The so-called ascension to the Ninth Heaven was, in truth, merely traversing the same vast expanse of heaven and earth.
For the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths had merged, intertwining and colliding, no longer separate.
Along this journey, all clans were shaken, and the world stood in awe. The might of the Desolate One was overwhelming, unstoppable—he swept forward with unstoppable force, truly intimidating everyone in his path.
Every sect trembled with fear, gripped by terror.
Thus, he carved his way forward—overturning the Immortal Palace, leveling the Netherworld, the Demon Dragon Dao Palace, the Sword Valley—none of these were minor sects. Some were even rumored to have remnants of Immortals backing them, yet all were annihilated.
Along the way, countless watched in dread. The leaders of great sects quivered in fear, especially those clans once close to the Immortal Palace, the Wang Clan, or the Jin Clan—they were paralyzed with terror.
To them, the Desolate One was now an unrivaled demon king, sweeping across the world—who could oppose him? Even the remnant Immortals behind the Immortal Palace had retreated before him.
Such dominance was unparalleled—who could challenge him?
Eight hundred warriors marched in grand formation, their banners fluttering as they advanced toward the Ninth Heaven.
Sects retreated in fear, experts fled, bowing from afar, terrified of provoking these godslayers. To the world, they were an invincible army!
In the distance, black mist churned, and baleful energy surged—clearly an ominous land.
Yet Mu Qing, Zhu Lin, the Crimson Dragon, and others did not retreat. They pressed forward, riding their mounts through the skies, charging straight in.
The crowd gasped—this was the Dark Territory! Yet they advanced without hesitation!
Though called the Dark Territory, the dark essence had long since dissipated, leaving only faint remnants, making the land seem less peaceful and radiant.
Such regions existed in many places across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, collectively covering half the world—vast and boundless.
For in those days, the Dark Creatures had been overwhelmingly powerful, dominating more than half the world. Had the Age of Decline not arrived, they would have continued expanding.
“Who dares trespass upon my domain?!”
From the churning black clouds, a massive head emerged—a Flood Dragon, tens of thousands of zhang long, rising from the abyss below.
A rare, colossal beast!
“Boom!”
It lashed out with a massive claw, black mist surging, ferocious and wild.
It was strong—few below the Supreme level could rival it. An elite left behind when the Dark Creatures receded, it had not departed with the others.
“Roar!”
The Golden Lion struck, its body radiating golden light, expanding as it unleashed a deafening roar that shook the abyss, stunning the dark Flood Dragon.
Then, the lion—now tens of thousands of zhang long—pounced, golden blood qi boiling as it shattered the heavens, making the sun and moon tremble.
The Flood Dragon, awakened, surged up to battle.
Though the Dark Creatures had evolved swiftly, they could not match the Golden Lion’s deep-rooted might. After a fierce struggle, the Flood Dragon was torn in two.
“Forward!”
Mu Qing waved his hand, and the eight hundred warriors continued their march.
The Golden Lion stood majestic in the sky, blood raining down around it, golden lightning flashing in its eyes as it gazed toward the distant land.
“Truly, the Desolate One! They carve their way forward, never detouring—charging straight through the Dark Lands!”
“I believe his return is a blessing. Watch—once he deals with certain sects, he will surely purge all Dark Creatures.”
Whispers spread—shock, excitement, anticipation.
All dreamed of a new era. The Desolate One’s strength was not calamity, but the harbinger of a golden age. Even in this Age of Decline, there could be a resurgence.
If the Dark Creatures were eradicated, the world would know peace.
Countless Dark Beasts rose along the way, only to be slain without exception. The Golden Lion led the charge, unstoppable.
“Truly, the Lion King!” Even the youths of Stone Village murmured in awe.
“Will the Eternal Families have fled by the time we reach the Ninth Heaven?” Zhu Lin worried.
“Where can they run? The gates to the Immortal Realm are sealed—they cannot hide forever,” Mu Qing said coldly.
Before the gates of the Jin Clan in the Ninth Heaven, forces gathered, tense and prepared.
News had reached them, and many esteemed guests had arrived to discuss countermeasures.
This day, the Ninth Heaven seethed with killing intent. The Eternal Families were on edge, the atmosphere heavy.
Over the years, some Immortal Clans had entered the Immortal Realm, while others—like the Jin Clan and the Feng Clan—had been forced to remain, having colluded with Dark Creatures and paid a heavy price when exposed.
The Wang Clan had acted decisively—Wang Changsheng personally executed several of his sons, and the entire clan entered the Immortal Realm, leaving the Jin Clan seething with envy.
**Boom!**
A steel tide surged from the horizon, baleful energy billowing—the eight hundred warriors shook heaven and earth.
It seemed not an army of eight hundred, but of a hundred thousand. The earth and sky trembled.
“They’ve come—and they’ve chosen us first!”
The Jin Clan paled, fear and fury mingling. The Desolate One had arrived—and the first Eternal Family he visited was theirs.
Their grand gates, towering like mountains, pulsed with runes, exuding the aura of the Great Dao, leaking traces of chaos. This was the Jin Clan’s ancestral land.
Nearby, beautiful peaks rose, floating islands and palaces adorned the sky, mist curling like an immortal realm.
Now, all structures and divine mountains blazed to life—countless formations awakened, barring the eight hundred warriors’ path.
“Desolate One, what is the meaning of this? The world is at peace—must you stir conflict?” an elder shouted, sweat dripping despite his bravado.
Shi Hao stood at the rear, hands behind his back, observing the Immortal Clan’s ancestral grounds. He had stormed it once before, forced to retreat by the formations.
Now he had returned, ignoring the Jin Clan’s words, silent.
“If the world is at peace, why do Dark Creatures block our path?” Mu Qing replied coldly.
“Then you should purge the Dark Creatures—why besiege our Jin Clan?” an old woman cried.
Many in the Jin Clan trembled, recalling how, a century ago, the Desolate One had stormed their gates, wounding Jin Tai Jun. Now he had returned—stronger than ever. Who could stop him?
“We have slain many Dark Creatures along the way—they will not be spared. But today, we come for those who colluded with them,” Mu Qing stated icily.
The Jin Clan’s faces darkened further, some trembling uncontrollably.
Their once-glorious clan had been shamed by their dealings with the Dark Creatures, barred from the Immortal Realm when the Age of Decline arrived.
Jin Tai Jun had been forced to execute many of her own kin to ensure the clan’s survival.
Now, the past was dredged up—their wounds reopened.
In the distance, figures gathered—members of various sects, drawn by the news.
Some were powerful sect leaders, others lone cultivators—even Dark Creatures lurked among them, all eager to witness the Desolate One’s might.
“Is that the Desolate One? So young—truly the greatest prodigy of this era. He became a Supreme in mere decades—now he stands above all.”
“That is the Desolate One, child. Strive to emulate him—to stand among the world’s mightiest!” an elder urged his grandson.
Crowds watched from afar—elders, young men and women, many races represented.
“The Desolate One—I once trained with him at the Heavenly Deity Academy!” someone whispered.
Eyes turned—those who had shared an era with him were noteworthy.
“Shi Hao!”
A golden-haired youth charged forward, shaking the sky, cracks spreading under his steps—his strength unimaginable.
At last, Shi Hao reacted, no longer calm. “You didn’t leave?”
It was the Heavenly Horned Ant!
He clearly remembered the ant departing for the Immortal Realm—he had even bid him farewell.
“I chose to stay. My father died in this world—the Immortal Realm refused to aid us then. I stepped through the gate… then turned back,” the ant said, embracing Shi Hao fiercely.
“Why didn’t you appear sooner?”
In this Age of Decline, nearly all Shi Hao’s old friends had left for the Immortal Realm. Reuniting with one brought him rare joy.
“I was in seclusion—hoping to reach the Supreme Realm before facing you, another Supreme.” The ant shook his head. “Too difficult. I won’t make it before five hundred.”
He knew—even those in the Immortal Realm would struggle.
“Since when does strength define brotherhood?” Shi Hao punched his shoulder lightly, all Supreme aura restrained.
“Never!” The ant laughed, freed from his doubts. Though he hadn’t broken through, he had rushed here upon hearing of Shi Hao’s return.
“Count me in when you kill that Jin crone!” The ant thumped his chest.
The Stone Village youths cheered, greeting the ant with reverence—he was Shi Hao’s sworn brother.
In all these years, they had rarely seen Shi Hao so happy. That one man could stir his Supreme heart, bringing such joy, was a rare sight indeed.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage