In the Void God Realm, low growls and the sound of splattering blood occasionally echoed from the depths of a swamp, creating an atmosphere of sheer terror.
*Crack!*
The sound of a skull splitting apart reverberated, accompanied by soaring sword energy that surged violently.
Everything here felt indistinguishable from the real world, as if one were trapped in a dream. Chi Long watched in stunned silence—his so-called “bargain” master was fighting relentlessly, charging in and out without pause.
Even though those supreme beings were incomplete, mere remnants of spirits, they remained terrifying, repeatedly cutting Shi Hao down into the blood-soaked mud.
Yet, he refused to yield, continuing his fierce battle without rest.
This was a special place—a unique region within the crimson swamp where cultivation suppression no longer applied. Whatever one’s realm was, it remained unchanged, and here, the most horrifying radiance erupted.
It was easy to imagine the torment Shi Hao endured, struggling just to survive.
Fortunately, precisely because of the extreme danger, this place had formation platforms and arrays to protect challengers’ lives. Even if their bodies shattered, they could still reform.
Had it been like the outer swamps, no matter how strong Shi Hao was, he wouldn’t have lasted long—he would have inevitably followed in the footsteps of those fallen beings from the Upper Realm.
On this day, movement stirred in the Upper Realm—the Immortal Domain had sent envoys once more.
Aside from the emissaries, several knights clad in heavy armor arrived, wreathed in immortal energy. They were true supreme experts, arriving with an important mission.
*Boom!*
That very day, the knights soared into the Nine Heavens and descended into the Ten Earths, each taking action to erect massive banners—nineteen in total.
The banners fluttered mightily as they were planted across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, each ancient land suppressing one banner, causing the earth to tremble violently.
People were shocked—what was happening?
“The Immortal Kings are concerned about the stability of this realm and have specially dispatched warriors to suppress the ancient lands with these nineteen banners!”
This was the message spread by the envoys. The knights had come to stabilize the unstable regions, reinforcing them to make them unbreakable.
Yet, people remained uneasy. Could nineteen banners truly seal everything?
Impossible!
Many knew that what was destined to come would still arrive—this was merely a delay. No one could predict what terrifying scenes would unfold in the future.
“It is not enough. Your world must construct altars around these nineteen banners and anoint them with the blood of all clans!”
This was the decree passed down by the Immortal Domain envoys, representing the will of an Immortal King.
None dared defy the order, and construction began across the lands, with altars being erected around each banner.
The only consolation was that, though the blood of all clans was required, no lives needed to be taken—only a modest sacrificial offering was necessary.
Still, this left many frowning in deep contemplation.
Whether it was the remnants of immortals seeking to return to the Immortal Domain or these knights setting up their banners, sacrifices were being made—but for whom?
Was there some supreme, unfathomable existence lurking in the unseen?
Soon after, one of the knights accompanying the envoys entered the Spirit Realm alone before silently making his way to the Void God Realm—clearly with a purpose.
Meanwhile, in the Lower Realm, Shi Hao emerged from the swamp. The life-and-death trials of the past days had temporarily ended. His cultivation had grown, and his Dao had advanced!
But he left, intending to return after some time.
After all, he had been immersed in a state of endless slaughter, fighting nonstop—such an existence could drive one to madness.
Balance was necessary. He couldn’t become a Supreme Being in just a few days.
Upon returning to Stone Village, the Zhu Yan was scratching its head in agitation. It had finally traced the whereabouts of the Honghu Sage—all signs pointed to a certain location in the Flood Domain.
A vast expanse of lakes stretched before them, their waters shimmering under the sun.
This was a cluster of lakes, teeming with waterfowl spreading their wings.
At the center of one great lake stood a stone mountain, wreathed in spiritual energy.
An elderly Daoist, white-haired and emaciated, sat cross-legged on a cushion, chanting scriptures. His vitality was weak, his life flickering like a candle in the wind.
Yet, when his eyes opened, runes flickered within—a sign of a true expert.
No one would have guessed that this was a being who had touched the threshold of the True God realm, his divine flames surging. Had his lifespan not been nearly exhausted, he would have long since broken through.
This was the Honghu Sage, an ancient avian expert who had lived for countless years—the master of the Devouring Heaven Sparrow.
Rumors claimed he had died long ago, devoured by his own disciple in his twilight years.
Yet here he was, alive and studying an unfathomable scripture—though his progress was slow, and he had not achieved the success he desired.
“Time waits for no one. My life is nearly spent. Let me fade with the wind,” the Honghu Sage sighed.
“How interesting. A long-dead avian expert still lingers in the mortal world. You kept a low profile, but you were still discovered,” Shi Hao appeared.
He stood atop the stone mountain, gazing at the ancient cave ahead. His eyes gleamed, piercing through all illusions to discern the secrets of the Honghu Sage’s body.
The sage was at the peak of the Divine Flame realm, one step into the True God domain. But his dwindling vitality prevented further breakthroughs.
In the Lower Realm, such beings were rare—especially after the great calamity that had swept through the Eight Domains, leaving few survivors.
“Little Stone?” The Honghu Sage was not surprised and recognized him immediately.
“Oh? You knew I was coming?” Shi Hao asked.
The Zhu Yan had already leaped onto the cliff, glaring at the elder in the cave and baring its teeth. Years ago, it had obtained the Mountain Treasure, only to lose it again.
Now, it could see clearly—on a stone table inside the cave lay a white, jade-like bone cube, glowing with a crystalline luster.
The very same Mountain Treasure!
“You old fox! Everyone thought your disciple ate you, yet here you are, alive and kicking—while your disciple is long dead—and you even got your hands on his Mountain Treasure!” the Zhu Yan jeered.
The Honghu Sage smiled bitterly. “Zhu Yan, you jest. I am but a withered husk, clinging to the last flickers of life.”
“Back then, I nearly died. In my final moments, I left a spiritual avatar meditating while I hid. My disciple mistook it for me and devoured it.”
The memory pained him. His own disciple had betrayed him in his twilight years. Only his foresight had saved him.
“The shock of betrayal kept me alive. I refused to die, clinging to resentment, and somehow endured.”
Not only did he endure, but his cultivation also advanced, pulling him back from the brink of death.
“During the calamity of the Eight Domains, my disciple survived the chaos. But in the end, I was the one who ended him,” the Honghu Sage admitted frankly.
He had learned that the Devouring Heaven Sparrow had committed countless atrocities, devouring countless lives in its bloodthirsty rampage.
At first, the sage had been too weak to act. But once he recovered, slaying the sparrow—a mere Divine Flame realm beast—was effortless.
“My disciple was cunning. It avoided all dangers during the upheaval. But I appeared suddenly and executed it.”
Otherwise, the Devouring Heaven Sparrow might still be alive today.
“What a shame. A Devouring Heaven Sparrow feast would have been delicious,” Shi Hao sighed, lamenting the missed opportunity.
The Honghu Sage could only chuckle dryly at the remark.
“You know why I’m here?” Shi Hao asked.
“I do. I noticed people scouting the lakes these past few days and knew you would come,” the sage replied.
He pointed at the stone table. “This is the Mountain Treasure. It belongs to the Zhu Yan. Consider it returned.”
Unable to resist, the Zhu Yan darted forward, snatched the cube, and examined it eagerly.
“My time is short. This treasure is profound, yet I only grasped fragments of its secrets—nearly killing myself in the process,” the sage sighed, filled with regret.
Shi Hao hadn’t expected such a smooth resolution. After over twenty years of hearing about the Mountain Treasure, he finally held it in his hands.
“Strange… very strange!” The Zhu Yan weighed the cube, sensing something both thrilling and ominous.
Shi Hao took it, running his fingers over the smooth bone. Even without delving into its secrets, he knew—this was an extraordinary treasure.
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