Chapter 888: Mists and Turmoil

“So heavy!”

The little rabbit took the sword embryo, intending to play with it and examine it closely. But as soon as she did, her wrist sank under its weight, nearly dropping it to the ground.

The sword wasn’t long, yet it weighed over a hundred thousand pounds.

The sword embryo was dull and gray, easily mistaken for a wooden blade at a glance. Its surface bore intricate patterns—humanoid figures surrounded by dark specks and mist-like textures.

“Flying Immortal imagery?”

At first glance, it seemed ordinary, with no particularly mystical features in the engravings. But when the little rabbit gently channeled her energy into it, the sword erupted in a dazzling radiance, so brilliant that staring at it made one’s eyes sting.

The humanoid figures on the sword seemed to come alive, surrounded by a rain of light, transforming into luminous flying immortal rays. The mist-like patterns billowed like pure immortal qi, suffusing the air.

The group marveled—this was truly the legendary Great Luo Immortal Sword, its phenomena astonishing. If properly refined and nurtured, it would undoubtedly become a supreme treasure.

“Though it’s said to be naturally formed, unearthed from an ancient mine, there might be another secret behind it,” Cao Yusheng remarked.

Many found it hard to believe that the heavens and earth could directly give birth to a sword embryo—it seemed too fantastical.

Taking turns holding the sword, they were all enchanted by it. If properly refined, this weapon was destined to shine brilliantly in the upper realm, becoming a peerless armament.

“What exactly did you encounter?” Qing Yi asked.

“Yeah, you saw the source of the eerie phenomena and still managed to come back alive,” the little rabbit muttered.

“Children’s words hold no malice—let the wind carry them away,” Shi Hao flicked her forehead lightly.

He recounted the black ancient ship, the horrors within—the stone cauldron containing a head bathed in immortal blood, the abyss below sealing something ominous…

Though they hadn’t experienced it firsthand, just hearing Shi Hao’s brief account left them stunned. So much had happened in such a short time.

Even the Divine Striking Stone felt a chill. That ancient ship was terrifying and enigmatic, existing for millennia. Surviving its horrors was no small feat.

They discussed the topic at length, but no matter how they speculated or analyzed, they couldn’t discern the true nature of that ominous force.

“I suspect that the eerie and ominous can no longer interfere with the strongest figures, given that it’s been sealed,” Qing Yi mused.

She speculated that the king who returned from the Borderlands might have been a recent event, tracking and sealing it along the way.

Of course, this was just her personal conjecture, far from confirmed.

“Where exactly is this so-called Borderlands? What kind of territory is it?” the little rabbit muttered, brimming with curiosity about that ancient land.

“It’s likely deep within the Untamed Wastes. The so-called Ancient Covenant was probably forged there,” Cao Yusheng said.

Yet, he couldn’t understand why the Borderlands were cut off from this world.

Could it belong to another realm entirely, separate from the upper world?

Shi Hao sighed. He knew the Borderlands were harsh, and now they were likely even more perilous. Through the altar, he had seen one of the Seven Kings fall in battle. Now, another had pierced through the Borderlands to return to the upper realm, only to perish sealing the abyss.

“Are the remaining five still alive?” Shi Hao murmured, sensing the growing crisis.

After such a long era, the remaining kings might have withered away. If so, the consequences would be unimaginable.

If the Borderlands fell, chaos would inevitably sweep the upper realm, unleashing a catastrophe of unprecedented scale. The three thousand provinces would be engulfed in war.

He had a premonition—the age of turmoil was coming.

“This era is destined to be chaotic,” Qing Yi sighed softly. She understood the gravity of the situation. The wars to come might be more brutal than anyone could fathom.

“Fire Cloud Cave, Demon Dragon Dao Gate…” Shi Hao gritted his teeth in anger. Why were they obscuring the truth, targeting the descendants of the Borderlands’ heroes?

This was internal strife, weakening the upper realm’s vitality. What were their motives? Did they not fear for their own survival when war engulfed the land?

Their actions served no benefit to the upper realm, only undermining its foundation.

“The situation is complex. I’ve heard my old man mutter a few things—it involves immortals, emperors, even deities, with multiple factions at odds,” Cao Yusheng said.

The “old man” he referred to was his enigmatic master.

“Can you elaborate?” Shi Hao pressed, eager for answers.

The little fatty shook his head. His master had only drunkenly mumbled a few words and refused to say more. The specifics remained a mystery.

“In short, it’s complicated. If the Borderlands truly fall, it won’t just concern our world—the repercussions will be far broader, beyond imagination!”

This was why the present was so murky, shrouded in fog.

For various reasons, allies might turn on each other, depending on which “beings” they relied upon, belonging to different factions.

“My head’s spinning. This is too convoluted,” the little rabbit groaned, rubbing her temples.

“In the future, only the strong will be able to protect their lands and command respect. War will rage, and peace will be a distant memory,” Cao Yusheng said.

It was easy to imagine a time when human order and moral codes would be overturned, ushering in an era of unparalleled brutality.

“This is likely a continuation of the battles from the Immortal Ancient Era, and this epoch will be even bloodier. Who knows if it will end in this world?” the Divine Striking Stone mused.

They sensed that the conflict might extend beyond the three thousand provinces.

“If battles of that scale occur, the denizens of the three thousand provinces won’t even know. The question is whether we’ll have a chance to participate,” Cao Yusheng said.

“I’m going!” Shi Hao declared.

Cao Yusheng looked at him. “I heard the Heavenly Clan’s guardian once tried to divine everything about you, only to conclude—much to his dismay—that you don’t belong to this ancient history?”

“How do you know about the Heavenly Clan?” Shi Hao asked, surprised.

“My master told me,” the little fatty replied.

“That old turtle is still fixated on me? Once I leave these ancient lands, I’ll camp outside Sky City and slaughter them until they howl!” Shi Hao vowed, his disgust for the Heavenly Clan’s ingratitude at its peak.

“Not belonging to this ancient history? Don’t tell me you’ve left the upper realm, transcended it, and gone off to fight some battle alone,” the little rabbit said.

“That’s not how the phrase should be interpreted. Even my master couldn’t decipher it,” Cao Yusheng shook his head.

“What nonsense prophecies. The future is uncertain—who can predict it? Everything can change,” Shi Hao scoffed.

“What else did your master say?” Qing Yi asked.

“The future is too grim. Someone who belongs neither to the past nor the present will come to the three thousand provinces in this era, seeking aid from someone who can eat a lot,” the little fatty said.

“That’s me! Are they coming to beg me? But you just said I don’t belong to this ancient history—contradictory, no?” Shi Hao said shamelessly, casting himself as the invincible one.

“That person paid a great price to be sent here. Who they’ll seek help from remains unknown,” Cao Yusheng said.

“Don’t tell me your master said this too,” the little rabbit side-eyed him skeptically.

“Is your master a charlatan or a madman, spouting delusions all day?” the Divine Striking Stone chimed in.

“How’d you guess? My master’s been getting crazier lately. I’m scared to even be near him. Once, he almost buried me alive, saying it was my fate and destiny,” the little fatty grumbled.

The group was stunned. What kind of eccentric master was this? They grew even more skeptical of the old man’s words—he might genuinely be unhinged.

“The worst part? He said if he didn’t bury me, sooner or later, someone who eats a lot would do it. Parting in life and death, just to make that person sad,” the little fatty fumed.

The others fell silent, mourning the little fatty’s misfortune in having such a master. Getting accidentally buried alive would be the worst luck.

“So your fate’s pretty bleak. Want me to help you out and bury you now?” the little rabbit teased, her ruby-like eyes glinting mischievously.

“Wrong again! My master said my blessings are boundless. I’d wake up and crawl out of the ground, destined for immortality and reunion,” the little fatty boasted.

Dismissing such absurdity, the others didn’t bother refuting it.

“How long was I in seclusion?” Shi Hao asked. Lost in enlightenment, he’d lost all sense of time.

“Half a year,” Qing Yi told him.

“Only that short? I thought at least two years had passed,” Shi Hao said, surprised.

His first seclusion had lasted a year and a half, and this one another half-year. He’d now spent two years in the Immortal Ancient Realm.

At nearly twenty years old, he was on the cusp of adulthood.

“We need to find a way to break through and advance further,” the little rabbit declared, pumping her fist. Yet she knew how difficult that step was—for all prodigies, it bordered on impossible.

Still, their gains over the past six months had been immense. Studying the bone scriptures Shi Hao had seized from the Immortal Palace’s heir—filled with ancient insights—had steadily deepened their understanding.

“What are your plans?” Qing Yi asked Shi Hao.

“I want to cultivate a second strand of immortal qi,” Shi Hao said.

The group froze. This guy had just taken one step forward and was already aiming for the heavens again. They didn’t know what to say.

“Do you know your own path?” Cao Yusheng asked. Shi Hao had only just succeeded on one path—was he about to embark on another? Such haste could destabilize his foundation, leading to dire consequences.

“I know my path well. I’ve prepared thoroughly,” Shi Hao nodded.

“I think you shouldn’t rush. Stabilize first. Maybe take a walk outside,” Qing Yi suggested, fearing he might lose control.

“Fair enough,” Shi Hao agreed. Since entering the Immortal Ancient Realm, enemies had been after him. It was time to settle scores.

“I’ll take you to a special place. In every opening of the Immortal Ancient, the strongest prodigies and ancient freaks gather there for opportunities,” Cao Yusheng said.

“Such a place exists?” The group was astonished.

“My master mentioned it. Rumor has it Ning Chuan once obtained a living hand bone there, and the Ten Crown King even acquired a small immortal tree.”

“What?!” Everyone gasped in shock.