For in this world, creatures who live beyond a million years are exceedingly rare, all of them being top-tier powerhouses. Even though the current era still harbors undying substances, allowing cultivators to generally enjoy long lifespans, there is still an end to it.
All living beings must die, sooner or later. Unless one ascends to immortality, the day of aging and death will come.
Even those who become supreme sovereigns, like Wang Changsheng and Meng Tianzheng—mere handfuls in existence—will eventually see their lifespans dry up and enter the twilight of their lives.
This old man before them stood no taller than three feet, yet he was undoubtedly a terrifyingly powerful figure, having lived for over one and a half million years.
What was even more alarming was that his wound, inflicted so long ago, still refused to heal. It remained unclosed, preventing him from regenerating his lost limb—a testament to the terrifying nature of the injury.
Clearly, the one who wounded him possessed peerless power. Once such an injury was inflicted, it was nearly impossible to undo.
Without a doubt, the one who harmed the old man far surpassed him in cultivation. That was why the wound refused to mend, still seeping blood even after a hundred and fifty millennia.
“Senior, is this injury truly incurable?” Da Xu Tuo spoke up.
“An inheritor of the Ancient Monks,” the old man remarked, glancing at Da Xu Tuo and immediately discerning his origins—proof of his piercing insight.
“Some beings are simply too powerful. As long as they live, their influence stretches endlessly. This wound… I cannot heal it on my own,” the old man admitted frankly.
The crowd inhaled sharply. The one who wounded him was still alive in this world—just how powerful must they be now?
“My master does possess the means to cure me completely, but he advised that it would be best if I could live a second life on my own. That would grant me immense benefits. Alas, this old fool is dull-witted, nearing the end of his years, and still cannot achieve nirvana rebirth. Sigh…” He let out a soft sigh, filled with melancholy and unwillingness.
“Since I’m bound to die soon anyway, what does this leg wound matter? Let it remain as a mark of glory, accompanying me in my final meditation. After all, it was left by that being,” the old man said.
The crowd was left speechless. A wound could be considered a mark of glory, something to boast about?
Upon deeper reflection, this was undeniably terrifying. It spoke volumes about the transcendent nature of that being—so formidable that even his enemies took pride in the wounds he inflicted. Truly monstrous.
“Haha, this old man is unworthy to be his opponent. He merely flicked his hand amidst chaos, and my lower leg was gone. Even my master fears that being greatly,” the old man explained.
What could anyone say to that? Even the lords of the forbidden realms in the Nine Heavens held such deep wariness toward that being—just how strong must he be?
“Originally, a young master from the forbidden realm was supposed to come, but he happened to be preparing for a tribulation—a cataclysmic one at that. It wouldn’t do for him to move about carelessly, so this old man had to come in his stead,” the old man said.
At this, everyone’s expressions turned peculiar. After all, Shi Hao had just survived an earth-shattering tribulation, one that shook the ages!
“Ah, seeing you all so young and vibrant, and thinking of my young master… this old man can’t help but envy you. If only life could be relived, if time could flow backward—how wonderful that would be,” the old man sighed.
The crowd exchanged glances. This was clearly a visitor from the forbidden realms, yet he carried no airs, speaking casually as if chatting with old friends. It was almost unbelievable.
In everyone’s minds, the forbidden realms were places of terror, more dreadful than anywhere else. To trespass recklessly meant certain death.
Yet this old man before them was so amiable, without the slightest hint of arrogance.
They welcomed the old man onto the island and led him toward the ancient hall. Along the way, the old man suddenly sniffed the air, his expression shifting to one of astonishment.
“I smell the aura of a heavenly tribulation—the aftermath of a calamity,” he said.
Immediately, someone explained that a tribulation had just concluded.
“This thunder tribulation was no small matter. It seems quite extraordinary,” the old man mused, narrowing his eyes as he scanned the crowd, searching for the one responsible.
Shi Hao remained silent, trailing behind.
“Senior, have you ever heard of physical objects manifesting within thunder tribulations?” someone couldn’t resist asking, hoping to glean more knowledge from this visitor of the forbidden realms.
“I have indeed heard of it. Within thunder tribulations lie peerless treasures—if one can seize them,” the old man replied with a smile.
“What?!” The group of youths gasped, deeply shaken.
Beings from the forbidden realms were truly extraordinary. With just a casual mention, he revealed such profound knowledge—far beyond what the outside world knew.
“What kind of treasures might appear?” someone pressed further.
“At my level, I cannot possibly touch upon such an abnormal domain. In truth, how many beings throughout history have ever stepped into it?” the old man chuckled.
He elaborated further, sharing what little he knew: “My master likely holds some secrets, but I’ve never asked, knowing my own limits. However, I’ve heard that during tribulations, some have been struck by divine stones, crushed into paste on the spot, barely surviving. Those stones turned out to be materials unparalleled through the ages, forged into peerless treasures.”
The crowd was stunned. Thunder tribulations could rain down stones, more terrifying than lightning itself, nearly killing even the mightiest? How absurd!
Yet when they thought of Shi Hao’s deeds, they unanimously agreed—he was even more monstrous, having brazenly stolen a thunder pool from the tribulation. Nothing could be more outrageous.
They believed Shi Hao might very well be the first in history to accomplish such a feat!
The topic wasn’t pursued further, as Shi Hao remained silent, unwilling to expose himself.
“Senior, what is the origin of the forbidden realms? From what era do they date?” one of the Wei Family’s Four Phoenixes, a young maiden, asked.
Seeing the old man so affable and harmless, she seized the chance to inquire about this ancient mystery.
“This old man does not know—and even if I did, I could not speak of it,” he replied firmly, shaking his head.
Some things could be discussed, but others were absolutely forbidden. That was his stance.
“Senior, throughout the ages, many who accidentally entered the forbidden realms vanished, never to return—including some peerless geniuses. Are they… still within the forbidden realms?” Qi Hong, master of the Five-Spirit War Chariot, asked.
“Dead. Long since annihilated, body and soul,” the old man answered, still smiling.
A chill ran through the crowd. Their earlier impression of this kindly elder had been an illusion. Beings from the forbidden realms were, in the end, terrifying.
His amiable demeanor had misled them into thinking those lost in the forbidden realms might still be alive.
But now, they realized it had been nothing but wishful thinking.
His current cheerfulness did not mean he wasn’t ruthless or incapable of violence.
“Ah, so this is the map. Extraordinary indeed—situated between the Heavenly Beast Forest, the Ancient Burial Grounds, and the Divine Medicine Range. A great fortune must lie hidden here!”
The old man approached the table, scrutinizing the ancient beast hide with admiration.
Many felt their hearts skip a beat. This old man seemed intimately familiar with the lands beyond Imperial Pass—how?
Imperial Pass stood as an impenetrable barrier, severing the two realms. Even a True Phoenix would struggle to cross. How had he been there before?
“Senior, have you been to these lands?” someone asked.
The old man fell silent, his smile cooling as if lost in thought.
After a long pause, he finally spoke: “Hmm… Could this be the place my master sought in ancient times? A pity the trail went cold back then, and he never found it.”
These words were truly frightening!
The lord of a forbidden realm in the Nine Heavens had been searching for this place? What kind of fortune could compel such a being to personally pursue it?
And now, even the foreign realm was mobilizing, eager to reach it!
After studying the map for some time, the old man returned to his cheerful self, the coldness gone.
He turned to the crowd. “The residual aura of the thunder tribulation here is incredibly dense. Truly astonishing. Which young friend endured it? No ordinary feat.”
At this point, Shi Hao could no longer remain silent—the old man had asked more than once.
“It was me,” Shi Hao stepped forward, wearing an innocent smile.
“A hero among youths! The makings of a Battle Immortal!” the old man exclaimed, his first words a lofty appraisal. Whether flattery or genuine admiration, none could say.
Truthfully, Shi Hao had no desire to engage with beings from the forbidden realms, fearing unforeseen consequences.
But now, with the old man here and repeatedly inquiring, avoidance was impossible.
Better to face it openly. Besides, he intended to ask about the thunder pool.
Since the old man was clearly interested in the tribulation, hiding it would be futile. Someone—likely the Wang Family—would surely reveal it.
After exchanging pleasantries, the old man cut straight to the point: “What tribulation did you endure?”
Beneath his amiable exterior, he was deeply shocked. In this era, tribulations were supposed to be nonexistent. For someone to invoke a great tribulation at the Virtual Dao Realm was nothing short of prodigious.
Shi Hao recounted the tribulation truthfully.
“You… survived the strongest heavenly tribulation?” For the first time, the old man’s composure cracked. He stared at Shi Hao intently.
“Senior, can you discern anything from this?” Shi Hao produced the thunder pool without hesitation.
Rather than risk exposure by the Wang Family or others, he chose to be forthright, displaying it openly while seeking advice.
“What is this? Where did you obtain it?” The old man’s expression turned grave.
“A thunder pool. I seized it from the heavenly tribulation,” Shi Hao answered with a smile.
“What?!” The old man lost all decorum, hopping forward on one foot to grip Shi Hao’s arm.
“Senior, what’s wrong?” Shi Hao asked.
“You… you’re telling the truth?!” His voice trembled.
“Of course,” Shi Hao nodded. The others chuckled.
“You… are a true monster!” To everyone’s astonishment, that was the old man’s verdict.
But then came an even more jaw-dropping development. Clutching the thunder pool with fervent eyes, he warmly grasped Shi Hao’s arm.
“Young friend, you seem quite young, brimming with heroic spirit—and an honest, upright lad.”
“Senior, if you have something to say, please speak plainly,” Shi Hao said, his skin prickling.
“Well, you see… my young mistress remains unmarried, a peerless beauty of celestial grace. She seeks a worthy husband. I think you’d make an excellent candidate—perfect for marrying into the forbidden realms.”
The crowd turned to stone. Had they heard correctly?
Even Shi Hao was dumbstruck, momentarily speechless.
The old man cradled the thunder pool, his gaze burning with awe. After scrutinizing it and Shi Hao once more, he asked eagerly:
“So, young friend… What do you say?”
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