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Chapter 396: The Shattered Immortal Path and the False Realm of Emperor Tribulations
🕑 Added 2024-12-02 07:20:10 +0000 UTCHearing Shen Wang's furious roar, Li Hao remained silent.
After a long pause, he spoke in a low voice, "If I teach you both the method, and one of you masters it faster than the other, what happens then?"
This question exposed the underlying tension between Shen Wang and Yuan Zu, forcing it into the open.
The two Supreme Saints exchanged a glance. Shen Wang's voice was cold as he said, "Ten years! Whoever comprehends it first must wait for the other. Only then will we proceed together to study the Immortal Gate."
Yuan Zu nodded slightly. "Agreed."
Li Hao, however, shook his head. "You both misunderstand the Sixth Ultimate Boundary. You've seen me use it, so you should know how greatly it amplifies one's power. Right now, your strengths are evenly matched. If one of you gains mastery over the Sixth Ultimate Boundary before the other, it will shatter that balance. Will you truly wait for each other then?"
What a cunning boy... Yuan Zu thought to himself.
Li Hao had cleverly redirected the potential conflict onto Yuan Zu and Shen Wang.
The mysterious Sixth Ultimate Boundary's potential power boost was unclear to the two Saints, but they had witnessed the surge in Li Hao's aura when he used it. Moreover, they couldn't discern whether he had held back or hidden further capabilities.
The atmosphere grew heavy with silence as both Shen Wang and Yuan Zu considered the implications. If the power imbalance was too great, they both knew they would not wait for the other.
Li Hao, meanwhile, stood calmly by the door, his expression neutral, as though waiting for their decision.
"Clever boy," Shen Wang finally said, his icy eyes fixed on Li Hao. "You're trying to exploit the cracks in our alliance to slip away. It's a good tactic, but the issue you raise has a solution. Just teach us the method—we'll handle the rest."
Yuan Zu interjected, "Let's seal this place for twenty years. Neither of us can return until then. That way, whoever comprehends the Sixth Ultimate Boundary first won't be able to act on their own. If the other can't achieve mastery in twenty years... well, they'll have to accept their fate."
"Fine!" Shen Wang agreed immediately.
To Li Hao's dismay, they had resolved the issue with remarkable speed. Both were confident in their ability to master the Sixth Ultimate Boundary within twenty years. If not in ten, then surely in twenty.
After all, these two figures were legends—Yuan Zu, the pioneer of sainthood through extreme Dao, and Shen Wang, the progenitor of the Divine Clan who had ruled eras with an iron fist.
Li Hao sighed internally. Reaching sainthood had proven these two were anything but simple-minded, and their swift resolution left him with little room to maneuver.
After a moment of silence, Li Hao sent a sound transmission to Yuan Zu:
"Yuan Zu, let's strike a deal. I'll give you the true method and feed Shen Wang a fake one. He'll never succeed in twenty years. But once I teach you, you must protect my life. How about it?"
Yuan Zu's expression remained calm, betraying no reaction. His gaze didn't waver.
What a cunning boy, Yuan Zu thought, a faint smile forming in his heart. He couldn't help but admire Li Hao's quick thinking. To devise such a plan in this desperate situation spoke volumes about his intelligence and adaptability.
But admiration didn't mean agreement.
"Very well. I will protect you," Yuan Zu replied via sound transmission.
Li Hao smiled faintly. Immediately after, he sent an identical sound transmission to Shen Wang, only reversing the roles.
Shen Wang's face also showed no change. His cold voice echoed back in Li Hao's mind:
"Agreed."
Seeing both Saints accept his offer, Li Hao couldn't help but sigh inwardly. On the surface, however, he smiled broadly and said aloud:
"To cultivate the Sixth Ultimate Boundary, one must comprehend the essence of heaven and earth. As I've mentioned before, it's about striving without striving—only by not contending can one be truly invincible. The key lies in observing the secrets of all creation."
His explanation was vague and philosophical. While appearing to pass on the method, he actually gave them completely fabricated instructions.
Afterward, he transmitted separate sets of similarly false techniques to Yuan Zu and Shen Wang.
When he finished, both Saints' expressions relaxed slightly. They exchanged a glance, and Yuan Zu said softly:
"Hao Tian, you are the smartest person I've encountered since the ancient era."
"Indeed," Shen Wang added, though his tone remained cold. "Unfortunately, smart people tend to die young. It's time for you to rest in peace."
Li Hao's expression froze in shock. "Shen Wang, you—"
"Though you're clever, we're not so foolish as to be toyed with. The moment you started transmitting techniques, we exchanged notes. We knew you'd try to play us against each other."
Shen Wang's voice was icy as he continued, "If you could send me a transmission, it stands to reason that you could do the same to Yuan Zu."
"Correct," Yuan Zu confirmed.
"But you two are enemies..." Li Hao stammered, his face filled with disbelief.
Yuan Zu sighed. "We are. But no one understands an enemy better than a long-time rival."
"Now, at least you can die knowing the truth," Shen Wang sneered as divine flames erupted around him. His Destruction Saint Domain appeared, bearing down on Li Hao like a collapsing mountain.
"Patriarch!"
A sudden shout came from the rift near the door.
Li Hao turned his head sharply. A figure bathed in azure-blue light had appeared—it was Ying Xiaoxiao.
She had arrived just in time to witness Shen Wang's attack. Her face paled with alarm, and she rushed forward in panic.
Li Hao glanced at her briefly but had no time to respond. His Eternal Dao Domain flared to life as his body moved at full speed toward the gap in the door.
In his Immortal Transformation State, much of his body had already merged with the heavens. What others saw as his "form" was merely a part of him; the rest was seamlessly flowing through the gap in the door.
Boom!
The Eternal Dao Domain shattered as the destructive force of Shen Wang's Saint Domain bore down, crushing everything in its path like an unstoppable landslide.
"What are you doing?!" Yuan Zu shouted, his face darkening as he noticed Li Hao's actions.
Li Hao's gaze turned cold. "I'm sorry. I never trusted either of you to begin with."
"His power is vanishing! He's found a way to enter the door!" Shen Wang roared as he realized Li Hao's aura was slipping through the gap. His expression twisted with fury. Blazing with divine light, he surged toward Li Hao.
Yuan Zu also erupted with a terrifying aura, revealing the full extent of his power. His figure blurred as he seemed to slice through space itself, appearing directly in front of Li Hao. The Heaven-Suppressing Whip lashed out at Li Hao's form, crackling with lethal energy.
With a thunderous crack, Li Hao's body was struck by the Heaven-Suppressing Whip, shattering instantly.
Though his body, strengthened by consuming Huntian's demonic form, had reached a level comparable to a Five-Tribulation Emperor Weapon, it was still no match for the devastating power of the whip and disintegrated on the spot.
However, as his body shattered, a portion of it had already slipped through the gap in the door.
"Farewell... I'll be back," Li Hao's voice echoed faintly as his presence gradually dissipated, leaving behind only a lingering resonance.
Shen Wang reached the door, sensing that Li Hao's aura had been obliterated by the Heaven-Suppressing Whip, reduced to fragments. Yet, he and Yuan Zu could both detect that a part of Li Hao's body had already passed through the door. While gravely injured, Li Hao was far from dead—and he had stepped onto the Immortal God Path.
"Damn it!" Shen Wang bellowed, his rage boiling over at the realization that he'd been played.
"He won't destroy the Immortal Path, will he?" Yuan Zu's face turned ashen. This path was the culmination of countless epochs of hope. The mere possibility of Li Hao severing it sent a chill through him. It was a despair he couldn't bear to confront.
Shen Wang's expression darkened, his anger nearly tangible. He didn't respond to Yuan Zu, but the fear in his heart mirrored his rival's.
At that moment, both of them understood the bitter truth: Li Hao had exploited their tension to buy time. First, by sowing seeds of doubt about who would master the Sixth Ultimate Boundary first, and then by stalling with his supposed teachings. All the while, he had been silently transferring his body into the door.
Li Hao had never intended to rely on them to survive. Everything had been a calculated distraction to occupy their focus.
What they thought was clever maneuvering had been nothing but misdirection. They had been two moves behind, believing they had seen through Li Hao's game, only to find out they were still playing on his terms.
"Hao Tian..."
Ying Xiaoxiao, standing near the rift, looked on in shock. Understanding dawned on her as to what had happened, leaving her stunned. A mix of relief and unease flooded her heart as she realized that her patriarch had been thoroughly outmaneuvered.
Behind her, Yuan Zu's expression darkened further. It was rare for him to experience such emotional turmoil, even over millennia. For the first time in an eternity, he felt a deep pang of regret for not having killed Li Hao earlier.
Even without the method to cultivate the Sixth Ultimate Boundary, he believed he could eventually comprehend it with enough time. But now, if the Immortal Path was severed by Li Hao, all hope would be lost.
Shen Wang clenched his fist, raising it to strike the door in fury, but stopped himself, remembering the destructive backlash it had unleashed earlier. He swallowed his anger, though the effort only made it simmer more intensely.
"Damn it all!!" he roared, stomping so hard that the surrounding starry void seemed to quiver.
In the distance, Long Sheng, still covered in blood-red light, smirked mockingly. Though the turn of events was satisfying to him, thoughts of Li Hao soured his mood. Why hadn't all these people perished together? Why hadn't they annihilated each other?
At that moment, a wave of Saintly auras rapidly approached.
Behind Ying Xiaoxiao, more and more Saints arrived, gathering at the scene.
"What's going on here?"
"This... a starry void?"
"And that door..."
The newly arrived Saints stared in awe at the strange phenomenon before them. As they passed through the rift behind the sculpture, they entered the starry expanse and were immediately struck by the towering door in the distance. Their shock soon gave way to fervent excitement.
"The Immortal God Path—it's real!"
"The aura coming from that door... I've never sensed anything like it."
"With Yuan Zu and Shen Wang here, it seems we're in the right place."
Among the gathering Saints were familiar faces: the Sword Saint, the Sword Master, the Literary Saint, and others. The Sword Master stepped forward, surveying his surroundings with a hint of awe. His gaze soon fell on the door, and its immense presence drew his focus.
As murmurs of excitement swirled among the crowd, his brows furrowed slightly—Li Hao was nowhere to be seen.
In the crowd, several Supreme Saints made their appearance, including the Ming Saint and the Saint of the Mohist School, who joined the growing assembly.
As more Saints arrived, the expressions on Yuan Zu's and Shen Wang's faces grew ever darker.
"So this is the Immortal God Path?"
The Ming Saint studied the door, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. Turning to Yuan Zu, he asked, "What's so peculiar about this door that the two of you hesitate to approach it?"
He refrained from acting rashly, sensing that something was amiss. With both Yuan Zu and Shen Wang lingering here, it was evident that the door posed some kind of challenge.
The other Saints quieted at his words, their gazes shifting to Yuan Zu and Shen Wang. Doubt crept into their hearts—was there a hidden danger they weren't aware of?
Yuan Zu and Shen Wang remained silent, their expressions grim. Neither had the desire to explain.
Seeing their hesitation, Long Sheng sneered. "This door cannot be touched unless one has mastered the Sixth Ultimate Boundary. Earlier, Hao Tian already managed to squeeze half his body through. Don't get your hopes up too soon—he's ruthless enough to sever the Immortal Path entirely. If that happens, none of us will ever step foot on it again."
The crowd froze, shock rippling through their ranks. Then, realization dawned, and panic spread.
The Saint of the Mohist School, the Ming Saint, and others stood frozen, their gazes shifting to Yuan Zu and Shen Wang. Seeing their dark expressions, they knew Long Sheng's words were not baseless.
"How could this happen...?"
The Ming Saint's voice wavered as he stared at Yuan Zu and Shen Wang, disbelief clouding his face. How had they allowed Hao Tian to slip through right under their noses?
Had they sent Hao Tian ahead as a scout? Or had their rivalry given him the opening he needed?
The Saint of the Mohist School and the Medical Saint exchanged grim looks. After all this effort to locate the Immortal Path, could it truly be severed so easily? Their only hope now rested on Hao Tian's willingness to leave the path open for others.
The Sword Master listened to Long Sheng, his expression shifting subtly. His gaze returned to the door, and a faint sense of relief washed over him. Not seeing Huntian present, he had feared the worst, but it seemed Li Hao was still alive.
"There's no need to worry," the Sword Master said, breaking the tense silence. "Hao Tian has a calm and detached temperament. If the Immortal Path is passable, he's likely to return and lead us forward. He wouldn't burn the bridge behind him."
The crowd turned to him, many aware of the connection between the Sword Master and Li Hao. Some were skeptical, however, wondering if the Sword Master's faith in Li Hao was born of deep friendship or naive optimism.
Long Sheng burst into laughter, his voice dripping with scorn. "You're far too simple-minded. Under normal circumstances, maybe you'd be right. But just now, Hao Tian provoked their killing intent and was forced through that door. Do you really think he'll leave the Immortal Path intact? If we ever see him again, it'll be as an Immortal God descending to exact his vengeance!"
The gathered Saints stood frozen in shock, their gazes shifting toward Yuan Zu and Shen Wang.
"Chased into the door by you?"
If that was true, Li Hao would undoubtedly hold a grudge.
The Ming Saint and Mo Saint exchanged glances of understanding. It was now clear why Yuan Zu and Shen Wang looked so grim—despite their presence, Li Hao had managed to slip through first. So, this was what had transpired.
"You two..." Mo Saint began, shaking his head with a sigh.
The Ming Saint frowned. "You joined forces and couldn't stop him? With your combined power, you should've been able to kill him in an instant."
Shen Wang shot him a cold glance before turning his gaze to Long Sheng. His eyes gleamed with killing intent. "I was too preoccupied to deal with you before. You've been talking far too much. Let's see what curse makes you spew so much nonsense!"
As he spoke, Shen Wang launched himself toward Long Sheng.
Long Sheng's expression changed drastically, and he shouted in anger, "What's wrong with you? It's your fault Hao Tian got away! If it weren't for you two, maybe the Immortal God Path wouldn't be at risk of being severed!"
His earlier outburst had been fueled by agitation, an attempt to shift the group's animosity onto Yuan Zu and Shen Wang. Had it not been for the strange influence of the corrupted blood within him, he would never have spoken so recklessly under normal circumstances.
"Die!"
Shen Wang's killing intent exploded as he clashed with Long Sheng. His Destruction Saint Domain descended, and with one sword strike, Long Sheng's body was severed, displaying Shen Wang's overwhelming power.
Despite Long Sheng being a Supreme Saint, he was immediately overpowered and forced into retreat. The gathered Saints were shocked by the scene, instinctively stepping back—none daring to intervene.
Though Yuan Zu had labeled Shen Wang as part of the demonic race, such claims only swayed the masses. With Yuan Zu standing idly by, no one among the Saints was willing to provoke Shen Wang now.
The crowd's gaze drifted toward Yuan Zu, who seemed to have lost his will to fight. Standing pale-faced and despondent in front of the door, he looked as though he'd been hollowed out. The Saints were stunned by this sight.
For countless ages, Yuan Zu had always exuded an air of serenity, as though nothing in the world could affect him. Yet now, he seemed aged, as if the once-mighty figure atop the heavens had finally begun to crumble.
In the crowd, Xiao Tianyu watched his master with shock. Never had he seen Yuan Zu so distraught. He wanted to cry out, but he bit his tongue, holding himself back.
"Yuan Zu, what do we do now? And what about Shen Wang?" Ming Saint sent a sound transmission to Yuan Zu.
As one of the Supreme Saints who had participated in the campaign against Shen Wang in the past, the Ming Saint had refrained from joining Yuan Zu earlier, hoping the two might counterbalance each other. But with the Immortal Path potentially severed, Shen Wang was becoming a dire threat. If Yuan Zu didn't act, Shen Wang could very well hunt down each Supreme Saint one by one, and no one could stop him.
Yet Yuan Zu didn't react to the Ming Saint's transmission. He stood unmoving, staring at the door in silence.
In the distance, amidst the thunderous sounds of combat, Long Sheng let out a pained howl as he fled through the rift, his bloodied light dimmed considerably. His consciousness appeared to have cleared somewhat, but he chose to retreat without hesitation.
Shen Wang didn't pursue him. Though Li Hao had entered the door, Shen Wang still wanted to remain here, hoping to discern any further changes.
"Do you think the unchanging aura inside the door means the Immortal Path hasn't been severed yet?" Yuan Zu suddenly broke the silence, his voice calm but tinged with a faint hope.
The Saints froze, turning their attention to the door.
Indeed, the ethereal and boundless energy emanating from the door had not wavered.
The Medical Saint's eyes flickered as she spoke. "Everyone, all the Supreme Saints of the heavens are gathered here. Why don't we pool our knowledge to find a way to unlock this door? With our combined strength, we might discover the key to its secrets."
Yuan Zu's eyes lit up at her suggestion.
Indeed, while he was the oldest Saint, even he couldn't claim to know everything. The Saints gathered here had all acquired unique fortunes from forbidden grounds, ruins, or other miraculous encounters. It was possible that some of their knowledge might correspond to the mechanisms of the door.
To become a Saint was to possess great fortune and rare secrets—surely, their collective insights could unveil a solution.
"Exactly," Yuan Zu said quickly. "Before Hao Tian can destroy the Immortal Path, we must find a way through. Once the door is opened, we can all walk the path together."
The Saints exchanged glances, realizing there was little else they could do.
Shen Wang said nothing. Sitting off to the side, he began meditating to heal the damage the door had inflicted on his Saint Domain.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the door, Li Hao emerged into a dark passageway after slipping through the gap.
The tunnel was pitch-black, and his divine sense was suppressed by the overwhelming darkness, unable to perceive his surroundings.
Unable to discern direction, he moved forward cautiously.
The aura of immortal energy grew denser with each step, but at the same time, whispers of malice echoed around him. The chilling voices sought to envelop him, filling the air with an oppressive coldness.
Li Hao pressed forward for what felt like an eternity before finally seeing a faint light ahead.
Emerging from the passage, his senses returned, allowing him to take in his surroundings.
He now stood on an ancient, mist-shrouded path flanked by towering peaks. It seemed like he was in a vast canyon, surrounded by shadowy cliffs.
Turning to look back, he realized the "path" he had traversed wasn't a path at all—it was the door.
The intricate patterns etched onto its surface were identical to the door on the other side. The gap was still present, just as before.
The dark passage he had walked through must have been the internal void within the door's gap.
Li Hao froze momentarily before collecting himself. Without hesitation, he began channeling his power to reform his physical body.
Previously, his Immortal Transformation State had dispersed his form into the environment. While a portion of his body had been destroyed by Yuan Zu and Shen Wang, a fraction had successfully made it through. Still, his strength had diminished significantly.
Surveying the gray, desolate canyon ahead, unease crept into Li Hao's heart. This wasn't the verdant, vibrant Immortal God World he had imagined. Instead, it felt barren and cold, almost lifeless.
After a moment's thought, he decided not to venture further. Sitting cross-legged before the door, he entered his Immortal Transformation State once again. Activating the Stellar Veins of the Heavens, he began drawing in power to heal.
As his body regenerated, he noticed something unusual.
The energy pouring into him was vast, far beyond anything he had absorbed before. His injuries were healing at an unprecedented rate, and the sheer power flowing through his Stellar Veins seemed almost boundless.
"This star power..."
Li Hao couldn't help but look up at the hazy mist above. Despite its veil obscuring his view, a few radiant stars pierced through, their brilliance undiminished.
Could those be... real stars?
He was momentarily dazed, sensing that the Zhutian Xingchen Mai (Stellar Veins of the Heavens) seemed to be manifesting its true potential here.
It wasn't long before his energy surged again, and his injuries fully healed.
Li Hao realized that the Stellar Veins of the Heavens now required only a tenth of the effort to achieve the effects it had previously only managed at full power.
Furthermore, the energy diffused in the air was exceptionally pure. Once absorbed into his body, it seamlessly integrated, carrying an ethereal, grand power—lightweight yet immensely potent.
Under this influence, his Dao Bones and Divine Blood seemed to undergo subtle changes.
Li Hao had no doubt—remaining here for any length of time would certainly strengthen his physical body, making it even more fearsome.
"So this is where the Immortals and Gods reside..."
His gaze flickered with a mixture of awe and understanding. He mused that even an ordinary cultivator, just by existing here—eating, sleeping, breathing—would experience immense enhancements to their physique.
However, beyond the dense energy saturating the area, the ever-present whispers of malice were disconcerting. A common warrior in this place would have likely succumbed to madness by now.
"This oppressive aura... It's reminiscent of Long Sheng's state earlier. Could that eerie blood he absorbed originate from here?"
His eyes sharpened as he peered into the canyon ahead, exercising greater caution.
Activating his Yuan Shen, he extended his divine sense outward. Yet it encountered significant resistance. The very pure energy he had absorbed now acted as countless dust-like particles in the void, obstructing his perception. He could only probe a distance of roughly ten miles ahead.
Within this range, Li Hao observed scattered black rocks along the path, accompanied by numerous skeletons and broken weapons strewn across the ground.
"This place… seems to have been a battlefield?"
Stunned, he approached one of the skeletal remains.
The skeleton had long since decayed into stark white bones. Its position suggested it had fallen against a black stone, its skull dislodged, and one arm and a leg missing. Its ribcage was fractured in multiple places, while its remaining hand tightly gripped a battle blade.
The blade had lost its luster, its edge dulled and curled. Only tattered remnants of silk cloth clung to the skeletal remains, fluttering faintly in the canyon's fierce winds.
Kneeling down, Li Hao examined the bones closely, picking up a fragment. To his surprise, it was incredibly heavy, akin to lifting a dense lump of iron.
A single finger-length bone fragment weighed tens of thousands of catties!
Shocked, Li Hao scrutinized it further, noticing fine silvery-white patterns etched onto the bone. These weren't natural bone structures—they were Dao Marks.
"Dao imprinted onto the bones… This must be Dao Bones!"
His expression darkened. His own bones bore similar marks, as Dao Bones were the prerequisite for mastering the Wendao Extreme Realm. Could the owner of these remains have once reached the Wendao Extreme Realm as well?
In the myriad heavens, even Saints rarely attained the Wendao Extreme Realm. Yet here was a random skeletal fragment, casually possessing such traits.
Unfortunately, the flesh had long since rotted away. Though the bone remained heavy, Li Hao applied a slight amount of pressure, and it crumbled to dust.
"It seems they've been dead for a very, very long time..."
Thoughts of Yuan Zu surfaced. During the Primordial Era when Yuan Zu emerged, the Immortals and Gods were already extinct.
Could these skeletons belong to beings from that ancient time?
If so, the fact that these bones persisted at all was horrifying.
Even Saints who lived for eons struggled to survive until the present day. And yet, these bones hadn't fully decayed despite the passage of countless ages.
A somber weight pressed upon Li Hao's heart. The owner of this skeletal fragment was likely one of the fabled Immortals or Gods.
And they had perished here.
Moreover, in the ten-mile radius Li Hao had probed, there were at least a dozen more such skeletons.
"It seems there were many Immortals and Gods. But even they weren't exempt from conflict..."
Li Hao murmured to himself.
Even beings who transcended Saints, with lifespans as vast as the heavens themselves, were locked in battles. Perhaps it was simply the essence of life—consuming and being consumed.
With a heavy heart, Li Hao picked up the blade clutched in the skeletal hand. It was even heavier than the bone, weighing a million catties, though devoid of any energy. It felt like a chunk of inert material, albeit incredibly dense and compact.
Recalling the fragment, Li Hao took it out and ran it along the blade's surface.
Surprisingly, the fragment only managed to leave a shallow gouge on the blade's edge, failing to sever it completely.
The "unbreakable" fragment had met resistance for the first time.
Li Hao's eyes flickered with intrigue. He stored the blade in his Spatial World, then resumed his journey forward.
Soon, he encountered another skeleton resting against a boulder, as though it had died while seated.
On its shoulder bone lay a dusty jade pendant, dull and covered in grime. Its tattered garments clung to its bony frame, caught on sharp protrusions, swaying in the wind.
This skeleton appeared to be female.
In life, she might have been stunningly beautiful; in death, she was nothing more than a grim skeleton.
Li Hao silently collected the remnants around her—a broken sword and a necklace draped over her collarbone. These objects were undoubtedly treasures in their prime, yet now they lacked luster and power, much like their deceased owner, silenced and forgotten in this desolate canyon.
He stored the relics carefully and pressed onward.
Every few paces revealed more skeletal remains, many scattered and incomplete.
In addition to bones, Li Hao discovered fragments of a bronze war chariot. The chariot was adorned with carvings of ancient, ferocious beasts. Their grotesque forms radiated an overwhelming sense of might, even in their damaged state.
Li Hao, feeling like a scavenger, stored the chariot in his Spatial World before continuing deeper into the canyon.
The vast expanse of the canyon was littered with white bones, stretching endlessly ahead.
Suddenly, Li Hao froze. In his extended perception ten miles away, he spotted a collection of skeletal remains surrounding an enormous, monstrous skeleton.
The humanoid skeletons he had encountered so far were striking, but this gigantic skeletal beast was entirely different. Its massive frame was covered in bone spines, with elongated talons sharp as scythes. Its presence alone exuded a chilling ferocity.
"A beast that fought against the Immortals and Gods? Or perhaps a mount enslaved by them?"
Li Hao's gaze darkened as he approached the colossal skeleton cautiously.
When he reached the remains, he meticulously examined the scene. The traces in the surrounding terrain revealed the truth—this beast had died locked in combat with the Immortals and Gods whose bones surrounded it.
"A monstrous beast capable of rivaling Immortals and Gods... Could it have been a demon that reached their level?"
Pondering this, Li Hao searched the ground and collected scattered fragments of broken weapons. He stored them and lingered briefly before pressing onward.
As Li Hao ventured deeper into the canyon, the number of skeletal remains increased dramatically.
He continuously collected scattered weapon fragments and had now picked up four bronze war chariots.
After traveling several hundred miles, the terrain gradually steepened. At the end of the canyon, it seemed he was nearing an exit.
A sense of unease welled up in Li Hao's heart. He couldn't shake the feeling that the world beyond the canyon might be even more harrowing than what he had seen so far.
With a heavy heart, he continued forward.
Finally, after climbing the increasingly steep incline, Li Hao stepped out of the canyon.
At the canyon's exit, a bronze war chariot was parked, its tracks leading to a nearby skeletal figure.
The white skeleton leaned against the chariot's wheel, clutching an ancient sword in its arms. Compared to the other remains he had encountered, this skeleton was astonishingly intact.
Li Hao's casual glance suddenly turned sharp. He felt as though the hollow eye sockets of the skeleton were staring back at him.
The sensation sent shivers down his spine. It was as if this skeleton were alive!
His gaze shifted to the ancient sword in the skeleton's arms. Unlike the broken weapons he had seen thus far, this sword retained its Dao Marks. Though the blade was dull and chipped, faint traces of a powerful aura emanated from it.
Li Hao hesitated, his mind racing as he analyzed the situation, choosing not to approach recklessly.
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through, causing the skeleton to move.
"Hmm?"
Li Hao watched closely. The skeleton's jawbone seemed to tremble slightly.
Just as he doubted his own perception, the skeleton abruptly sat upright. Its head turned to face Li Hao, and two deep, silver lights ignited within its hollow eye sockets.
"Countless ages have passed... and yet someone has made it here. Hmm? A faint trace of Immortal Qi... is it the Sixth Extreme Realm?"
A low, ancient murmur echoed, filled with a timeless resonance.
Li Hao couldn't understand the language, yet he inexplicably grasped its meaning.
His heart pounded wildly in his chest. After encountering so many lifeless skeletons, the realization that this one was still alive left him stunned.
As Li Hao instinctively condensed his energy, readying his defenses, the skeleton seemed to notice his actions. Blood abruptly surged from its bones, forming veins and muscles that swiftly covered its skeletal frame.
Before long, the flesh and blood coalesced into the form of a middle-aged man, with long, disheveled hair cascading from his head.
Simultaneously, a tattered suit of armor materialized on the man, giving him the appearance of a weathered battlefield warrior.
The moment the armor appeared, so too did an immense and overwhelming aura. Li Hao felt his heart thud violently—this presence seemed to press down on the entire world, its sheer weight rendering him breathless.
The man sat upright, leaning against the war chariot, his gaze detached yet razor-sharp. It felt as though the entire universe's energy had condensed around him.
"Senior..."
Li Hao's voice trembled. The man's very existence seemed enough to extinguish his life with a mere thought.
He hadn't expected to encounter such a terrifying figure the moment he entered the Immortal and Divine World. Was this a living Immortal God?
While Li Hao was filled with dread, the man suddenly cracked a faint smile. The smile was stiff, as though his facial muscles had gone unused for countless years.
"Don't be nervous. You came from that ancient path, didn't you? So, you must have come from the False Realm of Emperor Calamity."
The middle-aged warrior spoke with a crooked smile.
Li Hao noticed the absence of malice in his tone, allowing the tension in his body to ease slightly. He asked cautiously, "False Realm of Emperor Calamity?"
Could he mean the Land of Saints?
The man laughed faintly and continued, "Of course, one born in that realm wouldn't know its true name. You must have come through the Xuanpin Gate, correct? Earlier, while I was in a state of slumber, something tried to breach the gate. Though I stopped it in time, a crack still formed. I knew that crack would eventually let someone through..."
"Xuanpin Gate?"
Li Hao's thoughts turned to the mysterious gate he had passed through.
He asked, "Senior, you're correct. I did come from there. May I know your name? Is this truly the Immortal and Divine World?"
"The Immortal and Divine World... Heh."
The middle-aged man chuckled bitterly. "No need for names. I'm merely a nameless soldier who served under the Celestial Emperor Tianyang. If you managed to leave the False Realm of Emperor Calamity, you must be an extraordinary genius."
As he spoke, the man's gaze scrutinized Li Hao, revealing an expression of admiration. "All the extreme realms mastered, even the Saint's Extreme Realm already showing signs of perfection... Impressive!"
Li Hao felt a chill course through his body. With just one glance, this man had seen through him entirely.
Even the power of the Three Saints, which Li Hao had painstakingly concealed, had been detected. The man's insight was terrifying!
"Such talent... If you had been in the True Realm of the past, you would have been the pride of any great sect. What a pity..."
The man sighed with a hint of regret before addressing Li Hao again.
"Before those things come, you should hurry back. Don't pursue Immortals or Gods. Even if you achieve immortality, what's the point? It's just the heaven and earth as seen from the bottom of a well. Besides, the True Realm today is no longer what it once was..."
His tone carried both advice and resignation.
Li Hao smiled bitterly and replied, "Senior, returning isn't an option for me right now. As for immortality and gods, I'm not particularly interested at the moment. After all, I've still got countless years to live. But the path back is sealed. For now, I can only remain here."
"Oh?"
The man's gaze sharpened as he focused intently on Li Hao. Two silvery beams flashed in his eyes, then quickly receded, replaced by mild astonishment.
"Your soul's lifespan is less than a single sixty-year cycle?"
Once again, Li Hao felt as though his deepest secrets had been laid bare, and he could do nothing to prevent it.
"It seems I underestimated you."
The man's tone was tinged with awe. It had been eons since he had encountered such a prodigy.
"You say you were forced here. Were you being pursued? With such talent, I wouldn't be surprised if others envied you. But given your state, the only way you could be killed would be if someone in the False Realm had already reached its peak..."
He seemed to be muttering to himself, "Well, after so many years, the False Realm should have produced a figure nearing their limit."
Li Hao wasn't sure what the man meant by "peak," but he assumed it referred to something close to the Saint's Extreme Realm.
Still, the man seemed to misunderstand the situation. No one like that had emerged in the Land of Saints—unless figures like Shen Wang and Yuan Zu combined their might.
"In any case, you should leave. Staying here will only lead to your death, and not even reincarnation will save you."
The man's voice was grave.
Li Hao asked cautiously, "Senior, what exactly happened here?"
"A calamity," the man said softly. "A disaster unlike any other."
As though reminiscing, he lowered his head and rummaged through his armor before letting out a rueful laugh.
"I've been guarding this place for so long that my Immortal artifacts and elixirs are all used up. Otherwise, I could've given you an Immortal Pill to protect yourself."
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