Chapter 6501 - 6510

…

Divine Abyss Pavilion, Ice Palace.

Venerable Xuanbing sat on his ice crystal throne, a glass of ice wine in his hand, which he gently swirled.

Ice wine was a specialty of the Divine Abyss Pavilion, brewed with ten-thousand-year-old cold spring water; it was icy cold on the palate, with a sweet aftertaste.

He liked this cool sensation, which kept him alert and prevented him from being misled by the disturbances of the outside world.

“Pavilion Master, news has come from the Heavenly Extreme Palace that they will launch an attack in a month,” a black-clad cultivator knelt in the hall, head bowed, his voice respectful.

Venerable Xuanbing put down his wine cup, a slight smile playing on his lips. “A month? Venerable Tianji is in a hurry. It seems that the allure of that treasure is even greater for him than I imagined.”

“Sect Master, are we really going to help Tianji Palace attack Wan Yao Ridge?”

The black-clad cultivator looked up, his eyes full of doubt. “Wan Yao Ridge has no grudge against us, why should we get involved? Although the demon race has always been xenophobic, Qingqiu has never provoked our Shenyuan Pavilion.”

Venerable Xuanbing glanced at him and smiled coldly. “What do you know? Venerable Tianji promised 30% of the benefits. That’s an ancient treasure, surpassing even the Golden Immortal realm.

If we can obtain that treasure, my cultivation will break through to the fourth rank of the Golden Immortal realm. At that time, who will dare to look down on our Ice God lineage?

Those divine clan branches that once suppressed us, I will settle accounts with them one by one.”

He stood up, walked to the window of the Ice Palace, and gazed at the frozen world outside.

The cold wind howled, and the ice crystals refracted the sunlight into a rainbow of colors, a scene of breathtaking beauty, yet also bone-chillingly cold.

“Moreover, do you really think I would help Venerable Tianji?”

The black-robed cultivator was taken aback. “Sect Master, you mean…”

“I know Venerable Tianji too well. He’s never one to suffer a loss.”

Venerable Xuanbing’s voice was cold, as cold as the wind outside the window. “His agreement to give us 30% now is merely a temporary measure. Once Ten Thousand Demon Ridge is destroyed, he will definitely turn his back on us.

At that time, let alone 30%, we might not even get 10%. Perhaps, he will even turn his sword against us.”

“Then why should we send troops?”

“Because of the opportunity.”

A cold glint flashed in Venerable Xuanbing’s eyes. “After Ten Thousand Demon Ridge is destroyed, Tianji Palace will also be severely weakened. At that time, I will seize the opportunity to destroy Tianji Palace.

All of Tianji Palace’s resources, including that supreme treasure, will be ours. This is the real opportunity, killing two birds with one stone.”

The black-robed cultivator’s expression changed. “Sect Master, are you going to make an enemy of Tianji Palace?”

“To be an enemy of the Heavenly Pole Palace?”

Venerable Xuanbing sneered. “The Heavenly Pole Palace has never been our friend. When the Divine Race suppressed our Ice God lineage, did the Heavenly Pole Palace ever utter a word of help? Did

those high and mighty branches of the Divine Race ever even glance at us? Now they want to use us, so I will play along and let them reap what they sow.”

He turned around, looking at the black-clad cultivator, his eyes sharp as knives. “Pass down the order, have all disciples prepare. One month from now, you will accompany me on the expedition. Remember, when you reach the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge, do not fight desperately; conserve your strength. We will strike when the Heavenly Pole Palace and the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge are both weakened. What I want is final victory.” ”

Yes!”

…

Heavenly Saint Palace, Holy Light Hall.

Venerable Holy Light sat cross-legged on a futon, a golden sphere of light floating before him—the Eye of Holy Light.

Countless tiny points of light flowed within the sphere; these were the Heavenly Saint Palace’s intelligence network, covering most of the Northern Region.

He was investigating the situation at Ten Thousand Demon Ridge, the Heavenly Pole Palace, and even the movements of the Divine Abyss Pavilion.

“Palace Master, news has come from the Heavenly Pole Palace that they will send troops in a month.” A cultivator in a white robe entered the hall and bowed.

The Holy Light Venerable opened his eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips. “A month? The Heavenly Pole Venerable is truly impatient. It seems that the supreme treasure has indeed made him restless.”

“Palace Master, should we really help the Heavenly Pole Palace?” the cultivator asked.

“Help?”

The Holy Light Venerable laughed, a hint of mockery in his smile. “Why should I help the Heavenly Pole Palace? I just want a share. The Heavenly Pole Venerable promised fifty percent of the benefits, so I’ll take fifty percent. As for the fate of the Heavenly Pole Palace, what does it have to do with me?”

He stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the Holy Light Ridge outside.

Sunlight shone on the white palace, reflecting a dazzling light; the entire Heavenly Saint Palace resembled a fairyland built in the clouds.

“That ancient treasure surpasses even the Golden Immortal realm. If I could obtain it, my cultivation would break through to the fourth rank of the Golden Immortal realm.

At that time, what would the Heavenly Extreme Palace be? What would the Divine Abyss Pavilion be? The entire Northern Region would be my possession.

Those who once looked down on the Heavenly Saint Palace, I would make them all kneel at my feet.”

The Holy Light Venerable’s ambition was even greater than that of the Profound Ice Venerable.

“But Palace Master, Venerable Tianji promised to give us fifty percent. Will he honor that promise?”

Venerable Saint Light sneered. “I know Venerable Tianji too well. His promise to give us fifty percent now is just a temporary measure.

Once Ten Thousand Demon Ridge is destroyed, he will definitely turn his back on us. Therefore, I will not really fight for him. If he wants to fight, let him fight. I will only provide the work, not the effort.”

“Then what does Palace Master mean?”

“Preserve our strength.” Venerable Saint Light said calmly. “We will make our move after Tianji Palace and Ten Thousand Demon Ridge have fought to a standstill. By then, neither Tianji Palace nor Ten Thousand Demon Ridge will be our match. What I want is to reap the benefits without lifting a finger.”

He turned around, looked at the cultivator, and a shrewd glint flashed in his eyes. “Pass down the order to have the disciples prepare, but don’t tell them they are going to war. Just say… they are going for training. Have everyone bring their best magical artifacts, but don’t make a fuss. I want to catch Venerable Tianji off guard.”

“Yes!”

The three major divine races hadn’t even set off yet, but their thoughts were already divided, a stark contrast to the two thousand cultivators of the Myriad Demon Ridge who were united against a common enemy.

…

Heavenly Extreme Palace, Main Hall. The Heavenly

Extreme Venerable sat on his throne, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest, one tap after another.

Four Golden Immortal elders stood before him, each with a solemn expression.

“Palace Master, everything is ready,” Elder Zhao said, clasping his hands in a fist salute. “The two thousand elite troops have assembled and are ready to depart at any time. Armor, weapons, pills, and talismans have all been distributed, and every cultivator is in peak condition.”

“What about the Divine Abyss Pavilion?” the Heavenly Extreme Venerable asked.

“Venerable Xuanbing has replied; five hundred cultivators have assembled and will join us in half a month. They cultivate ice-based techniques, excelling in control, and can serve as support on the battlefield.”

“What about the Heavenly Saint Palace?”

“Venerable Shengguang agreed to send eight hundred troops, but demanded the spoils be divided after the battle. His disciples cultivate light-based magic, specializing in ranged attacks and healing, and can provide fire support on the battlefield.”

Venerable Tianji sneered, “Venerable Shengguang is indeed an old fox. Dividing the spoils after the battle—he wants to see who wins and who loses. If we win, he takes fifty percent;

if we lose, he loses nothing. A truly shrewd calculation. However, I don’t intend to let him take it for free.”

“Palace Master, what should we do then?” Elder Qian asked.

“What should we do?” Venerable Tianji stood up. “Fight. No matter what they think, our goal is Ten Thousand Demon Ridge. As long as we conquer Ten Thousand Demon Ridge and obtain that supreme treasure, nothing else matters. In the end, whoever has the strongest fist will get more.”

He walked to the sand table and pointed to the location of Ten Thousand Demon Ridge. “Half a month later, the entire army will launch an attack. I will personally lead the team to flatten Ten Thousand Demon Ridge. Remember, our target is that purple divine soul. Whoever obtains that divine soul will be richly rewarded.”

“Yes!” the four elders responded in unison.
…

Preparations for the battle at Wan Yao Ridge continued intensively.

Every day, demon warriors arrived from all directions, and every moment, defensive barriers were reinforced and array patterns were redrawn.

Disciples of the Guiyuan Sect set up hundreds of early warning arrays in the Misty Forest, sword cultivators of the Qingyun Sword Sect established sword arrays on the peaks on both sides of the mountain gate, and sorcerers of the Wanfa Sect inscribed layers of defensive runes around the Demon Emperor’s Palace.

The entire Wan Yao Ridge resembled a colossal beast awakening, baring its fangs, awaiting the impending storm.

But Qingqiu harbored a persistent doubt.

She sat in a side hall, holding an ancient scroll in her hands.

It was a sect secret record brought by Guiyuanzi from the Guiyuan Sect; the animal hide cover was yellowed and brittle, the edges severely worn, clearly having withstood countless years.

The pages were made of a special kind of spiritual silk, densely covered with tiny characters, recording the life stories, cultivation insights, and ascension records of the Guiyuan Sect’s successive patriarchs.

She read through them for a long time, from the first patriarch to the fifth, examining each page carefully, not missing a single detail.

She wanted to know why that white-robed old man—the patriarch of the Guiyuan Sect—had become the guardian of the Chaos Secret Realm.

How many years had he been guarding it?

Was what he was guarding truly just a pool of chaotic spiritual liquid?

Finally, in the last chapter of the scroll, she found a vague record.

“The third patriarch of the Guiyuan Sect, whose Daoist name was ‘Xuanqing,’ ascended to heaven 38,000 years ago. On the day of his ascension, auspicious clouds descended from the sky, golden lotuses sprang from the earth, and cultivators within a radius of ten thousand miles all sensed the pressure of the Heavenly Dao. Spiritual beasts knelt in submission, vegetation shone brightly, and the world was filled with peace.

However, after his ascension, the patriarch disappeared without a trace. Later generations tried to contact him using the sect’s secret methods, but all attempts were in vain, like stones sinking into the sea. Some say the patriarch ascended to a higher celestial realm, while others say he perished in a heavenly tribulation. Opinions vary, and

no consensus is reached. The entire Guiyuan Sect laments this loss, and on every ancestral worship day, they burn incense and pray, hoping that the patriarch’s spirit in heaven will protect the sect for eternity.”

Qingqiu put down the ancient book, his brow furrowed.

Patriarch Xuanqing ascended 38,000 years ago, yet now he appears in the Chaos Secret Realm, becoming a guardian.

Was his ascension a hoax, and his entry into the secret realm the real one?

Or did he return to the lower realm after his ascension?

What exactly happened in between?

What could have driven a powerful being who had already ascended to immortality to willingly lower his cultivation, guarding a small secret realm and a pool of spiritual liquid, waiting for 38,000 years?

She pondered for a moment, repeatedly considering various possibilities in her mind, then shook her head.

With only fragments of information from ancient texts, she couldn’t reconstruct the truth of what happened back then.

She needed more information; she needed to ask that white-robed elder herself.

She stood up and walked out of the side hall.

The morning light of Wan Yao Ridge shone on her white dress, casting a long shadow.

The morning mist hadn’t completely dissipated, shimmering faintly golden in the sunlight.

She walked through several long corridors and arrived at Gui Yuanzi’s residence.

Gui Yuanzi’s residence was a small stone chamber, very clean.

A stone bed, a stone table, a stone chair, and a portrait of the founder of the Gui Yuan Sect hanging on the wall.

Gui Yuanzi was sitting cross-legged on a futon, healing his injuries. Azure spiritual energy flowed slowly around him, like threads of azure silk, repairing his broken bones and damaged meridians.

Hearing footsteps, he opened his eyes and saw Qingqiu. He quickly rose and bowed.

“Your Majesty, what brings you here? Is there news from the front lines?”

“No.” Qingqiu waved his hand, handing him an ancient book. “Take a look at this section.”

Gui Yuanzi took the book and quickly scanned it.

His gaze lingered on the words, his expression growing increasingly grave. Finally, his brow furrowed, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

“Ancestor Xuanqing…ascended 38,000 years ago? But the one we saw in the secret realm was clearly the Ancestor himself.

His whisk, his Dao patterns, his aura—none of it could be faked.

I grew up in the Guiyuan Sect and have seen the portrait of the sect’s ancestor countless times. I could draw the Dao patterns on that whisk with my eyes closed. There’s absolutely no way I could mistake him.” ”

Therefore, I suspect that the so-called ‘ascension’ is nothing but a facade.” Qingqiu’s voice was soft, but every word carried weight, echoing in the silent stone chamber.

“Ancestor Xuanqing didn’t leave the Seventeenth Heaven at all, but entered the Chaos Secret Realm and became its guardian.

There must be a reason he’s guarding it. Perhaps, something more important than the Chaos Spirit Liquid is hidden in that secret realm, perhaps he’s waiting for someone, perhaps he’s protecting some secret. We must find out.”

Guiyuanzi raised his head, looking at Qingqiu, his eyes filled with shock and doubt. “Your Majesty, you mean…”

“I will go to the Chaos Secret Realm again.” Qingqiu’s tone was unquestionable, leaving no room for negotiation. “This time, I will go personally. You lead the way.”

Guiyuanzi hesitated for a moment.

His injuries hadn’t fully healed; his left arm was still in a sling, and although the broken bones in his chest had been set, he couldn’t exert any force.

Moreover, the guardian’s cultivation was unfathomable; last time, he had been severely injured by a single palm strike and almost died.

If he were to fight again this time, he didn’t know if he would survive.

“Your Majesty, that guardian’s cultivation is unfathomable, I’m worried…”

“Worried about what?” Qingqiu interrupted him, her voice carrying a hint of arrogance. “I’ve lived for tens of thousands of years, what storms haven’t I weathered? A guardian at the peak of the third rank of Golden Immortal can’t frighten me.

Besides, I’m a demon, my cultivation method is different from his, he won’t attack on sight. We’re going to talk, not fight.”

She paused, then added, “Moreover, I sense that the guardian has no ill intentions towards us. He injured you last time because you attacked first. If you hadn’t attacked, he wouldn’t have attacked first. I can see that.”

Guiyuanzi was silent for a moment, repeatedly recalling the scene in the hall that day.

The white-robed elder indeed didn’t attack first; he attacked first, and the elder retaliated.

Moreover, the elder could have killed him, but he didn’t.

What did this mean?

It meant that the elder had no intention of killing them, but was simply upholding his duty, not allowing anyone to easily take the spiritual liquid.

He nodded, “Alright.” …

An Dao and Ling Yue had been guarding the mountaintop of the Cangmang Mountains for several days.

The high altitude offered a wide view, allowing them to clearly see the entrance to the Chaos Secret Realm.

They had set up a concealment array on the mountaintop, completely concealing their aura and blending into the surrounding vegetation.

From a distance, it appeared as a barren mountain, completely unremarkable.

The two took turns resting, constantly watching the entrance to the secret realm, not daring to relax for a moment.

During the day, the view was clear, and any movement was easily observed.

At night, the mountain was bitterly cold, with howling winds and pitch-black darkness, forcing them to rely solely on their divine sense.

They dared not extend their divine sense too far, fearing detection by passing demonic beasts or cultivators, and could only cautiously probe within a hundred feet of their surroundings.

Apart from Gui Yuanzi’s visit, no one else had ever entered.

Ling Yue leaned against the stone wall, wrapped her gray cloak tighter around herself, yawning, utterly bored.

She had been squatting on this hilltop for several days, her robes rumpled, her hair disheveled, and her face weary.

“Do you think Gui Yuanzi will come again?” she asked softly.

An Dao didn’t speak, only staring intently at the entrance to the secret realm, his eyes unblinking.

His hands gripped the hilt of his sword, his knuckles slightly white from the pressure, his entire being like a fully drawn bow, ready to explode at any moment.

He was a top assassin of the Void Merchant Guild, having carried out countless surveillance missions, never letting his guard down because of boredom.

Ling Yue sighed, “Your mouth is truly hard to open. In all these years of partnering with you, I can count the number of words you’ve spoken on one hand.”

Just then, two figures appeared on the distant horizon.

One after the other, they flew towards the entrance of the secret realm.

Ling Yue’s body tensed abruptly, her eyes fixed on the two approaching figures.

The figure in front wore a blue Daoist robe, a long sword at his waist, and his left arm draped across his chest—it was Gui Yuanzi.

His flight speed was slow, clearly indicating that his injuries had not fully healed.

The figure behind him wore a long white dress, had ink-black hair, and a cold demeanor, surrounded by a faint white aura—it was none other than the Demon Emperor Qingqiu.

An Dao’s pupils contracted slightly. “They’ve arrived.”

Ling Yue quickly perked up, taking out a warm, smooth communication jade slip from her bosom and probing it with her divine sense.

Countless tiny runes appeared on the jade slip. She composed herself and quickly wrote: “Guild Leader, Gui Yuanzi has brought the Demon Emperor Qingqiu back into the Chaos Secret Realm. The two seemed to be in a hurry, as if they had come prepared. Please give instructions.”

A moment later, Wu Heng’s reply was only two words: “Keep an eye on them.”

Ling Yue put away the jade slip and continued watching the two figures disappear through the stone gate of the secret realm.

Qingqiu and Gui Yuanzi passed through the stone gate and stepped into the Chaos Secret Realm.

Grayish-white mist surged all around, so thick it was almost tangible.

The mist contained fragments of chaotic laws, sharp as knives, constantly eroding the intruders’ spiritual energy shields.

A faint white spiritual light shone around Qingqiu—the primordial power of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, gentle yet resilient, keeping the mist at bay.

Guiyuanzi walked ahead, his azure longsword constantly drawn, its blade shimmering with a faint spiritual light, vigilantly watching his surroundings.

“This is it,” Guiyuanzi murmured, his voice echoing in the empty space, carrying a hint of suppressed awe.

“Last time we reached this point, we were stopped by the guardian. That guardian is in the main hall. His cultivation is unfathomable; one palm strike severely injured me. If he hadn’t shown mercy, I probably would have perished there.”

Qingqiu nodded, remaining silent, and continued forward.

The pale golden gate still stood silently, radiating a soft light.

The light on the gate rippled gently like water, carrying an indescribable warmth and tranquility.

Qingqiu stood before the gate of light, closed her eyes, and sensed the aura within.

After a moment, she opened her eyes, a knowing glint in them.

“This is the Daoist essence, gentle and inclusive, without a trace of hostility. The person who set up this gate of light possesses a very high level of spiritual cultivation. Go in; nothing will happen.”

She stepped inside first.

Behind the gate was a grand hall.

The hall was vast, hundreds of feet in circumference, its dome inlaid with countless luminous crystals, illuminating the entire hall.

Dozens of stone pillars stood on either side of the hall, their surfaces engraved with chaotic runes.

At the far end of the hall was a high platform.

On the platform sat a jade pool. The pool was small, only three feet square, filled with a milky-white liquid that emitted a gentle glow.

Beside the jade pool stood an old man in white robes.

He held a whisk, his white hair flowing, his face aged yet exuding a detached, otherworldly tranquility.

His eyes were bright, as bright as the stars in the sky, or like a bottomless abyss, making it impossible to see through his thoughts.

A faint spiritual light flowed over his white robes, like a thin mist, blending him into his surroundings.

He looked at Qingqiu, a slight smile playing on his lips.

“The demon race? Interesting. I’ve guarded this place for tens of thousands of years, and this is the first time I’ve seen a demon race set foot here. You are the first.”

Qingqiu stopped, clasped his hands in a respectful bow, his posture both respectful and dignified. “Junior Qingqiu, Demon Emperor of Ten Thousand Demon Ridge. This is Guiyuanzi, the Sect Master of Guiyuan Sect. Senior should have already met him.”

The white-robed elder glanced at Guiyuanzi and nodded slightly. “I remember you. Last time you came, you desperately protected the divine soul in your arms, refusing to back down. You are stronger than your master.

Your master was too steady, too cautious, never doing anything out of line in his entire life. But you, you dare to fight, dare to take risks, dare to fight me for an outsider.”

He paused, then added, “In this respect, you are stronger than many others.”

Gui Yuanzi’s eyes reddened slightly, but he remained silent.

The white-robed elder looked at Qing Qiu again, his gaze scrutinizing him from head to toe. “Why has the Demon Emperor come in person? Is it to avenge this brat?”

Qing Qiu didn’t beat around the bush. “Senior, this junior wants to know, why did you become the guardian of this Chaos Secret Realm? Shouldn’t you have ascended 38,000 years ago?”

The white-robed elder’s smile froze.

He remained silent for a long time, as if lost in distant memories.

His gaze deepened, his pupils seeming to hold the flow of time, traversing 38,000 years to return to that distant era.

The surrounding mist seemed to sense his emotional fluctuations, slowly churning and emitting a low hum.

“I did indeed ascend. Thirty-eight thousand years ago, I successfully ascended in the back mountains of the Guiyuan Sect. Auspicious clouds descended from the sky, golden lotuses sprang from the earth, and all things shone with glory.

I thought that was the end of cultivation, the perfection of the path, the destination that all cultivators dream of. With a heart full of passion, I stepped into a higher celestial realm.”

He raised his head, looking at the dome of the hall, as if he could see the world above through the rocks.

“But after ascending, I discovered that the world above was not what I wanted. There were no traditions, no inheritances, only endless strife and slaughter.

The strong were respected, the weak were prey; there was no morality, no compassion, only naked survival of the fittest.

My Dao heart almost collapsed there. I could not accept such a world.”

“My Dao is about protection, not slaughter. My sword is for protecting all living beings, not for slaughtering my own kind.

But in that world, only the strong can survive; only by constantly becoming stronger and constantly killing can one avoid being eliminated. I cannot do it, nor do I want to.”

His voice was low and slightly hoarse. “So I lowered my cultivation and returned to the Seventeenth Heaven. But the Heavenly Dao is flawed; after returning, my cultivation could never return to its peak, remaining only at the peak of the Third Grade Golden Immortal.

I originally wanted to return to the Yuan Sect to continue teaching, but my cultivation is no longer what it used to be, and my appearance has changed. Returning would only bring trouble to the sect and even attract the covetous eyes of those who covet it.”

“I had nowhere to go, and by chance I found this Chaos Secret Realm. When I entered this Chaos Secret Realm, there was a guardian here. He asked me to guard this Chaos Spirit Liquid and wait for a suitable person.”

“Of course I refused, but he said that this Chaos Spirit Liquid was related to the prosperity of the Dao Sect, so I agreed.”

Qingqiu and Guiyuanzi were stunned. Neither of them expected that tens of thousands of years ago, someone would already know about the present situation.

“Ancestor, the young master has the Great Luo Golden Scripture and needs the Chaos Spirit Liquid to reshape his physical body, so why did you stop me?”

Guiyuanzi asked, puzzled.

The white-robed elder smiled faintly: “If he truly possesses the Great Luo Golden Scripture, then let him obtain the spiritual elixir himself. No one can do it for him.”

Gui Yuanzi stared blankly at the white-robed elder, then looked down at the jade bottle in his arms, caught in a dilemma.

Qingqiu’s brows furrowed tightly, a hint of anger flashing in her amber eyes, but she didn’t react—she knew that this elder wasn’t making things difficult, but rather upholding his principles.

“Ancestor, the young master only has a wisp of divine soul left, without even a physical body. How can he obtain the spiritual elixir? Aren’t you making things unnecessarily difficult for him?”

Gui Yuanzi’s voice trembled slightly, filled with barely suppressed anxiety.

The white-robed elder smiled faintly, flicked his whisk gently, and said unhurriedly, “If he truly possesses the Great Luo Golden Scripture and is the hope of our Daoist sect, then there is certainly a way.

I am merely following the rules. When that senior entrusted this Chaos Secret Realm to me, he said, ‘Only the successor of the Great Luo Golden Scripture can personally retrieve the spiritual liquid; no one else can do it for him.’ I have guarded it for 38,000 years; I cannot let him break the rules.”

Gui Yuanzi opened his mouth, wanting to say something more, but was interrupted by the jade bottle in his arms.

A weak yet firm voice came from the jade bottle: “Gui Yuanzi, let me out. I will try.”

The voice was very soft, as soft as a whisper in the wind, but every word carried an undeniable power.

Gui Yuanzi looked down at the jade bottle in his arms and saw the purple divine soul within the bottle light up slightly. Although the light was dim, it exuded a stubbornness.

“Young Master, but you…” Gui Yuanzi hesitated.

Kai had only a wisp of his soul left, unable even to circulate basic spiritual energy properly. How could he possibly obtain the spiritual liquid?

The mist in this Chaotic Secret Realm was mixed with fragments of chaotic laws; an ordinary soul would be eroded and dissipated in an instant.

He was worried about the young master’s safety.

“Guiyuanzi, let me out,”

Kai’s voice rang out again, this time more resolute. “I didn’t get this far by luck. Since the ancestor has set the rules, I will follow them. Let me out.”

Guiyuanzi gritted his teeth and turned to look at Qingqiu.

Qingqiu was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly.

There was also worry in her eyes, but she knew Kai was right.

With the rules in place, there was no turning back.

Guiyuanzi took a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly, and slowly opened the lid of the jade bottle.

A wisp of pale purple soul slowly floated out of the bottle, hovering in mid-air.

The soul was very weak, its purple light dim, like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment.

The golden light of the Great Luo Golden Scripture flickered faintly around the divine soul, a thin layer barely protecting it from the erosion of the mist.

Gui Yuanzi’s eyes instantly reddened.

Qingqiu’s fingers clenched slightly, her nails digging into her palms.

She didn’t speak, but her heart also clenched.

She had lived for tens of thousands of years, witnessing countless deaths and deaths, but at this moment, she felt an inexplicable unease.

The white-robed elder looked at the swaying purple divine soul, his gaze slightly narrowing.

He extended his divine sense, carefully sensing the aura within the divine soul.

After a moment, a flicker of emotion flashed in his eyes.

“Indeed… it’s the aura of the Great Luo Golden Scripture. Thirty-eight thousand years, I’ve finally waited for it.”

He murmured, his voice carrying a hint of emotion, a hint of relief, and a barely perceptible expectation.

But then, his brows furrowed slightly.

“But your soul is far too weak. The chaotic spiritual liquid in the Spirit Pool contains extremely rich primordial power. Even the physical body of an ordinary cultivator would be devoured by the spiritual power if it touched it, let alone you who only have a wisp of soul left. Are you sure you want to try?”

Kai’s soul glowed slightly. Although the purple light was weak, it exuded a reassuring firmness. “Yes. Please open the restrictions on the Spirit Pool, Ancestor. I will do it myself.”

The white-robed elder was silent for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. I won’t stop you. But I must remind you that the spiritual liquid in the Spirit Pool will not harm you on its own, but if you enter with your soul body, the primordial power in the spiritual liquid will spontaneously surge into your soul.

If you cannot withstand it, at best your soul will be damaged, at worst your soul will be scattered. Think it over.”

Gui Yuanzi’s face turned deathly pale instantly. “Ancestor, the young master…”

“Let him try.” Qing Qiu’s voice interrupted Gui Yuanzi. She looked at the purple soul, her eyes filled with complex emotions. “He is not the kind of person who would back down.”
The white-robed elder waved his hand, and the restrictions above the jade pool slowly dissipated. Ripples spread across the surface of the milky-white spiritual liquid, radiating an even more intense light.

The light was warm and gentle, yet carried an indescribable weight, as if the entire world contained within it.

Kai’s soul slowly drifted towards the jade pool. He flew very slowly, the golden light of the Great Luo Golden Scripture flowing around him, barely keeping the mist at bay.

With each inch forward, he felt an invisible pressure squeezing his soul, as if countless hands were pulling him, trying to tear him apart.

Gui Yuanzi’s hand rested on the hilt of his sword. He dared not speak, dared not move, and even his breathing unconsciously became soft.

His eyes were fixed on the purple soul, not daring to blink.

Qing Qiu stood to the side, her white robes as white as snow, her long hair as black as ink, her amber eyes reflecting the swaying purple light.

She slightly raised her hand, then lowered it again. She could not help; this was Kai’s own trial.

The white-robed elder watched silently, his whisk hanging gently at his side, his face expressionless.

Kai’s soul finally floated above the jade pool.

The light of the spiritual liquid shone on him, the milky white and purple light intertwining, making his swaying ball of light flicker.

He hovered above the spiritual liquid, able to feel the dense, almost tangible primordial power below, like a bottomless ocean, quietly waiting to devour all intruders.

Without hesitation, he slowly sank down.

The moment his soul touched the spiritual liquid, a vast power surged from all directions, enveloping him entirely.

That power was not an attack, not a compression, but an influx.

The primordial power in the chaotic spiritual liquid, as if finding a vessel, frantically poured into Kai’s soul at an unbelievable speed.

Kai’s soul trembled violently, the purple light suddenly surging and then dimming, as if engaged in a fierce battle with that power.

His soul trembled violently in the spiritual liquid, emitting a low, buzzing sound filled with pain, struggle, and defiance.

Gui Yuanzi’s face turned deathly pale, and he took a sudden step forward. “Young Master!”

“Don’t move.”

The white-robed elder’s voice was calm but undeniable. “This is the process of the spiritual liquid merging with his soul. He is currently using his soul to absorb the primal power within the spiritual liquid. If he can’t withstand it, no one can save him. Going up will only interfere with him.”

Gui Yuanzi’s foot froze in mid-air.

His fists clenched so tightly they cracked, his nails digging into his palms, blood dripping from between his fingers.

He gritted his teeth, his eyes red-rimmed, but dared not take another step forward.

Qing Qiu placed his hand on Gui Yuanzi’s shoulder and patted it gently. “Trust him.”

In the jade pool, Kai’s soul was experiencing unimaginable pain.

The primal power in the spiritual liquid was too concentrated, and the influx was too rapid; his soul simply couldn’t digest it in time.

Those forces surged and crashed through his soul like raging rivers, threatening to tear his already fragile soul apart.

Fine cracks began to appear at the edges of his soul, purple light spilling out from them like a glass lamp on the verge of shattering.

The golden light of the Great Luo Golden Scripture desperately tried to mend the cracks, but the incoming power was too great and too fast; the repair could not keep up with the rate of shattering.

“Ah—” An invisible roar echoed from the depths of his soul, a cry from the very soul, silent yet shaking the entire hall.

Gui Yuanzi’s tears finally fell. “Young Master…Young Master, hold on…”

Qingqiu’s lips trembled slightly, her hand sliding off Gui Yuanzi’s shoulder and clenching into a fist.

She didn’t speak, but her eyes were filled with heartache.

Just as Kai’s soul was about to give way, the Great Luo Golden Scripture deep within his sea of ​​consciousness suddenly shone brightly.

It wasn’t the faint light from before, but a dazzling, scorching, sun-like golden radiance.

The light surged from the depths of Kai’s soul, transforming into countless golden threads that firmly enveloped it.

The shattered cracks were stitched together by the golden threads, and the surging primal power was guided by them, flowing slowly within his soul, no longer rampaging.

The Great Luo Golden Scripture was helping him refine the primal power within the spiritual liquid.

Kai felt a warm current spreading through his soul, no longer in pain, but instead experiencing an indescribable comfort.

The surging primal power was gradually absorbed, transformed, and fused by the Great Luo Golden Scripture, becoming a part of his soul.

His soul began to solidify, the purple light growing brighter and more stable. The

previously volatile ball of light gradually coalesced into a human form, with facial features, limbs, and torso becoming clear.

Gui Yuanzi’s eyes widened. “Young Master… Young Master’s soul is solidifying!”

A glimmer of light also flashed in Qingqiu’s eyes.

She sensed it; the power of the Great Luo Golden Scripture was awakening.

The white-robed elder’s brow twitched slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. “The Great Luo Golden Scripture… truly a treasure of the Ancestral Master. It’s helping the divine soul refine the primordial power within the spiritual liquid; such spirituality is something I’ve never seen before.”

The spiritual liquid in the jade pool decreased at a visible rate.

The milky-white liquid continuously flowed into Kai’s divine soul, being refined and absorbed by the golden light of the Great Luo Golden Scripture.

Kai’s divine soul became increasingly solid, the purple light grew brighter, and his entire outline became clearer.

Gui Yuanzi knelt on the ground, hands clasped together, lips trembling incessantly, whether in prayer or chanting something, it was unclear.

Qing Qiu stood to the side, her gaze never leaving the jade pool. Her eyes were filled with worry, but also with hope.

Finally, the last drop of spiritual liquid was absorbed by Kai’s divine soul.

The jade pool was empty, not a single drop remaining.

The purple divine soul floated above the jade pool, radiating a warm, gentle light.

The golden light of the Great Luo Golden Scripture flowed around the divine soul, intertwining with the purple light to form a perfect cocoon of light.

The aura within the cocoon was many times stronger than before; it was an indescribable power, neither pure spiritual energy nor pure divine soul power, but a perfect fusion of the two.

Gui Yuanzi stared blankly at the cocoon of light, his lips trembling, and after a long while, he managed to squeeze out a sentence: “It…it’s done?”

The white-robed elder stepped forward, stood by the jade pool, looked at the cocoon of light, and remained silent for a long time.

Then, he turned around, looked at Gui Yuanzi and Qing Qiu, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

“Not bad. The successor of the Great Luo Golden Scripture has indeed not disappointed me. He took the Chaos Spirit Liquid.”

He paused, then added, “Once he finishes absorbing it, the reconstruction of his physical body will be just around the corner. My mission can be considered complete.”

After speaking, he turned around, his figure gradually dissipating into the mist, leaving behind a faint sentence: “Tell that brat that the future of the Daoist sect depends on him.”

Gui Yuanzi knelt down with a thud and kowtowed three times in the direction where the white-robed elder had disappeared. “Ancestor, rest assured, your subordinate will definitely protect the young master!”

Qingqiu stood beside the cocoon of light, reaching out to gently touch its surface.

The cocoon of light was as warm as jade, radiating a faint warmth, like a new life quietly being nurtured.

” Kai, you must wake up,” she whispered.

Within the cocoon of light, a purple light flickered slightly, as if responding to her.
Qingqiu and Guiyuanzi led Kai out of the secret realm!

An Dao and Ling Yue, seeing Qingqiu and Guiyuanzi emerge, immediately sent a message to Wu Heng.

“Guild Leader, they’re out. They both looked hurried, and Guiyuanzi’s arms were bulging; he must be carrying something important.”

Less than half an hour later, Wu Heng personally led his men to the Cangmang Mountains.

He brought ten Golden Immortal Level 1 experts, plus An Dao and Ling Yue, a total of thirteen, who surrounded Qingqiu and Guiyuanzi.

The thirteen Golden Immortal auras intertwined, like an invisible mountain, causing the surrounding mist to churn.

The thirteen people were positioned strategically: three in front, seven behind, and one on each side blocking their escape route, forming an impenetrable encirclement.

Wu Heng stood at the very front, dressed in a black robe, a smile playing on his lips, but one filled with greed.

His eyes were fixed on the storage ring in Guiyuanzi’s arms, as if he could already see the Chaos Spirit Liquid inside.

He had worked for the Void Merchant Guild for so many years and had seen countless rare treasures, but he had only ever seen a treasure of the level of Chaos Spirit Liquid once in his entire life.

“Your Majesty, Demon Emperor, Sect Master Guiyuan, please wait.” His voice was not loud, but every word carried an air of unyielding authority.

Qingqiu’s eyes narrowed, a cold glint flashing in his amber pupils. “President Wu, what is the meaning of this? I must hurry back to the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge; I have no time for idle chatter.”

Wu Heng smiled. “Your Majesty need not be nervous. I merely wish to know what treasures you two obtained in the secret realm? Chaos Spirit Liquid, that is a supreme treasure of the heavens, appearing only once in ten thousand years. I also wish to have a share; I wonder if Your Majesty would grant me this favor?”

Guiyuanzi’s face darkened, his hand unconsciously resting on the hilt of his sword. “President Wu, the Chaos Elixir was obtained with our lives, why should we share it with you? We risked our lives in the secret realm, while you wait outside to reap the benefits? There’s no such thing as a free lunch!”

“Why should I?”

Wu Heng’s smile deepened, a smile tinged with the shrewdness and calculation characteristic of a businessman. “Based on the strength of the Void Merchant Guild. Based on the ten Golden Immortals I have. Sect Master Guiyuan, a wise man submits to circumstances.

Hand over the Chaos Elixir, and I can give you half. Keep the other half, enough for the young master to rebuild his physical body. Let’s each take a step back and avoid making things difficult for each other. If you don’t hand it over…”

He didn’t finish, but his meaning was clear.

His hand was already on the magic weapon at his waist, and the ten Golden Immortals behind him stepped forward in unison, their auras surging.

Qing Qiu sneered, his voice full of mockery. “President Wu, are you threatening me? You’ve been the president of the Void Merchant Guild for thousands of years, don’t you know what the consequences are for threatening a demon emperor?”

“I wouldn’t dare.”

Wu Heng clasped his hands in a humble posture, but the greed in his eyes was undisguised. “I’m merely reminding Your Majesty that discretion is the better part of valor. We’re still a thousand miles from the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge. One of you is severely injured, and the other has exhausted most of your spiritual energy. Can you really return safely?”

Qingqiu remained silent.

She raised her right hand, her fingers spread, and a white spiritual light surged from her palm.

The light grew brighter and more dazzling, transforming into a gigantic phantom of a nine-tailed celestial fox. The phantom was ten zhang tall, its nine tails swaying gently behind it, each tail shimmering with a different color—red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple, gold, and silver.

The nine colors intertwined, dyeing the surrounding mist with vibrant hues.

The nine-tailed celestial fox phantom opened its maw, letting out a silent roar.

The roar was silent, but an invisible shockwave of divine souls surged forth like a tsunami, causing the surrounding mist to churn violently. Even the ten Golden Immortals behind Wu Heng involuntarily took a step back.

“Want to snatch the Chaos Spirit Liquid? Then make your move. I want to see just how much a Golden Immortal from the Void Merchant Guild really weighs.”

Wu Heng’s expression changed. He hadn’t expected Qing Qiu to be so forceful, much less that she would attack without a word.

In his expectations, Qing Qiu would weigh the pros and cons, at least try to negotiate.

But she didn’t; she turned hostile immediately.

He gritted his teeth and waved his hand. “Take them down!”

The ten Golden Immortals attacked simultaneously.

Golden, silver, cyan, and crimson spiritual light intertwined, like ferocious dragons, hurtling towards Qing Qiu and Gui Yuanzi.

The combined attack of ten first-grade Golden Immortals was powerful enough to level a mountain.

Qing Qiu did not retreat.

She activated the illusory image of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, its nine tails lighting up simultaneously. The nine colors of light converged, transforming into a nine-colored pillar of light that met the combined attack of the ten Golden Immortals.

Boom!

A deafening roar shook the entire mountain range.

The nine-colored pillar of light blocked all ten attacks, the aftershocks sweeping outwards and forcing Wu Heng back several steps.

The surrounding mist was torn apart by the shockwave, revealing a gray sky.

The ground cracked, rubble flew everywhere, and nothing grew within a hundred feet.

Qingqiu’s face paled slightly, a trace of blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

The injuries she sustained at the hands of the Heavenly Venerable hadn’t fully healed, and this time, forcibly activating the illusory image of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox had aggravated her injuries.

But her figure remained upright, her eyes still resolute.

Guiyuanzi wasn’t idle either. He drew his cyan longsword and slashed at Wu Heng.

The sword light was sharp, carrying the sword intent passed down through generations of the Guiyuan Sect, aimed directly at Wu Heng’s throat.

Wu Heng dodged to the side, then struck Gui Yuanzi’s chest with a backhand palm.

Gui Yuanzi raised his sword to parry, but was forced back several steps, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

His injuries were not yet healed, and this blow aggravated his old wounds.

The ten Golden Immortals attacked again, this time with even greater coordination.

Three in front, seven behind, their attacks continuous and seamless.

Qingqiu, a third-rank Golden Immortal, could fight ten against one, but the sheer number of opponents and their perfect teamwork caused her spiritual energy to deplete rapidly.

“Gui Yuanzi, go!”

Qingqiu shouted, and the phantom of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox suddenly swelled, its nine tails sweeping out simultaneously, forcing the ten Golden Immortals back.

Each of the nine tails was ten zhang long, and wherever they swept, rocks crumbled and the ground was plowed with deep furrows.

Gui Yuanzi hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and turned to fly towards the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge.

Wu Heng wanted to give chase, but was blocked by Qingqiu.

His cultivation was only at the second rank of Golden Immortal, no match for Qingqiu.

Qingqiu struck out with a palm, the nine-colored light transforming into a giant hand, sending him flying.

He tumbled several times in the air before crashing heavily to the ground, a trickle of blood escaping from the corner of his mouth.

“Withdraw!” Wu Heng gritted his teeth, reluctantly leading his men away.
Qingqiu stood in the void, watching them depart, and let out a long breath.

Her face was ashen, her lips bloodless, and cold sweat streamed down her face.

Using the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox phantom twice had worsened her injuries.

But she couldn’t fall.

She had to go back, she had to see Kai rebuild his physical body.

When Qingqiu and Guiyuanzi returned to Wan Yao Ridge, it was already dark.

Three blazing suns slowly sank below the horizon, dyeing the entire sky golden-red.

The lights of Wan Yao Ridge lit up one by one, like stars scattered across the mountains.

In the square in front of the Demon Emperor’s Palace, demon warriors and cultivators of various races were busy—some reinforcing defenses, some moving supplies, some conversing in hushed tones.

Seeing Qingqiu and Guiyuanzi return, everyone stopped what they were doing, their gazes falling on the jade box in Guiyuanzi’s arms.

No one spoke, but everyone’s eyes held expectation and worry.

Qingqiu didn’t linger, walking straight across the square towards the side hall.

Gui Yuanzi followed closely behind her, clutching the jade box tightly as if it were the most precious thing in the world.

The door to the side hall opened, and a faint fragrance wafted out. Soft animal hides had already been laid out on the warm jade bed in the hall, and two items were placed on the stone platform beside the bed.

One was a piece of black wood, completely black, with fine golden patterns covering its surface, emitting a faint glow.

The other was a jade pool, filled with spiritual spring water drawn from the depths of the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge’s spiritual veins, crystal clear and brimming with spiritual energy.

The Ancient Soul Wood.

That was the treasure Kai had obtained after risking his life in the Primordial Soul Forest, an indispensable core element for reshaping his physical body.

Gui Yuanzi walked to the warm jade bed, carefully placed the jade box on it, and opened the lid.

The cocoon of light lay quietly in the jade box, its purple-gold light particularly striking in the dim side hall, bathing the entire hall in a warm hue.

Qingqiu walked to the stone platform, picked up the piece of Eternal Soul Wood, and examined it carefully for a moment. The golden patterns on the Soul Wood flowed slowly under the illumination of the spiritual light, as if breathing. She said softly, “Let’s begin.”

Guiyuanzi took a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly, and took the cocoon of light from the jade box, gently placing it into the jade pool.

The cocoon of light floated above the spiritual spring water, its purplish-gold light intertwining with the clear light of the spring water, like the shimmering surface of a lake at dawn.

Qingqiu placed the Eternal Soul Wood into the jade pool. The Soul Wood sank into the water, slowly melting into countless tiny golden specks of light, drifting in the spiritual spring water like fireflies.

These golden specks of light seemed to have a life of their own, converging towards the cocoon of light, adhering to its surface, layer upon layer.

The cocoon of light began to change. What was originally just a simple ball of light now had fine patterns appearing on its surface, like the meridians of the human body, or like cracks in the earth.

The patterns radiated outwards from the center of the cocoon of light, each faintly glowing and emanating a warm glow.

Gui Yuanzi knelt by the jade pool, his hands clasped together, his lips trembling.

His eyes were red, tears welling up, but he dared not let them fall, fearing to disturb his young master.

Qingqiu stood to the side, her white robes as white as snow, her long hair as black as ink.

Her gaze never left the jade pool, her amber eyes reflecting the light of the cocoon.

Her hands hung at her sides, clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms, yet she felt no pain.

The cocoon of light floated in the jade pool for three days and three nights.

On the first day, the outline of bones appeared on the surface of the cocoon.

One by one, snow-white as jade, hard as steel, from blurry to clear, from nothingness to substance.

The bones slowly grew in the golden light of the Great Luo Golden Scripture, piecing together a complete human skeleton.

Gui Yuanzi counted them; there were exactly two hundred and six pieces, no more, no less, each radiating a faint purple spiritual light.

Qingqiu’s brows relaxed slightly.

Skeletal reconstruction was the most crucial step; only with stable bones could the meridians and flesh grow smoothly.

The next day, meridians began to grow on the bones inside the cocoon of light.

One by one, like golden rivers, they spread and intertwined between the bones, connecting every inch together.

The golden light of the Great Luo Golden Scripture shone through the cocoon, illuminating the meridians and making their patterns clearly visible.

Guiyuanzi recognized several main meridians—the Ren and Du meridians, the twelve regular meridians, and the eight extraordinary meridians—each wider and stronger than any he had ever seen in a cultivator.

“Young Master’s meridians… are even stronger than before his physical body was destroyed.” Guiyuanzi’s voice trembled, but it was the trembling of joy.

Qingqiu nodded, remaining silent.

A glimmer of hope flashed in her eyes.

On the third day, flesh began to grow.

Inch by inch, crimson as the sunset, it covered the bones and meridians, enveloping the entire body into a complete human form.

Muscles, skin, and hair took shape, every inch brimming with explosive power.

The golden light of the Great Luo Golden Scripture intertwined with the golden specks of the Eternal Soul Wood, forming mysterious patterns on the body’s surface—the protective runes of the Daoist sect.

The light cocoon grew brighter and brighter, illuminating the entire side hall.

The demon warriors and cultivators of various races outside the hall couldn’t help but look over. Some whispered among themselves, some clasped their hands in prayer, and some gripped their weapons tightly—they knew that their young master was being reborn.

Gui Yuanzi knelt by the jade pool, without closing his eyes or drinking water for three days and three nights.

His lips were cracked, his face pale, but his eyes shone brightly, like stars in the night.

Qingqiu stood beside him, never leaving his side.

Her white dress was stained with some spiritual spring water, and her hair was somewhat disheveled, but she didn’t care.

On the morning of the fourth day, the first rays of sunlight streamed in through the window of the side hall.

The light cocoon cracked open.

There was no sound, no loud noise, only a thin crack appearing on the surface of the light cocoon.

The crack stretched from top to bottom, like a golden thread, splitting the cocoon in two.

Gui Yuanzi’s breath caught in his throat.

Golden light surged from the crack, sweeping across the entire side hall like a tidal wave.

The light was warm and powerful, carrying an indescribable force—neither pure spiritual power nor pure divine soul power, but a perfect fusion of the two.

Then, the light cocoon shattered completely.

Kai stood in the jade pool, completely naked, his body shimmering with a faint purple spiritual light.

His skin was smooth as jade, his muscles clearly defined, each muscle containing explosive power.

His hair, as black as ink, fell over his shoulders, swaying gently in the spiritual light.

His eyes were closed, his eyelashes trembling slightly, as if he were having a very long dream.

The golden light of the Great Luo Golden Scripture flowed around him, perfectly merging with his new physical body.

The golden and purple light intertwined, forming mysterious patterns on his body surface—the protective runes of the Daoist sect, and the mark of the Great Luo Golden Scripture recognizing him as its master.
Gui Yuanzi’s tears finally fell, drop by drop, landing on the cold ground. “Young Master… Young Master… You’ve finally returned…”

He had waited for this day for far too long.

From Kai’s physical body being destroyed, leaving only a wisp of his soul adrift at Gui Yuan Sect, to his journey to Wan Yao Ridge to obtain the Eternal Soul Wood, to the interception by Tianji Venerable and Qingqiu’s injury, to the perilous journey through the Chaos Secret Realm to retrieve the Spirit Liquid—every step was arduous, every step was fraught with danger.

But he never gave up.

Qingqiu stood to the side, watching Kai in the jade pool, a slight smile playing on her lips.

The smile was faint, yet it carried an indescribable tenderness.

She had lived for tens of thousands of years, witnessed countless partings and deaths, seen countless geniuses rise and fall, but at this moment, she felt an indescribable sense of relief.

Relieved that Bai Qian had met him.

Relieved that he hadn’t died in the wasteland.

Relieved that he had returned.

Kai slowly opened his eyes.

A flicker of confusion crossed his purple eyes, not bewilderment, but the unease of waking from darkness and seeing the light again.

He looked down at his hands, clenched his fists, and felt the spiritual energy flowing within him.

The energy was rich and pure, even stronger than before his physical body was destroyed.

“Guiyuanzi,” his voice was hoarse, but every word was clear, “I’m back.”

Guiyuanzi knelt on the ground with a thud, his forehead hitting the earth heavily, sobbing uncontrollably. “Young Master… Young Master… This subordinate… This subordinate…”

He couldn’t continue. A thousand words stuck in his throat, turning into sobs.

Kai emerged from the jade pool, soaked to the bone, purple spiritual light swirling around him, evaporating the water into a thin white mist.

He walked to Guiyuanzi, bent down, and helped him up.

“Guiyuanzi, you’ve worked so hard. Without you these past few days, I might have died in the wasteland long ago. I will remember your kindness.”

Guiyuanzi shook his head, wiping away his tears forcefully. “Young Master, you flatter me. I did all this not just for you, but for the Daoist sect, for our patriarch, for the Guiyuan Sect. As long as you recover, I will sacrifice myself.”

Kai patted his shoulder, saying nothing more.

Some kindnesses don’t need to be spoken; they are enough to be remembered.

He turned to look at Qingqiu.

His reflection was in Qingqiu’s amber eyes.

“Your Majesty, thank you. Without you, I wouldn’t have obtained the Chaos Elixir, nor could I have reconstructed my physical body.”

Qingqiu shook his head, a slight smile playing on his lips. “No need to thank me. You are the one chosen by Bai Qian, so it is only right that I help you.”

She paused, then added, “Moreover, I haven’t come away empty-handed. Your new body has protective runes from the Daoist sect, the power of the Great Luo Golden Scripture. I have lived for tens of thousands of years, and this is the first time I have ever seen such a thing.”

Kai looked down at the golden patterns on his body and remained silent for a moment.

He closed his eyes and focused his inner energy on his dantian.

Purple chaotic energy slowly rotated within his dantian, forming a miniature galaxy.

The golden light of the Great Luo Golden Scripture floated above his dantian, illuminating the entire area and echoing the golden patterns on his new body.

He could feel that his physical body was several times stronger than before it was destroyed. The

chaotic energy was more condensed, his meridians were wider, and the protection of the Great Luo Golden Scripture was more solid.

However, when Kai circulated the Mind Concentration Technique, he suddenly frowned.

“Guiyuanzi, my cultivation… why is it only at the first level of the True Immortal Realm?”

Kai realized that although his physical body was stronger, his cultivation level had dropped considerably.

Gui Yuanzi was taken aback and quickly stepped forward to investigate.

He placed his palm on Kai’s dantian, channeling his spiritual power to probe within, carefully sensing the spiritual energy reserves within Kai’s body.

After a moment, his face turned deathly pale, and his body trembled slightly.

“Young Master’s cultivation… is indeed only at the first level of the True Immortal Realm. Although the spiritual energy in his dantian is pure, its quantity is extremely small, less than one-tenth of what it was before. This… how is this possible?”

Qingqiu frowned, quickly stepping forward to also examine Kai’s cultivation.

After a moment, she lowered her hand, her expression grave. “This shouldn’t be. The Eternal Soul Wood and the Chaos Spiritual Liquid are both supreme treasures of the heavens; the reconstructed body should be stronger than before. How could his cultivation have regressed?”

Kai closed his eyes, introspectively examining his dantian.

Purple chaotic power slowly rotated within his dantian, forming a faint vortex.

The golden light of the Great Luo Golden Scripture floated above his dantian, illuminating the entire area.

He carefully sensed the changes within his body. After a long while, he opened his eyes, gave a bitter smile, and his eyes were filled with helplessness.

“I understand. During the process of reshaping my physical body, the Great Luo Golden Scripture consumed a large amount of chaotic power to protect my soul. That consumed chaotic power was originally used to improve my cultivation. Now that it’s gone, my cultivation can only remain at the first level of the True Immortal Realm.”

His voice was calm, but Gui Yuanzi heard the unwillingness beneath that calm.

“Then what should we do?” Gui Yuanzi’s voice trembled, and his eyes were red. “Young Master, you finally reshaped your physical body. Are you going to be trapped at the first level of the True Immortal Realm forever?”

Gui Yuanzi stood there like a helpless child, trembling all over.

He had waited for this day for so long, paid so much, and was this how it was going to end?

Qingqiu remained silent for a long time.

She walked to the window and looked at the sky outside. Three blazing suns were slowly sinking below the horizon, dyeing the entire sky golden red.

She turned around and looked at Kai, a complex emotion flashing in her amber eyes.

“Perhaps… there’s another way.”

Gui Yuanzi’s eyes lit up instantly, and he almost jumped up. “Your Majesty, what way? Please tell me!” Qingqiu didn’t look at Guiyuanzi; she kept her eyes on Kai.

Her voice was soft, yet every word was crystal clear: “I’ve read in ancient texts that after the physical body is reconstructed, one needs to fuse bloodlines through dual cultivation to truly stabilize one’s cultivation. If the bloodline of the dual cultivation partner is strong enough, it can even help the reconstructed individual return to their peak.”

She paused, then continued, “Dual cultivation is not only about the union of the physical body, but also the fusion of bloodlines. A powerful bloodline can awaken the latent power within the reconstructed body and repair the origin consumed by the Great Luo Golden Scripture.

Kai possesses the bloodline of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, which is of the same origin as mine. If I cultivate with you, the fusion of our bloodlines might awaken the dormant chaotic power within you and help you restore your cultivation.”

Guiyuanzi was stunned. He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but then closed it again.

He knew Qingqiu was right; there were indeed such records in the ancient texts.

Moreover, Kai did indeed possess the bloodline of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, which Bai Qian had left for him.

“Guiyuanzi, you may leave now,” Qingqiu’s voice was calm, without a trace of emotion.

Gui Yuanzi hesitated for a moment, then bowed deeply to Kai and Qing Qiu before leaving the side hall and gently closing the door.

Only Kai and Qing Qiu remained in the side hall.

Qing Qiu walked to the warm jade bed, slowly removing her white dress to reveal her fair, jade-like skin.

Her figure was exquisite, with graceful curves, every inch exuding the charm of a mature woman.

Her long, ink-black hair hung down her back, the ends slightly curled, resembling a fox’s tail.

Kai walked up to her, looking at her.

“Your Majesty, this is not allowed…” Kai shook his head.

“Not allowed?” Qing Qiu smiled, a faint smile, yet carrying a reassuring gentleness.

“You say it’s not allowed, but your body is quite honest, isn’t it?”

Upon hearing this, Kai quickly lowered his head, realizing that his body had undergone a change.

He was a normal man; how could he not react when such a beautiful woman undressed before him?

“Your Majesty, I’ve already cultivated with your offspring; now, with you, wouldn’t that be…” Kai hesitated.

“I’ve lived for tens of thousands of years, what haven’t I seen? What haven’t I experienced? You carry the blood of my clan within you; helping you is helping myself.”

“Besides, this is the Heavenly Realm, not the mortal world bound by ethical constraints. And Bai Qian is merely a descendant of my bloodline, not my own child. What is there to fear?”

She reached out and gently placed her hand on Kai’s chest.

A white spiritual light surged from her palm, containing the primordial power of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, gentle yet powerful, like the warm sun in spring.

Kai felt a warm power flow into his body, intertwining with the chaotic power within him, slowly flowing through his meridians, repairing the damage caused during the reconstruction of his physical body.

He closed his eyes, pulled Qingqiu into his embrace, and then thrust himself into her fiercely, showing no mercy.

The two embraced tightly, their bloodlines merging.

The white spiritual light and the purple chaotic spiritual light intertwined, forming a giant cocoon of light in the side hall.

The cocoon completely enveloped them, isolating them from everything outside.

Within the cocoon of light, Kai’s cultivation began to slowly ascend.

True Immortal Realm, First Grade, Mid-Stage

, Late Stage, Peak. True Immortal Realm, Second Grade, Second Grade

, Mid-Stage, Late Stage, Peak. True Immortal Realm

, Third Grade, Third Grade, Mid-Stage, Late Stage, Peak.

True Immortal Realm, Fourth Grade, Fourth Grade, Mid-Stage, Late Stage, Peak. True Immortal Realm, Fifth Grade,

Fifth Grade, Mid-Stage, Late Stage, Peak. Only upon reaching the Sixth Grade of True Immortal Realm did the ascending power gradually subside.

Within Kai’s dantian, the vortex of chaotic power became even more solid than before, the purple light reaching its peak, like a miniature galaxy slowly rotating.

The golden light of the Great Luo Golden Scripture also became brighter, perfectly merging with the chaotic power, indistinguishable from it.

The cocoon of light dissipated, and Kai opened his eyes, his purple eyes now warmer and less cold.

His cultivation remained steadily at the Sixth Grade of True Immortal Realm, several minor realms higher than before his physical body was destroyed.

The chaotic power within his body was more condensed than before, his meridians wider, and the golden light of the Great Luo Golden Scripture brighter.

Qingqiu lay beside him, her face somewhat pale, but a satisfied smile played on her lips.

“It seems my bloodline is quite effective. Thirty-eight thousand years of cultivation has finally paid off.”

Kai turned to look at her, his eyes filled with gratitude. “Your Majesty, thank you. Without you, I don’t know how long it would have taken to recover.”

Qingqiu shook her head, extending a finger to gently touch Kai’s lips. “No need to thank me. You are the one chosen by Bai Qian, it’s only right that I help you. Besides…”

She paused, a sly smile flashing in her eyes, like a girl who had stolen honey.

“I didn’t lose out either. Cultivating with a mere sixth-grade True Immortal has purified my bloodline considerably, and I’ve even tasted the pleasures of being a woman. This deal is a win-win no matter how you look at it.”

Kai smiled.

He stood up and put on his robes.

The door to the side hall was pushed open, and Gui Yuanzi strode in.

The first thing he saw was the spiritual light surrounding Kai, an aura many times stronger than before.

“Young Master, your cultivation…”

“Sixth Rank True Immortal.” Kai’s voice was calm, but every word exuded confidence. “Several minor realms higher than before. The power of the Great Luo Golden Scripture has also recovered most of its strength.”

Gui Yuanzi knelt on the ground with a thud, tears streaming down his face.

This time, he didn’t hold back, letting the tears flow freely, soaking his clothes. “Heaven has eyes! Heaven has eyes! Ancestral Master, please bless us, Young Master has finally recovered!” The purple aura surrounding Kai slowly receded like a tide, each ray of light carrying an indescribable rhythm, as if the laws of heaven and earth were being rewoven within his body.

The golden runes of the Great Luo Golden Scripture gradually dimmed from the surface of his skin, but did not disappear; instead, they merged into the depths of his flesh and blood, becoming one with his meridians, bones, and internal organs.

That gold was no longer an external radiance, but had transformed into a part of the very essence of life—pale golden patterns appeared on the surface of his bones, like the inscriptions and imprints of ancient gods.

His cultivation level remained steadily at the sixth rank of the True Immortal Realm.

This was no ordinary sixth rank True Immortal Realm.

He clenched his fist slightly, a low, booming sound emanating from his knuckles. The sound was not loud, but it caused the air in the entire side hall to tremble.

The spiritual energy in the hall seemed to be drawn in by something, forming a visible vortex centered on him.

Chaotic power surged within his meridians, like an ancient ferocious beast lying in wait.

His physical body was several times stronger than before it was destroyed—every inch of his skin shimmered with a faint purple glow, and beneath his skin, faint golden runes flowed endlessly, a phenomenon resulting from the fusion of the Great Luo Golden Scripture and the power of chaos.

His meridians were as wide as great rivers, with spiritual energy surging within them, each breath inhaling and exhaling the immense power of heaven and earth.

The protective runes of the Great Luo Golden Scripture appeared and disappeared on his body like golden dragons, sometimes emerging, sometimes vanishing, carrying an ancient and solemn majesty.

He stood there, not deliberately releasing his pressure, but the aura he naturally exuded made the entire side hall feel heavier.

The jade inlaid on the pillars emitted a faint hum, as if unable to bear his presence.

The spiritual patterns on the ground were suppressed by his aura, and the originally bright patterns became dim and lackluster.

Gui Yuanzi knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face.

He trembled all over as he cried, unable to utter a complete sentence.

Now Kai had recovered, no longer a fragile soul, no longer a dim soul pearl, but a living, breathing person.

His green robe remained unchanged, his long sword at his side, his purple eyes reflecting the world as if everything was under his control.

Gui Yuanzi wanted to say something, but could only utter choked sobs.

He bowed his head, his forehead pressed against the cold jade brick, tears soaking the stone. He had waited too long for this day.

Qing Qiu stood to the side, her white robes as white as snow. She had

put her plain white palace dress back on, her long, ink-black hair cascading down her back.

Her face was still somewhat pale; Kai had been too fierce, almost overwhelming her.

But a smile played on her lips, a faint smile, yet one that radiated a deep, heartfelt joy.

She had lived for tens of thousands of years.

In those tens of thousands of years, she had witnessed countless geniuses rise to power.

Some were born emperors, some defied fate, and some achieved enlightenment and ascended to the upper realms in a single moment.

She had witnessed the birth of Golden Immortals, the fall of Great Luo Immortals, and the collapse and rebirth of heaven and earth.

But she had never seen anyone like Kai before.

It wasn’t because he had the highest talent—geniuses at the Seventeenth Heaven were as numerous as carp crossing a river.

It wasn’t because he had the strongest combat power—those above the third rank of Golden Immortal could easily crush him.

It was because he possessed something indescribable.

It was a Dao heart, an obsession, an unyielding stubbornness, and a fierce determination to rise again no matter how many times he was crushed.

“Worth it,” she thought.

She had given her tens of thousands of years of chastity to Kai, but Qingqiu felt it was worth it; this man was worthy of her giving her body.

Kai ignored their gazes and turned to walk towards the window.

The window in the side hall was extremely large, its frame made of thousand-year-old spirit wood, carved with patterns of ten thousand demons paying homage.

Outside the window, three blazing suns hung high.

One was golden, one silver-white, and one crimson, weaving their light into a magnificent scroll, pouring down upon the mountains of Ten Thousand Demon Ridge.

The entire valley was bathed in a warm golden-red hue, as if coated with divine light.

His gaze swept over the palaces and pavilions within the valley, over the winding spiritual veins of the mountains, over the cultivators practicing their exercises, and finally settled on the horizon.

There, dark clouds were gathering.

Not ordinary dark clouds, but black clouds formed from the condensation of bloodlust and killing intent.

Kai’s thoughts returned to the Sixteenth Heaven.

He didn’t know how Jiang Xuelan was doing now.

“Guiyuanzi,”

he spoke.

His voice was soft, his tone calm, like a casual question.

“Your subordinate is here.”

Guiyuanzi quickly stood up, wiping away the tears streaming down his face with his sleeve.

His knees were still trembling, whether from kneeling for too long or from excitement, it was unclear.

“I want to return to the Sixteenth Heaven.”

Six words, spoken lightly, yet they resounded like six thunderclaps in the side hall.

Guiyuanzi’s face instantly changed.

His previously flushed cheeks turned deathly pale, tears welling in his eyes. “Young Master, what did you say? Back to the Sixteenth Heaven?”

His voice rose involuntarily. “You’ve finally reconstructed your physical body, and your cultivation has only just recovered. How can you…”

“Precisely because you’ve recovered, you must go back,”

Kai interrupted him.

He turned around, his purple eyes looking at Gui Yuanzi.

Those eyes held no anger, no impatience, not even a ripple.

But it was this calmness that made Gui Yuanzi’s words catch in his throat.

“I have a female companion, Jiang Xuelan, still in the Sixteenth Heaven, perhaps still in the dungeon of the Divine Alliance.”

Kai’s voice paused, and when he uttered those three words, there was a subtle fluctuation that was difficult for others to detect. “How long has she been imprisoned? How much torture has she endured? Every day she waits for me. I can’t let her wait too long.”

Gui Yuanzi’s lips trembled.

He wanted to refute, to say, “You can go, but wait until you’re stronger,” to say, “We’ll bring more men,” to say, “The Seventeenth Heaven needs you more.”

But he said nothing.

Qing Qiu’s brows furrowed slightly.

Having lived for tens of thousands of years and witnessed too much life and death, she had long since developed a heart of stone.

But she still spoke: ” Kai, I know you are anxious.”

Her voice was soft yet clear, carrying the elegance unique to the Fox Queen, “But your current cultivation is only at the sixth rank of the True Immortal Realm. Although the Sixteenth Heaven is called the lower realm, it still possesses the foundation of a Golden Immortal. If you go alone, what if something goes wrong…”

“Your Majesty.”

Kai turned around, facing Qingqiu directly.

His gaze was frank and open, even carrying a faint smile.

“I am not alone.”

Qingqiu was taken aback.

Kai raised his right hand, palm open.

A wisp of purple chaotic fire danced in his palm. The flame was quiet, without a violent burning sound or blazing light.

It simply sat there, slowly dancing, yet it caused the temperature in the side hall to rise sharply.

The air distorted around the flame, and fine cracks appeared on the jade pillars, traces of the spatial structure being scorched.