Chapter 465 - 383: Senior Brothers Arrive
Five hundred years of time, for ordinary people, it is like a sea change, but for a Refining Void Great Power, it is but a fleeting moment in their cultivation.
In the southeastern corner of Huangtian City, a cave dwelling hidden among verdant pines and cypresses lies quietly as a mountain.
The stone gate of the cave dwelling is carved with ancient Yin Yang fish patterns, with a mysterious aura flowing between the patterns, isolating all the clamor of the outside world.
Deep within the cave dwelling, Chen Sheng sits cross-legged on a Cold Jade Meditation Mat, with a faint golden Dao Rhyme flowing around him, his Great Void Domain continuously expanding.
His eyes are gently closed, and between his brows, black and white energy subtly whirls, a sign of the Yang Spirit operating at its peak, while the Power of Origin from the Small Thousand World in the Yin Soul flows gently, aiding him in rapidly evolving his Dao Domain.
Suddenly, the token at his waist flashed three times, a sudden three messages.
"This is..."
Chen Sheng slowly opened his eyes, and after scanning the messages, he was somewhat surprised:
"The three senior brothers have actually come."
...
Half a month passed in a blink of an eye.
The central teleportation array plaza of Huangtian City was bustling with people, various cultivators coming and going, but only around the teleportation array were four silver-armored guards protecting it, creating a quiet space.
The complex runes engraved on the base of the Teleportation Array suddenly lit up, a dazzling white light soaring into the sky, attracting the attention of the surrounding cultivators.
The white light slowly faded, revealing three figures.
The leader wore a gray robe, his face was lean, and his aura was calm like a deep abyss and a towering mountain, it was the senior brother Taiyuan.
On the left side, one dressed in a black robe with a star pattern, sword-like brows and starry eyes, with a faint starlight flowing around him, was Meteor Star, who had just finished his seclusion.
On the right side was Cold Monarch in white clothes, his face cold and stern, with a faint chill surrounding him.
Chen Sheng stepped forward quickly:
"Three senior brothers!"
Taiyuan’s gaze was piercing, upon seeing Chen Sheng’s figure he lightly smiled, his voice gentle yet with a comprehending knowingness:
"Junior brother, after over three thousand years, your progress is fast, you are just a step away from concluding the third scroll."
Upon these words, before Chen Sheng could open his mouth, Meteor Star and Cold Monarch’s eyes already turned sharply to him, both gazes as solid as substance landing on Chen Sheng.
Meteor Star had just completed the fourth scroll, instantly sensing that brewing power within Chen Sheng.
Cold Monarch’s reaction was even more intense, having been stuck at the perfection of the third scroll for thousands of years, he was very familiar with this realm’s aura.
He looked closely, only to see countless minute Dao Runes circulating around Chen Sheng, forming a perfect closed loop, only needing an opportunity to break the shackle and step into a new realm.
Meteor Star patted Cold Monarch on the shoulder, his hearty laughter carrying a bit of teasing:
"Junior brother, you need to work harder, at this rate, you’ll soon be overtaken by our little junior brother."
His words carried an undeniable pride, having just recently broken through his own bottleneck after thousands of years, initially completing the fourth scroll.
He smoothly passed the sixteenth level of the Star Tower, his combat strength now having reached the Void Refining Eleventh Tribulation, among peers, truly top-notch.
Cold Monarch shook his head helplessly, a rare wry smile appearing on his usually stern face, his tone full of emotion:
"Little junior brother’s cultivation pace truly shames me as your senior brother."
He had secluded himself for thousands of years, honing his Dao Domain day and night, although having reached the perfection of the third scroll, he was always missing that crucial insight, still stuck at the Void Refining Ten Tribulation, falling behind Meteor Star.
Chen Sheng chuckled softly and said nothing, knowing in his heart that his rapid advancement all depended on the advantage of his Yin Yang Divine Soul.
Over the years, the Yin Soul ventured through various Small Thousand Worlds, harvesting the vast Power of Origin as a catalyst, accelerating the evolution of his Dao Domain, such opportunities were already extraordinary, one could even call it "cheating."
He sided and gestured invitingly: "Three senior brothers, after such a long journey, please come to my humble abode for a chat."
The group left the teleportation array plaza shoulder to shoulder, along the way the cultivators, seeing their extraordinary aura, stepped aside respectfully, not daring to spy rashly.
...
Though Chen Sheng’s cave dwelling was not luxurious, it was extremely elegant, with a few Ice Leaf Pines planted in its courtyard, and a set of tea ware placed on the stone table.
He personally brewed his treasured "Enlightenment Tea," the tea soup amber-colored, its fragrance diffusing with a faint Dao Rhyme.
After savoring the Spirit Tea and exchanging a few words, Chen Sheng learned of the purpose of the three senior brothers’ visit.
"Junior brother, we came this time to observe Celestial Desolate Daoist friend’s Crossing the Tribulation."
"Celestial Desolate Divine Master?"
Chen Sheng’s teacup paused slightly, a hint of wonder flashed in his eyes, he had not expected the three senior brothers would make a special trip for this matter.
Taiyuan put down his teacup, a hint of reminiscence in his eyes:
"Celestial Desolate Daoist friend, for nearly ten thousand years, has been in seclusion seeking breakthrough, junior brother your cultivation days are short, you have only heard his name, never seen his might."
"In earlier years, when he wasn’t in seclusion, the name of the first cultivator of Central Continent sparked numerous talents to come challenge him, almost all Void Refining Twelfth Tribulation cultivators who visited Chongli Heaven had sparred with him."
Although he didn’t explicitly state the result, the implication was evident, even now, no one has heard of Celestial Desolate Divine Master’s defeat, his combat strength, truly unimaginable.
As Taiyuan spoke, his gaze drifted far away, as if he once again saw that stunning figure from the past, he himself had also been one of those challengers.
A thought moved within Chen Sheng’s heart, he had already tried to highly estimate Celestial Desolate Divine Master, now hearing senior brother’s words, he knew his renown far exceeded what he imagined.
Especially in the heart of a top cultivator like Taiyuan, he held an extraordinary status.
Cold Monarch put down his teacup, his tone carrying some regret:
"Such a character, yet failed to achieve Integration, but is forced to undergo thirteen Dao Tribulations."
Though Celestial Desolate Divine Master’s combat strength crowned Central Continent, he was stuck at the gate of Integration, forced to risk Crossing the Tribulation, truly lamentable.
Taiyuan chuckled lightly at these words, his tone carrying a touch of comprehension:
"Having great combat strength doesn’t necessarily mean walking to the end, the path of cultivation, full of variables, how can there be a definite path?"
"Moreover, those who achieve the Void Refining Twelve Tribulation, which one is not a hero of their domain? But, looking through ancient to present times, how many have succeeded in condensing the Dharma Seed, creating their own Small Thousand World?"
Meteor Star and Cold Monarch nodded in agreement upon hearing this, the path of cultivation was never smooth sailing just because of strong combat prowess, comprehension, opportunity, and disposition, all are indispensable.
Countless brilliant geniuses have all fallen on the path to break into higher realms.
The atmosphere eased slightly, Taiyuan turned to Chen Sheng, speaking warmly:
"Junior brother, tell us about your experiences over these years, seeing your Dao Domain so condensed, I can tell you didn’t lack refinement all these years."
Chen Sheng did not conceal, starting from when he first set foot in Chongli Heavens to his experiences thereafter.
...
"Venerable Lord of Seven Mysteries?"
Meteor Star slapped the stone table fiercely, his eyes bursting with cold light, snorting coldly:
"For a mighty figure of the Eleven Heavens of Longevity to bully the young, this is simply outrageous!"
"Leave this matter to me, I’ll go find him and must avenge junior brother for this!"
Meteor Star said and was about to get up, stars radiating from him, his battle intent awe-inspiring.
Cold Monarch also rose slowly, cold air gathered in his palm beneath his white robe, his tone icy:
"I’ll go with you, I’ve been stuck at a bottleneck for years, just the chance to use this person as sharpening stone, perhaps I’ll break through."
The lineage of Hong Jue, known for their domineering protection of their own.
Even if Chen Sheng were in the wrong, they would never let their junior brother suffer grievances.
With no questions asked, just protect their own!
Taiyuan raised his hand to hold the two back, speaking slowly, his tone carrying undeniable authority:
"Hold your horses, second brother just broke through, he may not be that person’s match, it’s better if I handle this, a Venerable Lord of Seven Mysteries is not someone to make me hold back."
Chen Sheng’s heart warmed, the intent of protection from the three senior brothers was evident, adding warmth to his years of solitary cultivation.
He didn’t politely refuse, directly rising and bowing deeply to the three: "Thank you, three senior brothers!"