Chapter 697: The Changing of the Heavens

“Demon Xi!” Shi Hao said, offering this name and telling her not to be too polite—it was just a small favor.

Yun Xi was startled, her flawless, jade-like face showing a hint of unease. Her crimson lips parted slightly as she found it rather peculiar—this person’s name was so similar to hers.

“The young demon lord, Huang—so formidable! Could this turmoil truly be because of him?”

Others were still discussing. Regardless of anything else, his feats alone—slaying a first-generation prodigy and defeating the inheritor of the Immortal Palace—were enough to cause a sensation.

Such a person was destined to rise in the Upper Realm, becoming a storm-summoning prodigy!

Many believed this calamity was connected to him.

“Who knows what those two golden pages are? Even Heavenly Deities covet them—they must be priceless treasures.”

“Let’s not even think about them. That ruthless one who kills first-generation prodigies without hesitation will one day stir the winds and clouds of the Upper Realm. Even now, he’s already shaken dozens of provinces.”

Shi Hao listened quietly. He hadn’t expected the repercussions to be so vast, spreading so widely.

Along the journey, the powerful were tense. No one knew what would happen next. They had already ventured deep into the Bloody Plains, where faint glyphic lights could still be seen rising from the distant horizon.

This was the power of a Heavenly Deity—once they acted, mountains crumbled and seas roared, accompanied by all manner of celestial phenomena.

“A silver-robed figure, covering the sky with a single hand, suppressing tens of thousands of experts—truly terrifying,” Shi Hao murmured with a sigh.

“Because he is a Heavenly Deity, his cultivation defies nature. He stands above all, looking down upon mortals,” Yun Xi said.

Heavenly Deities—such mighty beings usually remained in seclusion, rarely interfering in worldly affairs. They pursued the Dao of immortality, seeking the path to eternal life.

The Bloody Plains were vast, spanning hundreds of thousands of miles. Even though they had reached the deepest regions, there was still a long journey ahead.

Days later, they saw a massive city built from crimson boulders, towering and weathered by time, standing on the horizon.

This plain held twelve such cities, each controlled by one of the Twelve Demon Kings—the very ones who maintained the “Void Sealing” grand formation, locking down the entire plain.

Whoever could influence them, compelling the Twelve Demon Kings to make such a decision, was undoubtedly terrifying, with an astonishing background.

“Are you entering the city?” Yun Xi asked.

Shi Hao nodded. He thought staying here for a while might be safer—otherwise, he might be targeted again on the road.

“I’ll enter as well,” Yun Xi said. She sensed the dread of this storm—it wouldn’t end so easily. The road ahead was likely fraught with danger.

In this city, many chose to press onward without stopping, eager to leave the Bloody Plains. Others, trembling with fear, decided to stay long-term.

Days later, Shi Hao set out again, having heard news that the Heavenly Deities’ battle had ended in mutual defeat.

Even so, the group remained cautious as they left the city. During this time, the price of mercenaries had skyrocketed—no one wanted to take unnecessary risks.

Fortunately, the next half-month passed relatively peacefully, with no dangers arising.

The hundreds of thousands of miles of the Bloody Plains, sealed by the grand formation, made even flight difficult. Thus, they still hadn’t left, and it would take more time.

“You seem familiar to me,” Yun Xi said, looking at the youth beside her. After traveling together, they were now somewhat acquainted.

“Have we met before?” Shi Hao feigned surprise, claiming to be from Demon Province, having trained in seclusion with his master and rarely venturing out.

“After spending so much time together, I feel like I’ve seen you before,” Yun Xi mused, shaking her head. Her hair cascaded like a waterfall. Though she hadn’t revealed her true appearance, she was still strikingly beautiful.

Shi Hao felt uneasy—Yun Xi’s intuition was extraordinary. He worried that continuing like this might lead to his recognition.

“Are you here to train? The grand gathering of geniuses across the three thousand provinces will begin soon. Do you plan to join?” Yun Xi asked, her large eyes lively.

Shi Hao nodded. “Cultivating in the mountains lacks real experience. My master sent me out to temper myself. Besides, how could I miss such an event—one that the entire world awaits, destined to shake the Upper Realm?”

Along the way, Shi Hao encountered rogue cultivators and mercenaries roaming the Bloody Plains.

This was an ancient battlefield. Legend said the land was dyed red with divine blood, burying countless lives—including some taboo figures.

The so-called “Land of Chaos” was no mere saying. Once, demons ran rampant, and battles raged endlessly.

Because of this, nourished by blood and yin energy, the land grew a rare treasure—the Blood Soul Grass, which could strengthen one’s soul.

Thus, despite the danger—some areas perpetually shrouded in yin mist, haunted by ghosts—many cultivators still came to search for and harvest this precious herb.

Relatively speaking, those heading to Heaven Province took safer routes, avoiding the terrifying battlefield ruins. They encountered no sinister occurrences.

“Just a hundred thousand miles more, and we’ll reach Heaven Province. Let’s hope nothing goes wrong. My old heart can’t take it—being ambushed by a Heavenly Deity in my lifetime,” a ragged old man in black feather robes croaked, his voice hoarse like a duck’s.

“Old Crow, don’t jinx it! Your kind is practically a harbinger of doom—whatever you say seems to happen,” someone nervously joked.

“How could—” The old man’s words froze as he stared into the distance.

The others stiffened, their hearts pounding. A terrifying figure was approaching rapidly, its presence overwhelming.

The creature flew low, its mere passage causing the earth to split, fissures spreading beneath it. A hurricane twisted the sky in its wake.

Before the sound reached them, the being had already arrived—its oppressive aura suffocating.

It halted abruptly, but the hurricane continued, sweeping forward. Many screamed as they were lifted into the air, torn apart, and reduced to bloody mist.

The fissures in the ground spread, all caused by its flight. Only then did the thunderous roar reach them, shaking heaven and earth.

A Heavenly Deity!

Clearly, another Heavenly Deity had descended—one even more terrifying than the last.

This was a bizarre being with three heads. The central head was a beautiful woman with golden hair. The left shoulder bore a black bull’s head, its horns dark as night. The right shoulder held a silver elephant’s head, its trunk crackling with lightning.

Though grotesque, this Heavenly Deity was stronger than the silver-robed one, its aura distorting space and cracking the earth.

Just its flight had sent nearly a thousand people flying, exploding midair—such was its horrifying power.

“How amusing. You evaded the silver-robed one, hiding in this group. But this time, luck won’t save you,” the central head spoke, golden hair glowing.

“Esteemed one, this has nothing to do with us! Spare us!”

“Heavenly Deity, we don’t know who you seek, but we’ll gladly assist!”

Terrified, many pleaded, not wanting a repeat of the silver-robed Heavenly Deity’s massacre.

This one was just as dreadful—its mere arrival had killed a thousand. Who dared oppose it?

“I seek the youth of the Celestial Clan,” the being said coldly.

Shi Hao sighed inwardly. So, it was after Yun Xi and her kin.

Many were stunned. The Celestial Clan?

The Celestial Clan was fearsome. Once ranked among the ten mightiest lineages, they had dominated the Upper Realm, standing as one of the true “Imperial Clans” of the three thousand provinces.

Of course, that was in the ancient past. Only the top few clans could claim the titles of Emperor or Imperial.

Now, though no longer at their peak, the Celestial Clan remained formidable, with deep reserves of power. Few dared provoke them—rumors said an ancient Celestial still lived among them, a relic from their golden age, capable of intimidating the entire realm!

That ancient one had witnessed the clan’s imperial glory—a living fossil.

“The Celestial Clan, ascending from mortals to celestials—do they seek to reclaim their ancient splendor? Not this time!” the Heavenly Deity’s voice was icy.

The crowd trembled, recalling a legend.

The Celestial Clan earned its name because, at their peak, they could “ascend from mortals to celestials,” achieving the ultimate evolution of life.

But how many had truly accomplished this?

In ancient times, during their imperial reign, six such individuals had emerged, allowing them to dominate all.

Normally, even one such figure per era was rare. That time, however, something extraordinary had happened.

A group of their most gifted youths had entered a special place, obtaining six “Fate Stones.” These allowed six to reach the pinnacle, forging the clan’s myth of invincibility.

Now, the Heavenly Deity’s words hinted—had the clan rediscovered that ancient place?

“This era, such glory won’t repeat. Even if they’ve found that land again and obtained Fate Stones, they won’t evolve!”

The Heavenly Deity’s declaration sent shivers through the crowd.

So, the legend was true. The Celestial Clan had sought the Fate Stones once more, aiming to create new paragons.

The so-called “Heaven’s Change” was tied to this.

For the Celestial Clan, it meant reclaiming their imperial legacy.

For their enemies, it meant stopping them at all costs—hence the upheaval.