Shi Hao abruptly stood up from the Celestial Book Academy, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon.
At the same time, the most exceptional talents across the lands received summons, asking if they wished to undergo the baptism of blood and fire and rise in this chaotic era!
“Time is running short for you. No one knows when the Gate of Heaven and Earth will open. Once the iron hooves of the other realm invade, it will be too late for anything!”
“Let’s go and see. I’ve long wanted to visit the borderlands—the place where my father once fought. I must go there. I will achieve my Dao there!” The golden little ant leaped up, its emotions even more turbulent than Shi Hao’s.
Across the lands, the ancestral elders of long-lived clans, even the rulers of entire lineages—like stone statues shrouded in chaotic mist—opened their eyes from their motionless states and responded.
“Let the children of our clan choose for themselves!”
It could be said that whether from minor clans or long-lived families, all who possessed peerless geniuses received the summons, the whispers carried on the wind.
It was the work of the extraordinary beings of the world!
Whether it was the founding of the Sacred Academy, the establishment of the Immortal Academy, or the emergence of the Celestial Academy, these extraordinary individuals had contributed their efforts! Their strength was immense, though few in number, their might unfathomable!
They could be considered the guest elders shared by the Immortal Academy, Sacred Academy, and Celestial Academy.
The reason the three academies were to merge, as rumors suggested, was due to their influence!
However, these individuals usually wandered the world like drifting clouds and wild cranes, appearing and disappearing unpredictably, leaving no trace.
This time, with calamity looming over their realm, they swiftly returned. After careful deliberation, they decided to nurture the younger generation, deploying them to the borderlands only after thorough preparation.
Thus, on this day, the most renowned geniuses of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths heard the call!
In truth, most of these so-called geniuses were disciples of the Immortal, Sacred, or Celestial Academies, as they had been selected through rigorous trials as the strongest of the younger generation.
This time, the scope was slightly expanded!
“The merger of the three academies is truly happening!” someone sighed.
On this day, many young talents answered the call!
In the following days, youths from all regions stirred. After consulting their elders, they decided that even if they wouldn’t go to the borderlands, they would still gather at this convergence of geniuses.
Across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, geniuses mobilized, converging in one place.
“Even if you don’t go to the borderlands, it’s fine. We will guide you wholeheartedly. When the time is ripe, those willing may depart, while those unwilling to take risks may return to their clans!” This was the promise of an ancient monster.
This was a land of Dao, its terrain vast and majestic, with wisps of purple mist rising—the spiritual energy of the ancestral veins beneath the earth.
Shi Hao arrived as well. Upon seeing this terrain, he felt a stirring in his heart. Truly, this was a sealed land of immortals!
Beneath the earth lay great fortune, remnants of the Immortal Ancient Era. Yet, it remained unexcavated, its essence merely nourishing the young cultivators who came here.
This place was located in Boundless Heaven, yet it was neither the Celestial Academy nor one of the immortal caves previously excavated by the Sacred or Immortal Academies.
“Time is pressing. We have no time to excavate and prepare the ancient immortal caves left behind. But this place will suffice!”
“This land is a fragment of the ancestral earth vein from the Immortal Ancient Era. Though shattered, the remaining section emits wisps of immortal mist, enough for your cultivation!”
Seated atop a cliff shrouded in purple mist, several elders addressed the crowd, explaining the situation.
Earlier, it was said that the merger of the three academies would involve selecting an Immortal King’s cave. But now, with no time to prepare—as many powerhouses had already gone to the borderlands to fight—the extraordinary individuals decided against large-scale construction. Instead, they uncovered and unsealed a segment of the Immortal Ancient ancestral vein, transforming it into a supreme cultivation ground for the younger generation.
“Those willing to go to the borderlands will have a year’s grace period!”
An elder seated amidst the chaos declared this crucial timeline.
“In the coming year, we will teach you the strengths and weaknesses of the enemies from the other realm. We will also expound scriptures, resolve doubts, and give our utmost effort!”
For this year, these young geniuses from the Nine Heavens would study and cultivate here. Whether they intended to go to the borderlands or not, they could refine their Dao here.
“Understanding the enemy’s secrets and learning from the combat experiences of the Immortal Ancient survivors—these are things you must know!”
“Some have risen from mere soldiers in the mortal world to become taboo existences who dominate the other realm. I believe some among you can achieve the same!”
“Divine abilities learned from books are shallow. True transformation comes from the baptism of life and death—the fastest path to transcendence. I hope the strongest beings of this era will emerge from among you!”
…
The elders spoke at length, bolstering morale.
Had time not been so scarce and war so imminent, they wouldn’t have resorted to this. They hoped someone would defy the heavens amidst blood and fire, creating miracles.
Here, Shi Hao saw many familiar faces—Qing Yi, the Witch, and others—as well as numerous prodigies from the Immortal and Sacred Academies, such as the Little Heavenly King, the Nine Netherworld Hound, and Da Xu Tuo.
He also spotted a group from the Sacred Academy, among whom Wang Xi accompanied a figure impossible to overlook—a man shrouded in immortal mist, like an emperor descending to the mortal realm!
Undoubtedly, this was Jin Zhan, hailed as a peerless genius of his generation!
Though he followed the Path of the Present World, his body was enveloped in dense immortal energy—truly astonishing.
Beyond them, the Immortal and Sacred Academies had also brought forth several reclusive prodigies, along with heirs hidden away by long-lived families.
This gathering was truly a constellation of stars—all the geniuses who should have come were here. It was a grand assembly of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths’ finest young talents.
“Shi Hao, I heard you single-handedly fought ten kings at the Great Scarlet Sky’s border and slew them all! That’s exhilarating! Hahaha, as expected of my brother!” The Lunar Jade Rabbit bounded over, patting Shi Hao’s shoulder and putting on a deliberately heroic air.
In truth, she seemed eternally youthful, appearing no older than thirteen or fourteen, with gleaming silver hair and ruby-like eyes—utterly resembling a delicate, underage girl.
“Shi Hao, are you alright?” Qing Yi approached, her gaze gentle and concerned. The battle at the Great Scarlet Sky’s border had sent shockwaves through the younger generation.
After all, the Purple Sun Heavenly Monarch had fallen, and Lü Hong had perished—both hailed as young supremes!
Huang, sweeping through the borderlands, winning ten consecutive battles—how could such a feat not draw attention?
Now, all the young talents present looked his way, including the Little Heavenly King from the Immortal Academy, Wang Xi, and the peerless genius Jin Zhan beside her.
Shi Hao smiled. “Later, I’ll treat you all to a feast from the other realm—all of royal bloodline, the rarest delicacies under heaven. At the very least, I’ve never tasted them before!”
“Hahaha, wonderful! I’ve always been a vegetarian—never tried carrots or cabbage from the other realm. This’ll be a first!” The little rabbit declared shamelessly, utterly unembarrassed.
Yet, before the reunited friends could exchange more words, their camaraderie was interrupted.
The elders on the cliff began speaking, detailing some of the royal clans of the other realm—and the even more terrifying supreme races!
“There is one clan, hailed as one of the most ancient imperial lineages, even older than the Anlan and Yu Tuo clans. Their power is terrifying, inspiring despair and dread. For they possess an innate ability—a true invincible ancestral art that renders them immune to all divine abilities and treasure arts. All laws crumble before them!”
As one elder spoke these words, everyone felt a surge of shock and immense pressure. Immunity to divine abilities and magic—how could one possibly defeat such an enemy?
Shi Hao’s heart stirred. This wasn’t news to him—he had learned of this ancient imperial clan long ago.
He had once cultivated a similar power—magic immunity, capable of dispersing an enemy’s treasure arts—but it lasted only briefly. He had stumbled upon it by chance, largely due to consuming the Golden Bodhi Fruit.
Yet, this ancient imperial clan of the other realm possessed it as an innate talent, refined into an invincible ancestral art. In a sense, they had studied it for epochs, far surpassing his own rudimentary grasp.
“I’ll face this clan in a life-and-death battle!” Shi Hao murmured to himself. He intended to use them to perfect his own techniques.
“The Anlan Clan is far too terrifying. The name ‘Anlan’ is taboo—their offensive power shook the Immortal Ancient Era. Even the mighty Heavenly Horned Ant was once pierced by their golden spear, its blood staining the starry skies…” The elders on the cliff spoke gravely, recounting various secrets.
As they narrated, the young talents from all regions listened intently, their expressions solemn, afraid to miss a single word.
Some raised questions, which the elders answered earnestly.
“Honored elders, I wish to know—the other realm has immortal beings, while our world no longer has true immortals. How can we resist? Without intervention, are we not doomed to defeat?”
No one among the youths smiled. Their expressions were grave as someone posed this dire question.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage