Chapter 708:

Shi Hao arrived, emerging from the earth at the perfect moment to pluck the Golden Bodhi Fruit.

Golden flames of light spread through the air, accompanied by an intoxicating fragrance that seeped into one’s very bones. In an instant, it invigorated the spirit, as if one were about to transcend and ascend.

“Hmm?” He was startled—he couldn’t pluck it!

Though the small tree was nearly withered, it was incredibly sturdy, as if forged from divine metal. Even the stem of the fruit was the same, resisting his first attempt to pull it free.

He had once heard Yun Xi mention that the Golden Bodhi Tree was a rare material for refining artifacts, and indeed, even with his formidable physique, he couldn’t break it without exerting full force.

“Come down!” He applied a bit more strength, and the Golden Bodhi Tree glowed as the stem snapped, fruit in hand.

But at that very moment, disaster struck. Shi Hao’s hair stood on end as a tremendous force erupted from beneath the earth, sending him flying backward, blood spurting from his mouth.

If not for his immunity to magical attacks, he would have been killed on the spot! A surge of radiant symbols had struck him.

The middle-aged woman from the War Clan appeared, her hair elegantly coiled, golden hairpins gleaming as she raised her jade-like hand, bursting from the earth to snatch the Golden Bodhi Fruit, its rich fragrance still lingering in the air.

Shi Hao seethed with fury. At the final moment, someone had intercepted the divine fruit, leaving him enraged.

This was the War Clan woman’s spiritual avatar, having pursued him underground. Though injured in the blood pool, she was still capable, having stealthily followed him here.

In truth, she had the same goal as Shi Hao—anticipating the upheaval above and coming to harvest the herb, playing the role of the oriole stalking the mantis.

“You—!” Shi Hao nearly coughed up blood. He had been the one scheming, yet now he had become the prey, all his efforts wasted.

A resonant hum shook the heavens and earth as a terrifying field of energy erupted, sweeping through the ancient land.

Shi Hao’s expression darkened. Though unwilling, he immediately activated the Divine Footwork technique to flee into the distance. The entity beneath the Bone Mountain, nurtured in the blood pool, seemed to be awakening.

Survival was now his top priority—everything else could wait.

“Thinking of leaving? Not so easy. Stay and die!” The War Clan woman pursued relentlessly, intent on ending his life.

Shi Hao’s face twisted in frustration. His immunity to magic had its limits, and as a mere Venerable, he stood no chance against a True God.

This time, he had suffered a great loss. His injuries were minor, but losing the Golden Bodhi Fruit was a devastating blow.

**Boom!**

The earth split apart as a bone saber cleaved through the air, its white radiance blinding. The Bone God surged upward with a roar: “Dare to steal my divine fruit? Stay and die!”

A blade beam, like a rainbow stretching thousands of feet, slashed toward the War Clan woman, its killing intent overwhelming!

In the distant sky, three True Gods stood watching. They had not gone far, observing the scene with shock and delight.

“The Golden Bodhi Fruit is ours! Hurry and assist!” The War Clan woman’s true form rejoiced, swiftly maneuvering around the Bone Mountain in pursuit. Her spiritual avatar had achieved a great feat.

In truth, they had never intended to leave. The allure of the Golden Bodhi Fruit was too great—even knowing the danger, they had waited for the right moment to act.

**Clang!**

On the battlefield, the bone saber’s radiant slash shattered one of the War Clan woman’s artifacts, forcing her back. The saber’s overwhelming light surged like an ocean, terrifying to behold.

“Cease your arrogance!” The three True Gods arrived, and a fierce battle erupted.

Shi Hao, having escaped the battlefield, spat out several mouthfuls of blood. The humiliation of being ambushed and robbed of his treasure left him choking with fury.

Clearly, in the eyes of the three True Gods, the Golden Bodhi Fruit was far more valuable than him. None pursued him, all focused on battling the Bone God.

Strangely, the Bone Mountain trembled briefly before settling, the oppressive field from the depths vanishing.

“An Heavenly God’s rebirth?” Shi Hao murmured. Concealing himself, he vanished from the area, unwilling to become prey once the battle concluded.

“Heavenly God’s Bone Saber, unleash your might!”

At that moment, the Bone God chanted an incantation, and the Bone Mountain erupted with divine radiance.

The three True Gods paled, immediately turning to flee as a chilling killing intent bore down on them.

**Swoosh!**

A blade beam shot into the heavens as the bone saber, like a blazing sun, soared from the Bone Mountain and slashed toward them.

**Splat!**

Blood sprayed as the Dragon Roc let out a pained shriek. In its true form, one of its wings was severed, sending a rain of blood as it desperately fled.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

The Bone God roared, striking out with a palm. The Dragon Roc was sent flying, feathers scattering as it wailed in agony.

Simultaneously, the Heavenly God’s Bone Saber, wreathed in dazzling runes, slashed through the War Clan woman’s spiritual avatar, cleaving her in two.

The War Clan man and woman’s true forms watched in horror but, unwilling to abandon the Golden Bodhi Fruit, dove toward the golden fruit.

“Die!” The Bone God bellowed, the Heavenly God’s Bone Saber trailing a comet-like tail as it tore through the sky, unleashing unparalleled power.

**Splat!**

Both were struck—the man lost his left arm, the woman her right leg, their divine blood splattering the earth.

Yet, the woman managed to seize the Golden Bodhi Fruit, enduring the pain as she soared upward.

“Strike again!”

The Bone God commanded, but the Heavenly God’s weapon dimmed, its power waning.

This was a Heavenly God’s artifact, and the Bone God had only been able to wield it temporarily through the incantation. Now, its time was up, and the Bone God himself was exhausted.

“Go!”

The War Clan pair, seeing their chance, abandoned the fight and fled, prioritizing the Golden Bodhi Fruit above all else.

“My treasure—you think you can take it? Stay!” The Bone God, wielding his own saber, gave chase, his killing intent surging.

The wounded Dragon Roc, fearing isolation, followed the two War Clan experts, seeking safety in numbers.

The Bone God sneered. He was on the verge of surpassing his current realm, stronger than any of them, unafraid of their combined might.

A chaotic battle ensued, a relentless pursuit filled with bloodshed. The three True Gods, already weakened by the Heavenly God’s weapon, were no match.

By the end, all three were battered—bones shattered, bodies riddled with wounds, on the verge of collapse.

The Dragon Roc suffered the worst. In its true form, both wings were gone, one claw obliterated, its body riddled with bloody holes, teetering on death’s edge.

It barely escaped, staggering into the distance.

As for its subordinates, the flock of fierce birds had long since fled, terrified by the True Gods’ battle.

The Bone God, too, was injured, several ribs broken. Glancing at the fleeing Dragon Roc, he reluctantly chose not to pursue, focusing instead on the two War Clan experts.

“Fight to the death!” The War Clan man roared, summoning all his spiritual avatars and burning artifacts in a desperate assault.

Yet it was futile. His avatars fell one by one, and he crashed to the ground, blood pooling beneath him.

“Only you remain,” the Bone God said, fixing his gaze on the woman.

**Swoosh!**

With no other choice, the War Clan woman burned her essence blood, fleeing madly into the distance. Missing a leg, she relied solely on her magic to sustain her flight.

The moment they vanished, the “fallen” War Clan man on the ground rose, his expression dark. After a brief hesitation, he too fled the battlefield.

Though injured, his condition was far less dire than it had seemed. To survive, he had shamelessly feigned defeat.

The War Clan woman’s speed was extraordinary. Despite the Bone God’s relentless pursuit, he couldn’t close the distance.

But as time passed, the Bone God grew uneasy. He had strayed too far from the Bone Mountain, his duty binding him.

The Golden Bodhi Fruit held little value for him—he simply refused to let it be taken for free. Now, he had no choice but to turn back.

“Roar—!”

With a final attempt, he unleashed a soul-shaking roar, his skull glowing as a wave of spiritual energy surged forward.

“Ah—!” The War Clan woman screamed, clutching her head, but she didn’t fall. Accelerating, she fled beyond reach.

The Bone God, expression grim, turned back, the battle concluded.

On the ground, a figure emerged, chasing the War Clan woman’s trail. Wreathed in radiant runes, his back bore the wings of a Kun Peng, his feet shimmering with light.

In an instant, Shi Hao combined the Kun Peng’s speed with the Divine Footwork, streaking across the land like a fleeting shadow.

He had been watching from afar, biding his time. Only when the Bone God departed did he strike, pursuing the woman’s trail.

On a stone mountain, the War Clan woman landed, her body drenched in blood, bones shattered, her form riddled with cracks, barely holding together.

She could endure no longer. Sitting down, she consumed spirit pills, meditating to recover.

Shi Hao approached silently, blending into the void, his expression cold, his gaze merciless. The moment he reached the mountain’s peak, he accelerated.

“Who—?”

The War Clan woman, despite her injuries, sensed the danger. But by the time she opened her eyes, the youth was already upon her.

For a True God to be ambushed like this was unthinkable—but her grievous wounds had dulled her senses.

**Boom!**

Shi Hao struck, his body erupting with runes as the flawless Samsara technique enveloped her bloodied form.

“What kind of divine ability is this?” The woman gasped, her already depleted life force draining further.

She felt her vitality slipping away, as if death itself were claiming her. Reacting swiftly, she unleashed her own runes, intent on crushing the youth where he stood.

Shi Hao was stunned. His Samsara runes had struck true, yet the True God, despite being on death’s door, resisted instant annihilation.

“Die!” Shi Hao roared, lunging forward to finish her and reclaim the Golden Bodhi Fruit.