Magma splashed as a wave of scorching light flew towards them. The creature attacked again, its crimson feathers glowing, its iron-like wings whistling through the air, carrying a red wave as it charged forward.
Shi Hao flicked his finger, and a wisp of sword energy shot out. With a “puff,” it wounded the vicious bird, spilling a large amount of blood.
The people nearby trembled. This was the gap in power. When they encountered this strange bird, all they could do was retreat, yet Shi Hao could easily injure it, causing its blood to spray.
The crimson bird let out a long cry and fell into the pool, steam rolling up and waves of heat surging. The red light scorched their skin as the bird hid again.
“How strange. It looks like a chicken, yet it's so powerful. Let me catch you and take a closer look.” Shi Hao swiped his right hand, splitting the pool of magma. The ground beneath wasn’t thick, and the molten liquid gushed out, unbearably hot.
The bird was strong, but compared to Shi Hao, it was still lacking. Forced out, its viciousness erupted, and crimson feathers shot out from its body like red lightning.
Shi Hao summoned the golden dragon horn shears. With a series of “ka-cha” sounds, all the feathers were cut off, falling like wilting petals.
“It really does look like a chicken.” He was surprised.
This vicious bird was fierce, full of hostility. It attacked again, looking no different from an ordinary grass chicken, except it was much larger, over several meters long.
With a “puff,” Shi Hao used his fingers as a sword, slashing powerfully through the air, severing its head. Blood splattered everywhere, ending the creature's life.
“The meat looks crystal clear, seems like it’s going to taste good.” Shi Hao was hungry. He plucked the feathers on the spot, took out some clean water from his storage pouch, and washed the bird.
Then, he retrieved the Sky Transforming Bowl, released the two spiders from it, sealed them in another artifact, and tossed the mutated chicken into the bowl to start cooking.
The people nearby cringed at the sight. Who was this guy? What was his goal in coming here, using such a powerful artifact just to stew a chicken?
In the end, Shi Hao ate the strange bird. Its essence was incredibly rich, and it contained a peculiar energy that strengthened his muscles and bones.
According to the others, this was the unique quality of the creatures born here. Their bodies contained divine essence, which was particularly beneficial to humans.
“This was just an ordinary grass chicken, but after living here for over a century, it became something extraordinary. After gaining some cultivation, it transformed into a rare bird.” Shi Hao spoke softly.
Elsewhere, such a chicken could never undergo such a transformation.
He was deeply astonished. If even ordinary creatures could change like this by living here, what would happen to more powerful beings? This place truly lived up to its name as the ancestral land of the Fire Tribe.
He continued on his journey, and soon his suspicions were confirmed when he slew a mastiff that had also evolved from a common creature, possessing remarkable cultivation.
“Turning decay into wonder, enabling even the most ordinary chickens and dogs to become vicious beasts... If I could discover the source of this, how strong could a person become?” Shi Hao was truly tempted.
Those few people had become Shi Hao’s followers, while a giant wolf, over ten meters tall, became his mount, making their trek through the scorching desert even more imposing.
“Ah, a Blue Lotus!”
Someone exclaimed. Ahead, a large canyon split the desert in two, and in the darkness, a blue light flickered. A lotus flower, not growing in water, but rooted in a crack in the rock, shone brilliantly.
It was small, only about a foot tall, but its flower was as large as a bowl, gleaming with a crystalline blue light. Even from a distance, they could smell its fragrance.
The followers beside Shi Hao rushed forward to pluck it. This was a rare treasure, containing powerful divine essence, something that couldn’t be easily found.
In this place, mutated plants far surpassed the medicinal herbs found in the outside world. It wasn’t just about their grade; they had absorbed divine substances, making them extraordinary.
Suddenly, a giant bird swooped down from the sky, slashing at them with several streaks of sword energy, blocking their way. At the same time, a treasure descended, aimed at killing Shi Hao.
“Get lost!”
A voice bellowed from the bird. They had been following behind, initially planning to use Shi Hao as bait to lure out divine creatures. But after seeing his strength, they didn’t dare make any rash moves.
Now, upon seeing such a rare lotus, they couldn’t hold back any longer and quickly launched their attack, knowing that this blue lotus, filled with divine material, was extremely rare and would greatly enhance their cultivation.
“Clang!”
Shi Hao moved. He formed the Pixiu Seal with his hand, his palm transforming into a primordial beast, emitting the sound of wind and thunder. In an instant, the treasure was shattered, leaving the attackers stunned.
“How can he be so strong? He shattered a treasure with his bare hands!”
They didn’t know Shi Hao’s identity. If they had known he had fought pure-blooded creatures, they would have fled as far as they could, never daring to provoke him.
These were top experts among the human race, especially for their age, yet compared to Shi Hao, the gap was immense.
“Hurry, pluck it!”
They didn’t resist further. The enormous bird dove into the canyon, rushing towards the blue lotus, trying to snatch it and then escape to the sky, thinking Shi Hao wouldn’t be able to catch them.
“Boom!”
No one expected the disaster that followed. Red waves surged into the sky as the canyon cracked open. Magma erupted, heat waves rolling, turning the world a fiery red.
This place was extremely dangerous, the temperature rising to unbearable levels. They were facing a catastrophe.
The vicious bird let out a mournful cry, directly engulfed by the red liquid that surged like a sea, burying it. As for the people on its back, none of them survived.
In a sizzling sound, their flesh withered and burned, quickly turning to ash, their bodies and souls utterly annihilated.
“Run!”
The people above the canyon screamed and turned to flee, but it was too late. The ground exploded, and they fell into the sea of fire behind them.
The underground magma surged upward, shattering the earth. Red and scorching, it became the dominant force, with the shadow of death looming over this ancestral land.
Shi Hao’s expression changed as he rapidly ascended. He sensed danger; these red liquids were many times hotter than ordinary magma. If submerged, it would be deadly.
There was no time to save anyone. Everything happened too quickly, like the collapse of heaven itself. Within a ten-mile radius, the land sank, and crimson liquid surged, engulfing the sky.
The giant wolf let out a final wail, its eyes filled with terror before it was swallowed by the magma, its bones dissolving.
Shi Hao sighed, standing atop a treasure, flying into the clouds. Looking down at everything below, he felt how small humans could be in the face of nature.
In the ten-mile radius, everything crumbled, turning into a sea of magma. Within the glowing flames, runes intertwined, explaining why even the strong couldn’t survive and were turned to ash.
“This truly is the ancestral land of the Fire Tribe.” This wasn’t the first time Shi Hao had said this, but each time, the experience was different.
Finally, everything quieted down. The canyon had disappeared, leaving a crimson lake in its place. It neither cooled nor dried, remaining still, glowing red.
It was a stunning sight, leaving people in awe.
In the center of the lake, a blue lotus floated, still rooted in the magma, untouched. Its color had begun to change, gaining a silver-white sheen.
“What a remarkable herb. It has absorbed more divine substance. If I could get it, I’d save months of cultivation,” someone whispered.
It was a youth of about sixteen or seventeen, with wings on his back crackling with lightning. He appeared three or four years older than Shi Hao, staring at the lotus in the crimson lake with burning desire, his eyes filled with longing.
But he didn't dare to act rashly. Instead, with a flap of his wings, he appeared not far from Shi Hao and said, "Little brother, do me a favor. Go down there and pick that herb for me."
"Why should I go?" Shi Hao asked.
"No reason. I'm telling you to go, so you go." The youth with wings smiled, but there was already an air of authority about him.
Shi Hao immediately understood. This person was treating him like a servant, and Shi Hao was at a loss for words. This guy was too arrogant.
"You're from outside this realm?" Shi Hao asked.
"Indeed." The youth nodded, his eyes gleaming with a fading hint of pride.
"Does being from outside make you feel superior?" Shi Hao inquired.
"What do you mean?" The youth's expression turned sour, and his battle energy surged, causing ripples to form on the surface of the magma lake below.
"I don't mean anything. Go ahead, pick that blue lotus for me," Shi Hao said, his tone calm and natural, mirroring the youth's earlier attitude.
"You!" The youth's face darkened as he prepared to strike.
It was clear that a battle was inevitable. Shi Hao felt a surge of excitement, eager to engage. This person was from another realm, and fighting him would provide insight into how powerful those from other domains were.
Shi Hao was impressed. This person was indeed formidable, far from being someone an ordinary person could defeat. The youth's wind and thunder wings flapped, unleashing a sea of lightning that was difficult to handle.
However, the youth had encountered Shi Hao, a young supreme with ten opened cave heavens. After a battle of over twenty moves, the youth was struck by a powerful palm strike and sent flying.
The youth spat blood and fought back fiercely, but he was eventually subdued by Shi Hao and rendered immobile.
"Go, pick the lotus. Don't damage it," Shi Hao said, throwing the youth down.
"My master will crush you!" the youth shouted, his earlier arrogance replaced by shame as he screamed.
Shi Hao was startled. This youth was indeed extraordinary, but he was just a servant. What kind of powerful figures had arrived from beyond this realm? Still, Shi Hao remained unafraid. The stronger the enemy, the better for tempering himself.
"Go pick the herb," Shi Hao said casually, as if commanding a servant.
The youth's face turned ashen. As he neared the lake's surface, he reached out for the lotus. Naturally, he had no intention of giving it to Shi Hao and planned to either consume it himself or destroy it.
However, as soon as he touched the water, a whirlpool emerged, pulling him into the magma lake. He screamed in terror, and blood splattered into the air.
Beneath the lake lay a mansion, now exposed, with runes flashing. It had caused the lake to form and the magma to erupt.
"A divine mansion!"
Someone shouted, and people began rushing over.
"A divine mansion is an ancient structure left behind from ages past. It's perfect for enlightenment and cultivation. Spending just a few days inside is worth months of hard work," someone said excitedly. In the ancestral land of the Fire Tribe, such mansions occasionally appeared, sparking fierce battles.
In each divine mansion, one could only cultivate for a short period before it would collapse and turn to ruins. Yet, people still flocked to them, as a few days inside were worth months of effort. Everyone craved this opportunity.
If lucky, one might even find inheritances or ancient techniques inside, powerful and complex legacies from the ancient world.
Figures darted through the air, and dozens of people quickly arrived, standing in various positions. Their eyes burned with desire as they stared at the mansion in the lake.
Shi Hao was naturally interested as well. He needed a place like this for cultivation.
A silver beam suddenly flew toward Shi Hao's head from behind, moving incredibly fast and accompanied by a sharp gust of wind. It sparkled with intricate runes.
Shi Hao sidestepped without looking back, reaching up and grabbing the arrow with a sharp "bang." It was a silver arrow, engraved with numerous runes, bright and mysterious, capable of piercing through the bodies of large fierce beasts.
He spun around and hurled the arrow back. The silver projectile flew several times faster than before, roaring through the sky. The silver beam shone even brighter, like a radiant silver moon, crashing down.
"Boom!"
A loud explosion rang out. A figure staggered backward, his bow and shield shattering in his hands. He coughed up blood, severely injured.
This wasn't a human but a winged figure, similar to the servant who had fallen into the magma earlier. He was powerful but no match for Shi Hao.
"Is the Fire Nation planning to make enemies of us? Are you obstructing us on the orders of the Fire Emperor?" the winged figure asked coldly.
Though young, he was extremely arrogant. Even while injured, he stood proudly, looking in Shi Hao's direction with hostility.
"Ridiculous. What kind of logic is that?" Shi Hao ignored him, his attention focused on the divine mansion below, worried about missing something.
Below, the magma lake shimmered. The mansion, ancient and grand, appeared amidst the magma, unaffected by the heat. Its doors were wide open, and runes poured out, mysterious and radiant, with mist and divine light rising from the lake.
Shi Hao stared intently, eager to explore. In just a few moments, dozens of people had arrived, each occupying strategic positions, ready to act at any moment.
"Whoosh!"
A golden beam shot toward him, stronger than the previous one. The youth on the other side had drawn a more powerful bow, and the arrow whistled through the air, surrounded by swirling runes.
Shi Hao's concentration was broken. His brows furrowed as he turned into a stream of light, intercepting the arrow with a loud "bang." He quickly closed the distance between himself and the archer.
The youth was powerful. His wind and thunder wings flared like two broad blades, crackling with electricity, resembling the fury of a thunder god.
But Shi Hao also understood lightning. His hands formed seals, channeling the divine power of the ancient beast Suanni, absorbing the lightning into his body. Then, with a punch, he multiplied the power several times, unleashing a violent thunderclap.
"Thud!"
After a brief exchange, Shi Hao's punch caused the youth to crack and stagger backward, coughing up blood. His body turned black from the burns, and though he tried to speak, all he could manage was a single word.
"You..."
With that, his body exploded, blood splattering everywhere, his form utterly destroyed.
Everyone around was stunned, retreating in fear. They recognized that the youth was a powerful figure from another realm, someone not to be trifled with, yet Shi Hao had dealt with him so quickly.
The magma bubbled, and the mansion below emerged fully, vast and ancient, its foundation in the magma yet untouched by the heat. Its doors were wide open, with runes streaming out.
"Go!"
Finally, someone couldn't hold back any longer and rushed toward the mansion. There were still only a few dozen people here, making it a rare opportunity.
If more people arrived, chaos would ensue, and the battles would be fierce. Everyone hurried forward, summoning their treasures to protect themselves as they charged toward the mansion.
Shi Hao moved as well, activating his "Heavy Eyes" to observe the scene below, hoping to gain more insight.
The magma and mist couldn't obstruct his vision, and even the divine light parted before the power of his Heavy Eyes, revealing the true nature of things.
"There are runes blocking the way. It's extremely dangerous." Soon, he saw the truth. The entrance to the mansion was covered in dense runes, containing profound and complex meanings.
Sure enough, some managed to enter the magma unharmed, their treasures protecting them. But upon reaching the mansion's entrance, they screamed as their treasures cracked, forcing them to retreat.
A group of people all failed, and two who tried to force their way in not only saw their treasures disintegrate but also their bodies dissolve into specks of light, disappearing into the magma lake.
“This is a kind of test. Only by passing through this array of runes can one enter,” someone whispered.
They separated, and acquaintances began to discuss strategies. The tension eased somewhat, as at least no one was fighting each other at that moment.
“To get in, either your body has to be incredibly strong to withstand the test of the runes, or your mastery of treasure arts must be extraordinary to continuously break the symbols arranged in front of the gate.”
After drawing this conclusion, their expressions turned grim. Their bodies were absolutely not strong enough; they couldn’t withstand the pressure. As for understanding and utilizing the runes, that was even more difficult.
Occasionally, someone would attempt it, but they were all sent flying back. The runes activated so quickly that it was dizzying and impossible to decipher.
Shi Hao watched for a while and then decided to act, as strong fluctuations came from the distant sky and more people were arriving. In just a short while, the number had already surpassed a hundred.
The emergence of the divine residence was no small opportunity, causing those who received the news to rush over at full speed.
“Swish!”
Shi Hao stepped in front of the gate, rapidly forming seals with his hands and then striking out. Runes flew out, all of them the most primitive bone inscriptions, not particularly profound, yet they all entered the palace.
He didn’t rely on his strong body but rather on breaking the runes. The runes were combined and evolved, becoming increasingly complex. At that moment, Shi Hao focused his mind, continuously analyzing and injecting runes to dissolve the barriers before him.
From afar, strong fluctuations approached. A golden figure appeared, this young man’s entire body covered in golden flames. Behind him were a pair of wind-thunder wings, golden as if forged from divine metal. When they flapped, lightning streaked across the sky, filling it with blinding brilliance.
Though young, the aura he emitted was terrifying, causing many human youths to tremble, their legs weakening with fear.
Behind him were several youths, similar to the bow-wielding one who had been slain earlier, none of them weak, all following in his wake.
“He’s about to enter. There’s no time,” the golden-winged youth frowned, and with a flap of his wings, a thousand bolts of lightning erupted, shaking the heavens.
Everyone was shocked. This was no Spirit Transformation stage cultivator; his aura was far too powerful.
As the golden wings flapped, lightning filled the sky, all of it aimed at the front of the palace, intending to kill Shi Hao. At that moment, Shi Hao was at a crucial point in deciphering the runes.
Shi Hao didn’t retreat. He didn’t turn around to fight; instead, his entire body glowed as golden vortices appeared on his skin, absorbing the endless lightning.
However, he was surprised. This person was indeed strong and difficult to deal with, already having reached the Engraving Marks Realm. Turning his head slightly, he saw a young man with golden hair draped over his shoulders, his pupils captivating, almost otherworldly in beauty.
“Hmm, interesting. You actually withstood one of my attacks,” the youth murmured softly.
Shi Hao ignored him, his hands moving quickly as he took four more steps forward, nearly entering the palace. At this moment, the runes were becoming increasingly dense, and he was at a critical juncture.
Behind him, the golden-winged youth drew a longbow with a hum, and a golden arrow shot forth, sharp and menacing.
Everyone was astonished. This wasn’t just an arrow; it was like a mountain pressing down, roaring through the air with an overwhelming presence.
Shi Hao’s eyes turned cold. The arrow was indeed powerful, fired by an expert in the Engraving Marks Realm. If he didn’t defend himself, he might be pierced through.
However, if he fought back, his progress would be lost, and he would have to start breaking the runes again, giving his opponent time to compete with him, leading to countless complications.
More and more powerful people were arriving all around.
Shi Hao waved his right hand, and the runes formed into a dragon that coiled around the golden arrow. He didn’t dissolve its speed but merely redirected its course, using it to help break the runes.
“Amazing,” the crowd exclaimed.
His speed was unbelievable. With one hand, he continued breaking the runes, while with the other, he redirected the golden arrow for his own use.
Behind him, the golden-haired youth’s gaze grew colder. He repeatedly drew his bow, firing one golden arrow after another, each one aimed at Shi Hao’s vital spots—his head, throat, and heart.
Shi Hao glanced back, smiled, and casually reached out to retrieve the lotus herb from the doorway. Then, leaving only an afterimage, he stepped into the ancient palace, having already cracked the runes.
“Boom,” “Boom!”
Several golden arrows struck the palace, making thunderous noises like the beating of a great celestial drum.
The crowd shouted, surging forward in an attempt to follow Shi Hao into the palace. But unfortunately, the doors creaked shut, the runes blazing as the palace sank into the magma lake.
Inside the palace, it was dim and eerily silent. Only Shi Hao’s footsteps echoed. He muttered to himself, “I didn’t test if I could rely solely on my physical strength to enter.”
In truth, he was highly confident in the strength of his body, which is why he had chosen to break the runes and intentionally test his strengths and weaknesses.
The palace was vast, and it was unclear how many years had passed since anyone had entered. Standing there felt like standing alone in a desolate world.
Shi Hao continued forward, carefully exploring. This was an ancient building, filled with the aura of time. In the distance, a tiny blue flame flickered like a bean, swaying in the darkness.
“Is it a divine lamp?” Shi Hao was surprised. Could it have burned from ancient times until now? Such a thing couldn’t be ordinary.
He approached and found a stone platform with an ancient bronze lamp resting on it, covered in dust and inscribed with many runes.
It was just an ordinary magical artifact, not a divine object. Shi Hao searched it carefully but was somewhat disappointed. However, he was shocked by the liquid beneath the lamp's wick.
“This is divine blood!”
The bronze lamp was ancient and plain, but the liquid beneath the wick was extraordinary. Though nearly dried up, the little that remained still exuded an oppressive aura, enough to make one's heart race and chest tighten.
The liquid was dark and lacked luster, but it contained an immense divine energy. Despite the passage of time, its divine nature had not faded and was still present.
Shi Hao carefully removed the wick and took the bronze lamp, sensing its fearsome energy.
“This is not something to consume recklessly. I’ll keep it for now; it might be useful later,” he said, placing it into his storage bag before striding forward.
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