“Roar…” The golden lion suppressed by Shi Hao let out a low growl, its voice filled with anger, humiliation, and unwillingness.
It was a descendant of the Fearless Lion lineage, whose ancestors once dared to challenge the Immortal Monk Kings, their prestige renowned far and wide. Their clan had always been dominant—how could they ever be reduced to prisoners, suffering such disgrace?
“Keep growling, and I’ll skin you alive for meat!” Shi Hao threatened mercilessly, slamming his palm down and snapping the golden lion’s spine.
Despite its formidable strength as a divine-level expert, its shattered body trembled uncontrollably, the injuries too severe to bear.
“Stop! We’ll talk!” The other two lions couldn’t hold out any longer, fearing their brother would be killed.
They panted heavily, glaring at Shi Hao with golden eyes brimming with hatred. Yet, against the might of “Huang,” they were helpless, with no immediate solution.
Shi Hao remained silent, waiting for them to speak.
“There’s a mysterious artifact here, one of immense significance!”
“Ancestor Yu Tuo once excavated the ancient burial grounds and stumbled upon a tattered scroll. Though damaged, it recorded the location of a hidden relic buried deep within.”
The two golden lions had no choice but to reveal the secret, their eyes flickering with reluctance.
Something Yu Tuo coveted? The implications were staggering—Shi Hao’s heart raced.
After all, An Lan and Yu Tuo were terrifying figures who had clashed with Immortal Kings and survived.
What could it be that even Yu Tuo desired?
“Too vague. Your words mean nothing—I already knew there was great fortune here.” Though inwardly unsettled, Shi Hao’s tone remained icy.
“Ancestor Yu Tuo would never reveal what it is!” one golden lion hastily interjected.
Yet, everyone knew—whatever it was, it had to be extraordinary.
Currently, several rumors circulated in the outside world.
Some claimed there was a scripture here, unfathomable to both immortals and demons, capable of shaking heaven and earth, carrying supreme mysteries—enough to stir even someone like Yu Tuo.
Another tale spoke of a burial artifact specifically designed to counter the Undead. For an ancestor seeking to explore the ancient burial grounds, this would undoubtedly be a priceless treasure.
Yet another legend suggested a mysterious power lay hidden here, one that, if obtained, would render its wielder invincible.
There were other whispers too—of a being gestating within, its physique unparalleled in history. It was said that if one could infuse their soul into it, they would gain an indomitable body!
…
Shi Hao frowned, silently pondering after hearing all the rumors.
Regardless, this place indeed held immense fortune!
“You’re holding back. There’s more you haven’t said, isn’t there?” Shi Hao’s voice turned cold as he pointed, eliciting a pained roar from his captive as a bloody hole appeared on its body.
“Stop!” one golden lion bellowed.
“The depths here are perilous—rash entry will turn you to withered bones!” the other shouted, hastily revealing the truth.
Over the years, Yu Tuo and An Lan had sent forces repeatedly, yet all had failed. The depths of this region held an inexplicable force that slaughtered intruders.
Immortals couldn’t cross the Abyss—they had no way to come here!
Other cultivators who ventured in had all met failure, with more than one Supreme perishing, their blood staining the ancient earth, their bones never to leave.
“Even Supremes die here?” Shi Hao’s brows knitted.
The place was too dangerous—did that mean he had no hope at all?
“Yes. Since ancient times, no Supreme who entered has ever returned alive—all died here.” One golden lion nodded reluctantly.
Given a choice, it wouldn’t have spoken.
“Then why did you come?” Shi Hao stared at them.
“Because while others failed, some of lower realms survived and returned,” another lion explained.
How was that possible? Shi Hao was skeptical, but after listening carefully, he fell into thought.
“ROAR!”
Suddenly, the lion in Shi Hao’s grasp unleashed an earth-shaking roar—one of their clan’s supreme divine abilities, the Fearless Lion’s Roar!
Originally suppressed, it had somehow broken free and turned on Shi Hao with a devastating sonic attack!
Simultaneously, the other two lions bristled, their golden manes flaring as they unleashed even louder roars, assaulting Shi Hao.
They struck without warning, aiming to kill Huang in an instant.
For the Fearless Lion lineage, captivity was a disgrace they would never accept. They had secretly worked to break their seals and slay their foe.
Shi Hao’s body shuddered, his fingers numbing as he loosened his grip. The wounded golden lion broke free—only to vomit blood, its body cracking apart.
At the last moment, Shi Hao had struck, shattering nearly half its bones!
How?! It was stunned—how could Huang be this strong?!
“Attack! Kill him!”
“ROAR!”
The other two lions shielded their injured brother, their bodies blazing with golden flames as divine abilities surged forth to annihilate Shi Hao.
Crossing his arms, Shi Hao summoned a Kunpeng entwined with lightning, blocking and dispersing their attacks.
His expression darkened—these lions were far stronger than he’d anticipated, nearly catching him off guard.
“You…” The three lions paled. Their ambush had been a sure-kill strike, yet Huang wasn’t even injured—how monstrous was he?!
“Since you seek death, I’ll oblige.” Shi Hao’s voice was icy.
The three golden lions blazed with golden light, their bloodlines fully activated as they unleashed their utmost power.
“Activate the ancient treasures!”
They whispered among themselves.
They knew raw strength wouldn’t suffice—only those two ancient relics could turn the tide.
No matter what, they struggled to believe that a Fearless Lion at the Severing Realm could lose to a human at the Void Path Realm!
“CLANG!”
A resonant chime echoed as one lion reared up, holding an ancient alms bowl in its massive paw. Though weathered, it brimmed with chaotic energy—a formidable treasure!
“A relic of the ancient monks, though cracked,” one lion lamented.
The bowl was riddled with fine fissures. Otherwise, its power would be terrifying—capable of swallowing suns, moons, and stars.
“Huang, your life ends here!” The lion roared, the bowl glowing as it expanded, attempting to suck Shi Hao inside.
“Hmm?” Shi Hao was startled—the bowl’s pull was overwhelming, and he found himself shrinking, half-submerged in its chaotic depths.
“Hah! It works!” A lion exulted.
Shi Hao’s body dwindled, half-consumed by the bowl’s abyss!
“Pity it’s not the Immortal Monk King’s bowl—that could slay even immortals,” one lion sighed.
“Huang, you’ve met your end! My ancestors once devoured true immortals—what are you to oppose us?!” The wounded lion roared, finally venting its fury. But it wasn’t enough—it wanted to watch Huang melt into blood.
“Traitors who sided with the foreign realm, shamed by history—how dare you boast of your ancestors’ infamy?!” Shi Hao sneered.
Though trapped, he remained calm.
“BOOM!”
Another lion reared up, gripping a purple-gold vajra scepter, its metallic sheen cold and imposing.
Like the bowl, it bore countless cracks—another ancient monk’s artifact.
When activated, the two treasures unleashed divine might, shaking the earth and splitting the sky.
“You’re dead!” The lion swung the scepter at Shi Hao.
“CLANG!”
Shi Hao blocked the scepter bare-handed, standing firm within the bowl as he countered the descending strike.
“Victors write history. Countless clans of the Nine Heavens perished in that war, while my Fearless Lion lineage rose as kings of the foreign realm, thriving ever since!”
“Like it or not, that’s reality! Many noble houses are now dust, their ancestors turned into puppets—my clan keeps several such servants!”
One lion taunted, aiming to unsettle Shi Hao.
“Enough talk. Time to die.” Shi Hao erupted with light, a sword embryo piercing the bowl before exploding it apart.
Simultaneously, he pummeled the descending scepter, its cracks widening until it too shattered.
“AHH—!”
The lions screamed as shards embedded into their bodies, leaving them bloodied and grievously wounded.
“Flee!”
Terror-stricken, they realized Huang was unstoppable—far beyond their expectations.
“Too late.” Shi Hao smirked.
BANG!
The first captive lion was seized, its head lopped off, its soul split asunder.
Next, Shi Hao turned his slaughter upon the remaining two.
Despite their Fearless Lion bloodline, they were no match for an unrestrained Huang—they weren’t true ancestral revivals.
Soon, the area was awash with blood as the last two lions fell.
Half an hour later, Shi Hao’s hair stood on end as he ventured deeper, sensing immense peril—as if calamity loomed.
BOOM!
Suddenly, a dull roar echoed from the depths, followed by a wave of black energy surging outward.
Shi Hao’s blood ran cold. He turned and fled, sensing impending doom. Was disaster unfolding within?
Then came a piercing howl, shaking the ancient land—was someone else here?
A humanoid skeleton dashed from the forbidden depths, fleeing madly.
“How… another skeleton like me?” Shi Hao gasped.
“ROAR!”
Another lion’s roar sounded from the side. A second creature fled—a lion skeleton, golden bones gleaming as it sprinted from the black tide.
“This…” Shi Hao’s eyes narrowed. This lion skeleton was absurdly strong, far surpassing the previous three. A revived ancestor?
Soon, he spotted a third figure—a skeletal being tearing through space and time with each stride.
“The Gu Clan!” Shi Hao’s eyes sharpened. Not just a Fearless Lion ancestor, but also a Gu Clan expert who’d dared battle Immortal Kings.
“And that humanoid skeleton… could it be the so-called Young Master of the Imperial Clan?”
This time, the three strongest experts were all present—skeletons like Shi Hao, fleeing for their lives from the encroaching black energy.
“I’m not the only one turned to bones? There are others?” Shi Hao was stunned.
Just what was it that Yu Tuo coveted? As Shi Hao fled, he glanced back at the rolling black fog, his mind racing.
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