Chapter 948: Racing Against Time

This was a mountainous region, lush with vegetation, where ancient herbs thousands of years old could be found everywhere.

A stone mountain, entwined with ancient vines, bore a massive predator’s nest at its peak, spanning ten zhang in diameter. At this moment, the scent of medicinal herbs filled the air.

Shi Hao had “seized the magpie’s nest,” hiding in the lair of a golden eagle while stewing herbs in a cauldron. Alongside them, three skinned crocodile dragons bobbed in the boiling medicinal broth.

The mingled aromas of herbs and meat were peculiar, but Shi Hao wasn’t picky—restoring his body was paramount. No matter how unpalatable, he had to swallow it all.

This was a rare moment of peace. Two days had passed since his escape from the Centaur Clan, and he hadn’t stopped for a moment, constantly evading pursuit.

Arriving in this wild mountain range, he had unexpectedly discovered an abundance of medicinal herbs. After slaying three True God-level crocodile dragons that had tracked him, he hurriedly began healing.

“I hope the Heavenly Gods arrive a step too late!” Shi Hao muttered. The herbs and crocodile dragon meat in the cauldron were fully cooked, and he began devouring them in large mouthfuls.

Soon, a surge of vigorous blood qi enveloped him as he poured all his effort into recovery.

Upon closer inspection, his radiant treasure-like body was riddled with cracks, extending deep into his flesh and even reaching his internal organs.

Golden skin and silver bones—this was the state Shi Hao manifested when circulating his power, the pinnacle of physical cultivation at his current realm!

Yet, both his golden skin and silver bones were covered in spiderweb-like fissures, on the verge of disintegration. His injuries this time were too severe. First, he had suffered Dao injuries during seclusion, then was ambushed by the likes of Jun Dao and the King of the Celestial Nation, his forehead and heart pierced. Finally, he had been relentlessly pursued and wounded by Heavenly Gods.

Anyone else would have died long ago. Surviving for days, let alone half an hour, would have been a miracle.

Two strands of immortal qi coiled around him, binding his nearly shattered body together, preventing it from truly falling apart as torrents of blood qi surged forth.

Though his condition improved slightly, a full recovery was impossible in the short term. These were Dao injuries—even Heavenly Gods could perish from such wounds, with no guarantee of recovery.

Despite Shi Hao’s astonishing spiritual power, his indestructible physique, and the two strands of immortal qi he had cultivated, all he could do now was rest and recuperate. At the very least, he needed dozens of days in seclusion to have a chance at recovery.

But would the outside world grant him that opportunity?

The answer was clearly no!

Abruptly, his eyes snapped open, and in an instant, he vanished, leaving behind only an afterimage as he fled the mountain range.

“Keke…”

A grating laugh echoed through the air. A golden creature, ten feet tall, resembling a divine ape but covered in golden scales with a serpent’s tail and arms that hung past its knees, appeared.

This was an ancient ape, possessing the strengths of dragons, serpents, and apes—a terrifying variant from the previous era, formidable and fearsome.

Worse still, it had reached the Heavenly God realm. Its golden scales rendered it impervious to blades and spears, capable of traversing the sun and moon.

Shi Hao had once lured it into an ancient formation within ruins. Thousands of sword beams had struck its body, clanging loudly and sparking, yet not a single golden scale had been dislodged—it remained unscathed.

Now, it had caught up again, and the situation was dire.

Shi Hao sighed, using another Boundary-Breaking Talisman. They were dwindling, but without them, how could he escape such a powerful Heavenly God?

“To the Burial Realm!”

This had been his plan all along. Having consumed many ancient herbs and slightly improved his condition, he decided it was time to take the plunge.

Whoosh!

After exhausting the Boundary-Breaking Talisman, Shi Hao appeared in this ancient realm.

Here lay countless opportunities—immortal saplings, immortal bones, and more. Shi Hao had once discovered an immortal corpse here, shocking all factions.

Moreover, within Burial City lay a black abyss, a hundred thousand zhang deep, bearing traces of immortal battles. There, one could find fallen branches of the Willow Deity, blood of the Kun Peng, shattered phoenix feathers, and an ancient altar.

At the bottom of the altar lay countless mysteries. The Nine Dragons Coffin had once departed from there, while a Mother Qi Cauldron had attempted to enter, calling out to Shi Hao.

Returning to the Burial Realm was his last resort. Perhaps only this place could offer him safety. Wearing his tattered armor, he could descend into the black abyss, while others could not.

In the past, Heavenly Gods and sect masters from the Immortal Ancient remnants had ventured deep into the abyss, only to never return, perishing without a trace.

As Shi Hao approached Burial City, a chilling sensation crept over him. The two strands of immortal qi swirled around him, heightening his unease.

Since surpassing the ancients and taking that step, Shi Hao’s divine intuition had grown sharper, almost instinctive, allowing him to sense danger before it struck.

He retreated swiftly, decisively fleeing.

Clearly, someone had anticipated his arrival and had lain in wait for him, ready to spring the trap!

Heavenly Gods, having lived for eons, were cunning and experienced. Some had studied him, deducing that he would likely seek refuge here in the end.

Though they didn’t know about his tattered battle armor linked to the Thunder Emperor, which allowed him to brave the black abyss, his ability to retrieve the Willow Deity’s branches hinted at his hidden advantages.

Thus, someone had lain in ambush.

“Boom!”

A massive palm struck with unerring precision, leaving no room to dodge. Shi Hao activated a Guardian Talisman, making it glow defensively.

“Crack!”

A deep fissure appeared on the talisman, a sign of significant damage.

“Whoosh!”

Next, a golden light illuminated the void as an ancient mirror—a Heavenly God artifact—hovered in the air, attempting to immobilize him.

“Damn it!”

Shi Hao’s head throbbed. This crisis was worse than any before. His pursuers were well-prepared, determined to capture him.

The Golden Elephant, the Dragon Sparrow, and the Horned Dragon appeared simultaneously—three Heavenly Gods lying in wait. Nothing could be more disastrous.

With a thunderous crash, the golden elephant’s trunk lashed out, splitting the sky in two. The Guardian Talisman flared brilliantly, gaining another crack.

The elephant, fully prepared, wielded a secret treasure and retreated immediately after striking, denying the talisman a chance to counter. Clearly, this was a calculated move to exhaust his protective charms.

Shi Hao’s expression turned icy. “Three Heavenly Gods, ganging up on me—have you no shame?”

“Young friend, why such harsh words? We merely wish to invite you for a discussion on the Dao of Immortality,” the Dragon Sparrow said.

“Unworthy!” Shi Hao retorted coldly.

The denizens of Burial City were startled by the commotion. The arrival of Heavenly Gods shocked many, especially when they heard Shi Hao’s brazen words.

To disdain Heavenly Gods so openly—this was the audacity of the “Wild Child.”

“Young friend, you are quite bold. If even we are unworthy to discuss the Dao with you, who in this world is?” the Horned Dragon said, smiling, though his contempt and confidence were unmistakable.

“First, cultivate two strands of immortal qi yourself. Then, come talk to me. Otherwise, scram!” Shi Hao had nothing left to lose. With death looming, why hold back?

“Arrogant brat! We’ll erase your soul and keep your body!” The Golden Elephant’s face darkened as it struck again.

Silently, Shi Hao retrieved a lustrous white bone fragment—the Ten Thousand Spirit Diagram. He doubted the Guardian Talisman could withstand dozens, let alone hundreds, of attacks before shattering.

This bone, warm and translucent like mutton-fat jade, was part of the Primordial True Interpretation. In the lower realm, it had once manifested as a celestial diagram, summoning myriad spirits and displaying unparalleled defensive power.

But now, no matter how he channeled his energy into it, it remained inert, only awakening passively.

“Eh? Not good!” The Golden Elephant suddenly cried out, its body convulsing as its face darkened.

Simultaneously, the Horned Dragon trembled violently, nearly plummeting from the sky. The Dragon Sparrow shrieked, its feathers igniting as it struggled desperately.

“The Burial Realm is no place to linger! The curse is acting up—we must return at once!” they roared in panic and fury.

Leaving their tribes for too long was fatal. They had to return immediately, or death was certain.

This was beyond their expectations. The Burial Realm was too sinister—immortals had died here, leaving behind the heaviest curses!

“Boom!”

Reluctant to give up, they joined forces to capture Shi Hao.

“Crack!”

The Guardian Talisman’s cracks multiplied.

“Boom!”

At the same time, a monstrous black mist erupted from the black abyss in Burial City, terrifying beyond measure.

“Ah—!”

The Dragon Sparrow screamed as half its body rotted away, feathers falling like rain. It barely avoided crashing to the ground before tearing through the void and fleeing.

“Damn this accursed Burial Realm!” the Horned Dragon bellowed, its scales peeling off as corpse spots appeared. It, too, fled for its life.

The Golden Elephant, unwilling but powerless against the corpse spots spreading across its golden body, let out a final cry before vanishing.

Shi Hao stood stunned, then quickly stowed the Ten Thousand Spirit Diagram. Such a turn of events!

He dashed toward the black abyss, but upon arriving, he gasped. Rolling black mist billowed forth, chilling to the bone and impossible to approach.

Moreover, he discovered Heavenly God formations here—the trio had laid traps, waiting for him to blunder in. There was no way forward now.

“Perhaps their reckless formations here triggered this chaos,” Shi Hao mused.

The city was in turmoil. Many natives of Immortal Ancient screamed and fled as the black mist corroded them, reducing some to puddles of pus and blood.

Not daring to linger, Shi Hao also fled.

That day, the Immortal Ancient realm trembled. The chaos in the Burial Realm and the curses afflicting the three Heavenly Gods sent chills down the spines of many natives.

Moreover, on that very day, all Heavenly Gods outside their tribes returned, going into seclusion, afraid to show themselves.

Their curse cycles were nearing, and they needed their tribes’ protection to survive. Even then, seclusion came at a great cost.

This was the final opening of Immortal Ancient. Once this era passed, no one knew what would become of this ancient land. Thus, some Heavenly Gods had grown desperate.

For example, the Golden Elephant and the Horned Dragon believed that if even a sliver of hope existed—that two strands of immortal qi could neutralize the curse—then hunting Shi Hao was worth the risk.

In a minor realm, amidst mountainous terrain, stood clusters of buildings.

Upon closer inspection, they were all cast from bronze, ancient in design, with the central structure towering above the rest, grand and majestic.

Had any upper-realm sect masters been present, they would have been stunned—this layout bore an uncanny resemblance to the Celestial Court.

“Your curses have activated. It’s my turn now.” A man rose from within the bronze hall.

Strangely, as he stepped out, an elderly man on a distant platform opened his eyes. Their auras were identical, even their appearances similar!

One was an aged Heavenly God, while the other was a youth at the peak of the Divine Flame realm.

“Splitting my soul to possess an ancient freak… In the end, I, Di Kun, cannot let go of my obsession. Even staying in Immortal Ancient, I still seek to prove myself, using a young body to cultivate immortal qi. What futility.”

Both the old and young spoke simultaneously, a sight that sent shivers down the spine.

This was Di Kun, once the strongest heir of the Celestial Court, unrivaled in the upper realm, hailed as the foremost among his peers.

For reasons unknown, he had remained in Immortal Ancient, reaching the Heavenly God realm. In one era, he had split his consciousness to possess an ancient freak, gaining a second formidable body.

This second body, he had suppressed, never allowing it to break through, using it to compete with generations of outsiders entering Immortal Ancient.

“Why torment myself? Perhaps it’s time for a new body—to avenge Di Chong by taking his killer’s flesh as my own.” His young body vanished, while his aged self stood.

“Heal, break through, transcend!” Over the following days, Shi Hao tirelessly circulated his bone texts to heal, frantically gathering and consuming herbs.

He had to seize this period of calm to advance and ensure his survival!