Shi Hao remained on guard. Though his curiosity was piqued, he couldn’t afford to let his guard down, given their past conflicts.
The ancient tree, now charred and withered, exuded an aura of timeless antiquity. It was impossible to tell how many years it had lived, but it harbored no hostility as it conversed with Shi Hao.
“Enough talk,” sneered the nearby Azure-Scaled Eagle, casting a cold glance their way, its gaze fixed unwaveringly on Shi Hao.
“Adults are speaking. Run along, child,” the Netherworld Blood Ghost Tree rumbled.
“Are you speaking to me?” The Azure-Scaled Eagle’s body shimmered with an eerie glow, its metallic scales gleaming coldly as its eyes widened with murderous intent.
It had every reason to be arrogant—it had surpassed the Divine Flame Realm and was one of the strongest deities in this secret realm!
The Netherworld Blood Ghost Tree’s aura surged violently. It was no pushover; its obscurity in the secret realm was only because it had been sealed within a grand formation, hidden from the world.
**Crack!**
A black branch lashed out like a divine whip, engulfed in dark radiance and accompanied by deafening thunder.
The Azure-Scaled Eagle paled. It had never encountered this tree before. As one of the rulers of this secret realm, it had assumed that any outsiders would at most be at the Divine Flame Realm.
“Roar—!” It bellowed, unleashing a desperate strike. Emerald glyphs erupted as its talons tore through the sky to meet the branch.
**Splat!**
A sickening sound followed as the razor-sharp talon was instantly pulverized, severed and dripping with blood.
A casual strike from the Netherworld Blood Ghost Tree had severed one of its limbs. The Azure-Scaled Eagle was stunned, then terrified. What kind of being was this? How had it entered, surpassing the secret realm’s power limits?
“Ribbit!”
The nearby golden toad was equally frightened. This ancient tree was terrifyingly powerful, effortlessly wounding the Azure-Scaled Eagle. What realm was it in?
Both the Azure-Scaled Eagle and the golden toad were sent flying, not daring to approach.
Shi Hao’s hair stood on end. Had this tree not been weakened by a curse and just awakened, it could have easily killed him.
“Relax, I mean no harm. Let’s talk properly,” the Netherworld Blood Ghost Tree said.
Inside the light gate, some first-generation elites who had chased Shi Hao out were stunned by the scene and hastily retreated. Others, unaware of the situation, charged forward and attacked.
**Thud! Thud!**
A purple Heavenly Centipede’s divine flame was extinguished, its body smashed to pieces. Another first-generation elite screamed, transforming into a rain of light that fled toward the secret realm’s exit altar.
“After sealing myself for so long, my power is only slowly recovering. I didn’t mean to kill them—I just lost control,” the Netherworld Blood Ghost Tree explained.
The crowd was speechless. This entity clearly had no qualms about killing.
“I believe you,” Shi Hao nodded, not calling it out.
Legends said this tree contained demonic blood, capable of transforming into either a tree or a humanoid ghost deity. Rare and terrifying, it was found only in the deepest, most desolate regions.
“Where were we?” the Ghost Tree asked.
“You said we were fated, and mentioned this armor…” Shi Hao reminded.
“Back then, I was just a seed, born in the crevices of the armor you wear. I only had a sliver of consciousness,” the tree explained.
Shi Hao was dumbfounded. How many tens of thousands of years had this ancient tree lived?
This armor was an artifact from the ancient era, brought out of the desolate lands by the Primordial Heaven Supreme. How much time had passed since then?
“Our seeds take an eternity to sprout. I spent ages in this secret realm accumulating strength before taking root,” the tree continued. Back then, it had only a faint awareness, knowing it had been taken from the forbidden zone but little else.
It inherited only its race’s innate divine abilities, knowing almost nothing about the forbidden zone’s secrets.
Back then, it had drifted on the wind as a seed, landing in the armor’s crevice. The Primordial Heaven Supreme noticed its rarity and brought it back.
“This is unbelievable…” Shi Hao muttered.
“I’m telling you this because the armor once carried me. Call it fate. Ordinary people can’t wear it, but since you can, I won’t hold our past grudges against you,” the tree declared.
Shi Hao exhaled in relief. The other party was far stronger—letting bygones be bygones was for the best.
“However, since we’re fated, you must help me with something. I’m very interested in the immortal aura within the river water in your alchemy furnace. Help me refine some to remove the curse.”
The Great Demonic God’s expression darkened instantly—the furnace held secrets, including two golden pages.
Shi Hao hesitated, but the tree chuckled. “Did you obtain another golden page of the Thunder Emperor?”
With a sigh, Shi Hao realized there was no escape.
“You took one of my golden pages. Now let me see the other, and we’ll be even,” the tree said.
It knew what lay within. Over the ages, it had entered before but was suppressed, unable to move the meditation mat. Now, its gaze burned with intensity.
As a being that could shift between ghost and tree forms, its trunk manifested eyes.
“Fine,” Shi Hao agreed after some thought. The Netherworld Blood Ghost Tree was better as a friend than an enemy.
“I won’t take the scripture for free. I’ll grant you a boon in return,” the tree said.
“What boon?” Shi Hao asked.
“I’ll guide you safely out of this secret realm,” it replied, smiling. It knew this youth had slain many rivals—exiting would mean facing a blockade.
“I wasn’t planning to leave,” Shi Hao muttered. He and the Great Demonic God had agreed: the secret realm was rich in resources, a perfect cultivation ground.
Leaving meant danger. The sect masters at the exit would surely inspect him, exposing his true identity and sealing his fate.
“You want to stay?” the tree asked, surprised.
Shi Hao shrugged. “This place is brimming with treasures, far surpassing the outside world. Why leave? I’ll break through here and exit only when I’m strong enough to face anyone.”
“This realm suppresses beings, making it impossible to surpass the Divine Flame Realm. Every century, a great tribution strikes down those who accidentally exceed it. The rules are merciless.”
Shi Hao’s face fell. To protect the secret realm, its laws strictly limited power levels.
“Then how did you…?”
“I survived because the Primordial Heaven Supreme planted me here. I also cheated fate by sealing myself in a formation, merging with the Lightning Ape’s remains to evade the rules. Do you plan to do the same?”
The Great Demonic God and Shi Hao exchanged grave looks—their original plan was crumbling.
“With your talents, clinging to that Dragon Ape might let you endure, but it’d be miserable,” the tree chuckled.
Over the years, it had thoroughly explored the secret realm. Compared to the golden toad and Azure-Scaled Eagle, it was a true ancient terror.
Recently, it had discovered an unstable spatial node—a potential escape route from this prison-like realm.
“What a pity!” Shi Hao lamented. He truly wished to stay—where else could he find such a cultivation paradise?
“Hey, do you all think this old man is harmless?” The Netherworld Blood Ghost Tree glared at the onlookers. “Lurking and scheming right under my nose—do I not exist?”
**Whoosh!**
A branch swept out. The Azure-Scaled Eagle shrieked as another limb was severed, blood raining down. The golden toad’s belly was pierced, sending it fleeing in terror.
“Fresh dragon meat!” Shi Hao cheerfully collected the two severed limbs.
“And you…” The tree turned to the pursuers from the inheritance site.
**Thud! Thud!**
Blood sprayed as several secret realm natives were impaled, while outsiders were slain, their life talismans activating to resurrect them outside.
In moments, the area was nearly cleared!
The Lunar Grace Goddess’s heart pounded as she squeaked, “We’re on your side!”
But she didn’t dare approach, her ruby-like eyes wide before she bolted. This monstrous tree was too terrifying for a little rabbit.
“Finally, peace.”
Shi Hao reluctantly retrieved his alchemy furnace, refining part of the heavenly river for the tree. The curse within was deadly to the powerful—the stronger one was, the greater the danger.
The tree was satisfied, savoring the immortal thunder aura in silence. Then it noticed the yellow mud in the furnace and shuddered.
“Just traces of the real thing, not the actual Yellow Mud,” it sighed in relief, having been momentarily terrified.
Shi Hao’s eyes gleamed. “What is the real Yellow Mud?” Even upper realm giants melted instantly upon contact in the forbidden zones.
“I don’t know much. Legends say it’s a relic from the Immortal Ancient Era—untouchable,” the tree said gravely.
Shi Hao was shocked. “What kind of era was that?”
“One of glory and immortality,” the Ghost Tree mused, shaking its head. As a seed back then, it only overheard the Primordial Heaven Supreme’s words to the Lightning Ape.
“Divine Dao, Immortal Dao…”
Shi Hao murmured. There were indeed great secrets. Nowadays, only the Divine Dao was discussed, but the distant past always circled back to the Immortal Dao.
Next, the Netherworld Blood Ghost Tree, the Great Demonic God, and Shi Hao studied the Thunder Emperor’s scripture, memorizing the golden page’s contents.
This supreme art would invite catastrophe if revealed—every ancient sect would covet it.
After what felt like an eternity, the tree finally looked up. Memorizing the glyphs was one thing; comprehending them would take far longer.
“Done. I’ve kept my word,” Shi Hao said.
“Then I’ll guide you out,” the tree replied.
“Wait. Let’s stay and see who takes the cyan bone book,” Shi Hao said coldly. After being besieged, he wanted payback.
“That bone book can’t be taken—it can only be studied here,” the tree said, shaking its head.
Shi Hao was stunned.
“Let’s be content. We’ve obtained the Thunder Emperor’s supreme art and insights from the cyan bone book. It’s time to leave,” the Great Demonic God said wisely.
The tree agreed. “The spatial node is unstable. It’ll vanish soon—we must hurry.”
“Lucky them,” Shi Hao grumbled.
Traveling east, they found the node near the secret realm’s exit, alarming Shi Hao. Wouldn’t they be caught leaving?
“Relax. Exiting through the node could land you millions of miles away, even across regions. Spatial passages are unpredictable,” the tree assured.
Passing the exit, Shi Hao paused, glimpsing the altar and hearing outside voices.
“Heavens! More have died. The battle for the inheritance has reached its peak!”
“The young demon king obtained a golden page and left the ancient hall? What fortune! But how will he exit the secret realm?”
Outside, the crowd buzzed.
The sect masters remained calm, but their eyes gleamed. Whoever possessed the golden page and cyan bone book would have to pass their inspection.
Especially if the young demon king—Fang—was a lone cultivator with no powerful sect backing him. In that case, the golden page wouldn’t leave with him.
“Outrageous! He allied with an ancient tree to harm our elites? Let’s see how he exits. I’ll demand answers!” a golden-robed crone from the Golden Luan Clan snapped.
Her clan’s first-generation prodigy had been slain by Shi Hao, infuriating her.
“Hey, old hag, talking about me?” Shi Hao, clad in tattered armor, waved brazenly from a safe distance.
“Hmm?” The crone’s eyes shot golden beams.
She had sensed his presence, but the secret realm suppressed her divine sense, limiting her perception.
“It’s him—the young demon king, Fang!”
“By the heavens! He dares provoke a sect master? Who does he think he is?”
Chaos erupted outside.
“Young man, you’re too arrogant. Remember, you must exit eventually,” Qin Changsheng said coolly.
The Fire Devil Palace’s members seethed—this youth had humiliated them.
The Heavenly Nation’s Radiant Angel hid in the crowd, considering sneaking in to assassinate Shi Hao.
The Netherworld, Sun God Vine, Black Orchid, True Roar, and Sacred Feather clans all glared murderously.
Standing there, Shi Hao became the center of hatred, drawing hostile gazes from all directions.
“Ah, everyone’s staring. Am I that dazzling? The sole focus of the world?” Shi Hao preened.
Many faces darkened, teeth grinding audibly.
“Youth knows no bounds. Let’s see how you exit!” the Golden Luan crone spat.
A sect master snorted coldly.
“Who said I’m leaving? This place is great—I’m staying!” Shi Hao declared, unbothered by their status.
“I’ll kill him!”
“Me too!”
A group surged forward—Fire Devil Palace, Netherworld, Golden Luan, and even Imperishable Mountain members.
“Come at me! I’ll wipe you all out!” Shi Hao taunted.
“Kill him!”
Finally, a group of powerful beings charged in, their strength suppressed but still formidable.
“Annihilate them all!” Shi Hao shouted.
The Netherworld Blood Ghost Tree struck! As the only being unbound by the realm’s rules, its power was terrifying.
**Splat!**
Blood sprayed as the group was obliterated, shocking the outside world.
The sect masters’ hearts raced. A being unbound by the rules? It must be connected to the Primordial Heaven Supreme!
“Well? Anyone else? Come on in!” Shi Hao grinned cheekily.
Silence. The crowd was cowed.
“In that case, I’ll cultivate now. See you in five thousand years at the next secret realm opening!” Shi Hao waved and turned.
“Damn you!”
“Bastard, I’ll kill you!”
Curses erupted behind him.
“Keep shouting, and I’ll hunt down your disciples inside!” Shi Hao threatened.
The rage intensified.
But Shi Hao had no time to waste. Following the Netherworld Blood Ghost Tree, they raced toward the spatial node.
Finally, with a soft hum, they stepped into the strange space and left the secret realm behind.
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