The treasures beneath the earth held an irresistible allure for Shi Hao. Even the Primordial Qi could be nourished and strengthened here, a phenomenon that defied all logic.
Taking a deep breath, he absorbed the Immortal Nectar and Golden Liquid, attempting to adjust himself to peak condition. Yet, he discovered that most of the essence was swiftly seized by the Primordial Qi within his body.
Still, it was enough. After sitting in meditation for so long, the injuries to his flesh and soul had already healed, leaving no major concerns.
Half an hour later, Shi Hao sat cross-legged in the golden pool once more, extending a strand of divine sense. This time, he was determined to delve deeper and uncover the secrets below.
The fissures at the bottom of the pool were minuscule, but they posed no obstacle to his divine sense. As it spread underground, it was as if Shi Hao himself were observing the scene firsthand.
Yellow Dao Stones were everywhere, lining the underground walls. Following the direction of the golden liquid’s flow, he arrived at a hidden domain.
The underground space was vast yet eerie, with interconnected rock walls and boulders forming a seamless whole, resembling bizarre stalactites of peculiar shapes.
The passage narrowed, especially where the golden liquid seeped through the cracks. Golden mist swirled, sacred and transcendent, filling the air.
Shi Hao’s heart pounded fiercely, a rare tension gripping him as he sensed the aura of the Immortal Realm, drawing closer to that radiant place once again.
This time, the pain in his brow was even more excruciating than before, as if scorched by immortal flames, searing and unbearable.
Yet, Shi Hao endured. His divine sense flowed like water, steady and resolute, pressing forward toward that dazzling golden radiance.
*Buzz!*
His true body trembled, his vision darkened, and he nearly lost consciousness. His divine sense screamed in agony, as if slashed by an unseen blade, corroded by an inexplicable force threatening to annihilate his primordial spirit.
Breathing heavily, he had no choice but to withdraw his divine sense. Forcing his way further would exact a terrible price—perhaps even the destruction of his soul.
Though burning with curiosity, he refused to gamble his life, even for an immortal treasure.
After a moment of calm, Shi Hao retrieved the True Dragon’s Reverse Scale, using his divine sense to wield it as a shield. If this attempt failed, he would abandon the endeavor.
His hopes were slim—the scale was lifeless, incapable of full protection. The golden light permeated the underground, omnipresent as he approached.
*Clink!*
As expected, the True Dragon’s Reverse Scale trembled. Shi Hao felt as if struck by lightning, his divine sense wounded once more. A trickle of blood seeped from his brow.
Yet, in the moment the scale was repelled, he glimpsed a blurred image through the hazy light.
A chariot—shattered and ancient—stood within.
It was barely recognizable, its frame broken and decayed. Nearby, a motionless creature lay sprawled, faint light emanating from its form.
“It’s not alive—just lifeless remains!” Relieved, Shi Hao steeled himself for a daring attempt.
That place undoubtedly held something extraordinary. A mere broken chariot could emit such light—it was undoubtedly beyond mortal comprehension.
He summoned the Great Luo Sword Embryo, the Myriad Spirit Diagram, and the True Dragon’s Reverse Scale, but to his dismay, these artifacts were primarily defensive, lacking offensive capabilities.
Blood dripped from his brow repeatedly, each attempt ending in failure.
“I’ll risk it all!”
Shi Hao gritted his teeth, refusing to back down. As long as no living beings lurked within, this cave promised immense fortune—rewards beyond imagination.
Yet, ambition alone was not enough. His strength fell short, rendering him incapable of approaching.
Fortunately, the golden radiance was not a weapon—it merely formed a protective barrier. Had it been hostile, the consequences would have been dire.
Just as Shi Hao resigned himself to failure, an anomaly occurred. A wisp of ethereal flame emerged from his body, descending into the depths.
This mysterious fire, capable of mirroring and engraving the traces of the Great Dao, had appeared at this critical moment.
Silently, it burned through the golden light, effortlessly penetrating the barrier. Without hesitation, Shi Hao sent a strand of divine sense trailing after it.
The breach sealed behind him as he entered.
Inside the dazzling radiance lay the chariot—crumbling, barely half-intact, coated in dust yet faintly golden.
Shi Hao frowned. The chariot was small, barely a foot tall. What manner of creature had it been crafted for?
Then he recalled the Golden Ox—small in stature yet terrifying in power. Size was no measure of strength.
But as he examined the chariot’s material, his expression froze.
It was forged from Yellow Dao Immortal Gold!
Even in this extraordinary cave, using immortal gold for a chariot was beyond extravagant—enough to drive even immortals to madness.
Not every immortal possessed a weapon befitting their power, for immortal gold was exceedingly rare.
At such heights, mortal materials could not withstand their might—forging weapons with them would only result in destruction.
Yet this chariot had been shattered, its remnants scattered.
Kneeling, Shi Hao brushed aside the debris, uncovering another artifact.
“A golden horn… and a bull’s head!”
His heart raced. Upon entering, he had noticed a creature buried beneath rubble near the chariot.
Now, he saw the broken horn and head, their luster dimmed by time, barely visible beneath the dust.
But Shi Hao’s mind reeled. This too was made of Yellow Dao Immortal Gold—a treasure of heaven and earth.
“Another ox?” Shi Hao was stunned.
Outside, a foot-long golden ox had once pursued him. Now, another lay here—was this a nest of oxen?
This one, also a foot long, lay in pieces—head, broken horn, limbs—all scattered. Marks of arrows, axes, and blades marred its remains, evidence of a brutal battle.
The fist-sized immortal flame hovered above the ox’s remains, copying the weapon marks—each imbued with profound Dao truths.
Shi Hao shuddered. The arrow wounds seemed like abysses, the axe scars like chasms, threatening to consume his mind with their overwhelming Dao resonance.
“This… isn’t mortal power. This involves the Immortal Dao!” He inhaled sharply.
What realm had this ox once occupied? Its wounds bore immortal essence—unfathomable. Was this an immortal ox?
And yet, it had been used to pull a chariot!
Shi Hao was speechless. Such extravagance was beyond comprehension.
“The Immortal Ancient Era is full of mysteries. No wonder the creatures from the other realm retreated—some forces are truly inscrutable!” he murmured.
To find such a scene in this desolate borderland, buried underground…
A foot-tall chariot of immortal gold, a foot-long immortal ox—such a combination was staggering.
The chariot and ox were clearly a matched set, likely fleeing here after a devastating battle, only to perish and gather dust.
But where was its master? If even the chariot had suffered so, what of its owner? Had no trace been left behind?
As Shi Hao pondered, the immortal flame drifted deeper underground.
Following, Shi Hao found himself in a cavern of Yellow Dao Stone, its walls pitted and uneven like a stalactite grotto.
Then he froze.
Ahead lay the other half of the shattered chariot, leaning against a rock face, equally ancient and dust-covered.
But within it… something sat in meditation.
No matter how he strained his eyes, the figure remained indistinct, obscured by the pervasive Dao.
Only when the immortal flame drew near did clarity return.
Inside the broken chariot sat a being—less than a foot tall, yet exuding an aura that made Shi Hao’s soul tremble.
A single glance threatened to shatter his mind, as if the heavens would collapse and the universe unravel.
The terror was indescribable.
Looking away brought relief, the oppressive sensation vanishing instantly.
The figure was an elderly Daoist, clad in tattered golden robes woven from immortal gold. His golden hair and beard were unkempt, his body wreathed in chaotic mist, surrounded by swirling stars—as if seated before the dawn of creation.
Even a glance made Shi Hao’s blood boil, his body on the verge of exploding. The sheer might of this being was inconceivable.
Remarkably, the old Daoist seemed to have sealed all his aura, yet his presence alone was overwhelming.
His body appeared withered, devoid of life, yet capable of suppressing all existence across time.
Leaning against the rock wall behind him was a small, pitch-black cavern, mostly obscured by his back.
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