Chapter 1226: Where Lies the Path

The Boundary Tomb, desolate and broken.

Many stars were withered, shattered and incomplete, along with countless continents and endless inner worlds, as if they had suffered the most violent impacts, riddled with holes.

The silver warship moved at incredible speed, traversing the ruined ancient lands and crossing dim misty regions, witnessing countless corpses strewn across the void as the group embarked on their return journey.

**”Boom!”**

A massive hand suddenly descended, casting a vast shadow. Many great stars trembled violently, swaying under its influence!

The hand was pitch-black, like ink, covering the sky as it pressed down toward the silver warship, striking with terrifying force. The scene was horrifying—stars dimmed and fell around it.

**”Not good, we’re under attack!”** Even the elders of Celestial Academy shouted in alarm. The sheer power was terrifying, the scene utterly chilling.

It was disheartening—individual strength seemed insignificant before this colossal hand, utterly negligible. This force could pluck stars from the sky, seize the moon, and even tear the sun apart.

Dark and sinister, it blotted out the heavens, descending relentlessly. The surrounding void shattered continuously, massive cracks spreading everywhere.

The silver warship shook violently, on the verge of breaking apart. If not for the protective runes and powerful defensive formations, it would have already turned to dust.

This was beyond human capability—it defied imagination.

**”Rise!”** The Second Elder roared, unfurling a treasure scroll that surged with chaotic energy, erupting with radiant light that spanned the heavens, blocking the massive hand.

**”Boom!”**

The hand was halted by the treasure scroll, chaotic light scattering in all directions. The surrounding shattered stars and floating ancient continents cracked violently before exploding in a deafening blast, engulfed in divine radiance.

It was a force of annihilation, making everyone’s legs tremble in fear.

The group was horrified, unable to see anything now. The warship creaked ominously, on the brink of destruction.

**”A pity!”** A voice filled with regret echoed—an ancient being whose projection had failed to seize the silver warship. A second strike was now impossible.

The *Ten Realms Diagram*, a secret treasure of the Immortal Dao, was capable of rivaling even the legendary *Cosmic Pouch*. Brought by the Second Elder for defense, it had played a crucial role in protecting the students.

Otherwise, everyone present would have perished here, nearly wiped out before even leaving!

The warship shot away like an immortal arrow, swiftly distancing itself. The Second Elder retrieved the *Ten Realms Diagram*, his expression grave as he gazed at the boundless ruins behind them.

**”It’s him!”**

Earlier, when they had entered the Boundary Tomb, they had glimpsed a terrifying, indistinct figure exuding deep malice toward them. Now, he had struck again.

**”He is sealed—only a projection manifested!”**

Yet even a mere projection wielded such terrifying power, instilling fear in all.

They realized they must have passed near his place of sealing, allowing him to strike out, nearly causing catastrophic destruction.

**”Could this person also be a royal from the Foreign Realm, sealed here?”**

With lingering doubts, the warship left the Boundary Tomb, accelerating until it blurred from sight. As several elders activated a bone altar, it tore through the void, traversing the cosmos.

**”Hum!”**

At the heart of Celestial Academy, silver radiance shimmered. After enduring great peril, the group had returned to safety.

This journey had yielded considerable rewards—everyone had obtained their own Dao Seeds, returning with full harvests. Yet, there were still losses.

Some of the strongest had fallen, including elite geniuses. After all, these were the finest among the talented—only such individuals dared to tread the ancient path of cultivation.

**”Yu Ming perished, Huo Meng vanished…”** As the names were read out, everyone realized how fortunate they were to return alive.

Especially now, standing on the soil of Celestial Academy, the realization was even more profound—survival was everything.

Within the academy, divine mountains stood tall, silver waterfalls cascading, purple mist swirling. It was a tranquil and sacred land, far from war, allowing both body and soul to relax.

**”To preserve this sacred land, you must fight in the future. If you wish for your descendants to live free from slaughter, untouched by blood and fire, you must conquer the world in this era, defeating the evil enemies!”** an elder declared.

**”Only a dozen or so died this time—compared to the future, it’s insignificant. You will come to understand true desolation, where blood runs higher than the heavens. To survive, you must rise, truly mastering your own fate—or else, you will all become ashes of calamity!”** another elder said sternly.

Everyone knew they spoke the truth.

**”Now that we have our seeds, we shall enter seclusion, beginning our transformation toward the pinnacle of our lives!”**

**”With the seeds in hand, we can fuse them and cultivate the ancient Immortal Dao scriptures!”**

All were invigorated, eager to break through swiftly and embark on their glorious paths. Time was pressing—opportunities were dwindling.

**”A pity… no perfect seed was found.”** Someone sighed in disappointment and frustration. Naturally, this came from one of the young supremes who had cultivated three strands of Immortal Qi.

Shi Hao remained silent. This journey had failed to capture a flawless seed, leaving him helpless and regretful.

Everyone knew such treasures were rare beyond measure—obtaining one was ten times harder than cultivating three strands of Immortal Qi. How many had existed throughout history?

**”Hmm, among you, some hold saplings of the World Tree, others possess the Seed of Yin-Yang. That alone is extraordinary,”** the Second Elder remarked.

This statement caused an uproar—astonishment and heated discussion. Someone had actually obtained the Seed of Yin-Yang?

Yin and Yang represented the ultimate mysteries of heaven and earth—everything could be explained through their duality, the unity and opposition of the Dao.

The Seed of Yin-Yang was the product of their harmony, a seed born of the heavens and earth, an embodiment of the Dao. Few had ever seen one—yet now, someone possessed it.

Undoubtedly, it was a supreme treasure seed!

Among them, there was actually someone who held such a peerless seed.

Speculation ran rampant—who could it be? Envy and jealousy filled the air.

Shi Hao sighed, his heart slightly disheartened. He was unwilling to take the next step without a perfect seed, knowing it would affect his lifelong Dao achievements. He desperately needed a Heaven Seed.

As the crowd dispersed, Shi Hao approached the Second Elder and asked, **”Can one fuse multiple Heaven Seeds?”**

**”That is a dead end—predecessors have tried and failed,”** the Second Elder shook his head. He understood the young man’s thoughts—to compensate for the lack of a supreme seed with quantity.

Alas, true supreme seeds were exceedingly rare. The Second Elder also recognized Shi Hao’s immense potential and felt regret on his behalf.

**”Is there truly no other way?”** Shi Hao asked, his voice tinged with melancholy. If the absence of a seed barred him from reaching the pinnacle of martial arts, it would be a true tragedy.

He had prepared thoroughly, confident in his potential to rise and soar in this chaotic era. Yet now, his path was blocked.

He knew the coming wars would be brutal—rivers of blood, endless slaughter across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths. Would he merely watch as others fought for supremacy?

Without becoming one of the strongest, he would only be a bystander, his fate hinging on others’ battles. He refused to accept that!

**”Paths are forged by predecessors, Dao methods created by ancients. Who can say they are the end? Even without the strongest seed, one can still tread the strongest path,”** the Second Elder consoled.

**”Just as with the contemporary cultivation system—when all believed it had reached its limit, the Sacred Academy emerged, breaking through boundaries and pursuing the extreme path,”** he added.

Of course, this was still consolation. He doubted a single individual could recreate the peak or mend a broken path—it required generations of effort.

Shi Hao left in silence. Qing Yi caught up, walking beside him. **”There may still be a way,”** she comforted.

Behind them, the Second Elder seemed to recall something. **”Perhaps there is another method—the Immortal Academy may possess supreme ancient seeds!”**

**”Hmm?”** Shi Hao turned back to face him.

**”The strongest seeds are indestructible—heaven cannot erase them, earth cannot bury them. Even if fused with someone who perishes, they will reform,”** the Second Elder explained.

He speculated that the Immortal Academy might retain such supreme “ancient seeds,” as they had excavated numerous immortal ruins—remnants of the Immortal Ancient War.

**”There may still be hope!”** Qing Yi smiled, advising Shi Hao not to rush into fusing his seed.

**”But those seeds belong to others—why would they give them to me?”** Shi Hao knew the disciples of the Immortal Academy were personally taught by ancient monsters, unlike Celestial Academy, which gathered those with Immortal Qi. If any supreme seeds remained, they would likely be bestowed upon their direct disciples.

**”Not necessarily. If you prove exceptional, those ancient beings might grant you a hidden supreme seed!”** the Second Elder said.

As he spoke, he paused, the idea growing more plausible.

Soon after, the Second Elder sent mental messages to the young supremes with three strands of Immortal Qi, advising them to delay fusing their seeds and await an opportunity.

If the Immortal Academy truly had ancient seeds, competition would be fierce. To ensure fairness, he informed those with the greatest potential.

Wang Xi, Lü Tuo, Yao Yue, and others, who had been silent and discontent, now grew excited upon hearing this news, eagerly awaiting new opportunities.

Indeed, the arrival of the Immortal Academy’s envoys came sooner than expected—within two days.

**”Those fusing seeds, halt immediately!”** A voice boomed across Celestial Academy, shaking its foundations.

A colossal entity blotted out the sky, vast and boundless, scattering all clouds with its majestic presence.

This was no ordinary vessel—it was a planet, seemingly made of stone, descending from the heavens.

Everyone was stunned. Using a planet as a vessel to traverse the cosmos—this was truly awe-inspiring.

Clearly, the stone planet was inscribed with countless runes, a concealed warship far more formidable than ordinary treasures, possessing terrifying offensive power.

The Immortal Academy had arrived, bringing their elite disciples to Celestial Academy.

On the same day, the Sacred Academy also arrived, accompanied by their strongest disciples.

Rumors had long circulated that the talents of both academies would visit Celestial Academy—yet they arrived simultaneously.

**”The Little Heavenly King of the Immortal Academy is here!”**

**”The Little Sage of the Sacred Academy has arrived!”**

News spread the moment the two academies arrived—their strongest disciples had all come, gathering the most brilliant talents in one place.