Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1539 - 832: Jixian Island Insights and Taking Action to Refine Treasure (2)

Zhao Sheng grasped the Dragon Scale, gave a nod to the host, and then spun around to exit the ice house.

Upon departing the ice house, he skipped the adjacent room and headed straight for the mine tunnel.

It wasn't long before Zhao Sheng navigated through the tunnel, departed from the Ice Mountain housing the workshop, and started roaming along the valley's perimeter.

During his journey, bizarre items of all sorts caught his eye, embedded beneath the icy surface.

Even deeper inside the translucent Ice Mountain lay even more ancient oddities, preserved in the depths.

One hour passed, and Zhao Sheng selected a deserted mine shaft, venturing into it.

The shaft wasn't extensive; its farthest point reached merely around twenty zhang.

Observing the numerous carving scars on the ice wall, Zhao Sheng turned his hand over, allowing a foot-long crimson short sword to drop into his grasp.

Crack!

A flash of Sword Light appeared and vanished, as the crimson short sword stabbed into the ice wall, with just two inches of its length buried.

This ice wall proved remarkably tough, surpassing his initial assumptions.

With a subtle twist of his wrist, Zhao Sheng made the crimson short sword pull free from the ice wall with ease, before it disappeared up his sleeve.

After some brief reflection, Zhao Sheng decided against carving the ice and instead pivoted to leave the mine.

He located another Ice Mountain and once more drove the sword directly into its exterior ice wall.

On this occasion, the short sword plunged much deeper into the ice wall far more readily than earlier.

Zhao Sheng gave a slight nod. As he had foreseen, the surface ice crystals were softer, while those deeper inside grew progressively tougher.

Put differently, the more ancient the ice layers, the denser they became, rendering excavation ever more challenging.

Zhao Sheng seized a fist-sized chunk of ice crystal, inspecting it meticulously.

The ice crystal gleamed with purity, yet when held, it carried no chill at all, akin to a flawless, translucent piece of superior crystal.

Bai Hemi referred to it as "Pure Water," though the odd reason for that name stayed a mystery.

Zhao Sheng mulled it over briefly, then tucked the ice crystal away into his sleeve without a second thought.

Next, he sought out a secluded spot, quietly shifting back to the Lower Realm.

...

A few days afterward.

Ku Rong Ancestor returned once more to the Heavenly Number Six Cave Mansion and effortlessly encountered Zhao Sheng, fresh from his seclusion.

They stepped into the living room, and the moment Ku Rong Ancestor settled into his seat, he promptly withdrew a hefty pile of ornate invitations and passed them along.

Zhao Sheng took hold of the invitations and started flipping through them right there.

He swiftly scanned every invitation, and true to his expectations, the treasures proposed by those issuing them were typically rarer and more valuable than previous ones.

"Brother Zhao, you really should connect with at least one! I've been rejecting wave after wave of fellow Daoists for you lately. I haven't reaped many rewards and have merely irritated several Divinity Transformation Fellow Daoists." Ku Rong Ancestor remarked with a wry grin, half in jest as he grumbled.

Zhao Sheng dismissed it with a wave, replying casually, "No rush, the moment hasn't arrived yet. I'll step in within another year or so."

As someone versed in dealings, Ku Rong Ancestor grasped the logic without issue.

Truth be told, Zhao Sheng's abrupt prominence had quietly stirred resentment among fellow Refining Masters. If he engaged too often without regard for repercussions, he'd surely draw unwanted conflicts.

Zhao Sheng remained intent only on gathering treasures, with no bandwidth for rivalries among Refining Masters.

Plus, while Ku Rong Ancestor appeared to push for more refining work, one could only wonder how thrilled he truly felt about it.

Amid fierce competition from myriad groups to enlist Master Shaoling, how could the Wanyou Trading Company stand apart?

Unable to sway him, Ku Rong Ancestor extracted a single invitation from the bunch, reverently unfolding it anew and setting it before Zhao Sheng.

"Brother Zhao, disregard all the rest, but this one demands your serious thought."

Oh?

Zhao Sheng arched his brows faintly, idly lifting the invitation and skimming the opening lines, where a prominent name immediately drew his attention.

"Qingxu Zi? Is this the famed Divinity Transformation True Monarch who ascended more than seventy years back?"

Ku Rong Ancestor whispered, "Precisely! Qingxu Zi, a loose cultivator by background, boasts exceptional aptitude and peerless Divine Skills, standing as Jiuxuan City's most celebrated independent Divinity Transformation cultivator in the past century. Whispers suggest this prodigy holds Unification potential, and upon completing a century's tenure, Red Cloud Venerable intends to accept him personally as a disciple. Thus, we cannot afford to overlook him."

Zhao Sheng kept his features composed, lightly flinging the invitation back to the table, and remarked evenly, "Very well then, I'll encounter this exceptional loose cultivator."

Delight washed over Ku Rong Ancestor, who nodded eagerly in approval while dispatching a Divine Thought outward to relay the positive update.

Mere half a day later, a youthful and striking Taoist arrived astride a cloud, promptly stepping into the Heavenly Number Six Cave Mansion amid the stunned stares of surrounding cultivators.

"Qingxu Zi?! Isn't he the Mystic Spirit Tower's Guardian? What brings him here now?"

"Oh dear, alert the Ancestors at once! Simply say Qingxu Zi is calling on Master Shaoling today. This is a major event; the Ancestors need to know without delay."

"Alas, clear the crowd. With Qingxu Zi present, our chances are gone. We'll return in six months!"

"Haha! This is bound to stir things up. Qingxu Zi was already unmatched in his level; should he gain a fitting Spiritual Treasure now, none could challenge him henceforth?"

"Couldn't agree more? We're unconcerned, but the Divinity Transformation True Monarchs in Mystic Spirit Tower must be fretting. Word is Fire Dragon Taoist plans to charge the Spirit Tower outright. Now we have a spectacle ahead. Before Golden Hook Workshop adjusts the stakes, I'm heading to wager—who joins me?"

"I'm in, I'm in!"

As they chatted, a throng of cultivators vanished from the cave mansion's vicinity.

At the same time, Zhao Sheng guided Qingxu Zi inside the cave mansion, and following brief courtesies, Qingxu Zi first offered a Sumeru Ring, handing it to Zhao Sheng.

Zhao Sheng directed a thread of Divine Thought into the Sumeru Ring, his brows lifting with a hint of astonishment in his gaze.

Beyond the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures listed in the invitation, an unexpected rarity appeared—one he'd long sought, "Ten Earthly Miasma."

"Excellent, excellent, Fellow Daoist Qingxu Zi has shown true sincerity. I'm quite satisfied. May I ask what sort of Spiritual Treasure you desire to craft?"

Hearing the question, Qingxu Zi grinned and drew forth a Golden Silk Scroll, offering it once more.

Zhao Sheng accepted the Silk Book, unfurled it, and beheld an archaic token etched with an incredibly intricate three-dimensional Tao True Text.

That Tao True Text felt deeply recognizable, matching the Thunder Dao he'd mastered in a previous life!

Zhao Sheng felt inner astonishment, then reviewed the Spiritual Text notations alongside the Golden Silk Scroll, which detailed a unique refining technique for a specific Magical Treasure.

This item was truly distinctive, its function highly specialized, suited solely for separating and diminishing Thunder Power.

Furthermore, the treasure carried a somewhat familiar title: Thunder Emperor Tribulation Order!

The instant he spotted this name, Zhao Sheng's mind flooded with memories from his Sixth Life, vividly recalling the perilous Ghost Gate escapade.

Even Qingxu Zi, ever composed, betrayed a quiver in his tone regarding his prospective Dao path: "Master Shaoling, is it possible to refine this order?"

Zhao Sheng gradually shut the Silk Book, rapped it lightly a couple of times, and stated serenely, "Indeed, it is possible!"

Ecstasy filled Qingxu Zi, who promptly brought out yet another Sumeru Ring and extended it.

Once he received the Sumeru Ring, Zhao Sheng abruptly swept his long sleeve, launching an antique, aromatic Golden Mirror that soared upward. Its surface undulated in waves, casting a subtle crimson glow.

"Follow me!" Zhao Sheng declared, rising abruptly, and soon merged into the mirror's face.

Qingxu Zi paused briefly, clenched his jaw, then abruptly ascended, darting into the mirror.

Following a spell of dizziness, Qingxu Zi regained his footing, realizing he now hovered over a volcano.

The heat here scorched intensely, the atmosphere thick with sulfurous odors.

Gazing skyward, he beheld a staggering nine "suns," each radiating dazzling brilliance and boundless Light Heat.

Qingxu Zi vaguely detected a fearsome presence emanating from those nine suns, his face paling a touch.

Just then, Zhao Sheng ascended from the volcano's depths, gesturing for him to approach.

In response, Qingxu Zi descended swiftly, trailing Zhao Sheng into the volcano's mouth one by one.