“What is this?” Shi Hao asked.
“A master-servant contract, an ancient relic from the previous era. It was likely written by a supreme figure—I discovered it in the ruins,” Qin Changsheng explained.
The golden lion’s expression immediately darkened, and it couldn’t help but retreat. This thing was far too dangerous for it, as it had heard that once such a contract was signed, it would mean absolute enslavement.
Shi Hao took it and examined it carefully. After understanding how to activate it, he did so without hesitation. In an instant, divine light erupted, enveloping both him and the golden lion in a blazing radiance.
“Roar—!” The golden lion howled, thrashing violently in resistance, but it was futile.
When everything settled, Shi Hao contemplated for a moment before nodding calmly, satisfied.
The golden lion, however, growled low in boundless fury. The contract was utterly unfair—if Shi Hao were harmed or died, it would perish as well. Yet, if it faced any misfortune, it would have no effect on Shi Hao.
The contract imposed numerous restrictions on it, forcing it to obey Shi Hao unconditionally—or else suffer calamity.
“Rather than a mere contract, this is more like an edict left behind by an immortal-level figure of the past, inscribed with unbreakable, supreme laws,” Qin Changsheng explained.
For cultivators within the Mortal Dao Realm, once this contract was successfully activated, resistance was impossible.
Though the golden lion seethed with rage, it had no choice. In the end, it could only lower its head in defeat and follow behind Shi Hao.
“If you don’t wish to come, you can stay in the Three Thousand Provinces. I won’t force you,” Shi Hao said.
“No!” the golden lion refused. Now that it was truly bound to Shi Hao, if he died in the lower realm, it would perish as well. Thus, it had to stay by his side to ensure his survival.
Moreover, if it remained in the upper realm, it would be like a rat scurrying through the streets—hunted by all. First, because it hailed from the foreign realm, and second, because Shi Hao had made far too many enemies. After his recent suppression of various sects, once he left, a massive backlash was inevitable.
The golden lion had no desire to become a living target. After much deliberation, it concluded that staying with Shi Hao was its only option.
At the same time, it also sensed that this human was extraordinary—perhaps, in the future, there might be a chance for it to recover its lost cultivation.
In that brief moment, it made its decision.
Finally, the warship soared through the skies, radiating powerful divine energy, laden with mountains of heavenly treasures, along with the children and Shi Ziling’s family, heading into the distance.
Qin Changsheng and Qin Hao escorted them along the way.
The golden lion rolled its eyes, clearly displeased with Qin Changsheng.
In truth, Qin Changsheng had essentially gifted Shi Hao a great boon—the contract edict had provided him with a powerful and reliable enforcer.
Especially in his current weakened state, having the golden lion by his side was invaluable.
The Cross of Yin and Yang remained as desolate as ever.
Once a forbidden land of life, it now stood in eerie silence.
They arrived, and the warship sailed into the ancient terrain.
Today was far from peaceful. News had spread, and many knew that Shi Hao was leaving—returning to the lower realm.
Upon learning this, various sects mobilized, stirring the world into motion!
Many had come, following him to this place.
Shi Hao made no attempt to conceal his departure, nor did he need to. Though the ancient path existed in this world, not everyone could traverse it.
At the very least, even a being as extraordinary as the golden lion was unworthy.
Even he himself had endured life-and-death trials to withstand the rule force within that gate.
For now, he alone could walk this path!
“Was this once a forbidden land of life?” Even Qin Changsheng couldn’t help but sigh.
Even the greatest legacies would one day decline. This place had once been a forbidden land, home to supreme beings who, even during the invasion of the foreign realm, could stand alone as a world, untouched by the turmoil of shifting powers.
A forbidden land was precisely that—a place where none could tread, where all other life had to stay away, representing the pinnacle of power, untouchable.
And yet now, ashes covered the ground, and all the mountains lay broken. No one knew what kind of battle had occurred, leading to the complete destruction of this forbidden land.
“These ashes are the remnants of burned gods and demons!” Shi Hao explained.
At this moment, not only did Qin Changsheng pale, but even the distant cultivators from various sects who had followed them here turned ashen, their hearts chilled.
The ashes blanketed the earth, yet even after countless millennia, they had not been washed away by rain or floods—they remained.
Occasionally, within the ashes, one could glimpse golden bones, purple nails, black teeth—remnants that had resisted incineration.
This only deepened the sense of dread!
Were these shattered remains in the ruins those of the forbidden land’s former inhabitants—or intruders?
Standing there, Shi Hao began to channel his supreme technique, unleashing the dual forces of yin and yang, manifesting his full power.
In that instant, not only did two rivers—one dark, one radiant—appear on the ground, but the skies also bore witness to a miraculous phenomenon.
The void split, revealing a surging black river and a blazing golden one, roaring as they intertwined.
Along their banks stood the ruins of ancient structures.
The true remnants of a forbidden land of life!
Those watching from behind gasped—this was indeed real. This had once been the dwelling of “taboo” beings.
Shi Hao personally steered the warship, ascending toward the heavens, approaching the rivers of Taiyin and Sun.
“Father! Mother!”
At the last moment, Qin Hao rushed forward, tears streaming down his face. Overcome with emotion, he embraced his parents, weeping softly, before hugging Shi Hao as well.
“Child, won’t you really come with us?” Qin Yining also wept, unable to bear parting with her younger son.
“I won’t go. I must grow stronger here. I will rise—even if you cannot return, I will come for you,” Qin Hao vowed.
Finally, wiping away his tears, he flew down from the warship.
On the ground, countless eyes watched. Many great sects had learned of today’s events and had come to witness them.
“What a pity for Shi Hao—his cultivation was severed, and now he meets such an end. Is this his defeat, fleeing to the lower realm’s prison?”
“Ah, self-exile. The crippled immortals forced him to this. After his glorious feats at the border, this is how he concludes.”
Some whispered these words, not daring to speak too loudly, lest they provoke factions like the Immortal Palace.
Of course, others remained cold—such as those from the Heavenly Nation, Netherworld, and Immortal Palace. They wished for nothing more than Shi Hao’s downfall, and his departure suited them just fine.
After all, in recent days, he had stirred far too much chaos.
Standing at the warship’s prow, Shi Hao guided it into the void, entering the ruins and arriving before the roaring rivers. With one final glance back at those watching, he waved his sleeve, stowing the warship away—leaving only himself standing beneath the heavens!
Boom!
The forces of yin and yang erupted. Where the two rivers intertwined, a gate appeared—and Shi Hao charged straight into it, standing within its threshold!
“He’s gone. Just like that, he’s left!”
“From now on, there will be no more Shi Hao in this world!”
Some lamented.
Countless others silently watched the remnants of the forbidden land in the void.
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