Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension-Chapter 625 - 386 Long Yin Gathering (Extra for Alliance Hierarch Guo Jia and Sima Yi)_2

Chapter 625 -386 Long Yin Gathering (Extra for Alliance Hierarch Guo Jia and Sima Yi)_2

In his hand, he held a black spirit talisman, the very one Zhao Sheng had activated earlier.

The middle-aged man looked at the uninvited guest with a mixture of surprise and suspicion, sizing him up before asking in a deep voice, “Who are you, and why do you possess this talisman?”

Zhao Sheng spoke in an indifferent tone, “Where is Zhao Jingyun?”

Upon hearing the name Zhao Jingyun, the middle-aged man was startled, but his expression remained unchanged.

“Who is Zhao Jingyun? You must be mistaken. This place is the ancestral land of the Xuan Family; I’ve never heard the name Zhao Jingyun here.”

Zhao Sheng’s lips twitched slightly as he counter-questioned, “Has Zhao Jingyun never mentioned that he has a senior brother?”

The white-haired middle-aged man was initially taken aback but then his expression cleared, showing a look of surprise and delight as he asked eagerly,

“Could it be that you are Master Zhen Yan? Please, come in and let’s talk!”

He then stepped aside, making a welcoming gesture.

Zhao Sheng did not hesitate and followed the middle-aged man boldly into the manor.

The center of this manor was a large circular plaza, surrounded by layers of green stone buildings, thick and rustic, with traces of moss, evidencing years of weathering.

In the center of the plaza stood a solemn statue with sharply defined features, looking somewhat familiar…

The statue faced a majestic and solemn green stone palace.

Within two breaths, Zhao Sheng and the middle-aged man flew one after the other into the palace, arriving at a grand hall deep within.

The grand hall was quite spacious; the main seat above was empty, and a historical painting hung on the central wall, depicting a lake beside which stood a young man, his face identical to the statue outside.

At that moment, five people were sitting around a circular table in the middle of the hall.

The five individuals had distinct appearances with their energies concealed, resembling ordinary people.

Zhao Sheng glanced at them and instantly perceived the cultivation and faces of all five individuals.

Next to the main seat sat a plump man with a jolly face, resembling Maitreya Buddha reincarnated.

To the right of the plump man sat a mysterious man wearing a silver mask. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

Directly opposite to the masked man was a slender woman in a Daoist robe, with a tiny cinnabar mole between her eyebrows.

The last two were an old man with youthful features and gray hair, and an unremarkable young man.

The Maitreya Buddha fatty, the masked man, and the Daoist robe woman were all at the middle stage of the Golden Core, while the other two were merely at the early stage of the Golden Core.

At a glance, Zhao Sheng knew that none of the five had their true appearances, having disguised themselves just like him.

Upon seeing a nine-foot tall man with a dark face brought into the hall, four of the people’s expressions showed surprise, only the youthful-faced elderly man suddenly stood up.

“Senior brother, you’ve arrived quickly. Has the task been completed?”

The rest, upon hearing this, showed a moment of realization and involuntarily looked sideways at Zhao Sheng.

Without a doubt, this youthful-faced elderly man was Zhao Jingtian in disguise.

Zhao Sheng nodded and flipped his hand, revealing a three-foot-long, luminescent white jade scorpion tail in his palm.

With this radiant white jade scorpion tail, no further proof was necessary.

Seeing this, Zhao Jingyun burst into laughter, quickly waving at Zhao Sheng, “Senior brother, come over here and sit.”

Zhao Sheng nodded, his form flickering as he sat beside Zhao Jingyun on a stone chair.

At this moment, the middle-aged man also found a seat and sat down.

The hall quickly became quiet, as if no one intended to speak.

After a while, the main seat flickered with light, and suddenly there appeared a thin Taoist priest in plain robes with an ancient face.

“Master!”

“Ancestor!”

“Dragon Master!”

Upon the appearance of the old Taoist priest, the seven people immediately stood up and bowed, calling out each title.

The Taoist clad in a simple robe was none other than the current leader of the Dragon Roar Organization, and also a Nascent Soul Ancestor of the Zhao Family’s “You” generation, truly named Zhao Youxuan.

Among the seven people present, the Maitreya Buddha fatty and the Daoist-robed woman were not members of the Zhao Clan, but disciples under this simple-robed Taoist.

Of the remaining five, the middle-aged man was the Taoist’s direct descendant, which is why he addressed him as Ancestor.

Although Zhao Sheng and Zhao Jingyun along with two others were also Zhao clan members, according to organizational rules, they could only address him as Dragon Master.

The simple-robed Taoist Zhao Youxuan displayed a hint of a smile and gestured with his hand for everyone to sit down.

Once Zhao Sheng and the other six reseated themselves, the Taoist began, “The reason I’ve urgently summoned you all here actually concerns a few matters.”

“The first matter,” he said, “is to announce that the organization has gained another core elder. Ah, Master Zhen Yan, you all must have heard of him for sure! He is an Alchemy Master, and from now on if you need Spirit Pills, he’s the one to look for.”

Zhao Sheng stood up in response, bowed with clasped hands to everyone, and said with a smile, “Dragon Master overpraises me. The path of alchemy is vast and profound, unfathomable. On this journey of the Alchemy Dao, I am merely a primary student, just beginning my studies. However, should any of you have a need, feel free to mention it. As long as the Elixir Recipe is available, a Third-Order Spirit Pill… is not difficult!”

Upon hearing this bold statement, those present were both happy and doubtful, but only Zhao Jingyun had complete faith in his words.

He knew well his “fellow disciple” who excelled not only in alchemy but also mastered both talismanic artifacts and alchemy, each element not inferior to the other.

Although without evidence, Zhao Jingyun always felt that his “fellow disciple” might be proficient in other magic skills as well.

Merely within three years, Zhao Jingyun had been deeply impressed by Zhao Sheng.

Just then, the simple-robed Taoist suddenly chuckled and asked Zhao Sheng, “Zhen Yan, there are some matters I am unclear about, could you enlighten me?”

Zhao Sheng felt his heart stir upon hearing this, knowing the dramatic part was coming.

“What doubts does the Dragon Master have? Please, speak!”

The old Taoist smiled again and asked, “You are of the Qiong generation of our clan, right? I heard you were active in Cang Province in your early years?”

“Yes, that’s correct,” Zhao Sheng responded calmly, nodding affirmatively.

Still smiling amiably, the simple-robed Taoist’s tone nevertheless turned cold, “Well… that’s what confuses me. A couple of months ago, I spoke with an old fellow in Cang Province and he seemed to have no knowledge of your existence?”

Zhao Sheng threw his hand up and a black identity token flew out, clanging as it landed on the table.

“If the Dragon Master doesn’t trust me, would he doubt this identity token as well?”

Although unsure why the old Taoist was suddenly challenging him, Zhao Sheng remained fearless.

“This token is certainly genuine. However, as far as I am aware, there is no ‘Zhao Qiongtian’ in the Qiong generation. A late-stage Golden Core true member of the Zhao family is also a backbone of the clan, so why is Zhao Qiongtian unknown to any?”

Zhao Sheng replied without changing his expression, “That question should be directed to Ancestor Jing. Everything was arranged by him.”

As soon as these words were uttered, everyone was shocked, including the old Taoist.

For members of the Zhao family, Ancestor Zhao Xuanjing was undoubtedly revered as the most supreme.

It is said that since Zhao Sheng established the family, over two thousand tumultuous years had passed.

During the early days of the family’s foundation, Zhao Sheng had laid out the “Feng Xian Ming Ren Sect, Quanzhen Du Taihe, The Classic of Sincerity and Jade Declaration, Zhongzheng Chang Jinke. Essence of the Mystic Path, Gao Hongding Daluo, Moral Performance, Cultivation is Valuable” – totaling forty generations.

Till this day, previously established generations were already insufficient for the use of family members.

Thus, a thousand years ago, Zhao Xuanjing added another thirty generations for the Zhao family, named “San Shan Yu Xing, Zhen Fu Hai You, Qiong Jing Yang, Heng Xin Zheng, Wan Gu Xu, Ri Yue Chong”.

Zhao Sheng used Zhao Xuanjing as a shield, effectively silencing everyone since no one dared to question the arrangements of the ancestor.

“Very well, let’s move on to the next matter,” the simple-robed Taoist Zhao Youxuan said, glancing at Zhao Sheng and then announcing the next issue calmly, as if the previous questioning had not occurred.

“In seven years, the Star Gate will open once again. To prevent the lessons of a hundred years ago from repeating, I need to choose the candidates in advance. There are only three spots for our province, who among you wants to participate.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Sheng immediately spoke up, “Count me in!”

But after he spoke, no one else did. The faces around him showed difficulty, seemingly held back by some considerations.

Zhao Sheng, seeing this, understood as clear as daylight.

Each opening of the Star Gate meant a brief but fierce confrontation between two realms, with inevitably a storm of blood and violence.

During each confrontation, even Divinity Transformation True Monarchs might intervene and Nascent Soul Ancestors were frequently involved.

In such elite battlegrounds, even a Golden Core True Immortal hardly guaranteed his own safety, sometimes even becoming cannon fodder, easily perishing without a trace.

On the side of the Netherworld, that was the opponent’s home ground where Zhao Sheng and others wished to stir troubles discreetly, and not paying a heavy price would be odd.