After discussing his participation in the Universe Prodigy Battle, Luo Feng began to seclude himself for cultivation once more. He instructed Babata to pay attention to the auction of the Demon Killing Clan's skin.
…
"The Universe Prodigy Battle. I wonder what the scenery of the Primal Universe is like?" Closing the chat group, Shi Jian's heart held a hint of anticipation. To experience the birth of a universe up close was a rare opportunity.
However, his most important goal right now was to break through to the Saint Sacrifice Realm.
"My current cultivation has reached the peak of True God. I can step into the Heavenly God Realm at any time."
"However, between True God and Heavenly God, there is another realm: the Saint Sacrifice Realm. This can only be entered by an unparalleled prodigy. Those who step into this realm are also known as God Kings."
He ended his seclusion and began to prepare. He sought out races like the Eight-Armed Soul Clan to find an ancient land with Saint Wood, a unique path that only those who could be called Kings among Gods could walk.
A Patriarch-level figure from the Eight-Armed Soul Clan emerged to escort him. The mountain path was rugged, with ancient trees and roaring beasts whose strength rivaled that of Heavenly Gods. However, none of this posed a threat to Shi Jian.
"Saint Wood is a spiritual wood, and the area where it grows has consequently nurtured many primeval vicious beasts," the old Patriarch said after slaying a Heavenly God-level beast. "Aside from them, there are also mad Heavenly Gods and Patriarchs. They cannot be easily provoked."
They quickly arrived at the depths of the mountain range. A colossal ox, a Patriarch, lay coiled there, its two horns as sharp as Heavenly Blades. They did not disturb it but bypassed it, arriving at their destination.
It was a forest, thick with spiritual Qi. This was the legendary Saint Wood. These were not towering trees, only a few feet tall, but each was like an azure dragon rooted in the ground, brimming with divine glow.
Shi Jian did not hesitate and entered, preparing to begin. Saint Wood could be used to burn oneself, but unlike Divine Fire, its light was transformed from the laws of heaven and earth, tempering one's Dao and physical body.
He intended to use it to break through to the God King Realm.
Many cultivators skipped this realm because it was too dangerous, but there was a legend that only those who stepped into it could be called the King Among Gods and achieve longevity. Prodigies like Shi Jian and Shi Hao naturally had to step into it.
Others were probably still troubled by cultivating a second strand of Immortal Qi. Shi Jian, however, had cultivated six and reached the peak of True God.
After breaking through, one's cultivation would be very unstable, fluctuating between the power of a Heavenly God and the weakness of a Divine Fire cultivator. However, Shi Jian was not worried. The Giant Elephant strength within his body would not be affected.
"This realm is indeed interesting." He began to transform himself, releasing his aura and communicating with the Saint Wood, absorbing their essence. A substance like firelight engulfed him. It was the light of the Great Dao, baptizing him.
He secluded himself for several days, his body nourished and his Great Dao tempered. After several days, his aura reached its peak. An ancient path suddenly appeared around him. Legend has it that a supreme path appears for those who step into this realm, but no one knows where it leads. Shi Jian knew it led to the World Sea, so he ignored it.
The sound of the Great Dao rumbled, and the Great Dao Guillotine fell, fiercely striking him. This was a Heavenly Punishment.
His Robe of the Gods glowed, blocking the strike, but he felt much of his divine power dissipate, as if he had been cut down a major realm.
"Interesting. My strength is already decreasing before I've even truly entered the realm?" He circulated his divine power and instantly recovered. Resisting the Heavenly Dao was also a form of tempering.
With a boom, his body trembled, and something within him seemed to shatter. He successfully stepped into the Saint Sacrifice Realm. In an instant, his blood Qi multiplied, and his combat power became terrifyingly high.
"This is the Saint Sacrifice Realm?" He flipped his hand and instantly grabbed all the clouds in the sky. He could ascend to the Nine Heavens to pluck stars.
He calmed his mind and comprehended his current state. After a period, his terrifying cultivation suddenly changed again. His blood Qi withered, and in just a few breaths, he fell from the Heavenly God Realm to True God, and then to Divine Fire.
"Six." This realm was indeed a bit insane.
After briefly lamenting, he continued to cultivate. A few days later, his strength once again rapidly increased. From peak to trough, from weakness to ultimate strength. It was like a reincarnation.
After more than a few days, he was almost able to control his cultivation—when to be in a period of decline and when to be in a period of strength. So he emerged from seclusion.
With his current strength, ordinary Patriarch-level figures were no match for him. He was already invincible in Immortal Ancient.
Just as he was considering what to do, he received news. The entrance to Immortal Ancient had cracked open, and Heavenly God-level figures could now enter. Forces like the Demonic Dragon Dao Sect and Immortal Palace had sent them in to search for him.
They didn't find him, but they found Shi Hao. He had cultivated two strands of Immortal Qi and was then pursued by them. After being pursued for a while, he began undergoing his True God tribulation, using the power of the lightning to counter-kill several Heavenly Gods before disappearing.
Shi Jian stroked his chin. If nothing unexpected happened, Shi Hao should have broken through and cultivated three strands of Immortal Qi. He wasn't too worried.
"Heavenly God… Since you dare to send them in, then I will grant your wish. Kill them all."
He began to act, searching for the Heavenly Gods. It didn't take long to spot a silver-armored one standing on a mountain peak.
"Shi Jian, your talent is immense. How about joining my sect?" the Heavenly God spoke amiably.
Shi Jian looked at him and spoke calmly, "There's no need to be so cautious. You can openly use the altar to transmit messages and call people to besiege me. I came out of seclusion this time to sweep through the entire Immortal Ancient."
The silver-armored man was startled. His actions were covert, yet he was seen through. A few months ago, Shi Jian had publicly slain a Heavenly God. He had no confidence facing him alone, so he was secretly using a "Great Summoning Art."
"Hmph, sweeping through Immortal Ancient? Do you really think you're invincible among Heavenly Gods?" the man said, his expression ugly, though he quickly notified the others.
Divine light arrived from time to time as one Heavenly God after another appeared.
A few months ago, Shi Jian had to exert all his strength to slay a Heavenly God. But now, they were easily annihilated by him. Giving them time to gather was merely to make it easier to catch them all in one go.
"We have arrived," they said, their gazes sinister.
"Hahaha, kid, you're too arrogant! Although Saint Sacrifice is the path of a God King, you are ultimately not a Heavenly God!"
"Junior, are you stupid or crazy? You think you can fight a Heavenly God, and you even let so many of us gather?"
After most had arrived, the group prepared to attack. They tore through the void and instantly attacked, their vast divine power surging towards him.
"Noisy!" Facing their combined might, Shi Jian's expression remained calm. He casually threw a punch.
In an instant, the attacks collided. The punch wind stretched for a thousand miles, and wherever it passed, heaven and earth collapsed. Only a mark was left on the ground.
And the dozens of Heavenly Gods who were originally there had all disappeared, turned to dust, their spiritual Qi absorbed by his Hell Furnace.
With a casual punch, dozens of Heavenly Gods perished.
"We have arrived…" The void broke open. Two late-arriving Heavenly Gods stepped in to provide aid. They looked at the environment, utterly bewildered.
Before they could react, they saw Shi Jian smiling at them. "Since you're here, then let's all die together."
[Inorin Note:
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