Chapter 401 -283 Testing_2
Zhao Sheng did not continue.
The Huang Sha Taoist understood implicitly and transmitted his thoughts, saying, “If the overall strength of the Netherworld Ghost Realm is far less than ours, perhaps we could launch a counterattack and avenge the invasion from ten thousand years ago.”
However, Zhao Sheng was not as optimistic as the Huang Sha Taoist. According to the records in the secret crypt of the Ksitigarbha Sect, the strength of the Netherworld Ghost Realm was very likely superior to that of the Tianzhu Realm, perhaps even more than just slightly.
One must remember that in the battle ten thousand years ago, it was the Tianzhu Realm that was invaded.
This could be seen from the Heavenly Burial Plain, which had turned into a land of sinister spirits within a radius of ten thousand miles.
“By the way, Taoist, I heard that the Zhao Family started the Heavenly Burial Plain trial more than twenty years ago. Over the years, the Zhao lineage has produced many outstanding descendants, known as the ‘Three Dragons, Ten Outstanding.’ Speaking of which, Brother Zhao, which of the three dragons do you think has the chance to overcome the Heavenly Tribulation?”
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Upon hearing this, Zhao Sheng’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
Although the words of the Huang Sha Taoist seemed casual, they were in fact probing.
The so-called “Three Dragons” of the Zhao Family referred to the three most outstanding Late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Zhao family: Zhao Deli, Zhao Deguang, and Zhao Yansu.
The “Ten Outstanding” referred to ten young descendants who stood out of the several hundred Qi Refining Clan Members, most of whom belonged to the Qing generation, with only a few led by the elder, Zhao Huaxiong, of the Hua generation.
With a thought passing through his mind, Zhao Sheng openly said, “Although Deli and the others are not bad, the likelihood of them overcoming the Heavenly Tribulation is slim. If one among them could cultivate a Fake Pill, I would be greatly surprised.”
The Huang Sha Taoist felt relieved and quickly probed again, “Taoist Zhao need not worry. As long as the Zhao Family has you and the Dragon Slayer Master, it will prosper for at least a thousand years.
Unlike my He Mountain Sect, which lacks successors, once I pass away, my sect will inevitably decline.
At that time, I hope you, in consideration of our friendship, will take care of the He Mountain Sect to prevent it from being destroyed.”
Zhao Sheng consoled him, saying, “What are you talking about, Mr. Huang? The He Mountain Sect and the Zhao Family have had several hundred years of friendship. Even if your sect temporarily falls on hard times with no Golden Core successors, even if I am not around, should your sect face difficulties, my family will certainly not stand idly by.”
“Haha, hearing you say this makes me very happy. I am immensely grateful! Should such a day come, my He Mountain Sect will surely remember it,” Huang Sha Taoist responded with a carefree laugh, then skirted the topic with some words better left unsaid, for taking them seriously would be truly foolish.
“By the way, it has been many years since I last saw the venerable Dragon Slayer. Is he still in closed-door cultivation?”
Hearing this, Zhao Sheng’s gaze flickered a few times, then he replied with a smile, “Haha, our ancestor once listened to the teachings of the Nascent Soul Ancestor at the Ksitigarbha Sect and chose to enter seclusion to ponder the mysteries he realized afterward. He has been in seclusion for over ten years now, but we’ve continuously received news from him. He is growing increasingly vigorous and advancing in strength!”
The light below the Huang Sha Taoist flickered as he nodded in admiration, “The strength of the Dragon Slayer Master is unfathomable. According to your words, venerable senior might not be far from ascending to the Nascent Soul.”
“Thank you for your auspicious words! The ancestor will surely live up to the expectations,” Zhao Sheng stated with unwavering belief.
This view made the Huang Sha Taoist secretly anxious.
The He Mountain Sect considered itself strong, but compared to the mighty Xinglong Zhao Family, it was minor by comparison, and living next to such a formidable ‘bad neighbor,’ the He Mountain Sect’s days were always fraught with fear, anxious that one day their ancestral legacy might be seized by their neighbor.
For hundreds of years, the Dragon Slayer Master, Zhao Xuanjing, had been a daunting shadow over the He Mountain Sect and neighboring powers, suffocating them under his influence.
Time calculated, the life span of the Dragon Slayer Master should have reached its limit.
If he passed away, the He Mountain Sect could breathe easier.
Although the Xinglong Zhao Family still had a powerful Golden Core Master, he was not as despairing as the Dragon Slayer Master.
“But if he were… to ascend to Nascent Soul, then…” the weight in Huang Sha Taoist’s heart grew heavier as he recalled the many unbelievable deeds of the Dragon Slayer Master, and a deep shadow suddenly loomed in his mind.
“Taoist Zhao, there’s a fine disciple under me, fair of face and gentle of heart, tender and considerate. I hear your grandson is approaching his early twenties; why not let the two young ones meet? Perhaps our two families could even form a bond as deep as that of Qin and Jin,” the Huang Sha Taoist schemed anew.
“Haha, my grandson is obstinate and stubborn. If someone could tame him, I would be overjoyed. However, matters of marriage are always decided by my wife. Once this is settled, I will discuss it with her and then give you an answer. How does that sound?”
“That sounds good!”
With intermittent conversation, the two had flown thousands of miles and a vast expanse of cliffs covered in old vines and strange trees, with rugged rocks, appeared in front of them.
Jian Er, his expression stern, held his sword with both hands and closed his eyes to conserve his energy, his body suspended above the cliff.
The cold wind howled, and his sword attire fluttered loudly in the fierce wind.
Zhao Sheng and Huang Sha Daoist, seeing from afar, immediately rushed downwards and flew over to join Jian Er.
Jian Er suddenly opened his eyes and said indifferently, “You’ve come too slow!”
At these words, Huang Sha Daoist was taken aback and hurriedly chuckled, “Hehe, it is Taoist Jian who is too fast.”
Jian Er did not argue, but simply stated, “Old Daoist, it’s your turn to make a move.”
Zhao Sheng watched from the side without saying a word.
He looked around and saw that the cliff extended left and right into the distance, with continuous mountains and valleys beyond it.
Everywhere he could see, the Mang Forest loomed, filled with miasmatic clouds, where countless strange and exotic insects and beasts ceaselessly appeared within the woods, and from the dark depths came intermittent roars and cries of birds.
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“Follow me!”
With that said, Huang Sha Taoist suddenly transformed into a great mass of yellow sand, forming a cascade of sand that rushed towards the vast mountains.
Seeing this, Zhao Sheng and Jian Er, one after another turned into beams of light and swiftly followed.
Half a day later, the three stopped in front of a precipitous peak.
Here, the surrounding peaks stood tall, the land was barren, trees sparse, and the spiritual energy was extremely weak.
Huang Sha Daoist looked around at the scenery, nodded his head without hesitation, slapped his waist pouch, and a swirl of yellow sandy air erupted, transforming into sand flies the size of mosquitoes and flies.
“Go, my little darlings!”
As the sound of his voice fell, the swarm of sand flies scattered in all directions to commence their search.
Zhao Sheng, watching this scene, felt puzzled, but did not ask further; instead, he flashed to the side and stood with his hands clasped behind his back, quietly waiting.
Before long, about a hundred sand flies before Huang Sha Daoist suddenly flapped their wings and took off.
Seeing this, his face brightened joyfully, and he hurriedly waved to the other two, “At last, the moment has arrived! You two, conceal your auras. The Quenching Sky Eagle is quite cunning, be careful not to alert it!”
Straightway, Huang Sha Taoist raised his hand and a pale yellow halo burst forth from his sleeve, enveloping the three and their forms in a vast radiance of light.
Shortly thereafter, the figures of the three gradually vanished into the air.
…
Half an hour later, within a steep mountain wall, there was a deep, dark cavern, the entrance of which was more than two zhang high, with a cluttered mix of soil and stones at the interior, its surface covered in wind-etched claw marks.
Zhao Sheng and the others hid on a mountain top twenty li away, secretly peering at the activity there.
“Please wait a moment, let me first set up the formation,” said Huang Sha Daoist in a whisper, after which he flicked his long sleeve and eighteen dim lights shot out, transforming into eighteen roughly one-foot-wide grey-yellow array flags bearing ancient runes in the void.
He then formed spell seals, releasing several magic spells that quickly disappeared into the flags and left no trace.
Upon a resonating “hum,” the light from the eighteen array flags blazed forth and a faint grey-yellow light screen formed and flashed in the air before disappearing, along with the flags.
Zhao Sheng noted this and inwardly adjusted his estimation of Huang Sha Daoist’s capabilities.
After that, still unfulfilled, Huang Sha Taoist continuously threw out nearly a hundred hazy yellow talismans from his sleeve, which fell near the mountaintop and vanished with a flicker.
Only then did he smile in satisfaction, looked back at Zhao Sheng and Jian Er, and said, “When action commences, if we can’t kill the eagle in one shot, try to drive it into the formation and trap it using its power. Mr. Zhao, you are the strongest, so please handle the Quenching Sky Eagle to prevent it from escaping. I am skilled in trapping tactics and can assist with the Yellow Sand Great Method. As for the final strike, that task will fall to Taoist Jian.”
Zhao Sheng nodded in agreement as did Jian Er; this arrangement seemed reasonable.
Huang Sha Daoist, as a practitioner of a Fake Pill and not adept in combat, along with maintaining the formation stealthily, indeed should not bear the brunt of the battle.