Chapter 1177: Ethereal Realm

“This feeling is incredible!” Shi Hao opened his eyes, golden light flickering within them like two blinding flashes of lightning piercing through the misty darkness of the night.

He remained motionless, still seated cross-legged, savoring the profound comfort of this new experience. His flesh and spirit had merged seamlessly, becoming extraordinarily sharp, intertwined with immortal energy. It was as if his entire being had become lighter and more agile.

Like a rusted blade meticulously polished, stripped of the grime of time and corrosion, now gleaming brilliantly—refined and alive.

This was Shi Hao’s most immediate sensation. His entire body felt ethereal, his bones symmetrical and crystalline, as if a layer of rust had truly been shed. His mind was clear, his spirit invigorated.

Indeed, faint traces of gray impurities lingered on his skin—residues expelled during his recent ascension to the Heavenly Deity Realm. Among them, fragments of bone dust could vaguely be discerned.

Shi Hao rose to his feet, stretching his limbs before testing his movements. His body transformed into a streak of lightning, darting through the space so swiftly that his shadow blurred, merging seamlessly with the void.

It was no illusion. His body was astonishingly light, like an ancient sword, once marred by rust, now restored to its original sharpness and dazzling brilliance.

Similarly, his divine perception had undergone a rebirth, emerging stronger and more acute than ever.

Shi Hao tested his strength—his attack power and speed had both surged significantly in the same span of time!

Is this the Heavenly Deity Realm?

He slowly contemplated, adjusting to this new state, a wave of joy swelling in his heart. This was the delight of harvest, the satisfaction of growing stronger.

The Sacred Sacrifice Realm was unstable, with power fluctuating wildly—sometimes rivaling a Heavenly Deity, other times barely surpassing a True God.

Some even failed in this realm, regressing to a state weaker than the Divine Flame Realm.

But Shi Hao, having cultivated three strands of immortal energy, only suffered the torment of unstable power in the initial stages. Later, his strength stabilized, allowing him to avoid calamity.

And precisely because of this, his power gradually solidified, culminating naturally in his breakthrough to the Heavenly Deity Realm.

“My strength has grown, but not as explosively as I imagined.” Shi Hao frowned. In the past, every breakthrough had brought a dramatic surge in combat power, but this time, the increase felt less intense.

He knew that for most, the transition from Sacred Sacrifice to Heavenly Deity didn’t bring a significant change, as they had already experienced Heavenly Deity-level power during the unstable fluctuations of the previous realm. But for those who had cultivated three strands of immortal energy, there should have been a more pronounced leap.

“It must be because I haven’t undergone the tribulation yet.” After careful consideration, Shi Hao understood the reason.

However, now was not the time for tribulation. Since entering the Heavenly Deity Academy and embarking on the path of ancient cultivation, he had learned enough to know that this realm was critical—there was no room for carelessness.

In fact, Wang Xi, Lü Tuo, and others had also refrained from undergoing tribulation despite reaching the Heavenly Deity Realm, choosing instead to consolidate their foundations.

Because in ancient cultivation, the most crucial step was the fusion with an immortal seed. Anyone treading this path had to find their own “seed,” which would grow and evolve alongside them, ultimately merging in the final stage to achieve the pinnacle of power.

In the previous era, ancient cultivators began fusing with their seeds from the start, encountering no issues.

But for this generation, many had started late, missing the early opportunity to seek their immortal seeds.

Yet, nature always left a sliver of hope, even in the direst circumstances. The path of cultivation was no exception—there were remedies.

Of course, there was a condition: the remedy had to be applied before a certain threshold, or it would be too late.

For those who had cultivated three strands of immortal energy and condensed them into Dao Flowers, there was still a chance to fuse with an immortal seed before undergoing further transformations.

Thus, the Heavenly Deity Realm could not be rushed. One must first fuse with an immortal seed before enduring the tribulation of lightning, the essential process of merging.

Everyone was waiting for the right opportunity, for the academy elders to lead them to the “Graveyard of Realms,” where they could obtain peerless immortal seeds before taking that crucial step.

Now, Shi Hao had finally joined their ranks, awaiting his chance.

“Hmm, my strength has still improved. If I face enemy encirclements again, I should handle them with much greater ease.” Shi Hao murmured to himself, brimming with newfound confidence.

But the greatest gain now was his ethereal state—standing there, he seemed transcendent, his flesh and divine perception so sharp that he could almost foresee danger before it struck.

Tall and slender, wreathed in immortal energy, he resembled a true immortal descended from the celestial realms, or the progeny of an immortal king—aloof and untainted by worldly dust.

Even standing beside the likes of Yao Yue and Wang Xi, he would appear no less divine, as if untouched by mortal concerns.

With a mere thought, Shi Hao could manipulate his three strands of immortal energy effortlessly, as if they were extensions of his own body.

Above his head, three Dao Flowers bloomed, rising and falling in harmony—a manifestation of the ultimate truth: “From the Dao comes One, from One comes Two, from Two comes Three, and from Three comes all creation.”

Yet, the three Dao Flowers were not identical. Shi Hao sighed softly, a trace of regret in his voice.

On the first Dao Flower sat a figure shrouded in immortal mist, indistinct yet imposing, as if seated in the distant past, bearing the weight of eternity, facing the entirety of ancient history alone.

The other two Dao Flowers bore no figures—only strands of immortal energy swirling amidst faint glimpses of heavenly laws.

“There will be time to cultivate them. When that happens, it will be an entirely new experience—and surely, immensely powerful.”

Shi Hao wondered what heights he would reach once figures emerged on the other two Dao Flowers.

As tranquility returned, the probing gazes from all directions withdrew, and the divine eyes observing him vanished.

Shi Hao clasped his hands behind his back and returned to the White Jade Mountain, resuming his study of the millions of runes inscribed upon it. To his surprise, his comprehension speed had increased—his efficiency had improved significantly.

Indeed, to master the ancient immortal arts, one had to follow the ancient path. The fusion of immortal energy, the tempering of divine pills, and the refinement of strength—all these influenced the subsequent stages of cultivation.

By the time he emerged from seclusion, many had already returned to the White Jade Mountain, and more followed, gathering to ponder its mysteries.

At this stage, few dared to provoke Shi Hao. Even those with grudges suppressed them, for the current “Huang” was no longer someone ordinary cultivators could afford to challenge.

In the Stone Cauldron, he had participated in the great melee, securing three pristine immortal pill fragments. He had even captured Wang Xi, who wielded the Pacification Art, shaking the entire battlefield.

Now, all ancient cultivators within this sealed ruin knew of his deeds, regarding him with awe and reverence.

“Brother Shi!” Princess Yao Yue greeted him with a radiant smile, her dark hair cascading like a waterfall, her eyes as clear as autumn waters—a beauty capable of toppling cities.

At this point, perhaps only those who had cultivated three strands of immortal energy dared to stand beside him. Others, unfamiliar with him, hesitated to approach.

Yao Yue extended a warm invitation: “My offer still stands. Bring me Wang Xi’s head, and my clan will welcome you with the highest honors. Of course, even without gifts, we’d still treat you with utmost respect—we’d never turn away a young supreme like you.”

The crowd was stunned. Only she could refer to Wang Xi as a “gift” and mock the Wang Clan so brazenly.

“Noted!” Shi Hao laughed heartily, showing no modesty.

Fortunately, Wang Xi had yet to arrive, or she would have been infuriated anew.

“Shi Hao!” Qing Yi approached, her delicate features adorned with a gentle smile. She had just emerged from seclusion and come straight to him.

Shi Hao grinned. Though they had both been in the Heavenly Deity Academy, this was their first true reunion, a chance to converse properly.

He stepped forward boldly, reaching for her slender hand—only for Qing Yi to sidestep gracefully, evading his grasp.

From another direction, Yue Chan appeared, her graceful figure draped in a flowing white gown that trailed along the ground. She moved with ethereal elegance, like a banished immortal walking the mortal realm.

“Hey, little beauty, long time no see,” Shi Hao greeted her.

Many were dumbfounded, their expressions a mix of shock and amusement. Did this guy actually know that peerless beauty? And with such casual irreverence?

It felt bizarre—this was a young supreme who dominated his generation. How could he speak so flippantly?

Yue Chan’s flawless face, initially wearing a faint smile, instantly darkened.