Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension

Autumn waned and winter arrived, with the sunflowers on the Skyfire Plain withering away, and the Sky Vines that took root in the earth slowly retracting underground, to brace against the cold and obscure Nether Night Season.

After being bustling for the better part of the year, the grand ceremony at Black King Peak came to a close the day before, with more than two thousand Spirit Root Sacrificial Cultivators successfully joining the Yellow Heaven Sect.

Some minor factions even brazenly pledged their full allegiance to the Yellow Heaven Sect, eager to enjoy the wonderful taste of seeking shade under a big tree in advance.

In half a year's time, the number of believers in the Yellow Heaven Sect swelled to more than eight times its original size, while its overall strength grew a hundredfold compared to before.

This was all because the ten Golden Core Main Priests who had recently joined the sect were the strongest from their respective clans in the Skyfire.

Together with a few Alien Golden Cores and the older generation within the sect who had come forth on their own, the number of Golden Core Main Priests in the Yellow Heaven Sect had exceeded twenty, matching those long-established ancient temples with thousands of years of history.

Seeing both the membership and strength of the sect soar, Fengyi Yong of the Yellow Heaven Sect was overjoyed, yet a hint of worry crept into his heart.

His cultivation was merely at the early stage of Golden Core, far inferior to the ten Golden Core Main Priests. Fengyi Yong was profoundly afraid that someone would usurp his position as temple master.

Years ago, a word from the superior had elevated him to such a gloriously high position, and today a single word could also cast him down to hell.

"Heavenly Yellow above, I pledge my unfaltering loyalty to the superior, for heaven and earth to witness!"

Fengyi Yong muttered to himself as he followed a green stone stairway, stepping further and further down into the depths of the Black King Cave.

Void was on both sides of the stone steps, deep and dark without a glimmer of light, but there seemed to be extreme danger lurking behind the nothingness. Pain throbbed faintly at the center of Fengyi Yong's eyebrows, as his spirit instinctively sent waves of caution – as though stepping off the green stone path would mean nothing but death without a whole corpse!

The number of green stone steps seemed endless, as Fengyi Yong kept walking and walking, the further he descended underground, the more his heart fluttered with trepidation.

After about half an hour, the darkness on both sides of the stone steps became even more profound. At this moment, a heavy and suppressive aura began to gently waft up from the end of the stairs below, filled with the intentions of bloodlust and madness.

Fengyi Yong's expression was one of caution as he slowly reached the bottom of the stone steps, passing through the entrance of a cave ten some zhang high, and walking into a vast and empty large stone cavern.

The concentration of Spiritual Energy in the cavern was extremely high, with the ceiling and stone walls all around painted densely with spirit light runes. The ground was covered with complex and ornate patterns, emitting faint and variegated colors.

A nine-layered platform towering over thirty zhang stood in the deepest part of the cavern, and atop the platform was a colossal creature.

This gargantuan beast was somewhat similar in shape to a rhinoceros, with a mountainous body covered in layers of black scales. Each scale was as large as a fan, incredibly thick and hard to the point that Magical Treasures would struggle to inflict damage.

The massive head boasted two beastly eyes as large as basketballs, with a dull gray-white color that was deathly still, yet also faintly radiated madness.

Four legs covered in black scales, as thick as stone pillars, were entwined with large swaths of black flames, making it appear as if the giant beast was enveloped in a sea of black fire from a distance.

What struck fear into Fengyi Yong the most was the three zhang long, scimitar-like dark rhinoceros horn. The horn was dull and lusterless, with a jade-like surface glowing dimly, yet it radiated an unmatched sharpness filled with lethal intent.

This powerful creature which resembled but was not quite a rhinoceros was also known as the Han Mountain Wild Rhinoceros. It was a rare Ancient Beast, rumored to have a trace of the Kangtian Divine Rhinoceros's bloodline within.

The Han Mountain Wild Rhinoceros was immensely powerful; when fully grown, it could match dragons and flood dragons. However, due to its difficulty in reproduction and being treasured for its entire body, it had long been extinct on the Nine Demon Continent.

Years ago, the Old Temple Master of Black King Temple had unearthed this potent demon corpse through some unknown opportunity and managed to Refine it in one fell swoop, even using it to slay a Nascent Soul Great Priest.

However, he had encountered an even more formidable Tianqiong Wanderer, resulting in his death and loss of soul, the demon corpse changing hands, and his grand legacy snatched away.

After a few moments, Fengyi Yong ascended the nine-layered platform, stopping three zhang away from the Desert Rhinoceros, he stood with his head bowed, quietly waiting.

Roughly an hour later, Zhao Sheng, radiating light all over his body, abruptly stepped out from the Void and landed atop the Desert Rhinoceros's head, looking down at Fengyi Yong not far away.

"Superior, the list has been compiled, please review it."

The moment Fengyi Yong saw the superior appear, he immediately bowed deeply in respect, and from his bosom, he took out a Jade Pupil Scroll and tossed it lightly into the air.

Zhao Sheng reached out to take the Jade Pupil Scroll, his Divine Thought swept over its contents, and he instantly understood everything within.

Apart from briefly noting the dozen or so new Golden Core Main Priests, his focus quickly shifted to a familiar name on the list.

Zhao Linsong!

This member of the Zhao family with the most exceptional aptitude in recent generations was surprisingly at the top of the Top Ten True Disciples.

The Jade Scroll detailed his background, cultivation, the Cultivation Techniques he practiced at his age, and every other aspect.

After reading it, a sudden cold gleam flashed in Zhao Sheng's eyes, a wisp of invisible Electric Light pierced the Void in an instant.

Pu!

Fengyi Yong staggered as if struck by lightning, his body shook violently, and he suddenly spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, staining the yellow robe on his chest.

Yet disregarding the need to wipe the blood from his lips, he fell to his knees on the ground, pleading in terror, "Superior, forgive me... Please forgive me, superior!"

"Hmph, this is but a minor punishment. Do not try to be too clever in the future!"

Zhao Sheng's face was expressionless as he casually threw the Jade Pupil Scroll back, and then his body turned into nothingness in an instant.

Only after the superior had left did Fengyi Yong rise from the ground. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with lingering fear, then sent his Divine Sense into the Jade Scroll, to find that Zhao Linsong's name had been demoted from the first-ranked True Inheritor to the position of an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple.