Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1503: 813: Artifact Refining Master, Main Family Envoy, and the Land of Self-Oblivion (Part 2)

The remnants of pale golden lees, discarded as worthless after the wine-making process, now make ideal nourishment for the spiritual carp.

“Since the Island Master showed up, things on the island have improved steadily with each passing year. We've got spirit fish to enjoy, plus a Third Grade spirit field. I get to savor golden corn daily, and the spirit fish in the lake are thriving thanks to the Island Master's blessings—Second-Order ones might appear soon. I really wish this peaceful life could last forever; maybe someday, even old Han could achieve Foundation Establishment…”

Hope and delight shone on the old fisherman's face as he scattered the lees.

Buzz buzz!

Suddenly, a deep humming sound echoed from above, startling all the spiritual carp into plunging into the lake and disappearing in a flash.

The old fisherman's expression shifted dramatically; he glanced upward to spot a massive black centipede, more than three meters in length, armored completely in eerie black plating, wings spread on its back, as it coiled downward in a menacing and horrifying manner.

A figure clad in a feathered black robe stood tall atop the winged centipede—a spirited young man with striking good looks.

Trailing a few meters behind the youth was an elderly man in a dark cloak, seated cross-legged upon a coffin, radiating an icy presence.

Bang!

The old fisherman's complexion drained of color; his hand slackened, sending the wooden basin crashing down beside the boat.

“Foundation… Foundation Establishment!” The old fisherman gaped in terror, his words stumbling out, too shocked even to offer a proper bow.

The black-robed man sneered disdainfully and demanded, “Tell me, is this Seven Stars Island?”

As if jolted from a daze, the old fisherman bowed low in haste, his body shaking, “To answer the esteemed one, yes, this is Seven Stars Island.”

The black-robed man gave a curt nod, “Good. Where's the Island Master? The family's Special Envoy has arrived—inform him at once to come greet us.”

The old fisherman agreed with a nod and swiftly pulled out a Communication Spirit Talisman, dispatching a urgent alert across the island.

Moments later, a Spirit Plant Cultivator rushed over, with Zhou Chu bringing along a band of servants, all hurrying to the island's edge to receive the envoy.

Yet the Seven Stars Island Master made no appearance.

Seeing this slight, the black-robed man's temper flared; he urged his spirit centipede forward, soaring straight into the island, invading the Lakeside Pavilion to conduct a thorough sweep.

Regrettably, the pavilion stood deserted, showing no sign of Zhao Sheng.

The black-robed man's fury eased a touch; he then summoned the others for questioning, but none could reveal the Island Master's location.

Only then did the black-cloaked elder interject, “Young Master, it's wise to remain on the island for the time being. The issue of the Seven Stars Island Master's lapse can be handed off to the Foreign Affairs Hall. With the Water Mansion on the verge of surfacing, you ought to conserve your energy rather than waste it on minor annoyances.”

“Hmph, Elder Yang makes a valid point.”

Identified as Zhao Jincheng, the black-robed man hailed from the direct line of the Three Extremes Zhao Family; at merely thirty, he had forged his Foundation, earning renown among his Zhao kin—which was why he had been dispatched to Thousand Island Lake.

Once every few centuries, the Water Mansion hidden under Thousand Island Lake would surface, drawing swarms of Foundation Establishment prodigies from across the Red Cloud Spirit Domain to the lake.

Legends from antiquity described the Water Mansion as the inheritance of long-lost cultivators, brimming with endless Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, alongside the heirloom artifacts of its original master.

Were it not for the Water Mansion's creator imposing unique Prohibitions that barred any above Golden Core from access, it would have been ransacked ages ago by packs of Nascent Soul and even Divinity Transformation powerhouses.

Less than half a day after settling in the Lakeside Pavilion, the black-cloaked elder burst into Zhao Jincheng's chambers.

“Young Master, follow me at once.” The elder's gaze held grave urgency as he addressed his charge.

Catching the tension, Zhao Jincheng's sleepiness vanished; he rose sharply and inquired, “Elder Yang, what have you found?”

“You'll see when we arrive, Young Master,” the elder responded briskly.

With that, he spun on his heel and departed.

Intrigued, Zhao Jincheng trailed right after.

Soon enough, the pair hovered over an expansive spirit field, where golden radiance gleamed from below—spirit rice growing tall as trees, their heavy ears bending low, emitting a subtle golden jade glow.

“What in the world…” Zhao Jincheng extended his senses, detecting the extraordinarily dense natural spiritual energy in the vicinity, a hint of astonishment crossing his features.

“Third-tier quality! The spiritual energy density matches a Third-rank Spirit Vein. And this spirit rice in the field is exceptional—it rivals the clan's prized Red Dragon Rice without question.” The black-cloaked elder's eyes sparkled as he spoke in a hushed, serious voice.

“Let's investigate closer!”

Zhao Jincheng blurred into motion, plunging downward swiftly.

“Stop!” The elder's face twisted in alarm, crying out in warning, but he was too slow.

The instant Zhao Jincheng neared within three meters of the spirit field, a tremendous force erupted from beneath, hurling him back with explosive power.

Luckily, the Barrier's creator meant no lethal intent; otherwise, that blow alone would have pulverized Zhao Jincheng.

The black-cloaked elder dashed ahead, flicking his sleeve to unleash a gentle gust that steadied the Young Master, his own features easing somewhat.

“Young Master, a prohibition guards this spirit field. It's unwise to force entry.”

Stern-faced, Zhao Jincheng disregarded the elder's caution entirely; with a snap of his right hand, he launched several jade talismans streaking like bolts of lightning.

The jade talismans soared skyward, colliding with the unseen prohibition and bursting into brilliant electric flares.

Bang! Bang!

Without delay, countless deep blue thunderbolts, each as thick as a child's arm, hammered down with ferocious might.

High above, a flash of vivid yellow light streaked and faded, snuffing out every one of the over hundred lightning strikes in an instant.

Witnessing this, Zhao Jincheng's look shifted subtly. He cast a prolonged, intense glance at the spirit field before silently turning away and departing.

“Hold on!… We'll address this upon Zhao Sheng's return!” The black-cloaked elder stared at the Young Master's back when a resolute, remarkably composed voice suddenly sounded in his ears.

…

The soul drifted like vapor, while shadows swelled like an overwhelming wave. Time blurred into uncertainty until stars began twinkling one by one from the void's depths, their glows wavering faintly.

Passing a dull ochre “star,” Zhao Sheng's spirit wove into a slender filament, slowly linking with a “tiny star” of barely perceptible light.

This star burst with colors defying mortal comprehension; only upon contact did its true “splendor” reveal itself.

“It's you!” Emotion swelled in Zhao Sheng's heart, his will clamping onto this “radiant” star; in a blink, his form dissolved entirely from the Earth Fire Room.

The realm twisted, light and shadow flipping in an abrupt surge!

Regaining his footing and lifting his gaze, Zhao Sheng beheld jagged peaks thrusting skyward, shrouded in drifting clouds and fog.

He found himself in a barren little valley amid the range, where no grass sprouted; the soil gleamed glassy and transparent, scarred by fierce scorch marks all around.

Surveying the scene, he noted figure upon figure seated in meditation, all fixated in the same direction, their faces lost in rapt fascination.

A glint sparked in Zhao Sheng's eyes; turning his head, he discovered a sheer, polished glazed jade set into the cliff face.

Measuring over ten feet across in length and width, this jade shone mirror-smooth, faithfully mirroring the visages of all who faced it.

As his eyes locked onto the glazed jade, an odd tremor stirred within Zhao Sheng, pulling his focus inexorably; a flood of luminous visions bubbled up like an endless fountain.

At the same instant, a detached, ancient voice resounded in his consciousness: “…The path of cultivation stems from the Daoist Body, manifests through the Five Elements, blending form and spirit into one. The Five Elements—Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth—serve as the hinges of Daoist energy, drawn inward to connect heaven and earth, sustaining form and spirit to master the five quarters… Prioritize unity at the heart, harmony as the base, weaving the subtle bonds of the Five Elements in line with the Dao's essence of peace and purity…”

In that moment, Zhao Sheng seemed to lose all awareness, sinking into a cross-legged seat without thought, his features spellbound as he stared at the glazed jade.

As archaic Dao patterns slowly surfaced on the jade, Zhao Sheng lost track of time, of self, of place, plunging his spirit deep into the infinite “Dao sound” echoing through heaven and earth.

…

After an indeterminate span, as the Dao sound softly receded, Zhao Sheng gradually stirred from his reverie.

Opening his eyes, he saw walls of pristine white, the chamber thick with scorching heat that permeated every breath.

Zhao Sheng glanced around, confirming his return to the Earth Fire Room.

Hmm?

Shock etched his face then, as a rush of the purest natural spiritual energy inexplicably surged through his body.

Swiftly invoking a arcane technique, Zhao Sheng channeled the spiritual energy surge into his Core Energy Sea, distilling it into Golden Core True Essence.

By the hour's end, the energy flow halted sharply, and his cultivation had surged from Golden Core First Layer to late Golden Core Second Level, brushing the brink of Third Level.

But…

A flicker of uncertainty crossed Zhao Sheng's features; he pondered inwardly, “When exactly did I visit the Burial Immortal Ruins? Why is there no memory of it? Perhaps…”

As a realization dawned, he focused his spirit, materializing in the Purple Mansion Space to peer silently at the Endless Soul Sea below, murmuring softly, “Emerge, Hundred Generations Book!”

With the intent formed, a jade volume rose from the Soul Sea's abyss.

The volume unfurled, pages turning rapidly past eight until halting at the ninth.

As his mind steadied, a cascade of lifelike, animated visions blossomed unbidden from the empty page.

Ah, so that's the truth!