Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension

Chapter 1769: Chapter 952: First Arrival on the Honghuang Continent (2)

He actually dared to speak harshly to Yuan Hong, truly unaware of the immensity of heaven and earth.

Faced with his junior brother’s active provocation, Yuan Hong, who had a bellicose nature, was exceedingly delighted, quickly agreeing for fear his junior brother might change his mind.

Before long, the two bid farewell to each other and then went their separate ways.

…

Zhao Sheng made a trip to the Earth Heart Cave Heaven and personally informed the ancestor that he intended to head to No Return Heaven.

Despite Zhao Xuanjing’s inability to comprehend why he chose to take such a dangerous, potentially one-way unknown path instead of proving Dao and ascending.

Zhao Xuanjing earnestly implored him to change his mind, yet Zhao Sheng’s heart was resolute.

Seeing that his persuasion was futile, Zhao Xuanjing had no choice but to reluctantly nod.

Days later, Zhao Sheng walked out of the Earth Heart Cave Heaven, silently returning to the Five Elements Cave Heaven.

…

“Master, if you plan to go, please take me along.”

Upon accidentally learning that the master intended to head to No Return Heaven, Stone Spirit quickly sought Zhao Sheng, rolling around to insist on accompanying him.

“Nonsense! What use would you be in following? With your level of skill, going to No Return Heaven with me would only be a burden… Stay peacefully in the Five Elements Cave Heaven, I’ll return one day.” Zhao Sheng first reprimanded, then patiently comforted.

Upon hearing this, Stone Spirit rolled forward and suddenly transformed from a stone man into a lively Jade Qilin.

The Qilin stood two zhang tall at the shoulder and had a length of six or seven zhang, its whole body covered in orderly layers of scale armor spreading to the tail, each piece resembling flawless top-grade jade.

At a glance, this Jade Qilin appeared incredibly majestic, radiating an indescribable aura of nobility and sanctity as it raised its paws and bowed its head.

“Master, have you forgotten? We signed the true contract ‘Heaven and Earth Same Life’. With me at your side, you needn’t worry about exhausting your Life Span.”

As he spoke, the Jade Qilin transformed from Stone Spirit ran up to Zhao Sheng, lowered its lion-tiger-like head, and rubbed against his body in a flattering manner.

After listening, Zhao Sheng seemed thoughtful and then relented: “What you say is reasonable. Very well, I’ll take you along.”

“Haha, thank you for your grace, master! I promise I won’t hold you back.” Stone Spirit joyfully jumped around, disappearing into the mountains in a flash.

Two years later, everything was ready!

Then one day, Zhao Sheng quietly tunneled out of the Five Elements Cave Heaven, disappearing without a trace.

…

Though the Divine Palace Heaven was vast and boundless, the majority of regions were empty and desolate, with only a few areas where clusters of stars gathered into various galaxies.

Unlike other star-filled galaxies, No Return Heaven appeared extraordinarily dim.

Looking far into the distance, only a few faint starlights could be seen in the depths of the dark space-time.

According to the records left by Second Ancestor Tianyunzi, No Return Heaven was over ten thousand Constant Years away from Taiyi Stars.

Usually, even if a Tribulation Crossing Venerable travels at full speed, it takes at least a hundred years of flight.

Zhao Sheng was already a Three Tribulations Great Venerable, with his space-time teleportation far exceeding other Tribulation Crossing cultivators.

Even so, by the time he reached the outer layer of No Return Heaven, thirty years had passed.

Three days later, Zhao Sheng was suspended outside the atmosphere of a cave heaven world, counting aloud.

With the cave heaven world beneath his feet as the center, seven cave heaven worlds scattered around, each emitting a gentle glow like stars embellishing the darkness.

But in the center of the stars was an endless black shadow.

Outside the black shadow, a dazzling, luminous band over a million miles wide surrounded it.

The cave heaven “planets” were scattered around the outer edge of the luminous band, with varying distances between them, seemingly adhering to some kind of taboo.

It’s worth noting that lurking dangers exist among the stars; countless prohibitions and formations laid by past venerables over countless years, making it difficult to retreat safely if caught in them.

Zhao Sheng did not conceal his presence, hence the Lord of Cave Heaven quickly discovered this uninvited guest.

With a flash of light, a meat mountain appeared out of thin air before him.

Zhao Sheng focused his gaze, finally seeing a bald little head amidst the bloated white flesh.

Due to extreme obesity, the facial features on this head were squeezed together by the fat, looking rather comical.

However, Zhao Sheng did not underestimate the opponent, as judging by the aura emanating, this person was also a Tribulation Crossing Venerable.

Suddenly, a wisp of Divine Thought stretched over, and a slow voice resonated in Zhao Sheng’s mind: “I am the Lord of Eternal Country, may I ask for your distinguished name, Taoist?”

“I am the Chaos Daoist, pleased to meet you!” Zhao Sheng cupped his hands in greeting, also sending out a wisp of Divine Thought.

“Mixed Element Daoist, are you coming to No Return Heaven, perhaps with intentions towards Honghuang Continent?”

Zhao Sheng did not hide his purpose: “Indeed! I’ve heard Honghuang Continent is quite magical, so I wish to experience it myself.”

“Hmm, there’s not much to see on Honghuang Continent, only the Ascension Ancient Array in the continent’s center is worth viewing,” the Lord of Eternal Country said gloomily.

After finishing speaking, he didn’t forget to remind: “If Mixed Element Daoist wants to enter, it’s best not to get too close to the Ascension Ancient Array, lest the guardian mistakes you for an enemy.”

“Thank Taoist for the reminder, I have discretion.” Zhao Sheng slightly nodded, his tone more gentle.

The Lord of Eternal Country sighed quietly, then warmly invited him to visit the cave heaven below.

Zhao Sheng gave it some thought and politely declined the invitation.

No Return Heaven was right in front of him, he had no leisure to visit any Otherworld.

Seeing this, the Lord of Eternal Country spoke no more, soon finding an excuse to return to the cave heaven below.

After watching the other depart, Zhao Sheng’s figure flickered, instantly vanishing without a trace.

Shortly afterward, a white tunneling light burst from the luminous band, swiftly flying into the endless black shadow.

…

With a thunderous crash, dust rose, and the ground suddenly had a deep pit over a zhang in depth.

Moments later, Zhao Sheng slowly rose from the bottom of the pit, landing on a nearby blue giant stone.

He suddenly looked up and saw hundreds of intertwined beams of light in the pitch-black sky, with visible curvature at the sky’s edge.

This was clearly a space-time distortion caused by excessively strong gravity.

Zhao Sheng moved his limbs, immediately feeling a significant increase in heaviness.

According to Second Ancestor’s writings, the layer of Honghuang Continent in No Return Heaven lacks nature’s spiritual energy, with average gravity being nearly ten thousand times higher than outside.

After personally experiencing it, Zhao Sheng instantly confirmed Second Ancestor Tianyunzi’s assertion.

He not only failed to sense any nature’s spiritual energy but also clearly perceived the inexplicable draining of mana within his body.

However, he did not feel any reduction in Life Span.

Second Ancestor Tianyunzi emphasized several times that within Honghuang Continent, one’s Life Span drains at a pace nearly ten thousand times faster than outside.

The gravity multiplier here almost matches the pace of Life Span loss, perhaps it’s a coincidence!

As he pondered, his chest squirmed, and suddenly a crystal-clear jade flew from his bosom.

The jade landed on the ground, rolled around, and abruptly transformed into a Jade Qilin about the size of an ordinary horse.

“Wow, is this Honghuang Continent? I feel awful.”

Stone Spirit ran over to Zhao Sheng’s back, rubbing his back with its head while shouting incessantly.

Zhao Sheng patted its head, then mounted the Qilin’s back, instructing: “Stone Spirit, head in that direction.”

Under the master’s guidance, Stone Spirit’s four hooves clouded up, joyously galloping forward.

In a short moment, one man and one Qilin had disappeared beyond the earth’s horizon.