The return journey was smooth, and along the way, Shi Hao encountered some familiar faces, such as Xuan Kun, Wang Xi, Princess Yao Yue, and powerful cultivators from both academies.
“He’s back, and with time to spare. Could he have obtained the Evil-Warding Divine Bamboo from the Immortal Mound?” whispered a genius from the Immortal Academy, his eyes flickering with suspicion.
The others turned to look, their hearts unsettled. They had exerted great effort to break through the mountain gates and arrive here, yet Shi Hao seemed to be leaving effortlessly.
“Brother Dao, any gains?” asked a disciple from the Sacred Academy with a smile.
Shi Hao glanced at him and replied, “A minor harvest.”
“Surely you didn’t actually find the Evil-Warding Divine Bamboo?” Princess Yao Yue’s eyes shimmered with a hint of mischief, her usual ethereal beauty now tinged with a playful charm.
Shi Hao smiled without answering, which only deepened the suspicions of those around him. Unease flickered across their faces, their hearts unbalanced.
“Did you truly discover and harvest the Evil-Warding Divine Bamboo?” A young man from the Immortal Academy asked gravely.
Shi Hao ignored him and turned to leave—there was no need to share his findings.
“Stop!” The ignored disciple from the Immortal Academy shouted angrily.
Shi Hao paid no heed and continued walking, nearing the mountain gate.
*Whoosh!*
The young man raised his hand, unleashing a five-colored sword beam imbued with the essence of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—an ancient divine ability known as the Five Elements Divine Sword.
The sword beam didn’t strike Shi Hao but instead sliced through a massive boulder beside him, cleaving it in two before reducing it to dust.
The sword energy was like a rainbow, capable of splitting the heavens!
“What do you mean by this?” Shi Hao turned back, his voice calm.
Everyone’s hearts skipped a beat. Shi Hao’s recent feats—defeating the Nine Nether Hound—had cemented his reputation as the unrivaled top figure among Heavenly Gods. Few dared provoke him.
The truly exceptional geniuses had already ascended to the level of sect masters, waiting for him there. Among Heavenly Gods, none dared challenge him now.
“Brother Dao, don’t misunderstand. This senior brother is just overly straightforward and acted impulsively,” another disciple from the Immortal Academy hastily explained.
The young man himself snapped back to his senses, a chill running down his spine. He realized his recklessness—while Immortal Academy disciples were usually revered wherever they went, Shi Hao was different. He was a demon star!
Shi Hao could have joined either the Immortal or Sacred Academy, but when their elders failed to offer him sufficient respect, he rejected them both.
Faced with such a figure who could disregard the prestige of both academies, the young man lacked the courage to truly provoke him.
Realizing his mistake, he felt a wave of fear.
*Swoosh!*
Shi Hao struck, his sword flashing faster than thought, severing the golden crown from the young man’s hair and sending strands fluttering to the ground.
“You—!” The young man paled, but before he could speak, someone pulled him back, silencing him.
“Don’t point your sword at someone so carelessly, or I might mistake it for a declaration of war,” Shi Hao said coldly before turning away.
The crowd stood in stunned silence. Shi Hao’s demeanor hadn’t changed—he still disregarded the authority of both academies, unafraid to teach even their elders’ direct disciples a lesson.
“Count yourself lucky he didn’t truly attack you,” someone consoled the young man.
Pale-faced, the young man snorted in suppressed fury. Though his Three Dao Immortal Qi had been bestowed upon him by his elders from an immortal lineage, he was still a possessor of Three Dao Immortal Qi. Yet his dignity had been trampled upon.
“I refuse to believe that without a perfect seed, his future achievements will remain impressive,” the young man sneered.
Everyone knew Shi Hao needed a flawless ancient seed to match his unparalleled talent, yet neither academy had provided one. His current predicament was awkward—without a top-tier seed, his future potential would be limited.
“However proud and arrogant you are now, you’re confined to the Heavenly God Realm. I’ll wait for you at the next level. When we’re both sect masters, let’s see what you have left to boast about!” the young man spat, his voice icy but filled with satisfaction—especially since Shi Hao had already left.
The others nodded in agreement. Without a seed like the Yin-Yang Seed or the World Tree Sapling, Shi Hao would struggle to compete with the very best.
Figures like the Little Heavenly King and others had already fused with supreme ancient seeds, making them invincible among their peers. Their Dao hearts were flawless, unmatched in heaven and earth.
“It’s a pity he didn’t align himself with an immortal lineage. He might fade into obscurity,” Wang Xi remarked, echoing the sentiment that Shi Hao’s path forward was fraught with uncertainty. Without the most precious seed, he had lost the chance to compete for the title of the strongest among the younger generation.
“Perhaps the Celestial Academy has an ancient seed,” someone murmured.
“Throughout history, perfect seeds have been exceedingly rare. Most have already been unearthed. Where else could he find one? Truly a shame,” Princess Yao Yue added.
Now, everyone believed Shi Hao’s future was doomed to mediocrity, stripped of his former brilliance.
At this critical juncture of his life’s transformation, the consensus was clear: without a miracle, his decline had begun.
“Even if he obtained the Evil-Warding Divine Bamboo, it wouldn’t matter. The strongest physique can’t withstand the lightest touch of immortal techniques. Those who fuse with perfect immortal seeds will wield peerless Dao arts, capable of shattering all physical defenses,” someone sneered.
No one held high hopes for Shi Hao’s future. Though they feared him now, once they surpassed the Heavenly God Realm, everything would change.
“Let’s go!” They pressed onward, seeking the Evil-Warding Divine Bamboo and other transcendent opportunities.
On his way back, Shi Hao encountered old acquaintances, among them Cao Yusheng, who was leisurely studying ancient battle spirits, stealing their techniques.
With his unique abilities, Cao Yusheng could observe the memories of these spirits and learn their ancient methods.
“So this is the Yellow Spring Fruit?” Cao Yusheng hesitated to eat it after hearing Shi Hao’s account of his bizarre experiences—four cycles of reincarnation so vivid they left a deep impression.
He decided to save the fruit, planning to consult the Sacred Academy’s elders or his master in the lower realm before consuming it.
“I’ll eat it!” The Lunar Jade Rabbit, unaware of their earlier conversation, snatched the fruit and took a big bite.
“So delicious! I love vegetarian food!” The rabbit’s ruby-like eyes sparkled as she tossed her silver waist-length hair, her porcelain-like face radiant with joy.
But soon, her expression turned vacant, and she froze, her spirit seemingly extinguished.
“Her soul—where did it go?” Cao Yusheng cried out.
The rabbit’s body stood rigid, her soul vanished, leaving only an empty shell.
The young Qilin in her arms whimpered in fear—losing one’s soul meant death.
“Too ruthless!” Shi Hao’s expression darkened. This was his first time witnessing the effects of the Yellow Spring Fruit firsthand.
In that fleeting moment, he thought he glimpsed a tear in the void, a flash of darkness, but couldn’t be sure.
Regardless, the rabbit’s soul was gone—a dire situation.
“Could this fruit truly send someone into reincarnation?” Shi Hao muttered.
He and Cao Yusheng stood guard, not daring to move her for fear of triggering something worse.
A full day and night passed. The rabbit remained motionless, her delicate form like a carved statue—beautiful but lifeless.
Finally, at noon, when yang energy peaked, a change occurred!
Darkness enveloped the area, and the rabbit’s body blurred, vanishing before they could react.
A mysterious force pushed Shi Hao and Cao Yusheng back as the rabbit disappeared.
“Where did she go?” Cao Yusheng shouted.
The darkness lifted as quickly as it came, and the rabbit reappeared, standing in the same spot. Her long lashes fluttered, and her eyes opened—dazed and confused.
“Wake up,” Shi Hao called, pulling her back to consciousness.
“What happened? What did you see?” Cao Yusheng pressed.
The rabbit stared blankly before suddenly wailing, “That was terrifying! A broken plate tried to send me into rebirth! But… I can’t remember much, just vague impressions.”
Shi Hao quickly checked her for reincarnation marks but found none.
“Check yourself—see if you have any new marks,” he instructed.
“Here!” The rabbit lifted her skirt, revealing a faint scar on her right calf, as if something had been forcibly erased.
Furious, she cried, “Who tried to ruin my flawless skin?”
Shi Hao was intrigued. The scar bore traces of a strange power that had obliterated any markings.
“What exactly did you experience?” he asked.
“It felt like reincarnation. On that path, I saw a cauldron forged from immortal metals, glowing with nine colors and swirling with Primordial Chaos Qi. It was covered in blood, breaking free from the constraints of time and space. I saw fragments of battles—horrifying beyond imagination. And inside the cauldron, there was a blurry figure… familiar, but I can’t recall who.”
Her words sent a chill through Shi Hao. Her experience differed from his, yet the cauldron she described shook him to the core.
He knew that cauldron—it belonged neither to the present nor the past.
This era was too enigmatic, entangled with forces from before the Immortal Ancient Era and beyond, creating a chaotic tapestry of power.
“Project your memories clearly—let me see!” Shi Hao demanded, eager to witness her journey firsthand.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage