Before long, Zhao Sheng quickly sorted out a lot of useful information, and at the same time, he learned that the super array based on the Grotto Heaven was called "Qiankun Ten Thousand Spirits Array."
This array is a simplified version of the Spirit-controlling Immortal Sectâs sect-protecting array "Tai Chi Four Symbols Qiankun Array". Its grade is as high as Eighth Rank, possessing forty-eight functions including Gathering Spirit, Beast Breeding, Entrapping Enemies, Killing Array, Offense and Defense, etc.
The complexity of this array is unimaginable, and itâs difficult to manage without a Tribulation Crossing Venerable.
...
No one knows how much time has passed, Zhao Sheng suddenly fell from the Heavenly Dao perspective, and his spirit returned to reality.
Upon opening his eyes, he was astonished to find himself not at the Heavenly Pillar Mountain Peak, but above a range of undulating mountains.
At this moment, Zhao Xuanjing appeared by his side, but Zhao Hongyun was nowhere to be seen.
"Chonghe, look down..." Zhao Xuanjing pointed at the mountains below, his tone carrying a hint of pride.
Oh?
Zhao Sheng responded and looked down, immediately seeing a valley below, where a boat, a hall, and a giant red gourd as big as a mountain floated.
Right then, the valleyâs center was covered in mist, with the giant boat, treasure hall, and red gourd treasure occupying the southeast, north, and each having a group of cultivators dressed differently.
Zhao Sheng focused his gaze, the mist in the valley gradually thinned, revealing a medium-sized spiritual realm with an area of several thousand miles before his eyes.
The spiritual realm is filled with ancient forests, numerous lakes, hosting dozens of demon beasts and spirit beasts with pure bloodlines. Due to the dense spiritual energy, many rare spiritual medicines grow inside the spiritual realm, and those over a thousand years old abound.
Meanwhile, most of the demon beasts in the spiritual realm are around third-tier, the strongest being only a sixth-rank demon beast, an exotic white tiger named Winged Cloud Tiger.
Seeing this, Zhao Sheng suddenly understood, isnât this the most classic event of exploring secret realms and seeking treasures! He is well familiar with this!
Zhao Xuanjing seemed to read his mind, immediately hinting, "Look again."
"Oh, could it be... thereâs something strange?" Zhao Shengâs eyes shimmered, a sudden thought flashed through his mind.
He focused again, and upon closer inspection, he quickly found something amiss.
It turns out that within the spiritual realm, three hidden inheritance secret realms were actually concealed. Every secret realm is full of prohibitions, only by breaking them can one obtain one or several treasures, cultivation technique jade scrolls, artifact refining techniques, array plate treasures, and more.
Upon seeing this, Zhao Shengâs heart was moved, and he suddenly reached out to grasp the air.
The next moment, a yellowish jade scroll appeared out of thin air in his hand.
Zhao Sheng sent a thread of divine thought into the jade scroll, instantly seeing an artifact dao heritage named "Artifact Refining Eight Methods."
But in the last part of this method, there was actually a technique for refining mother and child flying swords. The technique content was full of omissions, seemingly intentional.
Zhao Sheng thoughtfully tossed the artifact refining jade scroll back into the spiritual realm, while solemnly saying, "I understand!"
Zhao Xuanjing looked into his eyes and asked again, "Did you really understand?"
Zhao Sheng was about to speak but was interrupted with a wave of his hand: "Donât tell me. I donât want to hear it either."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Sheng was somewhat confused for a moment, not knowing why the ancestor was being deliberately mysterious.
At this time, Zhao Xuanjing suddenly changed the topic and said, "Letâs go! This harvest is enough for you to digest for a thousand years."
As soon as he finished speaking, a portal appeared out of thin air before the two.
Zhao Xuanjing took the lead and walked through the portal, Zhao Sheng furrowed his brows slightly and followed along.
One breath later, the two returned to the mountain top. At this moment, the second ancestor Zhao Hongyun was already waiting outside.
Eternal Night and Yuan Hong stood slightly far away, quietly waiting in solemn expressions.
As soon as the two appeared, Eternal Night and the others immediately bowed and greeted, "... Greetings to Ancestor, Fourth Ancestor!"
Zhao Hongyun sized up Zhao Sheng for a moment, then jokingly said, "Chonghe, were you amazed by the ancestorâs world-shaking feat?"
"Amazed... not really amazed, just feeling somewhat ashamed in comparison!" Zhao Sheng lamented.
Seeing this, Zhao Xuanjing said solemnly, "No need to be ashamed! In the future, when your realm reaches its peak, you can also arrange the âQiankun Ten Thousand Spirits Array.â
Zhao Sheng felt his heart moved and quickly asked the second ancestor, "Second Ancestor, why havenât you arranged this array?"
Zhao Hongyun replied, "This array does not align with my Dao, so I do not choose it. This array, instead, very much matches your Five Elements Dao. You should learn more from the ancestor."
"I see." Zhao Sheng nodded thoughtfully.
At this moment, Zhao Hongyun said again, "Chonghe, itâs your turn."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Shengâs eyes glinted, and a colorful halo suddenly appeared behind his head.
"Ancestor, Second Ancestor, please enter!" Zhao Sheng made a gesture of invitation to the two, simultaneously secretly stopping Eternal Night and the others from their actions.
Eternal Night, Yuan Hong, and the others stood frozen, instantly staying in place, not daring to step forward.
The three of them watched the three ancestors enter the Five Elements Cave Heaven with mixed emotions, their curiosity surging.
...
"Hmm?"
Upon entering the Five Elements Cave Heaven, Zhao Xuanjingâs face suddenly showed a trace of shock, he couldnât help but blurt out, "Why so... big!"
Beside him, Zhao Hongyun also had a shocked expression, apparently realizing the abnormality of this cave heaven.
"Chonghe, your cave heaven... has a diameter exceeding one million miles?"
Zhao Sheng nodded, answering honestly, "Second Ancestorâs observation is correct. The diameter of the Five Elements Cave Heaven is already one million and twenty thousand miles."
One sentence made the two ancestors directly fall silent.
One breath later, Zhao Xuanjing couldnât help but sincerely sigh, "Remarkable! Iâm far from reaching this!"
Zhao Hongyun shook his head, exclaiming, "Itâs not just you, even I am surprised by Chongheâs rapid progress! As far as I know, Chengu Xianzun, the fastest in this realm to ascend Immortal Heaven, took over eight thousand years from opening his cave heaven to crossing the Nine-layered Thunder Tribulation.
Chonghe has been developing his cave heaven until today, not exceeding three thousand years at most. Yet he has already touched the threshold of the Tribulation Crossing Realm, the progress of his cultivation is so rapid, itâs truly unheard of!"
Zhao Sheng humbly replied, "Second Ancestor overpraises. My cultivation speed actually doesnât count for much among All Heavens and Universes. I once encountered several Great Venerables of the Ancient Witch Clan in the Burial Immortal Ruins. The paragons of the Ancient Witch Clan indeed break through like drinking water, and outstanding people ascend Immortal Heaven within ten thousand years abound."
While speaking, Zhao Sheng had already opened part of the Heavenly Dao Authority to the two ancestors.
Zhao Xuanjing and Zhao Hongyun had no time to ask further, their spirits instantly merging into this realm.
Seeing this, Zhao Sheng slowly sat cross-legged in the void, his spirit also merged into the world, accompanying the two ancestors to tour the Five Elements Cave Heaven.
Half a year flew by.
The two ancestors successively awakened, Zhao Hongyun just opened his eyes, immediately looking at Zhao Sheng with a peculiar gaze.
Being looked at, Zhao Sheng felt somewhat uneasy, unconsciously scratching his head.
"Sigh, Chonghe, you are... too slack! The cave heaven is our divine palace, it must be managed with utmost dedication. Youâre negligent, squandering it!" Zhao Hongyun admonished earnestly.
Zhao Sheng bashfully said, "Second Ancestor is correct, I will definitely improve in the future."
At this moment, Zhao Xuanjing also woke up, witnessing the scene also advised: "The foundations of the Five Elements Cave Heaven are very deep, whatâs rare is its spiritual energy density is far more than ten times that of other cave heavens. It is most suitable for constructing the âQiankun Ten Thousand Spirits Array.â
"Chonghe, a lot of space-time bubbles have accumulated in Chaos, just right to use them in your cave heaven."
"Ancestorâs words are extremely true. I indeed have this intention." Zhao Sheng responded urgently.
Now, he suddenly thought of those two idle cave heavens, which could be put to great use.
"Sigh, Chonghe, you are... too slack! The cave heaven is our divine palace, it must be managed with utmost dedication. Youâre negligent, squandering it!" Zhao Hongyun admonished earnestly.
Zhao Sheng bashfully said, "Second Ancestor is correct, I will definitely improve in the future."
At this moment, Zhao Xuanjing also woke up, witnessing the scene also advised: "The foundations of the Five Elements Cave Heaven are very deep, whatâs rare is its spiritual energy density is far more than ten times that of other cave heavens. It is most suitable for constructing the âQiankun Ten Thousand Spirits Array.â
"Chonghe, a lot of space-time bubbles have accumulated in Chaos, just right to use them in your cave heaven."