Meng Tianzheng’s black hair fluttered, his heroic demeanor brimming with vitality—how could this resemble his former self? He had completely transformed into a different person.
Clad in golden battle armor, he radiated an aura of unparalleled valor, embodying the golden years of a man in his mid-twenties, exuding an invincible presence. With every flicker of his eyes, divine radiance shimmered.
Around him, a dazzling golden divine halo shimmered, as if he were a battle immortal who had survived from the previous era, stepping across the river of time, carrying an air of mystery and the unknown.
This was the current Great Elder—unbelievable, having undergone a staggering transformation!
Many suspected that he had broken through his shackles, taking that crucial step forward!
The Fifth Dragon trembled, knowing full well that he was utterly unqualified to challenge him. Among the Nine Dragons, perhaps only the youngest brother still retained some confidence.
Of the Wang Family’s Nine Dragons, the last was the strongest!
Legends said he was not much weaker than Wang Changsheng and might have already stepped into the supreme realm of the human path!
*Whoosh!*
With a single step, Great Elder Meng Tianzheng caused the stars to shift and chaos energy to surge. Treading upon a golden path, he vanished beyond the horizon, heading toward the city gates, intending to depart from the formation platform.
The youthful Great Elder acted decisively, leaving without a moment’s hesitation.
No one knew how much time had passed before the collapsed creatures on the ground finally rose, overwhelmed with awe. Was this the true awakening of a supreme being?
“No, I strongly suspect that Elder Meng has ascended even further!” someone exclaimed.
This was not impossible, for Meng Tianzheng had never walked the ordinary path. In his youth, he had attempted to use his body as a seed, nearly succeeding—only to fail at the final moment.
One could say that in that era, his achievement was unprecedented and unmatched.
His talent was unparalleled; no predecessor had ever reached such heights, shaking the past and dazzling the present.
It was that single failure that nearly shattered his Dao body, almost annihilating his form and spirit. For a long time afterward, he remained in silence, lingering at the edge of hell, enduring torment.
Yet, Meng Tianzheng never gave up, never despaired. In his half-ruined state, he lay dormant, silently recovering and mending his body.
Watching his peers rise one after another while he remained stagnant, his Dao body half-crippled—such suffering was unimaginable to ordinary people. But in the end, he returned!
Years later, it was as if he had been reborn from ashes, rising from the flames. The cracks on his Dao body vanished, and he stood once more, ultimately reaching the pinnacle of the human path.
Had the world’s environment not changed, he would have long since ascended to immortality!
Everyone knew that Meng Tianzheng was a peerless genius. Had he not been crippled in his youth, struck down by the will of heaven, he might have been even stronger than he was now.
“Elder Meng was so handsome in his youth, radiant like the sun! I think this is what a true hero looks like!” A young girl blushed, lost in admiration.
And she wasn’t alone—many young women’s eyes sparkled with admiration.
The older generation could only sigh in silence.
“This old fellow is truly bizarre. Could he have successfully undergone nirvana recently, birthing an immense surge of vitality?” the Fifth Dragon muttered, unwilling to accept it.
—
### **Divine Medicine Mountain Range, Deepest Region**
Shi Hao sprinted forward, accompanied by a Burial Knight, arriving at a lush, verdant area where shimmering light danced across the trees, their emerald waves undulating like a green sea.
Bones littered the ground—clearly, this was no benevolent place.
“Fellow Daoist, save me!”
From within the sea of trees, an ancient tree wailed, calling upon the glowing trees to awaken and protect it.
“Divine Tree, don’t run! I truly mean no harm. Look, one of your brothers is right beside me, nourished by All-Soil, thriving even more!” Shi Hao called from behind, putting on his most harmless and innocent expression.
“These are Corpse Trees, grown from the corpses of the dead!” The golden Divine Tree in the earthen pot beside Shi Hao spoke, its experience allowing it to recognize the origins of these ancient trees.
“You’ve fallen, seeking help from Corpse Trees!” the golden Divine Tree in the pot shouted.
“Better than you, following a ghostly thing! These Corpse Trees have no true consciousness and won’t run amok!” the crimson Divine Tree in the forest retorted.
Hearing this, the Burial Knight’s black mist thickened, and it softly chanted an ancient incantation, casting an eerie atmosphere over the land. Though it was daytime, darkness descended.
Then, a chilling wind howled, and bloody mist spread, as if the underworld itself had manifested.
Soon, the sea of trees glowed, unleashing a powerful force. Every tree trembled before stretching out their branches.
“Ah—!”
The crimson Divine Tree shrieked in terror as all the Corpse Trees moved, trapping it. Their trunks twisted like crocodile dragons, ready to tear into it.
“Let me go!” the old tree screeched.
Shi Hao was startled—he hadn’t expected the Burial Knight to have such control over the Corpse Trees.
“My clan planted these. They grow atop burial mounds, serving as low-tier guardians of the Burial Earth,” the Burial Knight explained.
Shi Hao was stunned. So, Corpse Trees were related to the Burial Earth?
Did that mean certain things in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths—like All-Soil and Corpse Trees—originated from the Ancient Burial Grounds?
“Haha… old friend, stop struggling. Today, we shall finally reunite and merge as one!” The golden Divine Tree beside Shi Hao was overjoyed.
Black mist surged as the Burial Knight suppressed the crimson Divine Tree, preventing it from escaping.
By the time Shi Hao and the others arrived, it had completely wilted, subdued by the horde of Corpse Trees. Though it radiated crimson light, it was hopelessly outnumbered.
The tree was peculiar—its trunk bore hollows resembling human features, and its dense canopy looked like fiery red hair.
“You walk with Burial Knights. Their deathly aura clashes with ours. Prolonged contact will drag you into darkness!” the crimson Divine Tree spat angrily.
“You misunderstand. I have no ties to it,” the golden Divine Tree explained, not wanting to alienate its kin before merging.
“Elder Divine Tree, you’re mistaken…” Shi Hao also spoke up, choosing honesty over suppression.
After all, he didn’t want to offend it—he still hoped it would one day evolve into an Immortal Tree!
This tree was of immense importance, capable of elevating someone to immortality instantly. In this changed world, it was a beacon of hope.
The crimson tree wavered in suspicion before gradually accepting their words, sensing no deathly aura on them—they must have only recently met the Burial Knight.
“Immortal Trees? So what? The depths of the Ancient Burial Grounds have them too,” the Burial Knight suddenly interjected, displeased by the tree’s disdain.
“What did you say?” Both Divine Trees were shocked.
“How does one reach the depths of the Ancient Burial Grounds?” Shi Hao pressed.
“Too far. You can’t go,” the Burial Knight shut them down, refusing to lead them.
“Are there immortal medicines there?” Shi Hao’s eyes gleamed. He truly wanted one—if given to the Great Elder, it might propel him into the immortal realm, breaking free of the world’s shackles.
“Yes, and not just one. I’ve seen them, though they’re useless to us,” the Burial Knight said.
Shi Hao nearly lost his mind. Multiple immortal medicines freely roaming the Burial Grounds? The mere thought made him salivate.
These were keys to immortality! If he could bring them back, he could create multiple long-lived beings in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths!
“Brother, I’ll follow you! Take me there!” Shi Hao’s shamelessness could rival a shield as he grabbed the Burial Knight’s arm, his enthusiasm giving it chills.
It recoiled. “Our auras clash. Don’t touch me.”
“I don’t mind. Besides, you’re not a woman—er, a female Burial Knight. What’s the big deal?” Shi Hao waved it off.
“I mind!” the Burial Knight stated flatly but firmly.
“Why?” Shi Hao refused to relent.
“Would you like a toad crawling up your arm? That’s how I feel,” the Burial Knight deadpanned, making Shi Hao’s face fall.
Indignant, Shi Hao gritted his teeth. A mere corpse dared to look down on him? Absurd!
“You’re going too far! I haven’t even complained about you!”
“But I *do* dislike you. Fine, if that hurts, let’s say… men and women shouldn’t touch.” The Burial Knight, whether blunt or darkly humorous, twisted the knife.
Shi Hao was speechless, his expression blank before he blurted, “You’re a female Burial Knight?”
“Is that a problem?”
“No, none at all!” Shi Hao shut his mouth, feeling dizzy.
Yet, he couldn’t resist asking again, his greed for immortal medicines undeniable.
“I don’t believe it. Why would immortal medicines stay in the Burial Grounds? Aren’t they afraid of falling into darkness?” the crimson Divine Tree scoffed.
“Wrong. They *choose* to stay. The Burial Grounds are their safest haven,” the female Burial Knight countered.
“Such a waste! Go catch one, and I’ll trade you All-Soil!” Shi Hao rubbed his hands, drooling.
The Burial Knight frowned. “Immortal medicines are useless to me, but… perhaps the supreme beings in the Burial Grounds have use for them.”
Shi Hao tensed. Was his plan already doomed?
“True, your deathly aura repels them, but aren’t there supreme Burial Knights who’ve shed their deathly essence?” he sighed.
“Now that you mention it, I once saw a lord chop down an immortal tree to make a coffin,” the Burial Knight mused.
“What?! Such waste! Tell me where he lives—I’ll beat him to death!” Shi Hao raged, forgetting his own strength.
“That lord’s pet chicken could swallow you whole,” the Burial Knight sneered, rare emotion in its voice.
“Are you *really* female? If not, I’ll beat you senseless!”
A chicken? How strong could it be?
“Oh, I forgot. Before it molted, that chicken was called… a True Phoenix outside the Burial Grounds.”
“Must you brag?!”
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