The Celestial Deity Academy was anything but tranquil.
Not to mention the prodigies born under the heavens, even those from the three thousand provinces found it hard to believe that Shi Hao—the “Wasteland”—had truly perished, fallen in the depths of the Primordial Ancient Mine.
A white robe fluttered, pristine and ethereal, with a verdant moon hovering above her raven-black hair. Qing Yi stood in a daze, her eyes misty with sorrow.
Suddenly, she raised her head and looked at Yue Chan not far away. “I agree,” she said. “The two of us shall merge into one. But you must promise me one thing—in the future, we will kill Yuan Qing!”
Yue Chan turned to face her. “Are you truly decided?”
The two had clashed countless times, yet never merged. But now, with the news of Shi Hao’s death, Qing Yi had made her choice.
“I am certain,” Qing Yi declared. The verdant moon hung in the air, casting a gentle glow that made her appear even more transcendent.
She had set aside her grudges and disputes, deciding to merge with Yue Chan solely for the sake of greater strength and a smoother path in cultivation.
Yue Chan shook her head. “Since arriving here, I’ve studied many ancient texts. Now is not the best time for our fusion. To achieve the pinnacle of power, we must reach greater heights. If each of us becomes a peerless goddess, and then we merge—who could stand against us?”
“Are you truly giving up this opportunity?” Qing Yi asked.
For once, Yue Chan showed a flicker of emotion. “You are no longer pure. I wish I could kill you, but for the sake of ultimate strength and the future, I can endure it. However, I demand that you speak less of the Wasteland in my presence. Even after we merge, I want you to sever all memories of him!”
Though her eyes still shimmered with unshed tears, Qing Yi couldn’t help but retort, “Am I not you? If I am impure, does that not make you the same? That day—”
“Silence!”
The two celestial beauties began to argue, drawing attention.
“How could he die? I refuse to believe it! What kind of cursed place is the Primordial Ancient Mine? A burial pit? Even if he was trapped there, it doesn’t mean he’s dead!” Cao Yusheng muttered.
Someone sneered. “Brother, you clearly know nothing of the Primordial Ancient Mine. Once you enter, few ever return. Only the rarest of exceptions escape. But so many days have passed—he is undoubtedly dead.”
Nearby, the little rabbit, her silver hair gleaming, gnawed angrily on a golden ginseng as if it were a carrot. Hearing the mocking words, her ruby-like eyes widened, and she hurled the white qilin cub she was holding straight at the speaker.
*Thud!*
“Ow!” The man yelped in pain, caught off guard by the sudden attack.
A faint whimper followed—the white qilin cub, rudely awakened from its nap and used as a projectile, blinked tearfully at the Moon Rabbit.
Everyone stared in disbelief. Who would treat a qilin so carelessly, using it as a weapon?
If not for the fact that they were in the Celestial Deity Academy, many would have fought over the precious cub.
“My brother isn’t dead!” Qin Hao clenched his fists, his face twisted with fury.
Many had heard of the tension between the brothers—how Qin Hao had always sought to surpass his elder sibling. But his reaction now was unexpected.
“I, too, refuse to believe Brother Shi is gone,” Chang Gong Yan said to the Dragon Maiden, both sighing.
“Hah!” A mocking laugh came from a young supreme being of another ancient realm. “Unless the sun rises from the west, no one returns alive from the Primordial Ancient Mine.”
“Pity. I heard this ‘Wasteland’ had some skill. Shame I never got to crush him myself,” another added.
“What did you say?!” The little rabbit shrieked, scooping up the qilin cub again, ready to throw it.
This display made Ning Chuan’s temple throb with irritation.
Others were speechless—this little girl had quite the temper, daring to treat the academy’s treasured qilin like a rock.
“What’s so special about the Wasteland? Dying in the Primordial Ancient Mine was a mercy. Had he come here, he’d have been slaughtered!” a cold voice sneered from the shadows.
“Who said that?” A young man with dual-pupil eyes—Shi Yi—snapped his eyes open.
Though he and Shi Hao had been rivals, their battles had been legendary. To belittle Shi Hao was to insult his own strength.
“Enough about a dead man!” another scoffed.
“Face me in battle if you dare!” Qin Hao roared.
“Child, you’re far from ready. Come back when you’ve reached the Celestial Deity realm, or you’ll die without knowing how,” came the blunt reply.
The hall buzzed with arguments, drawing curious glances.
Then, a thunderous voice cut through the noise. “Cease this pointless squabbling. If anyone disagrees, challenge me. If the Wasteland truly lived, let him face me!”
A green-haired figure sat atop a mystic stone, shrouded in chaos. His voice alone shook the crowd.
“It’s him!”
Fear rippled through the onlookers. This man was a descendant of an ancient immortal, a being from the Longevity Clan. He had defeated countless experts in the academy, standing among its strongest disciples.
“I’ll fight you!” someone from the three thousand provinces shouted.
Suddenly, an aged voice boomed. “This is the Celestial Deity Academy—a sacred place of cultivation. Cease this unbecoming clamor!”
“Duels are permitted, but not provocations or blood feuds!” another stern voice added.
“If you seek to prove yourselves, venture into the Primordial Ancient Mine. We are considering allowing disciples to train there. If you dare, go and temper yourselves.”
The academy’s elders had made a decision—one that sent shockwaves through the crowd.
This was not mandatory, but those who chose to challenge the mine would receive the academy’s support.
Shi Hao’s disappearance had stirred the academy into a frenzy.
“Excellent! Let us see what horrors the Primordial Ancient Mine holds. With the academy’s treasures, we’ll brave its depths!”
Many of the young elites from across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths were eager to prove themselves.
“Are we truly going?” the Ten Crown King of the three thousand provinces mused aloud, drawing attention.
A formidable figure, he was not one to boast, yet none dared provoke him. With his World Sapling, he might just survive the mine’s horrors.
“I need Life Stones. This may be my chance to obtain them,” another said.
Soon, groups formed, some merely planning to scour the mine’s outskirts for treasures.
—
Deep within the Primordial Ancient Mine, a radiant pool bubbled violently.
Shi Hao sat immersed in its depths, undergoing an immense transformation. His earlier injuries had healed—his broken bones mended.
This was the Longevity Liquid, nourishing his flesh and soul. Its benefits were beyond count.
The pool shimmered with chaotic energy and immortal essence, its fragrance intoxicating.
For over half a month, Shi Hao had been refining himself here.
*Huff!*
He exhaled a breath of primal essence, which took the form of a sacred dragon—a wisp of immortal energy.
The resonance of the Great Dao thundered around him.
By now, his body had been reforged, stronger than ever.
Then, something astonishing occurred.
The three immortal energies above his head surged, intertwining like dragons.
One had already taken form—a Dao Flower blooming above him. But now, nourished by the pool, it absorbed immortal essence.
*Boom!*
Days later, the Dao Flower blossomed fully, revealing a tiny figure seated upon its petals—lifelike and solemn.
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