Over the vast desert, a Naga Asura appeared, circling high in the sky. Due to the immense distance, it resembled nothing more than a tiny silver speck of light, its gaze fixed intently on the region of the Imperial Pass.
Shi Hao, ever perceptive, felt a sinking sensation in his heart. He detected a restrained killing intent—this was a royal from the foreign realm, a race with extraordinary flight capabilities, surveilling the Imperial Pass.
High above, the Naga Asura’s heart trembled violently. It had actually laid eyes on Huang—the youth who had escaped from their domain! Excitement and exhilaration surged through it.
The creature bore the torso, legs, and arms of a human, but its head was that of a silver serpent, and a thick serpent’s tail extended from the base of its spine. Moreover, it possessed a pair of silver-white Asura wings. This race was notoriously ferocious.
It needed to relay the news immediately, for a great figure was nearby, attempting to breach the Abyss! This was an immense opportunity for merit, and if it could report first, the Naga Asura would surely be lavishly rewarded.
“Huang, I hope you aren’t delayed by those tedious entry procedures!” The Naga Asura sneered, then with a whoosh, spread its wings and shot toward the other side of the desert.
Clang!
A piercing sound tore through the air, accompanied by the roar of wind and thunder. The attack arrived before it could react—far faster than it had anticipated.
It was a golden spear, forged from lightning. With a sickening thud, it pierced through the creature’s body, spraying blood before the Naga Asura exploded into fragments.
Death.
With its final glance, the Naga Asura saw the youth standing coldly in the desert, withdrawing his hand as the lightning in his palm dissipated.
“Aoooo—!”
A long howl erupted—its last broken consciousness—shaking the heavens.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
One after another, figures emerged: a crimson giant eagle, a demonic bird wreathed in black flames, a divine avian blazing with blue fire, and even a three-legged wyvern…
Over a dozen powerful beings with supreme flight capabilities appeared, all at the Dunyi Realm—mighty cultivators who would typically serve as commanders of their respective races. That they were merely deployed as scouts spoke volumes about the impending scale of their actions.
“Aoooo—!”
The howl resounded across the desert as the foreign scouts spotted Huang, immediately sounding the alarm to alert the great figures lurking in the depths.
Boom!
In the next moment, an aura of immortality unfurled, a supreme ripple of power shaking the heavens and sweeping across the desert. Yet, the Abyss effectively blocked its advance.
“Bring them into the city!” Meng Tianzheng commanded.
Divine light had already swept over the children, revealing no anomalies.
Swoosh!
From the sky, massive bone spears rained down—each capable of piercing the heavens and shattering mountains—their targets unmistakably Shi Hao and the children.
Shi Hao’s gaze turned icy. Between his fingers, order intertwined with thunder, coalescing into a massive lightning seal that he hurled skyward, obliterating all runes and radiance in its path.
A violent explosion erupted in the heavens.
“Excellent!” Cheers erupted from the city walls—Huang’s power had surged yet again.
“Swoosh!”
With a flick of his wrist, Shi Hao summoned a broadsword forged from lightning and slashed toward the sky.
Thud!
Amidst the blinding electric radiance, the blade cleaved through the heavens, slicing down a black demonic bird in a shower of blood.
Such strength? The onlookers gasped. A Dunyi Realm flying creature had been slain from the ground!
The remaining scouts retreated hastily, not daring to approach.
But from behind them, an even more terrifying presence emerged—foreign powerhouses, including a Supreme Being.
At the same time, a figure appeared beside Shi Hao: Meng Tianzheng, standing firm as he observed the enemy.
Bang!
He pressed a palm into the void—a warning, a barrier—shaking the desert.
“Fall back first,” he ordered.
The children had already entered the city. Now, he and Shi Hao covered the retreat, calmly withdrawing into the Imperial Pass.
Soon, towering figures emerged at the desert’s edge—colossal as mountains, their frigid gazes fixed on the pass.
Six Supreme Beings had arrived upon hearing of Huang’s return. Their urgency spoke volumes—they sought to reclaim him, to erase the disgrace of his escape.
“Surrender Huang, or the Imperial Pass falls today!” A thunderous voice boomed, shaking the earth. Without the pass’s protection, many would perish.
“Scram!” Elder Meng Tianzheng’s reply was succinct.
Inside the pass, jubilation erupted as a crowd of youths swarmed Shi Hao, celebrating his safe return.
The Lunar Grace slung an arm around his shoulders like a brother. “Dude, you had me worried for nothing!”
Long Gongyan stepped forward, clapping Shi Hao’s shoulder. “It’s good to have you back.”
“Tsk, what a waste. I burned so much paper money for you,” Cao Yusheng grumbled.
Even the reticent Ten Crown King Tianzi approached, punching Shi Hao’s chest. “Impressive.”
Laughter and camaraderie filled the air—Shi Hao’s survival was nothing short of miraculous.
“Let’s drink! I’ve got my old man’s vintage brew—aged tens of thousands of years!” Tuogu Yulong declared, joined by other local youths.
Shi Hao embraced them warmly, including Qing Yi, much to the amusement of the crowd.
Nearby, Yue Chan—connected to Qing Yi—shivered uncomfortably, feeling the embrace vicariously.
The children trailed behind Shi Hao, bewildered by the unfamiliar scene of joy and laughter.
Yet, beneath the celebration, tension simmered.
Outside, towering figures loomed like black mountains, blotting out the sun—ominous and oppressive.
War was coming. In this era, there was no escape—only confrontation.
Fists clenched in silent resolve.
“The Imperial Pass falls today!” declared a Supreme Being outside, his voice icy with certainty.
The declaration sent chills through the crowd. Such confidence hinted at formidable preparations.
From the walls, a voice spoke—Wang Er of the Nine Dragons, questioning Shi Hao: “How did you escape? The foreign prison is no ordinary cage.”
“What are you implying?” an elder retorted.
“Merely curious. I fear this may bring calamity upon us,” Wang Er replied.
Silence fell. Many shared the unspoken doubt—how could Shi Hao have escaped the grasp of immortal beings?
“I’ll speak regardless,” Shi Hao declared. “The foreign realm is preparing for an all-out assault. The final battle is upon us.”
His words carried weight, aligning with recent ominous signs.
Urgently, he recounted the words of the one-armed elder from the Primordial Imperial City.
“So it begins…” someone murmured, the weight of the revelation pressing upon them.
Respect and guilt swelled for those who had held the line for so long.
Yet skepticism lingered—without firsthand witness, some dismissed it as mere hearsay.
Then Shi Hao spoke of his own journey.
“What? You entered the Immortal Domain?!” The crowd erupted in disbelief.
…
Meanwhile, in the foreign realm, long-dormant lands—sanctuaries of the Immortal Kings—blazed with light.
The rumble of war chariots shook the earth as ancient beasts, long slumbering, awakened to draw them forth.
The Immortal Kings had returned from the Burial Grounds. After eons of silence, they marched once more.
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