“Truly unexpected! That Huang’s fate is incredibly resilient—he actually survived venturing into the Divine Medicine Divine Vein. In the end, he even took that fragment of a map and charged into the legendary land, obtaining a great fortune!”
In the Imperial Pass, many were discussing the matter.
The news from beyond the border was simply too shocking. The forces of the Otherworld had gathered in overwhelming numbers, pressing toward the Divine Medicine Mountain Range, converging on the Burial Earth Branch Vein, and even rushing toward the Heavenly Beast Forest. It was an all-out mobilization!
Confirmed reports had already arrived—numerous experts from the Otherworld had set out, swarming toward that land of chaos, all driven to madness in their search for Huang.
This sent shockwaves through the Imperial Pass. No one had expected that a young powerhouse at the Void Path Realm could stir up such a storm!
“We must rescue him! There’s no need for hesitation. Huang must have found something that the Otherworld covets—something that could pose a fatal threat to them. Otherwise, why would they go so berserk?”
Within the Imperial Pass, the iron-blooded war faction urged immediate action, advocating for a bloody confrontation with the Otherworld’s forces.
Of course, the undercurrents of intrigue were even more unimaginable. Various factions were maneuvering, each with their own hidden agendas.
“Rescue him! Open the gates! March out now!”
This was the most unified outcry in the city, boiling over with urgency.
Soon, the gates swung open. A spatial channel dispatched wave after wave of warriors into the vast desert beyond the walls.
Several groups set out separately!
Though the city had rallied in unison, it was hard to say who among them was sincere and who harbored ulterior motives.
Their unified cry for rescue was merely a pretext to leave the city—that much was certain.
Indeed, some were desperate to save Shi Hao, fearing his demise at the hands of the Otherworld’s army.
Yet others remained cold-eyed, speeding away in silence the moment they left the city. Their goal was to find Huang first and seize his fortune for themselves.
As time passed, many in the Imperial Pass learned of the great tomb in the cursed land, from which a rotting wooden chest had emerged.
The borderlands were in utter chaos. The sheer number of Otherworld forces had made the secret impossible to keep—even the cultivators of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths had caught wind of it.
Of course, some factions within the Imperial Pass had their own channels and had already received reports.
“Hurry! We must reach him and ensure Huang is saved!”
This was a group of fervent knights, mounted on mighty savage beasts, clad in dark, gleaming armor, surging through the sky like a torrent of steel.
Their mounts were colossal, soaring through the air at terrifying speeds.
These were the most unyielding warriors of the Imperial Pass, ruthless in battle, the boldest and fiercest against the Otherworld.
It was they who had demanded to reinforce Huang.
Their numbers were vast, and they knew full well that venturing into the Divine Medicine Mountain Range would mean a bloody battle—one from which many would never return. Yet they charged forward without hesitation.
“This isn’t for personal gain but for the greater good! Huang may have obtained something extraordinary—we cannot let it fall into the Otherworld’s hands!” a powerhouse roared, rallying morale.
But no encouragement was needed. Every one of them was already prepared to die.
This steel tide rumbled across the sky, deafening and suffused with killing intent—until they were abruptly halted.
A young man stood in their path, clad in resplendent golden armor, his aura overwhelming.
“Elder Meng Tianzheng!” someone exclaimed in recognition.
“Turn back! Don’t throw your lives away. That place is swarming with Otherworld’s supreme beings—no amount of reinforcements will change that!” The elder blocked them, refusing to let this core force march to their doom.
“But Huang is there! Even if we’re not rescuing him, that artifact cannot be lost!” someone argued.
“I’ve considered this. Huang managed to send word, urging us not to approach. The Otherworld’s forces have set a trap, waiting for you to walk into it. Huang, for now, is safe,” the elder replied.
That place was a dragon’s den and a tiger’s lair. The Otherworld had gone mad, deploying even their imperial clan’s supremes in their relentless hunt for Shi Hao. The danger was beyond measure.
Elder Meng Tianzheng understood that sending more troops would only lead to futile deaths.
This was why he had ventured out alone earlier, without any army.
He could see that Shi Hao shared the same concern—he wanted to bear the burden alone, unwilling to drag the brave souls of the Imperial Pass into his peril.
The elder decisively intercepted them. As much as he wished to save Shi Hao, he couldn’t let these warriors stain the demonic soil with their blood.
Other factions from the Imperial Pass had also set out, deliberately avoiding Meng Tianzheng’s group.
Among these cultivators, whispers circulated.
“Huang, your doom is sealed. After crossing our clan, your fortune will now be ours—a boon for our ancestor! The borderlands will be your grave!”
“Indeed, that artifact might elevate our clan to rival even the Immortal Kings!”
Clearly, they hailed from an immortal lineage, privy to some knowledge of the artifact. Now, masking their auras, they moved to ambush Huang.
This was an exceedingly dangerous force, capable of wreaking catastrophic havoc.
Another group advanced even faster, nearing the Divine Medicine Mountain Range without pause, unafraid of encountering the Otherworld.
“Aren’t we risking discovery by the Otherworld’s army? We’ll be slaughtered!” someone in the group fretted.
“Fear not. We won’t get too close—we’ll skirt around. Besides, I have this bone talisman to shield us from attack.”
“What? The Otherworld’s forces would spare us at the sight of this?” The younger members were aghast, realizing the implications. The word “betrayal” flashed through their minds.
Had their clan forsaken the Imperial Pass, colluding with the Otherworld?
The recent uproar over traitors—could their family be involved? The shock was paralyzing.
“Don’t overthink it. You were chosen for this mission because you’re trusted,” an elder leading them said.
Most of the group were top-tier experts; the young were few, as they’d be of little use here.
“Let me be frank—our clan isn’t the only one to see the light. At least one other has already switched sides, securing a path to survival for their lineage,” the elder added.
His words left some speechless with horror.
“Before returning to the Imperial Pass, I’ll erase this memory from your minds. No leaks can be tolerated.”
“But—”
“Remember, speed is crucial. We must find Huang before that other immortal clan does. This is our chance to claim a monumental merit!” the elder barked.
“Are we betraying the Imperial Pass or not? Are we here to rescue Huang?” a confused youth asked.
“Fool! On the surface, yes—to lure him out. The Otherworld’s experts requested this,” the elder snapped.
Had Shi Hao been present, his spine would have chilled. These “rescuers” were vipers in disguise, poised to strike the moment he emerged.
The Otherworld’s prolonged search had failed to locate him, suspecting he’d gone to ground in the Burial Earth or Heavenly Beast Forest.
But if the Imperial Pass’s forces arrived, he’d surely show himself.
It was an inescapable trap. The moment Shi Hao appeared, disaster would strike.
The borderlands were in unprecedented turmoil, with experts from all sides scouring the land for Huang.
“Open, damn you!” Shi Hao’s voice rang out.
On his journey, he repeatedly attempted to unlock the rotting wooden chest, to no avail. Frustrated, he still carried it, clueless about its purpose.
His speed never faltered. Even as he studied the chest, he streaked like lightning across mountains and valleys, heading deeper into the wilderness.
The region was vast—encompassing the Divine Medicine Mountain Range, Burial Earth, and Heavenly Beast Forest—seemingly endless.
Shi Hao raced on, navigating treacherous terrain with uncanny ease, avoiding danger.
He aimed for the Heavenly Beast Forest, though not directly. Instead, he skirted the edges of the Divine Medicine Mountain Range, planning to pass through.
The Burial Earth was out of the question—its countless tombs housed terrifying beings. Venturing there risked encountering entities who kept phoenixes as chickens.
The Divine Medicine Mountain Range was now impassable, swarming with Otherworld’s troops.
That left only the Heavenly Beast Forest.
Previously, Shi Hao had dismissed it—the place was infamous for its monstrous inhabitants. Yet now, with the other routes suicidal, he had no choice.
After an indeterminate time, he arrived at the forest’s edge, astonished by his own luck. The journey through such perilous lands had been oddly smooth.
“Strange… nothing attacked me along the way,” he mused.
Ahead, the forest loomed—trees towering thousands of feet, dwarfing mountains.
Shi Hao hesitated briefly before stepping forward.
“ROAR—!”
A deafening bellow shook the forest, sending leaves cascading like rain. The very earth trembled.
What kind of beast could produce such a sound from such a distance?
Shi Hao soared, activating his Heavenly Eye to glimpse an awe-inspiring sight.
A colossal ancient beast, its skull pierced by a rusted spear oozing faint immortal energy, hovered deep within the forest.
“That’s…” Shi Hao’s heart pounded.
He recalled legends of a mindless primordial beast in the Heavenly Beast Forest, impaled by a spear in the previous epoch yet never dying.
Had he just found it?
Despite his misgivings, Shi Hao plunged into the forest. Such a beast might be the only thing capable of deterring the Otherworld’s army.
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