A solitary earthen mound stood at the edge of the desolate wasteland.
Shi Hao knelt in silent tribute, unable to utter a word.
This was the cenotaph of Meng Tianzheng, resting beyond the Imperial Pass like a lone guardian spirit. Even in death, he remained where he had once fought.
Around him, the sound of weeping filled the air. Many had come—young and old alike—all holding deep reverence for Meng Tianzheng.
The Grand Elder had descendants, still fighting within the Imperial Pass, though few outside knew of them.
Now, they had chosen the Imperial Pass as their home. The loss of their clan’s war gods was a devastating blow, a nightmare they could scarcely bear.
The weeping grew louder, shaking the very wasteland itself. For even the supreme beings had come and gone.
The old men from the Immortal Academy, the ancient ones from the Sacred Academy—remnants of the Nine Heavens, pinnacles of mortal strength—stood in silence or wept bitterly before departing in sorrow.
Watching a hero of their generation fade like this, they could only sigh.
**”He’s gone.”**
**”Back to our homeland, never to return.”**
At the graveside, some whispered farewells, exchanging solemn words before setting off on distant journeys.
The wasteland held too many bitter memories—trials of life and death, battles drenched in blood. Yet in the end, against the supreme and undying beings, they had been powerless.
Many of the Imperial Pass’s and the Nine Heavens’ supreme experts had perished. Only after Meng Tianzheng’s final battle on the path to immortality had the city been barely held.
Returning to the Imperial Pass, Shi Hao sought out Meng Tianzheng’s descendants. He left them the *Indestructible Scripture* and promised that if they ever needed him, no matter where he was, he would return.
Now, he too would leave. This place held only blood, wounds, regret, and bitterness.
The war had ended in victory, but Shi Hao found no joy in it. So many had died just to barely defend this land.
The Seven Kings of the Wasteland were gone forever. The city and its inhabitants had been buried in blood and fire.
Yet the name of the “Sinful Blood” remained, still unwashed.
No one wished to speak of it, nor had the heart to. All longed to leave, their spirits yearning for home.
Even some of the city’s original inhabitants planned to depart, unwilling to stay.
Only a necessary few cultivators remained to guard the Imperial Pass, with the various clans taking turns in the future.
For many powerful clans, this was a bitter, desolate land—a place of pain they never wished to revisit. Given the choice, they would never set foot here again.
Gazing at the towering Imperial Pass, Shi Hao wondered when he would ever return.
**”One day, the war horn will sound again. When that time comes, I will not be powerless. I will ride into the foreign lands!”** he murmured to himself.
He led a group of children—orphans of the fallen city’s cultivators. He had promised to take them to a peaceful haven.
**”Are you really leaving?”** Tuoba Yulong, Qi Hong, and others came to see him off.
The younger generation had suffered heavy losses. Of the Wei Family’s Four Phoenixes, only two remained. Tuoba Yulong was crippled, Qi Hong half-broken…
And many more had perished.
**”Farewell.”**
With the children in tow, Shi Hao bid his final goodbyes to those staying behind.
But how could he return to the Lower Eight Realms? That was the question weighing on him.
Going back was far harder than coming up. The Lower Eight Realms floated beyond the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, protected by barriers that repelled overly powerful forces.
**”Before returning, I must see some people,”** Shi Hao murmured, explaining to the children.
He also felt he should visit the Nine Heavens one last time, seeking advice from the ancient experts on how to descend.
In his earlier grief, he had neglected this. He should have asked the old men of the Immortal Academy.
**”Let’s go—to the Nine Heavens, to the Heavenly Deity Academy, or the Immortal Academy. We should gather one last time.”**
Great Xu Tuo, the Banished Immortal, Princess Yue Chan, and others had invited him. After this war, they might truly be scattered to the winds.
The Ten Crown King, the Banished Immortal, and others were also heading to the Nine Heavens, for their roots lay there.
The Imperial Pass had a grand teleportation array leading to the Nine Heavens. The clans had already begun departing the colossal city.
**”You’re really going back to the lower realm? Don’t go. That place is unfit for cultivation. Stay!”**
Many tried to persuade him along the way—especially Cao Yusheng, Chang Gongyan, and the Jade Rabbit. They dreaded his departure, unsure when they would meet again.
With the Imperial Pass at peace and the foreign lands no longer invading, many might never cross paths again.
The teleportation array was vast and efficient.
Soon, they arrived at Boundless Heaven. Shi Hao left the children at the Heavenly Deity Academy, telling them to wait patiently.
Though dressed in rags like little beggars, these children were precious seeds—destined to grow into a formidable force.
**”Are you really leaving?”** Qing Yi asked, her beautiful eyes complex with unspoken reluctance.
**”Yes. I must return,”** Shi Hao nodded.
She sighed, wanting to persuade him but knowing once he decided, he would not change his mind.
**”If you ever wish to visit the lower realm, I’ll welcome you to Stone Village.”**
Next, Shi Hao sought out the Heavenly Deity Academy’s elders and the old men of the Immortal Academy. To his dismay, returning to the lower realm was far harder than he thought.
**”This is a legacy of history. The Lower Eight Realms are both part of and separate from the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths. Ancient rules set by beings of the previous era make it resistant to intrusion.”**
It wasn’t impossible, but the timing had to be right. Currently, the barriers were nearly impassable.
**”There may be one or two ancient paths still open,”** the old man said, though he didn’t know the exact routes. Only a few ancient families might hold the secrets.
Later, Shi Hao visited the Sacred Academy, consulting their ancient expert. The answer was similar, though this old supreme being offered some clues, assuring him a way likely existed.
Though uncertain, it was a start. Shi Hao felt some relief.
The younger generation had planned a final gathering, but delays piled up. Many had to report to their clans, tend to wounds, or recover.
Great Xu Tuo, the Banished Immortal, and others all bore hidden injuries. Those who survived the wasteland were now their clans’ treasures—future leaders in the making.
While Shi Hao sorted through clues at the Heavenly Deity Academy, visitors came.
First was Princess Yue Chan, still wounded from her near-death at the Imperial Pass. Barely recovered, she rushed to see him.
**”My clan elders wish for you to stay. They’re willing to bring your family and loved ones from the lower realm to the Nine Heavens.”**
Dressed in flowing robes, her hair silken and eyes bright, she extended an olive branch on behalf of her clan.
They were a long-lived dynasty, founded by an immortal who survived the ancient calamities. They possessed immortal scriptures, divine medicines, and even the legendary Immortal King’s Shroud—once lent to Grand Elder Meng Tianzheng.
They offered everything to help Shi Hao reach the pinnacle of mortal cultivation.
But Shi Hao refused. His heart was weary. He wanted only to return to Stone Village, leaving this world behind.
Soon, an elder from the dynasty came, subtly suggesting a union between Shi Hao and Princess Yue Chan.
**”You’re destined to surpass even Meng Tianzheng. The lower realm is barren—unsuited for cultivation. Stay.”**
But Shi Hao shook his head.
**”I’m tired of war, of cultivation. With the battle over, I lay down my arms. I may never return to the upper realm.”**
His resolve was firm.
Other factions came too, all recognizing his potential. In the wasteland, he had slain imperial clansmen, reaching the Dunyi Realm at a young age. His future dominance was assured.
Yet none could sway him.
His path led home.
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