In truth, these years have been anything but peaceful. Whether it was the passage in the desolate borderlands or the dark rift in the depths of the cosmos, fissures would appear at intervals, unleashing creatures from beyond.
One could say that for all these years, the cultivators of the Heavenly Court have been locked in battle, their lives steeped in relentless combat.
The only solace was that this side was in the Age of Decadence, making the creatures from beyond wary, unwilling to fully bridge the two realms, as if restraining something.
Meanwhile, Shi Hao enlisted the help of the Forbidden Lord, the Crystal Skull, and several other ancient beings to set up barriers, ensuring that the Immortal Kings could not cross over. Only then did he breathe a little easier.
“The Sea of Chaos is in turmoil! Creatures are attempting to land, and the Otherworld is preparing for war. The Immortal Kings are on high alert!” the Forbidden Lord declared.
Centuries ago, Shi Hao made his final trip to the embankment world and never returned, for beings had begun to approach, ready to set foot upon it.
A battle was inevitable there, one destined to be horrifically brutal, as the first to land would surely strike down their enemies.
“Have you discovered anything about that rotten wooden chest?” Shi Hao asked the Forbidden Lord.
Ever since his return from the Era of the Fallen Emperor, Shi Hao had entrusted the chest to the Forbidden Lord, placing his full confidence in him.
“Nothing. It still cannot be opened.”
Despite its immense importance, the chest remained sealed. Even the Forbidden Lord was at a loss, powerless to unlock it, even with the combined efforts of the Crystal Skull and other ancient beings.
They admitted that the chest held unfathomable significance—a relic from the Era of the Fallen Emperor, perhaps even more mysterious than the Origin Artifacts of the Otherworld and the Burial Grounds.
“They’re coming again!”
Suddenly, Shi Hao rose. He had received word and had to rush to the depths of the dark cosmos, where the Black Demon Lotus had reappeared, attempting to pry open a passage. Only the flame within Shi Hao’s body could incinerate it.
**Roar—!**
This time was different. From the dark cosmos, a horde of shadowy creatures surged forth, wreathed in baleful energy and thick black mist.
**Immortal!**
Among them was an Immortal-level expert—a savage ape, its body snow-white, stark against the black mist. Blood-red lightning crackled around it, dense and interwoven.
This ape was terrifyingly powerful, its colossal frame nearly bursting the Black Demon Lotus passage, exuding an aura that seemed capable of swallowing heaven and earth.
**Roar—!**
With a single bellow, it devoured a star whole, its jagged fangs crushing and chewing the celestial body, which erupted in radiant light before dissolving into pure energy, absorbed by the beast.
“Kill!”
The Seven-Colored Immortal Gold Being struck, forming seals and unleashing a devastating attack.
At the same time, Shi Hao arrived, his first strike aimed at the demonic lotus, intent on destroying it.
The silver ape spewed black mist—dark matter—as it clashed with the Seven-Colored Immortal Gold Being.
“Be careful! Don’t let the darkness corrupt you!” Shi Hao shouted in warning.
He dove toward the roots of the demonic lotus, but suddenly—**pop!**—the roots split open, revealing a monstrous, razor-sharp keratin hook, larger than a star.
Goosebumps prickled Shi Hao’s skin as he immediately summoned the mysterious flame, casting it onto the hook to burn it away.
**ROAR—!**
A deafening bellow echoed through the dimensional barrier, shattering stars into dust, the scene utterly horrifying.
All of this devastation was caused by a single roar from the creature.
And this was merely the ripple effect transmitted through the passage—imagine its true power if it crossed over in person.
The keratin hook retreated, scorched by the mysterious flame, vanishing back into the dark world.
As the roots of the demonic lotus shattered and burned, Shi Hao caught a fleeting glimpse of the other side—a massive claw, of which the hook was merely a single nail.
How terrifying was this creature? Its nail alone dwarfed stars, its body beyond comprehension.
If it manifested its true form, the horror would be unimaginable.
Shi Hao realized the road ahead would only grow more perilous. This might be a Quasi-Immortal King-level being.
In this battle, the silver ape was slain, despite its Immortal-level strength. But Shi Hao and the others understood the gravity of the situation.
A Quasi-Immortal King was preparing to strike. The days ahead would be fraught with hardship.
Rubbing his temples, Shi Hao felt a headache coming on. Creatures from the Sea of Chaos were landing, destined to ignite a war that would likely spill into this realm.
And now, the Otherworld and dark creatures were launching attacks as well. Everything was converging at once.
“Troubled times indeed!”
Without a doubt, the cruelest era was approaching, and true suffering loomed on the horizon.
Sure enough, over the next five centuries, the battles grew increasingly brutal. Powerful beings frequently breached the boundaries, forcing the Seven-Colored Immortal Gold Being, the Three Ghost Immortals, and the heroic spirits into constant action.
Shi Hao, his incarnations, and his true self fought tirelessly, suppressing threats on all fronts.
The Heavenly Court suffered losses. Some heroic spirits perished, and one of the Three Immortal-Level Spirits even dissolved into the laws of heaven and earth.
Yet, those who survived grew stronger, tempered by the battles at the dimensional passages. Adversity forged their resilience.
By now, in the eyes of the world, Shi Hao was over 5,500 years old.
Tianjiao Ant, Mu Qing, and the Crimson Dragon were of similar age, and at last, they were on the verge of breaking through to the next realm.
Achieving the Dao at over 5,000 years was considered prodigious even in the Immortal Domain or the Otherworld—let alone in the Age of Decadence.
Had they been in the Immortal Domain, they might not have lagged far behind Ao Qian or Pan Yi.
Shi Hao’s case, however, was an exception, beyond comparison.
Meanwhile, Yun Xi had entered her twilight years. Unable to reach the Sovereign Realm, her lifespan was now limited.
Yet, her beauty remained untouched, as radiant as a maiden’s, frozen in time at its most resplendent. This brought her immense joy and contentment.
“My only worry is Little Stone,” Yun Xi murmured, gazing at the child peacefully sleeping within the white cauldron.
All these years, Little Stone had remained in slumber, sealed away, only occasionally brought out to bathe in the light of the sun, moon, and stars, refining his body.
“Don’t overthink it. With me here, how could I let you go?” Shi Hao reassured her.
“Don’t waste your immortal blood elixirs on me. Save them for those who can become Sovereigns!” Yun Xi refused firmly.
Her gaze softened. “You’ve treated me so well. I have no regrets in this life. There’s nothing more I need.”
Then, a strange look crossed her face. “I know… you’ve always carried an unshakable obsession—to return to the Otherworld, to see her again.” Her voice trembled slightly.
“Don’t dwell on it. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stay by your side,” Shi Hao vowed.
Yun Xi smiled warmly. “In this life, you belong only to me.” Her eyes grew distant, misty. “When I grow old… when I leave this world… go to her. I won’t mind. Don’t trap your heart in a cage.”
At these words, Shi Hao’s gaze sharpened. “Enough. You will share my years!”
“I don’t want your immortal blood elixirs. Let me pass naturally,” Yun Xi insisted, shaking her head.
“Then I’ll use my blood to extend your life!” Shi Hao declared.
He slit his wrist, drawing forth his true blood—radiant as crimson mist, illuminating heaven and earth. Drop by drop, it fell, exuding fragrance and medicinal potency.
His blood surpassed even the finest immortal elixirs!
With unyielding determination, Shi Hao refined his essence, infusing Yun Xi’s body with its undying properties.
“This will drain your vitality. I won’t accept it!” Yun Xi resisted stubbornly.
But how could she defy him?
“Don’t worry. It won’t harm me. Back then, I did the same for the old chief, Da Zhuang, and Er Meng,” Shi Hao said.
Tears welled in Yun Xi’s eyes. Given the choice, who would willingly embrace death? Who could bear to part with their child and loved ones?
Like the old chief, Er Meng, and Hu Zi before her, her refusal stemmed from concern—fear that Shi Hao’s essence would be depleted, hindering his future progress.
Only true love could inspire such selflessness.
That same day, Tianjiao Ant achieved the Dao, his breakthrough shaking heaven and earth as he ascended to the Sovereign Realm.
Days later, Mu Qing and the Crimson Dragon followed suit, both attaining the Sovereign Realm!
It was a joyous occasion. The Heavenly Court celebrated, reveling in the birth of three new Sovereigns—a momentous event that shook the world.
But soon after, war erupted in the desolate borderlands.
The Otherworld invaded again, this time with desperate ferocity. A Quasi-Immortal King extended a massive claw, attempting to cross over!
Yet, the world’s suppression grew ever more severe. The Age of Decadence rejected all foreign beings, repelling the invader.
Back then, the three Immortals Shi Hao had slain had only crossed after sealing their power. This being faced even greater resistance.
In the end, it was forced to retreat!
Shi Hao led the charge in this battle, but his pupils constricted as he locked onto a massive black wolf at the passage’s exit, his expression freezing.
The wolf was colossal, like an ancient demonic mountain, exuding an oppressive aura that suffocated all who beheld it.
Its fur was pitch-black and glossy, with a pair of wings resembling those of a fallen deity, wreathed in black lightning.
Amid the bloody chaos of battle, Shi Hao stood momentarily stunned, nearly forgetting the fight.
**ROAR—!**
The giant wolf’s bellow shattered mountains and rivers.
**Boom!**
Shi Hao thrust out a massive palm, extinguishing the storm and stabilizing the rippling Dao fluctuations before they could wreak havoc.
Then, he erupted into a frenzy, manifesting a divine form like a primordial demon god, cutting through the battlefield in a storm of blood.
**Splat!**
Three beings nearing the Immortal Realm were obliterated the moment they appeared, their blood staining the land.
Shi Hao, eyes bloodshot, charged toward the passage, intent on seizing the black wolf.
For it bore a striking resemblance to the little wolf that had once accompanied Huo Ling’er—the divine cub they had brought out of the Hundred Shattered Mountains!
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