Chapter 1729: The Third Rune, A Shocking Change in the Immortal Realm (Part 2)

It is unknown how much time passed before the scorched and desolate world gradually began to cool down.

What had once been like a massive furnace, roasting all things, had now extinguished. The once intense heat was replaced by dull, ashen hues. The endless day of this world finally sank into night, and all things fell into a deep silence.

“It’s over…”

A voice, faint with fatigue, echoed through the air. A streak of mysterious light pierced the darkness, and a tall figure emerged, stepping through the light with a heavy sigh.

Behind him, a mysterious realm shimmered, glowing with countless brilliant lights–this was Jiang Chengxuan’s domain.

After the battle, even Jiang Chengxuan looked somewhat weary, his eyes calm, yet the Everlasting Holy Scriptures and the Nine Marvels Bodhi Lotus Lamp had shrunk down to a small size and floated gently beside him, casting a small area of light.

Clop… Clop…

Walking through the shattered void, Jiang Chengxuan took step after step, heading toward a specific place. After a while, he arrived at a dim platform–the very spot where the primal rune had once been located.

However, after this terrifying battle, the platform had been driven deep into the ground, and its height had diminished to less than a tenth of its original height, a testament to the sheer destructive force of the battle.

The celestial light of his domain fell on the platform, parting the chaotic mist. Another terrifying figure slowly revealed itself.

It was a black stone sculpture, kneeling on the ground, resembling the massive corpse of a wild beast. It was already cracked and dull, no longer emitting any light.

In the endless battle, both Jiang Chengxuan and the burning giant had pushed themselves to their limits. In the end, even the giant’s black sun had been exhausted, leaving nothing behind.

The outcome of the battle was now clear: Jiang Chengxuan had ultimately been the one to laugh last. The burning giant had been completely consumed by its flames, transforming into a true stone sculpture.

Jiang Chengxuan still remembered that, in the final moment, the giant’s hollow eyes had revealed a trace of emotion–almost as if it were a release.

“No matter what, death is still a return,” he murmured quietly, his gaze heavy with emotion, tinged with a hint of melancholy.

There was no time for mourning, so Jiang Chengxuan slowly walked to the kneeling stone sculpture, his gaze falling on the back of its head.

There, he noticed the faintest hint of celestial light, glowing softly, its energy weak and serene.

This was the polluted primal rune. It had lost much of its power, having been drained by the battle. Even its ominous aura had diminished significantly.

With a deep breath, Jiang Chengxuan placed his hand gently over the back of the stone sculpture’s head. His spiritual energy flowed into it, and gradually, he began to awaken the primal rune’s power.

“Whum–!”

With a strange, otherworldly vibration, a complex and ancient rune appeared, cloaked in radiance. Compared to the two primal runes Jiang Chengxuan had previously collected, this one seemed much smaller.

“Seal!”

Seeing this, Jiang Chengxuan wasted no time. He summoned the Everlasting Holy Scriptures, which transformed into golden needles that pierced the rune, causing it to tremble and hum as it activated the sealing power.

This time, the process was much smoother than before, as the Everlasting Holy Scriptures had been completed, enhancing his purification method.

The ominous darkness was rapidly consumed, visibly diminishing with every passing moment.

However, this process was not without consequences for Jiang Chengxuan. During the purification of the primal rune, an invisible force descended, merging into his immortal body.

This force was even weaker than before, and Jiang Chengxuan’s aura barely increased, but he remained calm, unaffected by this minimal change.

At least, this power had further stabilized his realm, pushing him closer to perfection in the mid-stage of the Immortal Realm. He was now just one step away from reaching the final level.

“Ha–”

After a moment, the purification of the primal rune was complete. Jiang Chengxuan exhaled a breath of stale air, then sat cross-legged on the platform, his expression peaceful.

In his spiritual perception, he could see that another celestial peak had emerged within his domain, with a primal and intricate rune carved into the peak’s summit. Nine-colored celestial light surrounded it, exuding a far-reaching and divine aura.

“That power is clearer now…”

Now that he had collected three primal runes, Jiang Chengxuan felt their resonance more clearly. It was a power of an extremely high level–sacred and profound, sending a shiver through his being.

However, when he tried to harness this power, it was still as if he were throwing a stone into the sea–no progress was made.

It seemed that all four primal runes had to be gathered. One missing rune would render the process incomplete.

When all four were gathered, the power would be beyond Jiang Chengxuan’s imagination–a force of divine magic that made him tremble with anticipation.

“There’s still one primal rune left… It must be flawless.”

Though Jiang Chengxuan was excited by this temptation, he did not lose his composure. He quickly steadied his mind.

According to his calculations, there was still time. He had pushed himself to the limits on this journey. Although the final step appeared within reach, it could also be the step that would lead him into a bottomless abyss.

Therefore, the closer he got to success, the more calm and focused he needed to be.

After securing the third primal rune, Jiang Chengxuan didn’t rush off to the fourth place of disaster and calamity. Instead, he manifested his domain, sitting in the void, beginning to circulate his cultivation techniques.

He focused on replenishing his strength while allowing his celestial treasures to absorb divine energy and return to a perfect state.

He was preparing for the final battle.

….

Meanwhile, in the Xuanning Immortal Domain, a catastrophe had unknowingly begun, one that would soon sweep through the entire world at an astonishing speed.

The Extreme Grudge Valley

Located in the central region of the Xuanning Immortal Domain, the Extreme Grudge Valley was a special treasure land.

In the past, it had belonged to a demonic sect, but after Jiang Chengxuan took control of the central region, it was eradicated by the Alliance of Free Cultivators and sealed, becoming a place forsaken by all.

However, with the recent Cataclysm, a group of cultivators had arrived here, fleeing from other places and setting up camp in the valley.

As long as they obeyed the valley’s many taboos, they had been living in relative peace. The only danger was the oppressive Yin energy they felt while cultivating.

But on this day, for some unknown reason, while cultivating in the Extreme Grudge Valley, the immortals here began to feel a bone-chilling cold, making them shiver uncontrollably.

“Damn it… why is it so cold all of a sudden?”

“Ugh! This cursed place is becoming more and more unsettling.”

Throughout the valley, complaints echoed as a group of immortals from the Immortal Sect walked out, groaning as they tried to dispel the cold energy inside their bodies.

“Hey! What’s that over there?”

At that moment, as they walked through the foggy valley, they saw a piercingly bright blue light ahead.

“Whoosh–!”

With their surprised voices, a gust of icy wind blew through, freezing their meridians and sending chills down their spines.

“Zzz–! Something’s wrong, why is it so cold!”

Recalling the various legends they had heard about the valley, the group of immortals gasped in shock, their voices trembling with uncertainty.

“Uh… ah…”

Before they could react, the blue light flashed in front of them.

In the blink of an eye, a terrifying figure appeared right before their eyes.

“Ah–!”

It was the decaying corpse of a beast, completely covered in runes. The corpse had been frozen by ice and resembled a mummified body.

But within its sunken eye sockets, black light flickered. Its forehead had sharp horns, its white hair was long and wild, and its fangs were exposed. It looked exactly like a Rakshasa!

“What is this… Run! Run!”

“Ah–!”