Chapter 5951 - 5960
“Then… attack together! Annihilate this fiend completely!” Xue Youming hissed.
The two no longer cared about their status or held back their strength, joining forces to attack the critically injured Kai!
This was a truly deadly situation.
“Protect Kai!!!”
Jin Buhuan roared fiercely, his voice distorted with anxiety.
The five elders of the Five Elements Sect rushed out almost simultaneously, disregarding their own safety, standing between Kai and the two powerful figures.
“Golden lineage disciples, heed my command! Gengjin Sword Formation – Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Origin!”
The Golden Lineage elder’s hair and beard bristled as he summoned his natal magic weapon, the “Gengjin Sword.”
The golden flying sword split in two in mid-air, then into four, then into eight… In the blink of an eye, it transformed into thousands of sword shadows, forming an impenetrable sword formation that swept towards Xue Youming.
Within the sword formation, each sword shadow contained extreme sharpness, enough to cut through the void.
This was the Golden Vein’s trump card, a move that would cost at least a century of cultivation if unleashed, but the Golden Vein elder couldn’t afford to worry about that now.
“Wood Vein disciple, Azure Wood Cage – Endless Life!” The Wood Vein elder’s hands moved with lightning speed, his body radiating a surge of azure light.
Countless ancient green vines, as thick as buckets, burst forth from the earth, their tendrils covered in barbs that gleamed with a ghostly green poisonous light, coiling towards Zhan E like living creatures.
These vines were not only incredibly resilient but also possessed immense vitality, capable of rapidly regenerating even when severed. The Wood Vein elder was using his own life force to nurture the vines, each vine consuming a wisp of his life essence.
The Water, Fire, and Earth Vein elders also unleashed their ultimate techniques.
The Water Vein elder summoned nine water dragons, each lifelike, their roars shaking the heavens;
the Fire Vein elder transformed into a humanoid ball of flame, igniting the air wherever he passed;
the Earth Vein elder merged directly with the earth, manipulating the rocks and soil to condense into a hundred-foot-tall rock giant.
Five elders at the peak of the ninth rank of the Celestial Immortal Realm, joining forces to unleash their life’s most powerful techniques, created a formidable force that would make ordinary Upper Immortal Realm experts retreat in fear.
But… they faced Xue Youming and Zhan E.
The two most powerful demons of the Twelfth Heaven!
“Get out of the way!”
Xue Youming didn’t even glance at the myriad sword shadows, simply waving his hand.
The pitch-black Nine Nether Demonic Qi transformed into a hundred-zhang-wide tidal wave, sweeping out like a tsunami.
Wherever the demonic qi passed, the Golden Vein Elder’s myriad sword shadows shattered like paper, his natal Gengjin Sword further corrupted by the demonic qi, its blade rapidly dimming before finally snapping in two with a “crack!”
“Pfft!”
The Golden Vein Elder was struck as if by a heavy blow; the backlash from the destruction of his natal magic weapon caused him to cough up blood, flying backward and crashing heavily into the mountainside, his fate unknown.
Zhan E’s side was even more straightforward and brutal.
Faced with the entangling green vines, he didn’t even raise a hand, merely letting out a cold snort.
The reincarnation energy around him automatically condensed into countless tiny gray-white energy blades, which spun and shredded the incredibly tough vines like the sharpest meat grinder, instantly cutting them to shreds.
The Wood Vein Elder’s face paled; the backlash from the destruction of the vines caused his life force to rapidly ebb away. His once jet-black hair turned gray at a visible speed, and his face became covered in wrinkles, as if he had aged a hundred years in an instant.
The attacks of the Water, Fire, and Earth Vein Elders were equally futile.
The nine water dragons were crushed by Blood Netherworld’s claw, turning into a sky full of water mist; The humanoid flames were extinguished by Zhan E’s Cycle Qi, and the Fire Vein Elder fell with a scream;
the Rock Giant was blasted into rubble by the combined attack of the two, and the Earth Vein Elder was shattered by the recoil, his internal organs broken, and he was on the verge of death.
Five peak ninth-grade Celestial Immortals couldn’t even withstand a single breath from two powerful Upper Immortals!
This was the absolute difference in realm.
“Ants dare to block the way?”
Blood Netherworld’s eyes flashed with killing intent, and Nine Nether Demonic Qi condensed into a pitch-black demonic claw that blotted out the sky in his palm.
The claw’s five fingers were like hooks, and the tips burned with ghostly green flames. With the power to destroy everything, it slammed down on the heavily injured Kai!
If this palm strike landed, let alone Kai’s current critical condition, even in his prime, he might not be able to withstand it.
Death… was imminent.
But just as the demonic claw was about to fall,
“Buzz!”
A wall of crimson-gold fire appeared out of thin air, blocking Kai between the demonic claw and the claw.
The wall of fire was only three feet thick, yet it was as solid as a tangible crystal.
Countless ancient flame runes flowed across its surface, radiating a heat so intense it could distort space itself.
The demonic claw slammed into the wall, producing a deafening clang like metal clashing, sparks flying, but… it failed to penetrate!
The figure of the Earthfire Ancestor slowly emerged from the wall of fire.
This usually taciturn ancestor now had his hair and beard standing on end, his body engulfed in raging flames, making him appear like a god of fire.
There was no fear, no hesitation in his eyes, only a calm that had seen through life and death, and… a resolute determination.
“Want to kill him… you’ll have to get past me first.”
The Earthfire Ancestor’s voice wasn’t loud, but it struck everyone’s hearts like a heavy hammer.
“Earthfire Ancestor, you’re courting death!”
Zhan E sneered, the Qi of Reincarnation condensing into a three-zhang-long gray-white spear in his palm. Countless tormented soul shadows coiled around the spear, its tip flashing with a chilling light that could pierce through anything, aimed straight at the Earthfire Ancestor’s brow!
This spear thrust contained Zhan E’s understanding of the Dao of Reincarnation. Struck like a dragon, silent and stealthy, it locked onto the soul of the Earthfire Ancestor, leaving him no escape.
“Then…let’s die together.”
The Earthfire Ancestor suddenly smiled.
The smile was faint, carrying a hint of relief, a hint of acceptance, and a hint of…expectation for the young man behind him.
He formed an ancient, almost lost fire seal with his hands in front of his chest.
As the seal took shape, the crimson-gold flames around him surged wildly, their color gradually changing from crimson to pure gold, and then from pure gold to incandescent white.
The temperature was rising rapidly!
The air within a hundred feet was completely ignited, turning into a sea of fire. The ground rocks began to melt, flowing with scalding lava.
Even space itself distorted and deformed under the intense heat, emitting a cracking sound as it succumbed to the pressure.
“Earthfire True Scripture – Ultimate Forbidden Technique, True Flame Burns the Heavens – Body Transforms into the Great Sun!”
The voice of the Earthfire Ancestor resounded throughout heaven and earth, each word burning like flames.
“Ancestor, no!!!” Kai screamed hoarsely, tears mingling with blood streaming down his face.
He knew what this move meant; it was the ultimate forbidden technique recorded in the Earthfire True Scripture, costing the caster all their life force, soul, and cultivation to gain power beyond their limits for a short time.
Once unleashed, the caster would… be annihilated, body and soul, never to be reborn!
But it was too late.
The Earthfire Ancestor’s body began to melt in the blazing white flames.
First, his clothes turned to ashes, then his skin, flesh, bones… inch by inch, piece by piece, melting like a candle, transforming into the purest Earthfire True Flame.
That True Flame didn’t attack the enemy, but… all surged towards the heavily injured Kai!
Like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, endless true flames of earth fire surged into Kai’s body, frantically merging, colliding, and sublimating with his remaining chaotic immortal power, the power of the five elements, and the golden dragon bloodline.
“Boy…live on.”
The last voice of the Earth Fire Ancestor echoed in Kai’s mind, soft and calm, yet as heavy as Mount Tai.
“Live well, carrying
my share.” “The future of the Earth Fire Pavilion…is entrusted to you.”
The voice dissipated.
The Earth Fire Ancestor’s figure vanished completely into the blazing white flames, leaving not even a speck of ash.
A generation’s ancestor had fallen.
Body and soul annihilated.
Kai felt an unimaginably vast power surging within him.
It wasn’t a simple infusion of power, but…a fundamental sublimation.
The true essence of earth fire, formed from the Earth Fire Ancestor’s life’s cultivation, surged like the most violent torrent, shattering the broken meridians within him.
It reshaped his damaged organs and repaired his broken bones. More importantly, this power resonated miraculously with his original Chaotic Immortal Power, Five Elements Power, and Golden Dragon Bloodline.
Within his dantian, the primordial star, on the verge of shattering, rapidly stabilized under the nourishment of the Earth Fire True Essence.
The surface cracks healed at a visible speed, and the star’s light transformed from dim to bright, and then from bright to dazzling.
Gold, cyan, blue, red, and yellow—the colors of the Five Elements—flowed across the star’s surface.
A hazy, chaotic energy swirled within the star.
Crimson-gold Earth Fire True Flames burned around the star.
A faint, almost imperceptible dragon’s roar emanated from the deepest part of the star—the awakening of the Golden Dragon Bloodline.
These four forces, originally unrelated, now began a slow but resolute fusion under the Earth Fire Ancestor’s life-risked mediation.
“Ugh!!!”
Kai roared in agony, looking up at the sky.
It wasn’t the pain of injury, but the pain of a sudden surge of power and the forced transformation of his body.
He could feel every cell in his body being torn apart and reorganized, every meridian being widened and strengthened, and even his soul becoming more solid and resilient under this impact.
His aura… soared!
The bottleneck of the peak of the fourth rank of the Celestial Immortal Realm was easily pierced as if it were paper.
The fifth rank of the Celestial Immortal Realm!
But this was not the end. The Earth Fire Ancestor possessed the cultivation of a third-grade Upper Immortal. Although due to his advanced age and declining vitality, the actual power he could transmit was less than 30% of his peak strength, it was still as vast as the sea for Kai, a Heavenly Immortal.
Heavenly Immortal, fifth grade, mid-stage, late-stage, peak…
“Boom!!!”
Another barrier was broken through.
Finally, his cultivation stabilized at the peak of the fifth grade of the Heavenly Immortal, only a hair’s breadth away from the sixth grade.
But this was merely the surface.
The true transformation lay in his control over power, in the… entirely new and unprecedented essence of power generated by the fusion of the four forces.
Kai slowly stood up.
His wounds had long since healed, leaving no scars.
Beneath his tattered clothes, skin as smooth as jade was revealed, its surface faintly shimmering with alternating streams of four colors.
He raised his right hand; beside the five-colored pattern on the back of his hand, another crimson-gold flame pattern appeared.
The two patterns intertwined, forming a profound design.
The Dragon-Slaying Sword seemed to sense its master’s change, humming excitedly as it automatically flew back into Kai’s hand.
On its blade, a hazy, chaotic aura, the five-colored flowing power of the Five Elements, the crimson-gold true flames of the earth, and a faint golden dragon-shaped phantom—the four forces perfectly merged, transforming into a magnificent sword aura, a hundred feet long and interwoven with four colors.
The sword aura remained still, yet it emanated a terrifying pressure that changed the very fabric of the world. Around the sword aura, space continuously collapsed and repaired, cycling endlessly, as if even heaven and earth could not withstand the existence of this power.
“Blood Netherworld… Zhan E…”
Kai’s voice was calm, eerily calm.
He raised his eyes, looking at the two culprits who had caused the demise of the Earth Fire Ancestor. His eyes held no anger, no hatred, only… a kind of indifference as if looking down upon ants.
“This sword… is a farewell to the Ancestor.”
As his words fell, the sword aura was unleashed.
The instant the sword aura struck, time seemed to freeze for a moment across the entire battlefield.
That wasn’t an illusion; the chaotic power contained within the sword aura truly affected the flow of time in that area.
To everyone else, the four-colored sword aura, though not particularly fast, arrived before Xue Youming and Zhan E in an instant.
Xue Youming and Zhan E’s expressions changed drastically.
As powerful beings at the Upper Immortal Realm, their combat instincts far surpassed ordinary people.
The moment they saw the sword aura, an unprecedented sense of crisis arose in both of them—an attack capable of threatening their lives!
“Join forces to block it!!!” Xue Youming roared, no longer daring to hold back.
Pitch-black Netherworld demonic energy surged wildly from his body, condensing into a three-zhang-thick black shield before him.
Countless agonizing, distorted faces struggled and wailed on the shield’s surface—the remnants of souls he had devoured and refined, now forcibly extracted to reinforce his defense.
Zhan E also fought desperately.
He spat out three mouthfuls of his life essence blood, which transformed into three blood-red runes in the air, merging into the Qi of Reincarnation.
The grayish-white aura of reincarnation instantly turned crimson, becoming even more viscous and eerie, forming nine layers of crimson barriers before him.
Each barrier was powerful enough to withstand a full-force attack from a second-grade Upper Immortal; with nine layers combined, even a third-grade Upper Immortal might not be able to break through them in a single blow.
This was their trump card for survival.
“Boom!!!”
The sword energy struck the shield and barrier.
There was no earth-shattering explosion, no world-destroying impact.
There was only… a teeth-grinding “sizzle,” like a hot knife cutting through butter.
To everyone’s disbelief, the four-colored sword energy sliced through Xue Youming’s black shield and severed Zhan E’s nine-layered blood-red barrier as if it had encountered no resistance.
The shield shattered, the barrier broke.
Xue Youming and Zhan E simultaneously coughed up blood, their bodies flying hundreds of feet backward, each bearing a deep, bone-revealing sword wound.
Xue Youming’s left arm was severed at the shoulder, and Zhan E’s right chest was pierced through; the four forces intertwined and corroded at the wounds, making it impossible for them to even stop the bleeding.
But… the sword energy was also completely exhausted.
Kai groaned and spat out another mouthful of blood.
He could feel the power injected by the Earth Fire Ancestor rapidly fading; this burst of power beyond the limit could not be sustained.
This sword strike was the last one he could unleash in a short time.
Although Xue Youming and Zhan E were severely injured, they had not lost their fighting ability.
“He’s exhausted! Truly exhausted!”
Zhan E clutched the bloody hole in his chest, a maniacal joy flashing in his eyes. “Kill him! Now! Immediately!”
The two endured the excruciating pain and pounced again.
This time, they didn’t even use any supernatural powers, but directly used the most primal physical strength to completely obliterate Kai in the fastest and most direct way.
But just then.
“God King Bow!!!”
With a roar from Kai, the God King Bow appeared from his storage ring.
Kai didn’t want to reveal too much, because it would attract trouble, but in this situation, he had no choice but to take out the God King Bow.
The entire bow did not exude any pressure, but gave people an ancient feeling that it should have been there all along, as old as heaven and earth.
“That’s… the God King Bow?!”
Xue Youming’s pupils shrank to the size of pinpoints, his voice distorted with extreme shock.
“Whatever bow it is, kill him first!”
Although Zhan E was also shocked, his killing intent was even stronger.
“Shoot!!!”
Kai pulled the bowstring with all his might.
Countless streams of malevolent energy converged on the Divine King Bow.
Countless cultivators had perished in this great battle, their malevolent energy gathering.
Now, it was all absorbed by the Divine King Bow, condensing into a single arrow!
“Buzz!!!”
The sound of the bowstring vibrating was like the roar of a god, or the thunder of eternity. Time froze completely.
Space was frozen in place.
Everyone felt their thoughts, actions, even their heartbeats, being forcibly suppressed by an invisible force.
They could only watch helplessly as the golden arrow left the bowstring, shooting towards Xue Youming and Zhan E with a speed that seemed slow but actually surpassed all physical laws.
Wherever the arrow passed, the void shattered inch by inch, revealing the pitch-black nothingness behind. Those spatial rifts were not chaotic, but as if cut by the most precise instrument, neat and smooth, exuding a chilling aura of destruction.
Xue Youming and Zhan E’s faces were ashen, like corpses.
They could clearly feel that this arrow… had locked onto their very soul essence.
No matter where they fled, no matter what supernatural powers they used, this arrow would inevitably hit.
This was the rule of the God King’s Bow: the arrow would hit its mark, and the one hit would be injured!
There was no escape, no avoidance.
The only option was… to withstand it!
“Join forces to resist!!!” the two roared hoarsely, their voices distorted by fear.
Xue Youming channeled all the remaining Nine Nether Demonic Energy into his severed arm, forcibly regenerating a jet-black demonic arm.
The arm formed a hand seal in front of his chest, condensing into a demonic shield engraved with the face of a Nine Nether Demon.
Zhan E was even more ruthless, directly biting down and shattering his three natal soul teeth—foundational artifacts he had cultivated within his soul during his Reincarnation Technique, each containing immense soul power.
The soul teeth exploded, the pure soul power merging with the Reincarnation Energy, creating a ten-zhang-thick gray-black soul wall before him.
The demonic shield and soul wall overlapped, emitting a suffocating defensive aura.
But… it was useless.
The golden arrow arrived.
“Swoosh…”
A light, fleeting sound.
Like a hot knife through butter, or a drop of water falling into a lake.
The golden arrow encountered no resistance, easily piercing the demonic shield, penetrating the soul wall, and then… passing through the center of Xue Youming and Zhan E’s bodies.
“Pfft!”
“Pfft!”
Both simultaneously spat out a mouthful of black blood mixed with fragments of internal organs.
Two bloody holes, each the size of a bowl, appeared on his chest.
The edges of the wounds were neat and smooth, as if cut by the most precise instrument. Even more terrifying was that no blood gushed from the wounds; instead, they presented a bizarre state of “nothingness,” where flesh, bone, and even space itself had been completely obliterated by the force carried by the arrow.
Xue Youming looked down at the bloody holes in his chest, his dark pupils filled with disbelief.
He could feel that the foundation of his Nine Nether Demonic Arts… had been severely damaged by this arrow by at least fifty percent!
Without hundreds of years of arduous cultivation, it would be impossible to recover. Even more terrifying was that the divine power remaining in the wounds was still eroding his life force, preventing the wounds from healing. Zhan E was in a similarly miserable state.
The Qi of Reincarnation inherently possessed immortality, allowing ordinary injuries to heal instantly.
But now, the bloody hole in his chest showed no signs of healing; instead, it continued to widen. It was the law-breaking rule contained within the God-King’s arrow, forcibly dismantling his foundation of reincarnation.
Although not dead, this arrow… had completely rendered them powerless.
For a short time, let alone continuing to fight, even maintaining consciousness would be difficult.
The arrow continued its trajectory towards the distant horizon, finally disappearing into the void, leaving only a lingering spatial rift.
The battlefield… fell into a deathly silence.
Absolute silence.
Everyone looked at Kai, at the God-King’s Bow in his hand, its golden light gradually dimming until it returned to its ancient, simple form.
They looked at the two Upper Immortal Realm experts, their chests pierced, their auras utterly depleted. They
looked at this… earth-shattering arrow that had reversed the course of the battle.
After a brief silence, the Evil Path Palace side was the first to react.
“The Palace Master is seriously injured! Retreat! Retreat!!!”
A black-robed elder screamed hoarsely, his voice distorted with fear.
“Ancestor! Protect the Ancestor and get him out of here!!!”
The disciples of the Nine Nether Palace also panicked, rushing towards the spot where Xue Youming had fallen.
The allied forces completely collapsed.
Having witnessed their two leaders being severely wounded by an arrow, these cultivators, whose morale was already low, had no will to fight
left. They fled like stray dogs, madly fleeing off the battlefield.
Many even killed each other to fight for escape routes, the scene was extremely chaotic.
The alliance wanted to pursue, but Kai used his last strength to shout hoarsely, “Don’t chase… We… retreat too!”
He knew the situation all too well.
Although the Divine King Bow was powerful, forcibly activating it now would have a backlash far beyond his imagination.
At this moment, he felt his right hand was completely numb, his five fingers unable to bend, the meridian damage caused by the backlash from the Divine King Bow.
The primordial star in his dantian dimmed again, and new cracks even appeared on its surface.
Even more serious is the depletion of his soul.
Activating the Divine King Bow requires a massive amount of Daoist energy, and his soul is now as weak as if it had been hollowed out, making it difficult to even maintain basic consciousness.
His vision is blurring, his ears are ringing, and he could faint at any moment. Meanwhile, the alliance suffered devastating losses.
The Earthfire Ancestor perished, True Person Xuanwei died in battle, three elders of the Five Elements Sect were seriously injured, and two were lightly injured. The Heavenly Sword Pavilion lost two sword elders and dozens of elite disciples. More than half of the beasts in the Ten Thousand Beast Valley were killed or wounded, and 30% of the beast tamers perished…
If they continued fighting, even if they could annihilate the remaining enemies, they would have very few people left.
At that point, let alone counterattacking the Evil Path Palace, even self-preservation would be a problem.
“Listen to Fellow Daoist Kai… retreat!”
Jin Buhuan gritted his teeth and ordered, his eyes bloodshot, his voice hoarse like a broken bellows.
How he longed to chase after them, to wipe out the remaining enemies, and to avenge his fallen comrades!
But as sect leader, he had to be responsible for the surviving disciples.
Li Baichuan and Dugu Ao, though unwilling, knew this was the only option.
Li Baichuan’s three-headed Flaming Lion King was already on its last legs, and he himself had lost an arm and was bleeding profusely; continuing the fight would surely mean certain death.
Dugu Ao’s iron sword was riddled with cracks, threatening to shatter at any moment, and his own sword intent was becoming unstable due to overexertion.
“Retreat!” the two shouted almost simultaneously.
The remaining disciples of the three major sects began an orderly retreat.
The seriously wounded were taken away first, the lightly wounded helped each other, and the fallen… could only be hastily buried, without even time to erect tombstones.
Supported by the Crimson Cloud Demon Lord, Kai took one last look at the battlefield.
Mountains of corpses, seas of blood, severed limbs, and scorched earth stretching for miles.
The blood of the Earth Fire Ancestor and the Profound Mystery True Person had long since seeped into the earth, mingling with the blood of countless fallen warriors, staining the entire land a dark red.
Faint sobs drifted in the wind, the surviving disciples mourning their fallen comrades.
The air was thick with the stench of blood and burnt flesh, mixed with the eerie aura of reincarnation and the demonic energy of the Nine Netherworlds, creating a nauseating atmosphere of death.
Kai gripped the Divine King Bow tightly. The bow was icy cold, yet it felt as if scalding blood flowed within it.
It was the blood of the Earthfire Ancestor and the Mysterious Subtle True Man, the blood of countless fallen warriors, the blood of resentment, the blood of revenge.
“Blood Netherworld… Zhan Evil…”
he muttered to himself, each word seemingly squeezed from between his teeth, carrying a deep-seated hatred, an indelible vow.
“The grudge of today… will be repaid a hundredfold in the future!”
“The day I return… will be the day you… are annihilated!”
Three days later, 80,000 miles northwest of the Five Elements Mountains, in a hidden valley shrouded in a natural maze.
This was one of the secret realms discovered by the Five Elements Sect in its early years. The entrance was hidden behind a waterfall, the interior space was vast, rich in spiritual energy, and protected by multiple natural formations, making it extremely concealed.
At this moment, the remaining disciples of the three major sects were all hiding here.
Deep in the valley, in a hastily constructed cave,
Kai sat cross-legged, his face as pale as paper, his breath so weak it was almost imperceptible.
His bare upper body was covered with crisscrossing wounds, the most serious being a bloody hole the size of a bowl on his chest.
It was caused by the backlash of the Chaos Returning to Nothingness Pearl; even after three days of recuperation, the bleeding had only barely stopped, and the chaotic turbulence within was still raging.
The cave was filled with a rich medicinal fragrance. Jin Buhuan had brought out almost all the precious healing medicines treasured by the Five Elements Sect.
Beside Kai lay a dozen jade bottles, the pills within already consumed by him. Their medicinal power dissolved within his body, working alongside his Chaos Immortal Power to repair his damaged meridians and internal organs.
Outside the cave, Jin Buhuan, Li Baichuan, Dugu Ao, the Crimson Cloud Demon Lord, and other high-ranking members of the alliance gathered in a simple stone pavilion, their faces grave, the atmosphere oppressive and suffocating.
“The casualty statistics… are out.” Jin Buhuan’s voice was dry and hoarse, as if he hadn’t had water in a long time.
He held a jade slip in his hand, its surface emitting a faint light, covered with densely packed text.
With each line he read, his face paled further, his hand trembling slightly as he held the jade slip.
“The Five Elements Sect…”
He paused, took a deep breath, and continued, “Of the 3,200 disciples, 1,237 died in battle, including 48 elders and deacons of the eighth rank or above of the Heavenly Immortal Realm; 856 were seriously injured, and many more were slightly wounded… almost everyone was injured.”
“Among the five lineage elders, the Metal Lineage elder’s natal magic weapon was destroyed, his soul was severely damaged, and he is unconscious; the Wood Lineage elder’s life force was excessively depleted, and his lifespan has been reduced by at least 500 years; the Water, Fire, and Earth Lineage elders, although less seriously injured, will need at least half a year to recover their fighting strength.”
The stone pavilion was deathly silent.
Only the rustling of the mountain wind through the leaves and the suppressed sobs coming from afar could be heard.
“Heavenly Sword Pavilion…”
Dugu Ao continued, this usually cold and aloof sword fanatic now had bloodshot eyes. “Nine hundred sword cultivators, three hundred and twelve died in battle, including two sword elders and forty-six elite disciples; two hundred and seven were seriously injured, and half of the remaining disciples were wounded. My Lone Peak Sword… is shattered.”
He held a section of the hilt in his hand; the blade had already been completely destroyed in the battle.
That was his natal sword, nurtured for tens of thousands of years. As long as the sword was there, he was there; the sword was gone… He was not dead, but his foundation was damaged.
“Ten Thousand Beast Valley…”
Li Baichuan’s voice was even lower. This once-bold beast king was now hunched over, as if he had aged a hundred years overnight.
“Nine thousand demonic beasts, four thousand three hundred killed in battle, including the Thunderwing Golden Eagle King, the Ironback Earth Dragon King critically wounded, and the Gale Wolf King with a broken leg; four hundred beast tamers, one hundred and eighty-seven killed, and all three Beast Taming Grandmasters perished… My natal battle beast, the Three-Headed Flaming Lion King… is also nearing its end.”
His voice choked with emotion as he finished speaking.
The Three-Headed Flaming Lion King was not only his battle beast, but also his companion and brother who had been with him for nearly ten thousand years.
At this moment, the majestic lion king lay in a cave at the other end of the valley, two of its three heads completely lifeless, and the remaining one coughing up blood, clearly on its deathbed.
A long silence fell once more in the stone pavilion.
The Crimson Cloud Demon Lord leaned against a stone pillar, his scarlet demonic eyes filled with exhaustion.
Although he hadn’t suffered the same heavy losses as the three major sects, he had also been seriously injured in the battle, and more importantly… he saw no hope.
“The Earth Fire Ancestor has fallen, and True Person Xuanwei has died in battle…”
Jin Buhuan murmured, “Adding to the disciples of the Azure Sword Sect, the elders of the Five Elements Sect, and the Grandmaster of the Valley of Ten Thousand Beasts who died earlier… In this battle, we have lost at least five top-tier combatants at the ninth rank of the Heavenly Immortal Realm.”
“As for the enemy… Xue Youming and Zhan E, although seriously injured, are not dead. Of the three Ghost Kings of the Nine Nether Palace, only the Chi Ghost King is dead; the other two are still alive. The elders of the Evil Path Hall also have at least five or six members intact. Once they recover…”He didn’t finish his sentence, but everyone understood his meaning.
Once the Evil Path Palace recovered, it would undoubtedly launch a full-scale attack to wipe out the remaining forces of the Alliance.
And given the Alliance’s current situation… it had no power to resist.
“The problem now is,” Dugu Ao said coldly, a hint of despair in his voice, “what do we do next? How long can we hide here? The Evil Path Palace has suffered such a huge loss; they will definitely turn the Twelve Heavens upside down to find us. When they come knocking… that will be the time of our total annihilation.”
The stone pavilion fell silent for the third time.
This silence was even more oppressive, even more desperate.
After a long silence, Jin Buhuan slowly spoke, his voice filled with a resigned weariness: “The only thing we can do now… is to hide.”
“Hide?”
Li Baichuan smiled bitterly. “How long can we hide? A month? Three months? Or a year?”
“We’ll hide as long as we can.” Jin Buhuan closed his eyes. “At least… we have to wait for our young friend Kai to recover. He is our only hope.”
“Furthermore,”
he paused, forcing himself to stay alert, “we need to contact other forces that still hold onto justice. The Twelve Heavens are so vast; there must be some who refuse to bow to the Evil Path Hall, who refuse to be enslaved by the Gate of Reincarnation
. If we can find them and unite, perhaps… there is still a glimmer of hope.” “And,” the Crimson Cloud Demon Lord added, “we must find a way to expose the truth about the Gate of Reincarnation. As long as more people know that it’s a trap, that so-called immortality is nothing more than turning living people into puppets, the power of the Evil Path Hall will crumble from within.”
“Easier said than done.”
Dugu Ao sneered. “After this battle, the news that the Lord of Reincarnation bestowed blessings and allowed tens of thousands of cultivators to break through has probably already spread to every corner of the Twelve Heavens.”
“Now everyone believes the Evil Path Hall is the chosen one, the controller of the Gate of Immortality. Who would still believe the words of us losers?”
Silence fell again.
Inside the cave, Kai slowly opened his eyes.
He had heard every word of the discussion outside. He understood
their current predicament.
A desperate situation. A
truly hopeless situation.
But in his eyes, there was no despair.
Only… an unfathomable coldness, and… a desperate, all-or-nothing resolve.
He raised his right hand, looking at the two intertwined lines on the back of his hand, five colors, five elements, crimson gold, and earth fire.
He felt the dim, yet still slowly rotating primordial star in his dantian.
“One month…”
he murmured, his voice hoarse but firm, “Give me one month…”
“Blood Netherworld, Zhan E, Lord of Reincarnation…”
“The day I emerge from seclusion… will be the day you… perish!”
Outside the window, night deepened.
An atmosphere of oppression, sorrow, and despair permeated the valley.
Kai chose a naturally formed, secluded grotto deep within the valley as his place of seclusion.
The grotto’s entrance was narrow, but the interior was surprisingly spacious, with natural patterns on the stone walls that subtly prevented detection—perfect for him.
“Senior, please protect me here. No one is allowed to disturb me,”
Kai instructed the Crimson Cloud Demon Lord who followed closely behind.
He couldn’t let too many people know the secret of the Demon-Suppressing Tower; after all, human hearts are unpredictable.
The Demon-Suppressing Tower, capable of altering the flow of time, would inevitably attract unwanted attention if others knew about it.
After all, time is the most precious thing for cultivators.
The Crimson Cloud Demon Lord nodded emphatically, his crimson demonic eyes filled with solemnity: “Don’t worry, with me here, not even a fly can get in. You can focus on your recovery.”
Kai said no more and turned to enter the depths of the grotto.
He waved his hand, setting up several simple warning and shielding barriers, then sat cross-legged, took a deep breath, and a flash of light appeared in his palm—the ancient and mysterious Demon-Suppressing Tower.
With a thought, he was sucked into the tower.
Three months inside the tower equals only one day outside.
This was his only advantage, and the source of his confidence to say he would destroy Xue Youming and Zhan E in a month.
He believed that these two would never recover in a month.
The space inside the tower was vast and filled with chaotic energy.
Kai went directly to the central area and took out a large number of spirit stones and pills given to him by Jin Buhuan, as well as spoils of war containing pure energy that he had collected from the previous battle.
He did not immediately begin to absorb them, but instead examined his own body.
In his dantian, the primordial star that had fused the powers of chaos, the five elements, earth fire, and the golden dragon was still dim, and the newly added cracks on its surface were shocking. The star’s rotation was sluggish, as if it might stop at any moment. In his meridians
, the damage caused by the backlash from the Divine King Bow was like a dried-up and cracked riverbed. Chaotic currents lingered at the wound on his chest, constantly eroding the newly grown flesh.
“Time is of the essence, I must take the risk.”
A fierce glint flashed in Kai’s eyes.
He abandoned the methodical nurturing process and instead formed hand seals, activating a domineering technique called “Nirvana Forging Technique” from the *Chaos Immortal Scripture* and the legacy of the Earth Fire Ancestor.
Boom!
A massive amount of spirit stones were instantly drained of their spiritual energy, turning to dust.
The pills melted upon entering his mouth, transforming into a torrent that rushed into his meridians.
Kai groaned, his face suddenly flushing red, and fine, bloody gashes reopened on his body.
With his powerful will, he guided this violent force, forcefully crashing into the blocked and damaged meridians, like the most brutal craftsman hammering a broken bridge, forcibly mending and widening it.
Excruciating pain!
Far exceeding the pain of his previous battle injuries!
It was a tearing sensation spreading from the depths of his soul.
But he gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, sweat mixed with blood soaking his robes.
Driven by the “Nirvana Forging Technique,” the Chaos Immortal Power and Earth Fire True Essence simultaneously destroyed and regenerated, forcibly repairing his Dao Foundation in a manner akin to self-destruction.
At the same time, he immersed his mind in the Origin Star. The four colors of light intertwined and collided within the star, sometimes merging, sometimes repelling.
The final power of the Earth Fire Ancestor acted as a glue, but true perfect fusion required a long and painstaking process.
Kai couldn’t do that; he directly drew upon the ancient dragon soul power deep within the Golden Dragon bloodline, using the dragon soul’s domineering power and majesty as a hammer, and the chaotic energy as an anvil, relentlessly hammering at the four powers, forcing them to merge!
Within the tower, there was no sun or moon, only a cycle of pain and perseverance.
Kai’s aura was sometimes as faint as a candle in the wind, sometimes as violent as a volcanic eruption.
His body became increasingly resilient through repeated collapses and reconstructions, with four-colored light shimmering beneath his skin, and his bones seemingly coated with a faint golden luster.
Meanwhile, outside, only ten days had passed. In
the Evil Path Hall, at the deepest Reincarnation Altar,
Xue Youming and Zhan E sat cross-legged in two enormous blood pools.
The blood pools churned with viscous liquid containing the essence of countless living beings and vengeful spirits.
The phantom of the Gate of Reincarnation hung high above the altar, casting a greyish-white halo that accelerated their recovery.
At the edge of the bloody hole in Zhan E’s chest, the intractable power of the Divine King’s Bow was being gradually worn away and transformed under the light of Reincarnation and the nourishment of the blood pool.
His aura, though still weak, had stopped deteriorating and was beginning to slowly recover.
At Xue Youming’s severed arm, flesh buds writhed wildly, and a new, slightly pale arm was growing.
His body was enveloped in surging Netherworld demonic energy, absorbing the power of vengeful spirits from the blood pool to repair the damaged foundation of his demonic arts.
Both men wore expressions of extreme resentment and longing.
“Kai… Divine King Bow…”
Xue Youming squeezed out the name through gritted teeth, “Once I recover, I will surely extract your soul and refine your spirit, seize your divine bow, and offer it to the Lord!”
Zhan E looked at the Gate of Reincarnation with even greater piety and fervor: “Thank you for your grace, Lord! I will certainly live up to your expectations, quell the rebellion as soon as possible, and offer more souls to the eternal cycle of reincarnation!”
As if sensing his piety, the illusory image of the Gate of Reincarnation suddenly fluctuated, and from the deep, endless gray-white vortex within the gate, a cold and vast will emanated:
“Loyalty deserves reward.”
As the words fell, three gray-white beams of light shot out from within the gate and landed on the altar.
The beams of light dissipated, revealing three figures.
These were three humanoid puppets, expressionless, with pale skin and completely gray-white pupils, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
However, the aura emanating from them had clearly reached the level of the second rank of the Upper Immortal Realm!
Moreover, their auras shared a common origin, both being the purest essence of reincarnation energy, resonating with each other and subtly forming an array.
“These are the guardians of reincarnation, granted your command to clear away obstacles,”
the Lord of Reincarnation’s voice rang out again, utterly calm.
Zhan E was overjoyed. Ignoring his injuries, he struggled to climb out of the blood pool, prostrating himself on the ground, his voice trembling with excitement: “Thank you for your grace, Lord! I swear to
serve you to the death, and will thoroughly eradicate the traitors, so that your glory may shine upon every inch of the Twelve Heavens!” Xue Youming looked at the three powerful guardians of reincarnation, his eyes flashing with awe and greed, and quickly followed suit, bowing down.
With these three puppets at the second rank of the Upper Immortal Realm, plus their restored power, and the remaining resources of the Evil Path Palace, they could easily sweep away the heavily damaged remnants of the alliance, and even unify the Twelve Heavens! …
Within the Demon-Suppressing Tower, several years had passed.
Kai, who had been sitting cross-legged, suddenly opened his eyes.
“Boom!”
A powerful aura involuntarily emanated, causing the chaotic energy within the tower to churn.
His eyes shone brightly, as deep as the starry sky, with four-colored streams of light flashing by.
The blood hole in his chest had long since disappeared, his skin smooth as jade, faintly gleaming with precious light.
The five elements and earth fire patterns on the back of his hands were even clearer and more profound, as if naturally formed.
Within his dantian, the primordial star had not only fully recovered from its wounds but had also increased in size by 30%, rotating steadily and powerfully. The four colors—gray, five-colored, crimson gold, and pale gold—were perfectly blended, forming a unique luster that resembled the beginning of chaos and contained endless birth and death.
The essence of the power it emitted far surpassed that of an ordinary peak fifth-grade Heavenly Immortal.
His cultivation had stabilized at the peak fifth-grade Heavenly Immortal realm, but his combat strength, after the initial fusion of the four forces and the tempering akin to a rebirth, was now incomparable to what it once was.
The backlash from the Divine King Bow had subsided, and his right hand was fully recovered.
“Time’s up,”
Kai muttered to himself, his figure flashing as he exited the Demon-Suppressing Tower.
Outside the cave, the Crimson Cloud Demon Lord, who had been vigilantly waiting, sensed it immediately and looked over.
When he felt the harmonious yet subtly powerful aura emanating from Kai, his eyes lit up with surprise: “You…you’ve fully recovered? And it seems…you’re even stronger!”
Kai nodded, saying nothing more, and returned with the Crimson Cloud Demon Lord to the stone pavilion in the center of the valley.
Jin Buhuan, Li Baichuan, Dugu Ao, and others rushed over upon hearing the news. Seeing Kai’s condition, they were all invigorated, as if they had seen a ray of light in their desperate situation.
“Fellow Daoist Kai, how are you recovering?” Jin Buhuan asked anxiously.
“I’m mostly recovered.”
Kai’s gaze swept over everyone. Although they had rested for over a month, their faces still bore the marks of fatigue and injury; their overall strength had recovered to less than 50%. “Seniors and fellow Daoists, I have something to ask you.”
Everyone quieted down and looked at him.
“I intend to make a trip to the Hall of Evil Paths…” Kai’s tone was calm, yet it was a bombshell.
“What?!”
“No!”
“Kai, have you gone mad?!” A chorus of objections erupted from the stone pavilion.
Jin Buhuan exclaimed urgently, “The Evil Path Hall must be heavily guarded now. Although Xue Youming and Zhan E are injured, their foundations remain. Moreover, the Gate of Reincarnation is unpredictable. Going alone is tantamount to walking into a trap!”
Li Baichuan also shook his head, “Boy, we know you hate, and we hate too! But revenge isn’t urgent. Let’s wait until everyone has recovered a bit before making a decision!”
Dugu Ao gripped the hilt of his newly acquired iron sword and said coldly, “If we’re going, we’ll go together.”
Kai raised his hand, silencing the crowd, his gaze resolute, “It’s precisely because everyone’s injuries haven’t healed, and the Evil Path Hall could attack at any moment, that I must go.”
“We can’t just sit here and wait to die. They might not have anticipated my recovery.”
“This journey is not for a decisive battle, but for reconnaissance. If there’s an opportunity…”
A cold glint flashed in his eyes, “…to cut off their leader, disrupt their formation, and buy us more time.”
He looked at the Crimson Cloud Demon Lord: “Senior, you stay here to assist in the defense. When I return, I will accompany you to find the Nine Aperture Divine Soul Grass to fulfill your wish.”
The Crimson Cloud Demon Lord opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing the determination in Kai’s eyes, he finally just nodded heavily: “…Come back alive.”
Everyone wanted to persuade him further, but Kai had already turned around, preparing to leave.
Just then…
“Buzz!”
The natural maze above the valley suddenly fluctuated violently, and two incomparably powerful, yet not malicious, auras, like tearing through a curtain, forcefully penetrated in!
“Enemy attack?!”
Everyone’s expression changed in horror. Jin Buhuan and the others instantly surged their magic power, Li Baichuan summoned his remaining battle beasts, Dugu Ao’s sword energy soared into the sky, and the Crimson Cloud Demon Lord’s demonic energy surged, as if facing a formidable enemy.
Kai’s heart also tightened, and he focused his gaze.
Space distorted, and two figures emerged leisurely.
The leader, dressed in a simple grey robe, possessed a refined
and gentle face, yet his eyes were as deep as the sea, as if they had witnessed countless vicissitudes. Beside him was a woman in a plain long dress, exquisitely beautiful and with a gentle temperament, though her face was slightly pale, as if she had just recovered from a long illness. However, her gaze towards the grey-robed man was filled with longing and a joy akin to rebirth.
The aura emanating from these two individuals had clearly reached the Upper Immortal Realm!
And they were certainly not newcomers to this realm, especially the grey-robed man, whose aura was as profound as the sea, giving Kai the feeling that he was faintly stronger than the Earth Fire Ancestor at his peak!
Kai was initially stunned, then his eyes flashed with joy, and he quickly waved to stop the others who were preparing to fight to the death: “Wait, everyone! They’re our own people!”
He strode forward and bowed respectfully to the gray-robed man: “Senior Musa! What brings you here!”
The newcomer was none other than Musa, the mysterious powerhouse Kai had rescued from the Heavenly Ladder years ago, and his wife, whom Kai had longed to resurrect through the supernatural powers of Mr. Shi, whom he had begged to do so!
Musa smiled, looking at Kai, his gaze sweeping over him, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
“Mr. Chen is indeed extraordinary. In such a short time, you have made such progress. Your foundation is so profound that I have never heard of it.”
He then looked at Jin Buhuan and the others, who were on high alert and filled with doubt, and nodded slightly: “Please do not panic. My wife and I are old friends of Mr. Chen. We are not here to be enemies.”
Jin Buhuan and the others sensed that Musa and his wife meant no harm and were acquainted with Kai, so they relaxed slightly, but remained vigilant.
Kai quickly introduced the two sides.
Upon hearing that Musa possessed the profound cultivation of an Upper Immortal Realm expert and was an old friend of Kai, Jin Buhuan and the others were both surprised and delighted, and quickly paid their respects.
After exchanging pleasantries, Kai asked urgently, “Senior Mu Sha, what brings you here so suddenly?”
“How much do you know about the current situation in the Twelfth Heaven, especially the Gate of Reincarnation and the Hall of Evil?”
Mu Sha’s expression turned serious. He took his wife’s hand and gestured for everyone to sit down.
He glanced at Kai and slowly said, “That’s exactly why I’ve come. Mr. Chen, you just mentioned wanting to go to the Hall of Evil?”
“Yes,” Kai nodded.
Mu Sha shook his head, his tone grave: “Mr. Chen, put that thought aside for now. At least until you reach the Upper Immortal Realm, until you have completely mastered the powers within you, and until you understand the true nature of the Lord of Reincarnation, do not take unnecessary risks.”
“Senior knows the identity of the Lord of Reincarnation?” Kai’s pupils contracted.
Musa paused for a moment, seemingly considering his words, before finally speaking slowly: “In the past, in my quest to resurrect my wife, I traveled to many hidden places, and by chance, I glimpsed a trace of the essence of the Gate of Reincarnation.”
“That wasn’t the original gate of this world; its origin… involves taboos from ancient times and even further back. The so-called Lord of Reincarnation behind the gate isn’t a true being, but rather seems to be… an aggregation of rules, or rather, an ancient, vast, and malevolent projection of will.”
He paused, looking at Kai: “Do you know why the Gate of Reincarnation can grant power, allowing one to break through?”
Kai recalled the scene on the battlefield: “Absorbing the energy dissipating from within the gate?”
“Yes and no,”
Musa said in a deep voice, “That gate is ‘opening its own path’.”
“Opening its own path?” Everyone was puzzled.
“The Great Dao of Heaven and Earth has its own laws of operation. Reincarnation is one of the laws of Heaven and Earth, and it has its own order.”
“But this Gate of Reincarnation is forcibly altering, stripping away, and monopolizing the laws of reincarnation in this world, severing them from the other laws of Heaven and Earth, and bringing them under the control of the will behind the gate.”
Musa’s words were astonishing. “The so-called blessing is nothing more than it feeding back the stolen Dao of reincarnation that originally belonged to all living beings in this world in a crude way, just like forcibly pouring the water of a vast ocean into a stream, which will naturally cause the stream to swell instantly.” ”But if this continues, the cycle of reincarnation in this world will be completely disrupted, the true souls of all beings will be controlled by it, and even the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth will be damaged.”
“The power it bestows bears its mark; the more it uses it, the deeper the dependence, and ultimately… body and mind will be assimilated, becoming nourishment for its own growth, or rather, a puppet.”
Everyone felt a chill run down their spines.
So the so-called trap of immortality was truly terrifying—it was about stealing the very foundation of a world!
“Then what exactly is the Lord of Reincarnation?” Kai pressed.
A deep sense of apprehension flashed in Musa’s eyes: “I cannot fully see through it either. I only know that it is ancient, powerful, and filled with a cold malice towards living beings.”
“It may have been the lingering obsession of a fallen supreme being, or the will of someone who failed to transcend and fell into depravity, or perhaps a predator from beyond this realm intending to devour it… Its current state is peculiar; it seems unable to fully descend upon this realm, needing to rely on the Gate of Reincarnation and its followers as anchors and henchmen.”
“Zhan E and Xue Youming are merely its more capable pawns.”
He looked at Kai, solemnly warning, “Mr. Chen, you possess great fortune and great karma. The power fused within you subtly possesses the characteristic of restraining the Qi of Reincarnation, especially the power of chaos and the aura of the God-King Bow.”
“This may be precisely why it, or its puppets, desires to eliminate you. But now is far from the time for you to confront it directly.”
“The Evil Path Palace will surely receive even greater rewards after this battle. Now, you mustn’t go into this dragon’s den or tiger’s lair.”
Kai remained silent, his heart churning with turmoil.
Mu Sha’s words confirmed many of his suspicions and revealed a deeper level of terror.
But the flame in his eyes did not extinguish; instead, it burned even more calmly.
“Senior Mu Sha, if Mr. Shi were to come, could he destroy the Gate of Reincarnation and the Lord of Reincarnation?” Kai asked curiously.
“This…” Mu Sha was silent for a moment, then gave a bitter smile: “Although I don’t know Mr. Shi’s true strength, destroying the Lord of Reincarnation would be as easy as snapping his fingers.”
“Kai, if Mr. Shi were to help you, let alone the Twelfth Heaven, he could easily wave his hand and send you to the upper levels of the Heavenly Realm.” Crimson Cloud Demon Lord said.
He had been in Kai’s sea of consciousness and had seen Mr. Shi several times. Crimson Cloud Demon Lord didn’t know Mr. Shi’s strength either, but he knew that Mr. Shi’s strength was probably beyond what these lower and middle levels of the Heavenly Realm could compare to.
“Mr. Shi is that powerful? ” Kai was somewhat surprised.
Mu Sha smiled and said, “Then Mr. Shi can arbitrarily change the laws and resurrect people whose souls have been destroyed. In this respect alone, he is far superior to the Lord of Reincarnation.”
“If the Lord of Reincarnation had this ability, he wouldn’t need to create the Gate of Reincarnation, immortality, or resurrection.”
Kai thought about it and realized it made sense. Mr. Shi could casually resurrect someone whose soul had been destroyed, which was far superior to the Lord of Reincarnation who used the laws of reincarnation to resurrect people, and even resurrected puppets.
“I understand your meaning, senior.”
Kai took a deep breath. “I will postpone my actions and continue to improve my strength. However, the Evil Path Hall will not give us much time. Once they recover, they will definitely come back.”
Although Mr. Shi was very powerful, Kai knew that Mr. Shi would not help him easily. He didn’t know if Mr. Shi had difficulties after arriving in the Heavenly Realm, or if there were other reasons, but he had never shown his face again.
Musa nodded: “That’s right. So, we need to make more preparations. Contact all available forces, find the weaknesses of the Gate of Reincarnation, and at the same time… Mr. Chen, you need to grow faster.”
His gaze swept over the lines on the back of Kai’s hand, “The fusion within your body seems to have entered the basics, but it’s still far from being truly perfect and able to unleash its supreme power. I might be able to lend you a hand, but you will also need to find your own opportunities.”
Just then, Musa’s wife, the gentle woman, spoke softly, her voice like a clear spring: “Brother Sha, have you forgotten the clue about the ancient Qi Refiner’s cave? Perhaps it will be useful to Mr. Chen.”
Musa suddenly realized: “That’s right! I almost forgot.”
“Mr. Chen, I once obtained a clue in an ancient site, pointing to the cave left behind by a group of cultivators known as the Ancient Qi Refiners in ancient times.”
“Their cultivation methods are ancient and powerful, especially adept at harmonizing and refining various exotic energies. Perhaps they can help you completely integrate the power within your body, or even… find an opportunity for further rapid advancement. However, that place is quite secluded and fraught with danger.”
A glint flashed in Kai’s eyes. If he could find the inheritance of an ancient Qi cultivator, accelerate the fusion of the four energies, and even break through to the sixth or seventh rank of the Celestial Immortal Realm… then, facing the restored Evil Path Palace and the Lord of Reincarnation, he would truly have the strength to fight, and even have the possibility of beheading them!
“Senior, where exactly is that cave?”
Kai looked intently at Mu Sha.
Mu Sha did not answer directly, but instead raised his hand and pointed in the void, and a very simple map outlined by faint starlight appeared.
Most of the area was blurry, but in one corner, there was an ancient and strange rune mark. The shape of the mark resembled a swirling cloud vortex, or some kind of primordial furnace.
“This place is located on the western edge of the Twelfth Heaven, in a crevice near the Void Gale Belt.”
Mu Sha pointed to the rune mark, his tone grave. “The spatial structure there is fragile and chaotic, constantly eroded by the gales and spatial turbulence, forming countless spacetime fragments and natural labyrinths. Ordinary cultivators find it extremely difficult to find the correct path, and even if they do, they may not be able to withstand the environment.”
“The entrance to that cave is hidden within a tranquil spacetime fragment known as the Eye of Return to the Void. It appears to be a secluded paradise, but inside, danger lurks at every turn.”
He looked at Kai: “Mr. Chen, your internal power is special, and you may be able to resist some of the environmental erosion.”
“But I must warn you, that cave is ancient, with unpredictable restrictions. The methods of ancient Qi cultivators are vastly different from our current cultivation methods. Their trials often target the very source, and are extremely dangerous.”
“Opportunities are found in danger, I understand.”
Kai cupped his hands, his eyes unwavering.
The Crimson Cloud Demon Lord grinned, his demonic eyes gleaming with a mixture of warlike curiosity and amusement. “Sounds interesting. I’ll come with you.”
Kai nodded. Having the Crimson Cloud Demon Lord along might help them find the Nine Aperture Divine Soul Grass.
Musa nodded, condensing the illusory star map into a pale gray token—neither gold nor jade—and handed it to Kai. “This is a guiding talisman. Infuse it with your unique spiritual power to activate it. It will guide you as you approach that area.”
“But whether you can truly enter the Eye of the Ruins and find the cave depends on your own fortune and strength.”
Kai solemnly accepted the token, sensing an extremely ancient and obscure aura within it.
Taking advantage of the lull before setting off, Kai’s doubts about the structure of the Celestial Realm resurfaced, especially regarding the origins of Musa and her husband.
He couldn’t help but ask, “Senior Mu Sha, I am deeply grateful for your help, you and your wife. But may I ask where you two are currently cultivating in the Twelfth Heaven? If there is any important matter in the future, I can pay you a visit to express my gratitude.”
Mu Sha and his wife exchanged a glance and smiled gently, a smile carrying a hint of detachment: “Mr. Chen, there’s no need for such formality. We are not long-term residents of the Twelfth Heaven.”
“Not long-term residents?” Kai was taken aback.
“That’s right.”
Mu Sha nodded and slowly said, “My wife and I actually come from the Thirteenth Heaven.” ”
The Thirteenth Heaven?”
Not only Kai, but even Jin Buhuan, Li Baichuan, and the others beside him showed surprise.
As the leaders of top sects in the Twelfth Heaven, they naturally knew about the Thirteenth Heaven, but they also knew that entering the Thirteenth Heaven was difficult and not something that could be achieved simply by having strength.
“Fellow Daoist, could you tell me how you got to the Thirteenth Heaven?” Jin Buhuan asked.
“Can’t we just go by opening the void passage?” Kai asked, puzzled. He didn’t understand why Jin Buhuan was asking this. “I’ve always done it this way, starting from the First Heaven and then arriving here through the void passage.”
Jin Buhuan, Li Baichuan, and the others all shook their heads after hearing this.
This left Kai completely confused, and even the Crimson Cloud Demon Lord was somewhat bewildered. Musa smiled slightly and explained, “Mr. Chen, the thirty-six heavens of the celestial realm are not simply stacked one on top of the other. Rather, they are roughly divided into upper, middle, and lower realms based on the completeness of the laws of heaven and earth, the level of spiritual energy
, and the stability of the world.” “The lower realm comprises the first to twelfth heavens. The twelfth heaven you reside in is the pinnacle of the lower realm, with relatively complete laws and abundant spiritual energy. However, it is fundamentally different from the middle realm. Within the lower realm, one can traverse using void passages.”
“The middle realm encompasses the thirteenth to twenty-fourth heavens. Each heaven is far more expansive and profound than the lower realm, with purer and more active spiritual energy, and the laws of heaven and earth are more rigorous and powerful.”
“Cultivating in the middle realm often leads to greater speed and comprehension than in the lower realm, but it also means fiercer competition, more brutal resource struggles, and a higher average strength for the beings living there. My wife and I are temporarily residing in a secluded place in the thirteenth heaven.”
“The Upper Realm, from the twenty-fifth to the highest thirty-sixth Heaven, is a legendary realm, inaccessible to those without great fortune, perseverance, and luck. It is rumored that the laws of the Upper Realm are nearly perfect, containing the essence of the Great Dao, making it a place truly close to the ultimate state of immortality. The specifics are beyond my ability to fully describe.”
These words were like opening a completely new door for Kai. Although he knew the thirty-six Heavens were divided into Upper, Middle, and Lower, no one had ever explained the differences to him.
“Senior Mu Sha, since the laws of the Upper and Lower Realms are fundamentally different, is it exceptionally difficult to travel from the twelfth Heaven to the thirteenth Heaven? What conditions are required?” Kai asked.
Musa said, “The barriers between layers, especially those crossing realms, are far more difficult than traversing between realms within the same realm.”
“From the twelfth to the thirteenth heaven, seemingly only one level apart, it’s actually a transition from the lower realm to the middle realm.”
“First, simply using enough powerful force to tear open a spatial passage might be feasible within the lower realm, but penetrating the legal membrane between the two realms is almost impossible.”
“That membrane automatically repels and dissolves forces and life forms that don’t conform to the essential laws of the middle realm.”
“Second, a guide or beacon is needed. There are usually two methods: one is that a powerful force or great being in the middle realm actively opens a stable, law-approved ascension passage for guidance; this is usually for those with exceptional talent in the lower realm or disciples of specific lineages.”
“The second is to find a treasure containing the aura or coordinates of the middle realm’s laws, using it as a beacon to construct a temporary passage at a specific location and time, combined with a special ritual and powerful energy. The latter is extremely dangerous, with a slim success rate, and the passage is highly unstable.”
“Finally, and most importantly,”
Musa said solemnly, “a cultivator must reach a certain level of life and compatibility with the laws. Simply put, in the lower realm, one needs to reach the Upper Immortal realm and have a deep understanding of their chosen path. Their physical body and soul must undergo a certain degree of transformation before they can initially adapt to the pressure of the laws in the middle realm.”
“Not every Upper Immortal cultivator can reach the Thirteenth Heaven. Understanding is the most crucial point; otherwise, even if they are fortunate enough to enter, they will be crushed by the heavier and denser laws of the middle realm, or unable to absorb the more refined spiritual energy and rapidly perish.”
After listening, Kai finally understood. Moreover, the guidance was somewhat similar to the Heavenly Ladder he had encountered in the Heavenly Realm.
If it weren’t for the Heavenly Ladder, Kai wouldn’t have been able to reach the Heavenly Realm back then. ”My wife and I were able to reach the Twelfth Heaven this time because we sensed Mr. Chen’s aura and then used a rare treasure we acquired in our early years to temporarily conceal and adapt to the laws of the lower realm.” ”
However, the power of this treasure is limited, and we cannot stay here for long, otherwise our foundation may be eroded by the laws of the lower realm, which would be detrimental to our cultivation.”
Mu Sha glanced at his wife beside him, his eyes filled with apology and tenderness. “Now that we have explained the situation, we should leave. Please take care, Mr. Chen.”
Although Kai felt reluctant to part and had many more questions, he knew it was inappropriate to insist that he stay. He bowed deeply and said, “Thank you for your explanation and guidance, senior. I will always remember your kindness.”
Mu Sha helped Kai up and smiled, “Mr. Chen has profound fortune and a strong will. His future is limitless. Perhaps we will meet again in the Thirteenth Heaven or even higher.”
“Take good care of yourself and strive to fully integrate your power as soon as possible. That ancient Qi Refiner’s cave may be the beginning of your rise to power.”
With that, the Mu couple didn’t linger. They nodded slightly to the crowd, a hazy gray light emanating from them, the space rippling like water. Their figures gradually faded away, disappearing without a trace, as if they had never existed.
A moment of silence fell over the valley, the crowd still reeling from the overwhelming amount of information.
Kai took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement, and turned to the Crimson Cloud Demon Lord: “Senior, let’s prepare to depart.”
The Crimson Cloud Demon Lord licked his lips, his scarlet demonic eyes blazing with battle intent: “I can’t wait any longer. Let me see what treasures that ancient Qi Refiner’s lair holds!”
Kai then said to Jin Buhuan and the others: “Sect Master Jin, seniors, I’m going to seek opportunities to break this deadlock as soon as possible. The safety of the valley is temporarily entrusted to you all. Be sure to be careful and discreet, and be wary of the Evil Path Hall’s investigation.” Jin Buhuan
… Kai nodded, “Fellow Daoist Kai, go with peace of mind. We will guard this place and recover as quickly as possible. You… be very careful!”
Li Baichuan patted Kai on the shoulder, “Kid, come back alive. I’m still waiting to fight back to the Evil Path Palace with you!”
Dugu Ao simply uttered two cold words: “Return quickly.”
Kai said no more, exchanged a glance with the Crimson Cloud Demon Lord, and the two transformed into two streaks of light, one golden and one red, breaking through the valley’s maze and speeding towards the western horizon, towards the desolate region that Mu Sha called the Void Gale Belt.