The Fallen Deity Ridge, an ancient and immensely powerful sect, where fallen gods become demons—one of the four ancestral strongholds of the demonic path!
A young man stood before them, his crimson hair wild, a pair of horns jutting from his head, giving him a fierce appearance.
“Where did this half-evolved ox spirit come from, scaring people before even finishing his transformation? Go back and refine those horns first,” the little rabbit said, glaring at him with her big red eyes.
“I’m just here to deliver a message. Whether you come or not is up to you.” Sensing the killing intent, the young man immediately stepped back. He wasn’t reckless and didn’t want to suffer needlessly.
He cupped his fists in salute, turned, and left without hesitation. Only when he was nearly out of sight did he call back, “The Divine Child is about to emerge from seclusion. Prepare to receive him, Desolate One.”
“That ox sure runs fast,” the Divine Striking Stone muttered. It had wanted to strike, shattering his horns, but Qing Yi stopped it.
“No fighting near the Black Abyss. The natives maintain order here.”
This was a forbidden zone, guarded by various indigenous beings who waited to trade artifacts brought up from the abyss with the cultivators who dared descend. Combat was strictly forbidden.
“Why hasn’t Shi Hao come back yet? Could something have happened? This place is no paradise!” Cao Yusheng frowned.
“He should be fine,” the little rabbit said. She believed that if Shi Hao could escape the Black Ancient Ship, this abyss shouldn’t be a problem for him.
Time passed, and as they waited, their frowns deepened. Something felt wrong.
Even those who descended after Shi Hao had already returned. He was taking far too long—even if he had gone down two thousand zhang, he should have been back by now.
The first hundred zhang were considered safe, but beyond that, anything could happen. Few could descend beyond one or two thousand zhang, and breaking three thousand was nearly unheard of.
Half a day passed, and still no sign of Shi Hao. Batch after batch of people descended and returned, yet he remained missing.
“Ha! Could the Desolate One have perished down there? What a joke—such a mighty figure, only to fall into the Black Abyss and die.”
As time dragged on, murmurs spread among the onlookers. Some began to speculate, their voices laced with amusement.
“Nothing unusual about that. In the past, even ancient freaks who defied the odds met their end at the bottom of the abyss.”
By now, many suspected Shi Hao had met with disaster. Even if he had descended ten thousand zhang, he should have returned.
But who could dive that deep? Not even a Heavenly Deity could manage it!
The rough stone walls grew more treacherous the deeper one went, their runes impossible to resist, sweeping climbers away or striking them down.
“Could it be? The Desolate One, fallen here? Hah! Why does that make me so happy?!” A voice laughed, shifting left and right, impossible to trace.
The speaker dared not reveal himself, fearing retribution from Cao Yusheng and the others, but he reveled in his hidden mockery.
Most remained silent, convinced Shi Hao was in grave danger.
A few couldn’t hide their glee—those from the Demon Sunflower Garden, Beast Sea, and Celestial Nation, who bore deep grudges against him.
“If he’s truly dead, that would be perfect,” one of them whispered, grinning.
“Hah! Serves him right. Who told him to dive so deep?”
“Tsk. I was looking forward to seeing the Fallen Divine Child cut him down. Rumor has it the Divine Child may have taken that step—killing him would’ve been like slicing vegetables. Who knew he’d doom himself first?”
**BOOM!**
Suddenly, a figure shot up from the abyss, landing heavily on the ground. Clad in battered armor, he shook off the rust with a sharp clatter.
**CLANG!**
Shi Hao retracted the armor, his icy gaze sweeping the crowd. Silence fell instantly, even the hidden voices stifled.
“Finally, you’re back!” The little rabbit hopped excitedly, reaching out greedily for treasures.
**WHOOSH!**
A blur—Shi Hao vanished, reappearing moments later with three figures flung to the ground.
“Executioners from the Celestial Nation and corpse-men from the Netherworld,” Cao Yusheng identified.
Shi Hao raised his foot, ready to kick them into the abyss. No words were needed for such scum.
“Halt! No violence here!” A native stepped forward, his gaze frigid, pressure rolling off him.
“That’s right! You can’t kill us!” the captives cried, clinging to hope.
**THUD!**
Shi Hao didn’t kick them down—but he stomped on each, bones cracking under his heel. Their screams echoed.
“Murder! Justice!” they wailed, unharmed but desperate for the natives to intervene.
“Enough disrespect!” The Horse-Man Tribe, Eight-Armed Soul Clan, and Ancient Demon Clan advanced, stern-faced.
But as they neared, the elders among them froze, eyes blazing with shock and awe.
“Young honored guest, we wish to trade for what you carry!” one elder trembled, stepping forward swiftly.
As he passed the captives, he kicked each into the abyss without hesitation.
“NO! SAVE US—” Their shrieks faded into the depths.
“Who else has disrespected our guest? Step forward!” the other elders barked at the crowd.
The onlookers gaped. What was happening?
“He must have brought something extraordinary from below. The ancient natives sensed it,” someone murmured.
Eyes burned with greed, but none dared challenge the Demon King Shi Hao.
With a clatter, Shi Hao dumped a pile of treasures—star essence, sunstone, weapon fragments, violet crystal cores—all priceless divine materials.
These were finds from his descent, gathered along the way.
Having gone a hundred thousand zhang—far beyond imagination—even casual picks were rare treasures.
The crowd’s eyes bulged. Some materials could tempt sect masters, fit for forging peerless artifacts.
“I only want sacred herbs and divine medicines,” Shi Hao declared, open to trade.
“Agreed!” an elder said eagerly, then whispered, “Honored guest, surely you carry something else. We’ll trade for it.”
“Nothing else,” Shi Hao lied. He still had Willow God’s branch—unthinkable to part with.
“No, you do. We sense the aura of immortality.”
“The presence of an ancient sacrificial spirit!”
Elders from different clans echoed the same.
Shi Hao’s heart pounded, but he stayed silent. He wouldn’t surrender Willow God’s branch.
“Hurry the trade. I have matters to attend,” he pressed.
In the end, he walked away satisfied, leaving the crowd stunned. The sheer number of sacred herbs he acquired glowed brilliantly, their fragrance intoxicating, light swirling like rain.
“Wow! We’re rich! So many radishes, so many cabbages—I want to eat them all!” the little rabbit squealed.
Shi Hao stored the herbs and led his group away from the Black Abyss.
Yet, over the next two days, the elders shadowed him like stubborn ghosts, never attacking but never leaving.
“Young man, hand it over.”
“Are these old guys possessed?” the rabbit muttered.
“Quiet, don’t let them hear,” Cao Yusheng warned. “Shi Hao, what did you find that’s got them so obsessed? Just trade it.”
“I’m gathering life-extending treasures. Once I have enough, I’ll leave Burial City to cultivate my second strand of immortal energy,” Shi Hao said, exasperated. He couldn’t shake them, nor could he fight the natives without dire consequences.
Burial City’s auction district stood out with its jade architecture, bustling with activity.
“A major auction! We must attend!”
“Heavens! Rumor says there’s news of a Heavenly Deity Fruit—consuming one instantly elevates you to Heavenly Deity status!”
The grandest auction house stood like a celestial palace, jade steps and bridges gleaming, radiant with auspicious light.
“Desolate One, we meet at last.”
As Shi Hao’s group approached, a figure blocked their path—a man with gray hair and wings of black and white, swirling like yin and yang.
“Fallen Divine Child?” Shi Hao narrowed his eyes. The aura was unmistakable.
“Terrifying!” The crowd recoiled, faces pale.
The Fallen Divine Child’s eyes held abyssal depths—scenes of gods and demons perishing, worlds crumbling.
His gaze was demonic. Some nearby cultivators screamed, collapsing in fear.
The rest scrambled back, shocked.
“You ignored my summons. So I came to you,” the Fallen Divine Child said, his smile brightening like the sun, his demeanor shifting to warmth.
Yet Shi Hao sensed the truth—this man had stepped into immortality, concealing his power.
But Shi Hao wasn’t afraid. He, too, had hidden his immortal energy, waiting to lure enemies like this.
“You didn’t come to me, so I came to you,” the Fallen Divine Child repeated, advancing step by step.
The crowd trembled. A legendary ancient freak had emerged, targeting the Desolate One!
“What makes you think I’d bow to you?” Shi Hao replied coolly.
“You’re stronger than your two senior brothers. But your fate will be the same—they groveled at my feet.”
“Young man, mind your words. Lest they bring calamity,” one of the elders behind Shi Hao warned, stepping forward with a dark glare.
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