Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension

He wanted to leave, but Zhao Sheng's purpose for attending the gathering had not been achieved yet, so he couldn't let him go.

"Elder Brother, wait a moment, I still have something to ask you?"

Feng Yu Elder Taoist frowned, "Junior Brother, what is it you wish to ask?"

"I have heard that more than a decade ago, Elder Brother once went to the Desolate Domain to establish a branch. Is this true?" Zhao Sheng asked with a serious expression.

After hearing this, Feng Yu Elder Taoist's frown deepened, and his mood worsened!

This matter was a humiliation to him,

Sixteen years ago, in order to earn merit, he eagerly went to the Desolate Domain to make a name for himself. Little did he know that he would be ostracized by the local forces, and in the end, was unable to maintain his footing, leaving in utter disarray back to Cliff Mountain.

"Hmm, there is probably such a matter," Feng Yu Elder Taoist responded noncommittally.

Zhao Sheng's eyes lit up, and he spoke earnestly, "Elder Brother, please do not take offense, I too have similar aspirations. It's just that I know very little about the Desolate Domain's customs and practices, so I earnestly seek Elder Brother's guidance!"

A glint flickered in Feng Yu Elder Taoist's eyes as he suddenly said, "Since Junior Brother wishes to ask, naturally, I shall hold nothing back. However..."

His tone lengthened, and he did not continue but looked intently at Zhao Sheng.

Zhao Sheng understood the hint and felt enlightened.

"As long as Elder Brother speaks truthfully. I have some small trinkets here that I find of no use. I might as well gift them to Elder Brother for your enjoyment."

Feng Yu Elder Taoist shook his head and said gravely, "Not enough! Although I failed, I still have a group of useful people left in the Desolate Domain. If Junior Brother wants to take over, feel free to do so, but these trinkets are far from sufficient."

Zhao Sheng felt elated inside. The reason he had approached Feng Yu Elder Taoist was precisely for the manpower he just mentioned.

Thereupon, he immediately and decisively agreed.

Considering that this was not the place to discuss such matters, the two quickly got up and left, finding a private place to sit down and start negotiating back and forth.

After a period of bargaining, Zhao Sheng spent a large sum of merit to finally satisfy Feng Yu Elder Taoist's demands.

Then, Feng Yu Elder Taoist began to eagerly explain the customs and practices of the Desolate Domain to Zhao Sheng.

This explanation lasted for a full day and night, and only after Feng Yu Elder Taoist had emptied all he knew did Zhao Sheng let him leave contentedly.

...

Half a month later, Zhao Sheng actively sought out Sect Leader Jin Chenzi, proposing to establish a branch in the Desolate Domain.

Jin Chenzi greatly appreciated Zhao Sheng's proactive offer to serve the sect and agreed immediately and readily.

In a certain sense, the Origin Return Sect was very welcoming of Foundation Establishment disciples venturing to various Boundary realms of the Central Continent to establish branches.

Branches could be established anywhere, but there was one condition… the "performance" had to meet the annual target.

The so-called performance referred to Essence Blood Pearls.

Based on the number of disciples, the sect would require the branch to provide a certain number of Essence Blood Pearls.

If the performance met the target, the Dean could receive a large sum of merit.

If the target was exceeded, the Dean could not only get half of the extra part but also enjoy the benefit of "discounted" exchanges at the Merit Hall.

Zhao Sheng had limited connections in the Origin Return Sect, and hardly had any Direct Disciples.

However, there were too many disciples in the Origin Return Sect and the competition was fierce, with many who were "full of ambition."

Therefore, when Zhao Sheng spread the word, that day itself over a dozen disciples at Qi Refining Great Perfection approached him, volunteering to follow him to "make their mark."

Zhao Sheng's intention was not for this, but facing these enthusiastic individuals who brought their own provisions, he naturally accepted.

Quality over quantity!

After some interviews, Zhao Sheng only accepted four of them, and sent the others away after giving each a few Essence Blood Talismans.

Just as Zhao Sheng was concentrating on preparing for the Desolate Domain, a piece of sudden bad news interrupted his plans.

That afternoon, Zhao Sheng was focused on refining a batch of Blood Refining Talismans.

Crack

A jade pendant hanging from his waist suddenly split in two and dropped to the ground.

Zhao Sheng's face turned pale instantaneously, he dropped the talisman pen, and dashed out of the talisman room.

Two breaths later, a Cloud Boat abruptly ascended from a cliff at mid-mountain on Cliff Mountain, soaring into the sky, and then sped toward Pocket World City.

...

Six days later, at Taifu Mountain,

in the courtyard at the mountaintop, every single member of the Zhao Cultivation Clan was present. At this moment, the expressions on their faces were filled with overwhelming grief.

Meanwhile, in a bedroom of the courtyard, Zhao Jijian's body lay stiff on the bed, his complexion deathly pale.

At this time, Zhao Sheng sat by the bed, slightly bowing his head in silence, yet his expression was unusually calm.

Behind him stood Zhao Xuanjing, Zhao Xuan'an, Zhao Keru, and other important figures of the Zhao Family, all standing solemnly.

Ultimately, Zhao Sheng had not managed to make it in time to see Zhao Jijian's last moment.

Seeing Zhao Sheng remain silent, after a long wait, Zhao Xuan'an couldn't help but advise, "Seventh Uncle, you mustn't grieve too much! The Fourth Ancestor passed away with a smile."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Sheng suddenly let out a laugh, tears spilling from the corners of his eyes as he did,

"Of course your Fourth Ancestor would smile. Not just him, I would smile too. He could hold his head high, proudly report to our ancestors that he did not let them down. Not only did the family not decline under his leadership, but it also flourished even more, securing a legacy for generations to come. He... he was proud!"

Having finished, Zhao Sheng stood up, turned around, and looked over at Zhao Xuanjing and the others with a face full of satisfaction.

Zhao Keru, Third Level of Foundation Establishment,

Zhao Xuanjing, Foundation Establishment Fourth Layer,

Zhao Xuan'an, Second Level of Foundation Establishment,

Zhao Xuance, Qi Refining Perfection

Zhao Tongxian, Qi Refining Perfection

…

Thirty years had passed, and other than him, the Zhao Family had three at Foundation Establishment, four at Qi Refining Perfection, and eighteen at the Qi Refining Late Stage... The number of Cultivators in the family had surpassed one hundred.

In addition, there was a spirit land on Taifu Mountain covering a hundred miles, with over two hundred thousand common clan members, their influence extending over a thousand miles.

The Zhao Family was thriving with successors. Zhao Jijian could die with a smile, and Zhao Sheng also could lay down his heavy responsibilities to pursue a significant matter.

One day later, Zhao Jijian was buried with great pomp and ceremony, and on that day, Taifu Mountain was lit up with lanterns and festooned with decorations, brimming with joy.

A month later, Zhao Sheng appeared on the slope of Taifu Mountain and quietly slipped into the green pond. He placed the first set of "contingencies" at the bottom of the pond.

Three months later, Zhao Sheng, despite the entreaties of Zhao Xuan'an and others, resolutely left Taifu Mountain.

Before departing, he had secret lengthy discussions with both Zhao Xuanjing and Zhao Xuan'an over two days.

After Zhao Sheng left, Zhao Xuanjing also returned to the secret mansion of the Zhao Family at Heavenly Pillar Mountain. He was the chief of the Dark Department, content to live a life of solitude.

Seven days later, a Cloud Boat quietly descended on the banks of Dragon Carp Lake.

After the Zhao Family moved away, the Purple Sun Sect reclaimed Dragon Carp Lake, but they did not relocate a new Cultivation Family there. Instead, they used it again as a base for outstation disciples.

Zhao Sheng did not linger in the area and, after setting down the second batch of "contingencies," he drifted away.

When he next made an appearance, he had already arrived thousands of miles away in Nanyang City.

Several hundred years had passed, and although Liang Kingdom had long become a fleeting memory, the Nanyang Zhao Family still stood unyielding, renowned as a millennium-old clan, dominating Ganzhou.

Through hundreds of years of continuous expansion, the Zhao Family's Cemetery had encompassed the entire mountaintop.

Even though the cemetery was filled with countless tombstones and graves, the two tombs in the very center were always the most conspicuous.

As the setting sun descended, the dimming sunlight slanted across the surface of the tombstones, Zhao Sheng sat on the stone steps, looking at the few lines inscribed on the tombstone, his expression complex and inexplicable.

"Who can tell me if love transcends the world, making one willing to live and die for it?

A pair of wandering lovers, how many times have their old wings endured the coldness of winter and heat of summer?

There is joy, and there is the grief of parting, and among these, even more, are the foolish men and women.

One should declare:

Amidst thousands of miles of layered clouds, with snow-covered mountains all around, whose shadow journeys alone?"

Looking at the tombstone of his "wife" Wang Yuqi, Zhao Sheng fell silent for a long while.

As the sunset faded and dusk fell, Zhao Sheng suddenly stood up without a word and began to walk down the mountain.

As his figure stretched and disappeared under the crimson sunset, a breeze passed by, and a soft sigh emerged in the air, a whispered phrase slowly reverberating through the cemetery,

"...yet feelings remain unsettled!"