Around Shi Hao’s body, a layer of radiant light emerged, dazzling like the divine halo of salvation from the ancient monk lineage, illuminating all beings as it enveloped him.
There, he became the sole existence in the entire world. One after another, Dao patterns flowed, diffused, and expanded, resembling an indomitable will that had endured since time immemorial.
What was eternal and indestructible? Even the undying could fall in battle one day. Who could persist through the cycles of epochs, endure the darkness, and gaze upon the rise and fall of countless ages?
At this moment, everyone felt an illusion—where Shi Hao stood seemed to transcend the mundane world, untouched by the greater universe, isolated yet supremely transcendent.
In a daze, people mistook him for an eternal being, one who could wander beyond the cycles of epochs, overlooking the mortal realm, surviving hundreds of eras, surpassing all heroes of past and present.
“How bizarre!” Soon, some experts snapped out of it, realizing that this was merely a young cultivator at the Severing Self Realm. How could he evoke such an uncanny illusion?
A tremor ran through the air as floating lights rose around Shi Hao’s body—some pale gold, embodying astonishing battle qi, as if an undefeated war god stood within the radiance. Others were crimson, bloodlight, where countless figures struggled as if crossing a sea of suffering. There was also violet light, within which an unshakable heavenly court stood, suppressing eternity…
Shi Hao gave off an extremely peculiar feeling, surrounded by multicolored lights, each hue representing different meanings—some signifying combat prowess, others slaughter, and some the establishment of order…
“Not simple. Only those with the potential to take the final step as a Supreme Being can condense such light of the grand era—a radiance that illuminates the heavens, dispelling ignorance and offering enlightenment for one’s future path of cultivation!” Several elderly cultivators beneath the Dao Comprehension Tree were visibly moved, one of them speaking thus.
Shi Hao remained as steady as a mountain, his body exuding a mysterious glow, as pure and translucent as divine glass, smoother than the finest jade. Dao principles coiled around him, growing denser—he was growing stronger.
Within him, a strand of primordial qi stirred, gradually taking shape, gathering like a great dragon that traversed his entire body!
Shi Hao knew that if he truly activated it, a Dao flower would bloom above his head, revealing a small figure seated in meditation. That primordial qi would then lock onto one of the figures, manifesting in such a form.
Yet, he refrained from acting rashly, unwilling to let those from the foreign realm see the two seated figures above his head, avoiding unnecessary trouble.
At this moment, the gates within his body—starting from the Wheel-Sea in his abdomen—began to glow continuously. New gates emerged, cracks spreading toward his chest, illuminating it brilliantly.
Late-stage Severing Self Realm—just one step away!
Consider this: he had only recently broken through, advancing to the Severing Self Realm in the Heavenly Beast Forest before stabilizing at the mid-stage. And now, he was on the verge of another breakthrough.
If one were to analyze his growth trajectory seriously, everyone would be stunned—it was simply too fast, defying all logic.
Bear in mind, aside from a few geniuses of the imperial clans, ordinary beings required an exceedingly long time to reach this realm. Even prodigies spending tens of thousands of years was not uncommon.
So far, his cultivation speed had already surpassed reason, standing out in this epoch, eclipsing all predecessors!
If he continued advancing at this breakneck pace—breaking into the late-stage Severing Self Realm in his twenties—he could even be compared to the peerless figures of the previous epoch in terms of speed.
Even the inheritors of the imperial clans now wore slightly altered expressions. Though older than Shi Hao by a few years, witnessing his ferocity placed immense pressure on them.
Chi Meng Hong’s pupils emitted two streaks of bloody light, his long hair gleaming like metallic threads, fluttering as his killing intent intensified.
Shi Hao let out a soft sigh, withdrawing from his state of Dao comprehension. The effects of the tea were limited, and he had already exited that profound realm.
Only then did many shift their gazes away, turning to savor their own Dao Comprehension Tea. Of course, many remained with closed eyes, never having paid attention to Shi Hao, still immersed in their own worlds.
Shi Hao retrieved the leaf from his cup, placing it on his palm for inspection. It had lost its spiritual essence, now dull and lifeless.
His gaze turned to the earthen altar, where over two thousand jade jars were piled together—a veritable treasure trove. Owning so many would be an immense boon for cultivation.
Pondering, Shi Hao noted that each leaf bore a unique shape, yet they felt strangely familiar, as if he had seen them before.
“It resembles another immortal medicine!”
During his struggle for the Decaying Wooden Chest, he had encountered an immortal plant. Chasing it had led him astray into a burial ground’s underground branch, toward the Burial Abyss.
That plant’s true form was a tree, but a segment of its trunk had been severed by a Burial King to craft a coffin. Enraged, the immortal medicine had fled.
“Similar!”
The more Shi Hao thought, the more he felt that plant resembled the Dao Comprehension Tea Tree. Though only roots and a tender shoot remained, their leaves were equally extraordinary.
He vividly recalled the translucent leaves on that shoot—shaped like spears, pagodas, arrows, and more—utterly bizarre.
In fact, he had obtained one, preserving it in a jade vessel. However, he had left it with his comrades at Imperial Pass, not bringing it here.
“But there are differences.” Shi Hao remembered that plant’s leaves exuded an overwhelming fragrance, saturated with the essence of immortality, perfect for refining elixirs of longevity!
In contrast, the leaves of the Dao Comprehension Tea Tree were better suited for brewing tea to aid enlightenment, containing only limited immortal essence.
“Legends say, in an era long past, even Immortal Kings would appear when the tea leaves matured, coming to drink a few cups.”
As the mountaintop quieted, one of the elders guarding the tea tree spoke, revealing these words.
Many who had awakened from their Dao comprehension were astonished, earnestly inquiring—why was the tea tree so extraordinary?
“In this world, true immortal roots do exist. Some are born of heaven and earth, the ancestral roots of a realm. Others are transformed from fallen Immortal Kings or Undying Kings, carrying profound significance.”
Hearing this, Shi Hao’s expression turned grave. He had long heard rumors that True Immortals, upon death, could transform into immortal medicines, surviving in another form.
Now, experts from the foreign realm confirmed it—only Immortal Kings could potentially become immortal medicines after death!
This was earth-shattering!
“The Dao Comprehension Tea Tree once ranked among the top three ancestral roots, one of the most renowned immortal medicines. Even Immortal Kings would gain insights from its tea—its value is immeasurable.”
An elder’s words silenced all present.
“Alas, it suffered a calamity. This ancestral root was split, its roots divided and planted in separate realms, weakening its efficacy.”
This revelation stunned everyone. An unparalleled immortal medicine had been ruthlessly split into two?
Instantly, all clans lamented—if the tea tree were whole, how profound would their enlightenment be after drinking its tea?
Imagine, even Immortal Kings once came to partake. What a glorious gathering that must have been!
“To think it was divided—what a tragedy!” Wu Kun, a young imperial clan expert, sighed in regret.
“That’s nothing. The so-called Second Immortal Root was split into six, even more bizarre and lamentable,” the elder added.
“What? Why?” The crowd gasped. Was the Second Immortal Root a natural ancestral root or one transformed later?
“Rumors say our Undying Kings guarded against that root. Secrets suggest it was split into six parts, burying six segments of a being, destined to reunite one day!”
This sent chills down spines. What kind of being was this? From what era?
“Well, an ancient Undying King from an unfathomably distant past once studied an ancient stele in his twilight years and spoke of this,” the elder replied reverently, his tone filled with awe.
Even though that Undying King had perished eons ago, the elder dared not slight his memory, speaking with utmost respect.
Undying Kings falling was earth-shaking, but not unheard of—at least one had perished in battle in the previous epoch!
As for the elder’s mention of an “ancient king,” its origins were lost to time.
“Enough. Now, it’s up to your own fortunes. The stronger your methods, the more you’ll obtain!”
Beneath the Dao Comprehension Tea Tree, an elder pointed to the earthen altar, where over two thousand jade jars of precious tea leaves awaited.
The battle for immortal tea leaves had officially begun. Anyone could seize them—no longer limited to one jar. If strong enough, one could take a hundred!
A hundred leaves meant a hundred chances at enlightenment—just the thought was maddening.
A trash struggling through the dark cycles, stumbling yet persevering, his goal unchanged. Be gentle with the bricks—is this the rhythm of success?
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