Chapter 1880: The Great Reckoning Begins

“Where do you come from? Do you not belong to this time and space?” Shi Hao looked up at the starry sky.

Standing alone under the night sky, he couldn’t help but ponder. The heavens were ablaze with brilliant stars, and as he opened his supreme heavenly eye, he sought to pierce through eternity and glimpse the river of time.

Across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, traces of Ye Qingxian had been discovered in several ancient ruins, along with faint clues about the Empress. It was truly astonishing.

But that was all—no further discoveries were made.

In this era, Ye Qingxian could no longer be found. No one knew where she was or where she had gone.

Less than four hundred years had passed since the battle at the borderlands. Where could she have gone? Despite searching the entire world, she remained untraceable. Yet, she had never entered the Immortal Domain—she had simply vanished without a trace.

Though the matter was strange and deeply unsettling upon reflection, Shi Hao couldn’t afford to devote too much attention to it. More pressing matters awaited him.

He needed to cultivate, to truly rise before the Great Reckoning arrived!

Not just for himself, but for his clan, for his loved ones—he had to survive, to become strong enough to protect them. Only then could he shield them from the tide of blood and chaos.

Once again, he prepared to set out, this time to the Dam World, and he intended to bring more people with him.

Aside from Mu Qing, the Heavenly Horned Ant, the Crimson Dragon, and others, he would also take hundreds from the Eight Hundred Disciples to temper them.

The Age of Decay had arrived, and this world was filled with despair. Yet, though the Dam World was perilous beyond measure, it also held hope. Those who endured there would reap immense rewards!

This time, the Lord of the Forbidden Land had extended the allotted time—one hundred and fifty years.

Mu Qing, the Crimson Dragon, the Heavenly Horned Ant, and the others were exhilarated. One hundred and fifty years, combined with their current cultivation time, meant they had already crossed the five-hundred-year threshold!

Could they find the opportunity there to break through to the Supreme Realm?

Their hearts surged with hope.

**Boom!**

A dazzling radiance illuminated the heavens as countless runes flickered. The formation patterns enveloped hundreds of people as they departed the Forbidden Land, returning once more to the Dam World.

This time, Shi Hao was exceptionally cautious. Even the Heavenly Horned Ant and Mu Qing were on high alert, for they had brought more people who needed protection.

After all, the other disciples were not as strong as them and required shelter in the beginning.

One hundred and fifty years was an excruciatingly long time for them. Some, too stubborn for their own good, pushed themselves beyond their limits and perished near the Lightning Abyss.

After more than a dozen casualties, Mu Qing and the others sternly warned the rest—no more recklessness. They had to act within their means.

Even Shi Hao was alarmed and came to admonish them. There would be many opportunities in the future, and everyone still had time to grow. There was no need for such desperation.

“More haste, less speed. The path of cultivation follows nature—do not force it!” Shi Hao spoke gravely, recounting how his own rush to become a Supreme had left hidden flaws. Had he not reforged his foundation, his path would have been severed.

Many sat cross-legged by the Lightning Abyss, no longer pushing themselves beyond reason.

One hundred and fifty years passed in the blink of an eye. Shi Hao could feel his accumulation deepening, yet his cultivation had not advanced. He remained unable to break through to the Immortal Realm!

He sighed softly. Becoming an immortal was indeed arduous. Even at the pinnacle of the Mortal Dao, he could not take that final step.

Was it truly tied to the passage of time? He frowned. He had heard that achieving immortality was incredibly difficult, requiring years of endurance and refinement. Even with sufficient cultivation, one could not bypass the necessary years.

“Perhaps this is a tempering, a honing of perfection—only then can one truly ascend.” He consoled himself.

When the one hundred and fifty years ended, Shi Hao returned to the Lightning Abyss to retrieve Mu Qing and the others.

The hundreds of disciples were exhilarated—their cultivation had surged, and many had advanced.

Yet, the leading figures among them were disheartened. They still had not broken through to the Supreme Realm.

By now, these individuals were over five hundred years old, yet they saw no hope of shattering the shackles of the Dunyi Realm.

Without a doubt, the Heavenly Horned Ant, Mu Qing, and the others had long stood at the absolute peak of the Dunyi Realm—just a sliver away. Yet, that final step into the Supreme Realm remained elusive.

The Emperor Butterfly fluttered gracefully, radiant as gold. With a single flap of its wings, it could rend the heavens and annihilate gods and buddhas alike. Yet, it, too, could not become a Supreme.

The Thunder Spirits had reaped the greatest rewards. Their cultivation had long since caught up, and their evolved forms were increasingly astonishing—not True Dragons, yet their aura was no weaker.

These three creatures now stood taller than most men, their movements swift as lightning, their lethality overwhelming. Even Mu Qing and the others hesitated to face all three at once.

Alas, none of the three Thunder Spirits could ascend to the Supreme Realm either.

Upon returning to Stone Village, they found new graves upon the mountain behind the village. Life, aging, sickness, and death were irreversible.

The old clan chief still lived. The immortal blood from years past had infused him with vigorous life essence, extending his lifespan. Though he was now ancient, his spirit remained strong.

“Bring the next group!” Shi Hao declared.

Last time, he had not taken all the disciples, leaving half behind to guard the Heavenly Court.

This time, he would take the remaining half.

**”Awooo—!”**

During their brief respite, a long howl echoed through the village, startling the children. For years, Stone Village had been peaceful—this sudden roar was shocking.

“The stone! That stone—it’s come to life!” a child cried out.

Beside the Nine Dragons Coffin, a stone rolled and howled—the Divine Striking Stone had awakened.

**Crack! Crack! Crack!**

It split apart, shedding layers of dust, revealing a crystalline interior that exuded chaotic energy. A vast power surged forth.

**Whoosh!**

Shi Hao reacted instantly, seizing it and hurling it beyond the heavens. Its aura was too overwhelming—it could harm the villagers.

**Boom!**

In the void, a great star exploded upon impact, reduced to dazzling fireworks before vanishing entirely.

“Who dares strike this venerable one?!” the Divine Striking Stone bellowed.

A moment later, Shi Hao appeared beside it in the void, unfazed by the flames and debris. He plucked it up with one hand.

“Kid, what realm are you in now?” the stone asked, stunned. It had awoken wreathed in chaotic energy, nearly transforming into a supreme treasure—yet it couldn’t even budge Shi Hao.

“I’ve slain crippled immortals. Would you like to test me?” Shi Hao asked.

The Divine Striking Stone immediately deflated. It had planned to show off and challenge Shi Hao, but now it meekly surrendered.

Once back on the ground, it quickly caught up on the events of the past centuries and began clamoring to enter the Dam World.

“Take me with you! I want to become an immortal!”

This time, Mu Qing, Shi Zhong, the Crimson Dragon, and others chose not to go. They felt the Lightning Abyss no longer held meaning for them—no amount of tempering would push them into the Supreme Realm.

In the end, Shi Hao took the Heavenly Horned Ant, hoping to find that elusive opportunity. He wished for someone to break through, paving the way for the others.

Of course, the Divine Striking Stone was coming too.

This time, they spent two hundred years there. The Heavenly Horned Ant remained unchanged, still trapped at the threshold.

The Divine Striking Stone, however, went mad. It begged Shi Hao to capture Thunder Pools for it to devour. It gnawed through several, leaving the Stone Village disciples wide-eyed.

Later, it even began biting into the very stones of the Dam World, leaving Shi Hao speechless.

Yet, the Divine Striking Stone, too, was stuck—unable to become a Supreme.

They returned once more to Stone Village.

By now, Shi Hao was over seven hundred years old. His peers, like Mu Qing and the Heavenly Horned Ant, were not far behind in age. Yet, they remained barred from advancement.

“Why? Is the Age of Decay truly so merciless? We’ve even changed locations, yet found no hope in the Dam World,” someone lamented.

In the following years, Shi Hao scoured ancient texts for answers.

At last, he found clues in fragmented jade books from the previous era.

The most terrifying aspect of the Age of Decay was the “Heaven’s Blade”—a single stroke that severed one’s path. No matter where they went, breaking through would remain agonizingly difficult.

For these individuals, no place could shield them from the decay—they had all been marked by Heaven’s Blade, including Shi Hao himself, who had narrowly avoided disaster.

This brand was etched into their very bones.

Behind the village, new graves stood beside old ones. Shi Hao felt a pang of sorrow—Da Zhuang, Er Meng, and the others had aged, and many of their parents were gone.

Before leaving, he had left behind immortal blood medicine, yet no one had taken it.

“My father said giving it to him would be a waste. It should be saved for those who truly need it,” Pi Hou said. The once-mischievous child was now an old man.

“Pi Hou, Da Zhuang, Hu Zi, Er Meng!” Shi Hao embraced them, his voice trembling. His childhood friends had grown so frail—he feared he might never see them again.

He dared not leave again. Each time he returned from seclusion, more had departed, lost forever.

He cared deeply for these companions. If he left to cultivate once more, they might all rest beneath the earth by his return.

Shi Hao still had immortal blood, and the village still possessed divine medicines. But even if he used them all, how many could he save? And Da Zhuang, Er Meng, and the others stubbornly refused to take them.

“Can my blood help?” Shi Hao murmured. He had not yet become an immortal—he couldn’t refine true undying blood medicine.

Still, he attempted to condense his essence blood.

“No! This will damage your cultivation. Right now, you must focus on breaking through the Mortal Dao’s peak. Only by becoming an immortal can you truly help us!” Da Zhuang grabbed his arm.

“It’s fine. Let me try,” Shi Hao insisted.

But his lifelong companions all stepped forward, stopping him.

“All men must die. How long can you keep us here—one lifetime? Two? Sooner or later, we must return to dust,” Hu Zi said.

Shi Hao felt a deep sorrow, his heart heavy.

Outwardly, he relented. But in secret, he still acted, refining his essence blood to cleanse their aging bodies under the cover of night.

In the following years, Shi Hao refined the immortal corpses beneath the Western Tomb, extracting several jars of blood medicine. Then, he led his people back to the Upper Realm.

Centuries had passed, and the Heavenly Court had grown into a formidable force.

Mu Qing, Shi Zhong, Zhu Lin, and the others had done well, taming the dark creatures. The flames of war across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths had been extinguished—the dark regions no longer bled.

Various sects had recognized the benefits of faith power and had begun constructing temples and shrines.

Yet, the gathering of faith was tied to Shi Hao’s innovations and the Heavenly Court’s influence. With the world at peace, the Heavenly Court had established divine halls everywhere, amassing vast amounts of faith power.

“Something’s strange,” Shi Hao muttered. Upon arriving in the Upper Realm, he sensed the immense faith power gathered within his statues across the land—centuries of accumulation now surged toward him.

This was a critical point, and the energy enveloped him instantly.

“This is another path—faith-based immortality…” Shi Hao frowned. Yet, it did not align with his current cultivation.

Still, it inspired him. Perhaps he could forge a new path for Mu Qing, the Crimson Dragon, and the others.

A hundred years later, Shi Hao was over eight hundred years old.

The Heavenly Court had grown even stronger, truly taking shape. Were it not for the Age of Decay, this would have been a golden era.

“We’ve found it! The giant tortoise has appeared!”

That day, Zhu Lin rushed to Shi Hao with joyous news.

For years, Shi Hao had tasked them with locating the Supreme Hall and Qi Daolin.

Now, the Supreme Hall had been found—carried by a colossal tortoise that had emerged at the edge of the Three Thousand Provinces, tearing through the earth in a storm of dust.

Shi Hao personally intervened, capturing the tortoise upon arrival.

Ordinary cultivators stood no chance against it—this tortoise was immense, wielding unimaginable power.

“It’s not truly alive. Its body has been refined into a puppet, though its soul retains some consciousness. It’s practically a weapon,” Shi Hao discerned.

He had seen this tortoise as a child near Stone Village, when it had stretched out a massive claw that blotted out the sky. Now, eight hundred years later, they met again.

Back then, he had suspected the Supreme Hall it carried was a decoy. But now, he realized it was the genuine inheritance.

“The Mountain Treasure appeared in Stone Village because it dropped it,” Shi Hao sighed.

Indeed, within the hall on the tortoise’s back, they found the complete legacy—countless ancient texts!

“Leave this for the Heavenly Court, to teach the children of Stone Village!” Shi Hao declared. This inheritance was extraordinary.

“Master Qi!” As Shi Hao sorted through the texts, his heart trembled, and he cried out.

He found a soul lamp—but it had long since extinguished. Beside it were engraved words, left by Qi Daolin.

In his lifetime, Qi Daolin had not only found the Supreme Hall but also discovered a path—one leading to a white bone gate. After leaving the soul lamp, he had ventured inside.

Shi Hao’s eyes stung with tears as he murmured, “Master Qi…”

He knew that gate—it was the Primordial Gate. Years ago, the Willow Deity and the Little Pagoda had departed through it. How had Qi Daolin found it? His rash entry, and the extinguished soul lamp, told the tragic tale.

Shi Hao set out alone, his heart heavy with grief. For centuries, he had sent the Heavenly Court’s forces to search for Qi Daolin—only to receive this news.

He ventured into the Untouched Land. Having fought at the borderlands, he feared nothing here.

Yet, he knew this place was strange, filled with deadly remnants from the Immortal Ancient Era. Caution was necessary.

Two years into his journey, he encountered a ghastly blood pool, its crimson depths pulling at one’s very soul from afar.

“Slain True Immortals—more than one. Their corpses dissolved into this pool,” he realized.

Had he not been a Supreme, this place would have been lethal.

Shi Hao raised his hand, unleashing divine light to refine the blood pool, searching for any remaining essence—perhaps to distill immortal blood medicine.

**Splash!**

Instead, a clump of yellow mud burst forth. The pool dried up as the mud shot toward him.

**Bang!**

Shi Hao formed a seal, blasting it away.

The mud was bizarre, corroding everything—even space itself melted under its touch.

“Corpses of Immortals and Undying beings, fused into this abomination!” Shi Hao understood.

The blood pool held no essence—only this vile substance.

The mud was terrifying. Had Shi Hao been weaker, it would have wounded him. After repeated strikes, he sealed it away—a malignant thing, yet a rare material for forging artifacts.

Three years later, deep in the Untouched Land, Shi Hao stumbled upon a brutal battle.

These were heroic spirits, trapped in an ancient cave by a formidable formation. Among them were remnants of Undying beings and True Immortals, their souls transformed into spectral entities of dreadful power.

Though they no longer possessed their peak strength, they were no weaker than crippled immortals.

Shi Hao found himself besieged by this horde. For over a year, he fought desperately, finally slaying them all.

Five years later, as his journey neared its end, Shi Hao discovered a drop of crystalline liquid—a tear of an Immortal King. Its aura was terrifying, capable of dissolving any being below the Supreme Realm.

Studying it, he sensed fragments of spiritual imprints.

**”Ah—!”**

That same day, a scream tore through the heavens. Shi Hao looked up to see a streak of light—like a meteor—blazing across the sky.

“A crippled immortal?!” he exclaimed in shock.

His pupils contracted as he gave chase.

Then, he saw it—a blade of law, slicing the crippled immortal in two. The figure plummeted to the earth, clearly beyond saving.

“Who hunted you?” Shi Hao demanded.

This was too strange.

For years, he had sought the remaining three crippled immortals, to no avail. Now, one had fallen before his eyes.

“The Reckoning… the Great Reckoning has begun!” the dying immortal shrieked, his eyes filled with terror.