Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1563 - 844: Nine-layered Cloud Sea Disperses, Ascension Platform Appears_2

Zhao Sheng suppressed his presence and spoke in a composed tone, "Hand over the Life Jade, and I owe the Zhao Family a favor, to be repaid a hundredfold in the future!"

"Yes, senior, I obey." Zhao Chongnan didn't dare to delay further. His right hand moved quickly across the Storage Bag on his waist, bringing forth a palm-sized, glossy yellow Life Jade into his grasp.

Zhao Sheng extended his hand to accept the Life Jade, holding it up close to inspect.

The face of the Life Jade bore an engraving of a majestic mountain peak piercing the skies. The summit stood tall like a column, climbing up to the nine tiers of clouds.

Remarkably, the bulk of the mountain was shrouded in a Cloud Sea, consisting of fully nine layers of clouds.

Zhao Sheng at once identified that this was the Heavenly Pillar Mountain, a vital pillar of the realm.

The back of the Life Jade featured a depiction of an immortal mounted on a dragon.

Upon closer look, the immortal's features and bearing matched Zhao Xuanjing precisely.

Witnessing this, Zhao Sheng inwardly criticized: "Without my repeated interventions to save the day, would the Zhao Family possess their current standing? Truly... absent me, Zhao would claim Xuanjing as their founder!"

"How does one activate this object?"

"Reporting to senior, binding this item requires three steps. First, extract a drop of Heart Blood and let it fall onto the front of the Life Jade," Zhao Chongnan explained without delay.

Following the guidance, Zhao Sheng promptly let a drop of Heart Blood fall onto the jade.

The blood droplet swiftly absorbed into the jade, which released a faint blood glow rising no more than an inch, quite subdued.

Zhao Sheng lifted his gaze to Zhao Chongnan, his questioning look clear.

"The second step requires infusing a thread of Divine Thought to refine it," Zhao Chongnan went on.

Zhao Sheng complied and then inquired, "What's the method for the third step?"

"The final step demands injecting a strand of Divine Soul into the Life Jade. This process carries immense risk and requires utmost—ugh!"

Before he could complete his sentence, Zhao Chongnan stared in astonishment as Zhao Sheng nonchalantly drew out a strand of Divine Soul and effortlessly directed it into the Life Jade.

Instantly, the blood light surged to six feet high, forming a crimson orb of light floating in the air.

Filled with dread, Zhao Chongnan hastily summoned mana to erect a Barrier nearby, aiming to conceal the spectacle from drawing attention.

In that instant, he noticed that an unseen barrier had already sealed off the area, cutting it off from the external world.

Once more, Zhao Chongnan felt stunned and couldn't help but glance around.

"How... how... is this possible!"

Zhao Sheng furrowed his brow a bit, his attention wholly on the Life Jade, unaware that Zhao Chongnan had again become unguarded.

On the front of the Life Jade, the nine-layer Cloud Sea over Heavenly Pillar Mountain began to gradually fade away.

After eons, the authentic form of Heavenly Pillar Mountain at last came into view!

Staring at Heavenly Pillar Mountain inside the jade, Zhao Sheng's expression held intricate emotions hard to read.

With the clouds parting, the top of Heavenly Pillar Mountain unveiled a pristine white platform, featuring a radiant Crystal Tower in the middle, encircled by sixty Crystal Columns—this was surely the Ascension Platform!

"This can't be real... Nine Layers of Clouds Disperse, Ascension Platform Emerges! I'm imagining it—how could the Ascension Platform—show up!" Zhao Chongnan whispered to himself, his eyes bulging, as if refusing to accept the sight.

Zhao Sheng shot him a look, then smoothly tucked the Life Jade into his sleeve, concealing its dazzling light.

"No, let me check once more! I must have... mis... seen!" Starting full of thrill, Zhao Chongnan soon wilted like a deflated sack, looking utterly downcast.

"Nine Layers of Clouds Disperse, Ascension Platform Emerges!" Zhao Sheng echoed the words, then abruptly questioned, "Old man asks you, what does this signify?"

By now, Zhao Chongnan had somewhat recovered his senses and regarded Zhao Sheng with burning zeal before beginning his account.

The nine-layer Cloud Sea, to some extent, symbolizes the pinnacle of cultivation potential one might reach.

Greater dispersal of the Cloud Sea usually points to loftier cultivation levels achievable.

Dispersal of one layer nearly matches reaching the Nascent Soul Realm.

Two layers clearing signals the potential for Divinity Transformation.

Surpassing four layers dispersed suggests a strong likelihood of attaining Returning to Void.

When all nine layers of the Cloud Sea vanish and the Ascension Platform manifests, it foretells a real shot at Crossing Tribulation and eventual Ascension.

Across endless ages, many Tribulations Crossing Venerables have arisen in the Taiyi Spirit Realm, yet those ascending in broad daylight remain exceedingly rare.

Hearing this, Zhao Sheng gave a faint nod, suddenly grasping why this man kept losing his cool.

"Absurd! A mere Life Jade deciding one's destiny? You're fooling yourself!" Zhao Sheng shook his head, utterly unmoved.

Surprisingly, Zhao Chongnan's face turned deadly serious, and he declared gravely, "Senior, don't doubt it! I don't know if you're aware this proverb came straight from the ancestor's lips. The ancestor never spoke lies; therefore, this must hold truth!"

The "ancestor" meant Zhao Xuanjing, of course.

Through vast spans of time, Zhao Clan members have come to worship the ancestor like a god.

Each utterance from him is held as sacred decree, fervently upheld by countless people.

Zhao Sheng saw no point in debating, simply flinging a Sumeru Ring his way.

"Old man doesn't accept gifts without return. Take this ring as preliminary payment. It holds useful items for your future; accept it!"

Zhao Chongnan snatched the Sumeru Ring, his face a mix of tangled feelings.

Zhao Sheng inclined his head, remarking offhandedly, "Within a hundred years at most, or ten at least. Old man will dispatch someone to deliver a hundredfold in tokens. Maybe one day, we'll cross paths again... Goodbye!"

With those words, Zhao Sheng dissolved into the breeze, leaving the cliff barren and silent, without a soul in sight.

Zhao Chongnan reflexively advanced a step, his Divine Thought sweeping over the whole cliff at once, but detected absolutely nothing.