Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension

It was all because he couldn't bear to give up the position of City Lord,

it was because both the previous and the current Holy Emperors came from Hua Ying's lineage, which he, being from Hua Xiong's lineage, could not get along with at all.

Zhao Jingheng could be so cold-hearted and indifferent to the extent of turning a blind eye, truly heartless as steel!

Perhaps he was fearless, knowing that the family would absolutely not stand by idly.

Zhao Sheng's eyes flashed as he opened his mouth and said, "It has been a long time since I've seen the sights of the Divine City, and I do miss it. Let me be the one to make the trip."

No sooner had his voice fallen than Zhao Jingheng's eyes suddenly snapped open, a trace of sharpness flashing within.

At that moment, immediately below, two people stood up.

"I am willing to go!"

"I, too, wish to return to the Divine City, it would be good to visit relatives and the younger generation!"

The Qingshan Ancestor's eyes showed a flicker of surprise, but he quickly revealed a satisfied smile, and cupping his hands towards Zhao Sheng, he said, "Then I shall trouble you, Qiong Tian, to accompany this old man to the Divine City for a few years' stay. There's no time to delay, shall we set off immediately?"

"That would be best!" Zhao Sheng thought for a moment and then nodded in agreement.

At that moment, Zhao Jingheng suddenly wore an apologetic expression and began to explain to Zhao Sheng, "I do not wish to avoid returning to the Divine City, but the Nine Sects Meeting is imminent. As it involves the future ownership of the Mountain City for the next hundred years, my responsibility as the City Lord is heavy, and I absolutely cannot abandon my post at this critical moment. Therefore..."

Zhao Sheng suddenly interrupted him, saying indifferently, "No need to say more! It is all for the sake of the family's future; I understand."

One must say, Zhao Jingheng found a good excuse!

The so-called Nine Sects Meeting was aimed solely at the ownership of the Mountain City.

One must know that the Mountain City was built on the only fifth-order Spiritual Vein in the Tianzhu Realm.

Previously, because Zhao Xuanjing presided over it, the Eight Major Sects of Central Continent dared not speak aloud against the building of the city and simply turned a blind eye.

But in the recent ten years, as the Supreme Sensing Sect had produced a new Divinity Transformation True Monarch, there had been a change in this situation.

After all, Heavenly Pillar Mountain is a land without an owner within this realm, and the fifth-order Spiritual Vein is a common asset of this realm.

Previously, you, the Southern Sky Zhao Family, relying on the only Divinity Transformation True Monarch in Central Continent, fancied monopolizing the Spirit Vein, which is simply preposterous!

Now, with the emergence of the new True Monarch, the Eight Major Sects immediately became emboldened. Thus, led by the Supreme Sensing Sect, they recently took the initiative to propose the Nine Sects Meeting, to determine the future ownership of the Mountain City for the next hundred years.

The determination of ownership is a false front, the true purpose is to divide the interests!

However, since the Mountain City was personally established by the Great Zhao, regardless of the outcome of the meeting, the Southern Sky Zhao Family's share will certainly not be omitted.

It's just that whether the position of City Lord still belongs to Zhao Jingheng is another matter altogether!

In any case, Zhao Jingheng is so intent on holding on to this position that he is even neglecting the safety of his own descendants.

After a short while, from the base of Heavenly Pillar Mountain, a Hundred Feet Cloud Boat suddenly flew out of the Grotto Heaven City.

The moment the Cloud Boat emerged from the cavern wall, it immediately shot up into the sky, like lightning, and in a flash, it plunged into the depths of the Cloud Sea, speeding towards the northeast.

...

Three days later,

a Hundred Feet Cloud Boat appeared from the edge of the sky, traversing a few hundred miles in just a dozen breaths, arriving above a vast and endless plain.

After circling half a turn, the Cloud Boat dove down straight.

Below, there stood a grand city beyond imagination.

This city stretched for hundreds of miles, with walls as thick as mountains. Inside, pavilions, towers, and countless courtyards and alleys were densely packed yet orderly. The myriad straight streets naturally divided the entire city into more than a thousand large and small workshops, aside from the most central Imperial City.

This was the Divine City! A super metropolis with a population exceeding thirty million and three layers of city walls.

The majestic walls, each layer higher than the last, divided the Divine City into four distinct worlds: the Imperial City, the inner city, the Outer City, and the city ramparts.

Across Divine City, both inside and outside the inner and outer city, countless majestic and splendid spirit palaces rise towering above, magnificent to behold.

Even the outermost walls of Divine City stand a hundred feet high, with a circumference stretching over a thousand miles. The city itself boasts as many as ninety-nine gates.

Before each gate lies a grand official road, one hundred and eighty feet wide and perfectly straight, where the constant flow of people and stream of carriages and horses resemble long, colorful serpents slithering into Divine City.

Having established a dynasty over five hundred years ago, the Zhao Family has grown Divine City into a flourishing and prosperous sight, vibrant as a blooming garden or a boiling fire.

If Zhao Sheng had to describe the wonders of Divine City, he would use the words "abundant, harmonious, comfortable, and grand"—none could be more fitting.

The arrival of Qingshan Ancestor and Zhao Sheng brought great joy to Ninth Ancestor Zhao Zhenhai, the guardian of Divine City.

As a member of the Valiant branch of the Zhao Family's Eight Branches, Zhao Zhenhai had lived more than a thousand years and had reached the Mid Nascent Soul realm.

The cultivation technique he primarily practiced was one with which Zhao Sheng was extremely familiar: the "Heavenly True Water Skill" passed down from the fifth generation.

However, Zhao Zhenhai had taken this skill to an unprecedented level, even successfully extrapolating and perfecting the speculative ideas mentioned at the end of the skill by Zhao Sheng, thereby creating a profound Nascent Soul level Water Element Divine Skill. This skill was named "Sumeru Sea Scripture."

Zhao Sheng once heard from Third Ancestor Zhao Changdu that Ninth Ancestor Zhao Zhenhai's Nascent Soul Domain, the "Sumeru Water Realm," was incredibly powerful in both offense and defense!

Furthermore, Zhao Zhenhai was a master of defensive techniques, often able to withstand the combined assault of three Nascent Soul cultivators of the same level on his own. Even a Late Stage Great Cultivator would struggle to penetrate his Water Realm defense in a short time.

For this reason, he was assigned early on to protect the safety of the royal descendants in Divine City.

Zhao Zhenhai personally led Qingshan Ancestor and Zhao Sheng into the Imperial City, flying past numerous palaces and bringing them to the Longevity Hall, adjacent to the Imperial Palace.

The Imperial Palace was one of the most crucial core structures within the Imperial City and the place where the reigning Holy Emperor usually rested and cultivated.

The three Nascent Soul Ancestors had not been seated in the Longevity Hall for long, exchanging pleasantries when suddenly, a series of orderly footsteps and the clanking sound of armor rang out from outside, rapidly approaching.

At this moment, Zhao Zhenhai suddenly laughed heartily just as Zhao Sheng and Qingshan Ancestor also showed a slight change in expression.

"Haha, young Doutian just can't change his impatient nature. He must have heard of your arrival and hurried here, setting aside his governmental duties to greet the family Ancestors."

Upon hearing this, Qingshan Ancestor said, "Ninth, you seem to appreciate him! Could it be that you also believe this boy is fit to be a fine Holy Emperor?"

Listening to the side, Zhao Sheng had a thoughtful look upon his face.

The contemporary Holy Emperor of the Zhao Imperial City, commonly known as Zhao Doutian, is rumored to have a gracious and generous disposition but does not lack the skill to manage those beneath him. Having ascended to the throne less than twenty years ago, he has already settled three major factions within the court and firmly grasped power in his hands.

Several Nascent Soul Ancestors within the Zhao Family hold this young man in high esteem, hoping he could sweep away endemic corruption, boost revenue and cut expenses to enrich the state treasury, and reverse the dynasty's continual financial deficit.

However, while this may sound simple, accomplishing it is as difficult as ascending to the heavens, perhaps even harder than successfully overcoming the Heavenly Tribulation to advance to the Nascent Soul stage!

In just a brief moment, Zhao Sheng had recalled all the information about Divine City.

Right then, the grand doors of the Longevity Hall slowly opened, and a sharp, high-pitched voice outside announced, "The Holy Emperor has arrived!"

As the voice fell, a figure donned in a Nine Dragon Gold-Plated Robe, wearing Divine Dragon Boots, and a Twelve-Streamed Crown on his head, stepped into the palace with a majestic and powerful stride. Behind him followed four young princes clad in the Eight Dragon Cloud Robe.

As Zhao Doutian looked up to see the three high-ranking Ancestors, his expression became solemn. He straightened his robes then took three quick strides across the floor, covering dozens of feet to arrive at the base of the jade stairs.

"Emperor grandson Zhao Doutian pays respects to the Seventh, Ninth, and Sixteenth Ancestors! May the Ancestors be forever blessed with heavenly fortune and endless longevity."

In response to Zhao Doutian's bow and salute, the four princes who followed him knelt on the ground and repeatedly kowtowed, calling out, "May the Ancestors be forever blessed with heavenly fortune and endless longevity!"

Qingshan Ancestor responded with a hearty laugh and beckoned, "Come forth, Doutian."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Doutian straightened up and ascended the steps.

Qingshan Ancestor then turned to Zhao Sheng and pointed toward the four princes below, asking with a smile, "Having received their salutations, we can't forgo a proper greeting gift. Sixteenth, everyone knows you're the wealthiest among us, so it'll be interesting to see what kind of treasures you'll bestow. And just a warning, no ordinary gifts will impress these young ones."

While speaking, Holy Emperor Zhao Doutian had approached the three of them. His demeanor shifted slightly as soon he heard these words, casting his gaze towards Zhao Sheng.

"Seventh Ancestor, it looks like you're taking a playful jab at me here! It seems I can't avoid shedding some wealth after all!"

Zhao Sheng chuckled, shaking his head, then with his Divine Thought he scanned the four princes below. After a brief contemplation, he soon came up with an idea.