The blood sea boiled over, clusters of dark red clouds descended from the sky, wrapping the five bone islands participating in the competition like swaths of cotton.
The five islands—Despair, Destruction, Darkness, Corrosion, and Chaos—were enveloped by these clouds, forming a membrane of deep crimson that completely sealed them off. This membrane pulsed with intensely turbulent energy fluctuations, as if stirred by the roars emanating from the depths of the blood sea.
Shi Yan focused his gaze, astonishment flashing in his eyes.
That dark red membrane, whatever its composition, seemed like a peculiar barrier, yet subtly different; it felt tangible, rather than merely a condensation of power.
“That is the membrane of the Black-Armored Horned Dragon. Special power is condensed upon it, forming a defensive grand array. The Black-Armored Horned Dragon is a powerful being of the ancient Heavenly Demon race. Their flesh membranes are exceptionally tough, making them the finest material for inscribing formations. Back when the Bloodthirsty lineage was at its peak, they gathered the world’s most precious materials, and this membrane was willingly offered by members of the Heavenly Demon race themselves.”
Seeing his curiosity, Xuan He smiled casually and explained the intricacies.
“Don’t underestimate this membrane. All eight of us Chiefs had our insights engraved within them back then. Those membranes were originally placed outside the Forbidden Land as a barrier against potential attacks from the God Race. Unless one reaches the second or third heaven of the Immortal realm, tearing through this membrane is impossible.”
Immortal Second or Third Heaven…
A strange light flickered in Shi Yan’s eyes. He looked deeply at Xuan He and asked, “What are your realms, yours, Phillet’s, and Minghao’s? How many Immortals still exist in the current galaxy?”
The Immortal realm was the known pinnacle of power for him. Reaching it signified occupying the peak position. Across the vast seas of stars and numerous domains, those who managed to break through this barrier remained exceedingly rare. To this day, he had only seen the Sacred Beast Azure Dragon, Xuan He, and others ascend to Immortality.
As for the God Race’s Starfire, the Nether Emperor Clan’s Jilata, and Layna of the Heavenly Water Palace, they were all merely at the Great Perfection stage of the Primordial God, essentially pseudo-immortals.
“Phillet and I are at the Second Heaven of the Immortal realm. As for Minghao… perhaps he is also at the Second Heaven, or maybe he has already reached the Third Heaven. Minghao’s true body has been hidden for many years, and even his soul rarely manifests. If not for the anomaly in the Forbidden Land this time, his soul might not have descended. Without seeing his main body and primary soul, I cannot confirm his actual realm and cultivation.”
Xuan He looked below and explained seriously.
“On the God Race side, the God Lord… was in the Third Heaven of the Immortal realm back then. To annihilate our Master, he shattered his physical body and severely wounded his soul, even scattering the origin he had merged with. The God Lord hasn’t appeared in years; presumably, his injuries haven't healed. It’s truly unclear what his current stratum is, but the four Heavenly Kings under the God Lord have always maintained a realm equivalent to ours; they are currently at the Second Heaven of the Immortal realm.”
“The Heavenly Demon race’s Sacred Beast Azure Dragon is only at the Second Heaven of the Immortal realm, but since you obtained the Primordial Fruit, causing changes on the Divine Grace Continent, he might seize the opportunity to advance to the Third Heaven of the Immortal realm.”
“As for the Nether Emperor Clan…”
As he spoke, the contest for the Chief positions among the five islands—Despair, Destruction, Darkness, Chaos, and Corrosion—officially began below. In their struggle for the title, the inheritors of the eight Bloodthirsty lineages had already unleashed their Void Realms and Origin Realms, forming fields of profound meaning.
The marvelous barrier formed by the Black-Armored Horned Dragon membrane, which Xuan He and the other two had tampered with, enveloped each island, ensuring that the martial artists competing within could only exit, not enter. Leaving meant forfeiting; the last one remaining on the island would be the final victor, the new Chief.
“What’s the situation with the Nether Emperor Clan?” Shi Yan raised an eyebrow, surprised.
Xuan He stopped abruptly when mentioning the Nether Emperor Clan, his face filled with awkwardness, and he spoke evasively.
“The current Clan Leader of the Nether Emperor Clan is a woman named Adela. That woman is Minghao’s full sister. Back in the day, the female and I… had a conflict. Audrey is her daughter, born later with someone else—that person was just an ordinary noble of the Nether Emperor Clan, not worth mentioning. However, Adela’s cultivation is not weak; she is at the Second Heaven of the Immortal realm. Within the clan, there should be two others at the First Heaven of the Immortal realm. Counting Minghao, the Nether Emperor Clan is not to be underestimated.” Xuan He hesitated, then explained with a dry laugh.
Shi Yan’s expression suddenly grew strange.
Though Xuan He stammered, Shi Yan could tell from his demeanor and expression that he and Adela must have shared a deep history long ago.
It was evident that Xuan He had abandoned his feelings for Adela, leading her to resentfully marry another ordinary noble of the Nether Emperor Clan. Perhaps the conflict between Xuan He and Minghao was also related to this matter; Xuan He’s hesitation indicated a guilty conscience.
He looked deeply at Xuan He, nodding subtly, and smiled, “Senior must have been quite the romantic figure in his youth.”
Xuan He’s appearance was bizarre, his temperament handsome yet subtly wicked; he must have been highly favored by women in his younger days. Coupled with gaining power early on as the Chief of Death, his life was likely magnificent, never lacking beautiful women by his side.
Adela, being a princess of the Nether Emperor Clan, must have been proud and high-spirited. Having her heart stirred by Xuan He, and sharing moments of passionate intimacy, she naturally wouldn't tolerate Xuan He continuing his philandering ways, likely hoping for his exclusive devotion. But Xuan He, accustomed to his libertine nature, might have been unable to endure Adela’s restrictions, thus abandoning the delicate flower that was Adela to embrace the entire garden…
A thought flashed through his mind, and Shi Yan’s gaze seemed to pierce the river of time, witnessing the truth. His smile grew even more peculiar.
Xuan He coughed lightly and chuckled sheepishly, “Back then, I was indeed… a bit dissolute. This behavior made enemies everywhere. If the Master hadn't passed down the Death Profundity to me, I would have long been hunted to death.”
“Senior is formidable,” Shi Yan praised genuinely.
“You’re not bad either,” Xuan He chuckled dashingly. “I’ve observed you in secret for years; your conduct in this regard bears a strong resemblance to my past self. However, you hold affection in your heart and cannot remain untouched by any bloom, so your realm is naturally inferior to mine. Back then, I was never without exceptionally beautiful women, and I never stayed with one permanently. My name, Xuan He, held a unique significance in the hearts of women across various clans during that era, hehe.”
He grinned shamelessly, reminiscing about the years, his expression proud.
“Senior is truly impressive. Being hunted everywhere because of one’s love life and nearly perishing—this junior truly admires that.” Shi Yan’s gaze was odd.
“Ahem, ahem.” Xuan He’s old face flushed red. He waved his hand dismissively. “Let’s drop that topic and return to the previous one. Besides our side, the God Race, Heavenly Demon Race, and Nether Emperor Clan, the current leaders of the Thousand Illusions Sect, Shattered Palace, and Heavenly Water Palace have also reached the Immortal realm. But they broke through in the last ten thousand years, so their realms are slightly lower, only the First Heaven of the Immortal realm. Beyond them is the President of the Vast Ocean Trade Guild—that fellow’s origin is mysterious, and he hides deeply. He must be in the Immortal realm, but I cannot confirm his specific level.”
Xuan He frowned tightly. “That’s generally the situation. In the vast sea of stars, those who break through to Immortality are all first-rate powerhouses.”
He looked down at the Despair Island, then at Yang Qingdi, his eyes gleaming brightly. “Your great-grandfather has immense potential to break through to Immortality. He deserves to be the Despair Chief. In some aspects, he is extremely similar to Senluo, carved from the same mold.”
At this point, Xuan He paused and sighed softly, “Where did you discover Senluo’s remains?”
Shi Yan knew he had figured it out long ago and did not conceal the truth. “In the Void Turbulence.”
“As expected,” Xuan He nodded. “He insisted on entering the Void Fissure back then to search for our Master’s remains and never returned. I suspected he might have perished inside. Even though his Profundities were powerful and exquisite, he didn't cultivate the Profundity of Space. Alas…”
Xuan He suddenly fell silent.
Shi Yan lowered his head, speechless, looking deeply at the Despair Island beneath him. Meanwhile, the other three individuals who had reached the Third Heaven of the Void God realm, having failed to gain any advantage against Baku, had successively left the island.
Yang Qingdi had not engaged in the fight, remaining quietly in a corner, gazing into the distance. He was waiting for someone to approach him actively. However, the three Void God peak experts had initially targeted Baku and had sensed the strange fluctuations around him, so they hadn't provoked him.
Now that the three had left, only he and Baku remained on the island.
He sat motionless. Baku, carrying the sharp weapon he used to force back the three Void God peak experts, had his Origin Realm forming a murky, ash-gray cloud above his head, and he advanced directly toward Yang Qingdi.
The rolling gray cloud was imbued with the desolation and sorrow of utter barrenness. Deep within the gray haze, a cold, dead heart of despair seemed to swirl, preventing any feeling of hope or persistence for survival, urging one only to quickly plunge into endless misery.
The artistic conception churned within the Origin Realm, rolling forward to engulf Yang Qingdi.
Shi Yan’s eyes sharpened, looking deeply below, astonishment plain in his gaze.
Within the rolling gray clouds, scarlet blood-light burst from Yang Qingdi’s eyes. The light, like dazzling rainbows, pierced through the layers of gray clouds. It was also the Profundity of Despair, but within Yang Qingdi’s domain of artistic conception, despair carried a sliver of hope for survival.
That unyielding hope persisting amid despair, like endless karmic fire, actually burned Baku’s surging gray clouds to ashes, dissolving them into mist scattering across the sky.
The flame of hope for survival that erupted from Yang Qingdi’s despair was not violently surging, yet it contained infinite power, seemingly never to be extinguished, continuing to burn and flicker.
A sharp light flashed in Xuan He’s eyes. He nodded inwardly, praising sincerely, “The Profundity of Despair your great-grandfather comprehended is the true one. Baku’s Profundity of Despair is merely despair, desolation, and barrenness. This endless despair is not the true essence of the Profundity. The most exquisite and terrifying aspect of the Profundity of Despair is that thread of undying hope within the despair. That single thread of hope is the most formidable and terrifying core of the Profundity of Despair; it is the source of its ability to challenge higher realms. Baku has gone astray on the path of the Profundity of Despair; he is no match for your great-grandfather.”
“Yes, I see it. Baku has no hope in his heart, only despair; he cannot display the subtlety of the Profundity at all. Even if his divine power is much purer and denser, because they cultivate the same realm, he is vastly inferior in terms of Profundity and is bound to lose,” Shi Yan also passed judgment.
He could perceive that Yang Qingdi’s Profundity of Despair and power were constantly climbing due to the infusion of Senluo’s essence.
In the battle against Baku, Yang Qingdi’s Profundity and power were being tempered as if by a hammer; his realm was clearly undergoing metamorphosis. Unless Baku could instantly kill him, if the fight dragged on, Baku would inevitably be defeated.