Chapter 1256: Tempered Through a Thousand Trials

A month had passed, yet there was still no news of Huang. He remained in seclusion.

Two months had gone by, and the area around the Celestial Deity Academy remained shrouded by the grand formation, unchanged, with no word emerging.

Outside, some people smirked, unable to hold back their laughter, believing that Huang was likely in dire straits, with failure outweighing success.

“Two months have passed, and he still hasn’t emerged. What is he doing, giving birth like a woman? Haha!”

“Those in the Immortal Academy with ancient seeds have already undergone great transformations, emerging from their life-and-death seclusion. Huang, without a perfect seed, is still sitting there, still persisting. It’s laughable to even mention it!”

Two months had slipped away, and Huang remained silent. This absence of movement sparked whispers and mockery from the outside world, with some openly ridiculing him.

Many believed his seclusion was a failure!

Without a Dao Seed that matched his innate talents, there was no chance for him to defy fate. What could he possibly use to break through? There was simply no way for him to rise.

Given his potential, becoming a powerful sect leader should have been effortless. But everyone knew he wouldn’t settle for that. Rumors had long circulated that he was preparing for a grand breakthrough, aiming to become a peerless figure.

Yet this seemed unrealistic. For ancient cultivation methods, he lacked a suitable ancient seed. For modern methods, he hadn’t received the full support of the Sacred Academy. Neither academy had opened the gates of ascension for him!

Three months had passed, and Shi Hao still showed no signs of movement. Deep within the Celestial Deity Academy, weeds had sprouted around the Grand Elder’s residence, nourished by the spiritual energy, growing wildly to the height of a person.

The place was overgrown with wild grass, devoid of human presence, presenting a desolate scene.

No one came to tend to it, as the Grand Elder had ordered that no one approach, lest they disturb Shi Hao in his seclusion.

“Can Huang truly achieve a shocking breakthrough?”

“He’s certainly stronger than most, but without a seed that suits him, he can no longer compete with those peerless prodigies.”

“It’s a pity. Without the attention of the two academies, Huang is destined to fade, unable to carve out a path of ultimate glory. He’ll still surpass ordinary geniuses, but he’s lost the qualifications to compete with the top talents of the two academies.”

Even some students remaining in the Celestial Deity Academy shared this view, no longer holding high hopes for him. This was the harsh reality—without the support of the two academies, Huang’s path forward was dim.

If even those within the academy thought so, outsiders were even more dismissive. Some of his former adversaries sneered, waiting to see Shi Hao’s downfall.

Especially as one powerful elite after another emerged from seclusion, their smiles grew wider, already envisioning Shi Hao’s path of defeat.

“Haha, I’m waiting for him to appear. I truly look forward to seeing Huang,” someone chuckled calmly, their expression icy.

Amidst the speculation and hostility, Shi Hao remained in seclusion.

At this moment, at the foot of the spiritual mountain, Shi Hao had lost count of how many medicinal pools he had endured. Tortured in countless ways, he was tempered relentlessly—from medicinal baths to venomous invasions, to blades and weapons, an endless cycle.

For instance, the Grand Elder had once mercilessly lifted him with a bronze war spear, leaving his body riddled with horrific wounds, a ghastly sight.

Then, he was bathed in medicinal liquids. Throughout this process, Shi Hao endured excruciating pain, practicing the Bone-Forging Technique in what felt like a living hell.

As the Grand Elder put it, Shi Hao’s generation might seem battle-hardened, but they were far from it. Their suffering and trials were limited, far from enough—mere flowers in a greenhouse.

When true chaos erupted, it would be a living hell, with endless battles and constant afflictions. Without a body tempered like indestructible steel, the mere sight of such devastation would shatter one’s will.

This wasn’t torture for its own sake, but genuine tempering of his bones, flesh, and skin—forging an indestructible golden body to reach an ideal state.

“To use the body as a seed, a perfect physique is essential. Otherwise, you’ll disintegrate midway, exploding into pieces.”

During this time, Shi Hao had been crushed by divine mountains, his body nearly reduced to pulp. He’d been dismembered by countless blades, stripped to bare bones.

Yet, the Grand Elder insisted he continue practicing the Bone-Forging Technique. Even Shi Hao’s iron will nearly broke under the strain.

He gritted his teeth, refusing to complain or scream, determined to see it through. As the Grand Elder said, this suffering was for a future metamorphosis, for a perfect rebirth!

The Grand Elder had walked this path before but failed. Thus, he tempered Shi Hao like precious iron, refining him into immortal steel, determined to succeed.

After three months, Shi Hao transitioned from physical tempering to mental refinement—a far more perilous stage.

The Grand Elder employed every method to stimulate his spirit, forge his soul, and push his limits.

“Second Soul!”

The Grand Elder had high expectations, forcing Shi Hao to forge a second soul, as his spiritual power far surpassed that of ordinary Celestial Deities.

Silver spiritual flames blazed as Shi Hao’s second soul took shape, eventually becoming a perfect replica of his primary soul, albeit smaller.

“This…” The Grand Elder was secretly astonished. He’d only intended for the youth to attempt it, never expecting success. He’d meant to temper his soul and spirit, not create a second soul.

Now, Shi Hao felt a strange sensation—two selves, multitasking, an odd yet wondrous experience, like a new form of existence.

Could he accomplish more this way?

But the Grand Elder’s next words dispelled such thoughts.

“The Dao is simple, singular, and pure. External avatars, puppet souls, second bodies, third forms—all are detours, fleeting glories. In the end, they must be shattered, leaving only the original self as the true path.”

The so-called simplicity of the Dao wasn’t just talk. Second souls and external avatars were mere tools, not the ultimate path.

“Born between heaven and earth, we are ourselves a universe, already complete. Our task is evolution, transcendence, and perfection—not adding superfluous limbs or souls,” the Grand Elder stated bluntly.

His words weren’t absolute truth, but they held wisdom. Limited by his own level, he might not be the strongest immortal, but his guidance was invaluable.

Soon, Shi Hao used his second soul as fuel, burning it to strengthen his primary soul, refining it like steel.

This wasn’t the end but the beginning.

“The Soul-Forging Method comes from the Immortal Academy. Clearly, their prodigies have undergone similar transformations. But you must strive to do better, go further!” the Grand Elder admonished.

Finally, the Grand Elder taught Shi Hao even more esoteric ancient methods, beyond the Immortal Academy’s secrets.

He had Shi Hao forge his soul into a weapon, not a second soul—a dangerous but transcendent path.

Failure meant instant death, leaving a lifeless shell. Success meant a fortified spirit.

At first, his primary soul remained, wielding a weapon forged from soul power, a breathtaking sight.

Later, even the primary soul vanished, transforming into a sword, a golden spear, an unbreakable blade—countless forms, endlessly refined.

“This… isn’t this the Pacification Sword Art?” Shi Hao gasped.

One of history’s three greatest sword arts, it had once slaughtered invaders in the Ancient Immortal Era, pacifying an entire epoch.

This art forged the soul into a sword, unstoppable, capable of shattering mountains, boiling seas, and crushing stars.

“Only fragments remain, useful for tempering the soul. For combat, it’s far from complete. This art was rare even in the Ancient Immortal Era, passed down singly.”

Shi Hao’s soul grew sharper, more formidable.

Soon, the Grand Elder produced a weapon—a fiery red rod, like a branding iron, with eighteen segments, designed to strike the soul.

A soul weapon, crafted to kill spirits.

What followed was terrifying: Shi Hao’s soul faced this weapon, a deadly gamble.

“Your body can withstand divine weapons, nearing indestructibility. Your soul must do the same, resisting soul weapons!”

The Grand Elder revealed that the other realm possessed terrifying soul weapons. The defeat in the Ancient Immortal Era was due to these, causing immense losses.

Some supreme soul weapons had even slain true immortals, shocking this realm.

Shi Hao inhaled sharply, silent, then urged the Grand Elder to strike his soul with the rod, facing it bare-handed.

“The Pacification Sword Art is even more precious than I thought. One day, I’ll forge not just an indestructible body but an unbreakable soul, fearing no attack!” Shi Hao vowed.

Clearly, if the Pacification Sword Art could forge the soul into a weapon, slaying all in its path, it must render the soul impervious.

Four months passed, and Shi Hao remained in seclusion.

Five months passed, and the Celestial Deity Academy stayed quiet.

Half a year later, outsiders shook their heads. What surprises could a hopeless genius bring after such prolonged seclusion?

“Hmm, four prodigies from the Immortal Academy have emerged, and the Sacred Academy’s strongest are nearly all out, having succeeded. Yet Huang is still nowhere to be seen. Can we say he’s putting on airs? Haha!” someone laughed.

“Those young supremes with perfect ancient seeds didn’t take this long. Huang’s ‘modesty’ is quite endearing, isn’t it? Heh!”

Some sneered, mocking openly, eagerly awaiting Shi Hao’s humiliation.