A dim, eerie flame flickered to life within an ancient lamp—its body crafted from bone, its base forged of bronze, casting an unsteady emerald glow that wavered between brilliance and shadow.
In this land of the undying, such an archaic lamp had been lit, capable of bridging the gap to a mysterious realm within the Immortal Domain.
Placed upon an altar, the lamp soon blurred its surroundings, tearing open a void rift. No living being could pass through, yet messages could be conveyed.
“**Huang** is attempting the Immortal King Tribulation.”
Only these words were spoken—simple, plain, and nothing more.
Then, the lamp extinguished itself. The beings within the forbidden zone retreated, leaving the area in silence.
The Immortal Domain could not remain calm. This news spread to ancient families, all of them forces of immense influence, many of which traced their lineage back to Immortal King legacies.
“*Hah*, interesting. So young, yet already daring to challenge the Immortal King realm. Is this confidence, or is he courting death? His foundation is still lacking,” remarked a Quasi-King with a chuckle.
Many knew that **Huang** had been forced into this choice by external pressures.
“Perhaps he has a chance of success!” another voice interjected.
The impact of this event was immense. The older generation debated, while the younger generation of the Immortal Domain stood dumbfounded, too shocked to speak.
Especially **Ao Qian**, **Pan Yi**, and **Hun Tian**—all of whom had once crossed blades with **Shi Hao**. They stood frozen, recalling the days when they had been rivals. And now?
**Huang** was too terrifying—daring to challenge the Immortal King realm at such an age!
How monstrous was this?!
And they hadn’t even ascended to immortality yet!
The Banished Immortal, **Shi Yi** the Dual-Pupiled, **Da Xu Tuo**, **Princess Yao Yue**, **Qing Yi**, and others also heard the news. They were stunned, shaken, and bewildered.
Had it really been so few years? **Shi Hao** had already reached this point.
They had entered the Immortal Domain seeking opportunities to ascend further in this world where immortality was possible. Yet, who could have imagined that the one who remained behind in the lower realm had far surpassed them?
But the commotion he stirred was too great. Now, the powerhouses of the Immortal Domain were all watching.
“Perhaps he truly has a chance to attain the Immortal King Dao Fruit!” murmured an Immortal King—the first judgment from a being of such stature.
Within **Ao Sheng** Immortal King’s residence, a blurred figure sat cross-legged upon a prayer mat, surrounded by chaotic mist, as if he had existed since time immemorial, never moving.
**Boom!**
Suddenly, he raised a hand. A vast, yellow-golden palm stretched into the starry heavens, visible to all, covering the celestial gate of this universe.
“Ah! **Ao Sheng** Immortal King has emerged! Is he opening the Immortal Gate to descend to the lower realm?!”
Shouts of alarm erupted, shaking the world.
Every expert, every immortal, sensed it—and the ten directions trembled in response.
At the same moment, in another Immortal King’s abode, **Tai Shi** Immortal King abruptly opened his eyes. In the dim stone chamber, they shone like twin bolts of lightning splitting the night.
He, too, extended a massive hand, reaching into the cosmos to cover another Immortal Gate.
“**Tai Shi** Immortal King has also moved!”
“**Huang** is finished! Two Immortal Kings are blocking his ascension!”
The entire Immortal Domain knew—two Immortal Kings were taking action, refusing to give the young man from the lower realm any chance, intending to personally annihilate him!
**Boom!**
Deep in the cosmos, **Shi Hao** was drenched in blood, yet his aura grew stronger, his cultivation deepening. Within his body, gate after gate opened.
The treasures of the human body, countless divine abilities, endless runic mysteries—all were imprinted in his blood, carved into his bones, radiant beyond measure. Infinite Dao symbols pierced through him.
He was marching toward the Immortal King realm, striving to break his shackles and ascend further!
“Ah—!”
**Shi Hao** endured unbearable agony. His foundation was indeed lacking, his accumulation insufficient. Forcing his way through now threatened to tear him apart.
Even his indestructible body cracked, golden blood spilling forth. His fury burned, his hair glowing like molten gold.
“I refuse to accept this!”
Roaring, he poured everything into this struggle, determined to endure, to seize the Immortal King Dao Fruit.
One step forward, and the seas would part, the skies open—freedom beyond measure. One step back, and he would plummet into the abyss, body and soul extinguished like a snuffed flame.
**Boom!**
Infinite Dao symbols crushed down from all directions, some seeping through the boundaries of worlds to press upon him.
The Immortal King realm was unimaginable!
Every rule, every law—past and present—would judge him, test him. Few could endure.
Especially in this era of the End of Dharma, where greater karmic retribution would descend, unleashing the most severe tribulations. At any moment, his form and spirit could be obliterated.
**Boom!**
Parts of **Shi Hao**’s body exploded into bloody mist. Even his supposedly indestructible physique, tempered by the **Undying Scripture**, could not withstand this onslaught.
Yet, **Shi Hao** was still **Shi Hao**—defying the heavens. With a low growl, his body radiated an unbreakable light, the result of merging countless techniques and forging his own path.
In the next instant, amidst the glow of ten thousand unyielding tribulations, he reforged his body, gathering the scattered blood mist to reform his divine physique.
Chaos churned around him like a furnace, tempering his flesh!
“Truly extraordinary. He might actually succeed!” gasped an ancient being from the forbidden zone.
They were astonished to see **Shi Hao**’s physical resilience—enduring shattering and rebirth again and again. The mysteries of the heavens, the Dao symbols of past and present, shattered him repeatedly, yet he always reforged himself.
This was destruction—but if he survived, it would become tempering. His body, hammered by chaos, grew ever stronger.
“He’s passed the physical trial, enduring judgment and testing. But the true challenge lies in the soul. That is the barrier countless peerless talents have fallen to,” murmured an unparalleled expert from the forbidden zone.
To attain the Immortal King Dao Fruit, the soul must undergo baptism, ascending to become the true essence of an Immortal King.
**Shi Hao**’s body was innately powerful, and now it had endured.
But if his soul perished, all would be for naught!
“Even so, it’s remarkable. If he weren’t aiming for the Immortal King realm and merely used this chance to temper his soul, he could still rank among the Ten Calamities.”
“That would still be difficult. Success is unlikely,” another voice countered.
**Boom!**
Across the heavens, countless Dao paths manifested—some born in this world, others piercing through the barriers—all converging toward **Shi Hao**’s skull.
**Shi Hao** was shaken. Was the Immortal King Dao Fruit truly this difficult?
Now he understood just how reckless, how desperate his gamble was. He was truly betting his life. Today, he might perish here.
Beams of condensed Dao light struck his crown, forcing him to endure, unable to evade. His body trembled, blood streaming from his seven orifices.
**Boom! Boom! Boom!**
In an instant, **Shi Hao** endured dozens of Dao strikes. His skull cracked, his soul nearly scattered—an unimaginable toll.
“Incredible strength. To endure so many strikes at his age is worthy of pride. If he continues like this, even if he doesn’t become an Immortal King, he might still reach the level of the Ten Calamities,” someone observed.
**Hum—!**
Suddenly, the heavens quaked—not from the Dao beams, but from another region, where a gate appeared, and an earthen-yellow hand emerged.
This colossal palm stretched endlessly, pressing slowly toward **Shi Hao**.
**Boom!**
The unimaginable happened. As the palm descended, countless stars in that sector of the cosmos detonated.
An entire stretch of the starry sky was reduced to ruin in an instant—celestial bodies shattered, cosmic dust scattering.
What kind of power was this? The world trembled in awe!
Had **Shi Hao** not tempered his body to near-indestructibility, he would have been obliterated instantly.
The palm moved slowly, yet its force was boundless, its ruthlessness absolute.
Even so, **Shi Hao** was sent flying, bloodied and cracked, nearly annihilated by the Immortal King’s casual strike.
His soul wavered, on the verge of collapse!
Yet, in the midst of his tribulation, he could not divert his focus. Though rage filled him, he was powerless.
“Roar—!”
**Shi Hao** howled like a wounded beast, glaring at the heavens. At this critical moment, someone had finally struck.
An Immortal King had come!
All recognized it—only an Immortal King wielded such power.
“Interesting. A moment later, and you might have joined the ranks of the Ten Calamities,” came a cold voice from beyond the celestial gate.
“**Ao Sheng!**” **Shi Hao** roared, his hair disheveled, blood staining the stars.
The world was stunned. **Ao Sheng** Immortal King himself had intervened to block **Shi Hao**’s ascension.
The next moment, **Ao Sheng** struck again, his palm descending slowly, intent on erasing **Shi Hao** completely.
“Immortal King, what is the meaning of this?!”
Suddenly, a golden radiance erupted in the distance—a colossal World Tree manifesting, its vast canopy filling the cosmos, intercepting the earthen-yellow palm.
A golden-winged woman stood atop the tree, confronting the massive hand.
“Out of respect for the Butcher, I will spare you. Withdraw,” **Ao Sheng** Immortal King declared, his voice resonating even through his distant presence.
“Immortal King, leave this realm. Blocking another’s Dao Fruit violates the natural order. Do you not fear incurring great karma?” the golden-haired woman demanded sternly.
“Karma? I am karma incarnate. Who dares stop me from taking his life?” **Ao Sheng**’s voice thundered with arrogance, shaking the universe.
In that moment, all clans trembled, all living beings quaked in terror.
The golden-haired woman stood firm, resisting the palm.
Yet, with a mere tremor, the massive hand pressed forward.
**Bang!**
The World Tree shuddered, its leaves scattering, branches snapping as it was sent hurtling through the cosmos.
The golden-haired woman coughed up golden blood, her arms falling limp as she was flung away, vanishing into the cosmic void.
As the palm descended once more, **Shi Hao** sighed. He knew—this life had reached its end.
Yet, even in death, even in this final moment, he still fought against the Dao symbols, refining his soul. He truly wished to transcend, to defy **Ao Sheng**!
“Fellow Daoist, you go too far!”
The master of the forbidden zone appeared, accompanied by a crystal skull, a golden bone hand, and a bleeding eyeball—all barring the massive palm.
**Shi Hao** smiled bitterly. He knew their efforts were futile—they were but remnants, not true entities.
What could he do? A sense of powerlessness overwhelmed him. Time was not on his side!
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