Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension

Chapter 299: Chapter 238 Level 1 – Birth

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Half a month later, outside Xinglong City,

along the banks of the Hidden Dragon River that circled the city, Zhao Sheng, Zhao Yancang, Zhao Dexuan, and others stood on the shore, gazing at the river’s surface in silent anticipation.

Boom!

Suddenly, the river’s surface ten zhang away began to boil violently, with waves surging tumultuously.

Accompanied by a thunderous roar, the waters within a ten-zhang radius were blasted upwards, scattering like a waterfall before crashing back down onto the river.

In an instant,

a massive shadow emerged from beneath the river, followed by the gradual ascent of a crocodile’s head, as large as a hall, ferocious and terrifying. Next to surface was its thirty-zhang-long body, reminiscent of a prehistoric beast, with clanging Scale Armor, claws and teeth like knives, emanating a brutal, cold-blooded aura.

As the Sixth-Order Croc Dragon made its appearance, its overwhelming and frightening Great Demon presence instantly pressed down on everything, causing the breath of the Zhao family by the riverbank to catch, as they instinctively activated their Mysterious Skills to resist the oppression of the Great Demon.

At that moment, a thunderous shout suddenly exploded above the crocodile dragon’s head:

“You beast, behave yourself for me!”

No sooner had the words fallen than two heavy thuds sounded, and the Croc Dragon’s arrogantly raised head was smashed directly into the river as though struck by a falling meteorite.

Ao!

As a long and miserable dragon cry came from under the water, Zhao Xuanjing, imposing like the Immortal of Colossal Spirit, burst through the splashing water curtain and landed in front of the crowd in a flash.

“This creature is naturally unruly; if it isn’t taught a lesson every day, it’ll start thinking too highly of itself!”

Zhao Xuanjing worked his wrist a bit, pointing at the Sixth-Order Croc Dragon writhing and howling on the river’s surface, his face full of anger.

Zhao Sheng glanced at the behemoth, swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and cautiously proposed, “How about we spare the trouble of enlisting this Croc Dragon. Stirring up such a commotion doesn’t seem too good.”

“No way!”

Before he could finish, everyone spoke out in unison against the idea.

It was no joke!

The intention of the Zhao family’s visit to the Dong family to seek a marriage alliance was partly to make a name for themselves and showcase the family’s strength.@@novelbin@@

Without a grand display, without bringing forth the Sixth-Order Croc Dragon, how could they reflect the might of the Xinglong Zhao Family?

To elevate Zhao Sheng’s status, Zhao Dexuan had specially arranged for nearly a hundred people to accompany him, with no fewer than six Foundation Establishment Cultivators just for protection, including Ba Xia and Yazi, two leaders of the Dark Department, and one Sixth-Order crocodile servant at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer.

This crocodile servant was a loyal follower that Zhao Xuanjing had subdued in his earlier years and was now looking after the Sixth-Order Croc Dragon for his old master.

“Zhao Jiu, come and see Thirteen! You must protect him well. Should there be any mishap, you alone will answer to me!”

As he spoke, a fierce-faced old man with half-bald hair and a shriveled mouth pushed through the crowd and quickly stepped forward.

“Rest assured, master! Even if it costs me my life, I will not let Thirteen Young Master suffer the slightest harm,” said the half-bald old man, who was about to bow respectfully but was quickly steadied by Zhao Sheng.

“Uncle Jiu, there’s no need for such formalities! Thirteen trusts you, and for the coming months, we rely on you for protection,” Zhao Sheng said.

“Qingyang, your success in taking a bride from the Dong family on this trip rests on you. But don’t forget the primary purpose of your journey,” Zhao Dexuan solemnly instructed.

“I understand! Securing a bride is important, but so is elevating the family’s reputation,” Zhao Sheng replied just as Zhao Xuanjing handed him a bright red carved dragon box. “Here, this is the Door Greeting Gift. Take good care of it!”

Zhao Sheng received the carved box, opened it, and his eyes suddenly widened in astonishment. “Generous indeed! Even such a treasure is given away. Ancestor Jing, aren’t you worried that our family will become the target of public censure?”

After finishing his sentence, he couldn’t help but take another glance at the item inside the box. He saw a huge Flat Peach as large as a human head, with Red Top Jade Skin, plump and round, and exuding a captivating fragrance.

This peach was plucked from the Ancient Immortal Peach Tree of the Zhao’s Secret Mansion located at Heavenly Pillar Mountain.

With eight hundred years of passage, this Ancient Immortal Peach Tree’s age had surpassed three thousand years. It blossomed every thirty years and bore fruit every thirty years, yielding only thirty-six peaches with divine life-prolonging effects.

A single one could extend life by half a cycle of the sexagenary (Jiazi).

A bit of a pity was that one could only eat one of these peaches in a lifetime; eating more had no effect.

Hearing Zhao Sheng’s question, Zhao Xuanjing closed the carved box and said with a deep voice, “One must give in order to receive! Besides, our family trusts the Weaver Dong Family; they would never damage their millennial reputation over such a trifle treasure.”

Zhao Sheng immediately understood upon hearing this: “The Door Greeting Gift is genuine, but advertising the Longevity Peach is also part of the goal. Once the Door Greeting Gift is sent, the Zhao family can wait for the Dong family to take the bait.”

In the Tianzhu Realm, the Weaver Dong Family has always been adept at maneuvering socially, using marriages as a foundation to weave a network of relationships, while also conveniently creating an upscale trading platform.

Without a doubt, as an intermediary on the platform, the most important thing is confidentiality and integrity.

In the Cultivation World, there are many treasures that cannot withstand scrutiny and are difficult to sell openly; however, transacting through the platform of the Dong family not only facilitates a smooth sale but also maintains confidentiality.

As middlemen, the Weaver Dong Family reaps countless benefits and has seen numerous heavy treasures; they would never break the rules for a mere Longevity Peach.

The safest way for the Zhao family to dispose of their Longevity Peach, undoubtedly, was through the secret sale on the Dong family’s platform.

Upon realizing this, Zhao Sheng was reassured, secured the carved box, and then said farewell to Zhao Xuanjing and the others.

The rest is not worth mentioning.

A moment later, the Croc Dragon’s massive body climbed onto the riverbank, lying there like a mound of flesh.

At that moment, a magnificent palace with carved railings and jade built, exquisite in every detail, stood proudly on the back of the Croc Dragon.

Zhao Sheng flew up onto the Croc Dragon’s back first, followed by the crocodile servant Zhao Jiu leading the six Foundation Establishment Cultivators, with the nearly hundred guards and attendants closely behind.

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