Chapter 942 - 666: Emerging from Seclusion

On this day.

Deep within the Mountain City, fog surged, and airflows flowed backward.

Chen Sheng slowly walked out from the place of his retreat.

His steps were neither hurried nor slow, each step light as if treading on ethereal smoke, yet stable as though he had anchored the entire world, even the mountain ridges and earth veins gently sank with his footsteps.

His surrounding mana was restrained to the extreme, condensed and unwavering, like a dragon hidden in the deep sea, a tiger crouching in a cold abyss.

Each breath he took stirred the cold air deep underground, wisps of chilly water vapor rose along the earth veins, spiraled upwards, forming faint clouds beside him, rising and falling with his breaths.

Deep in the mountain’s belly, within the palace.

Red Wood was sitting cross-legged, eyes closed, regulating his breath, surrounded by blazing golden light, currently comprehending Dao Foundation [Gold Unrepentant].

Suddenly, his heart gave a sudden thump, eyes abruptly snapping open, a flash of gold:

"Father’s presence... Father has come out of retreat!"

The spirit light around him suddenly exploded, like a small sun going off, transforming into an unmatched stream of light, breaking through the air, shooting straight to the zenith.

Within just a few breaths.

The stream of light crashed to the ground, scattering the clouds.

Red Wood looked up and immediately saw the figure standing at the center of the clouds.

He bowed deeply on the spot:

"Welcome Father out of retreat!"

Chen Sheng nodded slightly, his tone calm, revealing no sign of joy or anger:

"No need for formalities. During the few months of my retreat, was everything within and outside the family untroubled?"

Red Wood nodded steadily:

"Rest assured, Father."

"I have set up a golden light array outside the Mountain City, layered defenses, easily able to fend off ordinary cultivators bothering us."

"Third brother and fourth brother have also changed their appearances, joining the Mountain City as Guest Elders, secretly overseeing things, all is well."

Chen Sheng nodded gently, understanding Red Wood’s thoroughness.

"You’ve been thoughtful indeed. I have made good progress in my cultivation over these days and consumed quite a few Spiritual Objects, thanks to you."

Red Wood quickly bowed again, his tone sincere:

"How can you say that, Father? It’s my duty as a child, naturally!"

Saying this, he also sensed the mana aura around his father.

Qi Introduction at the tenth level!

One foot already stepping into the Dao Foundation Realm!

Red Wood’s heart immediately jumped in shock.

How many days had it been?

Only a few short months.

Back in the day, within the Grotto Heaven, he struggled, facing countless hardships.

Took pills, refined medicine, risked danger, underwent trials, and cultivated day and night, taking seventy-two years to barely reach Qi Introduction at the tenth level, a half-step to Dao Foundation.

Then, favored by his master, granted enormous opportunities, he secluded himself for nine years, exhausted his heart and mind, finally forging his own Dao Foundation — [Gold Unrepentant].

Seventy-two years, for a single step to ascend.

Yet Father had only taken a few months.

Such vast difference, how could it not be astonishing, how could it not evoke sighs?

But upon further thought, Red Wood gradually calmed down.

This was all as it should be.

It was Purple Mansion’s reconstruction!

It was a True Master who had already honed Divine Techniques and ascended to the Purple Mansion, reincarnating to cultivate anew, walking the path of cultivation once again.

The realm might have fallen, but the Dao remained, the insight remained, the foundation remained...

Like an Immortal re-entering the mundane world, walking the steps of childhood once more, why wouldn’t it be swift as flight, a thousand miles a day?

Red Wood couldn’t help but think of his long-fallen master, sighing inwardly:

"If only Master could reincarnate and cultivate anew, I imagine he could progress equally swiftly, a thousand miles a day..."

"We as master and disciple may yet see each other again."

...

Not much later.

Father and son, one before the other, returned to the grand hall.

Chen Sheng did not engage in pleasantries with Red Wood, but sat straight down, speaking directly:

"I have achieved Qi Introduction at the tenth level, and I am on the brink of refining my Dao Foundation. I need several items to arrange the Foundation Ascent Ceremony."

He paused, then slowly listed:

"Taiyin Cold Jade, Shadow Ink Lotus, Seven Apertures Ice Heart Stone, Three Yin Energy Introduction Vine, just one of each will suffice."

Red Wood was taken aback, then quickly bowed in response:

"Father, these Spiritual Objects are produced in the Grotto Heaven, and I happen to have reserves here, they can be obtained at any time without delay."

His tone paused slightly, brow gently furrowing, as his voice sunk slightly, tinged with some hesitation:

"However... the location for the Foundation Ascent is a bit troublesome."

Chen Sheng raised an eyebrow, his expression unmoved:

"Oh?"

The Foundation Ascent Ceremony only required reliance on the Taiyin earth veins, so he hadn’t considered this matter much.

Spiritual Objects were spent as they were used, but earth veins neither increased nor decreased, typically hard to find the former and easy to obtain the latter.

Listening to Red Wood’s implication, there seemed to be variables after all.

Red Wood quickly stepped forward and carefully explained:

"Back then, Master descended from beyond the heavens, opened the Grotto Heaven, then surveyed all directions, using Great Divine Techniques to move and reclaim the innate treasures, Spirit Vein Treasure Lands, of this realm back into the Grotto Heaven."

"In the past, several Taiyin earth veins existed in the outer world, but they had long been uprooted by Master with Supreme Divine Techniques and moved back to the Grotto Heaven for nurturing."

"Now outside, there are no Taiyin earth veins available for use."

Chen Sheng nodded slightly, then asked:

"According to you, there should be Taiyin earth veins within the Grotto Heaven!"

Red Wood hurriedly nodded:

"Inside the Grotto Heaven, there is indeed a Taiyin Treasure Land named—Moon Shadow Pool."

"It was forged with enormous effort by Master, moving several Taiyin earth veins to merge it, it is the Taiyin core of the whole Grotto Heaven, pure beyond compare."

"I once had a junior who practiced the [Zhang Yue] lineage cultivation technique, back then he required Taiyin power to ascend to Dao Foundation, it was in the Moon Shadow Pool that he initiated the Foundation Ascent Ceremony, achieving success."

Upon hearing this, Chen Sheng’s eyes flashed lightly, speaking indifferently:

"And the current situation in the Grotto Heaven? Is it stable?"

Red Wood’s expression straightened, his tone grave as he explained slowly:

"Since that day when I forcibly closed the Grotto Heaven passage, isolating inside from outside, I’ve been sensing covertly through the True Inheritance Order."

"These days, inside the Grotto Heaven has been peaceful, with no signs of movement."

"The culprit behind Master’s downfall... seems to have forgotten about us remnants."

"Of course, not ruling out... that perhaps before Master fell, he had already set up contingencies, using Great Divine Techniques to sever our causal ties."

At this point, he again felt a touch of luck and deep gratitude towards his master.

In his eyes, Master was indeed a great person.

Coming from beyond the heavens to their wilderness small realm to impart teachings, igniting the cultivation civilization, granting them the path to cultivation for transformation.

This kindness could never be repaid in full.

Chen Sheng nodded lightly, pondering briefly, then spoke slowly:

"Since that’s the case, let’s go to the Grotto Heaven."

"Lead the way!"

Upon hearing this, Red Wood quickly agreed:

"Yes! I’ll prepare right away!"

Truth be told, he also wanted to return to the Grotto Heaven.

Compared to the outside world, the Grotto Heaven gathered the cultivation essence of the entire realm.

Though he had almost emptied the Spiritual Objects within the Grotto Heaven, he didn’t possess Master’s Divine Techniques, unable to move those earth veins and treasure lands.

Previously, he didn’t go, fearing that returning would touch upon causal ties, calculated by enemies, and inviting disaster.

Now.

Since Father wants to go, he must have thoroughly considered it, bearing sufficient confidence.

He needn’t worry any further, only follow Father closely.