Chapter 474: Celestial Ascension: Trials of Mortal Resolve

The full moon hung like a perfect disc, suspended high in the sky!

Moonlight had taken on a sanguine tint, as if tainted by an endless surge of vital energy.

But gradually that blood-red hue transformed into a brilliant gold, its radiance bathing the entire world in dazzling light.

Inside Qitian City… outside Qitian City…

An immense crowd gathered, comprised mostly of warriors from across the lands. Their blood and energy surged as they clenched their fists and looked skyward.

Their eyes shone with anticipation and determination as they prepared to witness a Martial Immortal’s breakthrough.

For many fighters, a lifetime would pass without ever touching the path of Pure Martial Arts; harnessing divine power to shortcut to a martial might was a goal that required every ounce of their effort.

Yet Pure Martial Arts remained a legend—a cherished aspiration in every warrior’s heart.

Man can defy heaven!

What magnificence! Such grandeur stirred the soul!

Crowds surged out from the gates of Qitian City.

Lü Taibai, Lü Qiankun, Fang Han Shu, and others had all gathered among the masses, watching from afar.

None could foresee what trials awaited when a Pure Martial Martial Saint challenged celestial martial prowess—what unimaginable tribulations the heavens might impose.

The Underworld Ghost Emperor, perhaps the only warrior in five millennia to attain the realm of Martial Immortal, now faced an uncertain destiny: would he emerge like a butterfly from its cocoon, or fall like a shattered meteor?

Everyone longed to know.

At this very moment, warriors from all directions held their breaths, their eyes fixed in tense anticipation.

A terrifying surge of life force soared toward the Heavenly Dome, as if breaking ancient seals.

Every gaze recoiled, for that boiling, radiant energy blazed like a conflagration—tens of thousands of volcanoes erupting, tearing through clouds and the very vault of heaven!

Around the head of the Underworld Ghost Emperor, violet flames twined, while his Golden Skull radiated a dazzling brilliance. With arms spread wide, he strode step by step out of Qitian City.

Wave after wave of golden, dragon-like energy soared upward like a wild, soaring dragon!

It was simply raw energy—utterly breathtaking and stunning.

One golden dragon after another pierced the earth and sky, dancing with the radiant moonlight, illuminating Qitian City as if it had transformed into a luminous jewel in the heavens.

Violet flames danced atop the Underworld Ghost Emperor’s head, while the Golden Skull shone with a fierce light. His translucent, radiant flesh revealed streams of golden blood pulsing beneath.

He held his head high and stared unflinchingly at the heavens.

All eyes followed as the Ghost Emperor advanced, each step shaking the earth and mountains as if they might collapse beneath him.

His very presence burst with surging energy, like a colossal dragon streaking beyond Qitian City, all the way to the turbulent surface of the Grand Canal 800 miles away.

Elite warriors both within and outside Qitian City could no longer remain seated, following the spectacle from afar as though watching a divine dance.

…

…

Rumbling thunder—

Li Che walked with his hands behind his back, his robe billowing as he lifted his head, gazing steadily at the sky.

Emerging from Qitian City, free from eerie mists and unleashing every drop of his life force, he summoned his martial will. His aura pierced through heaven and earth, stirring a mighty upheaval!

The wind howled as it whipped up the ground’s dust, sending pebbles tumbling and rolling as if carving deep fissures in the earth.

Above, no menacing thunderclouds swirled to herald a dreadful cosmic calamity. Instead, an expansive, serene sky showcased a golden moon disc, casting its magnificent glow.

Boom—

Thunder roared as a flash of lightning burst forth—a surreal, prismatic brilliance reminiscent of geomagnetic light. It twisted like polar auroras, its contours contorting above the vault of heaven, merging with the golden moon in a spectacle of dazzling, slanted brilliance!

Yet the more beautiful it appeared, the stronger the ominous warning it sent.

Like a roiling storm of multicolored lightning that resembled auspicious clouds—brimming with danger.

Even Li Che could feel a bone-deep terror. As his 36,000 pores erupted with surging energy, they clenched in fear.

It was as if a bolt of lightning could strike him, carving a gaping wound right through his body!

It might well extinguish his very life!

Not only did Li Che feel this horror, but the very pressure of heavenly authority materialized—a far greater terror than any ordinary divine calamity!

It seemed to have reached the level of a Second Calamity Divine Calamity!

Rumble—

A violent explosion echoed like a nuclear blast, resonating as a furious roar over an endless sea of dark clouds—a terror that reverberated high into the sky.

Every warrior fell silent, gripped by fear.

Their hearts trembled as if their blood had frozen, rendering them incapable of even the slightest reaction—as though the very will of heaven materialized as a guillotine poised above each fighter’s neck, ready to cleave them in two with gory finality.

This was a punishment tailored specifically for warriors!

Not a speck of hope was granted; any fighter daring to defy destiny and challenge the heavens would be struck down without mercy!

Boom—!!!

Li Che felt the crushing oppressiveness—not akin to ordinary Dao Calamity, but as if the very life-force of heaven and earth sought to annihilate his flesh and shatter his martial will.

It was as if the very ramparts of the cosmos slammed down upon him.

This was a punishment meant to quell all unruly forces. Past, present, and future—any variable that might disturb the cosmic balance was to be eradicated, struck dead by relentless divine lightning!

The sheer pressure alone was terrifying, reducing all sight to darkness.

“What dreadful heavenly punishment! In this age of divine surges, to break through as a Pure Martial Warrior is truly to defy the heavens…”

“The more one defies fate, the more forbidden it becomes. The Underworld Ghost Emperor… might well be torn apart by this heavenly wrath!”

Yet even this fearsome pressure was not the utmost limit of heavenly retribution.

It was like compressed fury reaching a breaking point, then erupting in a cataclysmic explosion capable of obliterating heaven and earth!

In that moment, Li Che unleashed his life force and stood upon the calm surface of the Grand Canal 800 miles from Qitian City. The water lay still, without a ripple or sign of disturbance.

Lifting his head high, his energy danced like colossal dragons in the sky.

Boom—

Li Che’s gaze shone crystal clear.

His martial will soared higher and higher.

In the next moment, a Golden Heavenly Gate materialized!

The immense Golden Heavenly Gate instantly captivated every onlooker.

Warriors from every corner could feel their blood surge like tidal waves—uncontrollable, exhilarated, and filled with reverence.

Many mighty cultivators, those who had stepped into the realm of the Martial God, looked on with awe and trepidation.

Shi Jian, the patriarch of the True Martial Divine Sect, wore a complex expression of emotion—moved, stirred, and reverential—to the point where his feelings intertwined uncontrollably.

“Incredible, simply incredible… to truly shatter the limits as a Pure Martial Warrior and advance toward Martial Immortal! How magnificent the Underworld is!”

Shi Jian couldn’t stop marveling.

Meanwhile…

Within Qitian Inner City,

On the city tower,

Old Monkey gripped his Ruyi Golden Hoop Staff, his golden eyes narrowing as he watched the gigantic Golden Heavenly Gate rise 800 miles away into the air. He couldn’t help but murmur in admiration.

Boss, clad in white robes as pristine as snow, held XiXi in his arms, while Big Black Dog trotted along at their side atop the inner city wall.

XiXi’s large eyes blinked in sheer delight. To her, the warriors of the Underworld were like family.

After all, her Father hailed from the Underworld, and Master Niu Niu was also of the Underworld—thus, she too was one of them.

All the heroes of the Underworld were naturally her elders.

And XiXi couldn’t help but worry for them.

Old Monkey slowly hefted the Ruyi Golden Hoop Staff, his eyes gleaming. In one swift motion, he hurled it high into the heavens…

With a piercing whistle, the staff transformed into a streak of golden light as it spun and shot into the clouds, shattering them as if they were but fragile remnants.

The Treasure Stick roared like a colossal golden dragon, unleashing a fearsome bellow that echoed across the land.

It spanned 800 miles to hover above the Underworld Ghost Emperor’s towering figure.

In that very instant, as if imbued with divine spirit, the Treasure Stick burst forth with a sacred aura. In the horrified gazes of all, the surrounding heavens and earth seemed to ripple and fold, battered by an unseen force.

“The Qitian Temple Spirit has intervened!”

“He vows to protect the Underworld Ghost Emperor and help him break through to Martial Immortal. It turns out he was serious!”

“This is no small feat. To shatter into Martial Immortal, one must harness the overwhelming essence of the cosmos. In this era, earthly cosmic energy is tainted with divine elements. To isolate pure cosmic energy is an immensely challenging, all-consuming task!”

Many elite warriors, their eyes alight with envy, looked on.

Rarely has one seen a divine spirit accomplish such a feat.

But envy alone would not suffice—after all, the resurrection of the Qitian Temple Spirit was inextricably linked with the Underworld Ghost Emperor, and no one could replicate aiding a temple spirit’s revival ahead of its time.

Within Qitian Inner City, the once-slouched Old Monkey gradually straightened his back.

His radiant golden eyes blazed as he tipped his toes lightly before somersaulting, crashing into the void as though shattering the fabric of space.

Boom—

In just a few breaths’ time,

Everyone sensed a subtle tremor in the world, as if the very essence of the cosmos surged like a tidal wave between heaven and earth.

Hundreds, thousands, even two or three thousand miles—

Within a 3,000-mile radius of Qitian City, cosmic energy was drawn by an overwhelming force, converging at a thunderous pace!

Li Che felt it clearly: this was the promise of the Qitian Temple Spirit, empowering him in his quest to break into Martial Immortal.

When Li Che battled the Black Bull Demon God Supreme Supreme in Qitian Inner City, he daringly stepped through the Heavenly Gate, channeling Martial Immortal energy. Yet at that time, he was not a true Martial Immortal, unable to fully merge that essence with his body and lacking heavenly certification.

And most crucially,

for Li Che to fully fuse martial essence with his flesh, he needed… an abundance of pure cosmic energy!

Much of Li Che’s progress on the Pure Martial path stemmed from the unparalleled training provided by the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit, and secondly from the boosts gained by consuming Martial Pills.

After all, swallowing a Martial Pill was essentially absorbing pure cosmic energy.

Yet in this age, divine surges taint cosmic energy with a potent divine force. To strip that away and extract pure energy is no trivial matter—nothing short of grueling.

The cosmic energy required for a Martial Immortal breakthrough was simply too vast.

One Four Sovereign Martial Pill would never suffice; perhaps only the essence contained in hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of pills might barely be enough.

Now, the Qitian Temple Spirit himself had appeared, drawing in cosmic energy from within a 3,000-mile radius to help Li Che shatter the barrier and merge his flesh with his martial essence!

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Boom—!!!

Inside Li Che’s chest, the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit pounded wildly, as if celestial drums were being beaten high above!

The Dao Fruit too was enduring the cleansing of heavenly lightning!

It was as if both Li Che and the Dao Fruit were undergoing their own trials of transformation!

Thud—Boom!

In an instant, Li Che’s robe exploded outward as ripples of energy radiated in circular shockwaves.

Violet flames roiled while the Golden Skull’s head shone with an unrestrained brilliance.

His flesh surged and swelled, reaching nearly three meters in height, his body rippling with muscles like mighty trunks—a sight both divine and demonic!

His spine trembled relentlessly as an enormous furnace of pure energy manifested—a roaring Dragon Elephant cry, as if ready to pierce the heavens!

And above him, the hazy cosmic energy hung like mist.

Intertwined multicolored lightning suddenly burst forth in radiant blooms!

From towering mountain peaks, a violent, sudden descent of thunderbolts crashed down—a storm so blinding it resembled nine great orbs of light exploding in unison!

Everyone’s breath caught in their throats.

Before all watching eyes, that lightning smashed relentlessly into the imposing form standing on the Grand Canal!

Bang—!!!

Massive waves erupted, churning into colossal surges as if the entire canal had been torn asunder!

Water shot up a thousand feet into the air!

The Underworld Ghost Emperor trembled; his mighty flesh appeared pierced by the dreadful bolts, spewing torrents of blood and mist!

Yet all marveled at the terror and power of his flesh!

A single drop of golden blood fell, instantly vaporizing vast amounts of water into billowing white mist!

Beneath the shattered flesh, gleaming golden bones and intricately patterned golden meridians were revealed—a masterpiece of terrifying perfection!

And yet…

Could such formidable flesh truly withstand this calamity?!

Shi Jian, the patriarch of the True Martial Divine Sect, sighed softly.

“This is the Pure Martial Celestial Calamity. Heaven does not allow mortals to outdo it. To become a Martial Immortal is to transcend the mortal realm and defy the heavens… how could the cosmos permit any other way?”

“This is far more terrifying than any of the trials that even divine cultivators have faced!”

The Ancestral Patriarch of the True Martial Divine Sect, a peerless martial deity, spoke.

Standing on the long river, Li Che writhed in excruciating pain as blood spattered—a torment so intense it nearly made him faint.

Yet his shattered flesh mended rapidly, refining itself through the crucible of suffering.

A furious surge of cosmic energy streamed into his body from all around—a 3,000-mile tide that ripped through him and restored his wounds!

He knew that growing stronger was the only key—there was no time for courtesy!

Violet flames roiled as the Dragon Elephant roared defiantly at the oppressive will of heaven, letting out a mighty cry toward the sky.

Li Che endured unbearable pain, struck by relentless lightning. Every inch of his skin seemed to burst open, golden blood splattering as bright fissures appeared like scars of survival.

It was terrifying beyond measure…

Such calamity was like a nightmare that one dared not face.

Smash—!!!

A deafening explosion rang out.

The waters of the Grand Canal instantly receded by a meter as they evaporated!

Thick mists billowed between heaven and earth!

Li Che spread his arms wide and threw a punch, unleashing the Myriad Transformations of Dragon Elephant!

Yet as a crimson mountain loomed downwards, his chest was shattered—exposing a brilliant, powerful heart. That heart, with all its vital apertures, spurted turbulent golden blood while fragments of golden bone cracked, revealing marrow.

Even Li Che’s face betrayed his grim realization of this terrible heavenly trial.

And while Li Che suffered under the wrath of lightning, the Thunder Magnetic Conduit Dao Fruit in his chest was exhilarated, as if reveling in the carnage!

Strike! Strike quickly!

It was a mad, exhilarating rush!

The Thunder Magnetic Conduit Dao Fruit was in ecstasy—while Li Che, by contrast, was in agony.

Li Che had never imagined that the Martial Immortal trial would be so fearsome!

Compared to his previous breakthroughs at his limit, this calamity was exponentially harsher. Earlier trials felt like small skirmishes; now… he was truly risking his life!

Rumble—

Cosmic energy roared in torrents as the Great Sage exerted himself, well aware of the terrifying trials faced by those breaking into Martial Immortal—and how desperately they needed pure cosmic energy to sustain it.

Yet that energy must be utterly devoid of divine contamination; otherwise, it would poison them instead of nourishing them.

Boom, boom, boom—!!!

Multicolored lightning, fierce and unyielding, flashed one after another. The dazzling barrage, like the aurora of polar lights, was breathtaking and beautiful, yet laden with mortal peril!

Once more, Li Che was blasted aside. His Martial Immortal golden body trembled; in that moment, he felt woefully exposed before the might of heaven.

His chest was rent open, ribs protruding and even shattering, as brilliant golden marrow streamed forth.

But his martial will soared as he greedily absorbed the cosmic energy from a 3,000-mile expanse, rapidly healing his wounds and transmuting his life force!

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—

The Martial Immortal lightning showed no sign of abating!

It was as though it sought to snuff out Li Che’s life, and Li Che retaliated with every secret celestial martial art he knew, fighting the heavens tooth and nail.

Of course, he could have chosen to slip into Mo City Fengdu…

Retreating into a Minor Cavern of the Heavens to evade the binding will of the cosmos, but that would mean his efforts were in vain.

He’d be forever barred from the mortal realm.

“He’s doomed. The Underworld Ghost Emperor might just collapse under this lightning trial.”

“Yet his flesh is truly formidable—able to withstand countless strikes of searing lightning!”

“This is the genuine celestial punishment—a trial so immense it defies comprehension!”

A cold voice among the assembled warriors declared:

“But… it’s not enough!”

“We want him dead!”

Elite challengers from every faction spoke coldly, sneering as they responded.

Whoosh—!!!

In an instant, a shaft of golden light materialized, as if a grand Buddha’s spectral form had appeared, poised with five-fingered incantations. Benevolent and serene, his radiance cascaded down accompanied by countless Sanskrit chants that roared like thunder!

The chanting began as soft as a spring rain, only to transform into the clamor of war!

Killing intent exuded from the Buddha’s voice!

Yet this wrath was not aimed directly at the Underworld Ghost Emperor; it harnessed the divine element in the cosmos. The once overwhelming 3,000-mile cosmic energy now seemed to shudder, as if its divine essence were being forced to disperse!

Lü Taibai, Lü Qiankun, and others gasped in unison.

“Someone powerful has intervened in secret, aiming to disrupt the Underworld Ghost Emperor’s breakthrough!”

“They are channeling so much divine energy to taint pure martial strength!”

“How despicable and cowardly!”

…

Lü Taibai gritted his teeth, his silver hair streaming as his concealed Taibai Sword clanged with each move!

Lü Qiankun shook his head. “The one behind this move is extraordinary, hiding within a Minor Cavern of the Heavens to cut off the will of the cosmos. But his intervention isn’t to meddle with the trial itself—it’s to unleash divine energy…”

“For warriors of Pure Martial Arts, any trace of divinity is a lethal toxin. Even a small dose can shatter all their efforts!”

Boom—!!!

Amidst raging, interwoven winds and surging demonic energy, a golden vortex materialized. Within its swirling depths, a vast, turbulent sea appeared, and a golden-winged roc spread its mighty wings. It shimmered like molten gold, its feathered blades slicing through the air with ruthless precision.

This was the doing of one of the mightiest from the Demonic Clan of the Ten Thousand Great Rivers!

Moreover, many faces paled—for the one acting belonged to a Supreme of the Three Calamities!

This supreme being dared not reveal himself in the mortal realm and had hidden within a Minor Cavern of the Heavens until now. From there, he struck in secret!

Even under the awe-inspiring presence of the Qitian Temple Spirit, powerful warriors had stepped in!

The Underworld had entangled too many forces, and some were unwilling to see yet another peerless Martial Immortal emerge from its ranks!

Rumbling—

Divine energy surged as if concentrated into a vortex, colliding with that of the cosmos!

Under the brutal assault of lightning, Li Che’s flesh spilled golden blood while his eyes burned with unyielding determination.

Those who struck in secret did not aim to kill him outright—at that moment he was enduring his trial. A killing blow would only enrage the divine lightning!

Yet they deliberately introduced divine energy, a treacherous ploy intended to thwart his passage into Martial Immortal!

The overwhelming temptation, the wild assault on Li Che’s martial will—it was as if a seductive voice whispered deep within his soul:

“Give in. Spread your arms and absorb the divine. You could soar to unimaginable heights and become an unparalleled deity. Why toil on the arduous Pure Martial path? Mortal ascension is but a legend. In today’s world, the heavens offer no such chance!”

“Open your arms and embrace divinity—transform into a deity!”

That was the whisper of another desire deep within his soul.

Thump, thump, thump—

The Seven Aperture Luminous Heart trembled, and in an instant, Li Che’s eyes cleared. His will became resolutely unyielding!

Boom—

Li Che’s flesh and blood resounded with determination. Although his body was pierced, he fervently absorbed the cosmic energy, rapidly healing his wounds. His momentum soared, unstoppable!

Not once did he despair in the face of those who sought to block his breakthrough.

Instead, he raised his head, his fighting spirit surging, and fiercely resisted!

With every step, the very air seemed compressed as he charged headlong into the vortex of cosmic energy.

The 3,000-mile vortex pulsed as if devouring everything in its path, shrinking swiftly!

Boom—!!!

A bolt of lightning struck, tearing through Li Che’s flesh as golden blood splattered and bones shattered, scattering splinters of marrow.

All onlookers were numb and horrified. This Martial Immortal… seemed destined for the Underworld Ghost Emperor’s fate.

Who could possibly withstand such divine lightning and thunder?

Was this how martial immortals in ancient times broke through?

Shi Jian and the Ancestral Patriarch of the True Martial Divine Sect were astounded. According to their ancient texts, no breakthrough had ever been so fearsome.

“Perhaps… it is because this Martial Immortal is unique in all of five millennia, past and future. One might even say… that the heavens themselves have changed!”

Divine energy surged like an impenetrable veil as demonic aura intertwined—both brimming with potent divinity, striving to impede the Underworld Ghost Emperor’s breakthrough!

“In this era, Pure Martial Immortal is not even needed. And even if one were to breakthrough, what would it matter? Times have changed, and even attaining Martial Immortal power would render one powerless!”

“Better not to try at all!”

A cold voice rang out.

“Go! Channel the Divine Calamity!”

Hidden amidst the void, a mighty cultivator spoke. In an instant, the space shattered, and a Divine Calamity Practitioner burst forth from the broken realm.

And he was a eunuch!

Indeed, donned in a purple-dyed robe of the Diao Temple adorned with dragon patterns, it was clear he held an exalted position in the temple.

Elderly beyond measure, his face was stark white and beardless.

The moment this aged eunuch appeared, he charged unabated toward Li Che—who was battling the heavenly calamity—with a forceful assault that invoked divine wrath, as thunderbolt after thunderbolt rained down!

“Ah—!!!”

The eunuch of the First Calamity could only let out a piercing cry before being obliterated by the lightning, reduced to nothing but ash!

He had meddled in the Martial Immortal trial, and his end was utterly complete—a single bolt of lightning was enough to dispatch him.

But because of his interference, the potency of the Martial Immortal lightning soared even higher.

Bang—!!!

The clamor of thunder was enough to shatter eardrums; it was as if the Milky Way itself had unleashed its fury, with stars colliding into the earth!

Smack!

Li Che coughed out a cloud of bloody mist; the trial became even more harrowing. His eyes turned ice-cold as he fixed his gaze into the void.

“Great Jing Emperor, is it you?!”

“Malicious and despicable.”

“Your name is inscribed in the Underworld’s Life and Death Book. Sooner or later, you will be reaped!”

The Underworld Ghost Emperor’s voice rang out forcefully, brimming with confidence and not an ounce of weakness!

Hmph—

A hidden warrior in the void merely snorted.

Meanwhile, many Minor Caverns of the Heavens materialized as powerful figures cast their gazes downward.

Within these caverns, even cultivators who had just broken through the First Calamity charged forth, triggering the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations as soon as they appeared—

only to be shattered into ashes in an instant, their bones obliterated!

Yet through their sacrifice, the potency of the trial was increased manyfold!

The Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations blended with the Martial Immortal trial!

Even a powerhouse like Li Che, with his Martial Immortal golden body, was left in tatters!

The violet flames dimmed as though nearing extinction, yet the double image of his Martial Immortal essence almost completely merged with his being.

The Golden Heavenly Gate trembled with every thunderous beat!

“Little Brother, you really know how to absorb energy. Aiming for bodily transcendence, eh? Old Sun’s got your back! Hehe!”

From the void,

a sudden deep, hearty laugh from Old Monkey rang out.

In the next heartbeat,

the cosmic energy within a 3,000-mile field surged and spread, drawing in divine energy from a 5,000-mile radius. A tidal wave of divine might, summoned from Minor Caverns across the realm, was suddenly suppressed.

With a resounding boom—!!!

Just as the powerful forces from various factions were about to act, a radiant golden staff, towering like a colossus, barreled through the void!

The resplendent golden Buddha was instantly shattered, its fragments scattering like broken beams of light.

Even the golden-winged roc concealed within the Minor Cavern cried out!

“Qitian! Qitian, have you gone mad?!”

“How dare a divine being tread the mortal realm?! They will be obliterated into dust!”

“Is it really worth it just for a half-step Martial Immortal breakthrough?!”

Yet,

the golden staff was grasped by a furry hand and, with a cheerful “Hehe,” was forcefully thrust into the Minor Cavern, striking the mighty golden-winged roc like a sudden, crushing blow—the creature’s flesh exploded in a spray of blood, its feathers scattering.

Inside that cavern, Old Monkey donned his Golden Armor and Purple-Gold Phoenix Crown, his presence now unaccompanied by his usual red cloak. Hoisting the Ruyi Golden Hoop Staff, he chuckled.

With one stride, he strode out of the cavern.

A grand Xuanyellow banner was planted on his Golden Armor’s back, fluttering mightily.

It was none other than the Gathering Celestial Yellow Flag!

“Old Sun is back—now watch me make my entrance again!”

“Hehe…”

One after another, Minor Caverns soared into the sky as furious warriors glared—Qitian Temple Flag! That monkey actually had a Qitian Temple Flag!

Even though it appeared only briefly in the mortal realm, its presence was undeniable!

This was the prized treasure of the Dark Heavenly Court’s Pantheon—how could it fall into the hands of this wretched monkey?!

Some warriors couldn’t stay any longer, hastily abandoning their Minor Caverns and retreating.

Meanwhile, the Qitian Temple Spirit, with a flag planted behind him, moved in and out as Minor Caverns receded—accompanied by continuous screams more agonizing than the Underworld Ghost Emperor’s own thunderous fate.

Boom—!!!

In an instant, a massive bolt of lightning, as imposing as a giant dragon, tore across the sky!

It slashed through the heavens before every eye!

And the entire 5,000-mile reservoir of cosmic energy was sucked dry into nothingness!

Every gaze fell upon the parched bed of the Grand Canal.

There, a gigantic crater had formed.

Steam hissed and curled from it.

In that abyss, a lone figure stood shrouded in total darkness—charred like a burnt husk, his form barely discernible.

The once-burning violet flames had died, as if erasing all traces of life.

Then,

a heart-thundering beat erupted like a clap of thunder.

Crack—crack—

The figure, scorched by relentless lightning, slowly stirred. Amid the char, life and death braided together. From the blackened remains, his eyes suddenly snapped open, unleashing a piercing, golden brilliance into the void!

Li Che’s golden eyes shone radiantly. In that moment, the torment dissipated and tranquility prevailed.

In his mind, like the tolling of a great bell, he finally understood his own realm.

Martial Immortal…

What does it mean to be a Martial Immortal?

To bear the weight of heavenly thunder, to rise from death into life—a defiance of heaven itself!

This is the path of the Martial Dao Ascendant!

Billions of lights illuminate the cosmos!

As though gathering the martial fortune of five millennia, the one true Martial Dao Ascendant shone at this very moment in all his glory!

Even those emerging from Minor Caverns, their staffs stained with blood, could not help but lock their gaze upon him.

There was a time when becoming a Martial Immortal was nearly impossible…

A melancholy and desolate look shone in their eyes.

Is the age of the divine truly over?