The Burial Clan has appeared—both men and women, all young, emerging from beneath the earth in a black-gold war chariot.
The Burial Lands are not too far from here. They arrived by following the ancient underground burial veins, introducing an unexpected variable before the Imperial Pass.
“Don’t misunderstand. We’re just here to watch the spectacle, with no intention of intervening. After slumbering for so long, we simply wish to see how strong the heroes of this era are,” one of the youths said.
This was a force that had appeared abruptly—who would dare let their guard down?
Even the Otherworldly Domain, despite their overwhelming strength and supreme confidence, treated the Burial Lands with extreme caution!
Not long ago, an Immortal King had personally visited the Burial Lands, treating the matter with utmost solemnity and staying for many days—an act that shocked many.
Immortal Kings stood aloof, towering above all, watching the river of time flow by and generations of prodigies rise and fall. Rarely did anything in the world catch their attention, yet they regarded the Burial Lands with extreme importance!
“We’ll step back a bit. Please, carry on,” one of them said.
Shi Hao was surprised to see familiar faces so soon—San Zang and Shen Ming were also present, though they had remained silent until now.
“We’ve come by the decree of the Burial King to observe the battle,” Shen Ming finally spoke, flashing a smile that revealed a row of crystalline teeth.
These beings were all Golden Burial Warriors, with San Zang’s saintly purity and Shen Ming’s bewitching allure making them impossible to ignore.
In the past, knowledge of the Burial Lands had been scarce, and even the Imperial Pass had been unaware until recently.
The black-gold war chariot bore the marks of time—even with traces of Dark Immortal Gold embedded within, it had been corroded into dullness, covered in cracks.
These were the scars left by time, exuding an ancient aura and engraved with the imprints of the Great Dao!
“Gentlemen, you may observe from the sidelines. Once we breach the Imperial Pass, we invite you to join us in treading this realm!” a Supreme Being declared, treating the youths with respect.
This sent a ripple of unease through the crowd.
Shi Hao had reason to suspect that when An Lan and Yu Tuo entered the Burial Lands, they had struck some kind of agreement with the Burial Kings.
But now, there was no turning back—could anything be worse than the Otherworldly Domain’s invasion?
“Greetings, friends from the Burial Lands! We’ve long heard of your renown!” a young man from the Otherworldly Domain, a member of the Imperial Clan, called out.
In terms of status, the Golden Burial Warriors were on par with the Imperial Clan.
“Proceed as usual. Pretend we’re not here,” a female Burial Warrior replied.
“Good. Let’s finish this quickly, slaughter these wretches, and then we can converse,” the Imperial Clan youth holding a celestial halberd commanded. “Go on, kill them. They’re nothing but feeble chickens—don’t waste time.”
The disdain was palpable, laced with insult, as if the Imperial Pass warriors were beneath notice.
“Hahaha! I’ll go first. You there—that self-important nobody—come here. Let’s start the slaughter with you!”
A young man clad in silver battle armor strode forward from the Otherworldly Domain’s ranks, his demeanor casual, as if this were no great battle.
He pointed at Jin Zhan with utter arrogance, his contempt undisguised.
“My name is Jin Zhan!” Jin Zhan growled, his voice icy.
Rage burned within him. When had he ever been treated with such disdain? The opponent acted as if dispatching him were a trivial chore.
This battle was his chance to rise. If the Imperial Pass remained standing, this would be his glorious triumph!
How could he let Shi Hao monopolize the glory? He refused to accept it. If Shi Hao could win repeatedly, why couldn’t he? Though he had lost to Shi Hao before, his heart seethed with resentment.
Jin Zhan was confident. He had been reborn, far stronger than before, ready to shake the world with this battle at the Imperial Pass!
“Jin Zhan, Silver Cup—whatever. You’re just another corpse. No need to introduce yourself. I don’t care, and I won’t remember, because killing you won’t add to my glory.”
The silver-robed youth sneered, his gaze frigid as he looked down on Jin Zhan.
Even Shi Hao, who despised the Jin Family, found this Otherworldly cultivator’s arrogance excessive. Did he truly believe the Imperial Pass was so easily trampled?
“Come, come. Let me take your head,” the silver-robed youth taunted.
“Die!”
Jin Zhan erupted in fury, his face flushing crimson, his hair standing on end as he lunged forward, unleashing his clan’s supreme divine ability.
His lineage boasted formidable physiques, specializing in body refinement. Jin Zhan struck with a palm technique, unleashing a storm of runic light.
The earth trembled as the laws of the Great Dao manifested—proof of Jin Zhan’s profound mastery at the Severing Self Realm.
“Slice!”
A silver flash cut through the air as the opponent raised a hand, forming a blade seal that severed space itself!
His attack was casual yet devastating.
Boom!
Jin Zhan’s palm strike shattered mid-air.
“Is this all you’ve got?” the Otherworldly youth mocked.
The Imperial Pass forces were stunned. Jin Zhan was undeniably powerful, a rare genius among his peers.
“This one isn’t ordinary. He’s not just a royal—there’s diluted Imperial blood in his veins!” someone murmured.
The silver-robed youth radiated a faint but unmistakable Imperial aura when he channeled his power, inspiring awe.
The Imperial Clans were few in number, their reproduction difficult. If they were more numerous, they could dominate the world!
Normally, offspring from unions between Imperial Clans and other races would inherit the Imperial bloodline, their dominance absolute.
But over the ages, exceptions occurred—some Imperial descendants bore diluted blood, becoming lesser branches, though still stronger than ordinary races.
Jin Zhan had the misfortune of facing one such being.
Yet, Jin Zhan seethed with indignation. The Otherworldly Domain had true Imperial heirs, yet they sent only this half-blooded Severing Self Realm warrior to face him—an insult!
“Die!”
Jin Zhan roared, unleashing his full power. Mystical patterns glowed on his forehead, and horns sprouted, radiating terrifying light.
His aura surged, his strength multiplying as if reborn.
He was not human—everyone knew the Jin Family, though humanoid, had a different origin. Now, he unleashed his innate abilities.
Boom!
The void collapsed as he sought to imprison and crush the silver-robed youth.
Jin Zhan was terrifying now. The patterns on his forehead expanded like mountain ranges, pressing forward.
He wove a domain of laws in the sky, a prison of rules meant to suppress his foe!
Slice!
A crystalline horn shot from his forehead, tearing through the heavens, slashing into the domain to annihilate all within!
This horn was extraordinary—it danced amidst the laws, severing Dao and order, aiming to bisect the trapped silver-robed youth.
The domain trembled, truly immobilizing the opponent, drawing cheers from the Imperial Pass walls.
But just as the horn descended for the kill, the silver-robed youth moved. He broke free in a blaze of light, his battle aura erupting.
That was the power of Imperial blood—even diluted, it could shatter all obstacles.
Boom!
The silver-robed youth lunged, fists like divine hammers, shattering the domain.
The two clashed violently, explosions rocking the void, light illuminating the desert.
Jin Zhan was undeniably stronger than before, his growth staggering.
Yet, after thirty exchanges, a single punch sent him flying, blood spraying from his mouth. The Imperial blood had ignited, overwhelming him.
“You’re too weak!”
The silver-robed youth advanced relentlessly.
Boom!
His movements were ghostly, his strikes brutal.
Jin Zhan staggered, battered and bloodied.
Crash!
The final blow came—a foot stomped onto Jin Zhan’s chest, bones snapping as he was pinned to the ground.
“The so-called geniuses of the Imperial Pass are truly pathetic,” the youth sneered, grinding his foot down.
Jin Zhan’s chest caved in, blood gushing.
The Jin Family howled in fury—was Jin Zhan to die like this?
Even the Wang Family sighed. Jin Zhan, a prodigy of his generation, had fallen so easily.
Comparisons arose—why was Shi Hao so different? He had shaken the Otherworldly Domain, even defeating true Imperial heirs during his captivity!
Many had heard of Shi Hao slaying descendants of Chi Wang, triumphing over the Time Beast.
True gold was tested by fire. Jin Zhan had failed, his brilliance unproven in this cruel era.
He was the first to fall, unable to rise in this merciless world.
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