Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension
Chapter 788: 463 Return to Tianzhu Realm_2

Chapter 788: Chapter 463 Return to Tianzhu Realm_2

Of course, the various upheavals happening in the Netherworld had little to do with Zhao Sheng at the moment.

At this time, he was riding the Zhao Family’s Flying Fortress, speeding towards the Central Continent over the boundless azure sea.

Two days later, above the vast and limitless sea, a clear cry tore through the void, as a sword dragon woven with black and white streaks flashed across the void, carrying an immeasurable and enormous Sword Intent as it slashed through the sky!

Within the black light was an ancient long sword that looked like a dark rod, and within the white light was a broad and thick long sword, shimmering with snowy whiteness.

The black and white swords intertwined and trembled, merging into a hundred-zhang-long sword dragon, slicing into a layer of thin grey light, where they exploded upon contact as if water met fire.

With a huge boom, the grey light spread across the sky, the sea below violently caved in for ten miles around.

Whoosh whoosh!

At that moment, two streaks of sword light, one black and one white, emerged in a disheveled scramble from the grey light, swiftly flying back to their master.

Click click!

On the deck of the Floating Fortress, a youthful and valiant-looking young man reached out with a pained expression and beckoned, and saw the black and white swords fall from the sky with unerring precision, plunging back into the scabbards on his back, buzzing continuously, before finally quieting down.

Zhao Sheng slowly descended from midair, landing beside the valiant young man, and praised, “Not bad! Qiong Yu, your Infinite Sword Dao has reached a considerable level of skill, you almost injured this old man just now.”

Little did he know, the valiant young man was far from being flattered, instead, he sighed sadly, “Sixteenth Brother, stop flattering me. I know my own limits. You probably didn’t even use a fraction of your strength just now, right?”

“How could that be? This old man used at least thirty percent of my power just now,” Zhao Sheng said seriously.

The valiant young man was tempted to roll his eyes upon hearing this, but soon his face turned bitter.

Everyone was clearly from the same generation of the Zhao family, so why was there such a big gap now!

However, Zhao Qiongyu soon consoled himself, thinking, “Sixteenth Brother ascended to his position two hundred years ago, while I have only just broken through to the Nascent Soul Realm, not even half a Jiazi ago! It’s understandable that I’m not as strong as him.”

While Zhao Qiongyu was consoling himself, a figure quietly descended from the upper levels of the fortress and landed beside the two of them.

The newcomer was clad in a starlight-filled talisman robe, with a determined face and a reserved expression. It was Daoist Ou Feng who had crossed realms to arrive here.

Seeing him, Zhao Sheng couldn’t help but smile and said, “Daoist Ou, you’ve finally left seclusion. Could it be that your mastery of the Array Dao has improved again?”

Daoist Ou Feng nodded slightly and replied, “Indeed, I’ve made significant gains. Your realm’s mastery of formations is truly unique and splendid!”

Zhao Sheng nodded and said, “This old man has said before that there are many schools of formations in our realm, but only three schools can truly represent the highest standards of our realm’s Array Dao! Fortunately, the main bases of the three schools are all located on Heavenly Pillar Mountain. Once we arrive at Heavenly Pillar Mountain, this old man will definitely introduce Daoist friend to the masters of the three schools for several rounds of exchanges and discussions.”

Upon hearing this, Daoist Ou Feng’s face immediately showed an eager expression.

“Haha, so you’re all here! This old man is coming too.”

Before the words fell, a burly man with a head as robust as a mountain and a face radiant with a ruddy complexion descended from the sky and joined the group.

This man was the Sixth Ancestor of the Zhao Family, Zhao Shanhai!

Not having seen him for two hundred years, Zhao Shanhai’s cultivation had surged, breaking through to the Nascent Soul Sixth Realm and gradually approaching the Seventh Realm.

It turned out that in the recent Star Gate war, Zhao Shanhe had volunteered, leading the family’s Flying Army Group himself, enduring hardships to rush to the Shattered Star Sea to participate in the war.

Seeing him, Zhao Sheng couldn’t help but tease, “Sixth Ancestor, you look in high spirits. It seems you’ve earned quite a few benefits for our family at the grand assembly.”

“Haha, where, where! It’s only because of the glow of victory in the great battle that I managed to share some spoils of war. Otherwise, the losses alone would be enough to give this old man a headache!” Although Zhao Shanhe spoke modestly, his face was brimming with pride.

After speaking, he turned to Daoist Ou Feng with an even brighter smile and said in a hearty tone, “Daoist Ou, the Zhao family is always hospitable and generous, and we will not let you down.”

“I trust the character of Tianqiong Daoist friend, and naturally, I believe in the sincerity of your noble family,” Daoist Ou Feng responded.

Zhao Shanhe’s expression faltered slightly, then he burst into hearty laughter.

Years ago, Sixteenth had ventured into the Otherworld on the Ancestor’s decree.

Zhao Shanhe and a group of Zhao family elders had been worried for two hundred years because of this.

Who could have imagined that not only did Sixteenth safely return, but he also brought back a grandmaster of the Array Dao.

Knowing that an Array Master was one of the rarest in the Cultivation World, more prestigious than even ordinary late-stage cultivators, Zhao Shanhe had made up his mind to sway this person to join the family.

Looking back now, he seemed to have taken an unnecessary extra step.

Sixteenth had proved too capable, having actually subdued a great grandmaster of formations.

Zhao Shanhe looked over at Zhao Sheng and asked, “Tianqiong, you’ve just returned to our realm, what are your plans?”

Zhao Sheng smiled and said, “It has been two hundred years since we parted; naturally, I should first ascend Heavenly Pillar Mountain to pay my respects to the Ancestors.”

“Haha, after you’ve seen the Ancestors, you might as well stay in Xinglong City for a few years. I’ll prepare your lodging when the time comes. By the way, Mr. Ou should come along too.”

Upon hearing this, Daoist Ou Feng immediately placed his palm upright and gave Zhao Shanhe a formal salute, declaring loudly, “I have heard that the constructions in Xinglong City are divinely crafted, unparalleled in Tianzhu! I have long intended to observe them. Once my affairs are concluded, I will surely pay a visit.”

A glint flashed in Zhao Sheng’s eyes as he nodded slightly, smiling without saying a word.

At this moment, a flicker of unusual light suddenly passed through Zhao Qiongyu’s eyes beside them. He was just about to invite Daoist Ou Feng to Divine City as well but seemed to think of something and did not truly open his mouth.

…

The Flying Fortress would take two months to return to Central Continent.

During those two months, Zhao Sheng sought out Zhao Shanhe many times, learning from him about the family’s current state and the significant events of the past two hundred years.

Undoubtedly,

As long as Zhao Xuanjing was present, the foundations of the Southern Sky Zhao Family were as stable as Mount Tai, free from decline or the worry of foreign invasions.

In the past two hundred years, the power of the Southern Sky Zhao Family had steadily increased, and the Zhao Family Dynasty had leapt to become the foremost of the seven dynasties, its might shaking the entire Central Continent.

In recent years, the prestige of the clan has gradually shown signs of overtaking the Eight Major Sects, already earning the reputation of “the number one noble family of Tianzhu.”

However, beneath such a boiling oil fire of a great situation, there were still many hidden concerns within the Zhao Family.

Two hundred years ago, the family had sixteen Nascent Soul Ancestors.

But to this day, the Southern Sky Zhao Family still only has sixteen Nascent Soul Ancestors.

Over the years, three new Nascent Souls had emerged within the Zhao Family, but three elders had also fallen.

Zhao Haikui, who died in the turmoil of the Heavenly Rebel Alliance, was one of them.

The other two were the Second Ancestor Zhao Qingbi and the Fifth Ancestor Zhao Sanben.

The Second Ancestor Zhao Qingbi had passed away due to the exhaustion of his Life Span, resulting in the regrettable loss of a late-stage cultivator for the Zhao Family.

The Fifth Ancestor Zhao Sanben had gone missing while exploring the Outer Void and never returned.

Fifty years later, the soul lamp he left in the Ancestor Hall suddenly extinguished. The demise of the soul lamp meant the owner had died.

Aside from Zhao Qiongyu, the three newly ascended Nascent Soul Ancestors included a clan member of the Bo generation.

The identity of the last one was very special, and even Zhao Sheng found it quite surprising.

Zhao Jingheng!

This person had once served as a Holy Emperor over two hundred years ago, considered a man of great talent and strategy at the time.

When he stepped down from the position of Holy Emperor, Zhao Jingheng had just broken through the Golden Core not long before.

Very few could have predicted that he would surpass most of the Zhao Family’s veteran Golden Cores within a mere two hundred years, navigating the Heavenly Tribulation successfully, advancing to the Nascent Soul Realm, and transforming from a piece on the board to a player in the game.

Zhao Sheng vaguely remembered that this man was not highly talented, possessing only a medium three spirit roots, yet he had managed to cultivate to his current realm.

From this, it was evident that Zhao Jingheng could be called a “man of the epoch.”

Furthermore, Zhao Sheng also learned of a “disastrous piece of news” from Zhao Shanhe.

His Heavenly Spirit Root disciple, the red-haired youth Zhao Hongyan, who he took on over two hundred years ago, had actually degenerated himself, voluntarily pledging allegiance to the Water Mimu Palace of the Northern Cold Continent!

The reason turned out to be for a woman!

A woman who enchanted him to the point of losing his senses, willing to sacrifice everything: the current Water Princess of the Water Mimu Palace, Yue Feifei.

Zhao Sheng silently noted her name, vowing to handle all his affairs appropriately, after which he would surely head north to the Cold Continent to retrieve his disciple.