Shi Hao stood there, lost in thought, watching the river of history surge forward, wave after wave rising, each carrying indistinct silhouettes of past geniuses.
Yet, all of them had ultimately vanished like water flowing eastward, fallen into oblivion.
But the peak battle he had just witnessed was eternal, transcending time and space, unafraid of the erosion of ages—a true undying conflict!
Though years passed and eras changed, some still remained. That ultimate battle defied the ravages of time.
Shi Hao knew that the woman in white still lived. She existed in the future, and perhaps one day, they would meet.
What kind of woman was she? Truly peerless, unrivaled in power and transcendence—unprecedented!
He didn’t know whether the man who stood like a sovereign would survive. That man had paid a tremendous price in this battle, even revealing his true form in the end. It was uncertain whether he would truly perish in the ancient past.
If he did die, it would be a cataclysmic event—a dazzling feat. For a woman to slay such an unparalleled figure in the river of time—what audacity and skill!
The enemy was terrifying. Even if that man perished, there seemed to be someone even more formidable—that colossal demonic shadow that even the woman in white feared, avoiding confrontation.
Just thinking about it sent chills down his spine. In the future, how many could stand against such a foe?
Shi Hao pondered deeply. The road ahead was treacherous, fraught with thorns. He had glimpsed fragments of the future and heard the words of the woman in white, leaving him sorrowful and uncertain of what cataclysms awaited.
He didn’t want to witness tragedy, nor did he wish for despair in the future. He wanted those around him to survive, not to stand alone atop a desolate peak, bereft of companionship.
“It hasn’t happened yet. Everything can still change. What hasn’t occurred can still be altered!”
Shi Hao spoke as if steeling himself, clenching his teeth until his lips bled. He was unwilling, hesitant, despairing.
For a moment, his heart overflowed with emotions, impossible to suppress.
“Farewell…”
Only those two words from the woman in white still echoed, unsettling him further.
A chill ran through him. Would he one day bid farewell to everyone like this? The thought made his heart tremble.
Silence fell. Shi Hao sat motionless, lost in thought.
“These pieces of immortal metal are for you,” the woman across the stone table said, pushing forward fragments of divine iron—remnants of the man’s shattered battle armor.
They bore traces of the great battle, imprinted with Dao patterns. If one were strong enough, they might glean insights before the lingering aura faded.
Shi Hao numbly accepted them, offering no response.
His other hand clutched a wine gourd, pouring liquor into his mouth. Divine light shimmered, symbols dancing, but by the end, even the wine had lost its flavor.
The spout still dripped, but no more runes or scriptures emerged.
“Enough. It’s time for you to leave. This wine, tempered over countless ages, wasn’t meant for you alone. You’ve had your share,” the woman said.
As she spoke, her form blurred, dissolving into runes that etched themselves onto the stone table. Her true body vanished.
A line of text remained, meant for a destined one.
These words were a spiritual imprint—the woman’s lingering essence, not a true immortal.
Silently, a flame ignited above Shi Hao’s head, scorching the table, reflecting upon the river of time, and engulfing the immortal metal fragments in blazing fury.
Then, just as quietly, it vanished.
*Clink!*
Shi Hao released his grip. The wine gourd and metal fragments fell onto the table with a crisp sound.
“Will I still exist in the distant future? Will another come here, drink, gaze upon the river, speak of past and present, and see these fragments?”
Shi Hao murmured, rising to his feet.
Time would inevitably pass. He didn’t know his fate—whether he would still live, or what end awaited him.
All things, no matter what, would eventually change. Perhaps this was the cycle of reincarnation.
“Reincarnation!”
Shi Hao roared, unleashing the divine abilities hidden within his supreme bone—not just reincarnation, but also the third, still-unformed power.
They merged, piercing the heavens, distorting time itself, as if capable of shattering and altering all.
Brilliant light erupted, dense bone runes flooding the area, rendering it impossible to gaze upon directly.
When silence finally returned, Shi Hao wandered alone through the ruins, searching for answers.
*Boom!*
The river stirred, waves surging into a vortex swirling with chaotic energy.
In a daze, Shi Hao found himself within the river, submerged at its depths.
*Rumble!*
A black hole appeared, spinning, swallowing him whole. Was this the root of the vortex? He was sucked in, then expelled from its maw.
He felt himself dissolve into motes of light, particles adrift—an enigmatic experience.
Unable to grasp the passage of time, Shi Hao wandered in confusion and sorrow, finally embarking on his return. Such was his journey.
He had not seen a true dragon, nor had he undergone nirvana within a phoenix egg. Yet, it was a legendary voyage, like a dream.
It felt real, yet left no trace, no proof—making him question its veracity.
At the very least, the scriptures once contained within the wine had faded from his mind, as if they had never existed.
Finally, Shi Hao returned, emerging from a massive altar.
“Ah, he’s back!” someone whispered in the distance.
Many had already returned, reappearing on the altar before him.
Those who had undergone extraordinary experiences had gained great rewards, many chattering excitedly.
Of course, some would never return—lost forever in those strange journeys, some dead, some vanished.
Each had a unique tale.
Some obtained ancient texts, some alchemical recipes, some unlocked armories, while the luckiest had their flesh and blood reforged.
As Shi Hao stepped away from the crowd, he noticed commotion—a scuffle in the distance.
“Enough excitement. Let’s exchange insights,” someone called lazily.
The crowd tensed. They had already noticed the troublemakers—some of the unruly disciples from Heavenly Deity Academy.
“What’s happening?”
“They’re demanding everyone share their fortuitous encounters, to ‘exchange’ opportunities,” someone muttered resentfully.
Some among them had undergone fleshly rebirth, akin to nirvana, and had nothing to offer—yet they demanded scriptures, divine abilities, even fragments of immortal pills from others.
“This is too much! By what right?!” someone shouted.
“A certain elder encouraged it!” said a cultivator who had refined two strands of immortal energy.
Silence fell. Everyone understood.
These troublemakers had powerful backing, connections to long-life families, and even ties to the academy’s supreme geniuses who had refined three strands of immortal energy.
Thus, they acted without fear.
Most importantly, the academy tacitly approved this “exchange,” allowing them to test one another.
As one elder put it, competition was like raising gu—only through struggle could a true king emerge.
“Look, Lü Tuo just walked right past them, unchallenged! Those bullies didn’t dare stop him—even offered him treasures!”
Ahead, chaos erupted as a fierce battle broke out.
“Ah, it’s that little girl again—throwing rabbits!”
“That’s a qilin!”
Shi Hao’s gaze sharpened. He spotted the little rabbit, clutching a silver divine beast, glaring at a group of bullies before hurling the creature at them.
Naturally, this caused an uproar—she was throwing a genuine qilin cub!
Even the elders monitoring the situation twitched. While they had permitted the “exchange,” flinging a qilin was definitely not allowed.
This wasn’t the first time. Whenever upset, the girl treated the white qilin cub like a brick, hurling it at people.
The academy had long wanted to take the qilin away.
But the cub refused to leave her side, bonding only with her.
Thus, whenever she felt wronged, her response was singular—throw the qilin!
No one dared harm the snowy-white cub. The academy’s grand elder had decreed death for anyone who harmed it.
“Damn it! You think I’m some pushover? Trying to extort my fortune? Go to hell!” Cao Yusheng’s voice rang out.
Shi Hao’s expression darkened. His journey had been unique—he had foreseen fragments of the future and feared losing loved ones.
Seeing his friends bullied, his face turned grim.
“What? They’re harassing Qing Yi too? Don’t they know she’s my sister-in-law? Aren’t they afraid of Huang coming back to kill them?” Cao Yusheng yelled.
“What Huang? He’s long dead! Who cares about him?” someone scoffed.
Yet, they feared the fat man. His body brimmed with runes, harboring a chaotic sword matrix—terrifying.
Shi Hao had heard enough. Spotting Mo Dao nearby, he transmitted a message:
“Go ‘exchange’ with them. Beat them all down!”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage