The Ancient Immortal Land.
Shi Hao and the Witch walked together, drawing the attention of many. Numerous creatures cast strange glances their way, watching from a distance.
“What kind of heaven-defying, earth-enraging deeds have you done? Why do I feel like they’re all afraid of you?” the Witch asked curiously.
“Have you forgotten who I am? Invincible across the world, peerless under the heavens. They’re not afraid—they’re in awe, they worship me,” Shi Hao declared narcissistically.
“Pfft. My senses are sharp. I clearly heard someone cursing you, calling you a demon king. And you still have the nerve to boast?” the Witch scoffed.
Her raven-black hair cascaded down to her waist, her snow-white robes complementing her flawless, crystalline skin. Her delicate features were breathtakingly beautiful, capable of toppling kingdoms with a single smile. It was impossible for her not to draw attention wherever she went.
Hearing this, Shi Hao glanced toward the distant sky and remarked, “Descendants of the Primordial Divine Ape, are you offering me monkey brains?”
Several golden ancient apes paled at his words and fled in terror. They had been secretly cursing him, never expecting he could sense them from such a distance.
“Seems like you’ve earned quite the infamous reputation in the Ancient Immortal Land. Just a single shout scared off a group of divine apes,” the Witch teased with a click of her tongue.
“This is the prestige I’ve carved out with bloodshed. Back then, seven Heavenly Deities came to kill me, and I sent them all to hell,” Shi Hao chuckled.
At first, the Witch didn’t take it seriously. But later, seeing how many cultivators on the road revered and feared Shi Hao, she realized it was true—and that there was something deeper going on.
Soon, she spotted geniuses from the Three Thousand Provinces, including some familiar faces. To her surprise, they were even more terrified of Shi Hao, giving him a wide berth.
The Witch beckoned, summoning a few who truly knew her.
“Saintess! You disappeared for years in seclusion—we thought something had happened to you!” they exclaimed in shock, recognizing her as the Saintess of the Sky-Severing Sect.
“Saintess? More like a female demon, if you ask me,” Shi Hao corrected.
Their expressions stiffened unnaturally. This man was too terrifying—he had swept through the Ancient Immortal Land, slaughtering deities without mercy. Who wouldn’t fear him?
“Why are you all so scared of him? Sure, he’s strong, but it’s not like he’s going to eat you, right?” the Witch asked, amused.
The group nearly burst into tears. How could they dare speak ill of Shi Hao in his presence? But the truth was, this man really did devour powerful beings—from flood dragons to divine beasts like the Pixiu and the Dragon-Sparrow. Over the years, he had built a reputation not just for slaughter, but for feasting on the mighty.
Seeing him now made their legs tremble, especially since their true forms weren’t humanoid.
“Hey, what’s with all the fear?” the Witch frowned.
One of them transmitted a message secretly, “Saintess, he really will eat us! Stop asking, and I suggest you stay far away from him. Who knows if he’s hungry right now? Otherwise, you might be in danger.”
The Witch nearly laughed in exasperation. She could see it now—these people harbored an immense dread of Shi Hao. Standing near him made their hair stand on end.
“Is he really that dangerous?” she asked.
“Yes! He even eats Heavenly Deities, let alone us. He’s the most dangerous creature alive!” another whispered.
“You’re a Five-Colored Deer, aren’t you? I hear deer antlers are highly nourishing. Since you’re badmouthing me behind my back, how about offering me some deer blood?” Shi Hao asked.
His divine senses were sharp enough to intercept their secret transmissions at such close range.
The young woman from the Five-Colored Deer clan turned deathly pale, her legs giving out as she nearly collapsed to the ground.
“Enough, stop scaring her. Tell me what’s really going on,” the Witch demanded.
Before long, she learned just how ruthless Shi Hao had become. He had slain Heavenly Deities—dozens of them—from various sects that had entered from the outside world.
Moreover, he had roasted and devoured many powerful exotic species.
The Witch’s expression turned odd. This guy was truly… brutal. After just a few years apart, he had grown absurdly strong, with three strands of immortal energy swirling around him.
Anyone hearing for the first time that a young man feasted on Heavenly Deities would be stunned. Even someone as carefree and cunning as the Witch was left speechless.
“What treasures did you loot from those Heavenly Deities? Care to share a few?” the Witch asked.
“I can treat you to a grand feast!” Shi Hao replied—naturally, referring to Heavenly Deity meat.
They didn’t linger. Though Shi Hao feared no Heavenly Deity now, he didn’t want to risk an ambush by scheming sect leaders.
**CRACK!**
The massive spatial rift spanning the Ancient Immortal Land widened further, alarming everyone.
Shi Hao frowned. He needed a plan—fast.
He returned to Soul Island, gathering familiar faces like Cao Yusheng, the Little Rabbit, Chang Gongyan, Xue Lin, and Lan Yichen to discuss their next move.
Later, he met with several sect leaders and proposed an idea: he would undergo another tribulation to help the Ancient Immortal Land’s inhabitants break their curse.
“Another tribulation? Are you advancing to the Heavenly Deity realm?” someone gasped.
“No, not yet. That would be too rushed—my foundation isn’t stable enough,” Shi Hao shook his head.
The Sacred Sacrifice realm was volatile, fluctuating between strength and weakness. He couldn’t leap over this hurdle recklessly.
But he could forcibly summon a heavenly tribulation, endure it, and extract tribulation lightning liquid.
Time was pressing. He needed powerful sect leaders to guard him, or escaping the Ancient Immortal Land would be near impossible.
To entice them, he had to offer what they coveted most—tribulation lightning liquid. No clan could resist its allure.
Except, of course, those factions he had already irreversibly antagonized.
“Young friend, are you truly going to endure the Divine King Tribulation again?” Five sect leaders were stunned. Surviving the strongest tribulation once was already a miracle—yet he dared attempt it again?
Was this confidence, arrogance, or sheer disregard for his own life?
“Guard me during this ordeal. And spread the word—invite others to witness it,” Shi Hao said. This was his way of rallying allies.
In the Ancient Immortal Land, sect leaders were scarce—most were dead or insane. But some remained, and the five leaders before him were torn between fear for his failure and excitement at the prospect of an endless supply of tribulation liquid.
“Very well. We’ll gather the others,” they declared before departing.
Days later, the Ancient Immortal Land quaked as someone underwent a tribulation, stirring the heavens.
“By the heavens! It’s Shi Hao again!”
“He’s insane! How many days has it been? Is he advancing to the Heavenly Deity realm already?”
The land erupted in uproar. Everyone was dumbfounded.
Cao Yusheng, Chang Gongyan, and the Dragon Maiden were speechless, staring at the figure amidst the lightning sea.
The Witch’s lips formed an “O.” This guy was beyond ridiculous—daring to endure the Divine King Tribulation a second time. Had he grown tired of living?
The Divine King Tribulation was unlike any other. In the Sacred Sacrifice realm, one’s cultivation was unstable. If his power dropped to the Divine Flame realm mid-tribulation, a single powerful lightning strike could annihilate him body and soul.
Qing Yi arrived, and Yue Chan appeared in the distance. Their eyes met briefly.
“Sister Yue Chan, long time no see. When will you and Shi Hao announce your marriage to the world?” the Witch called out cheerfully.
Yue Chan’s gaze snapped up, spotting the Witch who had vanished years ago. She gritted her teeth. If not for this woman, her spiritual avatar would never have gotten entangled with Shi Hao.
The Heavenly Deity from the Heaven-Mending Sect overheard and, far from angered, was delighted. “Chan’er, you’re close with Shi Hao? Don’t be shy—your uncle will speak to the sect leader. We’ll make you two official!”
Yue Chan nearly lashed out, barely restraining herself from punching her uncle. She turned away coldly, standing tall like a flawless moon, transcendent and peerless.
**BOOM!**
The tribulation raged, lightning flooding the skies, shaking the world.
Many experts gathered but dared not interfere. Last time Shi Hao underwent a tribulation, anyone who meddled was struck by lightning as well.
The invited sect leaders were tense but exhilarated as Shi Hao progressed smoothly, unscathed.
“Almost there! He’s going to succeed!”
As the tribulation neared its end, the Ancient Immortal Land’s natives erupted in excitement. If Shi Hao could endure tribulations repeatedly, didn’t that mean he could save them all?
“But where’s the lightning pool?” Shi Hao was stunned.
This was a cruel disappointment. He had survived, but no lightning pool had formed—no tribulation liquid.
He understood now. The heavens granted only so much. Tribulation liquid was a one-time blessing per realm.
With a sigh, Shi Hao accepted the bitter truth.
The sect leaders were disheartened but quickly perked up. The newcomers immediately pledged allegiance to Shi Hao’s faction.
This young man was too extraordinary. While others feared tribulations, he conquered them repeatedly.
This wasn’t arrogance—this was transcendent ability. If he could survive the Heavenly Deity Tribulation in the future, tribulation liquid would be plentiful.
Through this, they saw his unparalleled potential—worth every investment.
This time, without tribulation liquid, Shi Hao’s injuries were severe. He sat cross-legged, quietly healing.
**BOOM!**
The heavens trembled, resonating with a distant thunderous roar.
“What’s happening? That sound came through the spatial rift—is someone else undergoing a tribulation?”
Soon, news spread—Ning Chuan was undergoing his tribulation, deliberately timed to coincide with Shi Hao’s to avoid interference.
“Perfect timing. Let’s move!” Shi Hao ignored his injuries, charging toward the source.
The sect leaders exchanged glances before following. The crowd surged after them, sensing chaos ahead.
Shi Hao stormed into the pocket dimension, his allies close behind.
He knew Silverblood Demon Trees and other sect leaders guarded Ning Chuan, but with the Eight-Armed Soul Clan’s leader by his side, he feared nothing.
“Kill!” Under the sect leaders’ protection, Shi Hao plunged into the tribulation.
While others dared not enter, Shi Hao feared no lightning. His goal was clear—slay Ning Chuan and seize his tribulation liquid.
“Sinful Blood Descendant, how dare you!” Ning Chuan, his white robes stained with blood, glared furiously.
Given a choice, he wouldn’t have tribulated here. But the exit was guarded by Shi Hao’s forces, and the Silverblood Demon Trees insisted he stay, swearing to protect him—though their true motive was the curse-breaking liquid.
**BOOM!**
Shi Hao unleashed a world-shaking divine ability the moment he arrived, aiming to obliterate Ning Chuan.
Lightning filled the skies!
Ning Chuan’s eyes reddened. To have someone intrude on his tribulation was an insult beyond measure.
“Sinful Blood Descendant, your life ends here!”
“Little Six, you’re nothing! Who’s the real sinner? Who’ll die? We’ll see!” Shi Hao moved with divine might, his every gesture earth-shaking.
**BOOM!**
They clashed near the tribulation liquid. Shi Hao summoned his cauldron, snatching a portion.
“You dare!” Ning Chuan roared, summoning his own artifact to collect the liquid while attacking fiercely.
“Why wouldn’t I?” With part of the liquid secured, Shi Hao fought even more recklessly.
“Die!” Ning Chuan, once elegant, now disheveled and bloodied, battled with desperate fury.
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