Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension

Chapter 1758 - 945: Do Not Ascend to Immortal Heaven

The "fog" suddenly permeated the heavens and earth, omnipresent, boundless, and indescribable.

Zhao Sheng exerted all his might to keep his consciousness clear, yet he couldn’t perceive the passage of time at all.

After an unknown duration, deep in the engulfing fog, streaks of dark golden lightning suddenly appeared.

The lightning wandered ceaselessly in the fog, flickering continuously, gradually becoming dense like stars scattered across the sky.

In an instant, Zhao Sheng vaguely felt a myriad of unseen and indescribable gazes projecting down from an unknown place,

the densely packed dark golden lightning suddenly transformed into "dark golden eyes," opening and closing, emitting waves of mysterious destruction.

Despite being mentally prepared, Zhao Sheng still felt a chill down his spine at that moment, as if all his secrets were completely seen through.

The next instant, a profound and arcane spiritual wave came rushing through, with unstoppable power crashing into his Heart Lake, causing his Divine Soul to ache unbearably, his consciousness quickly blurring.

After three lifetimes, even though his cultivation had reached the Tribulation Crossing Realm, he was still as insignificant as an ant when encountering the Life Demon again.

Just as Zhao Sheng was utterly terrified, the all-encompassing fog suddenly dissipated into nothingness, and an infinitely long river appeared out of the void, with no visible beginning or end, its grey and turbid waters slowly flowing towards an untraceable future.

Right then, a bizarre multi-eyed and multi-armed entity emerged from the source of the river, instantly arriving before Zhao Sheng.

It emitted a terrifying wave that made all beings’ spirits tremble, surrounded by "compasses" of various dazzling colors and materials.

Zhao Sheng opened his eyes wide, striving to see, and vaguely noticed a familiar figure standing on one of the compasses.

Before he could see clearly who it was, the figure suddenly vanished into thin air, replaced by a cloud of pure energy.

"Favored human cultivator, greetings! Destiny has brought us together again."

With the injection of a warm, jade-like, magnetic middle-aged man’s voice into his mind, Zhao Sheng’s spirit shook violently, and he instantly felt his body regain freedom.

Suppressing his inner shock, he hurriedly bowed and respectfully said, "Human clan cultivator Zhao Sheng, pays respects to Your Highness."

"Human clan cultivator, you continue to surprise Him. Besides that awe-inspiring innate sacred object, it seems you also possess a fragment of another innate sacred object. Wait, its aura seems familiar; He... He recalls, this object was once stained with the blood of the Taoist Ancestor, extremely ominous..."

Before finishing the sentence, the Life Demon suddenly recoiled as if avoiding something.

Not waiting for Zhao Sheng to inquire, the Life Demon transformed into a handsome Daoist with a tall hat and wide sleeves, his face as round as a full moon.

Zhao Sheng narrowed his eyes and instantly recognized the person’s identity; it was none other than the recently ascended Second Ancestor, Zhao Hongyun.

Zhao Sheng’s mind raced, a sudden shock appearing in his eyes.

He asked in utter disbelief, "Your Highness, isn’t Zhao Hongyun already ascended in Dao? Why... Could it be that he also had a previous transaction with you?"

"Indeed! This child is also a Favored of Destiny. He had an agreement with him to collect His owed recompense at an appointed future day."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Sheng’s heart sank, feeling a foreboding premonition.

"Rest assured! You are entirely different from him. He has already claimed him as a Lower-level Favored. But you... He must treat you equally."

Zhao Sheng’s heart trembled, daring to boldly ask in return, "Because... I possess an innate sacred object?"

"Yes!" The Life Demon nodded, frightfully forthright.

Zhao Sheng steadied his spirit, "Does Your Highness appear again to collect the recompense from our last transaction?"

The Life Demon shook its head, speaking mildly, "Not so. I won’t demand compensation but wish to make another transaction with you.

Speak your wish, human cultivator, and I shall fulfill it!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Sheng fell silent abruptly, pondering the true objectives of the other party.

He absolutely didn’t believe the Life Demon was a benevolent "good person" without seeking returns.

On the contrary, He was immensely greedy, often desiring the greatest returns for the minimal investment.

He keenly understood one thing: Every gift from destiny is secretly marked with a price!

But facing an existence at the Daluo Golden Immortal level, did he have the right to refuse?

After pondering deeply, Zhao Sheng suddenly asked tentatively, "I wish to Ascend to Immortality now, but what would be the cost?"

"I won’t require immediate payment... One day, when destiny’s compass begins its turn, I will appear to claim what is His."

Just like the first transaction, even after millions of years, the Life Demon still spoke the same words today.

Upon hearing it, Zhao Sheng hastily shook his head, "Your Highness, let me think again."

The Life Demon was profoundly disappointed, yet bound by rules. He could only patiently wait for the opposite party to make a decision.

This time, Zhao Sheng thought for a long time, until he suddenly remembered something, finally formulating a decision.

"Your Highness, I’ve decided. I wish for you to resolve the hidden threat of ’Chaos’." Zhao Sheng stated with firm determination.

The Life Demon looked deeply at him, already fathoming all his thoughts.

"Alas, the wisdom of mortals." The Life Demon sighed and then said calmly, "I will fulfill your wish."

Just as the words fell, the Life Demon suddenly swept his sleeve, a dark golden electric light instantly pierced through space-time, flashing into the underground of the Divine Continent.

"The deal is done. Favored of Destiny of the Human Clan, do you have any other wishes?"

"Thank you for your grace, Your Highness! I have no urgent wishes to fulfill right now."

"Is that so? It’s a pity you don’t realize what precious opportunity you’ve missed." The Life Demon sighed again.

However, suddenly, his tone changed: "The wisdom of mortals is too shallow. You fear me, yet fail to understand that my clan is selfless and impartial. Now... I want to forge a ’benevolent tie’ with you. Do you consent?"

Zhao Sheng’s heart skipped a beat, but he could only nod: "This junior naturally consents."

"Hehe, you still don’t understand. I leave you one sentence to ponder: Do not ascend to Immortal Heaven!"

Zhao Sheng’s spirit trembled violently, immediately questioning: "Why does Your Highness say this? Could there be hidden dangers in Supreme Immortal Heaven?"

The Life Demon did not explain, merely added: "Supreme Immortal Heaven cannot be visited, nor can any Taoist Ancestor Immortal Heaven."

Zhao Sheng looked gravely at the Life Demon, trying to discern some clues from its face.

But... how could one as exalted as the Life Demon easily reveal heavenly secrets?

"Favored of Destiny, you already owe me three pieces of ’Cause and Effect.’ I will come to claim them someday in the future..."

The lingering sound echoed as he suddenly turned around, walking down the river of destiny toward the downstream representing the future, soon disappearing without a trace.

The river of destiny quickly dissipated, and the fog that covered the sky vanished into thin air.

As the fog dispersed, the Star River reappeared, and time began to flow continuously.

In an instant, all life and everything in heaven and earth returned to normal.

Gazing at the Auspicious Light that fell from the Immortal Heaven, looking at the excited ancestors.

Zhao Sheng forced down his inner shock, maintaining a look of ecstatic joy on his face.

Apart from him, no one noticed that a Daluo Golden Immortal-Level existence had just descended here.

"Congratulations to Fellow Daoist Tianyun... on proving the Dao... and ascending!"

Listening to the congratulatory voices spreading across the heavens, Zhao Sheng’s thoughts were already elsewhere.

He did not wish to concern himself with Zhao Hongyun’s future destiny.

Though he was taken as a lower-level favored by the Life Demon, henceforth without freedom, there should be no danger to his life.

Perhaps, this incident is actually a good thing!

The Hundred Generations Book once predicted that Zhao Hongyun’s potential ceiling is the Golden Immortal.

If he ascends to Immortal Heaven, he is highly likely to "fade among the immortals."

Yet, after being taken as a favored by the Life Demon, Zhao Hongyun’s future chance of promotion to Golden Immortal might be greater.

In contrast, Zhao Sheng is more concerned with the Life Demon’s pointed advice: "Do not ascend to Immortal Heaven!"

The Life Demon kept things obscure, unwilling to reveal the marvel in this sentence.

It precisely indicates that the "Cause and Effect" of this matter is so significant that even the Life Demon dare not "speak forthrightly," seemingly fearing entanglement.

What does this signify? It indicates this matter is greatly connected to the Supreme Dao Ancestor!

Zhao Sheng gave it a slight thought, immediately focusing his attention on the Hundred Generations Book and the Life and Death Pen.

If there’s anything on him that could attract the Supreme Dao Ancestor, it must be these two Innate Dao Artifacts.

Thus, the Life Demon’s words are very understandable.

On a future day, should he ascend to Immortal Heaven, he is very likely to promptly be noticed by the Supreme Dao Ancestor due to the aura of the two Innate Dao Artifacts.

By then, with the Supreme Dao Ancestor personally descending, not only would he fail to protect these two Innate Dao Artifacts, but he would also be utterly annihilated by the Supreme Dao Ancestor.

Upon realizing this, Zhao Sheng felt horrified, secretly relieved.

Luckily, the Life Demon stepped in to give guidance, now there is still room for remedy. Otherwise, his future would be certainly doomed.

Yet in this way, the debt of this "Cause and Effect" is too great, so great that he dares not ponder much.

"Chonghe, what happened to you?"

Zhao Sheng was abruptly awakened, looking at the concerned gaze of the ancestor, he shook his head, vaguely saying: "It’s nothing. The Second Ancestor’s ascension to immortality is truly exciting, temporarily I find it hard to not overthink."

Zhao Xuanjing seemed to understand what he was thinking, softly comforting: "Sheng, your aptitude is not inferior to Hongyun’s. This old man believes that someday you too can prove the Dao and ascend."

"How could I compare with Second Ancestor? If anyone can prove the Dao and ascend, it would surely be you, Ancestor!" Zhao Sheng collected his thoughts, speaking with great humility.