Chapter 647: 397: The Zhao Family Has Great Talent Generation After Generation

Chapter 647: Chapter 397: The Zhao Family Has Great Talent Generation After Generation

Southern Border, Xinglong City

That day, a streak of light suddenly broke through the clouds and plummeted toward Xinglong City.

In a brief moment, the streak of light fell to a height of a hundred yards in the air. And then, its brilliance dispersed, revealing the figure of Zhao Sheng.

He looked down upon the boundless and vast city below him, his expression tinged with a trace of emotion.

Compared to a thousand years ago, the scale of Xinglong City had expanded more than tenfold.

Zhao Sheng’s Divine Thought extended out to a hundred and twenty miles, where he saw buildings as far as the eye could see, bustling with prosperity, yet still failing to “see” the edge of the ancient city. This sight illustrated the immense scale of Xinglong City.

When Zhao Sheng released his Divine Thought, he also alerted the Nascent Soul of the Zhao Family who was the Guardian of Xinglong City.

“Hehe, may I ask which Fellow Daoist has the pleasure of visiting our Xinglong City today? Zhao Shanhe offers his greetings in advance.”

Accompanied by a clear and melodious voice in his ear, Zhao Sheng’s gaze focused, and he saw a streak of blue light flying out of the central Eight Diagrams Bright Tower. With a swoop, it flew to a position ten yards opposite him, manifesting into a middle-aged man with short hair and yellow eyes.

Zhao Sheng gave a slight smile and cupped his fists, saying, “The Sixth Ancestor misunderstands. I am Zhao Qiongtian, paying respects to the Mountain and Sea Ancestor.”

Zhao Shanhe’s expression appeared shocked, then turned to great mirth as he laughed heartily, “Haha, it’s like a flood washing the Dragon King Temple—one family that fails to recognize its own! So it’s my newly ascended dragon! My apologies for not meeting you from afar, please forgive me!”

Zhao Sheng politely said, “Sixth Ancestor, there’s no need for such formalities. It is I, Qiongtian, who has been presumptuous.”

“Haha, enough of that. Come with me quickly, let’s talk in the Bright Tower.” Zhao Shanhe flew closer, grabbed Zhao Sheng’s arm, and took him towards the Bright Tower.

…

Half a day later, in the Dust Removal Pavilion on the seventh floor of the Bright Tower, a grand banquet was already halfway through.

In the spacious and luxurious hall, there were just seven tables for the feast, with the two most prominent Jade Tables at the very top, standing opposite each other, behind which sat Zhao Sheng and Zhao Shanhe.

Sitting on both sides below them were five Golden Core Masters, who had come specifically to pay their respects to the new ancestor of their family, and they were responsible for accompanying him.

At this moment, two young masters with extraordinary demeanors stood behind Zhao Sheng, one on each side, bearing wine and alcohol jugs.

As the banquet passed its halfway point, Zhao Shanhe’s cheeks were flushed with red, as if he was slightly intoxicated, and pointing to the two behind Zhao Sheng, he laughed, “You two, come forward.”

The two Zhao Family scions tightened their expressions upon hearing this and immediately walked forward.

Zhao Shanhe then said, “Qiong Tian, what do you think of these two lads?”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Sheng knew what he meant and began to examine the two.

After a moment, he couldn’t help but praise, “Qi Fortune is a radiant purple, with eminent foreheads. Before reaching the age of sixty, they have achieved Foundation Establishment. If they do not fall midway, Golden Core is within reach.”

After hearing this, Zhao Shanhe’s demeanor paused, and then he burst into hearty laughter, pointing at Zhao Sheng, “Qiong Tian, you… you’re quite straightforward. It seems that my little scheme could not escape your notice. Hehe, eminent foreheads indeed hit the nail on the head!”

At this point, Zhao Shanhe’s face grew stern, and he bellowed at the two scions, “You two useless ones, why don’t you go into seclusion right away? When you have scraped off the pride in your hearts, only then may you leave seclusion.”

At these words, not only were the two Zhao Family scions shocked, but the five Golden Core Masters also fell silent as if struck by fear.

The Sixth Ancestor Zhao Shanhe was famously quick-tempered within the family, and even though the two young scions were his juniors, he did not spare them from his scolding.

Seeing this, Zhao Sheng’s eyes flashed, and he immediately waved his hand, smiling gently, “Sixth Ancestor, if you carry on like this, it could make me appear unkind.”

With that, Zhao Sheng took out two bottles of high-grade Calming God Pills, swept them into the young men’s arms with a flick of his sleeve, and said, “We just met, and I have nothing much to offer. These are some Calming God Pills I refined earlier on, of decent quality. Consider them a meeting gift. You two can go now! Don’t take it to heart.”

The two Zhao Family scions exchanged glances, suppressing the disappointment in their hearts, and bowed in unison, “Grandsons Zhao… thank you, Ancestor, for the Divine Pills!”

After the two hastily departed, Zhao Sheng playfully chided, “Sixth Ancestor, was that really necessary?”

“Haha, a jade must be carved to become an artifact! Those two lads’ eyes were almost reaching for the heavens. If we don’t take the opportunity to teach them a lesson now, I fear they may have limited achievements in the future,” Zhao Shanhe said, half in jest, half in drunken seriousness.

“Ancestor speaks wisely; the young ones in the family are becoming too arrogant these days. If this continues, it’s bound to spoil the family’s atmosphere,” one of the Golden Core Masters chimed in from below.

Zhao Sheng smiled and remained silent.

Although he was ostensibly the guest of honor at today’s welcome banquet, his purpose was not entirely simple.

Nowadays, undercurrents were surging within the family, and factional strife was intense. As he currently held a transcendent status, it was best to remain neutral and not get involved.

…

After the banquet had ended, Zhao Sheng spent two days touring Xinglong City, visiting various former residences from the past.

Having declined Zhao Shanhe’s offer to join him, he went alone to the eighth underground level of the Eight Diagrams Bright Tower, the Scripture Repository.

The so-called Scripture Repository was in fact an extensive underground complex spanning over twenty miles, with thousands upon thousands of jade-paneled rooms and repositories.

The Scripture Repository was divided into areas according to the Hundred Skills of Immortal Cultivation, with repositories ranked into three categories and nine levels—Heaven, Earth, and Man based on rarity and preciousness, each higher level guarded with even stricter defenses.

The highest-ranked Heavenly Scripture Library was defended with Formations and Prohibitions personally arranged by Zhao Xuanjing, insurmountable without the power of a Divinity Transformation True Monarch.

Humming!

As successive Prohibition light screens split open, Zhao Sheng walked unobstructedly along the corridor leading underground. On both sides stood door after door made of Diamond, with densely packed runes covering them. As the spirit lights flickered, a faint sense of oppression filled the air.