Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension

Chapter 414: Chapter 289: Dao Pill Elixir Formation, Grand Competition Resumes

A month later, Zhao Sheng found Zhao Dehe and instructed him on some matters before activating the Barrier Array Formation and descending the mountain.

Half a day later, he arrived at Pocket World City, intending to visit his master, only to find that he had missed him.

He later learned from the Store Manager of the black market that Beggar Immortal had been invited two months ago to attend the Nascent Soul Convention in secret at Heavenly Burial Plain.

Zhao Sheng returned without success, reluctantly accepting a few batches of tributes before immediately embarking on the journey back.

The return journey was long and uneventful.

Half a month later, on the day the White Feather Flowers bloomed, a tunneling light descended from the sky, landing in Xinglong City.

With the master’s return, joy erupted throughout Zhao Mansion. Zhao Sheng had dinner with his wife and grandson, then rested for the entire night.

The next morning, Zhao Sheng rose from the mansion into the sky and dashed towards the outskirts of the city.

Shortly after, he landed on a beautiful mountain peak outside the city and quickly entered the cave mansion located halfway up the mountain.

In the cave mansion, he successfully met Zhao Xuanjing, who was reputed to be in seclusion and not seeing any visitors.

Upon seeing Zhao Sheng’s return, Zhao Xuanjing expressed mild surprise, “Qingyang, why have you returned so soon? Didn’t Beggar Immortal say he would teach you the ‘Taiqing Nine Yang Technique’?”

Zhao Sheng sat on the jade bench beside him, looking at Zhao Xuanjing’s robust and mountain-like body, and chuckled, “The ‘Taiqing Nine Yang Technique’ is very simple; I learned it right away. My master also went down to the Heavenly Burial Plain. I was constantly worried about this place while at the secret mansion, so I came back!”

After hearing this, Zhao Xuanjing proudly said, “With the old man present in Xinglong Origin, who would dare to be reckless!”

“However, it’s good that you’re back. There are countless complex affairs in Xinglong City; you can help me share some of the burden.”

“Ancestor, I must not. I’m currently at a critical period for rapid strength enhancement. I cannot allow these affairs to disturb my state of mind.” Zhao Sheng quickly complained, outright refusing.

“Heh! Speaking of rapid strength enhancement, have you forgotten that the old man was only promoted to Nascent Soul two years ago? Who is more important, you or the old man?”

At these words, Zhao Sheng was suddenly at a loss for words.

Just then, suddenly, a patch of golden light appeared on the ground, followed by a three-foot-long golden dragon with a light yellow soft horn on its forehead bursting out of the ground.

After circling around in the air, this little dragon recognized its master and happily flicked its tail and vanished in a flash.

In the next instant, it swiftly coiled around Zhao Xuanjing’s waist, its body rapidly expanding to about ten feet in length, its dragon head biting its own tail, resembling a golden yellow belt.

Zhao Sheng’s eyes lit up, and he excitedly exclaimed, “Little Gold has finally awakened?!”

At that moment, a childish voice suddenly entered his mind, “Not Little Gold, it’s Seventh Ancestor! By seniority, you should address this dragon as Seventh Ancestor.”

Zhao Sheng’s face soured; he had almost forgotten that this Mountain Dragon was now a Seventh-rank Demon King, now with significantly more intellect, not unlike an ordinary eleven or twelve-year-old boy.

Time flies; the Little Gold of eight hundred years ago had suddenly become today’s Mountain Dragon Seventh Ancestor.

Having no choice, Zhao Sheng transmitted his voice in return, respectfully stating, “Descendant of the Zhao family, Qingyang, pays respect to the Seventh Ancestor!”

“Hmm, you know your place.” The Mountain Dragon lazily responded.

Having just overcome the Dragon Transformation Tribulation and barely recuperated some primordial qi, it urgently needed to rest deeply.

If not for something on Zhao Sheng that had caught its attention, it would not have appeared at all.

“What are you hiding on you? It smells so good! Bring it out quickly.”

Upon hearing the Seventh Ancestor’s transmitted voice, Zhao Sheng looked startled, then quickly remembered something and reached over his waist.

A flash of radiance, and suddenly, a pile as tall as two people made of pink meat appeared on the ground.

As soon as the meat mountain appeared, it released waves of exceptionally tempting fragrance.

“Haha, it’s this!”

Before the echo faded, a burst of dazzling yellow light exploded from the ground. The ground rippled like water momentarily and instantly swallowed the meat mountain.

“This dragon is off!”

The next second, the Mountain Dragon turned into a wisp of golden light, shot into the soil, and disappeared without trace.

From the Mountain Dragon’s appearance to its departure, the whole process was very brief; Zhao Xuanjing didn’t even have a chance to interject.

Seeing Xiao Qi forcefully snatch the younger generation’s possessions, Zhao Xuanjing’s face darkened, nearly unable to maintain his composure.

“Cough! Qingyang, your loss will be doubly compensated by the old man later.”

Upon saying this, he grunted irritably, “Hmph, Xiao Qi is becoming more and more unruly. What a disgrace!”

Zhao Sheng secretly chuckled twice and then quickly nodded in acknowledgement.

After this little episode, Zhao Sheng broached the current situation of the family and Central Continent.

“Currently, less than six years remain until the commencement of the inter-realm great war, with the steps of war approaching ever closer.

For the continuation of our lineage, I suggest that the family continues to implement the strategy of ‘having multiple burrows like the crafty rabbit’ and migrate in stages to other Four Continents.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xuanjing’s expression turned stern, decisively stating, “Qingyang, your words are sensible. The strategy of having multiple burrows should not be limited to Shattered Star Sea. Using this opportunity, it’s a perfect time for the family to once again branch out some collateral lines. This matter needs to be arranged promptly.”

Zhao Sheng nodded understandingly.

A large tree is bound to have dead branches!

Ever since the emergence of the Nascent Soul Ancestor, the power of the Xinglong Zhao family had risen significantly.

However, coincidentally, some branches within the family had grown quite arrogant in their demeanor, often behaving too haughtily and unbridledly.

Some branches even harbored corruption and were terribly managed by the family members.

Zhao Sheng’s action was precisely aimed at “slimming down” the family—actively pruning the dead branches and bad leaves while rectifying the roots and simultaneously alleviating and reducing intra-family conflicts over interests.

This would achieve multiple objectives in one fell swoop!

After discussing this, Zhao Sheng and Zhao Xuanjing deliberated over what stance the family should take during the inter-realm war—whether to actively participate, initially remain neutral to observe, or completely seclude themselves, hoping to emerge as a “victor.”