last standing—while a five-year deadline looms for all to reach Qi Refining Fourth Level. That night, Zhao Sheng slips away in secret, communing with a mysterious void and vanishing into the darkness.

Following a dizzying spin, the surroundings abruptly shifted.

Zhao Sheng's eyes snapped open, his face alert as he surveyed the area around him.

Before him lay a landscape strewn with jumbled boulders, and in the distance, rows of stone dwellings perched precariously on sheer cliff faces rose one after another.

Lifting his gaze higher, a colossal mountain summit loomed into sight.

In an instant, Zhao Sheng's eyes sharpened, catching sight of endless expanses of terrain stretching out.

Wait, where had the heavens gone?

Tilting his head upward to that barren quietness, expansive as an infinite desert, he verified again that solid ground hung right overhead.

Casting his eyes about, Zhao Sheng's vision cut through the rugged boulders and swiftly spotted thick blankets of somber clouds extending endlessly below the peak.

Far off, peak after massive peak hovered over those cloud banks, and directly above him sprawled more unending earth.

With one look, it appeared that the entire cosmos had been flipped on its head!

Staring at this bizarre vista unfolding ahead, Zhao Sheng found himself momentarily dazed.

Right then, a soft voice rang out from behind him: "Little brother, this must be your first visit to Inverted Mountain!"

Zhao Sheng spun around toward the sound and froze in shock.

Nothing but scattered, disordered stones filled the space—no sign of anyone.

Who had just spoken?

"Hey, that's not where I am! Look here." The voice returned, carrying a touch of annoyance.

Tracing the sound, Zhao Sheng glanced downward and spotted nearby a black boulder about the size of a person, embedded with two gem-like "Red Agates" the size of thumbs that shimmered like glowing coals.

"My apologies! My poor eyesight failed to spot you before." Zhao Sheng advanced a couple of paces, clasping his hands in respect.

"No fault of yours! Coming from the Lower Realm, little brother, it's natural you wouldn't know about us Stone Spirits." The stone shifted across the dirt, splitting into a hand-wide crack that moved like lips as it talked.

Zhao Sheng clasped his hands once more: "Greetings to the Stone Spirit elder. As a newcomer to Inverted Mountain, I don't know the local customs or restrictions. I'd be most grateful for any tips from the elder."

"Us Stone Spirits hail from Inverted Mountain and understand every inch of it. You've come to the perfect source. This place holds three major prohibitions: one, stay within the mountain bounds at all costs; two, should you meet the Cloud Sea after dark, hurry back to the Lower Realm without delay, lest disaster strike; three, avoid the summit and never try to hurt us, otherwise... heh heh!"

Zhao Sheng's eyes drifted to the Cloud Sea beyond the mountain's edge, his mind racing with ideas, before he crouched to snatch a small stone and hurl it forcefully toward the base.

The stone sailed a great distance, halting sharply as it crossed outside the mountain, then rocketed upward, aiming straight for that immense ground.

Actually, not soaring, but plummeting.

Astonishment flickered in Zhao Sheng's gaze: Ah, so Inverted Mountain earns its name not from a reversed world, but from peaks turned completely inverted.

"Heh heh, getting it now! I'm always straightforward and reliable, never one to mislead." The Stone Spirit let out a merry laugh, tumbling the stone along.

"Many thanks to elder Stone Spirit for the enlightenment!" Zhao Sheng pivoted and offered another deep bow of courtesy.

The Stone Spirit hopped nearer, declaring: "Fine, time for real talk. Got any Top-grade Spirit Stones? I can swap treasures for them."

A flicker of surprise crossed Zhao Sheng's features as he peered at the line of stone huts, spotting no movement.

"Save your effort. The area's quite empty right now, with just you being the only living soul. Oh, and about those Top-grade Spirit Stones—do you have some?"

Zhao Sheng pulled back his stare, sensing the growing push from the Void's resistance, and shook his head: "I've let the elder down; I arrived with nothing, lacking even a single Top-grade Spirit Stone, or any Spirit Stones at all."

"Oh no, I've waited ages for some life to show up, and it's a broke wanderer! How unfair is destiny?" The Stone Spirit deflated right away, its "Red Agates" losing much of their shine.

Zhao Sheng offered a faint smile: "I may be empty-handed today, but that won't last forever—resources will come. Until then, I ask the elder for more direction. What sorts of treasures does Inverted Mountain yield? Point me toward them, and I'll bring back valuables on my return to ensure I don't leave the elder wanting next time."

"Sweet promises, but who can say if or when you'll return... wait, no, come along with me."

Halfway through, the Stone Spirit collected itself and promptly leaped off in the direction of the stone houses.

Noticing this, Zhao Sheng moved ahead to trail after it.

Soon enough, the Stone Spirit arrived at a stone hut's bend, leaping up onto a stack of dark rocks reaching waist height, where it bobbed and jumped.

"These worthless iron rocks are all yours for the taking—grab what you can carry. Next visit, remember to pack Spirit Stones, preferably the finest quality."

Zhao Sheng's attention locked onto the iron pile, a brief glint of excitement sparking in his eyes.

Unless he was wrong, what they called these "worthless" iron rocks amounted to pure Ten-thousand-year-old Xuan Iron throughout.

Ten-thousand-year-old Xuan Iron ranks as a Middle Rank Heaven and Earth Strange Object, commonly employed in forging Magical Treasures. Scarce beyond measure and priceless, it rivals the Heaven and Earth True Fire of equivalent level.

Delight surged within Zhao Sheng, though his expression remained steady. He strode closer, seized a chunk of Ten-thousand-year-old Xuan Iron the size of his fist in both hands, and strained to hoist it.

To his surprise... the Ten-thousand-year-old Xuan Iron stayed rooted, its heft surpassing what he'd anticipated.

Zhao Sheng let go steadily, his gaze sweeping over the mound before fixing on a piece of Ten-thousand-year-old Xuan Iron no larger than an egg.

Now he poured every ounce of effort into it and just barely raised it, figuring its mass hit at least ten jun.

"Hey, hey, grab a bigger load! That tiny bit of iron barely fetches a handful of Spirit Stones!" Spotting this, the Stone Spirit leaped high into the air and called out insistently.