The starry sky was deep and boundless.
This was the edge of the cosmos—desolate, frigid, and devoid of any other clans. Otherwise, today would have been a day of calamity!
In the endless void, Shi Hao sat cross-legged, surrounded by waves of crimson light, surging like a vast ocean, rising and falling, crashing against the stars.
It was a terrifying sight. The very fabric of the universe trembled, space cracked, black holes collapsed—as if the entire world was on the verge of destruction.
Yet, beneath this aura of annihilation, there was also a vibrant vitality, spreading like ripples, stabilizing the stars and mending the fractured cosmos.
Shi Hao was breaking through. Divine light radiated from his body, unleashing boundless blood energy. He could destroy this starry sky, yet he could also nurture all life.
Above his head, a sphere of light burned with blinding intensity, melting distant stars into liquid before exploding in the dark void.
The spectacle was both horrifying and divine.
Above Shi Hao’s head, an astonishing transformation was taking place. A sphere of light blazed with unparalleled brilliance, its flames roaring as if to incinerate the heavens.
In truth, it was not mere fire but the symbols of the Great Dao, pulsating and surging, enveloping a fist-sized figure that reflected all creation.
Chains of light erupted from Shi Hao’s body, coiling around the tiny figure, attempting to pull it back inside. The collision between them sent waves of radiance cascading outward.
This was no ordinary struggle—it was fusion!
*Pop!*
The tiny figure writhed, snapping one divine chain after another, causing Shi Hao’s major secret realms to tremble and his flesh to crack.
Streaks of blood appeared across his body, soaking even his hair.
This was a brutal, blood-soaked process, filled with killing intent. Shi Hao was forcibly merging with his divine self, but the two clashed, locked in relentless opposition.
The path of cultivation was one of defiance, fraught with peril. He had no choice—once he took this step, there was no turning back. Success would elevate him to the realm of emperors, granting him boundless freedom. Failure would mean annihilation.
**”So powerful… Is this the might of the Desolate One? Even the mere overflow of his blood energy makes Immortal Kings tremble.”**
From afar, someone murmured, watching intently.
**”But this is too dangerous. I sense his Dao is unstable, teetering on the brink of collapse. He might perish.”**
**”Is that what he calls his ‘divine self’?”**
They were Immortal Kings, stationed here as guardians. Upon learning that Shi Hao sought to transcend the King realm and ascend to Emperor, they had no choice but to intervene.
Pan King and Hunyuan King had exerted great effort, rallying other Kings to stand guard, ensuring that enemies like Kun Di from the other realm would not ambush and cut short Shi Hao’s path to emperorship.
**”This young man is extraordinary. He has forged his own system—his own path, unlike any of ours!”** sighed the mighty Qi Yu.
Having lived through countless eras, he had witnessed many prodigies. He himself had once been the protagonist of an epoch. Yet, even he had to admit—Shi Hao was peerless.
Never had he seen a youth so formidable, surpassing even the ancients, outshining living fossils like himself.
Across the Immortal Domain, Kings stirred—supreme experts hidden in the shadows, their gazes fixed upon the radiant figure at the center of it all.
**”Can he truly succeed?”** someone whispered.
**”If he fails, he will perish utterly. What a waste… He is so young, his talent unmatched through the ages,”** lamented another.
The likes of Second Under Heaven, Heavenly Horned Ant, and Immortal Gold Daoist watched with mounting anxiety. They could see Shi Hao had reached the critical juncture—yet they could do nothing to aid him.
Shi Hao had strictly forbidden the Heavenly Court from approaching. Before his breakthrough, he had arranged for them to be relocated to other universes under the rule of different Immortal Kings.
This place was destined to become the eye of the storm—a tempest of unimaginable scale.
Only beings of the King level could participate. All others would meet certain death.
From the darkness, a white tiger emerged—a King-level entity of immense power. Yet now, it bore a mighty figure upon its back, reduced to a mere steed.
The Nine-Headed Monster had arrived. A supreme overlord, he sat atop the tiger, his gaze cold and dark, exuding an aura of malevolence as he stared at Shi Hao in the depths of the cosmos.
Behind him stood several other beings—all Kings, hailing from the Ancient Temple of Summoning.
They had come, yet they did not strike immediately.
**”You are strong, but what makes you think you can become an Emperor? Perhaps today, I shall collect your corpse!”** the Nine-Headed Monster sneered, his voice dripping with killing intent.
In the Realm Sea, a mysterious figure sat motionless on a desolate island, as if petrified. Before him lay a golden gourd.
Had any Burial Ground experts witnessed this, they would have shuddered—for this very gourd had once shattered vast swathes of the Burial Land.
**”Elder, I come on Kun Di’s orders to request your aid,”** a cautious voice spoke.
After a long silence, the figure opened his eyes—gray hair, gray irises, radiating an aura of apocalyptic destruction that pierced the soul.
**”Shi Hao, attempting to transcend King and become Emperor? Ridiculous. Let him court death if he wishes!”** he said coldly.
**”Elder Qu Chong, this man is unique. Better safe than sorry. We implore you to join us in suppressing him. Moreover, he was resurrected from the Burial Grounds—the very place you once shattered. There is karma between you.”**
Qu Chong’s head snapped up, his gray eyes unleashing terrifying beams as he scanned the void. Then he rose. **”Let’s go.”**
A similar scene unfolded on another island, where a middle-aged man stood with his back to the sea, motionless as a statue.
Beside him, embedded in the ground, was a gleaming longsword—its blade like a condensed river of stars, radiating overwhelming killing intent.
**”Blade King, did you not intend to enter the Immortal Domain? Now is the time. Pan King seeks to become Emperor.”**
Finally, the one known as Blade King turned, his steps heavy as he strode across the sea toward the distant Immortal Domain.
The forces of the other realm were already on the move.
Kun Di arrived, his gaze fixed upon the cosmos ahead, where Shi Hao—drenched in blood, his body cracked—struggled to break through.
**”How laughable. He truly believes he can become an Emperor? Foolish,”** Kun Di muttered coldly.
**”Such a foolhardy man needs no intervention from us. Heaven itself will claim him,”** said Wu Shang, a mighty figure among the Undying Kings.
**”A mere junior. No need for words—just kill him,”** declared Pu Mo King, his towering form wreathed in snow-like radiance.
Soon, the two overlords from the Realm Sea arrived—one bearing a golden gourd, the other a gleaming blade.
They made no attempt to conceal themselves, charging forth with unstoppable momentum, sending chills down the spines of the Immortal Domain’s Kings.
**”This is bad. With these two here, the situation is dire!”** Qi Yu, the Immortal Domain’s mighty figure, said gravely.
Unlike others, he knew the truth—the one wielding the golden gourd was Qu Chong, a being who had once been grievously wounded by the Chicken-Raiser yet survived.
A truly terrifying existence!
**”Disaster looms!”** Qi Yu sighed again.
Beyond the overlords, there were Fallen Kings and Undying Kings—legends of their eras, now united in purpose.
They descended together, their cold eyes filled with murderous intent.
**”Shi Hao, dreaming of becoming an Emperor? How presumptuous. Look at you—bloodied, half-dead. Let me end your misery!”**
An Undying King spoke, already in motion. A silver hammer crackled with thunder as he struck with blinding speed.
In truth, he had moved before his words even reached Shi Hao’s ears—launching a lethal ambush.
**”You dare?!”** someone from the Immortal Domain roared, attempting to intervene.
Yet Shi Hao reacted just as swiftly. His eyes snapped open, despite his battered, blood-soaked state.
*Clang!*
With a mere flick of his hand, Shi Hao struck the silver hammer, sending it vibrating before it cracked and dimmed.
The crowd gasped. What kind of power was this?
*Boom!*
In the next instant, Shi Hao flipped his palm and unleashed a devastating strike, sending the Undying King flying with a spray of blood.
The onlookers were stunned. Shouldn’t Shi Hao be wholly focused on his breakthrough? How could he still retaliate?
Last time, during his seclusion, he had been motionless, nearly slain. Today was different.
The Undying King let out a shrill cry as he was sent tumbling back.
*Roar!*
The Heavenly Horned Ant bellowed, charging forth with golden radiance erupting from his body. His fists, embodying the pinnacle of strength, struck with earth-shattering force.
**”A mere human whelp, daring to challenge the King realm? Know your place! Let my blade send you to the afterlife!”**
At last, the overlord from the Realm Sea made his move.
*Swoosh!*
A blinding arc of sword light split the cosmos, severing heaven and earth. The sight was horrifying—endless sword energy flooded the starry sky.
The Kings paled.
This strike was aimed not only at Shi Hao but also at the hidden Immortal Kings—a sweeping slash meant to annihilate all in its path.
**”You dare?!”**
Qi Yu, the Immortal Domain’s mighty figure, acted. He summoned his own artifact to block the gleaming blade—only he possessed the strength to withstand such an attack.
*Clang!*
The sword light exploded, collapsing the universe, obliterating black holes. The devastation was unimaginable.
Fortunately, only Kings remained here. Any lesser beings would have been obliterated instantly.
**”Heh…”** A mocking laugh echoed as a figure strode forward with overwhelming arrogance.
Pu Mo King appeared—tall, wild-haired, his palm striking forth with enough force to shatter the heavens and make ghosts wail.
The attack seemed simple, yet its power was boundless.
*Pfft!*
An Immortal King who tried to block it coughed blood, staggering back as his body convulsed under the impact of the Great Dao.
**”Who dares stop me? I will kill Shi Hao—who can hinder me?!”** Pu Mo King roared.
He had perished in the Ancient Immortal Era, yet a fragment of his soul had escaped. Preserved by the other realm, he had been resurrected using an ancient elixir from the Emperor Fall Era.
Pu Mo King—a legend of his time.
Shi Hao, still seated, regarded him coldly. **”In the Ancient Immortal War, weren’t you killed in a single strike? What gives you the right to act so arrogantly now?”**
A ruthless taunt.
Pu Mo King howled, unleashing a storm of white seeds—dandelion-like wisps, each a manifestation of the Great Dao, raining down with devastating force.
**”Kill!”**
Immortal Domain’s Kings joined the fray, attacking Pu Mo King.
**”Who can stop me?!”** Pu Mo King raged, his bloodlust uncontainable after his resurrection.
*Boom!*
Shi Hao said nothing. He simply threw a punch—a strike that shook the heavens, forcing Pu Mo King to recoil in shock.
**”Interesting. So eager to fight?”** The Nine-Headed Monster from the Ancient Temple smirked, watching the battlefield.
*Boom!*
Kun Di moved next, wielding the Immortal-Refining Pot as he charged forth, intent on personally ending Shi Hao before he grew stronger.
The cosmos trembled as the pot unleashed its terrifying power, radiating chaotic light.
*Clang!*
The weapons of Immortal Kings were sent flying.
Shi Hao, though seated, had no choice but to focus fully on the battle.
The clash was brutal, the collisions catastrophic.
**”Shi Hao, others seek to kill you, but I believe it’s unnecessary. You will fail—you cannot take that step,”** Qu Chong declared.
Holding the golden gourd, he advanced with supreme authority. **”Be annihilated!”**
**”Kill him!”**
The Undying Kings surged forward.
The Immortal Domain’s Kings countered, engaging the enemy.
**”Shi Hao, your life ends here!”** The golden gourd shot forth, aiming to crush him!
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