Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension

Zhao Sheng heard this and smiled, "I heard that Ancestor has a copy of 'Devouring Evil and Refining Demon Skill.' I would like to borrow it for a look."

"Between us, there's no need to mention the word 'borrow.' This technique was something I gained from the chance encounter at the Moonlight Cave Heaven years ago. Today, I'm handing over the original to you."

As he spoke, Ancestor Zheng Jue pulled back his robe to expose his chest and abdomen, then thrust his right hand into his own belly.

There was a cracking sound as bones were forcibly broken, and the blood-drenched right hand withdrew from the abdomen, clutching half a jade-like carved rib in its palm.

Ancestor Zheng Jue remained expressionless, casually handing the ribbone to Zhao Sheng, then solemnly said, "Here, I must remind you. 'Devouring Evil and Refining Demon Skill' can be observed and referenced but must never be cultivated. This technique doesn't suit your Spirit Root, and cultivating it will surely lead to falling into the path of demons."

"Rest assured, Ancestor! I understand in my heart." Zhao Sheng played with the rib, wearing a confident smile.

After acquiring the treasure, Ancestor Zheng Jue was too joyful to sit still, and upon seeing that the matter was settled, he immediately took his leave.

Zhao Sheng rose accordingly and escorted the Ancestor out.

After watching the tunneling light vanish into the distance, Zhao Sheng's figure flickered and vanished from the spot.

...

Spring, summer, autumn, and winter, the cycle of the four seasons! Three years passed in the blink of an eye.

Since the beginning of autumn, the weather has become increasingly cool day by day.

In the West Mansion of Hidden Dragon Pavilion, from an insect feeding room adjoining the Cultivation Dojo, came faint rustling sounds, as if insects inside were incessantly gnawing on leaves.

The insect feeding room is considered a forbidden land of the mansion, constantly shrouded by protective barriers, accessible only to the master, the chief steward Chen Shou, and the ladies and young misses.

At this moment, in the insect feeding room, the corpse of a Fourth-rank Demon Beast, Ink Cloud Winged Tiger, lay piled up in the center of a stone room, its massive body resembling a huge mountain of flesh.

Shhh—

A closer look revealed that arm-length, exceptionally fat, pale gray giant silkworms were burrowing in and out of the tiger's body, voraciously devouring demon beast meat.

The pale gray giant silkworms had faint blood-colored light circulating continually over their bodies, and their backs were covered with hundreds of black markings, appearing exceedingly bizarre.

"Eat quickly, eat more! Little darlings, after eating your fill, hurry and spin your cocoons!"

At this moment, Chen Shou watched fervently from the side, whispering endlessly as he secretly observed the feeding Devouring Immortal Silkworms.

Over the past few years, he had been responsible for caring for and raising these seven Devouring Immortal Silkworms.

True to their name as an ancient exotic insect, the Devouring Immortal Silkworms never stopped eating since birth.

Over these years, they had devoured hundreds to thousands of demon beasts, amounting to a pile taller than a mountain.

This year, the third time after the Devouring Immortal Silkworms emerged from their cocoons, they developed a bad habit of being "picky eaters," necessitating a change to feeding them carcasses of Golden Core Level Demon Beasts.

It's known that Third-rank Demon Beasts can rival False Core Masters, and upon reaching Fourth-rank they can even contend with Golden Core Masters.

Such Golden Core Demon Beasts, formidable in power and scarce in number, are extremely challenging to kill, thus ordinary Cultivation Families dare not provoke high-level demon beasts.

If outsiders knew that someone was using Golden Core Demon Beasts as insect food, they would undoubtedly be astonished to speechlessness.

But for Chen Shou, this was merely a part of everyday life.

Every ten days to half a month, Golden Core Demon Beasts would be delivered, and even if the Devouring Immortal Silkworms ate to their fill, they couldn't finish all of it.

The Devouring Immortal Silkworms continued to eat, from morning to evening, consuming nearly one-third of the tiger corpse.

Boom—

At dusk, a muffled thunder suddenly echoed from overhead, spreading into the stone room as a resonating vibration.

At that instant, the seven Devouring Immortal Silkworms trembled in unison and quickly burrowed deep inside the corpse to hide.

Chen Shou was not surprised; he knew for a long time that the Devouring Immortal Silkworms feared nothing but the majesty of nature.

With a rumbling sound, Thunder Clouds covered the Heavenly Vault, and deep within the clouds, Thunder Light constantly descended.

Just then, an overwhelming momentum suddenly penetrated the walls and slammed down, causing Chen Shou's heart to jolt violently with chills running up his spine.

Yet the next second, a look of joy flashed across his face, realizing that his master's cultivation had made great progress.

"Could it be... the master has successfully reached the Golden Core Fourth Level?" His mind raced with delight at the thought.

"Hmm, after two months of seclusion, I finally broke through the Golden Core Sixth Barrier. The timing is just right for coming out, as the Lady is about to reach Foundation Establishment. This is a major event that must not be delayed."

In a Cultivation Chamber of the Inner Mansion, Zhao Sheng slowly retracted his aura, muttering to himself, his figure flickering out of sight.

With a turn of time, three months had already passed.

Recently, Hidden Dragon Pavilion was adorned with lights, all the servants busy with joyful expressions, attending to the Foundation Establishment celebration for the First Madam.

That day, countless precious gifts flooded into the mansion, filling up three large rooms.

However, the joyous occasion was not just this one, but came one after another!

Since the First Madam succeeded in Foundation Establishment, the Second Madam, Third Madam, and Seventh Madam consecutively broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

What delighted everyone the most was that the eldest miss, Chen Mingzhi, had successfully advanced to Foundation Establishment at the young age of twenty-two, becoming the first among her generation in the Chen Family.

For this reason, the master was exceedingly pleased, bestowing generous rewards to everyone.

At night,

A crash of ceramic shattering echoed from a luxurious and grand study where a young, handsome man was furiously losing his temper:

"Hmph! The old man is too biased, giving the best treasures to Chen Mingzhi, letting her take the lead in Foundation Establishment. Yet I, Chen Mingren, am the legitimate eldest son of the family, so why don't I receive Father's favor and care?"

Chen Mingren, at only nineteen years old this year, had already reached the Qi Refining Perfection Realm.

In theory, a mere Foundation Establishment Pill would be easy for him to obtain.

However, previously the master personally decreed that the eldest young master should patiently grind for two years, only using the Foundation Establishment Pill after perfecting his Spiritual Power.

The master's words were undoubtedly a sacred decree, and no one, including the ladies in the mansion, dared to defy the master's wishes.

Hence, Chen Mingren could only watch idly as Chen Mingzhi took his spotlight, incapable and enraged.

The attendant Huamo, seeing this, quickly soothed him: "Young master, no need to worry! No matter how favored the eldest miss is now, she will eventually marry into another family. At that time, won't the master still place the most importance on you, young master?"

"And there's the third one!" Chen Mingren said gloomily, his gaze cold.

"The Third Young Master is nothing to be concerned about; firstly, he's born to the second wife, and secondly, his methods and insight are far inferior to yours. He doesn't have the qualifications to compete with you for favor."

The attendant Huamo did not mention the Fourth Young Master, Chen Mingqian, because he was too young and of too poor potential to assume family responsibilities.

Chen Mingren nodded lightly as the shadow in his eyes reduced by three parts, replying, "You do have a point! In that case, I must quickly find a suitable match for my eldest sister. Huamo, prepare the carriage, I need to visit the old master and old mistress."

As Chen Mingren took the carriage to visit the residence of Chen Dacheng and his wife, Zhao Sheng remained completely unaware of these matters.

At that moment, several million miles away, high above the firmament, at the boundary membrane's edge lay a bleak void where darkness gradually faded, and a sliver of crimson dawn appeared at the earth's curve.

Zhao Sheng sat cross-legged at the center of a suspended Magic Platform, surrounded by layers of Thunder Light.

When the first ray of sunlight fell, the Great Sun Purple Qi within a hundred miles was entirely seized by an invisible hand and converged into Zhao Sheng's Dantian, quickly refining into droplets of Purple Cloud Thunder Element.

After an hour, the Great Sun Purple Qi depleted and dispersed.

Zhao Sheng immediately retracted the Magic Platform and unhesitatingly teleported eight thousand miles away.

At this location, the Heavenly Curtain was half black and half white, just arriving at dawn. He continued on, releasing the Magic Platform to capture the diffuse Great Sun Purple Qi in the void.

Repeating this process tirelessly, Zhao Sheng continuously shifted across space-time to refine Great Sun Purple Qi day and night.

Such an unprecedented act would make Zhao Sheng a target if known to others.

However, Zhao Sheng resided near the boundary membrane, an area so high that virtually no one could reach, except perhaps for those Nascent Soul Ancestors bored beyond measure.

Yet, as the saying goes, walking a long night road will inevitably lead to encountering ghosts!