The borderlands of the Great Scarlet Heaven remained as desolate and lifeless as ever.
An ancient city had crumbled into ruins, and within it lay a vast abyss, dark and boundless. Dozens of figures stood silently at its edge, motionless as demonic statues, waiting.
On the side of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, the people had long departed, leaving no one to guard this place.
Whoosh!
The Immortal-Refining Pot glowed, tearing through the void as it returned from the chaos!
“How did it go?!” The previously silent figures all raised their heads, gazing at the approaching pot, unable to maintain their composure. They were visibly agitated.
Huff!
A fierce wind howled as the Immortal King’s Burial Shroud fluttered, stirring gale-force winds as it swept across the distant sky, vanishing toward the horizon without approaching this place.
“We entered and discovered some things,” the Immortal-Refining Pot descended, revealing a group of figures in their true forms. They gazed coldly at the distant figures of Grand Elder Meng Tianzheng and Shi Hao, their killing intent palpable.
Far away, the burial shroud was withdrawn, and Grand Elder, Shi Hao, and the others revealed themselves, watching from a distance without approaching.
The two sides stared at each other, each eager to slay the other, yet both were powerless to do so.
“What a pity. How could that woman remain aloof? She clearly fought in the past and was a peerless expert. Why is she acting like this now?” Lan Xian murmured.
“A ghost who became immortal is no longer the same person,” Grand Elder Meng Tianzheng sighed, regretful. If only they could have slain the invaders in that ancient realm and seized the Immortal-Refining Pot—this journey would have been perfect.
“Let’s go. We’ll discuss this later. The supreme lord has expended too much energy,” an elder at the abyss’s edge whispered before glaring fiercely at the Nine Heavens side, his smile icy. “When the borderlands fall, we will exterminate your nine clans!”
This was a blatant threat. They had crossed realms with a purpose, yet their mission had been far from smooth.
“Go kill your own father!” Cao Yusheng, ever foul-mouthed, spat out the insult without hesitation, cursing at the enemy’s leader.
“Little brat, when our army breaches the gates, we’ll slaughter your kind by the thousands. None of you will survive. Enjoy your arrogance while it lasts!” the elder sneered.
“Don’t be so overconfident. One day, I’ll enter your realm, slaughter your immortals, and topple your ancestral altars!” Shi Hao declared with a venomous edge.
Lately, he had rarely spoken with such hatred and ferocity. But now, he couldn’t suppress it—he yearned to annihilate his enemies and eradicate the source of calamity.
The group across the abyss glared at him coldly. This young man had left an indelible mark on them—slaying ten kings single-handedly, defeating ten champions, and handing them an unprecedented defeat. For a warlike race, this was an unbearable humiliation.
“When the realms collide, I’ll be the one to take your head!” A young man bathed in a golden halo smirked, pointing at Shi Hao. It was He Ziming.
“We’ll kill you sooner or later!” the young kings roared, their voices thick with indignation.
“Your so-called kings are nothing. I’ve already tested them. When we meet on the battlefield, I’ll slaughter every last one of you!” Shi Hao retorted coldly.
“Arrogant!”
“Insolent!”
The young kings at the dark abyss seethed, their eyes burning with fury.
“You think you’re invincible? Let me tell you—we may be kings, but we’re not the strongest ten among our young elites!”
They refused to accept this humiliation, their resentment boiling over.
“Go ask your so-called immortal families of the Nine Heavens. They’ll tell you just how strong our young invincibles are—those who’ve achieved feats beyond reckoning!”
Grand Elder’s pupils contracted at these words. He recalled ancient secrets—how terrifying the young elites of the other realm truly were.
In antiquity, their supreme youths, not yet thirty, could swallow stars, refine their bodies in solar flames, and hunt primordial horrors in the depths of the lunar sea.
Such feats were unparalleled, impossible to surpass!
Compared to them, the young kings they faced now were mere novices, unworthy of the title “young supreme.”
Grand Elder Meng Tianzheng had briefly consulted with the elders of the immortal families. They agreed—this era would surely produce such prodigies again. The descendants of the other realm would not be weaker than their ancestors.
Perhaps when the top few among their ten kings crossed over, their true, invincible might would be revealed!
“Hmph! We may be young kings, but above us are the imperial clans. When the young emperors of families like Anlan and Yutuo emerge from their ancient lands, your so-called geniuses of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths will be nothing but dogs, crushed without effort!”
The cold, fanatical voice from across the abyss sent a chill through the hearts of the Nine Heavens’ youths, filling them with anger and dread.
The strongest of the other realm’s young generation had yet to appear. Above the royal clans were the imperial ones!
“Ten consecutive defeats, and you still dare to boast?” Shi Hao scoffed, his hair whipping in the wind. “I’ll be waiting. First, I’ll slaughter your kings. Then, I’ll exterminate your imperial clans!”
“Save your arrogance! We’ll meet on the battlefield, and your blood will cleanse our blades!” Though resentful, the young kings had no choice but to retreat under the guidance of their elders.
One by one, their figures vanished into the abyss, disappearing from the borderlands of the Great Scarlet Heaven.
Though they could appear here, they couldn’t advance further. The barriers of the realm repelled them, the very world suppressing their presence.
The time for invasion had not yet come. They would wait—until their world merged with the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths. Then, they would slaughter all enemies!
At the edge of the land, Shi Hao, Cao Yusheng, Da Xutuo, and the others watched in silence, envisioning the bloodshed to come.
Crack!
Suddenly, a terrifying sight made their blood run cold.
The dark abyss trembled as several enormous hands emerged from its edges, slowly sinking back into the depths.
“Heavens! Those hands were holding the abyss open! This is horrifying!” Little Fatty Cao Yusheng cried out.
As the hands withdrew, the abyss gradually closed, the rift in the world slowly sealing.
What kind of power was this? A few hands had held open the heavens, maintaining this passage—a feat beyond imagination!
“Let’s go back,” Grand Elder said, tearing through the void with the youths in tow.
They traversed the Nine Heavens, crossing from the Great Scarlet Heaven to the Boundless Heaven—a journey of astronomical distance, yet shortened by Grand Elder’s divine power.
Along the way, one by one, the youths departed with heavy hearts, returning to their clans to deliver the news. Many factions in the Nine Heavens remained unaware of the events at the borderlands—some didn’t even know the true battlefield lay there.
By the end, only a handful remained on the warship.
Upon reaching the Boundless Heaven, Grand Elder vanished, leaving Shi Hao and a few others to pilot the ship back to the Celestial Deity Academy.
“Ah! They’re back!”
Shouts rose from the academy as people looked up at the sky.
Shi Hao, Cao Yusheng, and the others descended onto the academy’s plaza. The rest had dispersed—some to the Immortal Academy, others to the Sacred Academy, and many to their own clans, rushing to report the monumental events.
“Did the invaders truly come?”
“Was there a battle? What were those enemies like?”
A crowd of youths surged forward, bombarding Shi Hao and his companions with questions.
These disciples hadn’t qualified for the battlefield—only the elite of the younger generation had been taken to witness the conflict, alongside the elders.
“The war has begun. A cruel era is upon us,” Shi Hao said solemnly.
“Why did you return? You went to the battlefield, yet fled at the first sign of battle—are you deserters?” A discordant voice cut through the crowd.
Shi Hao’s brow twitched as he suppressed his anger. Turning, he recognized the speaker—a member of the Wang Family, whom he’d seen observing from afar during his clash with Wang Changsheng.
Why were they here? Shi Hao couldn’t recall if any Wang clansmen had been at the borderlands.
“Speak! Why did you return? What’s the situation at the front?” the middle-aged leader demanded coldly.
A sense of foreboding gripped Shi Hao. Something was wrong. Why were the Wang Family here, giving orders at the Celestial Deity Academy? At a time like this, it was a dangerous omen.
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