Chapter 1698: The Final Settlement

Shi Hao took his grandfather away and wanted to bring Amanda with him, but he soon realized how difficult it was.

Neither of them had awakened, as if they were in deep slumber.

A shadow of worry crossed his face—he was truly concerned. He wasn’t surprised that the Fifteenth Master had merged with the Demon Lord’s blood, as he had previously obtained a sealed drop of the Demon Lord’s true blood within divine stone.

But Amanda’s transformation was completely unexpected.

“You needn’t worry. It’s likely a good thing. If the bronze gate opens in the future, you and the strong warriors on this path will be connected. Should a decisive battle arise in the world, you could gain protection,” the old man said.

Under someone else’s roof, one must bow their head—especially someone as spineless as him. Naturally, he adopted a humble stance, earnestly considering and analyzing the situation for Shi Hao.

“Will Amanda become a servant?” Shi Hao asked. That was something he absolutely could not accept.

“Not necessarily. She might become a successor,” the old man replied.

Then, his lips moved slightly as he added, “There might even be something more shocking.”

“What do you mean?” Shi Hao looked at him.

“Such beings possess world-shaking power, indestructible souls, and are impervious to calamities. I suspect they have many means of returning. Perhaps this girl will become its ‘eyes.’ Once she learns its techniques, it will sense her and see what this world has become,” the old man explained.

Though he was little more than a wandering ghost, his knowledge was vast, having lived for countless years. He had even met the masters of forbidden zones, let alone others.

“That’s even more unacceptable!” Shi Hao said.

“Perhaps it truly is an unparalleled fortune. That stone coffin may be selecting a disciple on behalf of that being,” the old man suggested again.

Shi Hao fell silent. He would not allow anything to happen to Amanda.

“No matter what occurs, your current strength isn’t enough to intervene. That coffin is imbued with mysterious power. When I barely touched it in the past, I nearly perished body and soul. Otherwise, I’d be far stronger now,” the old man said.

Shi Hao sighed softly. This was reality.

His cultivation journey had been short. If he were to face techniques of that level, no matter how prodigious he was, he wouldn’t be able to counter them.

He needed to grow stronger. Now more than ever, he realized that only by mastering the power to dominate all enemies in the world could he protect those close to him.

Otherwise, he would always be at a disadvantage.

Amanda was fine—being here might not be a bad thing for her. It could be a blessing.

But when he thought of the events at the borderlands, Shi Hao’s heart grew heavy.

All seven kings of the borderlands had fallen. The Primordial Imperial City had shattered, burning fiercely before crashing into the desert.

Huo Ling’er’s fate was unknown—she had been seized by Anlan along with an entire province.

Shi Hao had been powerless to stop it, his cultivation insufficient. He could only watch helplessly.

“I must grow stronger. I need to find a place undisturbed by the world, to cultivate in seclusion until I can look down upon all enemies!” Shi Hao declared, his resolve firm.

He had come here to rescue them, only to find he couldn’t take them away. While he could dominate the three thousand provinces, when it came to the chaos of the future, he still fell short.

“How long until she wakes?” Shi Hao asked, gazing at Amanda.

It pained him that he couldn’t even exchange a single word with her. His memories of her were still from childhood.

Then, he turned to the Fifteenth Master. His grandfather should be safe—his recovery was only a matter of time.

But Amanda’s situation was uncertain, impossible to predict.

“Rest assured, no one can harm them. At the very least, they’re safe within the three thousand provinces,” the old man said.

After all, Amanda was protected by the jade coffin.

As for the Fifteenth Master, the Demon Lord’s true blood was slowly coalescing around him—an utterly terrifying sight.

“Watch over them for me,” Shi Hao ordered.

Using an ancient secret technique, he severed a fragment of the old man’s soul imprint, refining and controlling it. If the old man betrayed him, Shi Hao could end his life with a thought.

The old man was resentful but powerless.

Shi Hao departed for now, retracing his path out of Demon Island.

With one last glance back, he sighed.

He would wait for a while. If there were no changes and the two remained in their current state, he would leave to immerse himself in cultivation.

—

As Shi Hao traversed the three thousand provinces, undercurrents stirred in the Nine Heavens. Within an ancient clan, whispers arose—mentioning Shi Hao.

“From what we’ve learned, he’s still in the three thousand provinces. He hasn’t left.”

“Heh, descending to the lower realm is no easy feat. If he forces his way down, he’ll be half-crippled!”

“I don’t understand why ‘Huang’ is in such a hurry to leave for the lower realm.”

“Because he knows the upper realm isn’t safe. At the very least, those who once labeled his lineage as ‘sinful blood’ included true immortals!”

The murmurs carried hostility. Several individuals debated whether to intercept and kill Huang!

At present, Shi Hao was invincible below the Supreme level. Killing him would be no simple task!

Perhaps only a Supreme could accomplish it—otherwise, there was no hope.

This spoke volumes about the terrifying might of this faction and the profound heritage of this ancient clan. To dare target Huang in the three thousand provinces required formidable strength.

“Let it go. We shouldn’t risk any mishaps,” someone objected.

“Perhaps our clan need not act. Those few in the three thousand provinces might not tolerate him fleeing to the eight lower realms for refuge,” another sneered.

—

Shi Hao returned to the Qin Clan, reuniting with his parents, younger brother, and even the Undying Heavenly Monarch Qin Changsheng.

Shi Ziling and Qin Yining were relieved to see him return safely but grew tense when they realized the Fifteenth Master and Amanda hadn’t come back.

Shi Hao recounted what had happened, shocking them all.

“Will Grandfather be in danger?” Qin Hao asked, astonished.

“What kind of change is Amanda undergoing?” Qin Yining fretted, her heart aching with worry.

“I don’t know,” Shi Hao admitted with a sigh before sharing his plan to wait for a while.

In the meantime, he would focus on finding a way back to the lower realm.

“No need to trouble yourself. The ancestor has already sent people to search. There’s been some progress,” Qin Yining said.

This was good news. Shi Hao had been racking his brains, but the Qin Clan’s vast resources meant their covert efforts would yield faster results.

“Good. Before I leave, I’ll take care of some matters.”

Shi Hao set off alone once more.

This time, he sought traces of the Supreme Hall—whether people or ruins, all were his targets.

Yet, in the end, he found nothing.

A month later, Shi Hao returned to the Qin Clan, disappointment etched on his face.

“Child, there’s news about the path to the lower realm. It’s almost confirmed,” Qin Yining said, delivering welcome tidings.

“Excellent!”

Before departing, Shi Hao wanted to settle all unfinished business.

But would his grandfather and Amanda awaken in time? He sighed softly.

If he lingered too long in the upper realm, would certain individuals grow restless and move against him prematurely?

“I need a quiet chamber, undisturbed,” Shi Hao told his parents. He also tasked the Imperial Butterfly with guarding him, ready to rouse him if needed.

For he intended to separate his soul and journey to another place—to resolve past matters and fulfill old wishes.

“Are you entering the Spirit Realm?” Shi Ziling asked.

Beside him, Qin Hao looked surprised.

“Yes. I plan to enter the Void Realm from the Spirit Realm,” Shi Hao confirmed.

“Won’t that be dangerous?” Qin Yining worried.

“No,” Shi Hao assured her.

The lower realm had the Void Realm, said to be constructed from the wills of gods who perished in ancient times.

The upper realm had its own spiritual counterpart—the Spirit Realm—though its nature was the same. Both were believed to be formed from divine consciousness.

But now, having grown so powerful, Shi Hao was certain neither the Void Realm nor the Spirit Realm were so simple!

Legends couldn’t fully explain them!

After all, he himself was now a god—and an exceptionally strong one. Yet he knew he lacked the means to create such vast mental worlds.

Moreover, the Nine Heavens also had their own spiritual realms.

But in recent years, he had been embroiled in battles and the borderlands, leaving no time to explore them.

Now, on the verge of returning to the lower realm, his purpose in entering the spiritual realm wasn’t investigation but resolution.

Long ago, in the Void Realm, he had shattered numerous records, earning bronze fragments from the heavens. Gathering ten would grant him an ultimate treasure technique.

Back then, the mysterious Bird Grandpa and Essence Stone Grandpa had promised that if he grew strong enough to descend from the Spirit Realm into the Void Realm, they would bestow that technique upon him.

According to them, it was undoubtedly terrifying—possibly the legacy of one of the Ten Fiends.

From their hints, it might be the True Dragon Treasure Technique or the Nirvana Phoenix Secret Art!

This was precisely what Shi Hao needed!

Now, as he prepared to return to the lower realm, he would first visit the Spirit Realm to unlock the Void Realm’s gate.

Once back in the lower realm, he would claim the ultimate treasure technique.

And in time, he would delve deeper, uncovering the secrets of these spiritual realms once and for all.