Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1506: 815: Ten Lands Zhao Clan

Within the pavilion overlooking the lake, a pair of Golden Core cultivators faced each other across a table.

Unlike the strained tension outsiders might envision, the chamber exuded a serene and relaxed vibe.

So relaxed, in fact, that the two Golden Core cultivators started a game of chess.

The board formed a square grid, etched with thirty-six intersecting lines, crowded with pieces. Black and white stones clashed like twin colossal serpents locked in fierce combat.

“Xin Jiu, sixteen spots ahead, a decisive strike!” Zhao Sheng declared with glee, indicating a spot on the board as a white stone materialized in a burst of light.

In that instant, countless surrounding white stones lit up in unison, coalescing into a single-horned white serpent that whipped its tail around, devouring more than one hundred and fifty black stones in its grasp.

A broad expanse abruptly cleared in the northwest section of the board.

Zhao Yongxian’s gaze sharpened, his fingers absentmindedly tugging at his lengthy beard while his complexion drained of color, sweat gathering thickly on his brow.

Zhao Sheng kept his poise intact, patiently anticipating his rival’s response.

The game they engaged in wasn’t the common Go from the mortal world, but rather Array Chess.

Such boards typically featured thirty-six, fifty-four, or one hundred and eight lines. The bigger the array, the more intricate the patterns and the sharply rising challenge.

Chess mirrors array formation, so Array Chess proves tough to grasp and excel at, usually favored only by Array Masters. Few among cultivators manage to pick up this strategic pursuit.

Coincidentally, Zhao Yongxian boasted deep cultivation alongside his status as an elite Array Master. Right after reaching Seven Stars Island, he detected several concealed arrays lurking nearby.

Therefore, at their first encounter, he suggested a bout of Array Chess, and Zhao Sheng accepted promptly.

As a result, the contest stretched across an entire day and night, until Zhao Yongxian’s mental stamina flagged, slipping him into a clear underdog position.

Half an hour flew by quickly.

Zhao Yongxian’s visage turned deathly pale, his garments soaked through with perspiration. After prolonged deliberation, he let out a heavy sigh and cleared all the black stones from the board.

“Ah, fellow Daoist, your array prowess runs deep beyond measure! I concede this round,” he admitted.

Zhao Sheng smiled lightly, mirroring the sweep across the board, observing as the grid and stones dissolved into streams of radiance, vanishing in a blink.

“You seem to hold third-tier proficiency. Considering your years, you could be on the verge of fourth-rank before we even began,” Zhao Sheng remarked.

Flattery delights everyone, yet raw honesty can sting the sharpest.

Zhao Yongxian took pride in his composure, but even he found the words irksome, letting out a cold huff, “Hmph, it looks like the fellow Daoist plans to confess,” he shot back.

“Confess to what?” Zhao Sheng pretended confusion, questioning right back.

“You grasp it fully in your mind—why make this old fellow spell it out?” Zhao Yongxian countered bluntly, his look brimming with assurance.

The proof stood undeniable!

Without advanced body seizing, how else could someone barely past thirty wield such advanced Array Dao expertise, let alone have attained Golden Core Realm?

Every indicator screamed that the figure across from him wasn’t truly “Zhao Ergou,” but an elder cultivator reborn via body seizing.

“This old man sticks to his birth name, Zhao Sheng. If the fellow Daoist harbors doubts, I can’t sway that,” Zhao Sheng stated nothing but facts, though his counterpart dismissed every syllable.

Zhao Yongxian’s features grew grave, declaring seriously, “Fine, I’ll take the fellow Daoist at his word. Let’s set that aside for the moment. I came here originally to… never mind, I’ll skip that too. I just have one query for the fellow Daoist. Have you ever pondered ‘recognizing your ancestors and returning to the clan’?”

Zhao Sheng shook his head, “I’ve never considered it!”

At those words, Zhao Yongxian grew urgent, pressing fervently, “Do you realize? Four centuries back, your forebears hailed from the Zhao Family’s third branch, making you a straight-line heir of our bloodline. You and I both carry the Zhao Family’s True Blood. Joining your ancestors and reentering the clan right now would bring immense celebration!”

Noting the other’s aloof stance, Zhao Yongxian pressed on, “Maybe you’re unaware. Our family holds three branches of the True Scripture, each leading straight to the God Transformation Realm. Moreover, a Nascent Soul Ancestor currently guards our Ancestral Land. With your youth and the Ancestor’s tutelage in cultivation, you might shatter through… break through… er!”

Toward the finish, Zhao Yongxian faltered and trailed off.

He abruptly recalled—the individual opposite was an ancient fiend reborn through body seizing.

It’s common knowledge that body seizing demands high-level cultivators surpassing Nascent Soul Realm.

Meaning, prior to seizing, this person’s realm had exceeded Nascent Soul at minimum, rendering their clan ancestor’s counsel redundant.

Yet it was exactly this revelation that ignited Zhao Yongxian’s zeal to enlist him even more.

Observing Zhao Sheng’s lack of reaction, Zhao Yongxian racked his brain, hunting for arguments to convince him toward “recognizing ancestors and returning to the clan.”

After brief reflection, a spark hit him, filling him with inner delight, and he blurted out excitedly, “Are you aware of the roots of the Three Extremes Zhao Family?”

“Hmm? I’d like to learn more!”

Even with his suspicions, Zhao Sheng remained intrigued by what might follow.

Zhao Yongxian launched into his tale with flair, “Our Zhao lineage has endured over three millennia, shielded across eras by Nascent Soul Ancestors. But our founding forebear was a Divinity Transformation True Monarch. Beyond that, this progenitor came from an illustrious line, hailing from the Immortal Gate’s mighty Ten Lands Zhao Family.”

“Ten Lands Zhao Family?” Zhao Sheng’s eyes gleamed as he interjected suddenly.

Assuming Zhao Sheng knew the fame of the Ten Lands Zhao Family, Zhao Yongxian’s spirits soared, and he boomed with laughter, “Yes, precisely the Ten Lands Zhao Family!”

He prepared to elaborate, but Zhao Sheng cut in, “Wait a second, why not elaborate on this Ten Lands Zhao Family.”

His eyebrows lifted faintly in quiet astonishment as he regarded Zhao Sheng, Zhao Yongxian queried, “Have you really never encountered the name ‘Ten Lands Zhao Family’?”

“This old man shuns social circles, always devoted to solitary cultivation, so I’m bound to be a bit uninformed.”

Zhao Yongxian took this in and gave a subtle nod, easing up. Since antiquity, the cultivation realm has hosted plenty of reclusive ascetics fixated on practice alone, so ignorance of the Ten Lands Zhao Family isn’t odd.

“The Four Holy Continents boast countless Spirit Domains, each sprawling endlessly. The Ten Lands Zhao Family dwells in the Ten Thousand Peak Spirit Domain, several domains distant from ours, explaining your unfamiliarity.”

Zhao Yongxian fondled his flowing beard and went on: “Spirit Domains across the Four Holy Continents abound, yet only ten Immortal Gates stand supreme. The Ten Lands Zhao Family counts among them and holds a spot in the top five. Their might defies comprehension, with Nascent Souls clustering like mist, True Monarchs scattered abundantly, and even Void Half-Immortals appearing routinely. From what I gather, the Ten Lands Zhao Family commands multiple Cave Heaven Blessed Lands. The tally of Integration Realm powerhouses remains unknown, but exceeds one for certain.”

“Our family’s forebear sprang from the Ten Lands Zhao Family, granting us a unique boon. Namely…” Zhao Yongxian trailed off on purpose, aiming to pique the listener’s interest.

Noticing the other lost in contemplation, he felt a hidden thrill and paused dramatically before revealing, “Namely… our generational Nascent Soul Ancestors can journey to the ancestral grounds in the Ten Thousand Peak Spirit Domain to honor our forebears. Should the elders there approve, one might stay on for cultivation. So… do you see, fellow Daoist?”

“I see!”

No one grasps the depths of the “Ten Lands Zhao Family” like Zhao Sheng does.

Upon catching wind of Ten Thousand Peak Spirit Domain

Still, Zhao Sheng’s thoughts strayed not to “reclaiming roots and rejoining the family”; instead, he pondered when the Divine Artisan Zhao Clan had evolved into the “Ten Lands Zhao Family.”

Besides, how much time had elapsed since his demise until this rebirth?

Did Xuan Jing endure to this day? To what height had his cultivation climbed?

Did his Five Thunders Cave Heaven persist?

In that instant, a torrent of queries flooded Zhao Sheng’s thoughts.

Zhao Yongxian watched the other stay quiet for ages and inwardly fretted, though he projected calm assurance on the surface.

Truth be told, he admired his own cunning more by the minute. Enlisting a “likely formidable” Golden Core cultivator for the clan on this trip would yield boundless gains, not just for his branch but the entire house.

Remember, the cultivator here wasn’t some average Golden Core, but a senior whose former realm stayed shrouded in mystery.

Nascent Soul Ancestor? Or maybe… a Divinity Transformation True Monarch?! Or even…

Zhao Yongxian reined in his fanciful notions; a Void Half-Immortal seizing a Five Spirit Roots mixed cultivator’s form seemed implausible.

As his mind wandered, the other’s voice broke through unexpectedly.

Zhao Yongxian perked up, tuning in eagerly, only to sink into letdown moments later.

“My regrets! I prefer roaming unbound and free, with no desire to suddenly claim ancestors. I thank you for your kind intentions, fellow Daoist, but let’s end this discussion.” Zhao Sheng’s face stayed neutral, courteously turning down the offer.

Zhao Yongxian’s brows knit at the sight, a wave of irritation rising, and he urged once more: “Fellow Daoist, weigh this carefully—what sort of chance are you forgoing?”

With that, spotting the other’s steadfastness, he couldn’t suppress a profound exasperation.

Zhao Yongxian pivoted to a compromise, counseling again: “Fellow Daoist, don’t rush to refuse. Reluctance now doesn’t bind you eternally. Here’s a thought: you could provisionally act as a Minister Elder for our clan. Henceforth, this Seven Stars Island falls under your command, fellow Daoist. Plus, you’ll draw an annual spiritual stipend of one hundred thousand Spirit Stones. How does that sound, fellow Daoist?”

Zhao Sheng paused briefly at the proposal, mulled it over, then gave a nod: “Very well!”

Witnessing the agreement at last, Zhao Yongxian brimmed with elation.

…

A full day and night elapsed.

The assembly beyond the lakeside pavilion lingered on without rest. Many had long since grown fidgety and eager.

Chen Polu alone felt dread mounting with each passing moment, his prospects looking ever bleaker.

He was just a minor Qi Refinement practitioner, yet thrust into Golden Core Master affairs; a single error might end him.

As dread gripped Chen Polu, the two Golden Core cultivators emerged from the pavilion, arms linked companionably.

At the view, the gathering swiftly offered bows and greetings.

Zhao Yongxian flicked his sleeve to raise them up and proclaimed to all that the Seven Stars Island lord had consented to become the family’s Minister Elder.

The group stirred with unexpected emotion, yet adhered to custom, offering respectful bows and honors to the fresh Minister Elder.

Zhao Sheng inclined his head faintly, accepting the sweeping salutes with grace.

In this way, the “misunderstanding” dissolved, leaving both parties thoroughly satisfied.

…

As summer wanes, autumn sweeps in, bearing chilling gusts that howl fiercely!

Off the shores of Wolong Island, verdant swells extend endlessly while grand Treasure Ships dock in succession.

Dozens of Cloud Boats already hovered amid the clear heavens.

The Water Mansion’s unveiling loomed close, drawing forces great and small from around Thousand Island Lake to Wohu Island, poised for the moment it unlocks.

Three days on, turmoil erupted across the lake, waves churning wildly to unveil a colossal whirlpool, a thousand feet wide, at the water’s heart.

A dense pillar of brilliance erupted from the vortex’s depths, lancing straight through the clouds in a flash.

Nearby Cloud Boats hastily veered away, as seven or eight grander vessels pressed onward fearlessly.

Vibrant streams of glow poured from the assorted large ships, darting into the light pillar and fading from sight.

At the same time, those aboard the lake’s Treasure Ships skimmed the waves, rushing headlong into the enormous maelstrom.