Chapter 964: Soul Island

The Soul Island hung in the sky, dotted with emerald mists and swirling auspicious auras, appearing both serene and sacred.

This was the treasured land of the Eight-Armed Soul Clan, located just outside the Ancestral Sacrificial Grounds. Today, it was bustling with activity as many gathered here.

“Thank you for your hospitality, esteemed elders. As long as I live, I will continue to undergo tribulations and bring back pools of Thunder Tribulation Liquid for all of you!” Shi Hao declared boldly, patting his chest in assurance.

“Young friend, you are truly a dragon among men, destined to soar to great heights. We thank you in advance and eagerly await that day!” said the Heavenly God of the Lion-Dragon Clan.

Having left the Ancestral Sacrificial Grounds, they arrived at the forbidden territory of the Soul Clan, where they raised their cups in celebration, welcoming Shi Hao and congratulating him on surviving his tribulation.

Clearly, Shi Hao was the center of attention at the banquet. Even the Heavenly Gods sat at the same table with him, toasting respectfully.

Some sighed inwardly—Shi Hao must not die. No accidents could befall him, for he had become their last hope for salvation.

Yet others grumbled in secret. This brat was too cunning! He must have realized early on that the Thunder Tribulation Liquid could dispel the curse, yet he carelessly guzzled it down in the thunderclouds, filling himself to the brim. Worse, after emerging, he freely distributed it to others—Long Gong Yan, the rabbit, even a mere rock—how shameless!

This wasn’t just wastefulness—it was a crime! The more radical natives recalled this with envy, their eyes nearly turning red with regret. If only they could howl at the heavens!

They understood Shi Hao’s motive—he was ensuring his own safety by making himself indispensable. Now, all the Heavenly Gods would fight tooth and nail to protect him.

Because, this way, everyone would guard him, hoping he would undergo another tribulation!

The Soul Island was vast, suspended in the sky amidst radiant clouds and mist. It boasted picturesque peaks, divine springs gushing forth, and sacred birds circling above, shrouded in swirling mist.

Cao Yusheng, Xue Lin, Long Gong Yan, the Dragon Maiden, and others also arrived, fortunate enough to step foot on this sacred ancient island thanks to Shi Hao.

“So many medicinal herbs!” The little rabbit stared greedily at the distant herb garden, completely ignoring the feast before her.

“Haha, little girl, if you need them, I can gift you some sacred herbs,” said an elder of the Eight-Armed Soul Clan, smiling kindly.

It wasn’t exactly “love me, love my dog,” but it was undeniable that Shi Hao’s influence played a role. The Heavenly Gods present recognized the close bonds between these youths and Shi Hao, making them worth courting indirectly.

“Really? I don’t need the whole plant—just half a leaf from each!” The rabbit immediately leaped up, clinging to the elder’s arm and sweetly calling him “Grandpa.”

“A trivial matter!” The Heavenly God waved his hand, instructing someone to take her to pick the herbs.

However, before long, screams erupted from the ancient herb garden.

“What happened?!” Everyone turned to look.

A divine herb was seen fleeing in panic, darting from one end of the garden to the other.

A divine herb!

Many stared in shock—the rabbit had taken a bite, devouring a small piece of its leaf.

Divine herbs, having gained sentience, could move freely across mountains and rivers, making them incredibly elusive.

The Eight-Armed Soul Clan members winced in pain. Ordinary herbs were one thing, but their divine herb had been discovered by this rabbit! Clearly, they could never allow her into the garden again.

“Ah, it’s fine—just half a leaf,” the Heavenly God said with a forced smile, though his heart ached.

The banquet continued, with discussions about the secrets and dangers within the Immortal Ancient.

Shi Hao memorized everything, especially the locations of rare treasures like the Sagewood, which he might need later. The Eight-Armed Soul Clan and others shared this information unreservedly but warned him of the extreme dangers, advising against reckless ventures. If truly necessary, they could consider retrieving them for him.

Nearby, Cao Yusheng, Luo Dao, and others watched enviously. This was outright unfair—Heavenly Gods were now offering to protect him!

“That schemer deliberately drained the Thunder Tribulation Liquid, leaving nothing behind, yet now the major Heavenly God clans are fawning over him,” they muttered under their breath.

“Elders, who from your clans attempted to kill me that day?” Shi Hao turned to the Heavenly Gods of the Centaur Clan and the Ancient Demon Clan.

The two Heavenly Gods grew visibly uncomfortable. The incident was indeed inexcusable—Shi Hao had sought refuge, yet their clansmen had ambushed him along the way.

A thorough investigation would surely expose the culprits. After all, how many Heavenly Gods could a top-tier clan possibly have?

They sighed. This was a difficult situation. Punishing their own Heavenly Gods would be a heavy loss, yet failing to appease Shi Hao would surely breed resentment.

“Young friend, now that you’ve reached the True One Realm, do you need any rare treasures?” the Centaur Clan’s Heavenly God asked, blatantly changing the subject.

This was his way of offering compensation through other means.

“I just want to know who harbors hostility toward me and seeks my death. Otherwise, I’ll never feel at ease,” Shi Hao insisted.

The Ancient Demon Clan’s Heavenly God frowned. This was troublesome. If Shi Hao remained stubborn, it would greatly impact future plans—they still relied on him for Thunder Tribulation Liquid.

Yet, punishing their own Heavenly Gods was out of the question. They dismissed the idea outright.

“ROAR—!”

Suddenly, a deafening roar shook the entire island, sending chills down everyone’s spines—even the Heavenly Gods felt their hair stand on end.

“Who is that?” Shi Hao exclaimed.

The roar was terrifying. Ripples of energy surged from the depths of the island, where ancient protective formations flared to life. Without these barriers, the entire island would have been obliterated by that single shout!

Even the Heavenly Gods paled, their expressions grim.

“Such a figure, if unleashed into the world, would undoubtedly be a supreme sect master. Yet why is he so ferocious, roaring like an ancient beast?” muttered the chubby Cao Yusheng.

Xue Lin inquired about the identity of the figure.

The Heavenly Gods sighed. The Eight-Armed Soul Clan’s Heavenly God looked at Shi Hao and said, “Young friend, you must succeed in your next tribulation and save our Soul Clan.”

He did not hide the truth—this was the Eight-Armed Soul Clan’s founding ancestor, their strongest expert, whose power surpassed even the Heavenly God Realm. He was nearly a million years old.

“What?!” Xue Lin and the others gasped.

A figure of such ancient and formidable strength would undoubtedly be a supreme overlord in the outside world, possibly even stronger.

Natives who reached the Heavenly God Realm could remain lucid as long as they didn’t stray far from their ancestral lands. But surpassing the Heavenly God Realm brought dire consequences—over time, even within their clans, the curse would grow increasingly severe.

At such heights, one possessed supreme power to suppress oneself, but even so, madness and other terrifying afflictions were inevitable.

The Eight-Armed Soul Clan’s foremost expert was a prime example—he had been insane for hundreds of thousands of years, spending most of his time in slumber.

Unexpectedly, he had awakened today, descending into another fit of rage.

“Can we go see him?” Shi Hao asked.

At the island’s rear, thick black mist swirled over a barren rocky terrain, a stark contrast to the earlier serenity.

This desolation was caused by a single old man, bound by massive chains at the center of a formation. His hair was wild, his body emaciated, yet an overwhelming power surged within him like a turbulent ocean.

Sensing their presence, he suddenly raised his head, his yellowed hair like withered grass. His piercing gaze shone through the strands.

So powerful!

Even the Heavenly Gods shuddered, not daring to step into the formation.

“Can he be brought to lucidity, even for a moment?” Shi Hao asked.

Everyone was stunned, especially the Eight-Armed Soul Clan members. What purpose would that serve?

“There’s still a bit of golden liquid in this cauldron,” Shi Hao said, producing the white jade vessel again. As he channeled his energy, the cauldron glowed, releasing wisps of fragrant golden liquid.

“You still have Thunder Tribulation Liquid?!” The crowd erupted in shock, their eyes blazing with greed, though none dared act rashly in the Soul Clan’s territory.

“Young brother, you hid this well!” The Eight-Armed Soul Clan’s Heavenly God trembled with excitement.

“Only a little over a cup remains,” Shi Hao said, handing over the cauldron for inspection.

The Centaur and Ancient Demon Clan Heavenly Gods breathed heavily. Having already consumed a cup, another would fully cleanse their curses.

They finally understood—Shi Hao had held back because of their clans’ betrayal.

“Ah!” They sighed, filled with regret and resentment toward their own people.

“Our clan possesses a Soul-Calming Stone that can briefly restore his lucidity,” an elder of the Eight-Armed Soul Clan said.

Envy rippled through the crowd. The Soul-Calming Stone was a treasure beyond compare, invaluable for soul cultivation, nearly eliminating the risk of deviation.

Even under the curse’s grip, it could momentarily revive a tormented soul.

Shi Hao nodded. The Soul Clan knew what to do.

A fist-sized silver stone was brought forth, radiating brilliance as if capable of suppressing countless souls in the underworld.

The Devouring Stone drooled with desire, though it knew such a treasure was beyond its reach.

Tension filled the air as the old man at the formation’s center suddenly stilled, his gaze clearing slightly.

“Ancestor, awaken! Your curse may yet be lifted!” the Eight-Armed Soul Clan’s Heavenly God called out.

“Who… calls me?” The million-year-old ancestor’s voice was hoarse, his eyes gradually regaining focus.

“I am your sixty-third generation descendant!” the Heavenly God replied reverently.

The crowd was awed. This ancestor’s status was beyond lofty, his power absolute.

“The curse… lifted?!” The ancestor’s eyes blazed with divine light, so intense that even the Heavenly Gods outside the formation winced.

Time was short. The Heavenly God quickly explained the situation and handed over the white jade cauldron.

The golden liquid vanished into the ancestor’s mouth. Moments later, black mist erupted from his body, burning away into dark flames.

The crowd trembled—it was working!

Shi Hao smiled in satisfaction. He had finally saved a figure of immense importance. He had a premonition—the Immortal Ancient might open far sooner than expected, perhaps not even waiting a thousand years.

Outside, countless old monsters were surely lying in wait, eager to kill him.

But if he could revive a few supreme sect masters from the Immortal Ancient, he could storm his way out!