Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension

Chapter 1737 - 931: Tribulation Exhausted, Dao Attained, Sweet Rain Descends from Heaven

Amidst the joyful conversation between the Painting Saint, Zhao Xuanjing, and Zhao Sheng, a six-tusked white elephant, its entire body gleaming white like jade, suddenly stepped forth from the darkness.

The six-tusked white elephant had a body as massive as a mountain, able to step across billions of miles of the void in a single stride.

Zhao Sheng and his two companions noticed the appearance of this elephant and raised their gaze to look beyond.

On the back of this six-tusked white elephant, there sat a plump old monk, bare-chested and exuding an aura of benevolence and kindness.

The old monk wore a loose robe, the kindness and amiability of his smile giving him an air of unrestrained freedom and optimism.

"Oh, it turns out... Little White Elephant Monk has arrived. What a rarity!" The Painting Saint squinted slightly and suddenly teased.

As he spoke, the six-tusked white elephant was already approaching, enhancing its majestic presence.

The White Elephant Arhat floated down from the elephant’s back, his thousands-of-feet-high Arhat Golden Body rapidly shrinking as he descended.

By the time he landed in front of the three, his stature was just like any ordinary person, only his belly was even rounder like a ball.

"This humble monk Bai Xiang, greets the Painting Saint, Elder Xianglong, greets Benefactor Shenglongzi." The White Elephant Arhat clasped his palms and bowed to the three.

Zhao Sheng witnessed this and reciprocated with a respectful gesture.

Zhao Xuanjing frowned slightly, his attitude indifferent as he said, "White Elephant, aren’t you supposed to be meditating in the Great Brightness Temple? What brings you here today?"

"Please do not be offended, Elder Xianglong. This humble monk was merely passing by when I happened to notice a Grotto Heaven manifesting here, hence I came to offer congratulations!"

The White Elephant Arhat laughed sincerely and then took out a round, multicolored Treasure Bead from his bosom.

"This is a Shariputra left behind after the Great Freedom Bodhisattva’s Rainbow Ascension from our temple. Today, I gift it to Benefactor Shenglongzi, wishing him an early Ascension to Immortal Heaven."

Though the White Elephant Arhat’s words were all auspicious, they somehow sounded a tad awkward.

Zhao Sheng reached out and grasped the Shariputra, immediately expressing gratitude, "Thank you for your kind thoughts, Fellow Daoist Bai Xiang. I shall shamelessly accept this item with the promise of repayment in the future."

"Little monk, the bald donkeys from the Great Brightness Temple are usually so stingy, but you are quite generous! To think, you are giving away a Bodhisattva relic so freely." Seeing this, the Painting Saint teased with a sarcastic tone.

Zhao Xuanjing’s gaze fell upon the Shariputra, his eyes glimmering with thought but he remained silent.

The White Elephant Arhat was unfazed, smiling as he self-deprecatingly replied, "You jest, Painting Saint Elder. For those of us who have renounced the world, everything is temporary! This humble monk searched all over himself before coming, only this Shariputra was worth giving."

Upon hearing this, the Painting Saint couldn’t help but laugh and curse, "Oh, you slick-tongued little monk. Who doesn’t know that you, White Elephant Arhat, are known for your numerous treasures? Why the pretense of poverty today?"

The White Elephant Arhat listened, clasped his hands, bowed his head and murmured, "Amitabha Buddha, a monk does not tell falsehoods! This humble monk has long abandoned all external possessions; now, everything is but temporary."

"Oh, have you truly... enlightened?" The Painting Saint’s beard and eyebrows twitched, and his tone turned somewhat solemn.

Suddenly, the White Elephant Arhat started speaking in riddles: "Enlightenment is non-enlightenment; non-enlightenment is enlightenment! The Buddha’s teachings are but transitory, both enlightenment and non-enlightenment are inherent."

Zhao Xuanjing’s expression shifted, his gaze solemnly resting on the White Elephant Arhat.

Zhao Sheng felt a stirring within, his gaze towards the White Elephant Arhat changed subtly.

Should this monk not be lying, the White Elephant Arhat might soon achieve the Bodhisattva fruit status.

The Painting Saint was about to inquire further, but unexpectedly, two waves of Divine Thoughts emanated from afar.

Following that, two Integration Realm Great Powers arrived together.

The newcomers were a famous couple from the Taiyi Spirit Realm: Mr. Zhu Shu and Lady Yu Zhi.

The act of star elevation by Zhao Sheng, indeed attracted many Integration Realm Fellow Daoists.

In truth, within this dark and tranquil Divine Palace Heaven, most Integration Realm Great Powers kept their Grotto Heavens hidden, fearing the discovery of its location by outsiders.

The act of star elevation was akin to lighting a fire in the darkness, not only attracting innumerable Tao Spirit Mechanisms drawn in like moths but also affirming one’s "presence."

This act, though beneficial, had more drawbacks than advantages!

Zhao Sheng dared to take such a sensational step only because he relied on the backing of two Tribulation Crossing Realm Ancestors.

Indeed!

Just as he elevated the star, it attracted the Painting Saint, White Elephant Arhat, and the Taoist couple Zhu Shu and Yu Zhi.

It can be anticipated that many Integration Realm Great Powers would visit in the coming days, as would those with ill intentions watching in the shadows.

Zhao Sheng was long prepared and remained unfazed.

With the emergence of Zhu Shu and Yu Zhi, dozens of Integration Realm Great Powers continued to arrive subsequently.

Needless to say, those Integration Realm Cultivators who dared to show up at this time all shared deep ties with the Ten Lands Zhao Clan, including those who had received favors from Zhao Xianglong and Tianyunzi.

Through this event, Zhao Sheng truly comprehended the imposing presence of the two Tribulation Crossing Realm Ancestors!

For several consecutive decades, Integration Realm Great Powers persistently visited, each bearing grand gifts.

During this period, even three Tribulation Crossing Realm Venerables showed up one after another.

The presence of three Venerables was overwhelming for Zhao Sheng, prompting him to immediately bring out his ancestors to signify respect.

......

Decades passed in the blink of an eye.

Since the Five Elements Cave Heaven appeared, at almost every instant, tens of thousands of Tao Spirit Mechanisms streamed into the Cave Heaven.

As the vast amount of Tao Spirit Mechanisms were absorbed by the Cave Heaven, the concentration of Spiritual Energy within it continuously increased, and the two super arrays smoothly went through their integration period, gradually revealing their true power.

At the same time, the Power of Laws carried by the Tao Spirit Mechanisms greatly compensated for the Law shortages caused by the Cave Heaven’s rapid expansion, allowing Zhao Sheng to vastly improve his understanding of the Taoist Laws.