Chapter 991: Chapter 555: Mastering Multiple Arts, Destiny Decided

Therefore, this layer of the tree canopy is completely unsuitable for human habitation. Only the Chen Family Golden Core cultivators and a few individuals who have cultivated special techniques choose to establish their cave mansions here.

The fierce wind howled, snow and ice flew like knives, cutting through the air.

The dark clouds alternated between dispersing and gathering, covering the vast sky for miles, and enveloping the massive Da Chun Divine Tree.

Through the vast ice and snow cloud mist, one could vaguely see a large section of the tree trunk protruding above the canopy, reaching dozens of miles high.

At this moment, at the very top of the Divine Tree, a new layer of the canopy had already begun to take shape, with an area of about twenty miles in circumference.

And in the center of this layer of the canopy, a pitch-black octagonal iron tower stood tall, with a Thunder Drawing Bottle hanging under each of the eight corners of the tower.

Rumble! Rumble!

Roaring sounds emanated from the depths of the dark clouds, countless electric snakes and thunder pythons roamed and rolled within the clouds, and thick bolts of lightning occasionally struck down, all accurately hitting the lightning rod.

The dense electric light flickered across the tower’s body, but under the force of the array, most of the lightning flooded into the tower, filling up the empty Spirit Stones with thunder spiritual energy.

The remaining thunder power quickly split into eight parts, obediently entering the Thunder Drawing Bottles.

The Da Chun Divine Tree is a naturally occurring gigantic tree, which often attracts lightning due to its height, making it easy to be “struck by lightning.”

Especially this divine tree, which is over twenty thousand years old and is struck by lightning all year round.

Coupled with the withering and flourishing tribulation that is approaching, the free thunder energy within a thousand miles is all attracted here, further intensifying this phenomenon.

Zhao Sheng, riding on his wooden sword, descended onto the tree canopy. After putting away the Thunder Wood Sword, he walked along a three-meter-thick branch towards the lightning rod.

As he approached, he saw a middle-aged giant with a mountain-like physique, sitting cross-legged in front of the tower door, shirtless on the upper body.

His whole body was bathed in countless thunder lights, seemingly using the lightning to refine his body.

As if sensing someone’s arrival, the giant did not open his eyes or move his body, yet a deep and resonant voice came through the air: “Little fellow, this is no place for you! Go down quickly!”

Upon hearing this voice, which drowned out the thunderous clamor, Zhao Sheng cupped his hands and said, “Chen Guangxi, a junior of the Chen Family, greets Uncle Xiang.”

Chen Daxiang, upon hearing this, suddenly squinted his eyes slightly, a tone of surprise in his voice: “You… you’re that little fellow with the Thunder Spirit Root?! It’s only been a few years, and you’ve already advanced to Foundation Establishment. No wonder… you’d come to this godforsaken place!”

Zhao Sheng chuckled and said, “This place is an excellent spot for cultivating thunder skills! Naturally, I couldn’t miss it as a junior.”

“Well said, come and sit beside Uncle. Let me protect you while you cultivate.”

“Thank you, Uncle, for your care! Guangxi is very grateful.” Zhao Sheng said, taking a few steps to Chen Daxiang’s side and generously sitting cross-legged.

He then took out the Ten-thousand-year-old Thunder Wood Sword, placing it across his knees, and pulled out a Thunder Drawing Bottle from his Qiankun Bag, placing it on the ground in front of him.

Soon after, the sound of thunder rose within Zhao Sheng’s body, the Ten-thousand-year-old Thunder Wood Sword across his knees emitted a series of buzzing sounds, with strands of electric light gradually appearing on the blade, as thunderbolt qi continued to gather and surged into the sword.

At the same time, bolts of lightning descended from the sky, repeatedly drilling into the Thunder Drawing Bottle.

As Zhao Sheng’s cultivation gradually deepened, the surrounding free thunder qi swarmed in, eventually enveloping his entire body in a massive cloud of electric light and thunder clouds.

The pure and concentrated earthly thunder qi continually flowed into the Dantian Qi Sea, soon refining into droplets of pure spiritual power.

Chen Daxiang, witnessing this scene, was seeing flashes of brilliance in his eyes, almost astonished by the phenomena Zhao Sheng’s cultivation had caused.

However, Chen Daxiang had no idea that Zhao Sheng had not yet exerted his full strength, and even had spare thoughts of wandering.

He initially regarded the lightning rod as an ideal place for secluded cultivation because it was rarely visited, allowing him to avoid attention.

But Chen Daxiang’s presence directly disrupted his plans.

With him watching, Zhao Sheng was utterly unable to secretly do other things.

If Chen Daxiang didn’t leave, Zhao Sheng would have no choice but to seek another place.

Crash!

A series of muffled rumbles continuously emanated from deep within the dark clouds. In an instant, the number of thunders multiplied several times, and countless electric snakes and thunder pythons flew down, crashing onto the pitch-black lightning rod.

For a moment, the tower was submerged in endless thunder, the dazzling lightning piercing through the surrounding darkness, countless flashes shooting out in all directions, instantly enveloping the canopy of trees spanning dozens of miles.

Caught off guard!

Zhao Sheng’s entire body was charred black by the thunder, shocking Chen Daxiang, who immediately spread his arms, raising a three-foot-thick earthy yellow light shield to protect Zhao Sheng.

Sensing the anomaly outside, Zhao Sheng stopped his cultivation. With a slight tremor of his body, large patches of charred skin fell off, revealing beneath the original wounds skin as white and smooth as a peeled egg.

Seeing this, Chen Daxiang was instantly stunned, but he didn’t ask further questions.

…

The heavy rain subsided, the clouds scattered, and the sky cleared.

A figure flying on a sword broke through the layers of rain and mist, descending from the sky, landing in the Hidden Dragon Pavilion.

Soon after returning, Chen Fu hurried over and bowed, “Young Master, the Master requests your presence!”

Zhao Sheng was rather puzzled but still got up and went out, taking the Immortal Crane Flying Car to the adoptive father’s residence a hundred miles away.

Getting off the car, entering the residence… he soon met the imposing Chen Dacheng in the living room.

After Zhao Sheng sat down, he immediately inquired, “Father summoned me here, may I ask what it is for?”

“Well, there are indeed some matters to discuss with you, Xi’er. According to family tradition, every Foundation Establishment clan member is granted an asset to support their cultivation. I have already retrieved yours for you. Have a look at the asset list. If you’re not satisfied, it can be exchanged.”

As he spoke, Chen Dacheng took out a Jade Scroll from his sleeve and handed it flatly to Zhao Sheng.

Zhao Sheng took the Jade Scroll, sent his Divine Sense into it, and quickly put the Jade Scroll down, nodding, “No need to change it! I am very satisfied. However…”

“Haha! I know you are singularly focused on cultivation, impatient with mundane affairs. Therefore, the assets under your name can be managed by Chen Fu, producing roughly fifty to sixty thousand Spirit Stones annually, barely sufficient to meet your Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation needs.”

Under Zhao Sheng’s name, there was a hundred acres of mid-grade medicine field, eight acres of top-grade spirit field, and additionally, two mining mountains producing Mystic Iron and White Maple Stone respectively.

Besides these, there was a secular fief of a thousand square miles, primarily plains, with a population of over seventy thousand, one county-level city, and hundreds of villages and towns.

In the future, any child with a Spirit Root appearing in the fief would be registered in the family genealogy, becoming a part of Zhao Sheng’s branch.

Someday in the future, if Zhao Sheng could “occupy” a Da Chun Divine Tree, he would be able, like other branches, to establish his own family.

One must acknowledge that the Chen Family treated him exceptionally well; just this set of assets was a level above others. More crucially, the vast population and large territory promised deep potential.

Chen Dacheng smiled kindly, saying, “As long as you are satisfied, Xi’er. By the way, have you decided which level of Thunder Power you want to cultivate in the future?”

Zhao Sheng paused upon hearing this, then said solemnly, “I was just about to tell Father. After much consideration, I decided to dual cultivate multiple levels of Thunder, but mainly focus on Divine Sky Thunder Power.”

Chen Dacheng was extremely surprised, “Divine Sky is the Thunder of Divine Thought, far more dangerous than other levels of Thunder. Throughout history, few have successfully cultivated it, and those who have had spiritual power far surpassing their peers, not just by ten or twenty percent, but at least double. I have perused the family records, and in nearly ten thousand years, the family has only had two successful cases. But both ultimately succumbed to Thunder Power backlash, resulting in self-destruction.”

At this, Chen Dacheng earnestly advised, “Xi’er, why not choose another level of Thunder? I think Cloud Sky Thunder Power is highly suitable. Firstly, Cloud Sky Thunder Qi is plentiful and easy to harvest. Secondly, the difficulty of Spirit Power Transition is greatly reduced, making it infinitely safer than Divine Sky Thunder Power.

Moreover, I strongly advise you against dual cultivation – breadth is not better than depth! At least before forming a Golden Core, true cultivators never allow distractions, only advancing with single-minded determination on the Righteous Path of cultivation!”

“Father’s teachings are correct, I have been enlightened. I shall choose to cultivate in Cloud Sky Thunder Power.” Zhao Sheng respectfully and courteously replied after listening.

However, though he said so outwardly, in his intentions was another plan.

No one knew he had decided to dual cultivate Cloud Sky, Divine Sky, and Purple Cloud Thunder Powers.

Additionally, what he primarily cultivated was not Divine Sky Thunder Power, but the never disclosed Purple Cloud Thunder Power.

In his previous life, he had played and tempered the Purple Cloud Divine Thunder for hundreds of years, growing extremely familiar with it.

The scene of this Divine Thunder destroying the heavens and earth remains vivid in his memory to this day!

How could Zhao Sheng possibly willingly abandon such an overwhelmingly powerful Thunder Power?