Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension-Chapter 1593 - 858: Tempering the Heart and Seeking Enlightenment, First Steps into the World (Part 2)

Chapter 1593: Chapter 858: Tempering the Heart and Seeking Enlightenment, First Steps into the World (Part 2)

With a splash, Zhao Sheng leaped out of the lake and then stepped on layers of waves, reaching the lakeside in an instant. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

After stepping onto a patch of grass by the lake, Zhao Sheng shook his whole body, causing his robe to puff up high, releasing a large amount of water vapor that scattered all around.

In an instant, his robe became refreshingly dry again.

At this moment, Zhao Sheng looked up at the sky, but saw the sky was clear as a wash, with no trace of Quan Junzi and Liezi Hall.

He withdrew his gaze, looked around, and saw only green hills and clear waters, the forest was tranquil, the scenery was beautiful yet devoid of any human presence.

This valley, though named Heart Refining Valley, was a remote place rarely visited.

The Taiqing Sect had a unique style of doing things, casually throwing people into the wilderness and then leaving them alone.

They even glorified it as: "The Taoist Skill follows nature, refining the heart and attaining enlightenment."

"If you want to establish your might, then establish your might; what’s the use of these oddities!" Zhao Sheng secretly grumbled while walking towards the distant forest.

Behind him, other "drenched chickens" were each displaying their divine skills, arriving at the lakeside successively, and busily drying their robes in a sorry state.

Their divine thoughts and mana were all sealed, they couldn’t open their Sumeru Ring, and hence had to live like mortals in this "Heart Refining Valley."

An hour later, Zhao Sheng traversed the pine forest and came to the bottom of a cliff.

The cliff was about twenty yards high, with a small waterfall on the west side, nearly two yards wide, with turbulent water crashing down over the years, forming a pool with a diameter of three or four yards below.

Water flowed continuously through the gap below, forming a clear stream that wound into the pine forest, with lush flowers and grass growing along the banks.

On the east side of the cliff were scattered stones of various sizes, once cleared out, leaving a patch of open space.

Zhao Sheng was quite satisfied with the environment and decided to establish a cave mansion here.

He got right to work!

He quickly walked to the pile of rocks, kicking each stone.

With each kick, a stone would respond by flying away, landing far in the pine forest.

In just a moment, the east side of the cliff was cleared into an open space, Zhao Sheng stood before the cliff, placed his hand on the cold hard rocks.

With a hidden force from his palm, the rocks around his hand cracked and fell to the ground, piling up to half a person’s height.

Then, Zhao Sheng’s palms continuously struck down, large pieces of rock fell, and the cliff quickly recessed, forming a cave.

As time passed, when the sunset came and twilight descended, the cave mansion was already established, complete with a living room, quiet room, alchemy room, artifact refining room, and utilities room, even tables, chairs, and tea tables were crafted from the place.

As Zhao Sheng moved into the temporary cave mansion, the new disciples who had previously gone to the Heart Refining Road returned to Heart Refining Valley, each looking dejected.

However, Zhou Zixu, Feng Sanxiao, Mo Long, and seven others never appeared, they seemed to have successfully traversed the Heart Refining Road and truly entered the Taiqing Sect’s mountain gate.

Although Heart Refining Valley wasn’t large, under a hundred miles in circumference.

When over a hundred people were gradually sent back to the valley, they suddenly realized all the "good places" inside the valley had already been claimed.

Don’t look at this group who had just suffered significant setbacks, outside, they’re "fine dragons and phoenixes among men."

How could they endure picking the leftover and undesirable places from others?

Therefore, they further demonstrated the fine traditions of the cultivation world, one by one finding the group who arrived earlier, asking them to relinquish their places.

Zhao Sheng and the others in their twenties wouldn’t relent, leading to inevitably a great battle.

Their mana and divine thoughts were sealed, hence they had to determine victory using their fists and feet.

As the night passed, many residences changed ownership.

After Zhao Sheng consecutively defeated five fellow disciples, no one dared covet his cave mansion again.

The first day at Heart Refining Valley passed, the originally high-spirited new disciples mostly displayed bruised faces, and likewise lost their prior arrogance.

They originally thought entering Taiqing Sect would mean endless paths, unexpectedly being thrown into the desolate Refining Valley to fend for themselves.

Such a big gap between imagination and reality inevitably caused many among the proud ones to feel lost.

Although Zhao Sheng understood the Taiqing Sect higher-ups’ intentions, he consciously did not reveal it.

Compared to hurrying to "stand out," he preferred to be low and subdued, absolutely not wanting to attract the attention of Taiqing Sect’s higher-ups.

From the moment he entered Taiqing Cave Heaven yesterday, he subconsciously sensed a great danger.

It came from this world, and also from beyond, as if an ubiquitous eye constantly watched every living thing within the cave heaven.

If he displayed any anomaly, he would face a catastrophic disaster.

Taiqing Cave Heaven was originally a True Immortal Arena, its Taoist Laws were perfect, let alone obliterate a Half-Immortal of the Void, even if a Tribulation Crossing Venerable entered, they likely couldn’t escape.

Zhao Sheng only wanted to find the whereabouts of the Innate Divine Continent, not directly clash with such an ancient and terrifying Immortal Sect Dao field.

In the morning, thin fog enveloped the forest, Zhao Sheng stepped out of his cave mansion and came to the water pool.

The waterfall’s spray hit him, moist and cool, refreshing his spirit.

He gently leaped onto a large stone by the pool.

The stone was over a yard high, its top already smoothed flat, just right for meditation and contemplation.

Zhao Sheng sat cross-legged, gazing at the rising red sun from behind the cliff, slowly exhaling a column of air, then began chanting scripture:

"...The utmost Tao isn’t laborious, true preservation, spirit occupies every aspect. Emitting spirit green flourish named Taiyuan, brain spirit essence root named Niwan. Eye spirit clear upper named Yingxuan, nose spirit jade ridge named Lingjian. Ear spirit leisure named Youtian, tongue spirit connects life..."

His sound was like flowing water, also like mountain forest fog, seamless and unbounded, ever-changing.

As the chanting spread around, a fluffy-haired, three-foot-long red squirrel suddenly leaped down from the tree branch, coming to the stone and crouching to listen.

Soon after, a purely white White Deer emerged from the forest, also coming to the Stone Mountain room, lying on the grassy ground to quietly listen.

Following this, hawks, green wolves, mountain pythons and other animals arrived at the pool, all gathered around the stone, silently listening to the Taoist sound.

Truly, Taiqing Cave Heaven was among the rarest Cave Heaven Blessed Lands in the Taiching Spirit Realm, where for generations every living being within bore a trace of spirituality.

Today, as Zhao Sheng recited the "Yellow Court Inner Vision Scripture" for the first time, he immediately attracted the surrounding lives.

It was foreseeable that as long as this group of lives frequently heard scripture, sooner or later they would awaken spiritual wisdom, becoming spiritually intelligent spirit beasts.

Just as Zhao Sheng was chanting and practicing, various places in Heart Refining Valley began to echo with waves of chanting sounds.

The sounds varied in pitch and speed, but all carried some kind of rhythm.

The living beings in the valley finally welcomed a rare great opportunity, some animals with high spirituality were quickly attracted by surrounding chanting sounds, going there to listen to the scripture.

The sun gradually rose, in the Heart Refining Valley appeared one after another divine scenery where hundreds of beasts gathered.

...

From that day on, Zhao Sheng, turned "mortal," began daily chanting and practicing, also engaged in cutting firewood, cooking meals, leisurely activities above and beyond.

Compared to other Outer Disciples eager for quick success, Zhao Sheng was not in a rush, adhering faithfully to daily chanting and practicing, casually touring mountains and waters, and maintaining social interactions.

Half a year down the line, he befriended several like-minded "friends."

Also during this half year, someone suddenly comprehended heaven’s mind, fortunately evolving a cultivation method from two scriptures, finally successfully passed Heart Refining Road, leaving Heart Refining Valley.

Seeing someone successfully exit the valley, all cultivators were greatly encouraged; before long, dozens tried traversing Heart Refining Road.

Unfortunately, only three succeeded in exiting, with the vast majority failing.

Zhao Sheng observed quietly throughout, never showing intent to attempt.

Because he clearly understood, Taiqing Sect couldn’t possibly let a group of Outer Disciples go unchecked, someone must be secretly monitoring everyone’s situation.

Even though he appeared "clear in lineage," as long as one paid attention, they’d eventually uncover his flaws.

Within Taiqing Sect, experts were numerous, their power unfathomable, once they got serious, hardly anyone could escape their scrutiny.

Seven or eight years swiftly passed, now Heart Refining Valley seemed much quieter, only eighty-four Outer Disciples remained unable to discern their own paths, unable to traverse Heart Refining Road.

This year, Zhao Sheng felt the timing was ripe, and at summer-autumn junction attempted traversing Heart Refining Road for the third time.

This time, he endured numerous trials, ultimately unraveling the seal, "difficultly" passing the entrance examination.

A day later, Zhao Sheng stepped onto the welcoming Qingyun, floating away under the envious gaze of others.