Chapter 1002: Tempest Rising

A single tribulation of thunder had far-reaching consequences, shaking the ancient inhabitants of the Immortal Ancient Land.

Countless years had passed—who would willingly walk the path of oblivion? Who would resign themselves to sighing under the shadow of death? No one wished to be bound by curses; all yearned for freedom and light.

Now, with such an opportunity laid before them, the various clans naturally swarmed forth!

Shi Hao became the center of attention, surrounded by throngs of people, watched from all directions.

Of course, not every clan sought genuine friendship with him—many merely feigned goodwill, all for the sake of obtaining the Thunder Tribulation Liquid.

For in their hearts, each clan had its own calculations. If the Immortal Ancient Ruins truly cracked open and connected with the outside world, the great sects from beyond would surely storm in, bringing immense trouble.

They had already learned that Shi Hao was locked in a deadly feud with certain orthodoxies from the outside world—an enmity that would only end in death.

Thus, while some clans’ Heavenly Gods appeared friendly on the surface, no one could predict their actions at the critical moment.

Of course, some major clans had truly bound themselves to Shi Hao’s cause, believing in his future. They sought to rescue their kin and were convinced that as long as he lived, he could achieve anything.

This was also a gamble!

If the sect masters from the outside world invaded, violent conflict would erupt. But if they could protect Shi Hao, the rewards in the future would be unimaginably vast.

Not to mention the increasingly potent Thunder Tribulation Liquid—Shi Hao himself was worth protecting. With three strands of immortal qi swirling around him, who could rival him if he ascended to the rank of sect master?

Shi Hao was well aware that some were merely fishing in troubled waters. Though surrounded by many powerful Heavenly Gods, few were truly his allies.

A faint smile played on his lips as he declared, “Whoever brings me the heads of Ma Yue and Mo Luo, I will grant the remaining Thunder Tribulation Liquid to their clans.”

Though he had already distributed much of the liquid, he still held a portion in reserve, having favored the Eight-Armed Soul Clan and the Beauty Clan. The rest would go to those who truly exerted themselves.

If they wanted the Thunder Tribulation Liquid, they had to show sincerity!

Some had already pursued the two Heavenly Gods, but most had returned, their efforts more for show than substance.

Shi Hao remembered those who had truly given chase.

Now, with this bait cast, some hesitated, while others wasted no time and resumed the hunt without delay.

The Centaur Clan and the Ancient Demon Clan paled, their hearts unsettled, faces twisted in conflict.

Those were their Heavenly Gods—they did not wish to see them die.

Yet, within these clans, some secretly cursed the two. Had Ma Yue and Mo Luo not been so greedy, ambushing Shi Hao to steal his immortal seed, would things have come to this?

This day, the Immortal Ancient Land was in turmoil!

Shi Hao traveled to Soul Island, now standing firmly with the Eight-Armed Soul Clan.

“Fellow Daoists, are you truly content? An outsider dares to dictate to us, the descendants of Immortal Ancient, wielding his Thunder Tribulation Liquid as leverage to command the clans. How can we submit to his whims?”

That day, someone visited the clans, stirring them to unite against Shi Hao.

Clearly, these were his enemies—those who had clashed violently with him before, such as the descendants of the Seven Heavenly Gods he had slain.

Others, like the Silver-Blooded Demon Tree Clan, could never obtain the Thunder Tribulation Liquid from him. Thus, they did everything to sow discord, fanning the flames of hatred against “Huang.”

Meanwhile, Ma Yue and Mo Luo secretly visited ancient lands, hoping to awaken slumbering sect masters and draw them into the fray.

“Huang still possesses Thunder Tribulation Liquid. Seize him, and you can break the curse, ensuring your clan’s prosperity.”

They were blunt, declaring that the curse could now be lifted.

“But Huang is too close to the Beauty Clan and the Eight-Armed Soul Clan. He obeys their commands. We cannot rely on them to yield—we must take him by force!”

Ma Yue and Mo Luo targeted ancient lands hostile to the Eight-Armed Soul Clan and the Beauty Clan, seeking to escalate tensions and divert the attention of their sect masters.

They whispered that killing Huang outright and taking the Thunder Tribulation Liquid was an option—there was no need to rely solely on him. Alternatives existed, such as Ning Chuan, whom they were actively courting.

The Immortal Ancient Land was in upheaval, none able to remain calm. The Thunder Tribulation Liquid had roused sect masters from their slumber.

Among the countless native clans, few sect masters remained—most had perished, gone mad, or fallen into oblivion. Only a handful still walked the land.

This was a storm!

Shi Hao soon learned of these schemes, his gaze icy. Those two had to die for stoking such chaos.

That day, the Eight-Armed Soul Clan’s ancient ancestor personally took action. Though the two were mere Heavenly Gods, beneath his notice, their meddling had enraged the old man.

A killing intent surged, suffusing the Immortal Ancient Land!

Some witnessed a clash of sect masters, battling fiercely in a desolate wasteland until the heavens trembled.

To everyone’s shock, someone dared to oppose the Eight-Armed Soul Clan’s ancestor.

Yet, freed from the curse, the Soul Clan’s strongest warrior was even more formidable, striking without restraint and overpowering his foe.

As one sect master fell, his spirit slain, the conflict reached its peak.

The attacker had used a decoy to engage the Eight-Armed Soul Clan’s ancestor while his true body slipped away to ambush Soul Island, aiming to kill Shi Hao and seize the Thunder Tribulation Liquid.

But he had miscalculated. The Beauty Clan’s sect master stood guard, and two others—rumored to have departed—were still present as guests!

It was known that Shi Hao had saved four sect masters—three were here now.

“Boom!”

A fierce battle erupted. The assailant fled, blood staining the sky, leaving behind a severed arm as he escaped with grave injuries.

After slaying the decoy, the Eight-Armed Soul Clan’s ancestor tracked Ma Yue and Mo Luo. From a vast distance, he shattered their bodies, nearly obliterating them.

Yet, he withheld the final blow, leaving their fate to the Heavenly Gods who had pursued them.

Grateful, the hunters knew two heads would earn them the Thunder Tribulation Liquid.

“No! You cannot do this! We are Heavenly Gods, fellow descendants of Immortal Ancient! How can you betray us?” The two screamed in terror.

But the Heavenly Gods remained cold, aware of how greed had cost the two their rightful fortune. With disdain, they executed them without mercy.

When the heads were delivered to Soul Island and laid before Shi Hao, he honored his promise, granting the Thunder Tribulation Liquid.

The impact was immense, sending shockwaves through the clans.

Especially among the geniuses from the three thousand provinces—cold sweat dripped down their backs. Heavenly Gods had been slain without Shi Hao lifting a finger, their heads delivered to him.

Who would dare oppose Huang now? A mere hint of displeasure from him, and others would fight on his behalf!

That very day, Gu Jianyun withdrew from the Immortal Ancient Land, fleeing swiftly and decisively.

An ancient king, one who had survived the thunder tribulation, had retreated without a word, leaving all stunned and uneasy.

“Seal the exits! Don’t let Little Six escape!” Shi Hao commanded.

These words sent tremors through the land. It was clear—Huang was coming for the Six-Crowned King, Ning Chuan.

Sure enough, Heavenly Gods immediately mobilized, scouring the Immortal Ancient Land for Ning Chuan’s traces.

All knew that to earn Shi Hao’s favor, they had to contribute—whether by hunting Ning Chuan or simply reporting his whereabouts.

Some, already bound to Shi Hao’s cause, sought to kill Ning Chuan outright.

“Boom!”

That night, an attack nearly breached Shi Hao’s secluded training grounds on Soul Island. Fortunately, the guarding sect masters repelled the assault.

Shi Hao frowned—the situation was growing perilous.

Though the geniuses of the three thousand provinces saw him as a figure of immense authority, a mere twenty-year-old commanding Heavenly Gods, he knew the truth. He was perched atop a blazing furnace, far from secure.

Once the Immortal Ancient Land opened and outside sect masters invaded, his life would be in grave danger.

Moreover, sect masters within the ruins still eyed his Thunder Tribulation Liquid. Hostile to the Soul Clan and others, they would stop at nothing to seize it.

Staying here any longer risked fatal missteps.

Yet, there was good news. The next day, another sect master arrived—one on the brink of oblivion, revived by Shi Hao. Now, five sect masters stood with him.

“Two or three sect masters will never befriend you. They are tied to the Heavenly Gods you killed and are close allies of the Silver-Blooded Demon Tree Clan’s ancestor,” warned the Beauty Clan’s strongest.

Shi Hao frowned. “I cannot remain on Soul Island. Is there a place even sect masters cannot reach?”

“There are such places, but they are perilous,” replied the Soul Clan’s ancestor.

Yet, upon hearing the details, Shi Hao’s heart stirred. He had long sought opportunities and treasures—this was his chance.

Why had he entered the Immortal Ancient Land? To temper himself, to evolve, to gather rare treasures.

The sect masters spoke of mysterious, unstable voids dangerous to cultivators of any realm.

“A Heavenly God Tree? I must go!” Shi Hao declared.

Learning of one location housing a Heavenly God Tree and another a celestial immortal’s cave, his resolve hardened. He would venture forth, no matter the cost.

He sensed his time in the Immortal Ancient Land was ending. Before leaving, he would scour it for every last opportunity.

“Ah, if only I could find that immortal herb—the White Turtle Bearing Immortality. Capturing it would be ideal!” Shi Hao longed to take a longevity herb from the ruins.

“I’ll share a secret. There are four Heavenly God Trees, each of different attributes. Combined, they form the Mother Tree—a true longevity herb!” revealed the Beauty Clan’s sect master.

“What? Such a thing exists?” Shi Hao was stunned.

“Indeed. They correspond to earth, fire, wind, and water. Once a supreme immortal herb, they were split by immense power,” another sect master added.

Shi Hao pondered. He had seen one before, alongside the White Turtle Bearing Immortality.

Now, hints of the others’ locations stirred his ambition.

“When the Immortal Ancient Land cracks open, that white turtle will surely appear. We must find a way to claim its tree,” Shi Hao mused.

“Report! Ning Chuan has been found—several Heavenly Gods are hunting him!” A messenger arrived with urgent news.

Preparing to depart, Shi Hao brightened at the news. “Then let us settle this first!”

Even Ning Chuan was being pursued—this sent shockwaves through the Immortal Ancient Land.