A millennium has passed, flowing by like a gentle stream.
To the people of this era, Shi Hao is now three thousand five hundred years old—an age of prime vitality, when his blood and energy are at their zenith.
In truth, if one accounts for his experiences during the Era of the Fallen Emperor, he is actually over four hundred and ninety thousand years old!
Yet, the passage of time has left no mark upon him. In relative terms, he remains eternally youthful, brimming with boundless vitality.
Over these thousand years, the Heavenly Court has flourished even more. Generation after generation of prodigies has risen, securing its dominance in all directions, making it the undisputed greatest sect in the world!
Across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, none remain ignorant of the Heavenly Court’s might, its prestige overshadowing all realms.
Yet, to the regret of many, figures like the holy terror, Mu Qing, and Cao Yusheng have still not attained the rank of Supreme. The path of cultivation is arduous, especially in this waning age of spiritual decay.
In truth, upon reflection, this is hardly surprising. Even in the Immortal Domain, figures like Ao Qian, Pan Yi, and Hun Tian only achieved their Dao after one or two thousand years.
What kind of environment was that?
They, too, were considered prodigies of their time!
Shi Hao is an exception—an anomaly too monstrous to compare. Measuring others against him only highlights their perceived slowness, but in truth, he should never be the standard.
The past millennium has been peaceful, with no major upheavals.
The forbidden zones of life have fallen silent, long since sealing themselves away.
Even the one-legged elder who once rode a giant rooster has not reappeared. His claims about a princess seeking a suitor have remained unfulfilled, leading Shi Hao to seriously doubt their credibility.
After all, as far back as three thousand five hundred years ago, during the great war at the borderlands, this elder had visited the Emperor’s Pass, already speaking of seeking a Dao companion for their princess.
Who could have imagined that this search would drag on for millennia?
In recent centuries, Shi Hao has never slackened, silently cultivating in seclusion, for he knows that a great crisis could descend at any moment!
**”Something’s wrong!”**
On this day, Cao Yusheng sounded an alarm. A formation lit up, and his true form rushed over, appearing in the Heavenly Court with a grim expression.
**”Several formation platforms have undergone anomalies—black mist is spreading there!”**
A thousand years ago, he, Shi Hao, and the holy terror had laid down numerous formation platforms along the path once taken by his master, all to guard against the encroachment of darkness.
Now, several of these platforms were emitting ominous black light, with dark mist seeping out—a sign that something had gone awry.
This was dire news!
**”Are beings truly crossing over from there?!”** The holy terror was also alarmed.
Deep in the cosmos, within the land of darkness, one formation platform after another was shrouded in mist. The once-snow-white altars had now turned pitch black.
When Shi Hao arrived, his heart turned cold. He knew—what was destined to come had finally arrived. A pitch-black lotus had taken root in the cosmos, tearing through the starry sky, its fissures growing ever wider.
Faintly, Shi Hao could hear roars, as if countless armies were charging, ready to break through at any moment!
**”Slash!”**
Shi Hao roared, wielding the Great Luo Sword Embryo. A radiant light erupted, illuminating the dark cosmos as he swept it forward.
In an instant, the star river trembled. The entire starfield quaked violently, nearly knocking all celestial bodies from their orbits.
*Pfft!*
The black lotus was severed, its crystalline petals scattering like dark snowflakes, swirling around Shi Hao with a sinister aura.
The entire black lotus, as lustrous as obsidian jade, was massive. Now, its petals drifted through the cosmos, eerily beautiful.
**”Kill!”**
Shi Hao bellowed, striking again, cleaving through the demonic lotus.
The sword’s energy shook the heavens, causing the cosmos to tremble violently!
Undoubtedly, such terrifying sword light had awakened powerhouses across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths. Even those slumbering in forbidden zones opened their eyes, gazing into the firmament.
All the great experts realized—the era of peace had ended. The day had finally come!
**”Shi Hao, return at once!”**
Yun Xi’s voice reached him, urgent and anxious. A crystalline jade on Shi Hao’s body glowed—a formation artifact that allowed instant communication with the Heavenly Court.
**”What happened?”** he asked.
**”The borderlands are under attack! Beings from the other realm have appeared!”** Yun Xi reported hastily.
Shi Hao’s body stiffened. He understood—the most terrifying events were unfolding, one after another.
*Whoosh!*
Shi Hao stepped forward, and the star river reversed. Countless stars appeared beneath his feet, trailing behind him as he returned to the Heavenly Court in the blink of an eye.
A grand Dao resonance echoed as the divine statue enshrined in the Heavenly Court erupted with radiant light. It took the Great Luo Sword Embryo from his hands and descended into the dark cosmos to guard the passage in his stead.
This was his manifestation of will, now grown even more formidable. Worshipped by all clans under the heavens, it had attained unimaginable power.
**”Has the Emperor’s Pass fallen?”** Shi Hao asked.
**”No.”** Yun Xi shook her head, cradling a pristine white cauldron as she watched over their child.
This time was different. The Emperor’s Pass remained intact, yet forces from the other realm had appeared directly on this side, bypassing the ancient fortress.
**”Have they opened a new passage, aiming to strike at our heartlands?”**
The holy terror had also returned, his expression grave. The great battle of the past had sealed the borderlands, making them believe the threat was forever quelled. Who could have imagined that after three thousand years, the great crisis would return?
*Whoosh!*
Shi Hao transformed into a streak of light, speeding toward the Emperor’s Pass.
The holy terror and Cao Yusheng followed closely behind.
Mu Qing, the Crimson Dragon, Zhu Lin, and others entered the dark cosmos, accompanying Shi Hao’s will manifestation to guard the passage there.
On this side of the Emperor’s Pass, in the vast uninhabited zone, the earth and stones had split apart, revealing a grand and ancient altar rising from the depths.
Now, one squad after another was descending from it.
Each of these figures radiated killing intent, clad in armor and wielding icy halberds, spears, and divine lances, their auras frigid and oppressive.
There was no mistaking it—these were forces from the other realm!
The Emperor’s Pass had detected the anomaly at once and reported it to the Heavenly Court.
**”Ugh, this place is truly unbearable. The Great Dao here is so stifling it’s suffocating—what a damned world!”**
A strikingly handsome, almost demonic-looking man covered his nose and mouth, clad in silver armor, his expression full of disdain as he stepped off the altar.
**”My lord, this way!”** someone immediately approached.
This seemingly young and beautiful yet sinister man hailed from an Imperial Clan—a supreme being who had achieved the Dao long ago, having been a Supreme for over a hundred thousand years.
**”Hmm.”** The silver-armored being let out a soft sound before turning to ask, **”Is Huang still alive?”**
His name was Yu Yu, a descendant of the Immortal King Yu Tuo.
**”He lives. Initial reports suggest he achieved the Dao many years ago!”**
**”What?!”** The silver-armored man’s pupils contracted. He lowered his hand from his face and said, **”How old is he? How is that possible?”**
**”He is now three thousand five hundred years old—and he became a Supreme before even reaching five hundred.”** The subordinate reported cautiously.
**”Impossible! That speed is absurd!”** the silver-armored man exclaimed.
**”Thus, Lord Yu Yu, please be cautious. This Huang is no ordinary foe!”**
**”To become a Supreme in this waning age is indeed impressive. But with only three thousand five hundred years of cultivation, how much Dao accumulation could he possibly have? He cannot reach the pinnacle of the Supreme path—hardly a threat!”** Yu Yu declared.
**”Oh? How unexpected. This little one is quite remarkable, achieving the Supreme rank so early. That makes it more interesting—what fun would there be in simply crushing him outright?”**
At that moment, another man appeared on the altar, clad in purple-bronze armor. His face was chiseled like a blade, with a high nose bridge, sharp cheekbones, and a strikingly angular profile.
He smiled, but it was cold.
This being was named An Teng, a descendant of the Immortal King An Lan and a prodigy of his clan, having achieved the Supreme rank in just a few thousand years.
This time, after great effort to locate and breach the ancient seal of the Immortal Ancient Era, An Teng had been chosen to lead the expedition into the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths to claim glory.
For it was well known—this realm was half-ruined, devoid of true powerhouses, with no immortal-level beings left to guard it. Its last reserves had been exhausted in the great border war three thousand years ago.
Sending just a few Supremes would be enough to slaughter this realm and sweep through all life!
**”Heh, how amusing. That little brat from back then has now reached the same realm as us. Capturing him will be far more entertaining this way.”**
Another voice spoke—a woman clad in black armor, her gaze dark and sinister, her laughter chilling.
She, too, was from an Imperial Clan, named Chi Xiao. Her cultivation time was relatively short—only eighteen thousand years—yet she was a top-tier figure among the descendants of Chi Wang, having achieved the Supreme rank at five thousand years old.
Now, she had consolidated her power for over ten thousand years.
Chi Xiao’s voice was icy. **”Back then, he killed my grandnephew Chi Meng Hong without hesitation—even roasting one of his legs as food. Today, I will flay him alive!”**
She was not alone. Eight or nine Supremes had descended from the altar, half of them from Imperial Clans, all bearing grudges against Shi Hao.
To them, the battles of the past were a disgrace to the Imperial Clans. Their younger generation had been defeated by Huang alone, with many perishing—an unacceptable outcome.
**”Hmph, now that we’re here, he won’t get another chance!”** Yu Yu’s handsome, demonic face twisted into a smirk.
**”Indeed. A game of cat and mouse sounds delightful!”** An Teng chuckled.
Behind them, more forces emerged in the uninhabited zone, their numbers swelling to tens of thousands.
Among them, thirteen were Supremes, sent to sweep through the Nine Heavens and slaughter all who had achieved the Dao in this realm.
Four or five of them hailed from Imperial Clans.
**”Be cautious. That brat is strange—he once wielded a drop of blood to unleash terrifying power,”** someone warned.
An Teng’s expression darkened. **”No matter. The Immortal Kings have already studied it. That drop of blood is not something he can use at will. Today, we will seize it from him!”**
After they departed, the altar continued to glow, trembling violently as if something enormous was attempting to cross.
Then—*boom!*—three figures materialized simultaneously!
These were the reinforcements, the last to arrive.
The beings guarding the altar immediately knelt in reverence, their expressions solemn yet trembling slightly—for these were three immortal-level beings.
**”This feels wrong. I despise this waning age—I loathe this realm,”** one muttered.
Upon arrival, they immediately sensed the constraints of this world and swiftly sealed part of their power.
Otherwise, the waning age’s backlash would trigger unpredictable consequences, even spreading its decay into their own realm.
**”Seal the passage at once!”** one ordered.
**”This world is undergoing drastic changes. Unless one is native to it, unleashing immortal-level power risks severe backlash,”** another immortal frowned.
**”I doubt we’ll even need to intervene,”** the third said coldly.
The advancing forces, led by the Imperial Clan members, raced like the wind into the Three Thousand Provinces, intent on sweeping through the Nine Heavens—especially to kill Huang.
*Whoosh!*
A divine rainbow descended from the heavens. Shi Hao had arrived, cutting off their path.
Soon after, the holy terror and Cao Yusheng landed beside him.
They had first gone to the Emperor’s Pass, found it unbreached, and then pursued the enemy here.
**”Huang?!”** The silver-armored Yu Yu was the first to step forward, recognizing him from pre-mission intelligence.
With a sinister grin, Yu Yu taunted, **”We were just coming for you, and here you deliver yourself. Should I flay you alive now, or take my time?”**
An Teng, in purple-bronze armor, also advanced. **”Good. You’ve become a Supreme. That makes you worth capturing—killing an ant would be no fun.”**
Chi Xiao, though a woman, was even more domineering. **”Kneel and beg for mercy, then go repent before Chi Meng Hong’s grave before you die!”**
Shi Hao’s gaze swept over them coldly. He could sense their extraordinary strength—far surpassing ordinary Supremes. These were Imperial Clan members.
**”You talk too much,”** Shi Hao said icily.
The holy terror and Cao Yusheng stood by his side, unafraid. Shi Hao had slain true immortals—why fear these Imperial Clan Supremes?
**”Heh, you arrogant fool. Do you think achieving the Dao early makes you invincible? You’re digging your own grave!”** An Teng sneered.
**”To us, you’re still a child!”** Yu Yu mocked.
Shi Hao did not respond. Instead, he struck—a massive earthen-yellow hand manifesting, crashing down with overwhelming force!
**”What?!”**
In that instant, Yu Yu’s smirk froze. An Teng’s confidence shattered. Chi Xiao’s cold face twisted in horror. Their souls trembled—this was no opponent they could face.
They fled instantly, but the colossal hand expanded, blotting out the sky before slamming down with a thunderous *boom!*
*Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!*
Almost simultaneously, the Imperial Clan members were crushed into bloody mists.
Below them, entire battalions were obliterated, leaving no trace.
**”Retreat!”**
The remaining Supremes, positioned farther back, bellowed for the survivors to flee.
Yet another massive hand swept across the sky, like a hazy world unto itself, engulfing them all before clenching—*pfft!*—reducing them to bloody pulp.
It was direct, brutal, and utterly decisive.
With a single hand, Shi Hao blotted out the heavens and annihilated them all.
Only a few imprints remained—those of Yu Yu, Chi Xiao, and An Teng.
**”Speak. How did you cross over? Who else is coming?”** Shi Hao demanded, keeping their imprints only for interrogation.
**”You—!”** They were utterly broken. Proud as they were, their earlier boasts now seemed laughable—slain in a single palm strike.
**”No need to ask. We’re here.”** A cold voice echoed from the uninhabited zone.
Three immortal-level beings had arrived!
*Pfft!*
Shi Hao clenched his fist, and the life imprints of An Teng, Yu Yu, and Chi Xiao shattered into nothingness.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage