“Woo woo…”
The conch horn sounded, shaking heaven and earth as the foreign army retreated like a tide, a dark mass gradually disappearing into the horizon of the desert.
On the side of the Imperial Pass, no one gave chase. Because on the opposite side, an elder stood holding a Qiankun Bag—an immortal artifact—guarding the rear, ready to strike at any moment.
Soon after, the Devouring Beast roared, and the three-headed lion growled low before taking to the skies, flying toward the Imperial Pass. The cultivators of the Nine Heavens, led by the Great Knight, also began their retreat.
Thus, a great battle came to an end.
Along the way, warriors from various clans remained silent. Though they had not suffered losses this time—even gaining the upper hand—their hearts were still burdened with worry. The foreign realm was too strong, with undying beings among them. If they truly launched an assault, it would be an unstoppable calamity!
Their only reliance was the Heavenly Abyss. Once breached, the Imperial Pass would surely fall, and the Nine Heavens would be buried.
And now, An Lan and Yu Tuo—two legendary ancient ancestors from the previous era—had already begun to move, issuing decrees. What actions would they take next?
Such peerless powerhouses, overlooking era after era, would unleash unimaginable devastation if they truly acted. Could the Heavenly Abyss remain unshaken?
It was hard to imagine what would become of the Imperial Pass and the lands beyond if the Heavenly Abyss were to vanish.
“Woo woo…” Suddenly, someone wept softly, overcome with sorrow.
Looking back, one corpse after another was being carried—broken and incomplete. Some were draped over mounts, while others were placed in blood-stained coffins.
These were the fallen cultivators—some renowned experts, others nameless soldiers—all sharing the same fate: death beyond the pass.
The sight of so many corpses was heart-wrenching, drawing sighs of grief.
After this battle, many had lost husbands and fathers. The aftermath was a landscape of sorrow, with weeping growing louder, merging into a chorus of despair. The scenes of tragedy behind them were unbearable to witness.
And this was only a fraction of the losses. Many more cultivators had been obliterated in the clashes of powerhouses, leaving nothing behind.
The bodies that could be retrieved were but a small portion.
“Elder, with the Heavenly Abyss blocking them, why must we venture out to fight? So many have died—it’s too cruel!” someone couldn’t help but ask the commanding general.
Had they not left the pass, these lives might have been spared.
Some believed that with the Heavenly Abyss as a barrier, the foreign army could never cross. So why engage in battle, only to send warriors to their deaths?
“The foreign realm is targeting the Heavenly Abyss. We must strike first to disrupt their plans!” a middle-aged man declared loudly. Though not a commander, he sought to explain, lest morale falter.
Yet the Great Knight, astride a golden Pixiu, raised a hand to silence him and spoke gravely.
“All of this is to temper our warriors, to forge them into steel!”
A simple statement that laid bare the truth.
“What if the Heavenly Abyss disappears one day? What then?” added an elder from one of the clans, his voice ringing out.
Silence fell. This was the future they dreaded most—yet one that loomed ever closer.
The battles now were but preparation for the final, apocalyptic war—one that would drown the world in blood.
This clash between realms had been vast, with countless corpses littering the desert, staining the sands crimson.
Yet the warriors dispatched from the Imperial Pass were but a fraction of its full might.
From a higher perspective, this was merely a skirmish.
A trial by fire—one that would continue, with warriors from all clans taking turns to experience the brutality of war.
Since ancient times, the lands beyond the pass had never lacked for bones. But in this era, they would pile even higher.
The weeping faded, and the army marched in silence, a dark tide flowing toward the Imperial Pass.
Even the mighty beasts ceased their roars, returning in solemn quiet. The shadows of giant birds stretched across the ground as they moved forward.
This silence, this heaviness, was suffocating.
Every return from beyond the pass was the same—a sea of fallen cultivators, a pain that could not be escaped.
As the army entered the misty chaos before the towering First Pass, they waited in silence to enter.
Whoosh!
A divine light descended, enveloping them.
A few creatures shrieked, instantly reduced to ashes—unable to resist.
These were foreign beings who had infiltrated the ranks, hoping to breach the pass. But as always, they were exposed by an ancient mirror within the city and obliterated.
Then, Shi Hao and the others felt themselves unraveling, pulled into a strange passageway. Before they could comprehend it, they were plunged into its depths.
As this happened, his blood roared, and his soul trembled violently—as if resonating with the Imperial Pass.
He knew this was an inspection. Every being entering the pass was scrutinized. Only those who had recently departed were permitted to return.
When they had set out, their unique auras had been recorded.
The Imperial Pass was ancient and mysterious, standing unshaken through the ages for good reason.
Soon, they entered the city—only to find it crowded with figures, all anxiously watching their return. These were the clansfolk, hoping for their loved ones’ safe arrival.
Yet amidst this, sorrow was inevitable.
As Shi Hao departed, he heard heart-wrenching wails behind him—women, children, the elderly, the weak—all mourning the loss of kin.
Shi Hao walked away. No one waited for him, for the Shi Clan was too weak to stand here.
“Whoosh!”
A golden figure darted over, landing on Shi Hao’s shoulder—returning with him.
“Exhilarating! I slew many enemies—though no big fish. And some old man kept hovering behind me, afraid I’d run off. Annoying!” grumbled the Heavenly Horned Ant.
Shi Hao chuckled. He knew it must have been a supreme expert from the city, protecting the young ant lest it fall in battle before reaching maturity.
For descendants of the Ten Fiends, if nothing went awry, they were destined to become invincible.
The foreign army had returned first.
Warlike races were unyielding. Even in grief, they swiftly hardened their hearts once more.
The foreign realm was vast beyond measure—far larger than the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths combined.
After returning, each clan used super teleportation arrays to return to their territories.
But a rare few gathered companions for a meeting—one of great significance for the younger generation.
“Summon the strongest of our peers! If we cannot eliminate Huang, it will be a disgrace. How can our generation be inferior to an outsider?”
The battle in the desert, where even the Martial Heavenly King had fallen, had shaken many young foreign beings. Defeat at the hands of a human was unacceptable.
Especially the Martial Heavenly King’s declaration—that Huang was now unbeatable among their peers—had stirred many to action.
“Can we not seek out those legendary ancient lands and rouse the Imperial Clans?”
This suggestion stunned many young prodigies. Was Huang truly so fearsome as to warrant the Imperial Clans’ involvement?
“Be cautious. The Imperial Clans are sealed, dormant. If one emerges, they will dominate the world, leaving no room for the rest of us!”
Regardless, Shi Hao had become infamous among the foreign realm’s younger generation.
His defeat of the Martial Heavenly King in the desert had marked him as an obstacle—one that must be removed.
“Master… you’ve returned alive!” At the entrance of the Shi Clan village, A’Shou spotted a distant figure and cried out in joy.
A group of children rushed over, gazing at him with awe and delight.
“Big Brother, you’re amazing! They said the battle was brutal, yet you’re unharmed—not a scratch! I’m so happy!” a little girl exclaimed, her rosy cheeks bright with a pure smile. But then she wept, having just lost her father.
The villagers emerged, greeting Shi Hao with warm, simple smiles. Some patted his shoulder, others offered strong liquor, and one handed him a towel to wipe away the dust.
“Coming back is enough… living is enough…” Clan Chief Shi Houde’s voice trembled. He dreaded these returns, for they often brought news of death.
“Child, eat some dried meat to regain your strength,” said a kind-faced woman.
Shi Hao thanked them, feeling a warmth akin to home.
He settled here, making it his sole refuge.
For the next half-month, Shi Hao remained in the village, teaching the children and contemplating the Dao in semi-seclusion.
He was waiting. When he emerged again, his sights would be set beyond the battlefield.
Days later, the secluded mountain village received a visitor bearing a letter.
“Is Huang here? Such a remote place, hidden in these wild mountains,” the messenger muttered.
“Who are you? What do you want?” A’Shou stepped forward.
“I seek Huang. An invitation—three days hence, a gathering in the Imperial Pass. Only the elite of the younger generation are invited.”
“What gathering?” A golden blur shot over, landing on the envelope and startling the messenger.
“Who has time for gatherings when cultivation beckons?” scoffed the Heavenly Horned Ant.
“This is no ordinary gathering. The leading figures of our generation—transcendent talents—will convene. It will only bring benefits,” the messenger insisted, claiming these were the ones who would shape the future.
“We’ve seen the Nine Heavens’ elites before!” the ant retorted impatiently.
“This time, it’s not just them. The strongest heirs of the Imperial Pass clans will attend—descendants of invincibles and even true immortals, who have never set foot in the Nine Heavens.”
The messenger’s eagerness was clear—he desperately wanted Shi Hao to attend.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage