Chapter 831: Chapter 831: Sudden Change

“Some beings wish for eternal life,” the Illusory Heaven Divine Vine told him. These words were like a clap of thunder!

“What… is this about?” Shi Hao’s heart surged with waves of emotion as he looked at the fragments of imprints and then at the Illusory Heaven Divine Vine. He found it hard to stay composed.

The Illusory Heaven Divine Vine was a Divine Medicine that had survived endless years, naturally witnessing many strange events and seeing the most dazzling individuals step onto the path of undying.

“Someone… can truly live forever, never dying?” Shi Hao’s voice trembled slightly.

From what he knew, neither the War Emperor nor the Six Primeval Celestials could walk that kind of path–the Demon Lord of Demon Island, supreme in his domain, had ultimately failed as well.

“Have a closer look for yourself.” The Illusory Heaven Divine Vine emitted light. Its method of communication was unique: neither through words nor through Divine Sense, but through emanating light alone.

Throughout endless years, it had observed too much. As a Divine Medicine, those who possessed it were naturally supreme figures, leaving behind irremovable marks.

Shi Hao placed his hand on the snow-white vine, silently sensing and capturing those imprint fragments.

The images were fragmented and disjointed. He saw a person–their gaze, their bearing–breathtaking and indescribable.

This was a green-clothed figure. They gazed at the heavens with countless bolts of lightning surrounding them like roaring rivers. Yet they were unafraid, opening their mouth to inhale, and the ocean-like sea of thunder poured entirely into their mouth.

“Heavenly Calamity!” Shi Hao was certain: this was not ordinary Thunder Secret Technique but a true Heavenly Tribulation–a Divine Punishment from above.

Boom!

Even fiercer lightning descended, transforming into an ocean that engulfed the land and completely filled the heavens.

This stunned Shi Hao. How catastrophic must this calamity be? It was as if the world were ending!

The green-clothed man’s hair fluttered in the wind. He appeared around thirty years old, his deep eyes carrying the timelessness of ancient history, exuding a sense of supremacy, as though he alone ruled over the world.

Clearly, this was an unparalleled figure!

Facing the overwhelming calamity overshadowing the heavens, he pointed a single finger toward the firmament. The result? The void collapsed, billions of bolts of lightning vanished entirely, wiped clean!

This kind of technique, this level of power–it was simply inconceivable.

Though these were merely imprint fragments, the oppressive aura and resonance seemed to transcend eternity, branding themselves into Shi Hao’s heart, leaving him trembling.

This person was too strong–able to repel a Heavenly Calamity with a single finger.

Then, chaotic mist surged. The lightning descending from above transformed, interwoven with primal chaotic light, descending like rivers from the heavens.

The green-clothed man radiated self-confidence, his gaze profound. He defied the heavens, ascending straight into the cosmic starry sky, pushing all tribulations out into the void outside the domain.

“Is he undergoing tribulation to become an eternal, undying being?” Shi Hao asked.

“He stands at the pinnacle of the divine dao, and once he transcends the Heavenly Calamity, he can achieve immortality,” replied the Illusory Heaven Divine Vine.

Shi Hao focused his senses further, carefully examining those imprint fragments. The deeper he delved, the more calamitous they seemed. In the depths of the extraterrestrial void, chaotic light and endless thunder submerged the region entirely.

A green-clothed figure expanded rapidly, his body surrounded by sun, moon, and stars, vast and boundless, facing the Heavenly Calamity head-on.

Finally, the lightning emitted Immortal Spring light–a spectacle so world-shaking that few, if any, had witnessed such a thing since ancient times. Yet, the green-clothed man sustained injuries, struck so fiercely that blood soaked him, his bones shattered, his sinews ruptured, and his flesh scorched black.

Still, he lived. As the thunder light faded away, it seemed he had passed through the final barrier.

But at that moment, the cosmic heavens cracked open, releasing tendrils of grey mist that engulfed the region. The green-clothed man roared furiously toward the heavens.

It seemed as if something appeared, engaging him in furious battle.

Vaguely, Shi Hao could see a black claw descending, followed by blood splattering, as the region boiled over.

When all fell silent, a fragment of green clothing adhered with blood remained, neither destroyed by the Heavenly Calamity nor corroded by the grey mist, proving the existence of an unparalleled figure.

Beyond that, there was also a shattered cauldron–fractured and holding relics–bathed in scarlet blood as it surged toward the higher realms, carrying ill tidings for the Ye clan.

“He… failed,” Shi Hao sighed lightly. This was undoubtedly a peerless prodigy.

The star domain dimmed, as star after star withered and perished, resulting in destruction–a desolate, tragic conclusion.

“Who was he?” Shi Hao asked.

“Ye Qianyu,” the Illusory Heaven Divine Vine sighed softly.

“Hmm? The name sounds familiar; I feel like I’ve heard of it somewhere,” Shi Hao muttered. Then, startled, he suddenly raised his head and exclaimed, “From the Primeval Times, a member of the Ye Imperial Clan?”

“Indeed, Ye Qianyu was the strongest within the Ye family–a supreme figure,” the Illusory Heaven Divine Vine replied.

It had once witnessed, for it had been carried within that cauldron, and even as a Divine Medicine, it had been unable to save such a remarkable individual’s life, for there had been no opportunity.

“You… weren’t born within the Immortal Ancient Era?” Shi Hao asked in surprise.

“I was brought inside,” the Illusory Heaven Divine Vine answered forthrightly.

“These imprint fragments…” Shi Hao furrowed his brow. Within the Illusory Heaven Divine Vine’s body, there were other imprints, and one set of them was equally astonishing.

A man in white, with sword-like eyebrows extending to his temples, moved with unmatched dominance, commanding the heavens and earth, contemptuous of time itself.

Again, it was a tragedy. This peerless prodigy also ventured deep into the cosmos. Encircled by star rivers, they gazed disdainfully at the nine heavens and ten earths, roaring aloud as star rivers trembled and stars exploded.

Though struck until his flesh was torn, he endured to the end and succeeded. Once the thunder light faded, his Primordial Spirit emerged, preparing to bathe in the residual lightning.

At that moment, a shadow passed, shrouding the region.

Vaguely, the anguished roar of the peerless prodigy could be heard.

When the area returned to tranquility, the man remained, but his Primordial Spirit, once brilliant, had turned jet black, and he finally sank into his body. With great difficulty, he took… one step.

After that step, the tower he had cultivated with his life fractured, scattering fragments across the Three Thousand States.

Among the starry sky, the man’s eyes, no longer shining but as black as his Primordial Spirit, woodenly gazed toward the higher realms. From then on, no one ever saw him again.

“Who was this person?”

“An Ancient Royal Clan member–Mo Wudao,” the Illusory Heaven Divine Vine answered.

Shi Hao’s heart trembled greatly. As expected, another monumental figure. He had heard of Mo Wudao before; Qi Daolin’s bone texts had mentioned him–a creature hailed as the strongest in Primeval history.

What happened? Such individuals had ascended to the highest peak of divine dao, poised to achieve immortality. Why did sudden anomalies occur?

Reflecting on the images earlier, Shi Hao’s spine grew cold. He felt an ominous sensation–a foreboding chill. Was it merely accidental?

“This time, I did not witness it firsthand,” the Illusory Heaven Divine Vine said.

When it regained its freedom, it had accidentally discovered Mo Wudao’s Divine Tower fragments among the mountains, rooting itself there and capturing fragmented imprint images from the remains of the tower.

Shi Hao had always pondered one question: In the Immortal Ancient Era, there were people who became immortals, transcending time and remaining undying–why is it that, in this epoch, no one can rise to such heights?

He had received many answers but none were complete.

According to the bone texts, there were various theories.

Some said this epoch had issues–without Heavenly Calamities, completeness could not be achieved, and the final step could not be taken.

Others claimed the times were different–the conditions needed were no longer present.

Still, some stated that those who attempted the ultimate step encountered terrifying phenomena beyond imagination–an unprecedented horror.

Now, it seemed that the last theory stirred unease. The imprint fragments within the Illusory Heaven Divine Vine pointed toward such occurrences–there truly were “anomalies.”

He quickly thought about the Demon Lord of Demon Island–similar calamities befell him as well.

This epoch was not devoid of individuals capable of eternal life–it was that mysterious changes disrupted them!

“What exactly is it?!” Shi Hao furrowed his brow, his heart cold. The world was enigmatic, filled with too many uncertainties that left him unsettled.

He remembered the Willow Deity and recalled its words: Taking that step would lead to unimaginable things–horrors beyond the wildest imagination.

“Did the Willow Deity also experience this?” Shi Hao was shaken as he thought back to conversations between the Willow Deity and the Little Pagoda. At the time, he hadn’t paid much attention, but now, reflecting back, he couldn’t remain calm.

The Little Pagoda had hinted vaguely that the Willow Deity might be the only living being who survived “those” events!

“If you keep your promise, I’ll tell you something even more useful,” the Illusory Heaven Divine Vine said apprehensively. It was clearly uneasy, afraid Shi Hao might completely consume it.

“I’m true to my word. Don’t be afraid,” Shi Hao reassured.

“Walking this path, you’re likely in danger too–anomalies might occur,” the Illusory Heaven Divine Vine warned, causing Shi Hao to freeze.

“Speak in detail.”

Long ago, the Illusory Heaven Divine Vine regained its freedom, later infiltrating a No-Man’s Land through its astonishing Earth Escape ability.

Unfortunately, timing worked against it. That instance coincided with the opening of “Immortal Ancient,” where Immortal Dao Flower Buds bloomed, and the entire region was filled with Venerable Ones. It was captured and brought into Immortal Ancient.

“I changed owners several times, following the Five-Crowned King and then serving an Array Master.”

Shi Hao was surprised to hear this.

“What I want to say is, there were people like you–alternate means of breaking through to godhood–who were deeply defiant of the natural order but ultimately encountered anomalies.”

The Illusory Heaven Divine Vine had followed a Five-Crowned King, a prodigy of unprecedented brilliance who tried to become a god by merging the Five Elements Origin–a venture that took him around the world and led him to emerge five times.

Anything related to the Five Elements he had collected, stacking them like mountains. This included items like chaotic earth and primordial water–each, a treasure of unimaginable rarity.

Most staggering was that he obtained a source predating the creation of the world, which, if fused, would ignite his being, shining throughout antiquity.

Shi Hao was astounded by this: utilizing the Five Elements Origin for washing and transformation was naturally extraordinary.

The Five Elements encompass all things!

Evidently, the Five-Crowned King stood unheard-of–the pinnacle of his era.

“At that time, he had only merged ‘two elements’ when an accident occurred. What was initially an attempt meant to be reserved for his last reincarnation was disrupted prematurely.”

Unexpectedly, during his trial, ominous phenomena arose, leading to ultimate calamity.

“What kind of accident?” Shi Hao asked.

“Anomalies occurred,” answered the Illusory Heaven Divine Vine, recounting what it had witnessed firsthand.

On the first occasion, the Five-Crowned King faced a relatively minor anomaly, overcoming it successfully. He was astonished and continued his attempts, advancing on the path, again prevailing.

But after several encounters, his eyes lost their luster, turning a dead grey hue, and then this person vanished forever.

The Illusory Heaven Divine Vine’s elaboration was sparse–it was too terrified at the time, retreating into a distant formation, almost reliving the calamity of Ye Qianyu, frozen in fear.

“You mean, alternate paths to godhood lead to calamities, potentially accompanied by ominous phenomena?” Shi Hao furrowed his brows.

“Extraordinary beings, those stronger than the ancient sages, are highly likely to encounter such things,” the Illusory Heaven Divine Vine explained–a conclusion reached by the Five-Crowned King during his progression through two or three anomalies.

Shi Hao’s mind surged with emotion.

“Could the extraordinary figures throughout history, who pursued divergent paths, falling to ruin, have some connection to anomalies as well?” He grimly pondered.

“This place, named Immortal Ancient, bears its name due to connections with the last annihilated epoch–it’s for this reason anomalies are more frequent here,” the Illusory Heaven Divine Vine remarked.

Clearly, it knew many things.

The prior epoch, named Immortal Ancient, was no longer in existence–a relic buried in the past.

Legend had it that this site held ties to the destroyed Immortal Ancient epoch.

Hence, this region bore the name “Immortal Ancient,” borrowing the title of the previous epoch.

“Here, anomalies are more likely to occur. And the path you’re walking is unusual–while it’s not yet earth-shattering, progressing further may trigger problems,” the Illusory Heaven Divine Vine cautioned.

“Is there truly such a thing?” Shi Hao paused, silently contemplating for a long time. Finally, he raised his head and declared, “I must see for myself what it truly is.”

After recovering, he resumed his attempts at breakthroughs.

This time, over a thousand flames of Dao Light converged, burning his physical body, scorching his Primordial Spirit. The surrounding region became terrifying, submerged in divine radiance.

“Hmm?”

At that moment, everyone observing from the outside was taken aback. Shi Hao vanished–his presence erased from the petal of the Immortal Dao Flower, unable to manifest on the Stele.

“Truly extraordinary!”

People recognized that the path he took was exceptional. The Immortal Dao Petals obscured everything, preventing others from witnessing more.

After surviving the thousand flames of Dao Light, Shi Hao nearly perished but was restored after consuming Divine Medicine, though nothing else occurred.

He rested again, preparing to endure one thousand one hundred flames of Dao Light, aiming to temper his True Self. But at that moment, the Illusory Heaven Divine Vine, alongside the Divine Striking Stone, suddenly became fearful, resonating with panic and shouting loudly.

“They… they’ve come again–anomalies are happening!” (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (wuxiaworld.site) to cast recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile readers, please visit m.wuxiaworld.site to continue reading.)