Chapter 864: The Arduous Path

“Using the blood of myriad spirits to nourish the Sinister Nest, seizing the fortunes of creation, and cultivating through the glyphs within their bodies—is this the reason he has schemed across six or seven lifetimes? And now, the fruit of his path is about to ripen.” Chang Gongyan murmured, his gaze fixed on the fading silhouette in the distance.

Faintly visible were clusters of glyphs, rising with the blood from the mountain terrain, encircling that retreating figure, swirling with a mysterious radiance under the moonlight. Like symbols forged from immortal gold, they coalesced into what seemed an indestructible ring, elevating that vanishing silhouette to an otherworldly transcendence.

Shi Yi was the first to leave. He did not engage Shi Hao in battle, choosing instead to retreat into seclusion immediately, deeply moved by what he had witnessed here, his heart brimming with epiphanies.

The remaining few traversed a hundred thousand miles before finally departing the Nest Realm.

“Brother, I must go too. Take care.” Qin Hao also departed, his spirit shaken by the trials of this ancient land, now resolved to ponder his own path in solitude.

“This era is dazzling, yet it will also be cruel. Since someone has taken that step, surpassing the sages of old, how can others bear to lag behind? They will throw themselves into the flames like moths.” Chang Gongyan sighed softly.

Along the way, he walked side by side with Shi Hao, while the Dragon Maiden lingered as well. All sought clues within the great cities, hoping to uncover the identity of that mysterious figure.

“Indeed, even the ancient kings, having cultivated and contemplated for lifetimes, may not necessarily take that step. It is truly arduous,” the Dragon Maiden lamented.

For she, too, was a contender on this path. Only by treading it oneself could one comprehend its unforgiving nature—where a single misstep meant annihilation.

Originally, there were far more ancient freaks than now. Why had their numbers dwindled so pitifully? Because to take that step, to surpass the ancients, nine out of ten had perished in the attempt.

Too many of them, the most peerless talents of their eras, even undefeated across multiple lifetimes, had met tragic ends, dying along the way.

The Cloud Realm was one of the minor worlds within the Immortal Ancient.

Upon entering, the trio headed straight for a great city. The Dragon Maiden used a special method to imprint the image of the mysterious man upon the city walls, accompanied by an inscription.

Of course, this was merely the beginning. Ancient freaks often had many followers—the Dragon Maiden, for instance, had established the Dragon Palace, with outposts scattered across minor worlds.

Now, with a single command, a host of powerful figures mobilized, posting portraits and offering bounties in major cities across the Immortal Ancient, all to uncover the past of that enigmatic individual.

Shi Hao and Chang Gongyan remained, accompanying the Dragon Maiden into a mansion to await news, eager for any clue that might reveal the origins of their adversary.

“I dare say some of the ancient kings are doomed. Upon learning that someone has taken that step, they will have no choice but to advance, to attempt it themselves. But how many will succeed?” Chang Gongyan remarked.

This was a fact. The Immortal Dao Flower had bloomed three thousand times, and in each era, someone had stood supreme. The number of ancient freaks who chose self-sealing was not small, yet how many had ultimately survived?

Some perished in battle, but far more had faltered on the broken path, exhausting their lifeblood in vain.

Those who remained could now be counted on one’s fingers—a testament to the path’s unforgiving nature!

The mysterious figure witnessed tonight could be considered truly transcendent, for he had succeeded where countless others had failed, stepping onto a path many craved but could never attain.

“Could he be the first to succeed?” Shi Hao frowned slightly.

“Not necessarily. The Ten Crown King has already succeeded,” the Dragon Maiden said, clearly privy to some of his exploits, having mentioned him more than once.

“Six Crown King Ning Chuan is likely close as well. This man is peerless across the ages, meticulously prepared, destined to leap from the sea and soar as a dragon,” Chang Gongyan added.

Shi Hao’s brow furrowed. One of these two was his greatest enemy. Should their true selves succeed, they would pose a fatal threat!

“Immortal Qi—how does one obtain it?” He pondered, knowing that once that wisp of Immortal Qi was cultivated, his combat power would surge dramatically, placing him above all others.

According to the Dragon Maiden, those who took that step could emerge unscathed even from a tide of insects, slaughtering their way out with overwhelming force.

This… was a difference as vast as heaven and earth, leaving Shi Hao deeply shaken.

In summary, the mysterious figure had refrained from pursuing them to the end out of wariness toward Shi Yi’s incomplete stone seal and the Dragon Maiden’s ancient horn.

The Divine Flame Realm was the foundation for what lay beyond. Once ignited, it would serve as the springboard to soar into the heavens.

Thus, this foundation was of utmost importance, shaping one’s future achievements.

Today, Shi Hao had gained profound insight into this distinction, fueling his urgency to succeed and complete his path flawlessly.

Seated with two ancient freaks, he naturally had many questions to ask.

“What paths did Ning Chuan and the Ten Crown King take?”

“Ning Chuan is unknown. He is too enigmatic. Once his true self emerges, few in the Immortal Ancient will rival him,” Chang Gongyan said, a subtle warning, as he knew the three Shi brothers had slain one of Ning Chuan’s avatars.

“His true self is incomparable to his avatars. And once he cultivates Immortal Qi, resonating around his body, scarcely anyone in the Immortal Ancient will be deemed his equal,” the Dragon Maiden said gravely.

“As for the Ten Crown King, four words suffice—unfathomably profound,” Chang Gongyan added, for no one had ever glimpsed his limits.

The Dragon Maiden continued, “Rumors say he obtained a sapling from the previous epoch, using it as the root of his foundation. Thus, I suspect he could have taken that step long ago. In the future, none will hinder or rival him.”

“A suspected Immortal Dao Ancient Tree,” Chang Gongyan murmured.

“What?!” Shi Hao was stunned.

To obtain something so heaven-defying and plant it within oneself in this era was unimaginable—utterly astonishing!

The topic of Immortal Qi and surpassing ancient sages sparked much discussion, for all sought to reach the pinnacle of this path, undergo metamorphosis, and achieve the ultimate transformation.

“Though most ancient kings of this era will perish, some are destined to succeed,” the Dragon Maiden said.

This path was arduous, seemingly hopeless—a dead end, as all knew.

Yet if anyone could succeed, it would be among the ancient freaks, for they had accumulated knowledge across lifetimes, refining their understanding since antiquity.

Such Accumulation could not be matched in a single lifetime; it required accumulation, tempered by time.

Shi Hao nodded. If these individuals shared that goal, they were undoubtedly at the forefront, with the greatest hope of success.

Time was a crucible, refining true gold, discarding the dross. Many freaks had perished; those who remained were the strongest of their kind.

For some ancient freaks had crossed paths, awakening in the same era by chance, and only the stronger had survived.

Thus, in the end, those who remained were beings beyond imagination.

“I must take that step!” Shi Hao’s gaze was resolute. Given the circumstances, he had to succeed—or face certain death in the Immortal Ancient.

Later, the Dragon Maiden and Chang Gongyan shared further counsel, emphasizing the difficulty of mending a broken path.

Shi Hao understood their tact. With only a single lifetime of accumulation, he was ill-prepared compared to many ancient kings.

If he proceeded recklessly, he might perish on this path before his enemies even found him.

Two days later, they parted ways, for even with leads on the mysterious man, answers would not come swiftly.

“Finally out!” Louis exclaimed.

Shi Hao released Luo Dao and Lan Yichen from the cauldron. All felt as if they had narrowly escaped death, though they had not witnessed the later perils, they knew they must have been dire.

“That Sinister Nest was too dangerous. Who would have thought someone had already seized partial control of its formations?” Lan Yichen lamented.

Shi Hao sighed as well, but there was no helping it. The world’s fortunes were many; no one could claim them all.

“He may not have taken everything from the Nest. Besides, we are still in the Immortal Ancient. There will be other chances,” Shi Hao said.

“I was suffocating in there. Just escaping alive is enough,” Louis said, content with survival.

In truth, others felt even more stifled.

Outside, the various sects, including the great sect masters, were frustrated. The Immortal Dao petals could not reflect events within the Sinister Nest, nor could they glimpse the mysterious being shrouded in Immortal Qi.

Though they knew of the tragedy, none had seen the mysterious figure.

This was deeply unsettling.

Only when portraits of the man were posted in the great cities did they finally see his face—yet none recognized him, leaving them powerless.

“Six or seven lifetimes of preparation, slaughtering countless beings to forge his path, emerging from the Sinister Nest only in this era—this suggests he has succeeded.”

Some wore grave expressions, sensing the storm brewing in the Immortal Ancient.

In the Cloud Realm, within a great city, Shi Hao parted ways with Lan Yichen, Luo Dao, and Louis. Before leaving, he taught them some of the Seventy-Two Transformations to alter their appearances for safety.

He had one request: that they scout the Immortal Ancient for locations of divine medicines, which he would later risk his life to harvest.

Then they went their separate ways.

Shi Hao, of course, sought seclusion to perfect his path and lay an impeccable foundation, ensuring he could stand above all others.

“I’ll make one more trip to Radiant City.”

He had once caused chaos there. If any old acquaintances heard, they might visit to investigate.

The Radiant Realm had seen many newcomers lately, all seeking news, for someone had plundered the Immortal Palace, the Divine Temple, and the Dark Divine Palace, causing an uproar.

“Heavens… the Demon King is back!”

The moment Shi Hao entered the city, the streets fell silent, then erupted into chaos as everyone scattered. The bustling thoroughfare emptied in an instant.

Terrified, the people fled. Word had spread—he had slain eight prodigy-level experts at Silver Mill Mountain and devoured them.

Coupled with his audacity in raiding the mansions of ancient freaks, who wouldn’t fear him?

Shi Hao was dumbfounded. His arrival had turned the city into a ghost town, with even the chickens and dogs in panic.

Eventually, he subdued a few cultivators to inquire about recent events and any notable arrivals.

Naturally, even if someone had come, they would not openly associate with the Demon King, lest they incur public wrath.

“A woman came—unbelievably beautiful, with a green moon hovering above her head, pure and flawless. But she stayed only half a day before leaving,” one reported.

Though she revealed nothing, her extraordinary beauty and grace left an indelible impression.

Shi Hao’s heart stirred. He knew it must be Qing Yi—the secondary body of Yue Chan. He retraced her steps before departing.