Inside the mountain, Shi Hao stood still, his only Hidden Realm not large but enveloping him like a radiant dawn, casting a crystalline glow upon his hair.
At this moment, he was pure and unblemished, his flesh glowing and bones translucent, exuding an otherworldly aura, as if a fallen immortal had descended into the mortal world.
Yet, as he slightly channeled his divine power, endless torrents of blood qi surged forth, shaking the mountain and causing it to rapidly crack.
In stillness, he resembled a sacred lotus rooted beneath a tranquil lake; in motion, he was like a celestial demon dancing across the heavens, each movement exuding immense pressure that reverberated in all directions.
“Xiu!”
Shi Hao took a step forward, vanishing like an arrow loosed from a bow, moving at an inconceivable speed.
In an instant, the mountain cracked, and a youth emerged from the fissure, using his bare hands to force the mountain apart. He stepped out from the crevice, refined and nimble, like a dormant savage dragon whose power remained hidden until unleashed.
A piercing cry echoed as a fierce raptor dove from the sky, its wings radiating a metallic black sheen, emanating a ferocious aura so intense that it shattered the mountain peaks.
Shi Hao tilted his head, watching the ancient beast capable of slaying dragons and elephants with indifference, unshaken as it lunged toward him.
His unique Hidden Realm emitted light, enveloping him in radiant, auspicious glow, making him appear sacred and transcendent, his eyes clear, his jet-black hair flowing in the wind.
Bang!
The earth trembled as the beast dove with the might to shatter mountains, its strength immense enough to rapidly splinter the terrain, yet the figure below remained unmoved.
Moreover, the beast found itself ensnared within the glowing Hidden Realm, as if sinking into a quagmire, unable to escape, its breath labored, bound and imprisoned.
The raptor trembled in fear—it was the local The Avian King, having cultivated for centuries, possessing profound Dao cultivation capable of slaying any saintly bird or ferocious beast, yet now it was immobilized.
Shi Hao grabbed it by the neck, lifting it up, and asked, “Did you want to eat me?”
Every black feather on the beast bristled, letting out a low, mournful cry, its eyes filled with terror, trembling violently—this man was too terrifying!
Shi Hao glanced at it, then tossed it into the air, saying, “Stay away from me.”
The black beast fled like a released prisoner. As the ruler of the skies in this region, this was the first time it had encountered such a terrifying ordeal. It swiftly spread its wings, vanishing into the distance in an instant.
Shi Hao strode forward, each step spanning hundreds of feet, disappearing from the mountainous region.
“Ao hou…” Along the way, a golden giant appeared, towering ten feet tall, its body covered in thick golden fur, wildly ferocious, wielding a stone club and swinging it powerfully toward Shi Hao.
Shi Hao raised his head, extending a single finger to halt the six or seven-foot-long club, preventing it from advancing even an inch.
The golden giant was stunned—what kind of strength was this? Far surpassing its own Realm of the Venerable golden body, it sent shivers down its spine.
“Hong!”
In the next moment, Shi Hao left a residual image at the spot and appeared before the golden giant. With the strength to lift mountains, he lifted the giant and hurled it away.
The golden giant crashed into the mountainside, sending boulders tumbling. It paled, taking a long while to catch its breath before fleeing like a startled rabbit.
Shi Hao returned to the ancient land, now teeming with many insect swarms.
However, the area was now in ruins, marked by signs of battle, with all the cultivators having long since departed, their traces nowhere to be seen.
Glowing bloodstains could be seen—this was the sacred blood of the primordial sovereigns, indicating that someone had been injured, and even the pelts of divine beasts that had ignited their godly flames were left behind.
The battle here was astonishing, extremely brutal.
Shi Hao advanced along the path, arriving near five peaks radiating radiant light, only to find that several divine mountains had already been destroyed, leaving only half-standing remnants.
On the ground lay shattered treasures and ruined formations.
“Yi?”
Shi Hao was surprised to discover ancient palaces and underground chambers here, even ancient halls, though all had been breached, their treasures already taken.
“What is this…” As he explored the ancient ruins, he found several small coffins, palm-sized and ancient, carved from stone.
No more, no less—exactly nine stone coffins.
“Palm-sized—what could be buried inside?” Shi Hao’s expression shifted.
He surveyed the surroundings. This area was undoubtedly extraordinary. Even after being ravaged by numerous young primordial sovereigns and divine-level beings, auspicious energy still rose, and spiritual mist lingered, making it a rare sacred land in all the heavens.
Cultivation here would bring tenfold results with half the effort.
“Who?” He turned his head, gazing far into the distance.
Several cultivators were startled. From such a great distance, he could still spot them, making their hair stand on end. They realized they had encountered a young Sovereign.
“We mean no harm—we’re not here to intrude, only to seek an opportunity.” They hurriedly explained.
These cultivators were also formidable, but compared to the primordials, they paled in comparison. The recent battle had left them terrified, hiding at a distance, too afraid to approach.
Only after everyone had left and the area had grown calm did they dare to come near.
Shi Hao did not act arrogantly but was quite amiable, asking them what had transpired here.
“The Insect Emperor has emerged!”
That single sentence alone startled Shi Hao, who quickly pressed for details.
“Perhaps, it should be called a quasi-Insect Emperor—not yet the sovereign of all insects, merely approaching that level,” someone added.
Within this sacred land, the vast underground palace had been breached, and gradually, nine coffins were discovered, buried in icy frost, each possibly containing a “cocoon” or “pupa.”
Upon hearing this, Shi Hao was astonished and asked, “Surely you’re not saying that nine divine insects have emerged?”
“Exactly. All nine stone coffins radiated brilliant divine light, an omen that shook the entire secret realm,” someone marveled.
In the end, from each stone coffin emerged a divine insect, their holy radiance spreading, crawling forth and igniting a great battle among the people.
It was said that these were divine insects personally cultivated by Yuan Tian the Sovereign. The nine insect kings would eventually fight, evolving into a single ultimate Insect Emperor!
Unfortunately, Yuan Tian the Sovereign failed in his Nirvana, unable to allow them to devour each other and complete the final fusion, hastily sealing the nine strange insects.
Clearly, he had also intended to leave this opportunity for future generations, since he was about to perish.
“These nine cocoons and pupae are all younglings, each with the potential to become an invincible insect king, even possessing the potential to ascend as Emperor,” one person marveled, filled with envy.
“One was obtained by the young master of the Immortal Hall, and Qin Hao, who possesses two immortal bones, took another…”
The few discussed how the immortal sects had secret techniques, pouring forth treasures and medicinal herbs to further cultivate them, allowing these divine insects to evolve into Insect Emperors without needing to devour each other.
However, the cost was immense!
After hearing this, Shi Hao remained silent for a moment, contemplating the terrifying Insect Emperors he might encounter in the future.
“Where did they go?” Shi Hao asked.
“They might have gone to the Immortal Pool where the Sovereign Nirvanaed,” someone replied.
Each time the secret realm opens, all cultivators rush toward that location, for it is said that Yuan Tian the Sovereign failed in his Nirvana at the Immortal Pool, leaving behind supreme true blood for those with destiny.
Throughout history, only a handful have obtained even a small portion. Each drop of true blood is a medicinal treasure, containing mysterious glyphs—if one can refine them, it brings forth great fortune.
Moreover, to obtain the forbidden inheritance and open the Sovereign’s palace, one must also go to this Immortal Pool—it is an unavoidable destination.
Shi Hao did not linger here long. After thoroughly inquiring about the information, he raced toward the distant land, beginning his pursuit of the primordials.
“Grandfather, will you appear?” he murmured softly.
Pure white mist curled around the spring pool, a sacred land. An expanse of lakes surrounded countless elegant mountains, perpetually shrouded in water vapor, hazy and poetic.
The so-called Immortal Pool lay within this region, though no one knew exactly which lake it was.
Moreover, this area was incredibly vast, spanning thousands of miles. With similar terrain, many cultivators often became lost here.
Shi Hao had already been inside for several days, encountering multiple ambushes, though he had Resolve them all. This place was perilous—not only were there primordials and young heavenly geniuses, but also divine-level beings native to the secret realm.
Ahead, a lake shimmered with crystalline clarity, like a gemstone, its surface occasionally rippling with mist. By the lakeside, several large stones sat, with two figures meditating upon them.
“Stop!”
As Shi Hao approached, the two figures stood, their expressions stern, eyes cold as blades.
“Hmm?” Shi Hao noticed silver scales flashing in the lake, several “silver dragons” about an arm’s length long darting through the water at incredible speed.
These were not true dragons. He recalled a rare medicinal treasure—the Silver Dragon Lotus. Though a plant, it could transform into a silver dragon, swimming through the lake.
And it possessed incredible speed!
Such a spiritual herb, under normal circumstances, could evolve into a Saint Medicine, hence its rarity and value.
Clearly, there might be a Saint Medicine here.
Shi Hao could understand their intentions and did not wish to provoke conflict, so he halted upon hearing their command, showing no further hostility.
“You… come here!” However, at that moment, a cold voice rang out from the distance, and a figure stood, exuding a terrifying pressure.
Clearly, the two earlier figures were merely scouts—the true master had now revealed himself. He had purple hair, his eyes glowing with a purple-golden hue, like divine lanterns.
“Do you have something to say?” Shi Hao asked calmly.
“I’m short on hands. Go into the lake and drive away those silver dragons for me!” he commanded coldly, his tone unyielding.
Shi Hao chuckled. He would not provoke trouble, but neither would he fear it—he was eager to find an opponent to test his strength.
“You think you’re someone who can order me to help capture a Saint Medicine?” he replied.
Soon, he noticed a young couple approaching. One was somewhat familiar—Chen Qing, while the other woman was also formidable.
“Hu Brother, aren’t you seeking a servant? This one is perfect—his strength is immense, rivaling the divine sons of great sects, worthy of you,” Chen Qing said.
“Is that so? I could use a capable servant!” The purple-haired youth’s eyes gleamed with interest as he stared at Shi Hao. He was a true Hu, his power terrifying enough to rival the primordials.
The woman smiled, a single feather atop her head, exuding a seductive charm, her eyes brimming with allure. “Be careful though, this one is no ordinary opponent—he’s quite strong.”
“Strength is good—I want a powerful battle servant. Looks like he’d even make a fine humanoid mount.” The purple-gold Hu laughed loudly. Though he spoke thus, he had already grown wary, deliberately provoking Shi Hao to gauge his temperament and composure.
In secret, he had already summoned a secret treasure, resonating with the formation previously set up by the lake, intending to capture Shi Hao in one move!
“Hu Brother, let me go first—I’ll capture him as a gift for you.” Chen Qing spoke up, clearly trying to humiliate Shi Hao.
In his eyes burned coldness. Previously, when surrounded by black-scaled insects, Shi Hao had once stepped on his skull with his foot, leaving him filled with hatred and longing for revenge.
“Finished talking? Then come at me together.” Shi Hao said calmly, advancing forward.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage