Emperor Longqing hovered amid the thick mist, the "ka-ka" sound of fog gnawing at his barrier echoing around him. He did not act rashly but watched cautiously as a ship loomed closer through the swirling haze.
"Fellow Daoist!"
"We are cultivators of the Nine Heavens Sect!"
"State your name and origins at once!"
Rays of golden light tore through the fog like curtains parting. A spirit ship drifted into view, and several sword cultivators stood upon it.
"The old man's surname is Xu, given name Liao," Emperor Longqing replied evenly. "A mortal rogue cultivator from Daqing. I heard that the gates to the Immortal Realm have opened recently, so I came seeking the Dao. What business do you have with me, fellow Daoists?"
"Xu Liao?"
The leading sword cultivator barked sharply, voice cold and stern. "Gui Qi! Tear off your human-skin mask!"
Gui Qi?
Emperor Longqing froze for a moment, then realization dawned.
So that scabby-headed Zhang had recognized him and brought these immortals here to kill him!
No—that couldn't be.
He had used the Art of Disguise, and even the Dragon Abyss Sword had been altered in appearance. How could that scabby-headed bastard have possibly recognized him?
"Fellow Daoists," Emperor Longqing said calmly, "I am not this Gui Qi you speak of. I truly am just a seeker of immortality."
"Save your lies!"
The leading sword cultivator drew two fingers across his eyes, releasing twin beams of violet light. They flared once, and the illusion covering Emperor Longqing's face dissolved in an instant.
"As expected—he changed his appearance! Bring him back to the Disciplinary Hall for interrogation!"
This was Southern Xu territory.
If he were captured here, how could he possibly escape afterward?
"Fellow Daoists," Emperor Longqing said after a pause, "perhaps you should reconsider. For your own sakes, too—leave yourselves a way to live."
"Arrogant!"
"Take him down!"
"Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!"
Five or six sword cultivators formed seals and chanted. Spiritual light surged around them like a raging sea.
In the endless waves beneath the dark sky, amid fog thick enough to blot out heaven, Emperor Longqing floated silently.
Then the Dragon Abyss Sword flashed—its golden light cleaved through the sea itself.
The waters erupted.
—
Nanling Town.
"Quick!"
"There's a fight at sea!"
"It's Gui Qi!"
"Go! Capture him!"
In the skies, dense clusters of cultivators took flight, rushing toward the sea. Within moments, the outer perimeter guards were left nearly empty.
"Move," Chen Sanshi ordered.
He led Ningxiang and Zhaozhao along a narrow mountain path, moving swiftly through the shadows.
He had been fretting over how to get out of here—and now, the old emperor had delivered the perfect distraction.
If the emperor died here, all the better. If not—well, it didn't matter.
Along the forested path ahead, there had originally been five or six cultivators checking travelers. Now, only one remained, glancing about nervously.
"Humph! A few spirit stones a month, and they expect me to risk my life?" he muttered under his breath.
Then he looked up—and saw Chen Sanshi and his companions approaching, eyes cold with killing intent.
For a moment, both sides froze.
Then the lone guard's expression changed. He pretended not to see them at all and quickly ran off after his fellow disciples. "Wait for me!"
Chen Sanshi's group slipped past without trouble.
Once they left Nanling Town, Qin Changxu and the others met them. Together, they headed straight for Mount Liang by the Great Marsh.
Days passed in a blur.
—
Daze Market.
Disciplinary Hall.
"Pa!"
Xu Youliang slammed a fresh wanted poster onto the public notice board.
Bounty: Sword Cultivator Xu Liao — 2,000 spirit stones.
"Fellow Daoist," Lu Boqin asked. He had recently joined Daze Market's law enforcement team. "Who is this man?"
"That's the one," Xu Youliang replied grimly, "the rogue cultivator who killed more than twenty sect cultivators at sea a few days ago. His identity's still unknown, and it's likely he's already hiding somewhere inside the market."
He sighed heavily. "Things have been a mess lately. Even the Sect Master himself has taken action. If we can't find this man soon and the Sect Master loses his temper, he might flatten the entire market. We should all prepare to flee early."
"That serious?"
Lu Boqin's heart tightened. "Then what did that Gui Qi mean when he called him the 'Guardian Envoy of the Mortal Realm from Eastern Divine Continent'? Why did the Sect Master get so furious over that?"
"Eastern Divine Continent, huh…"
Xu Youliang frowned. "That should refer to the sealed world beyond the outer boundary. As for this 'Guardian Envoy of the Mortal Realm' title—I've never heard of it either."
—
Teahouse.
"Fellow Daoist, our tea here is top-grade, grown by certified spirit planters. Take our signature Azure Dragon Tea, for example—its flavor is excellent, calming both heart and mind, and it greatly aids cultivation. Care for a pot? Only five spirit stones."
An old cultivator with white hair coughed weakly twice and fished a few spirit crystals from his robe. "Just a pot of Meridian-Nourishing Tea."
"I'll take the Azure Dragon Tea," said another elderly man, his hair streaked with grey.
Clack.
Five spirit stones tapped softly against the table.
The waiter accepted the payment and left to prepare the tea.
The two old cultivators sat across from one another.
Gui Qi didn't look up. He merely coughed and swallowed two pills.
"You spent all your spirit stones on healing medicine," the other man said lazily. "Didn't even save enough for a cup of tea?"
Gui Qi ignored him, closing his eyes as the medicine took effect.
Both of them had disguised themselves as well-known rogue cultivators from the area—enough to avoid suspicion for now.
Before long, the waiter returned with steaming tea.
The fragrance spread instantly, filling the air with calm. The tea leaves shimmered like green scales, swirling within the cup like a coiling dragon.
"Good tea."
Cao Kai lifted his cup and took a gentle sip. His eyes lit up. "Bitter but not harsh, the aroma clean and lingering. The tea flows like a cool spring, and the spiritual energy nourishes the body. Truly, a drink fit for immortals. The cultivation world… really is a fine place." He chuckled softly. "Reminds me of old times—when you saw that spear in the armory, it was me who paid for it, remember?"
"Cao Kai," Sun Xiangzong rasped, opening his eyes slowly. "I've always wondered… can you still sleep at night?"
The hand holding the cup trembled. Cao Kai's expression darkened instantly.
"Forget it," Sun Xiangzong said quietly. "I shouldn't have asked."
Sun Xiangzong ignored the pot of Azure Dragon Tea before him and sipped instead from his own cup of Meridian-Nourishing Tea. "You got what you wanted. Now you've found me here again—you can keep working toward your 'eternal empire.'"
"I'm not here for that alone," said Cao Kai, setting his cup down. "An old brother in arms is in danger. How could I not come to help?"
"I don't need your help," Sun Xiangzong replied coolly. "I can handle it myself."
"That's what I said back then," Cao Kai murmured. "And I still couldn't stop you."
At that, both old men—each over a hundred years old—shared a faint smile. But that smile carried no warmth, only a cold bitterness, weathered by time and heavy with countless memories.
"You protected me all my life," Cao Kai said quietly.
"Wong——"
As he spoke, the Dragon Abyss Sword slid from its sheath with a blinding gleam. Its roar was like that of a true dragon, echoing through the entire teahouse.
"But now," Cao Kai said, his gaze sharp as steel, "I am no longer that useless prince who couldn't even lift a chicken."
"Now let me," he continued, "be the one to protect you—for once."
"As you wish," Sun Xiangzong replied.
A silver serpent uncoiled from his ring, circling the white-haired old man several times before landing in his hand, transforming into a gleaming silver spear.
Every cultivator in the teahouse turned their heads toward the two old men. Their auras were suffocating, their killing intent undeniable. Within moments, fear spread like wildfire, and the patrons fled in all directions.
The two elders—one holding a sword, the other a spear—stepped side by side out of the teahouse and into the streets of Daze Market.
"I've already checked," Cao Kai said. "The Sect Master of the Upper Sect won't be able to reach this place for at least half an hour."
"Half an hour is enough. You and I just have to cut our way out."
Mount Liang by the Great Marsh.
On the warship, Chen Sanshi swung his long spear in wide arcs. Even though he was trying to restrain his strength to avoid damaging the deck, the air around him twisted violently, forming a whirling storm of Gang Qi. The pressure distorted the air itself, making his figure blur within the vortex.
As time went on, that violent Gang Qi began to change—gradually birthing something new within it.
Profound Manifestation Realm – Minor Achievement.
At this stage, a martial cultivator could use precise control of Gang Qi to form an external barrier—Protective Gang Qi—capable of deflecting blades, spears, water, and fire alike.
Of course, that depended on having enough Gang Qi to sustain it.
Chen Sanshi's recent breakthroughs had been aided by Immortal Pills, sparing him the agony most suffered in cultivation. But this particular step required patience, control, and precision.
Protective Gang Qi's main purpose was defense.
Yet his own Gang Qi was forged from two brutal forces—the True Dragon Gang and the White Tiger Slaughter Gang—both of which were inherently violent and destructive. To bend such forces into a defensive form was almost impossible.
Even with all his effort, after maintaining the Gang Qi vortex for only a dozen breaths, it began expanding uncontrollably. Within moments, it transformed into dozens of roaring dragon coils and tiger phantoms. Their combined howls shook the ship to its core.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The deck splintered. Wood chips flew everywhere.
"Again!"
Chen Sanshi drew in a deep breath and resumed his practice.
The second time…
The third time…
"Sir!" Qin Changxu called out cautiously. "At this rate, we'll need a new ship soon!"
Snapped out of his trance, Chen Sanshi finally looked around. The deck beneath his feet was nearly destroyed. With a sigh, he ordered the ship to dock so he could continue training in the nearby forest. Afterward, he would ride Qianxun to catch up with the rest of the fleet.
In the mountain woods, his breathing steadied.
He drew upon the Black Tortoise's Breath—the essence of stability—and with it, he suppressed the ferocity of both the True Dragon Gang and the White Tiger Slaughter Gang. Slowly, he managed to keep the two forces confined around his body, forming a controlled, stable barrier.
Protective Gang Qi!
But no matter how tightly he compressed it, he couldn't remove the inherent killing nature of the two energies.
So instead of a calm defensive aura, what formed around him was unique—Gang Qi that swirled with roaring tigers and coiling dragons. A defense, yes—but also a weapon of destruction.
[Technique: Dragon Spear of Nation-Suppression · Profound Manifestation (Minor Achievement)]
[Progress: 0 / 2000]
[Effect: Dragon Roar and Tiger Cry—Primordial Protective Qi. Offense and defense combined. When attacked, automatically inflicts rebound damage upon the attacker. The effect's strength depends on the user's martial cultivation relative to the opponent.]
Rebound damage…
Chen Sanshi thought about it. If someone of lower cultivation struck him now, they'd likely cripple themselves—or even die instantly—from the backlash of his chaotic aura.
The True Dragon Gang alone would invade the attacker's body, rampaging through their meridians like wildfire. Only someone with an overwhelmingly higher realm could suppress it.
Two steps left.
He clenched his fists.
Just two steps away from the Martial Saint Realm.
Once he reached that level, he would step into the ranks of true powerhouses—no longer a mere mortal, even by Immortal Cultivator standards.
After stabilizing his new realm, Chen Sanshi mounted Qianxun and caught up with the main fleet. Passing through Mount Liang this time, no one dared stop them.
Life aboard the ship continued.
He didn't waste a moment—consuming the last of his Meridian-Nourishing Pills and training tirelessly every day.
A month later, they left the waterways behind, switching to land routes. Now, only a few days separated them from returning to Liangzhou.
[Technique: Dragon Spear of Nation-Suppression · Profound Manifestation (Minor Achievement)]
[Progress: 588 / 2000]
Unknowingly, nearly half a year had passed since he left home seeking immortality.
It was now late autumn, the ninth month of the year. Winter was near.
By his estimate, the expansion of the Eight Northern Garrisons should now be complete.
The Hongze Battalion would also be at full strength by now.
Next came army drills—preparing for the campaign against the grasslands next spring.
Aside from that, the matter in the Luotian Mountains still needed resolving. That danger was beyond him for now. Only his master could handle it.
Speaking of which…
It had been so long.
He wondered how his master was doing.
And that old emperor—had he perished at The Edge of the World yet?
—
Nanling Town.
Inside the Southern Xu army camp, where 100,000 troops were stationed.
In the central command tent, the brothers Fan Shuzhen and Fan Jiaxiao stood side by side.
"Well?"
"Have you found Sun Xiangzong?"
"Reporting to Your Highness—no, not yet!"
A month ago, Sun Xiangzong had fought his way out of Daze Market, only to vanish soon after in the Nanling region.
According to the immortal cultivators, he was hiding somewhere in the nearby mountains.
Southern Xu's army had surrounded the entire area, layer upon layer. Even the skies were filled with patrolling cultivators—no bird could escape, much less a man. Their goal was clear: trap and kill Sun Xiangzong.
"Good, good, good!"
Fan Shuzhen was brimming with excitement. "Once Sun Xiangzong dies, the Great Sheng Dynasty will no longer have a single Martial Saint above the mortal realm! With the immortal masters aiding us, we can march north and seize the entire continent in one sweep!"
"That's right, Eighth Brother," said Fan Jiaxiao. "You and I came here not only to redeem our past failures, but to regain our family's honor."
The two brothers remembered all too clearly the humiliation at Hulao Pass—ten thousand troops crushed by three thousand white-robed soldiers. Their defeat had been total, their disgrace, unforgettable.
Had it not been for their family's influence, both would've been executed on their return to Great Xu. Fortunately, after the Tomb Tiger returned to court, he gave them his full support. Now, amid the struggle for succession, not only had they avoided disgrace, they even gained the upper hand.
Still—one thing remained lacking.
Reputation.
And this, right now, was the perfect chance to earn it back.
If they couldn't avenge their humiliation on Chen Sanshi, then they would reclaim it from his master instead.
After all, what could bring more glory than slaying the number one man of the Great Sheng Dynasty?
"Prime Minister Ran warned us not to take this lightly," said Fan Jiaxiao, a faint unease in his voice. "Sun Xiangzong has dominated the world for over sixty years. Back in Youzhou, beyond the Hongze River, he once broke through 1,800 armored barbarians in a single battle. We'd better be careful."
"You're right, Fourteenth Brother," Fan Shuzhen said, his voice steady but arrogant. "But remember—we have 100,000 soldiers this time!"
He sneered. "Sun Xiangzong doesn't even have three thousand under his command now. And most importantly, we have immortal masters on our side! What can he possibly do against that?"
—
Dragon Ridge Mountain.
Beside a wide river flowing through the mountains, two white-haired old men sat side by side, fishing quietly.
The Great Sheng Emperor, Cao Kai, had a freshly woven bamboo basket next to him. Inside, five or six fish flopped about, two of which were rare and precious spirit fish.
Not far away, Sun Xiangzong—the Duke of Yingguo and Grand Commander of Northern Liang—also had a basket beside him. But his was empty.
"Eh?"
Hearing movement, Cao Kai quickly reeled in his line. Another glittering spirit fish emerged from the water, thrashing wildly. He tossed it neatly into his basket, smiling in satisfaction.
Sun Xiangzong's eyelid twitched. Without saying a word, he stood, picked up his rod and basket, and moved a few steps away. After baiting his hook again, he cast the line into the water and resumed waiting silently.
A cup of tea's time passed.
Both their fishing rods trembled at once.
"It's biting!"
Sun Xiangzong's eyes lit up. He channeled his true force and yanked hard.
A clump of water grass came flying out.
"Splash!"
Meanwhile, Cao Kai reeled in yet another spirit fish, nearly the size of his arm.
He tossed it casually into his basket and said with a faint smile, "Zizhan, after all these years, you still can't compare to me. You cheated at chess back then, and now you can't even catch a fish."
Sun Xiangzong didn't respond. His gaze shifted far into the distance, over a hundred zhang away, where something flickered faintly.
In a flash of silver light, he vanished.
"Boom!"
A giant wave exploded in the distance. When Sun Xiangzong reappeared, he was holding a massive spirit fish—nearly as tall as a man.
Later, by the riverside bonfire, the two old men—once emperor and subject, now friends and rivals, perhaps even enemies—sat side by side, roasting fish in silence.
"What should we do next?"
The words echoed those spoken long ago, back on the Northern Liang frontier.
At that time, Cao Kai had still been a forgotten prince, facing down tens of thousands of rebels with only a few thousand sick and wounded soldiers. He had asked the same question then:
"Zizhan, what should we do next?"
And Sun Xiangzong had answered, "Your Highness, just wait and see—I already have a plan."
But this time, there was no answer.
"Heh."
Cao Kai gave a cold laugh. "You and I could break out of this encirclement anytime we want. But what then?"
He stared into the fire. "You destroyed the spiritual vein. Do you think the Upper Sects of the Immortal Realm will let you go? Even with the Heavenly Dao's suppression preventing true immortals from descending, they can still send countless cultivators to hunt you down. You've stirred up a disaster beyond reckoning."
He sighed. "Even if I wanted to help you, my strength may not be enough."
"So tell me…" He paused. "Why? Why did you have to do this? What is this 'Guardian Envoy of Eastern Divine Continent' title you keep mentioning? Where did it come from? As far as I know, there's no such post among the immortal sects."
The ancestral vein—it was one of the world's primal foundations.
If it revived, Eastern Divine Continent would surely sprout countless new branches of spiritual veins. Even the Great Sheng Dynasty would gain its own.
When that happened, this sealed world would no longer be cut off. It would become a true cultivation realm.
"Cao Kai," Sun Xiangzong said flatly, calling him by name. "Even if heaven and earth overflowed with spiritual qi again, do you think your Cao family would get to control a single high-grade vein? Second-grade? First-grade? Who do you think you are?"
"I know," said the old emperor without anger. "Even the immortals I've met never saw me as anything more than dust. I don't blame you. I'm just… curious. I want to know why you did it. I'll help you however I can."
Immortals interfering in mortal affairs never benefited anyone—especially not a mortal emperor.
No ruler would tolerate being someone else's puppet.
"According to ancient texts," Sun Xiangzong said after coughing twice, "after the Great Ancient War, the ancestral veins collapsed. The chaotic energies that spread across the world were like a plague. To protect the greater universe, a group of great immortals created a sealing formation to isolate Eastern Divine Continent. They left behind only a limited number of jade plaques—tokens of fate, granting a slim chance at transcendence to mortals. It was called 'Heaven and Earth Opening a Single Line.'
"Now, after tens of thousands, maybe even hundreds of thousands of years, that seal has weakened. With enough resources, people can rebuild teleportation arrays, letting low-tier immortals come and go as they please."
"So what then?" Cao Kai asked. "You still haven't said how we're going to deal with the mess you caused. If we just go back to the Great Sheng Dynasty now, it'll mean the end of the nation. The ancestral vein incident is too big. Even the immortal masters I'm allied with can't shield me from this."
"It's simple," said Sun Xiangzong, tossing away a fish bone. "Since the seal is weakening… we reinforce it. Strengthen it again.
"Make sure these so-called immortals never interfere with the mortal world so easily again."
—
Nanling Town.
"Immortal Master, have you found Sun Xiangzong's whereabouts?"
Inside the military camp, Fan Shuzhen came to meet the immortal cultivator working with Southern Xu—Immortal Master Hong Jun.
It was said this Hong Jun was a disciple from one of the great sects of the Immortal Realm.
The immortal sat there, silent and indifferent, ignoring him entirely. Fan Shuzhen felt a flicker of embarrassment.
He quickly presented a cup of spirit tea with both hands. "Immortal Master, this tea was obtained through other immortals from the Immortal Realm itself. Please, have a taste."
"Hmm."
Like a glacier finally cracking, Immortal Master Hong Jun took the cup and sipped lightly. "Not bad. You have some sense."
"Immortal Master!"
Fan Shuzhen seized the moment, kneeling abruptly with a thud. "Immortal Master, this humble one has long yearned for the immortal path. I beg you—grant me a chance to enter it!"
Rumor had it that after killing Sun Xiangzong, the immortals from the Immortal Realm planned to descend in full force, to locate and protect the remaining ancestral veins of Eastern Divine Continent, preventing another disaster like this one.
To do so, they might even spend a vast fortune to keep the teleportation arrays permanently open.
That meant—anyone might soon have the chance to step onto the immortal path!
And more than that, the Grand Prime Minister Ran's youngest son—known as the Tomb Tiger's heir—had been discovered just half a month ago to possess a Heaven-rank spiritual root. He had already been taken to the Immortal Realm to cultivate.
Fan Shuzhen's heart burned with envy.
He too had to seize this chance.
If he could become an immortal cultivator himself…
Then one day, he could wash away the shame of Hulao Pass.
He couldn't beat Chen Sanshi on the battlefield—but what if he became an immortal?
"Buzz!"
Immortal Master Hong Jun said nothing. Instead, he suddenly pressed one palm to Fan Shuzhen's forehead, channeling a trace of spiritual energy into him. His expression shifted slightly, a glimmer of surprise flickering in his eyes. "Upper-grade Earth spiritual root. Not bad."
"Upper-grade? I—I have an upper-grade root?"
Fan Shuzhen trembled, barely able to contain his excitement.
"When this matter is concluded," said Hong Jun calmly, "I will report your case to my sect. They will decide whether to take you as an initiate."
"Many thanks, Immortal Master! Many thanks!"
Fan Shuzhen's face lit up with pure joy. He forgot all imperial dignity and kowtowed repeatedly, forehead hitting the ground again and again.
"What about me?"
Beside him, Fan Jiaxiao asked anxiously, "Immortal Master, could you test me too?"
"You…" Hong Jun did not refuse. "Dual spiritual roots of Water and Wood. Middle grade. Acceptable enough."
"Thank you, Immortal Master!"
Fan Jiaxiao was overjoyed, kneeling beside his brother to bow in gratitude.
But as the two brothers knelt in excitement, the sky suddenly shook with a booming voice.
"Cultivators of Southern Nan-Zhan Continent!"
"Come out!"
"This old man has something to say to you!"
"Sun Xiangzong!"
Immortal Master Hong Jun's expression changed instantly. He strode out of the tent.
It was dusk.
The setting sun cast crimson light across the horizon, painting the sky in red clouds. There, high above the army camp, an old man hovered midair—and beside him, a silver dragon coiled and circled endlessly.
"Gui Qi!"
"Take him down!"
"Whoever slays Gui Qi will be rewarded with 10,000 spirit stones, one third-rank superior-grade cave mansion, and for every breakthrough before the Golden Core stage, a matching superior-grade weapon and cultivation method!"
"Additionally, that person will be accepted as a true disciple of the sect!"
A reward so grand—it made even the immortals stir.
The saying went that "heavy rewards breed brave men." It applied as much in the Immortal Realm as in the mortal one.
Every cultivator there knew just how outrageous that offer was. Its allure was enough to drive anyone mad.
The Sect Master had truly lost his patience.
He would stop at nothing to kill Gui Qi—the one who had shattered the ancestral vein, cutting off not only the fate of countless humans, but of all living beings in this world.
"Boom!"
Figures shot into the sky one after another, their spells blazing like fireworks in the darkening heavens.
Yet no matter how many rushed forward, the result was always the same.
The silver dragon pierced through them all.
Bodies burst midair.
A rain of blood poured down upon the soldiers of Southern Xu below, still warm when it splashed upon their armor.
"This man…"
"He's surpassed the second martial realm!"
"He's entered the extremely rare third realm!"
"Third realm?! Impossible!"
The path of martial cultivation demanded absurd amounts of resources and, worse still, had a ceiling—it could not grant immortality, nor equal the heavens in lifespan. That was why martial cultivators were so few.
But now, a mere mortal martialist had reached the third martial realm—in a land as barren of spiritual energy as Eastern Divine Continent, where qi was almost like poison!
It was unthinkable.
If this was truly the third realm, then even if they all attacked together, they likely couldn't kill him.
"Senior Brother Hong Jun!"
"He's a third-realm martialist! What should we do?!"
More than twenty cultivators had already fallen, their corpses tumbling from the sky, before the survivors finally lost their nerve.
But none dared flee either—disobeying orders from above meant certain death.
They stood trembling, looking downward, waiting desperately for orders from their superior.
"Trap him!"
Hong Jun's voice cut coldly through the air. He too realized this Gui Qi was beyond imagination.
Still, he made his decision at once. "Take out every talisman the Sect Master gave you. Form the array. Wear him down until he dies!"
The man was still mortal after all.
And the Sect Master had said it himself—Gui Qi's lifespan was nearly spent.
That battle at The Edge of the World must have left him heavily injured.
Now, he was likely burning through the last dregs of his life force.
If they could trap him and sustain the array with enough spirit stones, it would only be a matter of time before he died from exhaustion.
"Form the array!"
The cultivators gritted their teeth and drew out talismans they would normally never use. Following prearranged formations, they took their positions.
Array flags rose into the air, lining up in geometric precision as wave after wave of spirit stones were cast in.
"Wrumble——"
The Grand Luotian Array expanded, sealing the black-robed figure within.
Fueled by spirit stones, the formation unleashed a ceaseless barrage of spells.
The attacks weren't deadly—but constant, unending, draining his strength moment by moment.
"Look at you all," a cold voice echoed from within the storm, laced with contempt. "So desperate, faces red, hearts trembling—pathetic."
Sun Xiangzong parried the endless barrage of spells, his face calm, his tone mocking. "I only came to say a few words," he sneered. "You're the ones who insisted on fighting, and now you act like I'm some bloodthirsty butcher!"
"Gui Qi!"
"Wong——"
From the southern horizon, a streak of light shot across the sky like a comet, blazing toward them from the direction of The Edge of the World. It stopped directly before the black-robed old man, and from within came the voice of the sect's Sect Master himself.
"Speak!" the voice thundered. "Where are the other three ancestral veins? Tell me, and I can still spare the lives of your mortal bloodline!"
"The ancestral veins of spirit energy are gone," Sun Xiangzong replied coldly. "But there's still one ancestral vein of fiendish energy. Want to lend a hand and go wipe out the Ancient Demon Clan?"
"Fiendish vein…"
A sharp snort came from within the light. "Enough nonsense! This is my last warning—refuse to cooperate, and I'll slaughter your entire bloodline. I mean every word!"
"Boom!"
Sun Xiangzong didn't waste another breath.
He raised his spear and thrust forward with all his might.
In an instant, the stream of light shattered into dust.
"Gui Qi, you—!"
The Sect Master's voice was abruptly cut off.
Sun Xiangzong's voice thundered over the battlefield.
"All of you cultivators, listen well!"
"From this moment on—none of you are to set foot in the mortal world again!"
"Do not meddle in the affairs of men!"
"Leave now, while you still can!"
"Arrogant fool!"
Immortal Master Hong Jun flew forth, rage on his face. "You're already half-dead, and you still dare to speak such madness!"
Within the layers of formation light, the black-robed old man slowly raised his hand—and produced a talisman.
But it was unlike any talisman the cultivators had ever seen.
It wasn't made of paper.
It was a jade plaque.
Even with all their experience, the surrounding cultivators couldn't tell what grade it was or what kind of power it held. They only saw waves of tightly compressed spiritual power surging out as Sun Xiangzong poured his qi into it.
And then—
In the sky above, a vast blue ocean appeared out of nowhere. Its surface churned, and suddenly, a tsunami erupted from it.
"Rumble——!"
In an instant, the grand formation that hundreds of cultivators had combined their strength to maintain shattered apart like glass.
The cultivators cried out in terror, scattering in panic like startled birds.
The blast of blue light didn't shoot straight up into the heavens—it struck something invisible about a thousand zhang above the ground, like colliding with a giant shield.
Then, faint golden light shimmered across the sky, revealing the shape of that unseen barrier.
A seal.
An ancient seal—left behind by the great powers of the primordial age.
As far as the eye could see, faint golden light stretched across the very edges of heaven and earth, enclosing the entire Eastern Divine Continent.
The world itself—this entire realm—was inside that golden dome, like a great bowl turned upside down, separating them completely from the greater cosmos.
But after countless eons, the "bowl" had aged. Fine cracks spread along its edges like veins of broken glass.
At the farthest edge of the world, where the teleportation arrays were built, those cracks were connected by gaping holes—the gateways to the Immortal Realm.
"Rumble——!"
The jade talisman turned into a streak of blue light that shot upward, and countless threads of luminous energy streamed from it. Each one flew precisely toward the fissures in the ancient seal, weaving and binding them like invisible stitches closing a torn garment.
Where the light fell, the cracks sealed—and the seal itself grew whole again.
Then, the glowing orb that had carried the Sect Master's voice appeared once more.
"Hurry!" the voice roared. "He's reinforcing the seal! Stop him!"
If the seal were fully restored, it would become nearly impossible for anyone from the Immortal Realm to descend into the mortal world again. The cost in time and energy would be immeasurable.
"Whoever kills Gui Qi—preserves the path of the clan's immortality!"
The bounty soared even higher, reaching a level that defied reason.
But what lay before them now was no battle they could join.
The power at play was beyond their comprehension.
"How can you possibly reinforce the seal of an ancient Immortal?!" someone screamed. "What kind of talisman is that jade plaque?!"
The idea itself was madness—a mortal tampering with an ancient divine seal.
No one could even fathom it.
Soon, a new command echoed from the Sect Master through Hong Jun.
"If we can't stop him from restoring the seal," Hong Jun barked, "then withdraw immediately!"
Over a hundred cultivators had already been left in the mortal world. That was more than enough to exact vengeance on the Sun Clan and to search for other ancestral veins—to give their sects a head start when the day came that the heavens opened once more.
"Withdraw?"
But as he said the word, the jade plaque's radiance flared even brighter.
Its power rose sharply, spreading outward to form a barrier that spanned the sky and earth, cutting off every possible escape route back toward The Edge of the World.
From within that barrier, countless ethereal chains burst forth like serpentine vines.
"I am no lover of slaughter," Sun Xiangzong's deep voice boomed through the heavens. Wrapped in the coiling silver dragon, he formed seals with his hands, his tone as steady as rolling thunder. "All cultivators in this land—return to The Edge of the World, or leave your lives here!"
"Boom!"
The chains from the jade talisman lashed out, like the hooks of death itself, piercing through the bodies of every nearby cultivator.
More than a hundred fell instantly, unable even to resist.
And the chains didn't stop—they slithered outward, seeking the hidden ones who had tried to flee or conceal themselves.
In the blink of an eye, over twenty more were dead.
No escape. No hiding.
Even Hong Jun had to admit—staying here any longer was meaningless. It was nothing but suicide.
"Sect Master!" he cried. "Please, Sect Master, take action! Your disciples are powerless before such strength!"
"Get out of my way!"
The Sect Master's voice bellowed from the heavens.
At that moment, a violet figure appeared—hazy and indistinct, flickering with each step as it fought against the suppression of the Heavenly Dao itself.
Each zhang it advanced, its body grew fainter.
But still—it pressed on, heading straight for the jade talisman.
"A manifested incarnation…"
"Sect Master himself has descended!"
"Retreat!"
"Everyone retreat now!"
Once permission was granted, none of the cultivators dared to linger even for a moment. They scrambled toward The Edge of the World, fleeing as fast as their spiritual power could carry them.
If they didn't make it back before the seal was fully reinforced, they would all die here without a trace.
In the heavens above, the Sect Master's manifested avatar collided head-on with the jade talisman. The clash sent a blinding shockwave roaring across the sky.
No one could remain aloft anymore—anyone who got close was instantly reduced to dust.
Even the black-robed Gui Qi was forced down to the ground.
The remaining cultivators dared not rise above the surface; they flew low, almost scraping the earth.
Then came a series of deafening explosions.
The Sect Master's manifested avatar shattered completely—destroyed beyond recovery.
With that, there was nothing left to stop the jade talisman from reinforcing the seal.
Seeing this, Hong Jun turned to leave as well.
"Immortal Master?!"
Fan Shuzhen, finally shaken out of his daze, grabbed at the immortal's robe. "You—you're all leaving? What about us?"
"You…"
Hong Jun pointed straight ahead at the black-robed old man. "Kill him. No matter what it takes—kill him!"
"Me?!" Fan Shuzhen froze.
"Yes, you!" said Hong Jun coldly. "He's just drawing on the jade talisman's strength. He's spent, a dying man pushing himself beyond his limit. As long as you kill him, the Upper Sect will ensure your Fan family's immortal path is secure. But if you let him go, then when the seal reopens one day, we'll return—and settle the debt with you!"
With that, he activated his escape art and vanished into the sky.
"Eighth Brother, what do we do?!"
Fan Jiaxiao turned pale as he watched the last of the immortals disappear. "Do we actually do what he said?"
"Do it!"
Fan Shuzhen clenched his teeth. "I have 100,000 soldiers under my command! Pass my order—encircle Sun Xiangzong and kill him!"
But reality was cruel.
The terrifying celestial phenomenon had already shattered their army's courage. The mortal troops had long since fled in panic.
There was no one left to command.
"Boom—!"
Suddenly, the air rippled with violent true power.
Hundreds of soldiers dropped dead where they stood.
Within moments, the black-robed old man strode forward, cutting through the ranks like a blade through silk. He blasted open a path, then rose into the air and vanished beyond the horizon.
Half an hour later, the heavenly anomaly finally began to fade.
The jade talisman, its divine power spent, disintegrated into dust.
The cracks in the seal over Eastern Divine Continent were now almost completely mended.
Everything fell silent.
Peace returned—or what passed for it.
——
Immortal Realm.
"Fools!"
In a great sect's ancestral hall, the Sect Master's furious voice cracked the air like thunder.
Several elders appeared atop distant peaks, their divine senses linking across mountains as they conversed.
"It seems… that monster of a Guardian actually succeeded."
"From the Annihilation Spirit Array to the jade talisman—those must have been left behind by an ancient being of unimaginable power."
"Now that the Eastern Divine Continent's seal has been reinforced, what do we do?"
"Don't panic."
The Sect Master's tone steadied slightly. "Before my avatar perished, I managed to weaken the talisman's power a little. The seal still has a few loose spots. It'll just take time."
"The ancient teleportation arrays suffered only minor interference. They should recover soon enough. But the teleportation jade plaques gathered from the various markets—once refined, their secret formations will dissolve. Very few remain intact now. No one could have foreseen that he'd actually manage to strengthen the seal."
"Gather every piece we can," another elder ordered. "When the teleportation array recovers, send people through immediately."
——
Liangzhou.
This journey had been a secret mission, and Chen Sanshi's group entered the city quietly under cover of night.
When he stepped back into the residence he hadn't seen in so long, the first thing he felt was emptiness.
Gu Xinlan and Chen Duhe had left for Great Qing long ago. Only Chen Yunxi and two maids remained at home.
By his estimation, Duhe should already be old enough to talk by now.
Chen Sanshi walked softly into his daughter's room.
Moonlight spilled across the floor. Chen Yunxi slept soundly, her breathing soft and even.
He sat at the bedside, gently pinching his daughter's cheek. Once he confirmed she was safe and well, he finally let out a quiet sigh of relief. He was about to leave silently when a sleepy, tender voice stopped him.
"Papa?"
At some point, Chen Yunxi had woken. Rubbing her drowsy eyes, she whispered, "Papa's home?"
"Yes, it's me. Did I scare you?"
"Papa, hug."
"Go back to sleep," he said softly.
"Papa, there's a letter from Mama."
Chen Yunxi pointed toward the pillow.
Chen Sanshi found a small stack of envelopes beneath it. The handwriting on them was Gu Xinlan's—she'd sent letters home every month.
Holding his daughter close with one arm, he began opening the letters one by one under the pale moonlight.
The night was bright as day; he needed no candle.
The words felt alive, her familiar voice echoing faintly in his mind.
"Shige'er," the letter began.
"Guiyi insists I learn to handle the state affairs of Qing. The ministers don't even realize that every morning in court, it's actually me sitting behind the curtain."
"But truthfully, I don't care for these matters at all."
"Guiyi's sharp-tongued but soft-hearted. She always calls Duhe a mere mortal child, but she plays with him in secret all the time."
"Oh, and yesterday—Duhe spoke his first word."
"Though… he called me 'Auntie' first."
"Anyway, everything's fine here."
"Shige'er, are you safe?"
Reading those familiar words, Chen Sanshi felt as though the distance of worlds between them melted away.
This journey to seek the immortal path—it felt like a lifetime had passed.
As he sat there, holding his daughter and reading, a rare calm settled in his heart.
If becoming an immortal meant staying in Da Ze Market forever, cut off from this world… then he'd rather not cultivate at all.
At the bottom of the pile, there was another set of neatly arranged reports—compiled by Fourth Senior Brother each day.
From those, Chen Sanshi learned that Hongze Battalion was now fully organized: 15,000 soldiers, all elite troops of Liangzhou.
They awaited only his command to begin full training—ready to march into battle at a moment's notice.