Chapter 6441 - 6450

Chief Qingmu, leading the charge, wielded his spiritwood staff and charged into the battlefield. Thousands of vines burst forth from the earth, relentlessly entangled and killed the onrushing divine cultivators, and the bloody battle officially began.

Seeing this, the Mighty Warrior sneered, his face full of disdain, and unleashed a powerful punch.

The Pure Yang Undying Fist Qi transformed into a dark golden pillar, ruthlessly crushing down, instantly tearing apart the countless vines. Its remaining force slammed into Chief Qingmu’s chest.

Chief Qingmu was sent flying back several steps, his chest wracked with pain, his blood churning, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood. Cracks spread across his spiritwood staff, and its spiritual light dimmed considerably.

Wood-type spiritual power was inherently countered by the Pure Yang Holy Light; although his cultivation was high, he was utterly powerless against a peak Mighty Warrior.

Yet, he gritted his teeth and held on, refusing to retreat an inch, turning back to fight again, vowing to protect his clan to the death.

The strategist, Zhi Zhan, flanked the enemy, deploying multiple layers of cleaving formations to precisely divide and kill the remaining Spirit Clan soldiers one by one.

The Spirit Clan’s formation masters fought desperately, but were utterly helpless against the master formation expert Zhi Zhan. Their formations shattered instantly, offering no resistance.

The bloody battle raged from noon until sunset, a full day of carnage, leaving corpses strewn across the land and rivers stained with blood. By evening

, the Ancient Forest of Ten Thousand Spirits was completely reduced to scorched earth and ruins. Towering ancient trees were burned to ashes, clear streams were stained red with blood, vegetation was withered,

spiritual energy was depleted, and the landscape was utterly devastated, devoid of any former vitality. The Green Wood Clan Chief, covered in blood and riddled with wounds, his spirit wood staff broken and unusable, knelt on the ground, his breath weak, his spiritual energy exhausted.

Only a hundred or so soldiers remained beside him, each wounded, missing limbs, blind, and swaying precariously, yet they still stood firm, refusing to surrender.

The mighty warrior slowly stepped forward, looking down at his superior position. His fists were stained with the blood of the Spirit Clan, and his tone was icy: “Lay down your weapons, surrender, and the remaining members of your clan may live. Resist to the bitter end, and today will be the day the Spirit Clan is annihilated, leaving no one alive.”

The Azure Wood Clan Chief slowly raised his head, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, yet he smiled arrogantly, his spirit unyielding: “Our ancient ancestors surrendered, and were enslaved by the human race for thousands of years, suffering endless humiliation and torment.

Today, Azure Wood is here, and will never repeat that mistake, never allow the descendants of the Spirit Clan to be slaves again! If you want the Spirit Clan to be destroyed, then step over my dead body!”

The mighty warrior frowned, said no more, raised his hand to gather strength, and was about to deliver a fatal punch to end the clan chief’s life.

“Stop.”

Wei Pengkun stepped forward slowly, raising his hand to stop him. His gaze swept contemptuously over the heavily injured Qingmu Clan Chief, feigning to offer him a chance: “I’ll give you one last chance.

If the entire Spirit Clan submits to the God Clan, offering up all their spiritual veins, cultivation techniques, and resources, becoming vassals and servants of the God Clan for generations, I will spare your entire clan’s lives. How about it?”

“Vassals? Servants? It’s just another way to enslave my clan!” The Qingmu Clan Chief’s voice was hoarse, yet every word was resounding. “My Spirit Clan sons and daughters would rather die a bloody death than kneel as slaves!”

He suddenly stood up, squeezing out the last of his primordial spiritual power to condense a green wooden sword. With his last ounce of strength, he thrust the sword straight at Wei Pengkun’s heart, determined to die.

Wei Pengkun’s expression was disdainful, and he didn’t move an inch.

In mid-air, a cold silver light flashed by. Venerable Hanyuan attacked from afar, his icy aura piercing through the body, instantly penetrating the Qingmu Clan Chief’s chest.

Blood gushed forth, and a chilling aura enveloped him. The Green Wood Clan Chief’s body rapidly solidified into an ice sculpture, standing firm and unyielding.

The next second, the ice sculpture shattered with a deafening crash. The Spirit Clan Chief had died a heroic death.

“Clan Chief—!”

The surviving Spirit Clan soldiers cried out in anguish, charging frantically towards the Divine Clan army in a desperate attempt to avenge their fallen comrades, only to be surrounded and slaughtered, their blood staining the scorched earth.

Bing Xue’er’s spiritual power was sealed, and she was forcibly restrained by two Divine Clan cultivators, unable to move. She could only watch helplessly as the Spirit Clan perished, tears streaming down her face, powerless to reverse the tide.

Bing Fenghan lay in a pool of blood, his eyes wide open, filled with resentment, vowing to die with his eyes open.

Bing Wuhen was also dead. These three members of the Ice God lineage could not escape their fate of being killed.

Bing Fenghan and Bing Wuhen were alright, since both of them were dead.

But Bing Xue’er had been captured alive, and what awaited her was something far more terrifying than death.

Countless divine cultivators rode upon her from afar.

Elder Qingxuan, severely injured and unconscious, was forcibly dragged away by the divine race, his fate unknown.

Wei Pengkun surveyed the scorched earth and corpses, nodded in satisfaction, and coldly declared: “From this day forward, within the Sixteen Heavens, there will be no more Myriad Spirit Ancient Forest, no more Spirit Race lineage, completely wiped out.”

The divine army, having finished its plunder, turned and withdrew, leaving behind only desolate ruins and a scene of utter desolation.

Night deepened, and the wind howled.

Deep underground, within decaying tree hollows, and in the crevices of spiritual veins, a few elderly and weak survivors of the Spirit Race seldom hid, having narrowly escaped the slaughter.

Only after the divine race’s aura had completely dissipated did they dare to cautiously crawl out of their hiding places, gazing at their shattered homes, weeping silently.

A young female Spirit Race cultivator, covered in dust, cradling a crying infant in her arms, stood amidst the sea of ​​corpses, her tears dried up.

Her loved ones were all brutally murdered, her home reduced to ashes, and the peaceful days of the past were utterly gone.

She looked around blankly, her heart filled with confusion and regret, murmuring softly, “We were content with our lot, we only wanted to live peacefully, why did we suffer this calamity of annihilation? If we hadn’t helped Kai, would none of this have happened…?”

In the tree hollow, the surviving elders sighed softly. Some blamed Kai for implicating their race, others were grateful for his saving grace. They argued and whispered, but ultimately only endless silence remained, filled with sorrow.

The war in the Sixteen Heavens had ended, leaving behind two tragic scenes and two unresolved entanglements.

Late at night, outside the secret chamber beneath the divine temple, Venerable Crimson Flame and Venerable Cold Abyss no longer lingered, silently arriving at the ancient inter-heaven teleportation array of the divine race, carrying the Soul-Suppressing Pearl.

The array’s spiritual light surged, isolating the heavenly secrets, without disturbing anyone inside the temple.

The moment they stepped into the teleportation array, the power of the void enveloped them, plunging them into boundless darkness. Spatial storms howled and roared outside, but were completely blocked by the array’s barrier, ensuring their safety.

Venerable Crimson Flame carefully put away the Soul-Suppressing Pearl, pondering the terrifying origin of the golden tome. He spoke in a deep voice, “Han Yuan, do you think that protective treasure might be a top-tier Dao artifact from the heavens?”

Venerable Han Yuan shook his head and pondered, “Dao artifacts are rare and precious, with only a handful in the Thirty-Six Heavens. What kind of opportunity would allow someone to possess one? How could a True Immortal cultivator from the lower realm be worthy of possessing one? It doesn’t make sense, and it’s hard to believe.”

“We’ll reach the Seventeenth Heaven and seek out a high-level expert to investigate its secrets.”

Venerable Crimson Flame’s eyes burned with greed. “If we can decipher the secrets of the tome and seize the opportunity of the Great Dao, we can transcend the Golden Immortal realm, ascend to a higher realm, and dominate the heavens.”

The teleportation array’s light grew even brighter, and at the end of the void passage, the outline of a completely new world slowly emerged.
With a whoosh,

a profound teleportation pattern spanning a hundred feet suddenly receded, the blinding spatial light fading layer by layer, collapsing and converging towards the center of the array like a tide.

In an instant, the teleportation power that had been roaring, trembling, and tearing through the void completely subsided, and the light and shadow on the spot dissipated.

Two tall and solitary figures stood steadily on the unfamiliar land, none other than the Crimson Flame Venerable and the Cold Abyss Venerable, who had crossed

realms to reach this point. The moment their feet touched the ground, the two Golden Immortal powerhouses almost simultaneously and subconsciously focused their attention on guard, their spiritual energy quietly flowing around them to protect their meridians and souls, instinctively probing for any unusual activity in their surroundings.

Their instincts, honed by years of wandering through countless realms and conquering countless battles, meant they would never let their guard down in unfamiliar territory.

Especially when crossing realms to enter the higher-level Heavenly Realm, unknown risks were omnipresent.

Looking up, the layout of the Seventeenth Heaven was vastly different from the Sixteenth Heaven they had just left, like two completely different cultivation dimensions. The dual impact of sight and touch was overwhelming, making their hearts tremble.

Above, the vast dome of the sky was devoid of the usual blue sky and white clouds, replaced by an extremely deep, heavy, and boundless dark purple-blue canopy.

Layer upon layer of celestial patterns intertwined and spread, concealing high-level spatial laws, exuding an ancient and primordial pressure in its stillness, heavily covering the entire earth.

Above the canopy, three blazing suns of vastly different sizes and colors hung eternally high, never setting, arranged in an orderly fashion across the sky.

One sun was entirely golden, its radiance warm and heavy, scattering the orthodox golden light of the Heavenly Dao;

another was as cold as silver, its chilling light piercing to the bone, carrying an aura of extreme cold and killing intent;

the third was as red as blood, its flames surging endlessly, possessing the power to burn the heavens and scorch the earth.

The rays of the three blazing suns, uninterrupted yet intertwined and merging, poured down, bathing the boundless earth beneath their feet in a thick, dark, ancient-looking golden hue.

As far as the eye could see, mountains, rivers, and wilderness were all bathed in flowing light, the majestic aura of the celestial realm overwhelming, a hundred times more magnificent and awe-inspiring than the Sixteenth Heaven. With each

breath, an intensely dense spiritual energy of heaven and earth rushed in, flowing through the mouth, nose, and meridians into every limb and bone.

The concentration of spiritual energy here was far beyond that of the Sixteenth Heaven, exceeding that of the lower realms by dozens of times. A deep breath sent a surge of spiritual power washing over the body’s meridians, nourishing the foundation of cultivation.

But this dense spiritual energy was not a gentle, nourishing substance; its texture was extremely sharp and domineering. Each wisp of spiritual energy contained tiny, sharp fragments of the Golden Immortal’s primordial laws, invisible to the naked eye, formless and colorless, yet containing the primordial pressure of the high-level cultivation world.

These fragments of laws, drifting between heaven and earth, are a unique gift from the Seventeenth Heaven, yet also invisible blades concealing deadly intent.

If an ordinary True Immortal cultivator rashly steps into this place, even without a powerful enemy, merely standing here for half an hour will result in their meridians being forcibly torn apart by the violent and fierce fragments of laws.

Their spiritual power will become uncontrollable and run rampant, ultimately leading to their physical body shattering, their soul dissipating, and their instant death, leaving no room for even a cry for help or struggle.

Even ordinary first- or second-grade Golden Immortals, if they stay here for a long time, must constantly circulate their primordial spiritual power to protect their bodies, carefully guiding the laws into their bodies, daring not to be the slightest bit negligent. Venerable

Crimson Flame slowly stretched the tense muscles and bones around his body, slightly tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath of the rich spiritual energy containing the laws of Golden Immortals, allowing the fierce spiritual power to wash over his Golden Immortal foundation.

Feeling the complete primordial laws flowing freely between heaven and earth, a trace of ultimate comfort and intense satisfaction flashed deep in his eyes.

He had cultivated diligently for ten thousand years, breaking through the shackles of the Golden Immortal realm. What he sought was never the barren and cramped cultivation ground of the Sixteenth Heaven, but rather the orthodox celestial realm of the

Seventeenth Heaven, with its complete laws, abundant spiritual energy, and suitability for Golden Immortal cultivation. The Sixteenth Heaven, in essence, was merely a peripheral, subordinate realm of the lower realms, lacking in spiritual energy, with incomplete laws of heaven and earth, hindering the path of cultivation, and slowing down progress. It simply could not accommodate a dignified Golden Immortal cultivating there for long; it was purely a waste of cultivation and time.

Only the Seventeenth Heaven was the proper place for a Golden Immortal to establish themselves, the orthodox realm that could help steadily advance their cultivation.

“Finally, I’ve stepped into the orthodox realm. All the previous struggles and battles have not been in vain,”

the Crimson Flame Venerable murmured to himself, his crimson flames subtly flowing around him, naturally resonating and merging with the surrounding spiritual energy, his mind becoming increasingly calm and resolute.

Beside him, the Cold Abyss Venerable remained indifferent, showing no emotion whatsoever.

His silver robes fluttered slightly in the wind, his silver pupils as cold and still as a deep pool, undisturbed by any ripples.

His gaze, sharp as a drawn divine weapon, swiftly scanned the surrounding landscape, the aura of heaven and earth, precisely checking for any lurking powerful enemies, restrictions, or traps.

For a Golden Immortal crossing realms, safety was always paramount; there was no room for carelessness.

After a brief investigation, confirming that there were no unusual movements, no ambushes, and no dangerous restrictions, Venerable Hanyuan withdrew his external divine sense.

Turning his face, his tone was icy and direct, devoid of any superfluous emotion, he cut to the chase: “No need for further reflection; resting is pointless.

The Heavenly Pole Palace is located in the heart of the Northern Region of the Seventeenth Heaven, a considerable distance away. We should set off immediately to report for duty and settle down before discussing further important matters.”

The Heavenly Pole Palace was the Divine Race’s power in the Seventeenth Heaven.

Venerable Chiyan suppressed his emotions and nodded in agreement.

Without further ado, the two leaped into the air side by side, their figures soaring through the air without the slightest hesitation.

In an instant, a crimson flame and a silver-white gleam, two streaks of extreme light, pierced the dark golden sky.

Tearing through layers of air currents, they sped towards the distant northern horizon, their speed reaching its limit, instantly traversing thousands of miles of mountains and rivers before disappearing into the horizon.

Outside, the world changed, and the mountains and rivers receded, but inside the Soul-Suppressing Pearl, a serene and tranquil peace prevailed, isolating most of the clamor and carnage of the outside world.

Within the sealed, lightless space of the pearl, a condensed and stable ball of purple divine soul light floated silently.

Surrounding the ball of light was a thick, pure, and eternally indestructible layer of golden light from the Great Luo Golden Scripture, firmly protecting the divine soul and isolating it from all external forces, the erosion of laws, and the probing of divine sense.

After an unknown amount of time, Kai, who had been lying dormant, stirred slightly in his divine soul, slowly awakening from his deep seclusion.

The moment his consciousness returned, Kai didn’t act rashly, nor did he immediately probe the outside world. Instead, he instinctively tightened his spiritual power, stabilized his mind, and remained extremely vigilant throughout.

Having experienced several life-or-death crises, being captured and imprisoned by powerful enemies, having his physical body destroyed, and being left with only a wisp of his soul adrift in a foreign land, he had long since developed a calm and composed temperament, capable of remaining calm and patient, and observing the situation carefully.

He could clearly sense that the atmosphere around him was completely different from before.

Although the internal space of the Soul-Suppressing Pearl was still sealed, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth that penetrated through the pearl’s barrier and seeped in through the gaps in the golden light of the Great Luo Golden Scripture had increased dozens of times in intensity, overwhelming him with a heavy and powerful force.
At the same time, the oppressive force within the spiritual energy grew increasingly powerful and fierce. It was no longer the gentle and weak spiritual energy of the sixteenth level of cultivation, but a top-tier energy carrying the high-level order of heaven and earth and the domineering rhythm of the origin, which invisibly made the soul feel slightly heavy.

More importantly, deep within the spiritual energy, there was a primordial power that transcended ordinary spiritual energy and mortal cultivation, flowing and spreading wantonly. It was ancient and majestic, with the binding force of high-level rules of heaven and earth.

Kai instantly understood and locked onto the source of the power. A solemn look flashed in his eyes: the Golden Immortal Law.

Although he had cultivated to the point of becoming a True Immortal but had not yet stepped into the threshold of the Golden Immortal realm, and had no chance to personally comprehend and cultivate the Great Dao of the Golden Immortal, he had gained extensive knowledge along the way, and with the old powerhouse Bei Mingyuan guarding his sea of ​​consciousness, he already had a thorough understanding of the Golden Immortal Law and could accurately identify it at a glance.

At this moment, Kai had already made a precise judgment: he had long since left the Sixteenth Heaven and had been forcibly brought into the higher-level Heavenly Realm by the Golden Immortals Chi Yan and Han Yuan.

The situation was becoming increasingly perilous, and his predicament increasingly passive, but Kai remained calm and composed.

He knew that he was now only a wisp of divine soul, without a physical body to rely on, without external assistance, and unable to move. Rashly becoming anxious would only disrupt his mind, throw him into disarray, and increase the risk.

Only by calmly dealing with the situation could he find a glimmer of hope.

Without showing any emotion, with an extremely steady mind, he activated his weak divine sense, quietly transmitting a voice into the depths of his sea of ​​consciousness, silently calling out: “Bei Mingyuan.”

A moment after the words fell, from the depths of his sea of ​​consciousness, a slightly illusory, weak yet still steadily condensed remnant soul consciousness slowly responded.

“I am here.”

Bei Mingyuan’s voice carried an undisguised weariness. Although protected by the Great Luo Golden Scripture, Bei Mingyuan’s remnant soul was too weak, and the soul refining process had left him exhausted.

He paused briefly, his tone grave. “I’ve already surveyed the surrounding天地气场 (heaven and earth energy field). The spiritual energy concentration has surged, and the level of the laws has increased dramatically.

The fragments of free-floating Golden Immortal laws are dense and abundant. Based on this comprehensive assessment, the place we are currently in is at least the seventeenth level of the Heaven and Earth Realm, without a doubt.”

Seventeenth level.

Kai silently repeated this in his mind.

The Crimson Flame Venerable and the Cold Abyss Venerable had previously joined forces to launch a powerful attack, using every means at their disposal, but they still couldn’t break through the absolute defense of the Great Luo Golden Scripture, nor could they refine his divine soul and seize the treasure.

They were unwilling to give up and miss out on a heaven-defying treasure, yet they were also unwilling to kill themselves directly and extinguish their hope, and even less willing to expend their own essence for a prolonged and exhausting attack.

After much thought, their only plan was to cross over to the higher level of the seventeenth level, to seek refuge with the stronger Golden Immortal experts there, and use their help to break through the defense, refine his divine soul, and seize the Great Luo Golden Scripture.

Their calculations were meticulous, and their intentions extremely malicious.

“The situation is perilous, surrounded by powerful enemies. There are countless experts here, far exceeding the sixteenth heaven.”

Kai whispered, his tone calm, yet concealing a hint of worry.

“Don’t panic, don’t worry too much.”

Bei Mingyuan immediately reassured him, his voice steady and powerful, giving Kai confidence. “Remember, our greatest reliance has never been external forces or aid, nor is it luck or chance, but rather this supreme treasure deep within our souls, the Great Luo Golden Scripture.”

“Its defensive barrier is indestructible, possessing the power to withstand all magic and overcome all difficulties. Ordinary Golden Immortals can hardly harm it in the slightest. Even high-level Golden Immortals of the Seventeenth Heaven, joining forces to launch a powerful attack, might not be able to shake it in the slightest, let alone completely break through it.”

He paused, then solemnly instructed, “The only thing you need to do right now is to gather all your divine sense, suppress all your emotions, and peacefully lie low to nourish your spirit and the origin of your divine soul.

Do not actively expose any unusual movements, and do not attract the attention of powerful figures outside. Calm your mind, patiently lie low, and wait for the best opportunity to escape and counterattack. When the time comes, we will have a way to break the deadlock.”

Kai nodded silently, without saying anything more, completely suppressing all distracting thoughts in his mind, gathering his weak outward divine sense, and stabilizing his divine soul form. He quietly

lay low within the golden light of the Great Luo Golden Scripture, isolating himself from all external prying eyes, silently sensing the movements of the outside world, observing the changes, and waiting for the right opportunity to break the deadlock.

Outside the pearl, a storm raged, powerful enemies gathered, but inside, the world remained steadfast, their resolve unwavering.

The Crimson Flame Venerable and the Cold Abyss Venerable raced at full speed, refusing to pause or admire the scenery, their sole focus on reaching the Northern Region.

After two full hours of flight, traversing tens of thousands of miles of vast mountains and rivers, passing through desolate plains, treacherous peaks, misty valleys, and spiritual realms, a magnificent silhouette finally appeared on the horizon, piercing the clouds.

It was a supreme divine palace perched atop a solitary peak, its summit piercing the azure sky. The peak itself was steep and precipitous, its cliffs shrouded in spiritual light, naturally exuding an aura of overwhelming power, isolating itself from mortal air, its aura supremely majestic.

Atop the peak, the palace stretched out in a grand and imposing manner, overlooking the vast land, awe-inspiring to all cultivators of the Northern Region—the core of the Northern Region of the Seventeenth Heaven

, the Heavenly Palace, the pinnacle of the divine race’s power in the Seventeenth Heaven.

The entire Heavenly Palace is crafted from millennia-old warm jade and innate spiritual jade. The jade is warm and lustrous, constantly absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and having undergone countless ages of refinement, it possesses its own spiritual radiance.

The palace’s beams and pillars, eaves and brackets, and the dome of the roof are all gilded. Sunlight streams down, shimmering and reflecting the golden light, creating a magnificent and awe-inspiring spectacle, embodying both the grandeur of heaven and earth and the supreme authority of the divine race.

A single glance inspires awe and prevents direct eye contact.

Around the palace, nine layers of massive holy light barriers are intricately linked, stretching across the entire mountain peak.

Each layer of barriers is deeply engraved with Golden Immortal runes, infused with the pure power of Golden Immortal laws, offering both offense and defense, making it unparalleled in its destructive power.

Ordinary True Immortal cultivators, daring to approach within a hundred feet of the palace, would be instantly annihilated by the holy light erupting from the restrictions, their souls and bodies destroyed, leaving no trace

, without even the need for the guards to intervene. Even low-level Golden Immortals, if they rashly forced their way in, would be trapped and severely injured by layers of restrictions, unable to escape.

Above the Heavenly Palace, in the void, a perfectly round, dazzling golden sphere of light floated eternally, slowly rotating and flowing, its spiritual light illuminating all directions.

This was the Heavenly Palace’s most precious treasure—the Heavenly Sacred Pearl, inherited from an ancient Xuanxian master, its power unfathomable after countless ages.

It could protect the palace, defend against enemies, amplify formations, and stabilize fortune; it was the core reliance that maintained the Heavenly Palace’s millennia-long stability and its position as a top power in the Northern Region.

The two slowly withdrew their momentum, landing steadily on the ten-thousand-meter-long white jade plaza directly in front of the Heavenly Palace.The plaza’s surface was paved with ancient spiritual jade, smooth and polished, subtly imbued with spirit-gathering runes, constantly accumulating the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to nourish the palace’s fortune.

On either side of the plaza stood two rows of elite divine cultivators, their postures upright, their armor gleaming, their auras calm and refined, their gazes sharp as eagles, scanning all directions with impeccable vigilance.

These guards were all firmly established at the peak of the ninth rank of True Immortal, only a step away from the threshold of Golden Immortal.

Their combat power far surpassed that of cultivators of the same rank in the sixteenth heaven, all carefully cultivated and battle-hardened elites of the Heavenly Palace.

Sensing the approaching two powerful Golden Immortal auras, they looked up to recognize the newcomers and, without the slightest hesitation, immediately bowed in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized, their voices loud and solemn.

“Welcome Venerable Crimson Flame and Venerable Cold Abyss! The Palace Master foresaw your arrival and has been waiting for you in the main hall for some time. Please follow me into the hall.”

Venerable Crimson Flame nodded slightly, his expression composed and neither humble nor arrogant, exuding the majesty of a Golden Immortal. Without needing to say more, he strode towards the hall’s entrance. Venerable

Cold Abyss followed closely behind, his silver robe clinging to his body, his aura icy. He remained silent throughout, his gaze constantly scanning the surrounding layout of the hall, the nodes of the restrictions, and the movements of the guards, wary of any potential risks.

Stepping inside the hall, the interior layout and atmosphere were even more magnificent and awe-inspiring than what was seen from the outside. Immortal energy swirled

around, exuding an imposing aura. The hall’s dome reached a height of hundreds of feet, stretching as far as the eye could see. Inlaid on the dome were billions of innate luminous spirit crystals, arranged in a staggered pattern, interwoven with light and shadow.

Like an inverted, dazzling starry sky, the soft, non-glaring spiritual light illuminated the entire hall, creating a truly immersive atmosphere.

The ground is paved with top-grade golden divine jade, each piece meticulously engraved with the supreme runes of the divine race. These runes constantly shimmer with a faint light, gathering immense fortune to enhance the palace master’s majesty and suppress evil spirits from all directions.

On either side of the main hall stand dozens of colossal stone pillars, each hundreds of feet in circumference. These pillars are incredibly sturdy

, resisting pressure and maintaining order. Ancient divine patterns are carved on their surfaces, depicting the eternal achievements of the divine ancestors in conquering countless realms, sweeping across the land, quelling chaos, and expanding territories. The scenes are lifelike and awe-inspiring, silently showcasing the profound heritage, noble bloodline, and overwhelming power of the divine race.

Standing amidst them, one cannot help but feel a sense of insignificance and awe.

Deep within the main hall, atop a high platform, stands a supreme throne, entirely gilded, its intricate patterns and inlaid with spiritual treasures exuding majesty.

Seated atop the throne was a middle-aged man, his aura dominating the entire area, none daring to look him directly in the eye.

His face was resolute and cold, with sword-like eyebrows reaching his temples, and piercing, star-like eyes. He exuded an imposing presence without anger, his long, flowing golden hair cascading over his shoulders, surrounded by a faint golden halo of primordial light, radiating an ethereal, noble aura.

He was none other than the Lord of the Heavenly Palace, a renowned top expert in the Northern Region of the Seventeenth Heaven—the Heavenly Venerable.

The Heavenly Venerable’s cultivation was unfathomable; he had already firmly established himself at the third rank of Golden Immortal, possessing a solid foundation, abundant primordial energy, and profound Daoist techniques.

Compared to the newly ascended Golden Immortals, the Crimson Flame Venerable and the Cold Abyss Venerable, he was a full three minor realms higher, a vast difference in power, his oppressive aura overwhelming his peers.

His golden pupils were as deep as abysses, their depths concealing the shimmering light of stars.

His gaze swept over us casually, yet it was as sharp as a divine weapon, with extremely strong penetrating power. Just one glance was enough to make people tense up and feel cold in their souls, making them dare not meet his eyes. The atmosphere in the entire room instantly became solemn and heavy.

The Celestial Venerable spoke slowly, his voice deep and resonant, his pace deliberate and unhurried, exuding the composed and authoritative air of a superior: “Chiyan and Hanyuan, I have already received reports from my subordinates that you have successfully broken through the shackles of the Golden Immortal realm, solidified your Dao foundations, and crossed over to reside in the Seventeenth Heaven.”

“According to the rules of the Celestial Realm of the Divine Race, newly promoted Golden Immortals must come to my palace to report their duties, have their Dao foundations verified, and be registered. Afterwards, I will uniformly allocate the territories to be guarded in the Celestial Realm and assign them duties.

However, you two previously sent a message to the palace stating that there was a matter of utmost importance concerning your cultivation breakthrough, requiring my personal assistance?”

The Crimson Flame Venerable immediately stepped forward, bowing respectfully, his manners impeccable, daring not to lose his composure before a high-ranking Venerable.

He raised his hand and took out an ancient, dark, and subdued round bead from his bosom—the Soul-Suppressing Bead that sealed Kai’s soul. He held it steadily in his palm and presented it with both hands.

“Reporting to the Palace Master, this matter indeed concerns a heaven-defying opportunity. When the opportunity is ripe, it can be enough to help a powerful person break through their realm and ascend to a higher path.”

Venerable Crimson Flame spoke sincerely, deliberately exaggerating the value of the treasure to suit Venerable Heavenly Extreme’s request.

“Within this Soul-Suppressing Pearl, a wisp of a True Immortal Realm cultivator’s soul is sealed. This person’s cultivation is low and not to be feared. He was born a leader of the resistance army of the Sixteenth Heaven, without any sect, backing, or support. He is all alone and has no background whatsoever.”

“However, deep within this person’s soul lies a heaven-defying treasure passed down from ancient times. The treasure’s power is vast and boundless, its grade is extremely high, and its explosive force far surpasses that of ordinary Golden Immortal spiritual treasures. It is definitely

not comparable to ordinary treasures of the Seventeenth Heaven.” “My subordinates and Han Yuan joined forces, fully activating the high-level ancient Soul Refining Array, exhausting our primordial spiritual power, and launching repeated attacks, but we still could not break through the protective barrier of that treasure, nor could we refine the soul and seize the treasure.”

“Out of sheer desperation, I have specially crossed realms to come here, earnestly requesting the Palace Master’s assistance.

If we can work together to refine this divine soul and retrieve its hidden treasure, the Palace Master, with its blessing, will surely see your cultivation steadily rise, breaking through your current limitations, reaching new heights in cultivation, and becoming an invincible figure in the Northern Region.”

These words were earnest, perfectly aligned with the Heavenly Extreme Venerable’s ambition, highlighting the preciousness of the opportunity while allaying the other party’s concerns, perfectly capturing their heart.

The Heavenly Extreme Venerable’s eyes flickered slightly, his golden eyes narrowing as his gaze instantly locked onto the Soul-Suppressing Pearl in Crimson Flame’s palm, a hint of inquiry and excitement flashing in his eyes.

He casually raised his hand, and a gentle yet powerful golden primal force emerged from the air, formless and intangible, steadily drawing the Soul-Suppressing Pearl from afar, suspending it in mid-air in front of him, slowly rotating.

Immediately, he focused his mind and concentrated his power, circulating his powerful fifth-grade Golden Immortal divine sense, carefully penetrating the barrier of the Soul-Suppressing Pearl to probe its interior.

Soon, he could clearly see through the pearl the stable, suspended purple divine soul light within, and even detect a faint, warm, profound, and eternally undying golden light emanating from the depths of the divine soul’s core.

With just one glance, the Heavenly Venerable’s pupils contracted slightly, and his heart trembled violently.

That golden light was ancient, majestic, and imposing, far beyond the aura emanating from ordinary spiritual treasures or Golden Immortal artifacts.

Within the golden light, there was a faint trace of ancient primordial law, transcending the Golden Immortal dimension and surpassing the rules of the Heavenly Realm—an aura of ancient grandeur and unparalleled nobility, far exceeding any treasure he had ever seen in his life.

An opportunity, an unparalleled opportunity!A surge of intense greed welled up within Venerable Tianji, but he remained outwardly calm, forcibly suppressing his agitated emotions. A meaningful smile slowly curved his lips.

He then asked in a flat tone, “Interesting, truly interesting. A mere lowly True Immortal, a minor cultivator from the borderlands of the lower realm, could actually possess such a heaven-defying treasure within his soul. Inconceivable.”

“I ask you, have you thoroughly investigated this person’s background? Is there truly no powerful hidden figure backing him, no top-tier sect affiliation?”

“Palace Master, rest assured, his background has been thoroughly investigated, and there are absolutely no hidden dangers!” Venerable Chiyan quickly bowed and replied, his tone utterly certain, immediately allaying any concerns the other party might have.

“This person is merely a leader of a resistance force in a corner of the Sixteenth Heaven, fighting alone, without the protection of a master, the support of an elder, or the backing of a sect—a complete rogue cultivator.

My subordinates have already taken action, forcefully destroying his physical body, severing his foundation, and eliminating his followers. Now, only this wisp of his lonely soul remains trapped within the pearl.

He has nowhere to escape, nowhere to hide, and cannot cause any trouble. He will absolutely not provoke any top-tier powerhouses to pursue him. Just focus on refining him.”

The Heavenly Venerable remained silent for a moment, lightly tapping the armrest of his throne. His gaze was deep as he quickly weighed the pros and cons, considering the gains and losses.

After a moment, he slowly stood up, the golden aura around him suddenly intensifying, and the pressure within the hall abruptly increased.

“Since their background is clear and the opportunity is before them, there’s no need for further hesitation,”

Venerable Tianji commanded in a deep voice, his tone leaving no room for doubt. “Take the Soul-Suppressing Pearl to the core Soul Refining Hall at the rear of the palace.

Immediately issue the order to summon all active Golden Immortal experts in the palace to assemble at the Soul Refining Hall and jointly activate the ultimate complete version of the ancient Soul Refining Array.”

“Today, I will personally oversee and lead the operation. I want to see with my own eyes what kind of heaven-defying treasure is hidden deep within the soul of this lowly cultivator from the lower realm, and what kind of impenetrable barrier it possesses.”

Deep within the heart of the Tianji Palace, the barriers were formidable, with numerous restrictions, isolating the inside from the outside. Ordinary cultivators could never approach it in their lifetime.

Here stood a special palace, ancient and solemn, exuding a chilling aura—the exclusive stronghold of the Tianji Palace—the Soul Refining Hall.

This place was vast and magnificent, its space far exceeding the previous secret chamber of the Divine Clan Alliance. The walls of the hall were cast from Soul-Suppressing Divine Stone.

Soundproof and soul-locking, light-proof and energy-sealing, this hall is specifically designed for interrogating prisoners, refining souls, and suppressing evil spirits. The atmosphere is sinister and oppressive, filled with malevolent energy that sends chills down one’s spine.

At the center of the hall stands a ten-zhang square natural black stone platform. The platform is incredibly hard, resistant to pressure, fire, and the erosion of laws.

Its surface is densely engraved with layers upon layers of ancient, top-tier soul-refining array patterns. The patterns are obscure and difficult to understand, forming closed loops that generate each other, their power far exceeding the low-level version of the sixteenth heaven, doubling its killing force.

Along the four edges of the platform stand eight tall, thick, jet-black soul-suppressing stone pillars.

These pillars are rooted in the earth, connected to the spiritual energy of the earth’s veins. Beneath each pillar, a direct descendant of the Heavenly Palace, a Golden Immortal, already seated cross-legged, sits solemnly.

The eight Golden Immortals possess calm auras, solemn expressions, and their spiritual energy is poised to be unleashed, their cultivation levels arranged in a staggered manner.

From Golden Immortal Rank 1 to Rank 2, they were all core members of the Heavenly Pole Palace, stationed there year-round, skilled in joint formations and refining divine souls.

The Heavenly Pole Venerable strode to the core position directly in front of the stone platform, his posture upright, his aura dominating the entire area. The Soul-Suppressing Pearl floated steadily in the center of the platform, its spiritual light restrained, remaining still.

Crimson Flame Venerable and Cold Abyss Venerable stood on either side, holding their breath, waiting silently, their eyes fixed on the Soul-Suppressing Pearl, hoping to break through the barrier together and seize the treasure.

“Fellow Daoists, there’s no need to hold back your power. Go all out, activate the great formation, and refine your

divine souls!” the Heavenly Pole Venerable commanded in a deep voice, his tone authoritative. As soon as he finished speaking, the eight Golden Immortals simultaneously opened their eyes, their gazes sharp, and in unison raised their hands to form hand seals, drawing upon their own spiritual power and pouring it all into the Soul-Suppressing Stone Pillar beneath them.

Buzz—! In an

instant, the eight stone pillars simultaneously emitted a thick golden spiritual light. The light rapidly spread and flowed along the array patterns on the platform, like a golden river, instantly covering the entire platform and forming a closed loop, activating the grand array instantly.

The next instant, a raging flame rose from the platform, its intensity overwhelming, yet without a trace of smoke.

This fire was no ordinary fire, nor was it common spiritual fire; it was a high-level, colorless soul-refining fire, refined to the extreme and imbued with the fundamental laws of a Golden Immortal.

The flame was almost transparent, formless and intangible, yet its temperature was terrifying, enough to distort the surrounding void, scorch the soul of a Golden Immortal, and melt high-level spiritual treasures.

Ordinary souls, once touched, would instantly dissolve and dissipate, without even a chance to struggle.

The Celestial Venerable raised his hand and pointed, a sharp golden finger gust of wind piercing through the air, accurately striking the outer shell of the Soul-Suppressing Pearl.

With a soft sound, the hard and durable outer shell of the Soul-Suppressing Pearl instantly melted and dissipated, the confinement completely released.

Kai’s purple divine soul orb was completely exposed to the boundless, colorless sea of ​​soul-refining fire, facing the excruciating pain of extreme burning.

The sea of ​​fire surged and enveloped him layer by layer, with extreme heat and sharp laws simultaneously assaulting him.

Kai’s purple divine soul instantly trembled violently and swayed precariously, its purple light flickering, as if it would be melted and torn apart by the sea of ​​fire at any moment, looking extremely precarious and heartbreaking.

At this critical moment, a warm, unchanging golden light suddenly shone from the depths of his divine soul.

The Great Luo Golden Scripture responded and autonomously protected its master, its thick golden light instantly spreading out, firmly enveloping the entire purple divine soul, forming an indestructible golden barrier that completely isolated all the colorless soul-refining fire.

The surging and violent waves of soul-refining fire repeatedly crashed against the golden barrier, like towering waves crashing against ancient reefs, with terrifying force, yet they could not shake the barrier in the slightest.

The flames shattered, annihilated, and vanished the instant they collided with the golden light, leaving not a trace, let alone harming the soul within.

With one Golden Immortal presiding, eight Golden Immortals providing full support, and nine Golden Immortal powerhouses jointly activating the complete ancient Soul Refining Array, such terrifying power was enough to easily refine the soul of a peak Golden Immortal and sweep away all forces in the Sixteen Heavens.

Yet now, facing a mere wisp of a True Immortal’s soul, and a single layer of golden shield, they were utterly helpless and their efforts were in vain.Time ticked by, second by second.

An hour passed, the grand formation operated at full power, flames raging, yet to no avail.

Two hours later, spiritual energy continued to deplete, the auras of the eight immortals weakened slightly, but the golden light remained as steadfast as a mountain.

The atmosphere within the Soul Refining Hall grew increasingly heavy, deathly silent, save for the low rumble of flames scorching the void.

The composure on the face of the Heavenly Venerable gradually faded, first transforming into solemn reverence, then into utter astonishment, and finally into utter shock, his eyes filled with disbelief.

“Impossible, absolutely impossible!” the Heavenly Venerable murmured to himself, utterly shaken and unable to accept the reality before him.

“Nine Golden Immortals joined forces to form an array, fully unleashing the top-tier Soul Refining Fire. Even a late-stage Golden Immortal’s soul could be forcibly melted away. How could they possibly fail to break through the soul protection of a lower-realm True Immortal? This defies the norms of cultivation and is utterly inconceivable!”

Filled with bewilderment, he couldn’t suppress his curiosity and restlessness. He personally stepped forward and walked to the edge of the stone platform.

Suppressing his inner apprehension, he carefully probed the outer edge of the purple soul with his powerful and refined Golden Immortal divine sense, attempting to penetrate the golden barrier, see the true form of the treasure deep within the soul, ascertain its details, and find a way to break through the impasse.

His divine sense slowly approached, piercing through layers of fire, and approaching the golden barrier.

The next instant, he clearly saw it.

Deep within the soul, quietly floating, was an ancient book, entirely gilded, with a simple and heavy cover and mysteriously flowing patterns.

The ancient text was enveloped in an endless, warm golden light, neither ostentatious nor dazzling, yet possessing an unparalleled aura of ancient majesty, impervious to all laws and repelling all evil. It stood firm as a mountain, serene and unmoving, as if it had existed there since the beginning of time, unshaken through countless ages.

Just as the Celestial Venerable’s divine sense touched the edge of the text’s golden light, a terrifying backlash originating from the ancient Dao, transcending all realms, suddenly erupted. Without warning, swift and fierce, it instantly and violently struck his sea of ​​consciousness.

*Bang!*

The Celestial Venerable shuddered violently, his soul wracked with excruciating pain. He couldn’t help but groan, staggering back two steps, a trickle of golden primordial blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. His aura instantly became disordered, suffering a significant internal injury to his soul.

“Palace Master!” The Crimson Flame Venerable and the Cold Abyss Venerable on either side were startled upon seeing this and quickly stepped forward, exclaiming in alarm, fearing that the Palace Master’s serious injury would be a consequence of his actions.

The Celestial Venerable raised his hand, coldly stopping the two from approaching. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, enduring the excruciating pain in his soul. The shock in his eyes was intense, quickly replaced by a deep sense of dread and intense greed, his emotions a complex and unsettling mix.

“This is no ordinary Golden Immortal treasure,”

the Celestial Venerable said in a deep voice, his tone heavy and each word weighty. “Its level far exceeds my expectations, its power surpasses the understanding of a Golden Immortal, and even… has completely surpassed the level of a Great Luo Golden Immortal. It is a supreme opportunity among the heavens.”

His words fell, and the Soul Refining Hall instantly fell silent; a pin drop could be heard.

The eight Golden Immortals trembled, their faces filled with horror and disbelief.

The Crimson Flame Venerable and the Cold Abyss Venerable exchanged a glance, both seeing deep dread and lingering fear in each other’s eyes.

A treasure surpassing a Great Luo Golden Immortal—what kind of concept was that?

It must be understood that even at the Divine Clan’s main altar, powerful beings at the Great Luo Golden Immortal level are extremely rare, top-tier experts who govern a region, and ordinary cultivators rarely see them in their entire lives. Treasures surpassing the Great Luo Golden Immortal level are practically legendary artifacts of heaven and earth, extremely rare and unattainable.

The Celestial Venerable remained silent for a long time, suppressing his inner turmoil. After weighing the pros and cons, he slowly spoke, his tone forceful and resolute: “This item is far too heaven-defying. Forcibly refining it will only bring humiliation. It

might even trigger a backlash from the treasure, damaging one’s own essence, resulting in a net loss. But with such an opportunity before us, we must not easily let go and miss it.”

“The Soul-Suppressing Pearl remains in my possession, placed in a secret chamber within the Celestial Venerable’s Palace. I will study it day and night, slowly exploring ways to break its defenses.

Given time, one day I will be able to understand the treasure’s patterns, break through its protective barriers, and seize the opportunity.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the Crimson Flame Venerable’s expression changed slightly, a surge of dissatisfaction and wariness welling up within him.

He had gone through countless hardships, risking his life and staking favors, to finally bring the divine soul to the Heavenly Palace. His intention was to use the Palace Master’s power to break the deadlock together and share the treasure, not to hand it over to the Heavenly Venerable for himself.

If the treasure were to be monopolized, the two of them would end up with nothing, having worked for nothing and suffering a loss.

“Palace Master, this item was escorted here by Han Yuan and me all the way. We have gone through a lot of trouble and effort. We should discuss how to handle it together and share the opportunity equally…”

The Crimson Flame Venerable stepped forward, trying to argue for his rights.

“I know perfectly well what’s going on.” The Heavenly Venerable interrupted him coldly, his tone domineering and authoritative, brooking no argument and exuding immense pressure.

“It is precisely because you two went to the trouble of delivering this that I will not treat you

unfairly. When I unravel the secrets of this treasure and comprehend the opportunities of the Great Dao, I will naturally share a generous reward with you, and I will never treat you unfairly.

If you are not satisfied and do not wish to comply, you may take the Soul-Suppressing Pearl with you and leave the Heavenly Extreme Palace to find your own way to refine it. I will not stop you.”

The Heavenly Extreme Venerable was extremely domineering. Crimson Flame Venerable was instantly speechless, his heart filled with resentment yet unable to refute.

He knew perfectly well that with his and Han Yuan’s combined strength, they were originally unable to break through the defenses. After leaving the Heavenly Extreme Palace, they would have nowhere to seek help or receive assistance, and in the end, they would only completely miss the opportunity.

Staying in the Heavenly Extreme Palace now, although there was a high probability that the Palace Master would take full advantage of them and monopolize the treasure, at least there was still a sliver of hope for sharing the opportunity. He had no other choice. With no other

option, Crimson Flame Venerable could only grit his teeth and endure, replying in a deep voice, “…As the Palace Master says.”

Seeing this, a look of satisfaction flashed in the eyes of the Heavenly Extreme Venerable. He waved his hand, resealing Kai’s soul within the Soul-Suppressing Pearl, and casually stored it in his personal storage treasure, firmly controlling it to prevent others from coveting it.

“You two have traveled a long and arduous journey. Please step back and rest in the guest rooms within the hall. The matter of the newly promoted Golden Immortals reporting for duty can be handled in a few days.”

Venerable Tianji waved his hand dismissively, his tone distant, no longer caring about their feelings.

Venerable Chiyan and Venerable Hanyuan suppressed their dissatisfaction, bowed respectfully, and silently withdrew from the Soul Refining Hall.

The moment their figures completely disappeared and the hall doors closed, Venerable Tianji looked down at the Soul-Suppressing Pearl in his palm. All the gentleness in his eyes vanished, leaving only a cold glint and intense greed.

“Crimson Flame, Cold Abyss, you dare to flaunt your petty schemes before me? You think you can use me to break this deadlock, then sit back and divide the treasure, sharing the opportunity equally? Utterly delusional!”

“This supreme treasure, from this day forward, is mine alone. No one else can even touch a fraction of it.”

The Celestial Venerable had already instructed his subordinates to properly house the Crimson Flame Venerable and the Cold Abyss Venerable in their exclusive guest room area inside the Celestial Palace.

The two stone chambers were closely adjacent, their walls constructed of thick, soundproof divine stones, extremely airtight, impossible for ordinary cultivators to penetrate.

But for the two Venerables, who had already reached the Golden Immortal realm and whose spiritual perception far surpassed that of ordinary people, these walls were utterly useless, completely ineffective. They could hear each other’s every move and word.

The Crimson Flame Venerable sat alone on the cold stone bed, his aura gloomy and oppressive, his face ashen and ugly, his anger suppressed deep within, refusing to subside.

The thought of the Heavenly Extreme Venerable’s domineering and arrogant face, his desire to monopolize the treasure, filled him with surging anger, which he could hardly contain.

“What a Heavenly Extreme old man, what a Palace Master!”

The Crimson Flame Venerable lowered his voice, his tone icy and piercing, each word dripping with rage. “He’s clearly using his superior cultivation to bully us, trying to monopolize this heaven-defying treasure. He’s crossing the river and then discarding the bridge, using the millstone and then killing the donkey—his intentions are utterly vicious!”

In the adjacent stone chamber, the Cold Abyss Venerable leaned quietly against the cold stone wall, his silver robes flowing freely. His expression remained aloof and indifferent, his silver eyes showing no ripples, as if he were unconcerned with everything, revealing no emotional fluctuations.

He was calm and composed, always seeing through the wickedness of human nature and the entanglements of power in officialdom.

“As expected, no need to be angry.”

Venerable Hanyuan spoke calmly, “Venerable Tianji is greedy, selfish, domineering, and narrow-minded. We’ve heard of him before and know his true nature well.

He only cares about his own interests and never considers the feelings of others. If there’s a heaven-defying opportunity, he’ll definitely try to monopolize it and never share it with others. His actions today were entirely predictable.”

“Then what should we do now? Just watch him monopolize the opportunity, work hard for nothing, and gain nothing?” Venerable Chiyan asked in a deep voice, full of resentment.

“There’s only one word: wait.” Venerable Hanyuan’s tone

was firm and calm. Venerable Chiyan frowned, full of confusion: “Wait? Wait for what? Wait until he completely deciphers the treasure and his cultivation greatly increases, then we’ll have even less say and will be completely out of luck!”

“No need to worry.” Venerable Hanyuan explained slowly, his gaze far-sighted, seeing through the situation.

“That treasure’s defenses are indestructible; even nine Golden Immortals working together couldn’t break through it

. Even with Heavenly Venerable’s power alone, and his secluded research, it’s absolutely impossible for him to crack it in the short term.” “His current forceful monopoly on the Soul-Suppressing Pearl is merely wishful thinking, an attempt to find a shortcut on his own.

Once he’s exhausted his efforts, used all his secret techniques, origins, and cultivation methods, and still gained nothing, and his patience is completely worn out, he’ll proactively turn to us to discuss cooperation.”

“At that time, the initiative will be back in our hands, and we can then raise our demands, reasonably share the opportunities, and secure a place for ourselves.”

Upon hearing this, Crimson Flame Venerable calmed his emotions slightly, pondered for a moment, and found this to be reasonable. He slowly nodded: “We can only endure and bide our time for now, patiently waiting for the right opportunity.”

The two said no more, each closing their eyes to regulate their breathing, solidifying their Golden Immortal foundations, and resting the origin spiritual power depleted during their journey. On the surface, everything was calm, awaiting the changing situation.

But only they themselves knew that after today’s events, a rift and distrust had already grown between them.

Originally allies under the same divine race, fighting side-by-side and bound by shared interests, they had become estranged because of a heaven-defying treasure, and their trust had completely vanished.

In the future, when their interests clashed, they would turn against each other; their alliance was now merely a name.
As night deepened, darkness enveloped the seventeenth heaven, the blazing sun’s light waned, and the world fell into a dark and tranquil silence.

The rest of the Heavenly Palace was silent, cultivators resting and recuperating, except for the Soul Refining Hall in the heart of the palace

, where the lights remained burning brightly, its spiritual light ever-present, the atmosphere solemn and oppressive. The Heavenly Venerable dismissed all his Golden Immortals and guards, remaining alone in the Soul Refining Hall to study the Soul-Suppressing Pearl, preventing any disturbance, single-mindedly determined to be the first to decipher the secret of this supreme treasure and seize the unparalleled opportunity.

He placed the Soul-Suppressing Pearl steadily in the center of the Soul Refining Stone Platform, his expression grave, his gaze focused, relentlessly circulating his powerful divine sense, repeatedly probing and testing from different angles, trying to find the slightest flaw in the golden light barrier.

To break through, he didn’t hesitate to use his own Golden Immortal’s primordial fire to continuously burn the pearl, mobilizing the divine soul techniques he had painstakingly cultivated throughout his life to forcibly erode the protective shield, and urging the power of the ancient divine clan’s secret scriptures to crush and test it layer by layer, using every trick in the book, leaving no stone unturned.

No matter how ruthless, numerous, or powerful his methods were, the soul barrier remained as solid as a mountain, the golden light unwavering and unyielding, without a single crack. All his attacks were futile, sinking without a trace.

Time slowly passed, and night approached. The Heavenly Venerable’s patience was gradually exhausted, his anxiety growing stronger, and his face becoming increasingly gloomy and unsightly.

He, the dignified Lord of the Heavenly Palace, a top-tier Golden Immortal of the fifth rank, who held sway over the Northern Region, had never suffered such a defeat.

He couldn’t even break through the protective barrier of a wisp of a lower realm True Immortal’s soul. If word got out, he would only become a laughingstock throughout the heavens, losing all face.

“Damn it! A mere lower realm cultivator’s protective treasure dares to resist me so stubbornly!”

The Heavenly Venerable cursed in a low voice, unable to suppress his anger. He raised his hand and slammed his fist hard onto the hard Soul Refining Stone Platform, venting his anxiety and resentment.

The stone platform remained unmoved, as hard as ever, yet the force of the impact surged upwards along his arm, numbing his fist, aching his arm, and intensifying his agitation.

At that moment, a sudden change occurred.

Inside the Soul-Suppressing Pearl on the stone platform, the previously tranquil and dormant purple divine soul suddenly began to glow faintly on its own.

It wasn’t a weak flicker caused by external force or forced trembling, but a glimmer of light, quietly yet strikingly clear, bursting forth with a distinct consciousness.

The Celestial Venerable’s gaze sharpened, his heart leaping in surprise as he instantly detected the anomaly, his eyes filled with astonishment: the consciousness within his divine soul had actually awakened on its own?

Inside the Soul-Suppressing Pearl, Kai slowly opened his divine soul eyes, and with the golden light of the Great Luo Golden Scripture protecting him, he saw everything clearly in the Soul Refining Hall outside, and all of the Celestial Venerable’s expressions and emotions, without missing a single detail.

He clearly saw the greed, anxiety, and resentment in the high-level Golden Immortal’s eyes, and saw through the other party’s vicious intention to seize the treasure and refine him.

But Kai felt no fear, remaining as steady as a mountain.

With the Great Luo Golden Scripture protecting him, he was impervious to all magic and invincible. No matter how powerful or greedy this third-grade Golden Immortal was, he couldn’t do anything to him.

Kai smiled coldly to himself, remaining calm and collected. He then suppressed his emotions, hibernating his soul as if he hadn’t awakened, continuing to observe the situation and not actively provoke any trouble.

He didn’t take the initiative to attack, nor did he deliberately provoke anyone, but the Great Luo Golden Scripture deep within his soul had already accurately sensed all the malice, greed, and scheming and killing intent directed at Kai. Treasures

possess spirits and are inherently protective of their masters. Sensing that its master was being coveted and schemed against, and that the high-level Golden Immortal had repeatedly and forcefully offended it, it naturally reacted accordingly.

A soft hum resonated—

the Great Luo Golden Scripture trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly, before slowly releasing an extremely subtle and faint ancient primordial aura.

This aura was so faint, like a gentle breeze, that ordinary cultivators would be completely unaware of it, even if they approached to investigate.

However, the Heavenly Extreme Venerable was a top-tier Golden Immortal of the fifth rank, his divine sense far surpassing that of ordinary people. He was extremely sensitive to high-level primordial auras, and the moment the aura appeared, he accurately detected it.

The next second, the Heavenly Extreme Venerable’s expression of inquiry, anxiety, and greed vanished, replaced by an extreme fear originating from the depths of his soul, his entire divine soul trembling involuntarily.

The primordial law power contained within this aura was vast, boundless, ancient, and supreme, completely transcending the Golden Immortal level and the Xuan Immortal dimension.

It was the most fundamental and ancient power of the Great Dao in all the heavens and myriad realms, far exceeding his entire life’s understanding and surpassing the scope of all cultivation systems in the Seventeen Heavens.

This wasn’t fear, but rather the innate, instinctive submission and soul-trembling of lower-level beings facing the supreme origin of the Great Dao, utterly powerless to resist.

Before the Celestial Venerable could even react, that faint wisp of supreme aura, like an invisible divine needle of the Great Dao, suddenly pierced through the air, directly penetrating the core of his sea of ​​consciousness.

“Ah—!”

A shrill, agonizing scream suddenly echoed throughout the entire Soul Refining Hall, the reverberation reverberating through the walls.

The Celestial Venerable’s body convulsed violently, flying backward and slamming heavily against the thick, hard stone walls of the Soul Refining Hall.

The high-level sealing runes engraved on the walls instantly flashed brightly, passively triggering protection and violently rebounding his heavily injured body.

The Celestial Venerable crashed heavily onto the cold ground, his entire body wracked with excruciating pain, his soul on the verge of collapse, golden primordial blood flowing from all seven orifices simultaneously, his aura instantly weakening to its extreme, his face as pale as paper, his body utterly powerless, lacking even the strength to lift a hand.

A mere wisp of the defensive aura emanating from this supreme treasure was enough to severely injure a top-tier Golden Immortal of the fifth rank—its power was terrifying.

The Soul-Suppressing Pearl, uncontrolled, rolled off the stone platform, spun a few times, and finally came to rest quietly in a dark corner of the Soul Refining Hall.

The massive commotion, the piercing screams, and the chaotic aura of the Golden Immortals within the Soul Refining Hall instantly alerted all the guards and Golden Immortals of the Heavenly Extreme Hall.

Crimson Flame Venerable and Cold Abyss Venerable were the first to break through the air and arrive, followed closely by eight other Golden Immortals from the hall. They rushed into the Soul Refining Hall at full speed, and the moment they saw the scene inside, they froze in place, their faces filled with horror and disbelief.

The renowned and powerful Heavenly Extreme Venerable lay collapsed on the ground, bleeding from all seven orifices, his aura weak and feeble, severely injured, utterly devoid of the dignity of a top-tier expert.

“Hall Master!” Several Golden Immortals rushed forward, bowing to support him, their expressions panicked.

Crimson Flame Venerable’s sharp gaze locked onto the Soul-Suppressing Pearl rolling down the corner of the wall. His pupils contracted sharply, instantly understanding the source of the anomaly.

Cold Abyss Venerable reacted even faster, flashing to the corner first, steadily picking up the Soul-Suppressing Pearl and instantly storing it in his sleeve, firmly controlling it to prevent others from snatching it.

Crimson Flame Venerable immediately flashed in front of Cold Abyss Venerable, crimson flames subtly flowing around him, his Golden Immortal aura spreading out, warily confronting the Golden Immortals of the Heavenly Extreme Palace, preventing them from forcibly seizing it.

“What do you two intend to do? How dare you act so presumptuously in the Soul Refining Palace, coveting a supreme treasure!” A Golden Immortal from the Heavenly Extreme Palace shouted angrily, his face showing rage, wanting to step forward to stop him.

“The Palace Master is seriously injured, his soul damaged, and urgently needs to go into seclusion to recuperate and heal. He should not be disturbed by external things.” Crimson Flame Venerable’s tone was cold and forceful, unyielding.

“This Soul-Suppressing Pearl was brought by the two of us, and it should be kept safe by us for the time being. No one else has the right to interfere or obstruct it.”

The two sides were on the verge of a confrontation. Just then, the heavily injured and weakened Celestial Venerable slowly raised his hand and whispered to stop them: “Stop… Let the two of them leave with the Soul-Suppressing Pearl.”

The Golden Immortals were filled with resentment, but dared not disobey the Palace Master’s order, and could only reluctantly back down, feeling utterly frustrated.

Celestial Venerable Crimson Flame and Celestial Venerable Cold Abyss said no more, took the opportunity to turn around, quickly left the Soul Refining Hall, and evacuated the heart of the Celestial Venerable Hall overnight, decisively escaping.

After the two had gone some distance, a Golden Immortal, filled with confusion, asked in a low voice, “Palace Master, why didn’t you order us to join forces to stop them and forcibly retrieve the Soul-Suppressing Pearl? That treasure is priceless;

we absolutely cannot let it go!” The Heavenly Supreme Venerable suppressed the excruciating pain in his soul, slowly shaking his head, his eyes filled with lingering fear and apprehension: “That treasure is far too terrifying, its level supreme, far beyond our reach.

Forcibly detaining them would only trigger the treasure’s backlash again, leading to the destruction of the entire Heavenly Supreme Palace. It would be a losing proposition, only inviting disaster.”

He paused briefly, a sudden glint in his eyes… A sinister glint flashed in his eyes, and he ordered in a deep voice, “Immediately dispatch trusted elite spies to secretly follow their movements from a distance, monitoring their every move. They are not to approach, not to alert them, and not to make a sound.

I want to see where they can go next, and what escape route they have, now that they’ve lost the support of the Heavenly Pole Palace and hold this hot potato in their hands.”

Venerable Crimson Flame and Venerable Cold Abyss dared not linger for a moment. They sped through the night at full speed, fleeing far from the Heavenly Pole Palace’s territory, avoiding all guarded barriers and patrolling cultivators, shaking off their spies and eagles, fleeing day and night without rest. They

flew for an entire night, until three blazing suns rose simultaneously on the horizon, bathing the earth in morning light, before finally leaving the Heavenly Pole Palace’s sphere of influence.

Confirming that no pursuers were closing in or any powerful figures were intercepting them, they slowly descended, stopping on a vast, desolate wasteland.

This place is surrounded by rolling, barren mountains and steep hills, withered vegetation, swirling sandstorms, sparse spiritual energy, and no sign of human habitation. No sects or powerful figures are stationed here; it’s remote and desolate, making it difficult to detect and track—an ideal temporary refuge.

Crimson Flame Venerable stopped, slowly turned around, his face ashen, his tone filled with malice: “That old man Tianji is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, selfish and cold-blooded, ruthless and heartless. He only wants to monopolize the treasure, showing no regard for our arduous journey. I will remember this grudge.”

Cold Abyss Venerable remained aloof, slightly nodding, and took out the Soul-Suppressing Pearl from his sleeve, examining it closely in his palm.

Within the pearl, the purple divine soul was calm and still, the golden light of the Great Luo Golden Scripture flickering faintly, serene and without any unusual movement.

“The path of the Heavenly Palace is completely blocked.”

Venerable Hanyuan calmly analyzed the situation, his reasoning clear and logical. “The Seventeenth Heaven is a vast territory with intertwined forces, and the Heavenly Palace is not the only Golden Immortal power in power. We should find other allies and use their strength to break this deadlock.”

“Allies? Where can we find allies?” Venerable Chiyan was filled with anxiety, and he sneered, feeling utterly helpless.

“Among all the direct forces of the Divine Race in the Seventeenth Heaven, the Heavenly Palace is the largest, strongest, and most well-connected. The other smaller forces of the Divine Race are weak in cultivation and lack sufficient combat power, making them completely powerless to jointly activate a high-level Soul Refining Array and unable to offer any assistance.” ”

The various factions of the Human Race, Demon Race, and Primordial Remnant Race are opposed to each other and have been fighting each other for years. They have always been at odds with our Divine Race and will only take the opportunity to seize treasures, never offering genuine help. Right now, we are at our wits’ end.”

Venerable Hanyuan was silent for a moment, looked around at the vast wilderness, and gazed at the distant horizon before slowly speaking: “If there is no way out, let’s settle down here, stabilize our minds, recuperate our origins, and then plan a way out slowly. There is no need to rush.”

​​Venerable Chiyan lowered his head and stared intently at the Soul-Suppressing Pearl in his palm, his eyes filled with resentment, anger, and frustration, his emotions difficult to calm.

He traversed countless realms, expended immense effort, staked favors, and risked everything, only to end up in this predicament. His chance for advancement seemed impossibly distant, his situation increasingly passive, filled with resentment yet utterly powerless to change anything.

“I refuse to believe there’s truly no way to break through your shell!”

he muttered through gritted teeth, his tone fierce. He secretly vowed to the Soul-Suppressing Pearl that one day he would forcefully breach its defenses and seize the treasure.

Inside the Soul-Suppressing Pearl, Kai lay quietly protected by golden light, his soul at peace. The whispers, hostility, and schemes of the outside world were completely shut out; he heard nothing.

Sometimes he was fully conscious, analyzing the situation and devising a plan for escape; other times he was in a daze, resting his soul’s essence and accumulating power.

But regardless of his state of mind, one thing remained steadfast: he was still alive. As long as he was alive, there was hope; and lying low meant opportunity.

The remnant soul of Bei Mingyuan lay dormant deep within the golden light, recuperating and accumulating power, working hand in hand with Kai to await the best opportunity to escape and counterattack.

A cold wind howled across the wasteland, swirling up withered yellow grass with a continuous rustling sound, desolate and lonely.

Three blazing suns hung high in the sky, their golden, silver, and crimson rays intertwining and scattering, dyeing the entire wasteland an eerie, dark hue, creating a somber and oppressive atmosphere.

On the distant horizon, a vaguely outlined but vast city faintly appeared, standing at the boundary of heaven and earth.

That was the renowned gathering place of rogue cultivators in the Seventeenth Heaven—the City of Rogue Cultivators.

The city was a melting pot of all sorts of people, from all walks of life, without top-tier power to control it or high-ranking experts to oversee it. Its rules were loose, and people acted freely, making it an ideal refuge for desperate cultivators, fallen powerhouses, and solitary practitioners.

Venerable Hanyuan pointed to the distant city and said in a deep voice, “The City of Loose Cultivators is not controlled by any top-tier power, nor is it under the pressure of any Golden Immortal. It is extremely well-hidden and not easily tracked down by the Heavenly Pole Palace. Our safest course of action is to enter the city, conceal our whereabouts, secretly devise countermeasures, and proceed slowly.”

Venerable Chiyan looked up, pondered for a moment, and reluctantly nodded in agreement, “For now, this is the only option.”

The two put away the Soul-Suppressing Pearl, suppressed all their emotions, and leaped into the air, flying rapidly towards the distant City of Loose Cultivators. Their figures quickly blended into the vast sky.

Behind them, several hidden black shadows followed low in the air, their auras concealed, their movements stealthy, keeping a close but firm distance. These were spies sent by the Heavenly Pole Palace, monitoring them throughout, ensuring they wouldn’t lose them.

Inside the Soul-Suppressing Pearl, golden light shone eternally, protecting a wisp of divine soul.

With the road ahead unknown and the storms still raging, Kai lies low, waiting for the day he awakens to break the deadlock and for the day he can turn the tide against all odds. The outline of the Loose Cultivator City gradually became clear on the horizon.

Three blazing suns hung high in the sky, their golden, silver, and crimson rays weaving and scattering, dyeing the massive city standing on the wasteland a strange dark gold.

The city walls, built of rough gray stone, stood about ten zhang high, covered with densely packed defensive runes.

The runes’ light was chaotic and disorderly, some bright, some dim, clearly the work of different cultivators, each with its own style and no unified pattern.

This was unimaginable in the orderly and strictly governed cities of the Divine Race, but this was the Loose Cultivator City—no rules, no order, everyone had their own runes, everyone had their own formations, and no one could control anyone else.

The city gates were wide open, without guards, without checks, anyone could freely enter and exit at any time.

Venerable Crimson Flame and Venerable Cold Abyss landed before the city gates, concealing their Golden Immortal aura and suppressing their cultivation to around the ninth rank of True Immortal.

The two stepped through the city gate one after the other. The stone pavement beneath their feet was uneven, stained with rainwater and unknown dirt, exuding a damp, musty smell.

Shops lined both sides of the street, selling everything from elixirs and magical artifacts to intelligence and talismans.

The signs were a motley collection: some carved from spirit wood, some painted on animal hide, and some simply a few words written on a tattered cloth.

The street was crowded with people—humans, demons, monsters, even ghosts, and other races Kai couldn’t name.

They wore all sorts of clothes, some luxurious, some tattered, some in gleaming armor, some ragged.

As they passed each other, they would even sized each other up with their storage rings and magical artifacts, their eyes filled with undisguised greed and wariness.

This was a place where the strong preyed on the weak; there were no rules, no laws, only might.

Crimson Flame Venerable remained expressionless, his gaze sweeping across the city, taking in the layout, the distribution of cultivators, and the strength of their auras.

Cold Abyss Venerable followed behind, his silver eyes unwavering, seemingly indifferent to everything.

The two walked through several streets and stopped in front of an inconspicuous inn.

The inn’s facade was small, the paint on the doors peeling away to reveal the grayish-black wood beneath.

A wooden sign hung at the entrance, bearing four crookedly carved characters—Anlai Inn.

“This is it,” Cold Abyss Venerable said softly.

Crimson Flame Venerable nodded and pushed open the door, entering.

The inn’s lobby was small, containing only a few tables and a counter.

Behind the counter stood an old man with gray hair, a True Immortal Realm Ninth Grade cultivation, squinting as he sized up the newcomers.

His gaze lingered on the two for a moment, asking nothing, but simply holding up two fingers.

“Two superior rooms, ten mid-grade spirit stones per night.”

Venerable Hanyuan took out twenty mid-grade spirit stones from his sleeve and placed them on the counter.

The old man put away the spirit stones, took two keys from the wall, and threw them on the counter.

“Upstairs, on the left, the third and fourth rooms.”

The two took the keys and went upstairs.

The guest rooms were small, but fairly clean.

There was a wooden bed, a wooden table, a wooden chair, and a futon in the corner.

The window faced south, and through the window paper, one could see the hazy sky and the blurry outlines of three blazing suns outside.

Venerable Chiyan sat on the bed, took the Soul-Suppressing Pearl from his sleeve, and held it in his palm.

The purple divine soul within the pearl remained still, its golden light flickering.

“What do we do next?” His voice was somewhat hoarse, carrying the fatigue of days of travel.

Venerable Hanyuan leaned against the window, gazing at the sky outside. “Let’s settle down in the Loose Cultivator City first, rest for a few days, and stabilize our cultivation. Then we’ll gather information and see which forces in the Seventeenth Heaven are worth our allegiance.”

“Allegiance?” Venerable Chiyan sneered. “We, dignified Golden Immortals, have fallen so low as to rely on others?”

Venerable Hanyuan shook his head. “It’s not allegiance, it’s cooperation. We need high-level Golden Immortals to work together to activate the Soul Refining Array; the two of us alone are not enough.

There must be other powerful figures like Venerable Tianji in the Seventeenth Heaven, we just don’t know them. We need to find them.”

Venerable Chiyan was silent for a moment, then put the Soul-Suppressing Pearl into his sleeve and closed his eyes. “Then let’s rest for a few days.”

The two stopped talking and closed their eyes to meditate.

Outside the inn, the street was bustling with people, noisy and chaotic.

Some were arguing, some were trading, and some were fighting. Spiritual light flashed, magical artifacts clashed, and sounds rose and fell, reaching the inn, penetrating the walls, and entering the ears of the two.

But the Golden Immortals possessed a composure far exceeding that of ordinary people; the noise did not affect them in the slightest.

Meanwhile, in the Heavenly Pole Palace

, the Heavenly Pole Venerable sat on his throne, his face still pale and his aura somewhat weak.

The wisp of energy from the Great Luo Golden Scripture had severely damaged his soul. Although he had recovered after a night of healing, some discomfort remained within him.

His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, the rhythm slow and carrying a suppressed anger.

Kneeling below him was a black-clad cultivator, his aura restrained, a first-grade Golden Immortal, the head of the Heavenly Pole Palace’s secret agents.

His forehead was pressed to the ground, not daring to raise his head.

“Report,” the Heavenly Pole Venerable’s voice was calm. ”

Palace Master, Venerable Crimson Flame and Venerable Cold Abyss have left the Heavenly Pole Palace’s territory and entered the City of Loose Cultivators.”

The black-clad cultivator’s voice was deep and clear. “As instructed by the Palace Master, I followed them all the way, daring not to approach or disturb them.”

The Heavenly Pole Venerable’s fingers paused for a moment.

“The City of Loose Cultivators? They do have some sense, knowing to sneak into places like that.”

A slight sneer curled his lips. “The City of Loose Cultivators is a mixed bag, without any major power controlling it; it’s indeed a good hiding place. Too bad, they think they’re safe just because they’re in the City of Loose Cultivators?”

He paused for a moment, then his fingers began to tap lightly on the armrest again.

“Send word to Elder Zhao, Elder Qian, Elder Sun, and Elder Li to come see me.”

“Yes.”

The black-clad cultivator rose, bowed, and left the hall.

A moment later, four Golden Immortal elders filed in, standing in the center of the hall, bowing in unison.

“Palace Master.”

The Heavenly Extreme Venerable looked at them, his gaze sweeping over each of their faces.

The four elders’ cultivation levels ranged from Golden Immortal First Rank to Golden Immortal Second Rank; they were all core combat forces of the Heavenly Extreme Palace, having followed him for many years, utterly loyal.

“Elder Zhao, Elder Qian, go to the Loose Cultivator City, find Chi Yan and Han Yuan, kill them, and retrieve the Soul-Suppressing Pearl.” The Heavenly Venerable’s tone was calm, as if he were instructing someone on a trivial matter.

Elder Zhao’s brow furrowed slightly.

He was tall, with an ancient face and gray hair, and cultivated metal-based techniques, specializing in direct attacks.

He stepped forward and said in a deep voice, “Palace Master, I have a question.”