Chapter 539: Unfulfilled Wish

The War of Divine Ascension Shall Begin!

Within these few days, everything will come to an end. A hollow feeling settled in Shi Hao’s heart. From now on, he could only wish Willow God well from afar. Whether this departure would become a final farewell, none could tell.

“Chi La!”

Lightning split the heavens, thunder rolled across the skies, golden serpents danced wildly amidst the dark clouds, and vague figures of gods and demons emerged. Their massive forms exuded an overwhelming aura, ready to cross realms.

Little Tower felt suspicious and, with a swift “Xiu,” shot into the sky, gazing toward the far horizon.

“I thought they were summoning ten thousand celestial warriors for a grand confrontation. I didn’t expect them to go even further than I imagined.”

Appearing above the imperial palace, Little Tower radiated a cold chill. It understood what was transpiring.

Powerful beings were approaching—none ordinary. Yet most were heroic spirits summoned from the Netherworld, preparing for war as they scoured the Huang Domain for treasures of fate.

This “Netherworld” referred to ancient battlefields where excessive yin energy caused heroic spirits to congregate, unyielding to dissolution and forming their own dwelling places.

Even in the Upper Realm, certain regions of the Netherworld were overflowing with yin energy, abnormally wicked, rumored to be nearly evolving into a realm of reincarnation.

At the far edge of the sky, lightning crackled—proof that someone had opened a gate to the Netherworld, summoning countless spirits to invade Huang Domain, seeking those rare treasures of fate.

To the beings of the Lower Realm, this was an immense catastrophe!

If the Netherworld’s gate remained open for many days, unimaginable numbers of heroic spirits would pour into Huang Domain. When that moment arrived, calamity would consume all, cloaked in yin energy until even life itself withered away.

“Who is responsible for this? Has another faction joined? Could it be one of the Chaos Corpses from the Netherworld?” Little Tower’s expression grew serious.

Shi Hao was astonished. To achieve the form of a Chaos Corpse was terrifying merely by name, undeniably indicating an extremely formidable being.

“Is this merely a test?” asked Willow God. The final battle was about to commence, no more than five days away. All sides were beginning to move and prepare.

“Xiu!”

A streak of light burst forth—a glowing green willow branch, rushing straight into the sky, transforming into a radiant rainbow piercing through that region.

The dark clouds tore apart. Numerous lightning bolts were dispelled as a crystalline willow branch pierced through the rift.

A series of howls rang out. Powerful beings attempting to cross realms were instantly skewered by the tender green branch, pierced one after another until strung together like beads.

Shi Hao watched in stunned silence, clearly feeling the terrifying strength of those beings—yet in the span of a single breath, they were all pinned midair by Willow God.

“Roar!”

An enraged roar echoed from the rift. A golden giant, mounting a war chariot and wielding a battle axe, resembling a sky-roaming divine king, charged forward, aiming to sever the branch.

“Chi!” A burst of golden light emanated from Willow God’s emerald branch. Every leaf and budding sprout gleamed with golden radiance, instantly slaying the assailant and impaling it within the spatial rift.

Thunder rumbled across the sky. Scarlet lightning erupted with rolling dark clouds, as a suffocating yin energy descended like a tidal wave.

“Truly, a Chaos Corpse?” Little Tower’s expression turned grave.

This was an unrivaled master of the Netherworld, descending into the Lower Realm. More terrifying beings were joining, boding no good. The upcoming battle might become even fiercer.

Willow God’s branch fully transformed into gold, its buds swelling with golden lightning radiating mighty yang energy, clashing against the oppressive yin aura.

Unlike its usual form brimming with vitality, this transformation surged with pure yang energy—the natural nemesis of yin spirits.

“Hong!”

The dark clouds dispersed, the spatial rupture expanding wider. The golden branch collided with a Chaos-veiled hand, unleashing unparalleled waves of energy.

Eventually, countless heroic spirits screeched in pain, their yin energy rolling and retreating in waves. Those too slow to retreat were obliterated by golden lightning, dissipating into the void.

Each golden bud on the branch radiated light, blending life force, yang energy, and thunder essence into a blinding, purifying brilliance.

The ChaosCorpse’s hand continuously struck out in fury, leaving behind several silvery blood droplets before ultimately retreating.

Shi Hao felt a chill down his spine. The brief skirmish had occurred in the blink of an eye, a flash of speed that left one barely able to react, yet brimming with peril—the Testing the Waters of titanic forces.

Had it not been for Willow God’s golden branch driving the foe back, unimaginable consequences might have unfolded—heroic spirits filling the skies with wailing ghosts and gods.

Though the battle seemed brief and swift, its danger was immense—a clash across realms between colossal powers.

“Willow God, might this become a bigger problem?” Shi Hao worried. With new titans joining, could Willow God handle it all?

“No matter. These beings harbor old grudges among themselves. Arriving here seeking treasures of fate, they remain wary of one another,” Willow God replied calmly.

“In the final battle, I shall assist in reclaiming the upper sections of the tower,” Little Tower added.

Indeed, as the final confrontation loomed, many matters demanded resolution, and Little Tower was deeply entangled. It was no wonder it had allied with that undying being.

“I shall assist,” Willow God affirmed.

Pleased, Little Tower exhaled chaotic mist.

Later, Shi Hao overheard fragments of conversation between them and was amazed to learn that Willow God might unleash tremendous might in this war—because someone in the Upper Realm had destroyed one of its divine realms.

Shi Hao understood that while Willow God held an aloof demeanor, once it made a decision, it would act decisively and with unyielding force.

“The Primordial Gate is mysterious. Those who step inside bleed forth only blood. This time, I shall grant it its wish, sending in two individuals first as a trial,” Willow God stated.

Its words were calm, yet a terrifying bolt of lightning streaked across the heavens, shaking the ninefold skies. It was as if the cosmos itself had responded!

Shi Hao was stunned. Willow God intended to settle an old karmic debt, and its strike would shake the heavens and the earth alike. Was this a sacrifice to the Primordial Gate? Someone was doomed!

“When will you ascend to the Upper Realm?” Little Tower asked, offering to assist before its departure.

Shi Hao hesitated. He had too many attachments to this world and many unfinished matters. He wasn’t ready to leave yet.

“After this war, will the connection between realms be severed forever, meaning no return?” Shi Hao asked.

“Not necessarily. There are still a few paths leading upward. I believe you shall find a way. However, those from the Upper Realm finding a way down will become nearly impossible,” Little Tower replied.

Shi Hao listened intently, questioning further.

He had not yet made preparations for his ascension; he did not wish to rush away in mere days. He longed to settle his affairs—such as the succession of Stone Kingdom and the fate of Stone Village.

The dark clouds scattered, sunlight shining brightly upon a clear sky, the yang energy vibrant, as if nothing had ever occurred.

Before the two forbidden existences departed, Shi Hao earnestly sought their guidance, asking about cultivation and other unresolved mysteries.

He retrieved two bones—white and luminous. When joined, they matched the texture of the Primordial True Scripture. Yet one corner remained missing.

“One was obtained in Stone City, the other discovered in the treasure vault of the Ageless Mountains. Could this be the Transcendence Chapter?”

Willow God examined them and shook its head. “You once asked me why, despite completing the Primordial Scripture, you felt no true manifestation of the divine power described in the ‘Shen Yin’ chapter. The answer lies here.”

Shi Hao had indeed questioned this before. Though the Primordial Scripture was revered by the titans of the Upper Realm and some who had studied the ‘Shen Yin’ chapter, he had only felt minor miraculous effects, far from the legendary divine might. Willow God had hinted he would one day understand.

“The ‘Shen Yin’ chapter of the Primordial Scripture consists of two parts. One part you possess. The other is the ‘Ten Thousand Beings’ Chart,’ said to be inscribed upon the shattered heavenly bone,” Willow God explained.

In truth, possessing the first piece was sufficient for a master cultivator to grasp its deeper essence naturally. Though Shi Hao’s talent was extraordinary, his cultivation was still too shallow to fully comprehend its mysteries. This explained why each meditation still brought him new insights.

“The ‘Ten Thousand Beings’ Chart?” Shi Hao’s eyes lit up with hope.

“You may find it. But even if you fail, you shall one day grasp its secrets upon reaching the appropriate cultivation stage,” Willow God added.

The next day, news arrived—the spatial rifts had opened across other regions. Mighty beings descended, especially from the Xuan Domain. Tens of thousands of celestial warriors had descended.

They dared not use the Huang Domain path and thus entered from other realms.

No massive hordes of spirits emerged, so Willow God refrained from intervening.

A blue crane soared into the imperial city, radiating powerful glyph fluctuations. The city was protected by arrays, forbidding reckless intrusion. An immediate warning was issued.

A servant dismounted, delivering a letter requesting an audience with Emperor Shi.

After reading its contents, Shi Hao was surprised—Mubu, Lanyu, Honghuang, and others had invited him to a gathering. The letter mentioned that besides them, elites from eight domains would also attend.

“An opportunity to ascend to the Upper Realm?” Shi Hao shook his head. Though the letter hinted at such, he had no need for it now.

Though this gathering would bring together prodigies from the eight domains and beyond, its timing was too sensitive. He had no intention of wandering off.

The letter also mentioned that Lanyu and Shuimoon were preparing to return, desiring a final reunion. Shi Hao’s expression turned strange. To his surprise, the guest list included Yuechan the Fairy. What would happen if they met? Would they clash? Even more surprisingly, the infamous Witch was among the attendees.

“People from the White Deer Academy are involved—neutral forces. Perhaps they admire your talent and wish to introduce you to the Upper Realm,” Little Tower commented, having encountered these individuals and discerning some of their origins.

“If you wish to go, what place is beyond reach?” Willow God remarked.

Shi Hao shook his head. “I shan’t go.”

He thought of another matter and turned to Willow God. “Willow God, I wish to ask for your help.”

He had carried a lingering sorrow deep in his heart ever since his days at the Heavenly Restoration Pavilion, watching it fall without the power to intervene.

He remembered Patriarch Muyan, who taught him thunder techniques, and the elders Zhuoyun and Xiongfei, who would glare and scold him. He remembered the younger seniors and sisters who had fought to protect the younger disciples, spilling their blood on that battlefield, their bodies strewn across the pavilion ruins, refusing to retreat.

“Are you searching for that Calabashseed?” Willow God understood his thoughts.

“Exactly!”

Soon, glyph energy surged as a spatial passage opened. Willow God brought him to a mountain range, where a vine grew amidst thorns, its emerald glow brimming with vitality.

As another plant-based lifeform with godly power, Willow God had naturally deduced the seed’s location from the ruins of the pavilion.

In those final days, the guardian spirit of the Pavilion had drained its life in a last stand, ensuring the preservation of its legacy.

The Calabashseed, born from the sacred vine, had flown into the sky.

Seeing this young divine vine, Shi Hao felt tears welling up. Memories of old surfaced—the ancient vine sacrificing itself to protect the Pavilion until its final breath for a simple promise.

“Wherever your roots take hold, there the Pavilion shall rise again. The physical gate may fall, but the legacy shall endure forever!”

On that final day, someone had cried out in anguish, a roar that shook heaven and earth. Those were words that returned to Shi Hao’s mind now, tugging painfully at his heart.

A formation was established, wrapped in chaotic mist, as the Calabashvine swayed gently, appearing to express gratitude toward Shi Hao.

Finally, Willow God carried Shi Hao into the skies.

Three days later, the heavens turned crimson, as if the end of the world had arrived. Even the common folk could see the omen—the War of Divine Ascension had begun!