The medicinal field was vast, with the five-colored soil glowing at its center, ensuring an ample supply of nutrients for the growth of these sacred herbs.
The Canine Vine, pitch-black in its entirety, bore leaves resembling mastiffs, dripping with dark radiance. The Crimson Orchid shimmered like a blood diamond, its scarlet light surging forth. The Golden Grass swayed like a miniature sun, its golden brilliance swelling in waves.
…
This place was truly dazzling, almost too eye-catching. Over a dozen sacred herbs coexisted in one area—a sight so rare that even opening a secret realm might not yield such a spectacle.
Each sacred herb was enough to make any first-generation cultivator covetous, for they were exceedingly rare. Typically, they took root alone in perilous lands, seldom growing together in such numbers.
“Why is this happening?” someone asked, finding it unbelievable. These were originally just spirit herbs, yet they had all evolved into sacred herbs.
“Because the lower realm’s laws are incomplete. After being brought here and nourished by the heavenly and earthly dao principles, most herbs couldn’t withstand the pressure and withered. Only these dozen or so were exceptional, enduring and undergoing metamorphosis.”
The crowd was stunned. It was as if these herbs were living beings. Cultivators from minor worlds who tempered their bodies and endured trials might achieve a qualitative leap—though most would fade into obscurity.
Shi Hao inquired about who had brought these herbs from the lower realm and learned it was a father and daughter pair!
At this, he was certain it was Emperor Huo and Huo Ling’er. But when he tried to dig deeper, the guardian of the medicinal field knew nothing more.
“Surely, nothing unexpected happened?” His mood lightened somewhat. After all, Emperor Huo and his daughter had effectively created over a dozen sacred herbs—a gift so grand even major sects would be moved.
In high spirits, Shi Hao suddenly paled and let out a wretched scream, startling everyone. Amidst the serene medicinal field, such a ghastly howl was enough to split eardrums.
“What’s wrong with you?” a young woman asked with concern, while others turned to look.
“Apologies, I had a qi deviation. Just needed to scream it out,” Shi Hao said with a pained expression.
Many rolled their eyes.
Shi Hao wandered off alone to a secluded corner and let out a few more agonized wails, his regret so profound it turned his guts green.
He recalled bringing hundreds of spirit herbs to the upper realm, only to consume them all immediately. Who knew that with proper care, some might have transformed into sacred herbs? The loss was devastating.
“Awooo…” Shi Hao howled in anguish.
Soon, a silver divine wolf approached, eyeing him suspiciously. Upon recognizing him, it cursed under its breath—mistaking him for one of its own, only to find a foolish human instead.
Later, Shi Hao returned to the lively gathering, blending into the crowd to listen to discussions.
This grand event attracted experts from major sects, bringing with them valuable and astonishing news.
“Who exactly is Huang? How is he so formidable, capable of defeating even the heir of the Immortal Palace? When I heard the news, I couldn’t believe it!”
Someone mentioned Shi Hao, sparking heated debate.
“He’s from the Supreme Dao Field, destined to oppose the Immortal Palace. But his situation is precarious—he only defeated the heir’s secondary body. If the true body arrives, the outcome is unimaginable!”
The Immortal Palace heir had split into two bodies, and rumors swirled that he was about to merge them. Once complete, he would be invincible among his peers, a terrifying figure blocking the path of all first-generation talents.
“I support Huang. I believe he can still triumph over the Immortal Palace!” declared a young woman in violet robes, her fair forehead adorned with dark patterns that added a bewitching allure.
Shi Hao recognized her voice—the same haughty woman from the violet-gold carriage who had forced even venerable cultivators to yield.
“Who is she? So brazen—what’s her background?” someone whispered, curious about her identity.
“She’s the jewel of the Demon Vein Clan, their strongest young genius, Tian Yao. The supreme young master rumored to appear soon is connected to her.”
The crowd gasped. The Demon Vein Clan was a renowned upper-realm lineage, specializing in glyphs inscribed on their bodies, their spells legendary.
“Miss Tian Yao, are you so certain Huang will win? To us, he seems to have less than a ten percent chance,” someone countered.
“I merely speak my mind. The Immortal Palace acts as if they rule the world, but many sects can rival them. Back when the Supreme Hall still stood, would they dare be so arrogant?” Tian Yao retorted.
Many sighed inwardly. This young lady was no less brazen herself.
“Even if Huang loses, someone else can defeat the Immortal Palace heir. I’m certain he’s in for a disaster!” Tian Yao declared with youthful exuberance.
“Miss Tian Yao, are you suggesting that supreme prodigy will intervene?” someone ventured.
The crowd stirred, hearts pounding.
“Even if a supreme prodigy steps in, defeating the Immortal Palace heir after his fusion is complete would be near impossible. In the Venerable Realm, who in history could rival him?”
“He will fall!” Tian Yao insisted.
Shi Hao was intrigued. He had assumed the violet-gold carriage woman was insufferably arrogant, but now saw her as merely spirited.
The gathering grew lively as discussions turned to the top ten young talents of the era.
“Miss Tian Yao, will that supreme prodigy truly come?”
“Yes,” the Demon Vein maiden answered solemnly, her earlier flippancy gone.
“Chang Gongyan… is emerging again,” someone murmured.
The name carried an eerie weight, sending shivers through the crowd.
“He should appear within the next two days—perhaps even tonight.” Tian Yao glanced at the full moon overhead.
Suddenly, a mournful wail echoed from afar, shaking the heavens.
Even Shi Hao felt his blood surge, as if provoked. Others trembled like beasts before a predator, compelled to prostrate.
“He… has come!” Tian Yao exclaimed, darting into the night sky toward the source.
The crowd erupted in shock.
“That man… is truly here?!”
The gathering disbanded as everyone rushed in the same direction. The banquet had been a mere pretext—they had anticipated his arrival tonight.
Shi Hao followed, intrigued. This man was extraordinary, a figure of unparalleled prowess.
Miles away, atop a broken cliff, a lone man stood in sorrow, murmuring as if in prayer.
Occasionally, he let out a heart-wrenching cry, its force knocking nearby Venerables unconscious.
“Is this Chang Gongyan?!” The crowd trembled. How strong was he? His mere weeping overwhelmed peers.
“Indeed, the legendary Chang Gongyan!”
The name held a mystical power, evoking awe and reverence.
“Chang Gongyan has emerged four times, each time dominating the Three Thousand Provinces’ grand tournament, claiming the title of number one under heaven!”
The revelation sent waves of shock through the crowd.
Beneath the moon, the man in plain blue robes wept openly, his grief raw and unfiltered.
“This is Chang Gongyan? The peerless genius said to have no equal in the Venerable Realm?”
“Grandaunt has long slumbered… Don’t grieve so. She would wish you happiness,” Tian Yao said softly, her demeanor uncharacteristically gentle.
Some understood. Chang Gongyan mourned a woman buried here—a half-Demon Vein, half-Sin Blood woman, his lost love.
“Rumor says Chang Gongyan sealed himself in ice to re-enter the ‘Ancient Immortal Battleground,’ seeking the Phoenix Blood Pool to revive her.”
He had failed twice. By the third attempt, her corpse, preserved too long, could no longer be revived.
He buried her where they first met—under a full moon.
The tale moved many women to tears.
Tian Yao, most affected, urged, “Don’t despair. Grandaunt would want you to smile.”
Chang Gongyan gazed at the moon, tears streaming. His natural sorrow alone was enough to overwhelm onlookers.
“Tian Yao, don’t flaunt my name,” he said calmly, having observed her earlier behavior.
“I—I’m just lively by nature! I’ll change!” she stammered, blushing.
Suddenly, a golden-clad figure appeared atop the cliff, radiant as the sun.
“Chang Gongyan?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Fight me!” The man brandished a sword, its aura shaking the sky.
The crowd gasped. Who dared challenge Chang Gongyan?
With a flick of his finger, Chang Gongyan met the sword’s edge. The clash tore the void asunder.
“A sword forged of immortal gold!”
“Another ancient freak?!”
In a flash of light, both vanished into the rift.
Shi Hao alone saw them depart for another battlefield.
“Four lifetimes, and still weeping over a Sin Blood woman. Such sentimentality bars true supremacy,” a golden-clad woman sneered from the cliff.
“Blade Valley?” Tian Yao’s eyes narrowed, realizing the first man’s identity.
The crowd buzzed—another ancient prodigy from Blade Valley!
“Sin Blood? Who have we offended?” a hidden voice retorted—likely a Sin Province native.
“I despise Sin Blood descendants. Who dares speak?” The woman raised a mirror, scanning the crowd.
A thunderous roar erupted as a youth’s forehead blazed with a radiant sigil, illuminating the land.
“What?!” The crowd recoiled.
The golden woman trembled. “The ‘Sin’ character that lit the heavens—it was you?!”
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