The auras of the two individuals continued to undergo drastic transformations, exuding a terrifying presence, and soon, black lightning swirled around them, accompanied by a Dao resonance that vibrated across the void.
Shi Hao felt a surge of amazement. He naturally recognized their changes and had always known these two were no ordinary beings. He halted and said, “Is there anything the two of you wish to say?”
The Bird Elder and Elder Jing Bi, as if awakened from a dream, reined in their powerful fluctuations, returning to a state of peace, exuding halos of serene radiance.
One thought births the Buddha, one thought births the Devil. All transformations could be completed in an instant.
They themselves were also contemplating, frowning deeply, struggling to recall their memories. At times serene, at times bewildered, at times piercing—their auras kept changing.
“How could this be? Only today do I realize who I truly am,” Elder Jing Bi mused thoughtfully.
The Bird Elder nodded, then shook his head. “Hmm, no, I am ‘me,’ but then again—who exactly is ‘me’?”
Upon hearing that, Elder Jing Bi also became confused, asking, “Which version of ‘me’ is the real ‘me’?”
Shi Hao’s eyes were clear and calm as he watched them. Today, he would finally uncover their origins. Indeed, they were extremely extraordinary.
“You continue breaking records. We feel the veil shrouding our souls is about to be lifted, and we are beginning to recall some extraordinary events,” the Bird Elder said, unusually serious, rather than sounding like an old swindler.
Shi Hao nodded and surged forward, breaking more records as he advanced relentlessly.
In the Divine Spirit World, tremors shook the ten directions. Xiao Shi had returned, his journey a triumphant march that startled everyone.
The Bird Elder and Elder Jing Bi grew stronger, and those following them were left in bewilderment. What was happening? It felt as though they were trailing two prehistoric ferocious beasts, causing unease deep in their hearts.
With a hum, the bird on the Bird Elder’s shoulder soared upward, transforming into a blazing sun suspended behind him, its radiant halo enveloping his head like the halo of a celestial Buddha.
Elder Jing Bi was also undergoing transformation. His immortal aura and Daoist elegance replaced his usual sly laughter, exuding an ethereal charm.
The crowd stared in shock. Weren’t these two merely deceiving frauds? Yet their transformation was so profound that it was hard to believe they were the same shameless duo.
Shi Hao reached a higher region, his body glowing like an immortal furnace as he broke several major records in succession. Feeling fatigue, he finally stopped.
“You keep breaking records, while we grow stronger. Some force has begun flowing into our bodies, awakening sealed memories.”
Hearing this, Shi Hao gazed at them thoughtfully. After becoming the Human Emperor, he had investigated them, yet no such famous experts could be found in the real world.
“Could you two possibly be embodiments of the Divine Spirit World’s rules?” he asked, making such a deduction.
“No! We are flesh-and-blood humans, 100% authentic!” the Bird Elder replied, as a blazing sun appeared behind him.
Shi Hao said, “You wouldn’t want me to break every record in the wastelands, and then go on to break those in other great regions? I certainly don’t have that much time!”
“I am gradually gaining insight and understanding. There is no need for that anymore,” Elder Jing Bi said.
“Head to the Ultimate Realm!” the Bird Elder declared solemnly.
Others felt the change was strange. These two old frauds had undergone a profound transformation, exuding an aura no longer of this world.
“Then who exactly are you two?” Shi Hao asked, a question everyone wanted answered.
“We want to know as well. We’re still thinking about it,” the Bird Elder chuckled.
Elder Jing Bi immediately nodded in agreement. That smirk returned, appearing extremely cunning once again, ruining the ethereal aura and dragging them back into the mundane.
Continuing along the way, they reverted to their old selves. The shameless duo reappeared, constantly hawking their bone-bound books to anyone passing, with booming business.
Yet, at times, glimmers of extraordinary sharpness flickered in their eyes when they blinked.
“This bone-bound book sells for five thousand fine jades per copy, guaranteed to satisfy you!”
“What? Unsatisfied? Look at Xiao Shi—he rose to prominence by following the training methods in this book! Young man, work hard—’The Next Xiao Shi’ could be you!”
…
The two strutted down the road, their expressions filled with mischief as they bamboozled crowds, becoming two true mystic charlatans surrounded by an admiring throng.
“What place is this?” the crowd asked in astonishment, realizing they had unknowingly reached a hazy, mist-shrouded area, with pure white clouds flowing like fairy mists.
Before them stood a pair of enormous ancient bronze doors, vast as mountains, which they had somehow never noticed despite years within the realm.
“Open!” Elder Jing Bi extended his finger forward, glyphs flashing. With a mighty rumble, the colossal ancient bronze doors creaked open, emitting chaotic essence.
Everyone took a step back, hearts pounding. Chaos essence—this place was indeed extraordinary.
Behind the door, towering as high as mountains, lay a boundless misty expanse. At first, the view was indistinct until, after a long time, a path became visible, winding skyward.
It was a bluestone path, distinctive in that it was not laid upon a mountain but suspended in midair, defying gravity like a jade ribbon unfurling toward the heavens.
This was a celestial path, as if one could ascend to the divine heavens by walking it.
Shi Hao stood with hands folded behind his back, gazing upward, deeply stirred. Was such a place hidden within the Divine Spirit World? He had never heard of it.
“We’ve begun to remember things,” the Bird Elder said. “No matter how many records you break, you won’t obtain the final two bronze fragments. Only by forging ahead on this path can you claim them.”
“You old coots, why are you grinning so smugly?” Shi Hao asked.
The Bird Elder bristled indignantly. “Nonsense! That’s not how an elder should be addressed! I’m just joyful and excited. Finally, there’s a capable young man ready to walk this path.”
“This is a celestial path,” Elder Jing Bi added. “If you can ascend it and defeat all opponents, the bronze fragments will appear naturally.”
The crowd stirred deeply, astonished. What kind of path was it? Unknown before now—what enemies lay at the end?
It was highly mysterious, sealed by a pair of bronze gates until now. Could those opponents have survived since ancient times?
Shi Hao laughed lightly. He wasn’t afraid of powerful opponents now. He longed for battle, eager for a true test of his full potential.
A resonant hum sounded as Shi Hao stepped onto the bluestone path. The mist churned violently, revealing the path clearly. His feet seemed to scatter the white fog, revealing the ancient stones.
Shi Hao’s heart tensed. Stepping onto this path alone, he felt an immense pressure, one that ordinary cultivators likely couldn’t even endure.
With each step he took, ascending the winding trail toward the heights, the fog continued to dissipate, as though clouds were parting to reveal the sun.
“Senior sirs, may we also walk that celestial path?” someone asked the two scheming old men.
“You may, but once your lives are lost, you will return to the real world, unable to return for months of recovery,” the Bird Elder replied.
“Is the path that dangerous?” Many doubted, watching Shi Hao walk steadily without any attacks.
In a short while, dozens stepped forward and rushed toward the trail. However, the first person barely stepped on the path before being repelled, stumbling backward.
Others charged ahead, but after taking only a dozen steps, their bodies wavered violently, and with screams, they tumbled down.
Beside the trail, beneath swirling mists, lay a bottomless abyss, filled with a mysterious killing aura that tore the fallen apart.
Everyone gasped in horror, and no one dared to proceed further.
“The celestial path is treacherous and perilous,” Elder Jing Bi sighed. “One misstep means eternal ruin.”
“We shall watch from this side and see whether he can ascend to the heavens,” the Bird Elder said, waving his hand. The mists parted, revealing a towering mountain.
Pitch black, it rose from the abyss, piercing the skies—an unknown height in tens of thousands of feet.
The mountain was not far from the path suspended in the void. They could see Shi Hao’s every movement, though the two remained parallel, never intersecting.
Flight was impossible in this domain. Elder Jing Bi solemnly warned them it was a “No-Fly Zone”—not to be trifled with.
As Shi Hao advanced, an endless crowd surged toward the black mountain, a colossal formation beyond any found in the physical world.
Shi Hao had walked for an indeterminate time, enduring relentless pressure, yet none of it could halt his progress.
His position grew higher and higher, where no sounds, no human presence could be found. It was as though he had reached the edge of the world, alone in his exploration.
“Is this the path of cultivation? Will the future be like this?”
Though his pace was steady, Shi Hao had walked for three full days and nights before nearing the path’s end. It was alarming to think how long and distant it truly was.
This truly felt like ascending to the heavens.
The crowd was still climbing the black mountain, watching Shi Hao from afar.
At the end of the path stood a high platform, resembling both an ancient altar and a mysterious arena, forged entirely of bronze.
The platform was vast, suspended in midair as though eternal. Upon its surface were carvings of countless creatures, lifelike yet tarnished with green corrosion.
Even someone as strong as Shi Hao felt immense fatigue. The pressure during the climb had been unimaginable, as though the weight of mountains had been crushing his back.
As he stepped forward, a misty barrier blocked his way, violently repelling him toward the abyss’s edge.
Everyone trembled. A fall from here meant certain death in the infinite abyss, where the strange killing aura would tear them apart.
Shi Hao was astonished. There seemed to be an invisible force protecting the ancient bronze altar—impossible to pierce without immense effort.
He paused to catch his breath, regained strength, and then shouted, “Break through!”
With a fist, golden radiance exploded, shattering the invisible force. With one step forward, he ascended the ancient bronze altar.
As the blow landed, the mist dispersed, revealing the altar’s surface clearly. Its vastness was visible even to the crowd behind.
“Ah!?” a voice echoed.
At the same time, Shi Hao also showed surprise. Ahead, a figure turned and saw him—uttering shock in their voice.
It was a woman, clad in a golden robe that shimmered with radiant light. Tall and regal, her lustrous black hair cascaded as her clear, veil-covered eyes turned toward him.
She stood there, her gaze flashing lightning. Her presence was extraordinary, powerful—surrounded by the aura of supreme Dao.
“An omen of great danger?” she spoke, her voice melodious, her eyes emanating divine brilliance, fixing upon him.
“Youkai?” Shi Hao replied.
“Heavenly Immortal,” she answered.
“Human Emperor,” he responded.
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