“Whoosh!”
A sharp sound pierced the air as the Heavenly God who had just attempted to kill Shi Hao instantly fled into the distance.
It was no joke—eight or nine Heavenly Gods had turned their gazes toward him. Who wouldn’t be terrified? Even if hostile factions joined forces, they wouldn’t dare offend so many powerful clans at once.
Moreover, Shi Hao absolutely could not be killed now—because he was the antidote, the lifeline.
And just like that, a Heavenly God fled!
In truth, those individuals were now filled with regret. Why had they burned their bridges? What would they do in the future? They would undoubtedly have to beg that brat for help—otherwise, how could they obtain the Thunder Tribulation Liquid?
In the distance, a crowd of cultivators stood dumbfounded. The situation had changed so swiftly it defied imagination!
Just moments ago, the elites of various clans had sought to kill Shi Hao. Yet in the blink of an eye, eight or nine lofty Heavenly Gods had surrounded him, their enthusiasm bordering on absurdity.
A person capable of breaking the curse—how could he not be valued? The fate of entire clans hung in the balance.
The Heavenly Gods jostled, each eager to take Shi Hao away. Such fervor was rare even in ten thousand years—who had ever seen Heavenly Gods fawning and groveling like this?
Especially when several Heavenly Gods were desperately extolling the virtues of their own clans, laying bare their hearts, practically on the verge of openly snatching him away!
“If we’re talking about beauty among the races of this world, my Liren Clan dares claim second place—no one else would dare claim first! Our peerless gem is matchless in grace, unrivaled in beauty!”
But objections arose immediately. The Lingsheng Clan declared the Liren Clan’s beauty as sickly—if one truly sought unparalleled elegance, it was their princess who deserved the title of the world’s most beautiful!
Soon, the Luo Clan chimed in, dismissing beauty as fleeting. No matter how stunning, after a thousand or ten thousand years, all would be wrinkled dust. Their clan, however, was a sacred land of cultivation, home to immortal ruins—that was what truly mattered.
“Our Ancient Demon Clan is the most suitable! Not only do we offer ideal cultivation conditions and peerless beauties, but we also possess endless heavenly treasures!” boasted the Ancient Demon Clan’s Heavenly God. With a wave of his hand, he laughed heartily, “Our clan’s stunning beauty happens to be here—let her greet Young Brother Shi!”
“Good heavens!” Before Shi Hao could react, the Divine Striking Stone shrieked in alarm.
Beside him, Cao Yusheng and Chang Gongyan were also wide-eyed, utterly stunned.
The Ancient Demon Clan’s beauty arrived, her sleeves fluttering, dark mist billowing, her waist-length hair swaying in the wind. Then, she extended a… massive, fan-like hand to greet Shi Hao!
Shi Hao felt dizzy. He had been full of anticipation, his eyes gleaming, imagining how breathtaking the Ancient Demon Clan’s beauty would be. But at first sight, his excitement withered—their “gem” looked exactly like… their Heavenly God.
She stood ten zhang tall, her face covered in black demonic patterns. When she opened her mouth, several long, gleaming white fangs glinted sharply.
Her waist was as thick as a small hill, and her copper-bell eyes glared at Shi Hao, sending chills down his spine.
“I… might not be worthy,” Shi Hao muttered softly.
The little rabbit burst into laughter, doubling over, while Xue Lin stifled giggles, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.
“I think she’s perfect for you, Shi Hao! You should consider it!” chortled the chubby Cao Yusheng.
“A peerless beauty! You’d have to work hard to deserve the Ancient Demon Clan’s princess. Go on, greet her!” Even the Dragon Maiden joined in the mischief.
Shi Hao’s temples throbbed. A ten-zhang-tall Ancient Demon Clan princess—this was nothing like what he’d imagined.
“Cough, it’s fine, young friend. If you like her, don’t feel inferior. Just nourish yourself more in the future, and you won’t be so frail. You’ll become as robust and handsome as our Ancient Demon Clan!” teased the Heavenly God.
“Let’s talk about it later!” Shi Hao shook his head frantically, ready to flee from the princess.
“Young friend, why not come to our Centaur Clan?” suggested the Centaur Clan’s Heavenly God.
“Does the Centaur Clan have princesses too?” Shi Hao asked, eyeing him.
“Yes, and we have five!” The Centaur Heavenly God laughed, holding up five fingers.
Shi Hao stared at his upper human half and lower horse half, then shook his head vigorously—no way was he going there!
“Hahaha…”
As Heavenly Gods, their eyelashes were hollow—they were worldly-wise, having seen it all. Naturally, they could sense his discomfort.
“Young friend seems like a man of taste. Why not visit the Liren Clan or the Lingsheng Clan? They truly have peerless beauties!” someone chuckled.
Unfortunately, Shi Hao was thoroughly spooked. The ten-zhang-tall Ancient Demon princess was glaring at him, her bowl-sized eyes gleaming ominously, making him shudder. If all clans had such “unique” beauties, he felt he’d better run for his life!
“Didn’t you meet the Ancient Sacrificial Spirit? Then come to our sacred land—a fragment of its branch still remains there,” said the Eight-Armed Soul Clan’s Heavenly God.
“Deal!” Shi Hao agreed without hesitation.
This was a storm of monumental proportions!
Seven Heavenly Gods had perished, and Shi Hao had survived the tribulation, shattering myths!
The repercussions were profound, sending shockwaves everywhere.
But the most earth-shattering revelation was Shi Hao’s ability to break the curse, causing a seismic upheaval in the Ancient Immortal Realm. Everyone was talking about it—nothing else mattered more.
Clans were in an uproar. Upon receiving the news, all powerhouses immediately dispatched envoys to the sacred land where the Sacrificial Spirit once resided, all rushing to meet Shi Hao!
Outside, in the Three Thousand Provinces—
They couldn’t see Shi Hao’s current state, as his immortal aura now veiled him, obscuring heavenly secrets. But through others, they learned of his situation.
This triggered a tsunami of reactions, like a volcanic eruption!
“He survived… a tribulation?!”
“And not just any tribulation—the strongest kind, the type only the supreme talents of the previous era might face?!”
Cultivators from various sects were in an uproar. This was simply too shocking!
Everyone was stunned, jaws dropping.
In this era, someone had not only faced a tribution but survived it—it felt unreal!
“Perhaps in ancient times, in eras we know nothing of, others also faced tribulations, but it went unrecorded,” someone mused after a long silence.
Clearly, this was self-comfort.
“Over the vast river of time, who can say how many prodigies emerged? It’s possible some even became immortals in secret,” another whispered.
But no one paid attention. If someone had truly become immortal, the whole world would know—it couldn’t go unnoticed.
“Boom!”
Suddenly, a dazzling bolt of lightning tore through the heavens, striking down from beyond the firmament!
At this moment, not just ordinary cultivators—even sect masters and ancient patriarchs were stunned, staring dumbfounded at the sky.
Even those in seclusion, slumbering in ancient lands, abruptly opened their eyes, shocked, gazing at the heavens and beyond.
The aura was overwhelming, as if carrying immortal energy!
It was a colossal silver lightning bolt, connecting heaven and earth, thicker than hundreds of mountains combined—a sight that seemed capable of ending the world.
“It’s the central land of the Three Thousand Provinces—that’s the most ancient altar!” a sect master stammered.
“Heavens! The altar has awakened! It can still function—the remnants of the immortal formation are active! A mysterious being is descending!”
This time, it wasn’t Heavenly Gods exclaiming—it was sect masters, their eyes wide with disbelief.
In the heart of the Three Thousand Provinces stood an altar, vast and unfathomable, jointly guarded by all sects. For countless years, many had tried to activate it, but none had succeeded.
Yet today, mysterious lightning had descended from beyond, reviving it.
This altar didn’t belong to this era—it was a relic of the previous epoch, an immortal formation!
Even the mighty sect masters trembled. Nothing could be more shocking.
“A being… not of this world is appearing?!”
The Three Thousand Provinces were rocked by a hundred-level earthquake.
In the Ancient Immortal Realm, the Sacrificial Spirit’s Domain—
This was a land of auspiciousness. Even approaching it, one could feel the dense spiritual energy. Every plant and tree in these mountains glowed, and even ordinary grass, nourished over time, had gained a hint of sentience.
The deeper one ventured, the more sacred it became, with one immensely powerful tribe after another appearing.
The mountain range was vast, home to ten mighty clans, all guarding a sacred land.
Normally, not just outsiders—even other clans within the Ancient Immortal Realm found it nearly impossible to approach. This was forbidden ground!
Yet now, Shi Hao had been brought here. Even Cao Yusheng, the Divine Striking Stone, and the little rabbit had tagged along, fortunate to approach the legendary sacred land of the Sacrificial Spirit.
The ten great tribes were expansive, their populations vast.
At the center they guarded, the scenery was even more extraordinary.
Rolling hills were dotted with jade towers and palaces—some suspended mid-air, others perched on peaks—all exuding radiant auspicious light.
Along the way, divine springs bubbled, white mist swirled, and colorful clouds danced. There were even sacred mountains, not rooted in the earth but floating in the void, lush and verdant, wreathed in immortal mist, with golden waterfalls cascading down.
In short, this place was both mysterious and holy!
Shi Hao had become the most sought-after treasure. Though surrounded by beings from various clans, he suddenly broke free, even from the Heavenly Gods, sprinting madly toward the heart of the sacred land.
“That area is off-limits!” someone shouted, trying to stop him.
But the Heavenly Gods of the major clans waved them off, allowing Shi Hao to charge ahead in excitement.
Within the sacred land, spiritual energy was so dense it had liquefied, pooling on the ground in colorful streams that formed rivers of pure energy!
It was awe-inspiring, the air thick with vibrant vitality.
The streams converged in the misty depths, forming a lake that radiated solemnity and reverence.
Here, one couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe, silencing all clamor.
By the lakeside stood ancient temples, now collapsed and ruined. Faintly visible on the broken structures were carvings of countless beings worshipping a willow tree.
“The Three Thousand Divine Kingdoms of the Willow Deity—this is one of them!” Shi Hao’s chest heaved violently.
As a breeze dispersed some of the mist, he saw, across the shimmering lake, a tree rooted there.
It was lush green, edged with faint gold, like jade inlaid with golden borders, emitting a soothing glow that calmed the soul at first sight.
“Willow Deity!” Shi Hao cried out in shock.
This was no mere branch—it was a colossal tree, towering into the clouds, its canopy stretching beyond the mountains!
Behind him, the Heavenly Gods of the Eight-Armed Soul Clan, Ancient Demon Clan, and Centaur Clan trembled, both awed and exhilarated. After countless years, the Sacrificial Spirit’s branch had revived, manifesting its divine form!
Normally, even they couldn’t witness this. Even with secret rites, they’d only see a withered branch lying atop the ruined temple.
“You are the second person to awaken me,” the willow tree communicated softly to Shi Hao, its glow gentle.
“Willow Deity, who was the first?” Shi Hao’s emotions surged as he gazed at the tree.
“A bloodstained cauldron, wreathed in primordial chaos energy, carrying a person. They once came here and roused me from slumber.”
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