“What kind of creatures are these?” Cao Yusheng and the others rushed over, staring at the two tattered corpses.
The gray mist dispersed, revealing figures clad in bronze armor, wielding halberds covered in green rust. They looked ancient, as if they had walked out from an endless span of time.
“Good heavens, what are these beings? They carry such an aura of antiquity, as if they belong to an entire epoch.”
The sensation was eerie, making them feel as though they were facing a fragment of ancient history rather than two living creatures. There was a weight of accumulated time, an indescribable sense of desolation.
“You… should not have killed us…”
Suddenly, one of the creatures weakly spoke, devoid of life energy or soul fluctuations, yet it managed to utter these words with great difficulty.
“Eek—!” The little rabbit bolted away in fright, squealing as she vanished in a flash. She had been thoroughly startled.
“They can still speak? That’s downright creepy,” the chubby boy remarked, his boldness undeterred as he crouched down to examine them closely, eager to study them thoroughly.
Shi Hao was relieved that these two creatures didn’t resemble him this time. Otherwise, it would have felt unsettling, as if he were killing himself.
The creature fell silent, no longer speaking.
“The path… is severed, reaching its end. Everything… will cease to exist.”
Just as the little rabbit cautiously approached, the other corpse suddenly spoke weakly, causing her to leap high in fright before darting behind Qing Yi.
“You scared me to death! Why can’t you both speak at once instead of taking turns to terrify me?” she grumbled indignantly.
As the gray mist dissipated completely, the two corpses crumbled into dust—no flesh, no blood, simply vanishing into nothingness.
Moreover, their bronze armor and halberds cracked apart, turning into fragments of corroded metal, as if they had endured millions of years of decay.
Under the passage of time, within the river of eternity, nothing remains. All is eventually worn away.
Shi Hao soared into the sky, gripping his halberd with both hands as he cleaved downward. The ancient lantern twisted, dissolving into mist before disappearing entirely.
What exactly were these things? What did the words of those two creatures mean? Shi Hao frowned. They were said to be manifestations of rules, yet they clearly possessed real flesh.
Only after being slain in battle did they slowly disintegrate.
“It’s like corpses sealed in ancient coffins—perfectly preserved when first opened, but quickly rotting away with time, because they should have long since perished in the endless river of history,” Cao Yusheng explained.
“That’s disgusting! How do you even know about such things? What a comparison,” the little rabbit retorted.
Shi Hao, however, was struck by a thought. “Where did they come from? Could they truly be ancient corpses from the Immortal Ancient Era? Why do they keep appearing like this, interfering with us? What unseen force is at work, and why does it only send monsters matching my strength?”
He had many questions, his brow furrowed in contemplation.
“They’re not corpses from underground,” Qing Yi shook her head. A wisp of azure flame wrapped around her before flickering toward a certain direction.
They followed, arriving beyond the three-thousand bluestone path. Suddenly, the flame burned through the void, distorting the heavens and earth, revealing a terrifying rift.
Their hearts trembled as they peered inside—but there was nothing.
The azure moon flame receded, vanishing once more. The great rift slowly closed, disappearing without a trace.
“They came from the void, not resurrected from the earth. These things are terrifying!” the Divine Striking Stone exclaimed.
Each one was a match for Shi Hao in strength. If a whole group emerged, chaos would engulf the world. The mere thought sent shivers down their spines.
“A faint strand of immortal energy surrounds me. I feel that the final step is not far off,” Shi Hao declared, preparing to enter seclusion.
After this battle, a wisp of hazy immortal energy had manifested around him, making him appear transcendent, his combat power significantly enhanced.
“I never expected you’d actually come this close to success!” The little rabbit puffed her cheeks, her big red eyes wide with curiosity as she stared at him.
“This might be bad,” Cao Yusheng said grimly, clearly knowledgeable on the matter.
“Indeed, it’s ominous. I’ve read records in rare bone scriptures describing this phenomenon—it’s not a good sign,” Qing Yi nodded, her expression troubled.
“Why?” Shi Hao was startled. He had accidentally touched upon the threshold, about to take that final step toward true evolution, only to hear such foreboding words.
“Immortal energy is unique. Once comprehended, it should surge forth in one breath, encircling the true self—not manifesting faintly like this,” Cao Yusheng explained.
In this era, the laws of heaven and earth have changed. All are destined to reach the end of life; none can achieve immortality.
Likewise, it is nearly impossible for any being to take that final step.
Such records and legends originate from the previous epoch, unearthed by later generations from ancient ruins. That is how these secrets became known.
“Why is this the case? Does it mean I’m unlikely to succeed?” Shi Hao frowned.
According to the bone scriptures, the appearance of faint immortal energy indicates only one thing—the path one has chosen is too extraordinary, too difficult to traverse.
Because continuing down this path makes it nearly impossible to condense complete immortal energy. More likely, one will perish in the attempt.
Shi Hao fell silent for a long time. Had he reached a dead end on this path, unable to proceed further?
“But it only means the path is too difficult, not that failure is absolute, right?” Shi Hao asked.
“True,” Qing Yi sighed. According to records, the chances of success were slim—almost nonexistent. Continuing would only lead to death.
“I will succeed!” Shi Hao declared with unwavering conviction.
“Don’t attempt it lightly. There could be dire consequences,” Qing Yi warned. These were records from the Immortal Ancient Era, the accumulated wisdom of predecessors. They held truth for a reason.
Even in the Immortal Ancient Era, when the world’s environment was vastly different, those who cultivated immortal energy were as rare as phoenix feathers. Only those with heaven-defying talent could achieve it.
This era is different. Everything has changed, making success even more elusive.
“I want to cultivate multiple strands of immortal energy. How can I stop now? A faint wisp won’t bind me—I will make it manifest in truth!” Shi Hao declared.
The chubby Cao Yusheng was speechless. He knew all too well how treacherous this path was. Even ancient freaks had perished attempting it. Success was far from guaranteed.
“Since ancient times, the most exceptional individuals—like the ancient freaks—spent lifetime after lifetime exploring, accumulating knowledge across multiple existences, yet still failed. And you want to cultivate multiple strands of immortal energy?”
In truth, as Cao Yusheng explained, once one chose their path and took that step, they could only cultivate a single strand of immortal energy—the embodiment of their own Dao.
As the saying goes: The Dao begets One.
“By taking that step and forging your own path, you create your own Dao. Hence, a wisp of immortal energy manifests,” Cao Yusheng said.
“Regardless, I won’t give up,” Shi Hao said calmly, determined to press forward without turning back.
The situation was dire. Six Crown King Ning Chuan was certain to take that step, as was the mysterious man from the Sinister Nest. These were formidable enemies. He had to break through.
The Enlightenment Stone appeared dull gray-brown, ordinary and unremarkable.
Shi Hao entered seclusion once more, contemplating his path. With heaven and earth as his furnace and the Great Dao as his flame, he burned his true self, seeking transcendence.
Flames ignited—two thousand two hundred, two thousand three hundred, two thousand four hundred…
Shi Hao persisted relentlessly. Every hundred flames added left him scorched, his flesh torn, his bones charred—a gruesome sight. Each time, he had to halt and recuperate.
Fortunately, the divine herbs and semi-sacred fruits he had acquired were plentiful, sustaining his needs.
During this period, he consumed numerous sacred treasures as casually as one might munch on radishes or cabbage.
When the two thousand five hundredth flame appeared, Shi Hao faced a great calamity, nearly perishing. His bones shattered, his body ravaged beyond recognition.
Yet, it was through this ordeal—submerged in endless runes, his flesh and organs purified by the flames—that his physique grew even more resilient. Surviving meant great rewards.
Indeed, after the two thousand five hundredth flame, the immortal energy around him thickened slightly, as if on the verge of true manifestation.
But with a soft *puff*, it dispersed once more, fading into obscurity.
“Are you alright?” the little rabbit asked, handing him a golden ginseng root as if it were a mere carrot.
“Don’t try again,” Qing Yi urged. It was too dangerous. Just moments ago, Shi Hao had nearly died, his eyes dimming.
“Don’t risk it. The path you’ve chosen is too difficult, flawed. You shouldn’t push yourself like this,” Cao Yusheng added.
“If others can succeed, so can I,” Shi Hao replied, recovering his vitality as he silently pondered how to overcome this trial.
Clearly, once one embarked on their own path, there was no shortcut. It was a step-by-step struggle—success or death.
“Do you know how many lifetimes those who succeeded spent preparing?” Qing Yi shook her head.
Shi Hao had only lived once. His accumulated insights paled in comparison to the ancient freaks.
“A few days ago, I ventured out. Several ancient freaks perished—utterly annihilated—while attempting to take that step,” Cao Yusheng revealed.
“It’s terrifying. You should learn from my path of natural harmony instead,” the little rabbit suggested.
“Is it possible for someone to cultivate more than one strand of immortal energy?” Shi Hao asked.
The others fell silent. He was already in grave danger, yet he was still pondering such questions.
“It is possible, but it requires an unprecedented, rare opportunity. Increasing immortal energy is exceedingly difficult.”
Cao Yusheng made it clear: forging one’s own path and succeeding would yield only a single strand. To obtain a second, one would need to seek another method entirely.
“First, I must cultivate this one strand. Otherwise, how can I go further?” Shi Hao’s gaze was resolute.
Two thousand six hundred flames erupted, engulfing him. The ancient bluestone path resonated with chanting, myriad Daos harmonizing, shaking heaven and earth.
This time, Shi Hao was half-crippled by the flames. Though he survived, the immortal energy remained faint, never fully manifesting.
He spent a long time recovering from his injuries.
Strangely, the foreboding sense of calamity never descended. All was tranquil.
Two thousand seven hundred flames blazed. Shi Hao felt as though he were melting—his flesh ruined, his bones charred, even his primordial spirit on the verge of scattering.
Endless runes assailed him, threatening to reduce him to dust.
The immortal energy thickened slightly, only to disperse once more.
“I refuse to yield!”
Two thousand eight hundred flames…
He lay unconscious for half a month, his body nearly destroyed, his primordial spirit dim.
“Thankfully, he has the Supreme Liquid—wrapping his spirit, preserving his life, accelerating his recovery,” the Divine Striking Stone sighed.
The Supreme Liquid, obtained from the Spirit Realm, had been absorbed by Shi Hao after he reached the summit of the altar, where a stone bowl brimmed with luminous fluid.
Finally, Shi Hao revived, healed, and still refused to relent.
Two thousand nine hundred flames ignited, incinerating the heavens, illuminating the cosmos!
“What?! This time… he succeeded?!” the others exclaimed in shock.
A wisp of immortal energy emerged—pure, pristine, the fruit of the Great Dao, the embodiment of “The Dao begets One.” It manifested truly, encircling Shi Hao!
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