Shi Hao, having eaten and drunk his fill, exhaled a burst of crimson radiance from his mouth—over-supplemented, perhaps. Relying on his profound current cultivation, others might have bled from seven orifices, their vital blood igniting.
He stood up, gazing toward the ancient golden mountain, then fixed his eyes on the Thunderstruck Wood (Lei Ji Mu) at its summit, observing the two emerald-green leaves upon it, and thinking of the Willow God.
“Does this ancient tree possess a will of life?” He looked again and again, feeling it resembled a magical artifact rather than a powerful living being.
Is it related to lightning? He felt puzzled. If so, it truly would be exactly what he needed.
However, the situation was pressing—he was still trapped here, and those four mighty experts might anytime use the Beast Fang Talisman to turn back and strike.
He took out a cauldron the size of a fist, rubbed it with his hand, preparing to attack the golden mountain and plunge the four experts into peril.
Within the golden palace, the four mighty experts were restless, unable to comprehend the Dao, and gradually realizing that this so-called divine voice was too ethereal to grasp.
“There are also restrictions here; we must break through them.”
They detected anomalies, sensing the golden palace was merely the first layer, with deeper secrets yet to uncover, and began exploring together.
“You, search thoroughly—do not miss a single corner!” A powerful figure from the Fire Demon Palace commanded, ordering the cultivators to investigate.
They themselves, however, remained cautious, standing at the palace entrance, fearing unexpected dangers.
The cultivators gritted their teeth, cursing inwardly. They found these four utterly detestable and increasingly envious of Shi Hao’s freedom. They regretted not joining forces with him earlier—it had been a missed opportunity.
A stone bench was touched, and radiant light surged forth. The voice of the Dao within the grand palace grew even louder.
“There’s something here—quickly lift the stone bench!” Chi Lingkong shouted urgently, eager to obtain the divine treasures and then depart to kill Shi Hao.
The stone bench was lifted, revealing a hollow depression. After some exploration, the four mighty experts ordered others to press their palms into it, channeling divine power.
“Crack!”
A piercing sound echoed through the area. Glyph light erupted, forming a passage in the void. Above, a hazy expanse appeared, followed by the emergence of a staircase.
“Strange! There’s another layer—another palace above the great hall!” Everyone was astonished.
A group of cultivators, forced forward, ascended first, followed by the four mighty experts.
The upper Palace Hall (dianyu) was vast and empty, containing only a divine statue—an ancient beast resembling a mastiff, yet parts of its body had clearly evolved into dragon-like forms.
“This is the Lightning Hound!”
“Flying upward, it must be a dragon-hound who, after Nirvana (Niepan), evolved into an unimaginable realm. Part of its body has even manifested true dragon traits.”
The four mighty experts were shocked.
Beneath the divine statue lay a single Cushion (putuan)—the only unique object in the entire hall, with no other items present.
The four were excessively cautious, forcing others to move first and retrieve the Cushion, as it appeared extraordinary, its surface inscribed with glowing glyphs.
“Crack!”
The moment one cultivator moved, a bolt of lightning erupted, reducing him and several nearby to ashes—terrifyingly powerful.
“This is an ancient treasure, likely the Cushion used by the Lightning Dragon Hound for cultivation and enlightenment. It contains its Dao.” Chi Lingkong said, eyes gleaming.
They forced more cultivators forward for testing. Again and again, several were killed.
“We’ll fight to the death!” Many felt despair—continuing like this meant they would all perish.
At this moment, however, the four experts ceased their coercion. They realized the Cushion might be a crucial divine object, and controlling it might grant dominion over the entire golden palace.
They exchanged glances, silently understanding one another, and sat down together, attempting to gradually refine the Cushion.
Initially, things proceeded smoothly. The four, experienced and methodical, slowly gained control over the Cushion. But suddenly, at the final stage, the treasure emitted a brilliant burst of light, hurling them all backward.
“What?!”
The four were horrified, sensing a vast, vague will emerging, sending chills down their spines.
At the same time, the sound of the mountain collapsing echoed, causing the four to change expressions and rush downward toward the first level.
Shi Hao stood in the valley, ready to act, when he noticed glyphs surging into the sky, then beginning to shatter—the formation was disintegrating. The ancient golden mountain cracked, and the Thunderstruck Wood (Lei Ji Mu) seemed ready to uproot itself.
“Oh no!” Shi Hao was startled—the valley’s restrictions were automatically unraveling.
“Boom!”
Then, the charred ancient tree emitted a waterfall of lightning, terrifying in its intensity, cascading downward.
Inside the golden palace, the four mighty experts turned pale—the lightning surged toward them, as if delivering divine punishment!
“Escape—get out!”
“Strange! The outer restrictions have vanished—this is our chance!”
The four were delighted, and Chi Lingkong, in particular, fixed his gaze on Shi Hao, a sinister grin on his face as he lunged forward.
“Crack!”
Contrary to everyone’s expectations, the Thunderstruck Wood (Lei Ji Mu) emitted an enormous bolt of lightning, transforming into a divine waterfall that surged wildly, locking onto them and instantly engulfing the area.
“What?” The four mighty experts turned pale, a chill running through their bodies. They had touched the wrong Cushion, inviting catastrophe. In an instant, they were wrapped in lightning midair, unable to escape.
Shi Hao’s eyes gleamed with desire; he was practically drooling. If this Thunderstruck Wood (Lei Ji Mu) was indeed a magical artifact, it would be an extraordinary treasure—capable of annihilating enemies. If he could obtain it, it would be a supreme weapon.
He wasn’t afraid or fleeing. Instead, he activated the cauldron—an artifact shrouded in mystery, soaked in the Milky Way for countless eons, already imbued with a faint trace of immortal lightning.
He attempted to communicate with the Thunderstruck Wood, testing if resonance could be achieved.
Surprisingly, it worked—the lightning emitted a ripple, and radiant light shimmered.
However, this gave the four mighty experts a lifeline. Seizing the opportunity, they desperately broke through, following this trail of energy.
At this moment, Shi Hao felt a sudden chill. The moment he connected, a more massive bolt of lightning struck down like an oceanic wave, crashing down.
“Ahh!”
The four mighty experts screamed.
“You brat—you tricked us!”
Heaven and earth bear witness—Shi Hao truly had no such intention. It was merely an accident. In an instant, the four were enveloped in smoke, unable to resist.
“Chi Lingkong, we’ll protect you—kill him!” One of them, nearing death, was consumed with hatred toward Shi Hao. Abandoning self-preservation, he channeled glyphs to shield Chi Lingkong, hoping he could escape and kill Shi Hao.
The other two followed suit, deciding to sacrifice themselves in a final gamble.
Boom!
The three were struck down, destined to turn to ash—but glyphic light enveloped them, transporting them back to the altar.
Chi Lingkong emerged, half his body charred, nearly roasted, exuding the scent of cooked flesh—but he was still alive.
“Heaven and earth bear witness—I truly didn’t plot against you.” Shi Hao wore a look of “sincere” innocence.
“You die now!” Chi Lingkong roared, his lungs nearly bursting with rage.
Shi Hao didn’t move, merely holding the cauldron, lifting its lid.
“What’s happening?”
Chi Lingkong was shocked. Already gravely injured, he was slow to react. As the cauldron opened, lightning surged forth, exuding the aura of the Immortal Dao.
It was like disturbing a hornet’s nest. The Thunderstruck Wood (Lei Ji Mu) roared, unleashing waves of lightning.
“Am I a target too now?” Shi Hao also felt a chill. Using the cauldron’s lid as a shield, he fled at top speed, no longer daring to confront Chi Lingkong.
“Ahh!”
Clearly, Chi Lingkong was the main target, as he had touched the Cushion earlier. Now, violent lightning surged, mostly targeting him.
He screamed repeatedly, his body charred and torn, bones blackened.
Shi Hao was also struck, his hair standing on end, though his speed saved him from major injury. He retrieved the cauldron, glanced back, and laughed.
“Old man, you’re too weak. I was hoping for a real battle, but you ended up like a fried dog?” He flew back.
Chi Lingkong’s face was blackened, his body convulsing, blood foaming from his mouth. His life was nearly extinguished, yet the Fate Sigil (Ming Fu) had not activated.
“Little brat, you wait—I’ll return to kill you!” His eyes burned with hatred.
“Then let me kill you first this time. When you return next time, I’ll slay your true form.” Shi Hao said, picking up a millstone-sized rock from the ground and slamming it into Chi Lingkong.
“You…” Chi Lingkong raged. This brat wielded a mere stone, channeling divine power into it, smashing his skull like a common thug.
It was a humiliation—how could a divine expert, one who had ignited the godly flame, end up like this, struck like a common ruffian?
“Just wait!” He gritted his teeth, attempting self-destruction.
But Shi Hao was faster. With a stomp of his foot, he crushed Chi Lingkong’s face, then kicked him repeatedly, preventing his escape.
“Puh!”
Chi Lingkong was furious, his rage spewing blood. He attempted self-detonation.
Shi Hao acted decisively, severing his head with a palm strike, then kicking the body into the lightning. With a hiss, it turned to charcoal.
The Beast Fang Talisman was miraculous, a sacred object from the Yuan Tian Secret Realm. It reassembled Chi Lingkong’s true form, enveloping him in radiant rain as he vanished instantly.
Before departing, Chi Lingkong bore immense resentment, filled with hatred.
At the same time, he was shocked to find the golden mountain collapsing. The Thunderstruck Wood’s roots wrapped around the grand palace, lifting it skyward. The lightning and restrictions vanished.
All his efforts for naught? He roared furiously, trembling with rage, utterly unwilling yet forced to vanish from this place.
At the secret realm’s exit, cultivators gathered, discussing the event. Among the four mighty experts from the Fire Demon Palace, three had perished and been transported back—an unprecedented commotion.
“What happened? Could they have been slain by that young demon king?”
“Heavens! If true, another terrifying young Supreme (Zunzhe) has risen, rivaling even the famed disciples across the continents!”
“The Fire Demon Palace has truly met misfortune…”
The elders guarding the secret realm’s entrance nearly fainted. This incident had grown too large. Regretting his actions, he slapped himself several times.
The three returned experts, faces dark with fury, were stunned. To perish so quickly, protected only by Fate Sigil (Ming Fu)—never before had such a defeat occurred.
At that moment, the altar shimmered, and Chi Lingkong reappeared.
Gasps erupted. This meant the Fire Demon Palace had been utterly annihilated—none survived!
“Chi Lingkong, you… why are you back too? Did you slay that brat?” One of the three asked urgently.
At his words, everyone froze.
Was the speculation true?!
Expressions turned strange. The Fire Demon Palace’s previously slain Venerable One (Zunzhe) were even more shocked. The female Venerable One (Zunzhe) trembled, whispering, “That demon… did he slay even our senior masters?”
With two speaking thus, the truth could no longer be concealed, sparking a massive uproar. Everyone was astonished, the commotion growing.
The Fire Demon Palace cultivators realized they should not speak recklessly. Today’s disgrace would make them the laughingstock of all. Such a defeat was a shame for any great sect.
“Ahh…” Chi Lingkong roared, his fiery red hair disheveled, his rage boundless.
Outside the secret realm’s exit, cultivators gathered in infinite numbers, spreading the news rapidly.
A young demon king had risen, shaking the world. Who was he? Why had there been no prior signs?
“Tell me, could he be ‘Huang ( Desolation)’—the mysterious youth who inscribed his name upon the divine Stele (bei) established by the Devil Sovereign, surpassing ten continents?” Someone whispered.
This immediately stirred a massive wave of discussion.
“Truly exciting! The heir of the Immortal Palace is said to be an insurmountable mountain, while Qin Hao possesses two supreme immortal bones. There are other disciples too… If this young demon king meets them, what kind of dazzling clash will occur?”
Even some Grandmasters were stirred, beginning to pay attention.
Shi Ziling and his wife also showed unusual expressions, wondering how Qin Hao fared inside. If he encountered this extraordinary demon king, would he stand a chance?
At the same time, they inevitably thought of their eldest son, feeling a pang of sorrow. If he were still alive, if his true form arrived here, what kind of achievements might he have attained?
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