Over the next decade, Shi Hao delved into the ancient immortal methods, integrating them with contemporary techniques while refining his own self-created path, growing increasingly formidable.
He sought to solve a problem—to restore those beings who had been corrupted by darkness.
He pored over ancient scriptures, such as the jade book he had retrieved from the ruins of the Immortal Ancient during the Three Thousand Provinces’ Genius Competition, uncovering the secrets of sacrificial spirits.
Moreover, as he swept through the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, he obtained fragments of ancient methods from the Jin Family and the Feng Clan.
With his now-unrivaled dominance, all factions revered him, and many great sects presented him with ancient texts.
Through his research on sacrificial spirits, Shi Hao discovered another source of power within the Immortal Ancient system.
“Faith—drawn from the masses, yet also capable of nourishing them in return.”
After decades of study and deep exploration, Shi Hao devised techniques to gather the world’s faith, empowering himself and even shielding entire lineages.
Soon, the Eight Hundred Disciples of Stone Village took action—not only training and hunting down remnants of the dark forces but also employing faith-based arts.
Across the world, the disciples of Stone Village rallied various sects to educate the corrupted beings, spreading enlightenment far and wide.
Missionaries traversed the land, a dedicated group devoted to redeeming the darkness-touched. More and more sects joined the cause, establishing divine courts and temples in the dark regions.
Specialists presided over these places, preaching scriptures, wielding great divine arts to spread truth, awakening the corrupted.
Though progress was slow, the relentless efforts gradually reshaped their beliefs.
Over time, the collective efforts bore fruit. Year after year, the teachings took root, and some dark beings began to believe—realizing they had been deceived, that history held another truth.
In the process, divine courts and temples rose across the land, and sects discovered the benefits of gathering faith.
“It can make us stronger!”
“My withered blood and dwindling lifespan—yet this grants me more years to live!”
Not only were the dark regions enlightened, but other areas also saw the rise of divine courts and temples.
At the center of it all was Huang—Shi Hao. His perfected faith arts had spread from him, becoming the foundation of this movement.
Shi Hao himself had no need for such methods. To him, they were external forces, while he pursued the path of self-perfection, relying on his own strength.
Yet, though he took no direct action, faith still flowed to him, forming an immortal divine halo around him.
No great lineage could ignore Huang. Even in gathering faith, they acknowledged the source, with a portion naturally returning to him.
This was the subtle advantage of the originator.
Meanwhile, the disciples of Stone Village experienced the benefits firsthand, establishing countless divine courts and temples in their travels.
Within these grand halls stood only one statue—bearing Shi Hao’s likeness, named Huang.
Mu Qing, Zhu Lin, and others were no ordinary figures. Studying ancient history, they learned of the sacrificial spirits of the previous era, who wielded unimaginable power by gathering faith.
Though they did not seek the origins, they recognized the benefits and swiftly erected divine courts and temples, placing Shi Hao’s golden statue at their heart.
They even persuaded other sects to do the same, ensuring Shi Hao’s image stood central in every grand hall.
“Brother, let us establish our own lineage. With our fame across the world, it is time to found a sect!” Mu Qing proposed.
Their forces were mighty and unstoppable, yet the title “Disciples of Stone Village” no longer seemed fitting.
Shi Hao was indifferent. His mind was elsewhere, focused only on growing stronger—for he knew that any lineage required supreme martial might as its foundation.
The foes he would face were beyond the current world’s comprehension.
Still, he did not oppose the idea, allowing Mu Qing and Zhu Lin to proceed. To nurture their strength, they needed freedom to act.
A well-structured organization could indeed be beneficial.
“Then let us call it the Heavenly Court!” After deliberation, they made their decision.
Shi Hao remained silent, tacitly permitting their actions.
The Heavenly Horned Ant retreated into seclusion, leaving Shi Hao to wander the land alone, a growing sense of solitude weighing on him. Many from his past were now beyond reach.
With a sigh, he emerged from seclusion, journeying through the upper realm.
This, too, was cultivation—experiencing the mortal world, setting aside his training for a time.
Years later, while traversing the dark lands, Shi Hao encountered a powerful being. He prepared to strike, only to freeze in shock.
Reunion came in the cruelest form—the man no longer recognized him, consumed by darkness.
Mo Shang, the prodigious genius of the sea clans from the lower realm, once battled Shi Hao near the Kun Peng’s Nest for fortune, later ascending to the upper realm.
Unseen for centuries, he had long since fallen to darkness.
Shi Hao could not bring himself to kill him. Despite their enmity, they had once been comrades. He personally began the redemption before entrusting him to Mu Qing.
“Two hundred years—irreversible. So much is lost forever.” Shi Hao murmured before continuing his journey.
Decades later, in a city of the Three Thousand Provinces, Shi Hao encountered a pair of young women, strikingly beautiful and eerily familiar.
They stared at him—identical twins, their expressions a mix of shock, excitement, regret, and melancholy.
“Do you know me?”
“Your golden statues stand in temples and divine courts across the land. Though blurred, we recognize you.”
“You are Huang—Shi Hao, from Stone Village in the lower realm?”
Their knowledge went beyond mere statues.
Shi Hao chuckled. After all these years, his likeness was widespread—recognition was no surprise.
Yet why such complex emotions?
After a moment’s thought, he recalled the only twins who had left a deep impression in his youth—the sisters from Cloud Heaven Palace in the Great Wasteland.
Back then, the mountain treasure’s emergence drew powerful factions near Stone Village.
The sisters, accompanying their grandfather, had bonded with Shi Hao, even discussing which beast’s milk tasted best.
Before the lower realm’s chaos, Cloud Heaven Palace had fled via an ancient teleportation array, severing all ties.
“It’s you!” Shi Hao’s sharp perception instantly matched their childhood forms to their present selves.
A twist of fate, reuniting them after so long.
“It really is you—the child who grew up drinking beast’s milk…”
The sisters laughed, reminiscing.
They could scarcely believe the boy of their memories had reached such heights.
Yet they knew it must be true—Huang’s legends had spread far and wide, his origins well-known.
“We were in seclusion all these years. The world was too chaotic, and our elders forbade us from leaving. Only recently, with our cultivation advanced, were we granted freedom.”
They shared their experiences, and Shi Hao spent days in the city, guiding them in cultivation and reminiscing.
“Will we meet again?” they asked at parting.
“If fate allows.” Shi Hao smiled, waving farewell.
Step by step, he distanced himself from the mortal world. His actions in recent years felt instinctive—a severing of ties, a farewell to people and events.
Returning to the lower realm, Shi Hao challenged his limits under the guidance of the Forbidden Lord.
Dark blood had long been cultivated, even forming a body identical to his own, infused with super-evolutionary essence.
**Boom!**
Shi Hao fought himself, splitting his soul to inhabit the dark body, allowing corruption to seep in.
A life-or-death trial—failure meant succumbing to darkness.
For decades, he roared and battled, teetering on the edge of annihilation. Even the Forbidden Lord dared not let him proceed further.
The first stage succeeded—he resisted the corruption.
But the experiment was halted. The Forbidden Lord destroyed the dark body and its blood, forbidding further attempts.
“Enough. Even death should come in battle, not this reckless pursuit. No more.”
Now, Shi Hao had cultivated for nearly three centuries.
In this world, he found no worthy challenges. The remnant immortals hid, beyond his reach.
“Elder, I wish to journey to the World Beyond the Embankment.” Shi Hao declared, feeling the time was ripe.
“Very well.” The Forbidden Lord nodded in approval.
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