Originally, he was walking on the stone-paved path, passing several forks in the road, and everything was calm. But suddenly, when he stepped on a particular stone slab, it immediately sank beneath his feet. A tremendous force of suction acted upon him, directly swallowing Dongbo Xueying whole. The stone slab then restored itself, appearing as an ordinary part of the path once more.
Deep underground, in a dark and winding tunnel, Dongbo Xueying tumbled into this place. He quickly stood up, cautiously surveying his surroundings.
“That higher-level powerhouse, ‘Meta,’ even if he intends to leave opportunities for the weak, he still sets up countless traps and mechanisms,” Dongbo Xueying muttered to himself. “City Lord Luo was far more generous—he directly gifted me the World Flower Seed. Of course, first, I already knew City Lord Luo, and second, my homeland was rapidly approaching the Great Destruction, which is why he bestowed such a gift.”
“If I had apprenticed under Ancestor Fan back then, perhaps things would have been much easier,” Dongbo Xueying chuckled self-deprecatingly.
Yet he harbored no regrets.
After all, when he reincarnated into the Heart Realm Continent, he couldn’t have foreseen that he would one day create the ‘Nine Revolutions Immortality Art.’ Had he known he would become so formidable, he would have had the confidence to accumulate enough merit within the Fan Clan’s inner circle to exchange for the Body-Splitting Technique.
Alas, even at his current level of cultivation, he couldn’t predict his own future achievements.
Thus, he chose to become the disciple of the Southcloud Monarch—securing the Body-Splitting Technique early.
“The Heart Palace of the Realm is unpredictable! Even if one discerns some patterns, obtaining treasures here is no easy feat.” Dongbo Xueying was certain of this. The treasures within the Heart Palace were notoriously difficult to acquire. ‘Meta’ wouldn’t allow juniors like them to obtain them effortlessly. “Even if I act alone, it’s hard to say who will ultimately reap the greatest benefits.”
Swish.
Gripping his Crimson Cloud Divine Spear, Dongbo Xueying cautiously advanced through the dark tunnel.
According to the intelligence his master had provided, within the Heart Palace, one must not recklessly fly or teleport! If there was a path, follow it. If there were stairs, climb them. This was the safer approach. Figures like the Xia Emperor, the Cang Emperor, and the Fuyi Great Venerable dared to fly directly—their strength gave them the confidence to face any danger.
Except for the absolute top-tier powerhouses, even Great Venerables had to tread carefully.
“This place…” Dongbo Xueying strained to sense his surroundings, but all he could perceive was an overwhelming, boundless energy permeating the space. His detection range was severely limited, and any attempt to expand it was instantly blocked.
He continued onward.
“Screech—”
After half an hour of walking through the dim underground passage, a strange noise suddenly echoed from ahead.
“Hmm?” Dongbo Xueying tensed, ready for battle.
A black, glossy-shelled insect emerged from the tunnel wall, its beady eyes fixed on Dongbo Xueying. The distance between them was merely a few hundred miles—a trivial span for a Cosmic God. Yet, before it emerged, Dongbo Xueying’s domain hadn’t detected it at all.
Flick.
The insect vanished in an instant, reappearing right in front of Dongbo Xueying, its sharp claws piercing through his chest. But the figure gradually dissipated—it was merely an afterimage.
“So fast.” The real Dongbo Xueying, still gripping his spear, appeared elsewhere. Although the Heart Palace’s suppression made teleportation impossible, and his Crimson Cloud Domain, enhanced by his spear, could only extend a hundred miles, it was enough to evade the bizarre insect’s attack.
“This insect’s speed surpasses mine. Its attack power seems to reach the second level of Cosmic God.” Dongbo Xueying quickly assessed the situation.
The black insect suddenly spread its shell-like wings.
Crackle—purple lightning danced across them.
Swish! Swish!
The insect’s speed surged again as it launched a frenzied assault on Dongbo Xueying.
“Boom!”
Even with the Crimson Cloud Domain aiding his evasion, the insect’s terrifying speed made dodging futile. After just three exchanges, the insect’s claws clashed with Dongbo Xueying’s spear. The impact sent the insect reeling backward, its small eyes glaring venomously.
“Roar—!” It let out a deep, resonant cry.
Screech—screech—screech—!
Soon, the sound multiplied from all directions.
Dongbo Xueying’s expression darkened.
From the tunnel walls, hundreds of identical black insects emerged, densely packed throughout the passage.
“I just entered the Heart Palace…” Dongbo Xueying’s earlier calm vanished. Initially, he had been curious about the insect’s strength, but now his only thought was to avoid being driven out of the Heart Palace by this swarm.
According to the intelligence, if one couldn’t withstand the dangers within the Heart Palace, they would be forcibly ejected—ending their journey prematurely.
He refused to accept such a failure.
“Hum!”
Dongbo Xueying unleashed his full power. With the Demon Emperor’s Robe amplifying his abilities, he cast the Illusory Realm of the Void, a vast illusion spreading in all directions. The black insects began swaying drunkenly before collapsing to the ground, utterly incapacitated. Silently, they sank into the depths of the earth, vanishing without a trace.
“Fortunately, the Illusory Realm counters them perfectly.” Dongbo Xueying exhaled in relief.
The Illusory Realm of the Void was one of his deadliest techniques.
Even Great Venerables, despite their overwhelming power through peak treasures, possessed souls no stronger than ordinary second-level Cosmic Gods. Faced with Dongbo Xueying’s illusion, they would have to divert part of their focus, preventing them from fighting at full strength.
—
Time flowed.
Over twenty thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.
“I… I’m out.”
Dongbo Xueying finally spotted light ahead. With his vision, he could instantly see the vast canyon beyond the tunnel’s end.
Though exhilarated, he remained cautious, carefully traversing the final stretch of the underground passage.
As he stepped out of the tunnel, his heart swelled with overwhelming emotion.
“Over twenty thousand years trapped underground…” Dongbo Xueying glanced back at the passage. The underground seemed boundless, filled with endless perils. He had risked everything, employing even desperate measures, just to survive.
“Thankfully, before coming to the Heart Palace, I exchanged two materials from Master and perfected the Twelve-Layered Southcloud Saint Body.” Dongbo Xueying mused. “Without this trump card, I might have been expelled long ago.”
Each time the Heart Palace opened, many entered—most with powerful backings. Those like Dongbo Xueying, without such support, were rare. Yet even among the privileged, few truly reaped great rewards despite their detailed intelligence.
“Hmm?”
Dongbo Xueying surveyed the massive canyon before him and the iron-chain bridge spanning it.
He immediately followed a narrow path toward the bridge’s entrance.
According to his master’s guidance, within the Heart Palace, one must walk paths, cross bridges, and climb stairs—following the creator’s design ensured fewer hardships. Those foolish enough to fly across the canyon instead of using the bridge would face immediate catastrophe.
Of course, figures like the Xia Emperor could brave such dangers—but for someone of Dongbo Xueying’s strength, obedience was the wiser choice.
“So cold.”
As he stepped onto the iron-chain bridge, an icy chill seeped through his feet, permeating his entire body. Even his perfected Void Body couldn’t fully resist it.
Within the Heart Palace, many abilities were suppressed—even the Void Body, a pinnacle technique in the outside world, was trivial to the higher-level beings who transcended this cage.
Halfway across the bridge, a surge of boundless cold energy coalesced into a frost-covered beast with a long tail and three heads.
“Kill!”
Instantly, Dongbo Xueying split into three.
The trio radiated overwhelming auras. One wielded a spear, channeling a ‘Combined Strike Art.’ A massive vortex formed between them as each body glowed faintly, their fists striking simultaneously. The three terrifying forces merged into a single point.
“Boom—!”
Perfected ‘Skyrend’—three bodies, united strike!
The frost beast, already disoriented by the Illusory Realm, was torn apart by a pitch-black void rift. Its remnants were obliterated by the ensuing shockwave.
“Done.”
The three Dongbo Xueyings stood on the bridge, smiling.
After twenty thousand years of underground battles, he had perfected the fusion of ‘Skyrend’ and the ‘Crimson Cloud Combat Art.’
‘Perfected Skyrend,’ a supreme technique born from the fusion of five lineages, was renowned for its devastating power.
Three strikes, perfectly synchronized through the Combined Strike Art, elevated its might to the threshold of the third level of Cosmic God—Dongbo Xueying’s current strongest attack.
—
After facing only three waves of danger on the bridge, Dongbo Xueying reached the other side. In the distance, a grand hall came into view.
“Finally, a hall.” His heart raced with excitement.
Precedent suggested that halls often housed treasures—but also greater dangers.
As Dongbo Xueying prepared to advance, an invisible force gripped him, and his vision blurred.
“Another danger? Don’t tell me I’ll be trapped underground for another twenty thousand years!” Panic surged—he was so close to the hall!
—
Space twisted around him.
Dongbo Xueying stared in astonishment.
Before him stretched a vast plaza, at its center a towering ten-story pagoda. The surroundings were shrouded in white mist.
“Where… is this?” He was bewildered.
“Little one, what stands before you is the Primordial Chaos Pagoda. It has ten floors. Reaching the fifth grants a peak treasure. The higher you ascend, the greater the rewards. Every holder of the Heart Realm Token, upon their first visit to the Heart Palace and after passing two regions, receives this opportunity. This chance comes but once in a lifetime—seize it.” A voice echoed in his mind, followed by a flood of information about the pagoda.
Dongbo Xueying was stunned.
He understood now.
The Primordial Chaos Pagoda…
Within the Heart Palace, anything bearing the name ‘Primordial Chaos’ was extraordinary.
Only those who reincarnated with a Heart Realm Token, on their first visit and after surviving two regions, could enter. This was ‘Meta’s’ gift to each token holder—an opportunity bestowed, but whether one could grasp it depended on their own efforts.
“The Heart Palace… dangers strike suddenly, but so do opportunities.” Dongbo Xueying took a deep breath, steadying himself.
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