The Peach Banquet was still a few days away, yet the winds of change had already begun to gather, with renowned figures from various clans arriving one after another.
Especially among the veterans and rising stars of the human path, many had come, drawn by the exploits of a single individual in the arena.
“Is that really Pan Yi? He’s actually left seclusion and come here in person!” someone exclaimed, spotting a young man.
The Chaos Inn concealed a world of its own—floating divine islands, towering mountains, and cascading waterfalls, all shrouded in immortal mist.
Pan Yi’s skin bore a bronze hue, not conventionally handsome, but exuding an intimidating aura of heroism. His frame was robust, with broad shoulders, thick brows, and piercing eyes, his eyebrows slanting sharply toward his temples.
Surrounded by fair-skinned, jade-like men and women radiating immortal grace, his bronze physique and powerful muscles set him apart, standing like a war god amidst the crowd.
A true master. Even from a distance, Shi Hao could sense this man’s extraordinary presence—his blood energy surged like an ocean, perfectly contained within, not a trace leaking out.
Subduing true dragons, taming beast kings—he gave off an overwhelming sense of dominance!
Pan Yi, too, was observing Shi Hao with keen interest.
“Finally, a true peerless expert!”
That was Shi Hao’s assessment. Even standing at the pinnacle of the Dao, unmatched beneath the True Immortal realm, he now felt a faint trace of danger.
This man was strong—far beyond ordinary comprehension!
Truly worthy of being one of the strongest in the human path within the Immortal Domain!
Shi Hao had heard that Ao Qian, descendant of Immortal King Ao Sheng, and Pan Yi, descendant of Immortal King Pan, were among the invincible figures of the current era.
These individuals harbored grand ambitions, aspiring to become Immortal Kings!
“Pan Yi is here—does he intend to enter the arena?” Many grew excited, their eyes alight with anticipation. Who in the world didn’t know of Pan Yi? They longed to see him in action.
He had long been absent from the world, and many wondered just how powerful he had become.
To most, his ascension to True Immortal was inevitable—only a matter of time and choice. If he willed it, breaking into that realm would be effortless.
He was laying the foundation for Immortal Kingship, forging an indestructible Dao base in the human path before stepping into the immortal realm, ensuring his future dominance.
“You’re strong—different from what I imagined. Achieving the Dao before five hundred years, shattering many beliefs and reviving long-sealed records,” Pan Yi transmitted silently, nodding at Shi Hao.
Even in the Immortal Domain, achieving the Dao within five centuries was exceedingly rare, reserved for the most brutal eras of unending battle, blood, and fire.
It was said that several ancient Immortal Kings had risen in such times, though none had achieved the Dao so early.
Regrettably, those who did in those days all perished, slain in the ruthless tides of history.
The Immortal Kings had risen atop their corpses.
Early achievement did not guarantee ultimate supremacy. At the very least, those Immortal Kings had not attained the Dao so prematurely.
Pan Yi, now less than five thousand years old—neither too long nor too short a cultivation span—had been a Supreme for many years, though the exact duration remained unknown.
A closely guarded secret!
Much like Ao Qian of the Ao Clan, the time of his Dao attainment was shrouded in mystery—some claimed a thousand years, others two thousand.
“Bullying others like this—does victory even count?” Pan Yi remarked.
Their exchange remained private, unknown to outsiders. Had it been revealed, many would have been shocked—even the revered genius of the Pan Clan held Shi Hao in such high regard. Who would dare challenge him now?
By then, Shi Hao had achieved eighteen consecutive victories, defeating all challengers and amassing a small mountain of immortal resources.
“Can’t be helped. The Nine Heavens and Ten Earths are broken, entering the Age of Decay. Spiritual energy has dried up, and my disciples lack resources to cultivate. Despite their talents, they cannot soar like eagles or leap like fish across vast distances,” Shi Hao replied.
Of course, some cultivators had come with hostility, and he wasn’t about to pass up the chance to shear a few fat sheep.
The innkeeper, stroking his mustache with glee, was delighted—Shi Hao’s winnings had brought the Chaos Inn considerable profit.
“How about a spar between us? The wager—a True Immortal’s cave abode. Provided it remains usable even when taken to the lower realm,” Shi Hao proposed via mental transmission.
Pan Yi’s sharp brows lifted slightly, his heroic demeanor unwavering as he smiled faintly. “I’d love to, but the old monsters in my family warned me against reckless action. An old acquaintance has already intervened.”
Shi Hao’s heart stirred. An old acquaintance had spoken to the Pan Clan’s elders—who could it be?
His first thought went to the masters of the Forbidden Lands—the crystal skull, the golden bone palm, the bleeding eyeball. But did they carry such weight?
After all, Immortal King Pan stood unrivaled in the Immortal Domain, overlooking past and future as one of the mightiest beings!
Perhaps they had connections with other members of the Pan Clan?
Pan Yi’s “old monsters” might not necessarily refer to Immortal King Pan himself.
“You should stop now. Bullying others endlessly will only stir chaos in Pan King City,” Pan Yi cautioned.
This was their bottom line—they couldn’t let him continue playing the wolf in sheep’s clothing indefinitely.
In truth, many had begun to suspect something amiss—his battles were always fierce, yet he always emerged victorious. It defied logic.
“Fine. A few more matches, then. Let me gather a bit more immortal resources,” Shi Hao conceded.
Pan Yi said nothing, merely staring at him. Never had he encountered such an outrageous Supreme!
“Who dares face me? Five final matches—no more, no less! In the human path, I stand unmatched, thirsting for defeat!” Shi Hao proclaimed.
The crowd’s expressions darkened. They hailed from across the vast Immortal Domain, elites of their respective regions, yet none could best him.
Many turned to Pan Yi, but he remained motionless, showing no intention of stepping forward.
“Supreme Pan Yi needs no battles to prove himself. His invincibility in the human path is universally acknowledged—he scorns such contests,” someone declared.
“Who’s spouting nonsense? Ah, the green-haired one—you! Come forth! I’ll subdue you single-handedly within ten moves!” Shi Hao taunted.
The man was incensed. Such arrogance! Ten moves? Single-handed? Did he think himself Pan Yi or Ao Qian?
Unfortunately, the green-haired man was left bleeding from seven orifices by the ninth move, his body convulsing, bones shattered, lying motionless in the arena.
“Four matches left!” Shi Hao announced.
But it was not to be. A True Immortal from the Pan Clan appeared, his cold gaze sweeping the crowd as he began clearing the arena.
These one-sided wagers had severely disrupted order, and they would tolerate it no longer.
Especially since Shi Hao hailed from the lower realm, destined to entangle with certain factions. Even followers of Immortal King Ao Sheng bore grudges against him. Continuing would only invite chaos.
“I never thought you’d enter the Immortal Domain. I believed I’d never see you again,” Princess Yao Yue murmured outside the arena, gazing at him in a daze.
Old acquaintances, now scattered across the vast Immortal Domain, had only just begun gathering in Pan King City.
For now, only the Fallen Immortal, Princess Yao Yue, and Great Monk Xu Tuo had arrived, rushing to the scene.
Great Monk Xu Tuo sighed. Wherever Shi Hao went, he never failed to make waves—and now, causing such a stir upon entering the Immortal Domain!
“Can’t be helped. The heavens envy genius!” Shi Hao laughed.
“Did you come for Qing Yi?” Princess Yao Yue asked.
Shi Hao ignored the question, instead inquiring, “You haven’t broken through to the Supreme Realm yet?”
The group exchanged wry smiles. Even the Fallen Immortal was speechless. A thousand years of cultivation, and expecting to reach the Supreme Realm? Only those who walked the path knew its hardships.
“You think everyone’s like you?” Princess Yao Yue rolled her eyes.
Though the five-century taboo had passed, surpassing that age didn’t guarantee Dao attainment!
“I bear unfortunate news. In the past, none who achieved the Dao within a thousand years lived to laugh last—none became Immortal Kings. All perished,” Great Monk Xu Tuo, the honest man, delivered the blunt truth.
“How?”
“The timing of Dao attainment doesn’t determine ultimate achievement,” the Fallen Immortal explained.
“In the lower realm, I heard tales of peerless Immortal Kings who became Supremes before five hundred,” Shi Hao frowned.
“Rumors. Though the birth eras of Immortal Kings Pan and Ao Sheng are unknown, it’s said they achieved the Dao only after two thousand years!” Princess Yao Yue countered.
“That slow?” Shi Hao was taken aback.
The trio fell silent, unwilling to engage further.
Two thousand years—was that truly slow?
Perhaps because Ao Sheng and Pan King were so formidable, later generations embellished their legends, claiming they’d become Supremes in mere decades.
But reality told a different story.
Though there was much to discuss, Shi Hao had no chance to ask his questions before being escorted away by the Pan Clan.
An “old acquaintance’s” intervention meant the Pan Clan took his safety seriously, fearing Ao Qian might seek trouble.
Reluctantly, Shi Hao complied, unable to defy the will of an Immortal King’s lineage. He was led to one of their subsidiary estates—a grand cave abode, though paling in comparison to the true ancestral grounds.
Not long after his departure, Qing Yi arrived. A millennium had passed, yet she remained as ethereal as ever, her white robes pristine, her immortal aura undeniable—a true fairy.
Alas, the Chaos Arena had already been cleared. She was too late to see Shi Hao.
Rumble—
A war chariot traversed the cosmos, arriving at the city gates. Ao Qian, the young lord of the Ao Clan, had come. Soon after, he sought out Qing Yi, and the two journeyed together.
In the following days, Pan King City swelled with arrivals, True Immortals descending one after another.
Then, the very heavens trembled. Flowers of light rained down, golden crows streaked across the sky, phoenixes danced, and golden lotuses took root in the void.
An Immortal King had arrived!
This Peach Banquet would host not one, but multiple Immortal Kings!
Such phenomena repeated over the days—golden lotuses blooming in the dark cosmos, resonating with the Great Dao, shaking the fabric of time.
The starry sea remained bathed in sacred light, suffused with the aura of the Chaos Great Dao.
A day later, the Peach Banquet commenced.
Shi Hao was finally “released” from the estate’s confines, summoned to attend the grand event.
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