Chapter 995: Day of Darkness

For the deities within the Immortal Ancient, this day was one of darkness. Shi Hao left three spiritual avatars guarding the exit while his true form tore through the void, returning to the depths of the Immortal Ancient to unleash a bloody massacre.

Huang had emerged from seclusion, waging a brutal war against the deities, shaking the entire Immortal Ancient!

All eyes were upon him, and everyone speculated just how formidable his current combat power had become.

In a single day, multiple deities fell, their blood staining the earth, causing an immense uproar.

Shi Hao sought out the Eight-Armed Soul Clan, secretly communicating with them and requesting their aid in tracking down those deities.

After all, the Immortal Ancient was vast, containing countless minor realms. If a deity chose to hide, finding them would be an immense challenge.

On this day, he struck with overwhelming force. After slaying deities one after another, anyone with a shred of intelligence would reconsider their stance—most chose to flee far away and conceal themselves.

Without a doubt, a seismic upheaval had occurred in the Immortal Ancient.

Huang swept through the land, stirring waves that shook the heavens.

“Another one dead! Yet another deity has fallen!”

People were growing numb. In a single day, powerhouses of this caliber had fallen one after another. Blood rained from the skies like a torrent, leaving countless in shock.

Deities were beings of immense power, standing high above, separated from True Gods by an insurmountable chasm. Their deaths would trigger celestial anomalies.

In one of the minor realms, a deity perished, accompanied by thunderous lightning and a downpour of blood—a terrifying celestial phenomenon!

“The deity from the Fire Cloud Cave is being hunted—it’s an ancient savage beast!”

“Huang is too domineering, too monstrous! He’s chasing down a divine bird of heavenly rank!”

A fiery-red giant bird streaked across the heavens, its wings vast as clouds, shattering the void as it fled through multiple minor realms—with Shi Hao in relentless pursuit.

This savage beast had been on his radar for a long time. He pursued it tirelessly, never stopping.

However, the deity from the Fire Cloud Cave possessed extraordinary survival skills. First, it shed feathers, then its tail, employing one life-saving trick after another. Though drenched in blood, it still clung to life.

“Where do you think you’re going? Hand over your Primordial Feather and your divine flesh!” Shi Hao roared, nearly causing the heavenly-ranked beast to faint from rage.

It was a terrifying entity of the heavens, a creature that struck fear into all who beheld it. Yet today, it had been marked as prey, treated as nothing more than a meal.

Shi Hao showed no mercy. He had already identified which sects’ deities had conspired to kill him. Now, it was time for retaliation.

“Whoosh!”

A golden chain of order shot forth, piercing the fiery-red divine bird and binding it in place.

A deafening screech shook the heavens as the pure-blooded ancient beast raged. Knowing escape was impossible, it turned back to engage Shi Hao in a final battle.

“Whoosh!”

Shi Hao stood solemnly, his form radiating sacred majesty. Behind him, a golden willow tree manifested, its branches weaving seals as he channeled his divine technique.

In an instant, hundreds of golden willow branches shot forth like divine lances, piercing the body of the heavenly-ranked beast. Blood sprayed in a gruesome spectacle.

The beast shrieked, its voice splitting the sky. Below, countless mountains crumbled under the sonic force, and the heavens themselves cracked.

Yet, nothing could change its fate. Though it blazed with light, unleashing its most powerful techniques, it could not shake free of the golden willow branches. Its divine power rapidly drained away.

This was the art of the Willow Deity—not only capable of restoring vitality and amplifying strength but also delivering devastating attacks.

Especially since Shi Hao was in the Sacred Sacrifice Realm, the effects were even more pronounced. This technique made him unstoppable, his power surging beyond measure.

“Thud!”

A single willow branch lashed out like a heavenly blade, severing the beast’s head and piercing its brow. Thus, a deity met its end.

Shi Hao plucked the beast’s Primordial Feather, storing it away.

Then, he produced a cauldron and sealed the terrifying creature’s body inside—a delicacy worth preserving.

Next, Shi Hao turned his attention to a flood dragon, another prime target on his list. Since it hailed from the Dragon Demon Sect, he felt no hesitation in hunting it down.

“Roar—!”

In another minor realm, a fierce battle ensued. Though the flood dragon wielded formidable divine power, it was no match for Shi Hao. Bloodied scales scattered in all directions as he slaughtered the mighty deity.

“Clang!”

The cauldron’s lid opened, radiating dazzling light as he sealed the flood dragon inside—another prey and enemy claimed.

In truth, Shi Hao had been searching for the deity from the Immortal Palace—the one who harbored the deepest hatred for him. This deity had appeared multiple times during his seclusion, attempting to kill him.

Yet, he had not been found. The Eight-Armed Soul Clan had mobilized their connections, calling in favors across the Immortal Ancient, but only vague leads had surfaced.

“Boom!”

Another battle erupted as Shi Hao pursued a deity from the Demon Sunflower Garden.

“Stop right there, you sunflower peddler!” Shi Hao bellowed from behind, his killing intent palpable.

The deity from the Demon Sunflower Garden was furious, nearly turning back to crush the brat with a single slap. But he restrained himself—he knew he was no match.

The boy had stepped into the Sacred Sacrifice Realm, rivaling deities, and possessed three strands of immortal energy swirling around him, surpassing all others.

Even the most exceptional among them had never cultivated immortal energy—it was an insurmountable barrier, making him peerless in his realm.

“You can’t escape, sunflower peddler! Weren’t you conspiring with the Immortal Palace’s deity to deal with me?” Shi Hao taunted.

This battle shook the heavens and earth, darkening the skies!

Cornered, the Demon Sunflower Garden’s deity unleashed his ultimate technique—a black sun glowing behind him, from which crystalline black seeds shot toward Shi Hao.

Each seed was a concentrated burst of divine essence, exploding with devastating force, shattering the void.

“Collect!”

Shi Hao waved his sleeve, weaving laws that gathered all the seeds. These were akin to divine pills, treasures of immense value.

They were the crystallized essence of a deity’s vitality!

In the end, the Demon Sunflower Garden’s deity perished.

Shi Hao claimed half of his black divine seeds, severely weakening him before decapitating him with a swing of the Great Luo Immortal Sword, extinguishing his soul.

The Immortal Ancient trembled, and all were stunned.

Not only the geniuses from the Three Thousand Provinces but even the natives were dumbfounded. This youth was too ferocious—slaying deities left and right. Was he trying to pierce the heavens themselves?

Since the dawn of the Immortal Ancient, through three thousand battles and three thousand conquests, never had there been such carnage.

Never before had a young powerhouse hunted deities. Yet today, this demonic youth bathed the land in blood, slaughtering deities one after another. No one could even tally how many he had killed.

Especially the geniuses from the Three Thousand Provinces—they were petrified, chilled to the bone. Never had they encountered such a harbinger of death.

None of his victims were weaklings. They hailed from mighty sects, untouchable by most. Yet he cut them down like vegetables, shocking all who witnessed it.

“Boom!”

Suddenly, the void shattered as a colossal palm emerged abruptly, aiming to crush Shi Hao and seize him.

A sect master had struck—there was no mistaking this aura.

Even deities could not resist such overwhelming power.

“Whoosh!”

Unexpectedly, Shi Hao seemed prepared. He activated a Void-Piercing Talisman and vanished in an instant.

He was no longer a True God. Now, he rivaled deities, with three strands of immortal energy swirling around him, far surpassing others. Though he could not contend with a sect master, escaping was well within his means.

Simultaneously, the ancient ancestor of the Eight-Armed Soul Clan appeared, intercepting the attack with a palm strike that shook the heavens and split the earth.

Shi Hao’s gaze turned icy. When he tore through the void to return, a single glance told him who had targeted him—the ancient ancestor of the Silverblood Demon Tree Clan, who had once tried to capture him at Soul Island.

Not long ago, before the Immortal Ancient Arena, Shi Hao had slain one of their key disciples—Silver Kun. There would be no reconciliation.

Clearly, the ancient demon tree recognized Shi Hao’s terrifying potential and sought to eliminate him before he grew stronger, lest he threaten their clan.

Shi Hao departed without delay. The Eight-Armed Soul Clan’s ancestor assured him he need not worry.

Finally, news arrived—the Immortal Palace’s deity had appeared, fleeing toward the exit.

Shi Hao smiled. He had been waiting for this moment!

He had left three spiritual avatars there precisely to prevent anyone from escaping. Earlier arrivals had been slain, ensuring no word leaked.

Now, with his true form present, others assumed the exit was unguarded. Cornered, some deities had begun to retreat.

Shi Hao slaughtered his way forward, claiming yet another deity’s life in the process.

For the outsiders, this day was one of darkness—too horrifying, too disastrous. When had deities ever fallen in such numbers?

Even in the darkest eras of history, nothing compared to this—a youth butchering deities one after another!

At the Xuanming Realm, the exit of the Immortal Ancient…

The Immortal Palace’s deity was ambushed. Another deity who had returned with him had already fallen in battle.

As two figures advanced step by step, the Immortal Palace’s deity seethed with rage and terror. A being of his stature had been reduced to such a state.

On this day, Shi Hao was merciless, striking without hesitation.

These deities were his sworn enemies, and their sects had long sought his death. Why should he show mercy?

The Immortal Palace’s deity unleashed his forbidden technique—the Human Immortal Seal!

“Boom!”

The battlefield erupted. Undeniably, this foe was formidable—he had escaped unscathed from a sect master-level Purple Marten.

“What? The Immortal Palace’s deity is being intercepted, locked in battle!”

Outside, observers glimpsed the scene through the entrance—a powerhouse blocking the path, preventing the Immortal Palace’s deity from returning.

The Immortal Palace’s forces were enraged but powerless—sect masters could not enter!

“Whoosh!”

At the critical moment, Shi Hao’s true form arrived. In an instant, hundreds of golden willow branches materialized around him, transforming into chains of order that spanned thousands of feet, striking forth.

Though the Immortal Palace’s deity was strong, how could he withstand Shi Hao, who wielded three strands of immortal energy? The moment they clashed, bloody holes appeared on his body.

The battle raged until the Immortal Palace’s heir was drenched in blood. With a final “thud,” his seal was shattered, his palm pierced, blood gushing forth.

“Ah—!” He screamed, fleeing toward the exit.

But Shi Hao had already initiated his killing move. Half of the golden willow branches struck the barrier ahead, piercing his defenses.

Blood sprayed high as dozens of branches impaled the Immortal Palace’s deity.

Yet, he was truly formidable. Burning his essence, he unleashed a secret technique, repelling all branches and spurting blood as he lunged for the exit.

“Thud!”

A particularly thick willow branch morphed into a divine spear, unstoppable despite his armor and defensive techniques.

The golden spear pierced the deity’s skull, annihilating his soul.

“He’s out! He escaped!” Those outside cheered in relief.

But it was mere momentum—the deity’s corpse had lunged outward, though his soul had already been extinguished.

“What’s happening?” People cried out as the headless body was yanked back inside by its legs.

Outside, the Immortal Palace’s forces raged.

A powerhouse attempted to seal the deity, only to find him already dead. Then, with a “thud,” his head rolled—slain before their very eyes, his corpse dragged back into the abyss.

“Kill!” Finally, the Immortal Palace’s forces could no longer restrain themselves.

But they could not enter the Immortal Ancient.

By now, it was clear—all major deities within had been slaughtered. Key figures had fallen.

For many, this day was one of unparalleled darkness—forever known as the Day of Darkness.