The mountains stretched vast and majestic, lush with vegetation, some ancient trees towering even higher than the peaks, their colossal trunks draped with glowing vines.
Pure-blooded divine birds nested atop them, their woven silver-grass nests shimmering with radiant light.
Hundreds-of-zhang-long Titan Serpents coiled around the trees, occasionally flicking their tongues toward those massive nests, their very presence exuding an aura of terrifying danger.
On the ground, thick layers of fallen leaves formed fertile soil, where enormous purple spiders the size of faces, silver centipedes over a meter long, and golden scorpions half a man’s height glimmered as they moved about.
This place teemed with all manner of creatures, each deadly in its own right. A single misstep into their territory could spell doom.
Shi Hao and his grandfather traversed the mountain forests, stepping cautiously through layers of leaves several feet deep. Just moments ago, while passing an ancient cave, they had disturbed a deity—the Toad God.
It was a toad spirit, no larger than a round table, yet exuding an overwhelming danger, far surpassing any of the divine flame-ignited beings they had encountered before.
Had they not been strong enough and reacted swiftly, riding lightning across the terrain, they might have been devoured.
They strongly suspected it had transcended the Divine Flame Realm.
“Ribbit!”
Clearly, the toad spirit hadn’t given up, still searching for them. Its croak rumbled like thunder, churning the blood and qi of those who heard it.
From their vantage point, the two could see a golden toad perched atop a distant peak. It wasn’t particularly large, roughly the size of a round table.
Crafted as if from solid gold, its body gleamed brilliantly, its gaping mouth emitting croaks that unsettled the mind, louder even than thunder.
“Whoosh…”
A tempestuous gale erupted as the toad opened its maw, unleashing a hurricane-force wind that snapped ancient trees like twigs and uprooted many more, a scene both awe-inspiring and horrifying.
This disturbance roused several Titan Serpents and pure-blooded divine birds, all displeased, soaring into the sky.
Ssshhh!
A crimson streak shot out, instantly ensnaring them before vanishing into the golden toad’s maw—the streak was its tongue.
“A Venerable Realm fierce bird and several Titan Serpents, just… eaten?” Even the Great Demonic God couldn’t help but inhale sharply.
Shi Hao, however, burned with excitement, his eyes blazing. This seemed to confirm a suspicion of his: “This toad spirit might have truly surpassed the Divine Flame Realm. The secret realm isn’t restricting its growth.”
He believed that over the long ages, the rules of the Yuan Heaven Secret Realm had shifted, allowing more powerful beings to emerge.
Several times now, he had sensed terrifying presences in the mountains and lakes, fleeting yet unmistakable.
“If that’s truly the case, we won’t leave. We’ll cultivate in this minor world until we’re strong enough to find a way out,” Shi Hao declared, clenching his fists.
Here, sacred herbs, ancient insects, and divine ores abounded, resources richer and spiritual energy denser than the outside world. Moreover, it was relatively safer, free from the pursuit of sect masters.
His encounter with the Demonic Blood Ghostvine had already planted this idea in his mind—its realm was too high, surpassing the secret realm’s limits.
“Not necessarily,” the Great Demonic God countered. Sticking to their original plan, the two continued gathering spirit herbs and capturing rare ancient insects like silver centipedes and golden scorpions.
These were precious materials for refining treasures, and both grandfather and grandson needed them badly.
Shi Hao nodded. “Regardless, we must stay cautious. That toad spirit and other beings here might end up the ultimate victors.”
The secret realm overflowed with spiritual treasures and divine insect descendants, all rare and invaluable in the outside world.
Shi Hao’s Qiankun Bag brimmed with stacks of ancient herbs, their fragrance overwhelming, while his cauldron teemed with bizarre treasure insects and luminous divine minerals.
This was why he was reluctant to leave.
Soon, they arrived at a cluster of lakes, discovering remnants of battle and stumbling upon shocking news.
The bone talisman that had emerged was a fake! The revelation stunned them.
Some had stayed behind, scouring the shattered peaks and dried-up lakes for remnants of weapons and divine artifacts.
“How tragic. Some first-generation geniuses were severely wounded, and some even killed.”
“The hearts of men are treacherous!”
This had all been a scheme—a being had deliberately spread rumors and forged a bone talisman to incite slaughter and competition.
Speculation suggested the mastermind aimed to provoke conflict between the young lord of the Immortal Palace and the youth with the golden lamp suspended above his shoulder.
Whoever lurked in the shadows likely feared those two and sought to pit them against each other, hoping for mutual destruction.
The first bone talisman held unparalleled importance, far surpassing the others. The first to enter Yuan Heaven Supreme’s legacy grounds would reap the greatest rewards.
Yet, the young lord of the Immortal Palace and the golden-lamp youth had not fought to the death, instead parting ways to pursue other matters.
Other first-generation geniuses arrived, sparking a bloodbath. Some were gravely injured; others expended a life talisman, suffering a fatal blow.
“How sinister,” Shi Hao remarked.
“We must be careful,” the Great Demonic God agreed. In terms of combat prowess, the two of them together feared no one, but some schemes were impossible to guard against.
Speculation ran rampant about the mastermind’s identity, but no consensus emerged.
Some believed it was the young lord of the Immortal Palace or the golden-lamp youth, aiming to eliminate competitors.
Others suggested it was preparation for a true purge of first-generation geniuses!
Losing a life talisman meant that if these geniuses dared re-enter the secret realm and fell in battle, their deaths would be permanent.
A few even suspected the native inhabitants of the secret realm.
“Whoever it is, we fear nothing,” Shi Hao declared.
Two days later, genuine bone talismans emerged—six or seven at once—sparking another frenzy of battle.
Shi Hao and the Great Demonic God missed out, having ventured into an ancient land to harvest a rare sacred herb—Golden Blood Grass.
Standing over a meter tall, its golden stalks bore numerous leaves. It was a key ingredient for refining Vajra Liquid and Indestructible Golden Body Liquid, and even direct bodily refinement held immense value.
Most importantly, incorporating it into Stone Village’s alchemical recipes would elevate its worth, aiding in the path of physical sanctification.
“We missed the bone talismans, but at least no one has found the legacy grounds yet,” Shi Hao consoled himself.
“Opportunities will come,” the Great Demonic God assured him.
After deliberation, the two decided to take the initiative.
“True blood has emerged!”
“Yuan Heaven Supreme’s peerless treasure blood has appeared!”
Shouts erupted in the distance, startling everyone.
Deep within the lake cluster, blood light surged into the heavens, auspicious mists billowing, crimson radiance piercing the sky. It seemed as though a pool brimming with supreme treasure blood had been uncovered.
Legends spoke of entering the legacy grounds via the Immortal Pool—the site of the Supreme’s nirvana.
Now, with blood light soaring, someone might have found the path to unlock the treasure trove!
Many rushed toward the commotion.
By the time the grandfather and grandson arrived, others had already ventured deep into the lakes, where an island shrouded in immortal mist housed glowing essence blood and a dazzling light gate.
“The legacy grounds!” someone exclaimed.
“Could someone have had the same idea as us?” Shi Hao murmured, exchanging a glance with the Great Demonic God.
“The essence blood is real!” A crystal was discovered, sealing a drop of true blood, while others near the light gate pulsed with crimson radiance.
Many eyes turned red with greed as they charged forward.
Two first-generation geniuses were the swiftest, snatching several crystals before vanishing into the light gate.
“They had bone talismans! They’ve entered the legacy grounds!”
The sight chilled many hearts. The two had taken the lead, likely securing the greatest rewards.
Some were so dismayed they beat their chests in frustration. The legacy was the ultimate prize, yet others had seized it first.
Suddenly, the entire island lit up, dense with Rune, before a wave of murderous intent erupted from the light gate.
“Boom!”
Over a dozen people on the island exploded, their bones and blood scattering grotesquely.
Others suffered grievous wounds, retreating hastily from the island.
Everyone was stunned. Was entering the legacy grounds so perilous? The danger had spilled outward, terrifying all.
“Let’s take a look!”
While others fled, Shi Hao expanded his Hidden Realm, and the Great Demonic God shielded himself with yin-yang energies. They forced their way onto the island as the Rune weakened.
Inside the light gate, they witnessed a horrifying sight—a peerless killing array. Two first-generation geniuses were mangled, one slain instantly.
He died with unseeing eyes, never even glimpsing his killer.
The array had torn him apart, reducing him to a bloody pulp, his bones shattered, his blood raining down.
His final roar was one of indignation, his body wrapped in a beast-tooth life talisman as he vanished from the realm.
The first to enter the “legacy grounds,” he had met a gruesome end.
The other genius was riddled with wounds, his forehead split open—a testament to his ordeal. Having entered slightly later, he survived, albeit severely injured.
He staggered back, his face ashen.
Meanwhile, within the light gate’s space, a youth of sixteen or seventeen emerged, grinning as he pocketed the fallen genius’s bone talisman.
Shi Hao and the Great Demonic God, hidden nearby, exchanged startled glances. Had this youth orchestrated everything?
“Ah, I finally have a bone talisman,” the youth—around Shi Hao’s age, with round, apple-like cheeks—murmured to himself.
“You…” The surviving genius, just outside the gate, understood instantly. He and the deceased had been ensnared in a trap to steal a talisman.
“I’ll tear you apart!” Enraged, the genius—a proud young sovereign of his clan—couldn’t bear the humiliation of being outwitted.
The chubby-cheeked youth blushed, appearing bashful. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.”
“Die!” the genius roared.
“Well then, I’ll send you off too,” the youth said softly, his bright eyes gleaming as he stepped forward.
Abruptly, he halted, sensing Shi Hao’s presence. With a nervous chuckle, he said, “Brothers should share. The other talisman’s yours.”
Without hesitation, he activated a prearranged teleportation array and vanished.
“That little brat’s sharp. Too cautious,” the Great Demonic God remarked.
Shi Hao was speechless. The youth was ruthless—and had beaten them to their own plan.
Originally, he and his grandfather had considered faking a treasure to lure enemies and seize a talisman. But before they could act, news of the Supreme’s true blood had broken.
This ancient land grew ever more perilous, competition fierce. A single misstep meant death, and all were resorting to any means to seize opportunities.
“Good!” Shi Hao remained unafraid, his eyes alight. A hundred boats racing, first-generation geniuses clashing—only through such struggles would the brightest sparks fly.
He had his sights set on Golden Flame, the Sun God Vine, and other formidable first-generation beasts and birds. The former was akin to a sacred herb, while the latter’s blood was beyond priceless.
“Come at me! I crave battle!” Shi Hao bared his teeth, eager for chaos.
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