The moonlight vanished as a dark cloud drifted across the heavens and earth. An ancient tree rumbled and swayed, emerging above the academy—the Ironblood Ancient Tree, one of the guardian spirits of the institution.
“Alert! Enemy intrusion!” On this tranquil night, beneath the dazzling starry sky, within the Divine Academy, such a warning echoed.
Everyone froze, hardly believing their ears. Who would dare invade the Divine Academy? It seemed like a fantasy—who could be so bold?
From every cave abode, atop every spiritual mountain, cultivators rose to their feet. Even by the azure lakeside, Shi Hao and the others were stunned, all standing up in alarm.
The Ironblood Ancient Tree was colossal, like a mountain range, its roots embedded in the void, its entire body crimson as blood. It hovered high in the sky, blotting out the stars and moon.
This was an ancient tree of unfathomable age, capable of guarding tribes and defending ancient cities, its power unimaginable.
Once the sacred totem of a great clan, it had now become one of the Divine Academy’s guardian trees!
In the night sky, seven or eight elders appeared in succession, soaring into the air, each one tense as if facing a formidable enemy, their expressions grave as they gazed into the distance.
Since the founding of the Divine Academy, such an incident had never occurred before!
Who would dare cause trouble here? This was an academy established by reclusive masters from the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, with peerless experts overseeing it—who could oppose them?
Even the immortal clans wouldn’t dare provoke it lightly, let alone approach with hostility.
“That direction!” Shi Hao pointed westward, where an oppressive aura surged forth like a raging flood, vast and unstoppable.
It was hatred—undisguised hostility, brazen and unbridled.
“What kind of creature is this?” People were bewildered. Just who was this audacious being?
At the horizon, the starlight dimmed as black mist emerged. A mysterious creature opened its eyes, gazing at the Divine Academy with a chilling aura.
Finally, it appeared. Though distant, a ghastly face could be seen—utterly ferocious, staring in their direction.
The face was pale gold, its golden light flowing, yet devoid of any sacred aura. Instead, it was cold and eerie, shrouded in black mist.
“A giant spider!” the little rabbit exclaimed, for as the creature drew closer, its true form gradually revealed itself—larger than a mountain, barely discernible.
Within the black mist, a colossal being loomed, with eight legs and a terrifying visage. It was so massive that when it opened its mouth, golden light erupted like a volcanic explosion.
This was a golden spider with three heads—the central one a spider’s, flanked by a human head and a lion’s head, all gleaming gold.
Earlier, the black mist had been too thick, obscuring all but one head. Now, as the night wind blew, the haze dispersed slightly, revealing its blurred true form.
“Heavens, it’s a Three-Headed King!”
Someone screamed, recognizing its origins, their expression instantly changing. This creature did not belong to this world.
Wasn’t this a being from the Foreign Realm? How had it appeared here? And it was far stronger than the one Shi Hao had slain before—its cultivation level was terrifying.
“The Golden Three-Headed King—even in the Foreign Realm, they are rare, a royal lineage. This is a supreme expert!” A Divine Academy elder’s expression darkened. In his hand appeared a blood-red spear, crimson as agate, radiating killing intent, sharp and gleaming.
The elders of the Divine Academy rarely wielded weapons. Yet now, at the first sight of the enemy, he was armed—proof of how tense the situation was.
An obscure, ancient language echoed as the creature, larger than a primordial demonic peak, spoke, its voice resonating, shaking mountains and valleys.
“What is it saying?”
“It’s asking who killed its descendant!”
Powerful figures could sense its divine intent, understanding the Golden Three-Headed King’s purpose.
At this moment, everyone shuddered. How had it come here? Had the Foreign Realm’s creatures invaded the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths?
Last time, in the Immortal Battlefield, a group of weaker beings had appeared through a spatial gate opened by the Cosmic Pouch, confined to a limited area, unable to truly cross over.
But this Three-Headed King was absurdly powerful. How had it manifested here? What special means had it used?
“By the heavens, an adult Golden Three-Headed King! Who can oppose it? Is the world truly descending into chaos? Have the Foreign Realm’s creatures invaded?” someone trembled.
This was a catastrophe, one for which no one was prepared.
“Why is this happening? Are the two realms going to war? Will the world be engulfed in flames, rivers of blood flowing?”
Some voices quivered—nothing could be worse than this.
The Golden Three-Headed King’s cryptic, forceful syllables continued. Though many couldn’t understand, its cold disdain was evident.
To it, the crowd’s lack of fighting spirit was pitiful.
“Its true form hasn’t crossed over. It’s projecting its image through an altar. Otherwise, its power alone might crush the void,” an elder deduced, seeing through the truth.
A vague altar emerged within the black mist—massive yet dilapidated, a relic from the Immortal Ancient Era, buried underground until now.
The altar glowed, covered in intricate patterns, mesmerizing yet dangerous, threatening to ensnare the mind.
It radiated light, manifesting the colossal spider’s form here.
“This altar was left behind by the Foreign Realm’s creatures when they retreated during the Immortal Ancient Era. Though it can’t transport them, projecting images is possible.”
“After the great calamity, the surviving members of the immortal clans scoured the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, destroying these altars. But some were missed.”
The elders’ exchange revealed the truth.
“What does it want?” people wondered, puzzled by its sudden appearance.
Not everyone could sense the Golden Three-Headed King’s divine fluctuations. Even as a projection, it was terrifying—ordinary minds would shatter upon probing it.
“It’s sending an envoy to deliver a message.”
“What? An envoy is coming? Can they bridge the two realms now?”
The altar shimmered, countless symbols converging into a portal, forcibly linking the two worlds.
In that instant, many heard roars—terrifying, as if countless demons on the other side clamored to break through.
That world housed immortals, the most ancient and powerful beings, some perhaps still alive from the last epoch’s war!
*Tap… tap…*
Footsteps sounded as a figure strode through the portal, unhurried, approaching this world.
The figure was humanoid, clad in armor, its gender indiscernible, its face hidden behind a helmet, only the eyes visible.
Gasps arose—the armor was forged from immortal metal, dark and gleaming. Though legends spoke of its ominous nature, its allure was undeniable.
*Dark Immortal Metal Armor!*
This envoy wore such a treasure—astonishing, for dark immortal metal was among the rarest of materials.
The metal shimmered, translucent like black jade, exuding regal elegance.
“Likely a woman—why else conceal the face?” someone murmured.
The armored figure inhaled deeply, as if savoring the air, while symbols on its armor flickered, probing the world’s laws.
“It’s testing the strength of this world’s rules, preparing for a full-scale invasion,” an elder observed.
Soon, the armor trembled, dark light shielding its wearer.
“Still rejected by this world. When will it change?” the Golden Three-Headed King muttered impatiently.
“You are the Foreign Realm’s envoy. State your purpose,” an elder demanded.
The figure, tall and enigmatic, stepped off the altar, advancing toward the Divine Academy.
Everyone paled—this was no projection, but a living being, crossing over in the flesh!
If the Foreign Realm’s cultivators could do this en masse, war was imminent.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage