Ascend to the Upper Realm? The group clenched their fists in excitement, eager to leave and charge upward to see for themselves!
Over the years, they had cultivated in seclusion, comprehending the Great Dao, yet long ago reached a bottleneck. They needed a catalyst to shatter their current shackles.
“Assemble the troops!” Shi Hao commanded, summoning his warriors.
Mu Qing, Zhu Lin, Shi Zhong, and other elites among them all flashed with excitement in their eyes. The time had finally come—they sensed that this would be a campaign that would shake both heaven and earth!
The children brought from the Borderlands all those years ago numbered four to five hundred, and they had long since grown into formidable adults.
Without a doubt, this group was the core force, extraordinary in every way.
Many outstanding youths raised in Stone Village had also been incorporated into their ranks.
Though Stone Village had lived in seclusion, untouched by worldly strife like a paradise, the training of these warriors had never been lenient—competition was fierce.
The top four hundred were designated as the main force, known as the Celestial Soldiers.
These warriors could follow Shi Hao into battle, fighting by his side—a promise made long ago.
Additionally, another four hundred served as reserves, with the strongest among them ready to replace any underperforming Celestial Soldiers at any time.
Shi Hao had once declared his hope that one day, these four hundred Celestial Soldiers would rise to become Celestial Generals, capable of conquering realms beyond, even invading the Otherworld and the Immortal Domain.
Back then, those children were young, but they had never forgotten those words.
Now, after so many years, Shi Hao was finally leading them into battle, igniting the fervor that had lain dormant in their hearts for so long.
Even if it was a promise from long ago, it still burned within them, stirring their spirits. The time had come—this might very well be their first true campaign.
All the trials and training of the past years paled in comparison—real battle began here!
“All eight hundred warriors shall march together!” Shi Hao declared.
The four hundred Celestial Soldiers and four hundred reserves would set out as one!
“And me! Don’t forget me—I’m joining too!” The great black tortoise howled, standing upright as if carrying a massive black cauldron on its back.
The Vermilion Ape scratched its head, unable to sit still, clearly itching to wreak havoc in the Upper Realm. Its strength was undeniable—having cultivated the Eight-Nine Heavenly Arts of the Chaos Monkey lineage, it had long since reached heaven-shaking power.
The Crimson Dragon also stirred, exhaling clouds of mist midair, its roars echoing with battle intent, eager to test its cultivation. Though not part of the eight hundred warriors, it was restless for action.
The Azure-Scaled Eagle and its three offspring—Great Roc, Little Azure, and Purple Cloud—along with the Scarlet Bird, screeched as they circled high above, ready to join the fray.
“Move out!”
They set off, banners fluttering in the wind, an awe-inspiring force. The eight hundred warriors followed Shi Hao, mounted on their steeds, charging across the heavens toward the horizon.
Even Shi Hao rode atop a snow-white jade-like celestial horse, its proud neigh resounding like thunder.
This was the once-horned steed, Little White, which had carried him out of the Great Wasteland when he was just seven years old—the leader of Stone Village’s unicorns.
Back then, it had been enlightened by the Willow Deity, awakening its primordial bloodline.
Over the years, it had undergone continuous evolution, especially under Shi Hao’s deliberate care, achieving a stunning metamorphosis.
Though not yet a true celestial steed, it was well on its way, its bloodline purifying further with time. Swift as lightning and fierce as a true dragon, it was a magnificent mount.
The Three Thousand Provinces would not remain peaceful—for they had come to conquer!
Over a hundred years had passed, and whether in the Three Thousand Provinces or the Nine Heavens, the world had dimmed, for the environment was no longer suitable for cultivation.
Time was merciless, reaping the lives of the older generation of powerhouses.
In this past century, countless renowned elders had withered away, their blood and lifespans drained, succumbing to the passage of time.
The Age of Decay had arrived, and the lifespans of all cultivators had drastically shortened!
For those ancient beings who had lived for hundreds of thousands of years, this was a cataclysm.
Only the great sects with deep reserves could endure, relying on rare treasures and elixirs to cling to life. The elders of smaller factions suffered immensely.
But the most terrifying aspect was the difficulty of cultivation itself. Decades or even centuries passed, yet progress was minimal—nothing like the past.
This was a universal crisis, a calamity for all.
Even Stone Village, despite the Nine Dragons Coffin suppressing the land, had struggled in recent years. While others still advanced slowly, those like Mu Qing, the Crimson Dragon, and Zhu Lin—who had reached the Dunyi Realm—had stagnated.
This was due to the chasm of the Supreme Realm, as well as the Age of Decay itself!
“Hah, those great sects still stand, still ruling over this land,” Shi Hao murmured. Over a century later, upon his return, he saw that the same powers still loomed over the mortal world.
“Too cowardly to fight the Otherworld’s armies at the Borderlands, too weak to slay the creatures of darkness—what use are you?!” Shi Hao’s voice was sharp, carrying a chilling intent.
These simple words carried a murderous resolve—he was ready to unleash a slaughter!
The eight hundred warriors exuded an aura of solemn killing intent. Though this was their first official campaign in the Upper Realm, there was no disorder among them.
They moved as one, like an army forged of steel, their battle-hardened discipline evident.
“Where do we strike first?” the Vermilion Ape asked, gripping a massive staff. It expanded its body to a colossal size, golden fur gleaming, transforming into a heaven-shaking battle ape.
“The Immortal Palace!”
Shi Hao raised his hand, pointing forward as he urged his celestial steed onward.
At these words, many were stunned—even Mu Qing, the Crimson Dragon, and Shi Zhong were taken aback. The Immortal Palace housed a crippled Immortal—were they truly charging straight at it?
Yet they voiced no objections, strictly obeying orders. Mounted and clad in black armor, they surged forward like a tidal wave.
“A crippled Immortal is nothing. If I fear even him, if I cannot slay him, what else can I accomplish?” Shi Hao said, as if answering their doubts and bolstering their confidence.
“Kill!”
The eight hundred warriors roared in unison, charging ahead with that single word.
This day would not be peaceful. The earth trembled as the eight hundred warriors—though few in number—swept forth like a storm.
Their thunderous advance shook the heavens, leaving every sect they passed in awe.
What kind of force was this? Their momentum alone was enough to topple any sect in their path.
They moved with terrifying speed, homing in on the Immortal Palace, crossing the heavens in a flash.
From afar, they could already see the sprawling bronze structures of the palace grounds, vast and imposing.
The Immortal Palace had few disciples—fewer than five in each generation, at least openly.
Whether they had hidden successors was unknown.
However, their servant soldiers were numerous and formidable—great demons and ancient beasts subdued over the ages, now serving as their vassals.
From a distance, Shi Hao stretched out his arm, his fingers glowing as he seized a star from the void, compressing it into his palm before hurling it downward!
**BOOM!**
The heavens and earth shook as the star—though shrunk to the size of a fist—slammed into the ancient grounds with devastating force.
The Immortal Palace’s defenses activated instantly, divine light erupting as its ancient formations resisted the impact.
Yet Shi Hao’s strike was too overwhelming. Even the remnants of an Immortal’s formation shattered under the force, collapsing into ruin.
Had there been no barrier, the entire region would have been obliterated!
“Who dares?!”
As the formations crumbled, the disciples of the Immortal Palace were stunned and horrified. Who would dare attack them?
Amid the explosions and blazing divine light, the ancient grounds cracked and collapsed as figures rushed out.
They saw the army on the horizon—eight hundred iron-clad riders descending like celestial warriors, their killing intent palpable.
“Heavens… that’s—**Huang**!” someone shrieked, their face paling instantly.
After over a century, Huang had returned. How could they not fear him? He had slain the Immortal Palace’s Supreme Being with his own hands—how much stronger had he grown since then?
Without a word, Shi Hao raised his sword and charged straight for the heart of the palace, plunging toward the underground depths.
The rest, he left to his eight hundred warriors.
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