Chapter 843: The Hand Bones

Beyond the borders of the uninhabited region, at its very edge.

Someone was carving characters, one after another, names appearing on the petals of the Immortal Dao. Yet, there was no reaction whatsoever.

Clearly, the secrets of heaven had been obscured, preventing them from peering through. Those individuals were extraordinary, undergoing the deepest level of transformation, beyond the observation of the outside world.

“Ah, something’s happening! Ning Chuan is manifesting—has he emerged from seclusion?” someone exclaimed in astonishment.

A group of sect masters turned their gazes, all looking forward in unison.

As for the Heavenly Gods and True Gods among them, they were even more shaken, their eyes flashing as they stared at the massive, smooth stone stele, watching the gradually clearing figure.

Indeed, it was Ning Chuan. He stood there, shrouded in strands of chaotic mist, exuding an air of profound mystery.

That was an ancient cave, yet it bore the phenomena of chaos—undoubtedly a treasure land of astonishing significance.

“Another trial of life and death awaits. I will surely overcome it. But my stock of Demi-God Fruits and Sacred Herbs is dwindling. After this fusion, I must venture out,” Ning Chuan murmured to himself.

He stepped out of the ancient cave alone, strolling as if to adjust his emotions. Clearly, he had emerged from seclusion days ago, steadily refining his state.

Before long, he returned to the cave, sitting cross-legged, enveloped in chaotic energy.

“What is that?” The outside world was startled. Even separated by the Immortal Ancient, everyone felt a faint unease, sensing an inexplicable aura through the stone walls.

Even the sect masters trembled inwardly, knowing that Ning Chuan held something heaven-defying in his grasp.

Sure enough, the ancient wooden box was recognized, eliciting gasps from the great figures present.

“The World Tree! That box is carved from a portion of the World Tree’s heart—how extravagant!”

Such an artifact could aid enlightenment. Worn close for years, it would greatly benefit one’s cultivation. Every sect was shaken.

After all, such treasures were no longer found in this era. The World Tree had long been felled, its traces lost to time, yet it bore the imprints of the Great Dao.

Finally, the wooden box opened. A strange pressure seeped through the petals of the Immortal Dao, sending chills down everyone’s spines.

“Is that… a human hand bone?”

All were stunned. Never had they imagined that what Ning Chuan retrieved from the World Tree box was a bone—plain, devoid of luster, weathered by time.

That whiteness, worn by the ages, had lost its crystalline sheen, leaving only an ordinary pallor.

“It cannot be an ordinary human bone,” an elderly Heavenly God declared.

Everyone knew that Ning Chuan, the Six-Time Champion, was transcendent, aspiring to stand unrivaled through the ages. How could he wield a mere bone?

“I suspect this is an Immortal Bone!” an old sect master proclaimed.

The moment the words “True Immortal’s hand bone” were uttered, the earth quaked, and faces paled.

This was a peerless rarity, a legend lost to time, never to reappear. After all, the Immortal Ancient had long passed. In this era dominated by bone inscriptions, the value of that hand bone was unimaginable.

Ning Chuan bit his finger, letting a few drops of blood fall onto the dull bone. Instantly, it underwent a startling transformation.

It became pristine and crystalline, pulsing with life. Bone inscriptions intertwined across its surface, dense with symbols, radiating astonishing fluctuations.

“Heavens! That bone is extraordinary. The secrets of that Immortal may lie within those inscriptions. Unbelievable that it remains intact!”

All eyes widened in shock. Ning Chuan’s fortune was unimaginable, staggering in its magnitude.

A hand bone—a weapon of battle!

To leave behind such a relic left no one at ease.

Ning Chuan was serene, as though deeply familiar with the bone. Having nurtured it for untold years, he suddenly tore open his left hand and fused the bone within.

It was bizarre. The bone merged seamlessly with Ning Chuan’s own, emitting a gentle, sacred light.

Flesh and blood writhed, the wound healing swiftly.

“What is he doing?” Everyone was baffled.

Soon, his hand began to glow, bone inscriptions spreading up his arm, radiating divine brilliance that enveloped him.

The next moment, he vanished from the petals of the Immortal Dao, no longer visible on the stele.

“It feels as though he’s done this before, as if he’s merely retracing his steps. Is he trying to decipher those Immortal Dao inscriptions?”

“Astounding! This era is truly birthing heaven-defying figures. Even an Immortal’s battle hand bone exists, its inscriptions still alive!”

“I suspect he’ll emerge in a matter of days.”

The outside world was in turmoil, all shaken to the core.

—

In Radiant City, Shi Hao led his group straight into the Six-Time Champion’s residence, barging in without hesitation.

“Who are you? How dare you do this?” someone roared.

“I’m here to collect a debt. You enjoyed besieging us, didn’t you? Today, I’ll raze your mansion and see how you strut,” Lan Yichen retorted.

“Where is the Eight-Treasure Qilin?” An elder appeared like a ghost, blocking their path.

“A puppet—True God realm?” Luo Dao was surprised.

There were no First-Generation experts here; they were all in the mountains and marshes seeking their fortunes. Typically, they only returned periodically unless unforeseen events occurred.

Additionally, one or two experts had already departed for Silver Grind Mountain.

“I’ll handle this,” Shi Hao said coldly, stepping forward. With a flap of his Kun-Peng wings, golden clouds and mist surged, shaking Radiant City.

“And who are you?”

“The descendant of the so-called ‘Sinful Blood’ in your eyes,” Shi Hao replied icily.

Boom!

He threw a punch, unleashing a storm of divine power.

The elder, though not a living being, was close enough—controlled yet capable of speech and movement. At the True God realm, he activated a treasure art to counter.

Bang! Clang!

The clash was relentless, bone inscriptions intertwining in fierce combat.

To everyone’s shock, Shi Hao’s fists and palms struck true, shattering the True God puppet into pieces!

The crowd stood dumbfounded, gasping in unison. Who was this terrifying figure, annihilating a True God at the Divine Flame realm?

This caused an uproar!

“The Sinful Blood descendant is here—the one from Sin Province? So powerful!”

With a sweep of his Kun-Peng wings, Shi Hao sent those blocking his path flying, coughing blood. None of the Six-Time Champion’s men could halt his advance.

“This treasury is extraordinary, filled with treasures,” Shi Hao remarked, catching the scent of medicinal herbs before even opening it.

Boom!

He shattered the gates and strode in, bathed in dazzling light. The Six-Time Champion’s treasury was indeed astounding—piles of spirit herbs, rows of sacred herbs, and four or five radiant fruits.

“Eleven sacred herbs, five Demi-God Fruits—incredible!” Even Luo Dao couldn’t help exclaiming.

Sacred herbs were one thing—they could be found in the Immortal Ancient with effort. But Demi-God Fruits were far rarer, hidden in perilous lands, nearly impossible to obtain.

“Toiling for herbs is nothing compared to plundering,” Shi Hao said.

What could the others say? Who would dare rob the Six-Time Champion’s treasures? Only he, fearless to the point of madness, would dare.

“When will Ning Chuan emerge?” Shi Hao asked.

“My king will appear in a few days!” a strong voice declared, eyes cold and sharp.

Smack!

Shi Hao slapped the man away. “With that fanaticism, what expression will you wear when I chop him down like cabbage?”

He led his group away, heading for the next target.

Even daring to rob the Six-Time Champion’s treasures caused a sensation.

“Friend, stay a moment,” someone called from the street, drawing sidelong glances.

Word had spread—the Sinful Blood descendant had arrived, raiding the palaces of the Six-Time Champion and the Dark Body, looting freely. Who would dare approach him now?

“Who are you?”

“I am from Falling God Ridge. My master is the Falling God Child,” the middle-aged man said.

The onlookers paled. Falling God Ridge was a fearsome sect, one of the four demonic ancestral courts, renowned for its terror.

The Falling God Child was an ancient freak. Though he had only appeared once, he had claimed the title of “Number One Under Heaven,” slaying a Three-Time Champion and shaking the three thousand provinces.

“Hmm, the one who participated in the Great War of the Three Thousand Provinces millennia ago?” Shi Hao asked.

“Yes. In that single appearance, he killed a Three-Time Champion and a Two-Time Champion,” the man replied.

The Falling God Child was a legend among ancient freaks. As a newcomer, he had slain ancient kings—how terrifying!

This was a testament to the ruthless sifting of time—only the strongest remained. The weaker freaks had perished, leaving only the mightiest.

Shi Hao’s gaze turned icy. He recalled how two of his senior brothers had been humiliated and expelled from the Supreme Dao Field by the previous “Number One Under Heaven.”

“It seems you—and the Falling God Child—know little about me,” Shi Hao said meaningfully.

“My master enjoys befriending heroes. An alliance could be formed,” the man said.

“Where is your master’s residence? Take me there,” Shi Hao demanded.

“I’ve only just arrived in Radiant City. My master’s residence hasn’t been established yet. It was in another city before,” the man explained.

“Come find me when it’s built and the spoils are sufficient,” Shi Hao said, turning away.

“Uh…” The man was speechless.

“Run! A demon king has arrived—the Sinful Blood descendant, suspected to be Huang, is looting treasuries!”

Radiant City descended into chaos. Everyone fled, fearing Shi Hao’s approach.

He was exasperated. The commotion had grown too large. After plundering a few mansions, the entire city was alerted. By the time he reached others, many were already empty.

“Don’t panic. I’m only settling scores with those who stole my Eight-Treasure Qilin,” Shi Hao announced. The result? Even more people fled.

Speechless, he turned to Luo Dao and Lan Yichen.

Luo Dao shrugged helplessly. “It was chaos. The whole city came after us.”

“These sacred herbs and Demi-God Fruits aren’t enough. I need divine herbs to forge an unprecedented path,” Shi Hao muttered.

Frowning, he asked Lan Yichen about recent sightings of rare herbs, planning his next expedition.

“There’s one place—rumored to be the nest of one of the Ten Fiends. Many have ventured there, lured by the scent of divine herbs, but none have found them. Countless have died.”

“What kind of nest?” Shi Hao asked.

“It resembles an anthill, but it’s not. It’s believed to be the seclusion site of the strongest among the Ten Fiends—perhaps the mightiest being in history.”

Shi Hao’s interest was piqued. “Let’s go. I want to see what divine herbs—or even immortality herbs—this powerhouse left behind.”

“The Six-Time Champion is about to emerge,” Lan Yichen said with concern.

“So what if he comes? I’ll cut him down,” Shi Hao replied nonchalantly.