Magma stretched into a boundless crimson sea, a magnificent and unparalleled spectacle.
Deep within the crimson ocean stood a golden sacred tree, encircled by the sun, moon, and countless stars. Upon its crown rested a grand palace, shrouded in mystery and awe.
“We must cross the sea!” a venerable elder whispered, as they joined forces and devised a way to traverse the vast magma expanse. There was no need for further words; the great opportunity at the sacred tree was evident to all.
Many recalled the myth of the Jinwu Clan, which had originated from the divine Sun Tree.
As one elder stepped into the magma, his magical artifact was instantly damaged, parts of it melting away under the scorching heat. This was no ordinary magma—it was impossibly hot.
“Follow me!” a silver lion roared, fierce and gleaming, wielding a bone talisman that remained unharmed. It called upon two others to join him, riding the talisman across the sea.
“That is a divine bone!” someone murmured, finally realizing that common magical artifacts were useless here; only treasures from divine beings could withstand this realm.
“This is our Jinwu Clan’s ancestral land. Fellow cultivators, please withdraw!” Suddenly, two golden beams descended, transforming into two robed golden-winged cultivators who blocked the group from advancing.
“Chi!”
With a mere flick of his finger, the magma sea surged, crimson waves splashing with searing heat. The silver lion and others were startled, quickly defending themselves.
“Brother Dao, the Golden Tree was never exclusively owned by your clan in the myths. It was simply held by your Supreme for a time,” spoke a nine-headed serpent, its massive green-scaled body gleaming, tongue flicking dangerously.
“With the seal broken, the Sun Tree has reappeared. It should choose a new master. Do you Jinwu truly intend to dominate it for eternity?” declared a golden giant with a deep, resonant voice, towering like a small mountain, its entire body glowing gold.
Venerable elders voiced their support, greatly pressuring the Jinwu Clan. Though a million fire ravens stood afar, they stood little chance against an assembly of Elders.
“We believe you Jinwu should not rule so tyrannically. Let all races vie for it; only the fated may claim it,” a voice trembled the earth as ancient roots cracked and a tree slowly advanced.
Its lush branches stretched wide, roots raised like limbs, stepping steadily upon the earth, green yet streaked with blood.
The Ironblood Ancient Tree!
All were amazed. This tree was known for its warlike nature—it turned crimson with rage, filled with merciless combat prowess. Rare indeed, but once matured, it surpassed cultivators of its generation, making it a fearsome opponent.
In truth, all plant-based cultivators wielded unique divine abilities and sacred techniques, rarely challenged. Even more so with the Ironblood Ancient Tree.
“We also believe that once the seal is lifted, only the fated may claim the divine treasure,” a purple-gold ant emerged, shining with power. A variant of the Pureblood Golden Ant, this mighty golden ant radiated incomparable strength.
The nine-headed serpent, golden giant, Ironblood Tree, and purple-gold ant were among the most renowned Elders, famed across the lands and troubling the Jinwu Clan.
“Fine! As you all say—let fate and strength decide!” one golden-winged cultivator spoke coldly, ending the discussion.
“Once we reach it, we will show you all,” the Jinwu exchanged glances, smirking darkly, knowing secrets long kept hidden.
“Hong!”
A massive wave of magma surged, crimson flames sealing the heavens. The Ironblood Tree raged, its roots darkening as it was weakened by the sea.
“Damn it!” it roared, invoking a crimson staff glowing with divine light, exuding waves of power, drawing eager gazes—it was the ancestral artifact of the Ironblood Clan.
The staff expanded into a towering crimson wood, carrying the tree as it charged forward.
Thus, all moved, employing their methods to cross the crimson ocean.
Several prodigies and noble ladies arrived from the Upper Realm, completing the gathering, and swiftly retrieved three divine artifacts.
“Let’s board separate ships and advance together; it will be safer and allow mutual support,” advised Bigu, his green hair flowing, eyes sharp and full of life.
“Hey, Shi Hao, come with us,” Red Phoenix called, her robes radiating red brilliance, embodying the image of a fire phoenix.
Others frowned, like Xuan Ming, unwilling to let Shi Hao aboard.
“We already have enough aboard. An outsider unfamiliar to us may become a burden,” one protested.
“He is a prodigy; rare indeed to rise so far from the Lower Realm. Let him come. He is but one,” Blue Rain replied, graceful and gentle, wrapped in a blue aura.
“I hope he doesn’t hinder us,” young Zhao Qi said, clearly displeased.
This was a vital mission, and even among themselves, they eyed each other warily, ready to strike at any moment. An outsider was even less welcome.
Shi Hao originally intended to refuse, but reconsidered, knowing that Upper Realm prodigies likely held many secrets. Joining them might bring great rewards.
“Opportunity belongs to those who seize it. Let us compete!” Xuan Ming glared at the group, eyes flashing over Shi Hao.
“For now, our only choice is unity; we will handle things as they come,” Bigu added.
“I expect everyone aboard to be useful. We are not here to carry parasites,” Zhuoyun said, eyeing Shi Hao.
Clearly, some resented his presence. They had tried inviting him before and failed. Now, with a legendary treasure at stake, even allies were rivals—much less an outsider.
“Never mind them, Shi. Come with us!” Red Phoenix’s eyes gleamed, leading him aboard.
Shi Hao smiled, indifferent to their disdain, stepping aboard. Finally, Blue Rain, Shui Yue, Red Phoenix, Shi Hao, and two others embarked a ship, sailing toward the flaming depths.
Though called a ship, it was a divine artifact radiating sacred light, protecting everyone aboard.
Three ships sailed together, exuding immense pressure.
“Is there no god in this Ancient Treasure Realm?” Shi Hao pondered, suspecting otherwise. Otherwise, how could such an event occur unnoticed? Perhaps they waited, biding their time.
“Hey, Shi Hao, I heard you visited the Deathless Mountain. Why did you leave so soon?” Red Phoenix’s fiery aura flared as she questioned aloud.
Others listened, intrigued.
“It was dull. I grew tired and left,” he replied casually.
“Deathless Mountain is no minor sect, even in the Lower Realm. Are you sure you can walk in and out as you please?” Zhao Qi scoffed.
Others doubted him.
“Tread carefully. You were fortunate this time. The Deathless Mountain cultivator didn’t accompany us, or he would not have tolerated such words,” Zhuo Yun glanced coldly.
Shi Hao remained indifferent. How could he say he had overthrown the entire Deathless Mountain? No one would believe him anyway, thinking him mad.
After all, news could not spread so quickly.
Of course, Shi Hao knew his limits. He owed his success to Xiao Ta; this was merely his due humility. He also knew these Upper Realm prodigies were formidable.
“Chi!”
A golden beam tore through the crimson sea, a huge flaming wave nearly capsizing the three ships.
“Cursed! It’s a Jinwu bone transformed into a ship, naturally immune to this magma. They dare to attack us?!” one young cultivator raged.
“They see us as weak, giving a warning,” Xuan Ming sneered.
“They will learn who is truly strong soon enough,” Bigu said confidently. They all carried secret treasures and possessed immense strength.
“How strange! Some ancient ships drifting in the magma sea—could they be divine relics?” someone wondered, attempting to summon them.
The moment the call echoed, several ships approached.
“Quick, dodge them!” Shuiyue gasped, her silver robes pure and elegant, her intuition detecting a sinister aura.
“Ghost ships!” others cried, revealing their truth through magic.
Each ship overflowed with corpses from ancient times—undecayed, undying, a true mystery.
“Aowu…” The howling wind chilled despite the fiery sea, ghostly wails piercing the skies.
From black fog, ghostly figures emerged, wielding weapons, slashing out icy beams toward them.
“Cursed beings! These ships have been enchanted, the corpses turned into ghostly soldiers!”
And worse, from the magma emerged bone after bone, countless skeletal hands reaching for them.
Endless and unending, the molten sea boiled with white bones leaping and attacking.
“Break through!” they cried, launching attacks. Magical artifacts radiated divine light, bones shattered, ships overturned, magma exploding into the sky.
Yet as they destroyed those nearby, dozens more ghost ships emerged from the horizon, howling and smothering the sky in mist.
And from the magma, more bones surged, endless and relentless, burying everything in sight.
Their scalps tingled with fear. Even the refined Upper Realm prodigies and noble ladies paled, feeling as if trapped in hell.
“These are the fallen divine beasts and heavenly warriors from the Ancient War, all perished and buried here,” Zhao Qi grimaced.
“Dealing with this is troublesome. Xuan Ming, use your secret treasure! We must escape or we’ll be overwhelmed!” Blue Rain urged.
Xuan Ming hesitated, but seeing all eyes on him, nodded.
From his palm emerged a small stone archway, glowing like a rainbow, instantly connecting to the magma’s depths. The three ships crossed the bridge and vanished.
“Amazing treasure!” Shi Hao marveled. This artifact pierced through a restricted space.
Afterward, they swiftly bypassed all ghost ships, sailing five intense days before finally reaching the destination.
And what lay ahead was even more astonishing!
Infinite treasures glittered, endless auspicious clouds swirling. The sacred tree appeared as though born before the creation of the heavens, radiating divine glow and cosmic energy through the sea.
“It… has shrunk?”
They neared, beholding the Golden Tree, no more than a foot tall, rooted amidst the sea, yet its aura remained formidable.
“A foot tall?!” they gasped.
Indeed, it still radiated immense power, encircled by stellar rivers, each leaf cradling a star, atop which rested a palm-sized palace, exhaling primordial mist.
“I shall go first!” one elder cried, reaching for the tiny tree.
Suddenly, as he approached, he shrank rapidly, becoming a speck of dust vanishing before the tree.
“Ahh! How strange! A cosmic world within a mustard seed?” many cried in awe.
The tree, though small, remained a mighty realm, reducing even Elders to dust upon approach.
“It is here! We must seize it!” several Elders rejoiced, rushing forward.
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