Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1551 - 838: Walk (Part 2)

As Zhao Sheng's eyes landed on the Broken Pen, he sensed a naive and muddled consciousness straight away.

That naive awareness resembled an infant's, reacting with warmth the very moment Zhao Sheng cast his glance upon it.

Fondness, apprehension, intrigue... endless streams of mental impulses surged back immediately, laid bare entirely 'before' Zhao Sheng.

Though joy surged through Zhao Sheng, a profound burden weighed heavily on his mind.

Even if the cause behind the Reincarnation Broken Pen's sudden shift escaped him, he recognized its unbreakable tie to the Hundred Generations Book.

Having refined his Primordial Spirit to perfection, his power had exploded dramatically, convincing him he possessed the resilience to attempt connecting with the Reincarnation Broken Pen.

Following extended preparation, Zhao Sheng's figure swelled immeasurably, his whole form glowing with Five-Colored Divine Light, shifting into a radiant colossal being.

With a single mental impulse, the Hundred Generations Book gradually dimmed its radiance, liberating the restrained Reincarnation Broken Pen.

Regaining liberty, the Broken Pen slipped from his awareness in a blink, vanishing completely.

"Not good!"

Zhao Sheng's face twisted in shock, instinctively reaching out to the Hundred Generations Book, calling upon its force to stop the Reincarnation Broken Pen from fleeing the Purple Mansion.

Yet, before the Hundred Generations Book could unleash its glow, the Reincarnation Broken Pen materialized out of nowhere right in front of him, its point nearly grazing his cheek.

Right then, the Broken Pen unleashed waves of ecstatic and thrilled mental signals.

Zhao Sheng automatically held his breath, closely examining the Broken Pen in front of him.

At that instant, the Broken Pen morphed into a beam of white light, circling his body in endless loops without pause, its mental waves sharpening while growing warmer and more deferential toward Mu Ru.

Witnessing this, Zhao Sheng let out an unexpected deep sigh of relief, gradually stretching out his right arm.

As his hand turned palm upward, the Reincarnation Broken Pen suddenly settled onto it.

The second his fingers closed around the pen's body, it felt like shouldering a massive peak, an overwhelming heaviness flooding his chest.

In the following moment, Zhao Sheng's luminous aura dimmed abruptly, and the Broken Pen within his grasp became a devouring "Black Hole."

His Mana, Primordial Spirit, Will Heart Light, and even sense of self were drawn irresistibly into the Broken Pen.

His radiant Primordial Spirit contracted swiftly in mere moments, turning hazy and ethereal, on the brink of total dissipation.

Luckily, the Broken Pen appeared to realize its serious error, quickly suppressing its abilities to prevent Zhao Sheng's deadly depletion.

In that instant, as Zhao Sheng's awareness hovered near oblivion, a vast influx rushed back, saturating his Primordial Spirit like drought-stricken soil, not just restoring its prior density but propelling it forward rapidly.

Upon snapping back to his senses, Zhao Sheng comprehended he'd nearly faced another reincarnation, gripped by intense dread.

Regarding the compliant Broken Pen nestled in his hand, Zhao Sheng brimmed with delight and wonder, momentarily unsure how to deal with it.

Just then, the Hundred Generations Book subtly emitted a wisp of arcane light.

At once, an epiphany ignited deep in Zhao Sheng's thoughts, resembling a star diving into the Heart Lake, instantly churning up innumerable "ripples."

He naturally tightened his grip on the pen's body, and right away the Hundred Generations Book emerged silently before him, its leaves parted to the opening sheet.

Compelled by a powerful urge, Zhao Sheng raised his right arm, allowing the pen's nib to drop onto the page.

Right then, every memory shard from his initial life morphed into unseen strands, fusing into the pen's tip.

In that moment, enlightened divinely, Zhao Sheng's wrist twisted lightly, directing the Broken Pen's point smoothly across the page.

One stroke,

Two strokes,

Three strokes,

...

At that point, Zhao Sheng's essence, energy, and spirit soared to a record height, while the nib glided softly, infusing Mana, Divine Thought, and Will into the pen, causing his Primordial Spirit to wane once more.

Time felt suspended, while ages appeared to sweep by.

Until his essence, energy, and spirit neared total exhaustion, barring further inscription, a profound peril erupted, jolting Zhao Sheng from his daze in alarm.

⾛

Gazing at the script upon the page, Zhao Sheng felt terror, his mind abruptly swelling with intense suspicion.

Since it formed no full symbol, just a mere component.

He meant to etch the symbol "Zhao," but sadly, his essence, energy, and spirit fell short, managing only this extent, lacking the concluding two lines.

What perplexed Zhao Sheng most was the symbol "Zhao" appearing in simplified Chinese.

After nine reincarnations, skilled in myriad dialects, why employ simplified Chinese here?

What enigma hid within? Zhao Sheng contemplated profoundly, glimpsing elusive flickers of clarity, yet failing to seize that vital spark.

The deeper he delved into thought, the more obscure the riddles loomed, heightening his confusion.

Suddenly, Zhao Sheng sensed utter frailty and helplessness, his awareness swiftly clouding until he plunged into darkness.

Once he passed out, the Broken Pen slipped free from his clasp, meekly soaring to the Hundred Generations Book's front, alighting centrally amid the sheets.

The Hundred Generations Book softly sealed its leaves, then alongside the Reincarnation Broken Pen plunged back into the profound soul sea.

...

Unclear how much time had elapsed!

Regaining awareness in a flash, Zhao Sheng endured a throbbing headache, soon sensing his body drained and feeble.

With struggle, he forced himself upright, swiftly drawing three White Jade Pill Bottles from his sleeve.

Shattering the Elixir Seal, he tilted the vial blindly, dumping the full contents of Yuxu Primordial Spirit Pills down his throat.

Repeating the process three times, three vials of Fourth-Order Treasure Pills vanished into his stomach.

At once, threads of soothing warmth spread through his limbs, rosy hues returning to Zhao Sheng's features as he began assimilating the elixir's potency.

For months to follow, he remained confined in the cave mansion, ending his seclusion only upon regaining his utmost condition.

Through this occurrence, he abruptly noticed his cultivation had surged anew, clearly advancing from the Second Level to the summit of Divinity Transformation's Sixth Layer.

This plainly revealed the potency of the Quasi-Tao Artifact!

...

As fall gave way to winter, Jiuxuan City wrapped itself in frosty veils, with snow drifting to shroud the metropolis entirely.

Where light shines brightest, shadows grow densest; across thousands of miles, Jiuxuan City concealed countless subterranean black markets.

In the seventeenth district's southeast, below an ordinary workshop, one such cultivation black market lurked.

On this day, a Young Master clad in sky-blue robes, sporting keen falcon eyes and a curved beak-like nose, stepped onto the black market thoroughfare, traversing two or three li before abruptly entering tangled byways.

Shortly thereafter, the figure halted before a plain courtyard entrance.

A prismatic shield draped the sky above the yard; upon his arrival, the barrier soundlessly parted a passage.

Jun Tianxing drew a steady breath, keeping his poise, crossed through the shield into the enclosure.

Deep within the yard, he effortlessly encountered the waiting superior.

"Subordinate Jun Tianxing greets Master!" Jun Tianxing flung open his arms, leaning his torso forward resembling a guarding fowl.

Such was the Demon Bird Clan’s distinctive salute, akin to the Human Clan Cultivators’ ritual bow.

"Rise, dispense with the ceremony!" Zhao Sheng responded coolly, utterly unmoved by the other's "probing gesture."

So long as the Five Passes Heavenly Demon Curse endured, this Roc's existence dangled at his mercy.

"Hmm, you've advanced?" Zhao Sheng eyed Jun Tianxing, querying suddenly.

Jun Tianxing conveyed appreciation, bowing at once and declaring: "Thanks to the 'Blood Nerve Scripture' bestowed by Master, I refined my lineage a century prior, thus breaking through with ease."

Zhao Sheng inclined his head: "Splendid! The Zhao Family stands firm with your presence."

Jun Tianxing perceived hidden intent but refrained from probing.

Paying no heed to the other's reflections, Zhao Sheng inquired outright: "The items I requested?"

At these words, Jun Tianxing produced a Sumeru Ring, presenting it devoutly to his lord.

Zhao Sheng extended his hand, claimed the Sumeru Ring, and dispatched his Divine Thought to scan its contents.

Beholding the bountiful valuables inside, his countenance stayed perfectly still, tranquil as a placid pool.

Jun Tianxing stole a furtive look, unease promptly churning in his heart.

"Deliver this Sumeru Ring to the Zhao Family. Give it straight to Zhao Yongxian, directing him to unlock it via Heart Blood."

Zhao Sheng withdrew a somber gray ring, lightly hurling it toward Jun Tianxing’s chest.