The mountains stretched endlessly, colossal peaks lying like giant elephants, one after another, while the battlefield lay in ruins.
Everyone retreated, unsure why all the ancient freaks had appeared simultaneously, converging here. Could it all be for Huang?
Shi Hao gripped the Great Luo Immortal Sword, stepping back a few paces to position himself advantageously. Yet, his current state was dire, unfit for further battle.
Moreover, his heart pounded with unease—a sense of lurking danger, as if some creature had fixed its gaze upon him. He dared not act rashly.
“One, two, three…”
Someone counted under their breath, inhaling sharply. At least eight or nine ancient kings had emerged within these mountains.
This was undoubtedly a monumental event!
“More are arriving—what’s happening?” The crowd murmured in confusion.
Could it be that Huang’s cultivation of a second strand of immortal qi had shaken the entire Immortal Ancient, drawing everyone’s attention?
But the news hadn’t spread yet. Had these people foreseen it, arriving precisely at this moment?
“Something must have happened beyond our understanding,” someone whispered, unconvinced that all these powerhouses had come solely for Huang.
The flute-playing man from the Sinister Nest, ethereal as a banished immortal; the Ten Crown King shrouded in chaotic mist; Ning Chuan, pristine atop his Mountain and River Diagram—all became the focus of attention.
Any one of these three appearing would cause a sensation!
Ning Chuan’s silver hair cascaded like a starry river, framing his flawless face. His clear eyes locked onto Shi Hao in the distance.
A battle between them was inevitable—their first true encounter.
Yet, Shi Hao’s condition was too poor for a bloody clash. The situation looked grim.
*Hum!*
Suddenly, Shi Hao felt the void tremble, an eerie ripple spreading. He had sensed this before during his duel with the Ancient Saint Child but dismissed it. Now, suspicion flickered in his eyes.
“That direction!” someone cried, pointing westward.
Before the words fully left their lips, the Ten Crown King and others vanished, darting toward the source.
*Boom!*
The void shattered as a majestic palace crashed forth, black fissures spiderwebbing outward.
This ancient palace exuded sacred energy, wreathed in wisps of immortal mist, solemn and grand, its tiles gleaming gold. Yet it remained indistinct, as if buried within the void—its towering pillars, vast halls, and golden roof tiles forming a breathtaking sight.
This was likely an immortal palace, radiating immortal dao essence.
The flute-wielding man, the Ten Crown King—they had pursued it across realms, arriving in this minor world.
“It’s the Golden Dao Palace! Does its appearance herald the imminent emergence of the Immortal Dao Arena?” someone gasped, finally understanding.
The Golden Dao Palace and the supreme arena always appeared in succession. Once the palace fully manifested, the greatest battle in Immortal Ancient would begin.
The two were linked—when one appeared, the other followed.
In the past, some had entered the palace, obtaining mysterious fortunes that founded unshakable sects in the outside world!
“Not fully manifested yet, but soon—within half a year to a decade, it will break free from the void. The Immortal Ancient’s ultimate contest will commence,” someone sighed.
All knew the final battle would unfold on a mysterious arena. Only the victor would be transported away to claim the ultimate fortune.
Shi Hao’s expression shifted. He hadn’t expected the Golden Dao Palace to be the cause of this upheaval.
“This immortal palace is enigmatic. Occasionally, it spews auspicious light, dropping ancient treasures of unimaginable power.”
Even incomplete, it sometimes released artifacts, drawing the ancient freaks like moths to flame.
Suddenly, a haunting flute melody rose—the ethereal man from the Sinister Nest played his bone flute, its notes lively, resonating with the Golden Dao Palace as if to breach its barriers.
*Swoosh!*
Beside the Ten Crown King, a sapling flickered within chaotic mist. With a gentle shake, it scattered radiant mist toward the golden palace.
Others acted too—not attacking, but seeking resonance with the palace.
“They’ve begun claiming treasures.”
Newcomers gasped at the sight.
The Golden Palace had traversed six or seven minor worlds, pausing briefly in each, pursued by countless heroes.
“Chang Gongyan, you’re here too. What’s happening?” Shi Hao spotted a familiar face and sent a mental message.
“This is a dao palace from the previous era. It holds legacies—even weapons from Immortal Ancient. Everyone’s vying for them,” Chang Gongyan replied, startled by Shi Hao’s bloodied state.
*Swoosh!*
A dazzling light streaked toward the golden palace like a rainbow.
For the first time, the Ten Crown King and the flute-wielding man’s expressions shifted. They lunged forward.
“Who dares charge the Golden Dao Palace? They’ll be obliterated!”
“Wait—it’s a child? No, an infant’s soul! Could it be… an Immortal Embryo?”
The crowd erupted. Legends spoke of rare treasures in Immortal Ancient—Sagewood, Celestial God Fruit, even Immortal Embryos, though none had seen them.
The strongest ancient kings activated their Heavenly Eyes, confirming it—a one-foot-long soul wreathed in chaotic mist, streaking toward the palace.
They struck, but too late, grasping only residual chaos.
*Boom!*
Heaven and earth quaked as the “Immortal Embryo” crashed into the palace, burning like a moth to flame.
It sacrificed most of itself but succeeded—barely a flicker remained as it vanished inside.
The crowd was stunned. Even Heavenly Monarchs or sect masters couldn’t breach the palace so recklessly. Past attempts had ended in utter annihilation.
Yet this “Immortal Embryo” had prevailed, albeit at great cost.
“A plaque!”
Someone spotted a golden tablet illuminated by the dying embers, inscribed with two ancient characters.
None recognized them—except a native descendant, who murmured, “*Guidance*.”
This Golden Dao Palace was named *Guidance*. What did it signify?
Shi Hao’s heart raced. The “Immortal Embryo” had felt familiar—its aura reminiscent of the Dark Prison. Had it too escaped that place?
“Could it be… when I broke free and was summoned back by the *Nine Heavens Ten Earths Scripture*, another also returned?”
The thought chilled him. How ancient was this being? Surviving millennia in that abyss—how had it endured without madness?
“A true ancient monstrosity,” Shi Hao muttered in awe.
Was the palace’s name, *Guidance*, connected?
His mind reeled with possibilities.
In the Dark Prison, time fragments swirled, cages glowing faintly—some still held unimaginably terrifying entities.
What did it mean?
Here stood the *Guidance* palace, and that escaped soul had fled inside. The implications were staggering.
“The ancient arena’s appearing too!” someone shouted.
Beside the golden palace, a faintly visible platform materialized—the final battleground where legends would be written in blood.
Even Shi Hao’s pulse quickened as he gazed upon it.
*Hum!*
Then, brilliance erupted. The *Guidance* palace and arena vanished—not crossing realms but disappearing entirely.
The flute-wielding man and Ten Crown King couldn’t trace them.
“Did it appear solely for that Immortal Embryo?”
Silence fell. The ancient freaks stood in regret.
Shi Hao turned to leave—
*Crack!*
Space twisted as someone activated a domain, sealing his escape.
The ancient freaks turned as one—some cold, some indifferent, some expressionless.
Ning Chuan’s killing intent was palpable.
Despite his transcendent grace, his gaze toward an enemy was icy.
“Hehe… Young friend, stay a while.” A resonant voice echoed.
Shi Hao sighed, halting. His worst fear had come true—a Heavenly Monarch had arrived. He’d sensed it earlier, poised to tear through space, but intuition warned of imminent ambush.
Now, it was confirmed.
Could it get worse? Ancient powerhouses gathered, a Heavenly Monarch present—fate had truly cornered him.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage