For a moment, silence reigned. Jin Yang’s face was icy, his pupils reflecting the image of a Golden Crow spreading its wings to rend the heavens. He yearned to unleash his fury, but he couldn’t.
Just as his uncle had warned, the “Epoch of the Fallen Emperor” was too powerful for him to control. If he forced its use, it would likely drain his very essence.
What kind of era was the Epoch of the Fallen Emperor? Merely mentioning it made the mighty of the Immortal Domain pale with dread, evoking a sense of horror!
A technique named after such an era naturally carried its own terrifying, forbidden power.
The White Peacock Fairy tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and was the first to step forward, her gaze lingering on Shi Hao with curiosity and a probing intensity.
To the denizens of the Immortal Domain, the lower realm was backward—its spiritual energy withered, its resources exhausted, especially in this era. It should have been impossible for such a young prodigy to emerge.
More importantly, that land was tainted, harboring ominous forces, destined for eventual ruin.
In their eyes, no true genius could arise from such a barbaric wasteland. Yet, here was Shi Hao, defying all expectations and teaching them a harsh lesson.
Several of them approached, scrutinizing Shi Hao, eager to uncover all his secrets.
The most aggrieved was Jin Yang. He had spoken too confidently earlier, only to suffer defeat at the hands of a lower-realm being who shattered his immortal runes.
He couldn’t accept it. He wielded true immortal techniques—how could he lose to some wild youth from a desolate land?
If he lacked talent, he might have resigned himself. But he was hailed as a prodigy, a renowned young powerhouse among the Golden Crow Clan.
The battle’s outcome left him humiliated and furious.
His eyes burned as he glared at Shi Hao, who had collected his flesh and even wiped his lips—what did that mean?
Did that human truly dare to eat it?
“Hahaha…” San Zang laughed heartily as he approached, offering unreserved congratulations.
“Your cultivation grows ever more refined, your power vast—truly befitting a young champion who has never tasted defeat,” Shen Ming chimed in, her crimson hair cascading, her skin flawless, her eyes sparkling. Every movement of this enchantress exuded irresistible allure.
Regardless, the three of them had journeyed together and now stood united.
“Brother Daoist, you are indeed extraordinary. To reach such heights in the lower realm, where resources are scarce and supreme techniques absent—you are truly a rare genius,” the White Peacock Fairy remarked.
The others remained silent, but at least they didn’t turn hostile. Acknowledging the duel’s outcome was already a rare concession.
Shi Hao smiled faintly, offering only a nod in response.
“What is the Immortal Domain truly like?” Shen Ming asked.
Shi Hao turned his gaze to the others, still silent. Earlier, it had been agreed that if he defeated the Golden Crow Clan’s young expert, he would be allowed entry.
The scene fell quiet as none of them spoke.
Jin Yang’s face cycled between green and pale. He had never imagined defeat, hence his earlier bold promise. Now, he was trapped.
What was the Immortal Domain? A place now sealed off from the outside world, its connection to the lower realms severed!
The Thunder Spirit had been allowed entry only because the figure on the straw mat was too terrifying, bearing a token that forced the gates open.
But now, three more youths sought entry… Jin Yang froze, at a loss.
“Let them in for a look,” came a sigh from deep within the stone gate. It was the same middle-aged man, who had not yet departed.
“Fine!” Jin Yang gritted his teeth and agreed.
That middle-aged man was a towering figure among the Golden Crows. His word was law.
Of course, Jin Yang had brought this upon himself. He could only wonder if his clan would punish him later.
The White Peacock Fairy, the man in purple, and the others led the way forward with Jin Yang.
It was surreal—in this era of severed realms, where even immortals couldn’t enter, these outsiders had breached the Immortal Domain. A miracle indeed!
The gates were colossal, the passage beneath them vast beyond belief, stretching endlessly.
The gray-brown stone road seemed to have no end.
Fortunately, they all possessed great abilities. Ordinary mortals would have walked for eternity.
With a single step spanning miles, they traversed the gate’s passage in moments, entering a boundless world.
This was the Immortal Domain.
Before them stretched majestic mountains and breathtaking vistas, where spiritual essence condensed into rivers.
A towering peak pierced the heavens, its sheer size terrifying. Barren and stone, it exuded chaotic energy and immortal essence.
Rivers flowed through the sky, teeming with life, bathed in iridescent light and immortal aura.
Shi Hao was stunned. This was truly a sacred land for cultivation, surpassing the outside world—a realm worthy of true immortals.
Even the stones here pulsed with life, some nodding, some rolling, on the verge of sentience.
Every blade of grass and leaf brimmed with dense spiritual energy.
Whoosh!
A divine herb shot through the air, fleeing.
Shi Hao nearly gave chase. Though not a true immortal herb, its value in the lower realm was incalculable.
“Brother Daoist, please stop. This is the Kun Clan’s territory. Though near the gates, it is not unclaimed. That herb is theirs,” the White Peacock Fairy cautioned.
Shi Hao feigned embarrassment, claiming excitement had clouded his judgment. In truth, he was testing the herb’s worth in this ancient world.
As they pressed on, faint immortal mist drifted through the air—the most precious of all.
Shi Hao inhaled deeply, marveling. Wasn’t this the environment cultivators dreamed of? The density of immortal essence could vastly extend lifespans.
Here, even without achieving immortality, one could live for ages. With sufficient strength, one could approach eternal life.
Ahead, a volcano hung in the sky, spewing smoke and lava.
Was there another world inside? Otherwise, where did the lava come from?
Yet it emitted no toxins. The lava and smoke gathered in one spot, flowing into a section of the city wall.
There sat a middle-aged man, golden hair cascading, his gaze cold and indifferent. He glanced their way before closing his eyes again.
“Uncle…” Jin Yang whispered, then fell silent.
The man didn’t respond. Earlier, it had been his voice that permitted their entry. As one of the generals guarding this place, his strength was peerless, representing the Golden Crow Clan’s authority.
Without his influence, Jin Yang and the others would never have been allowed atop the gate tower.
“The gates hold no grand sights. Let us venture deeper, to witness the true splendor of the Immortal Domain,” San Zang said, acting as if he belonged.
His divine radiance, like a sun god’s, made him seem more celestial than even the descendants of immortals.
For a Burial Knight to appear so holy was rare indeed.
“Is there a place of breathtaking beauty, one that truly represents the Immortal Domain?” Shi Hao asked.
He, too, wished to explore further.
The others hesitated, troubled.
Then Shi Hao and his companions stiffened as they turned back. Soldiers clad in ancient armor were purifying the path they had walked, wielding sacred artifacts.
Divine light veiled the surroundings, as if fearing contamination from their bodies.
“How… cautious,” Shen Ming muttered, biting back a rebuke. The soldiers’ leader exuded dense immortal mist—his power terrifying.
“Take us to the Immortal Pit,” she said instead.
Not far from the gates stood an altar leading deep into the Immortal Domain.
As they stepped onto it, thick immortal energy enveloped them, and a five-colored divine light swept over them, whisking them away.
They reappeared above a massive chasm, far from the stone gate.
Boulders littered the area, the pit bottomless yet not frightening. Immortal mist rose from below, and the surrounding stone forest exuded chaotic energy.
“What is this place?” Shen Ming asked.
“One of the Immortal Domain’s wonders. Though perilous, it holds boundless opportunities,” Jin Yang replied coldly.
“Some stones here contain ancient immortal scriptures, others nurture peerless weapons. But for every thousand who seek, perhaps only one gains anything—many instead become food for the stone beasts,” the White Peacock Fairy warned.
The Immortal Pit’s origins were shrouded in mystery.
It was said to have existed since the Epoch of the Fallen Emperor.
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