Slowly, her eyes fluttered open. The painterly world of mountains unfolded before her gaze. This black-haired woman possessed an expression of serene coolness, her eyes seeming to reflect the entire starry expanse, filled with stillness, clarity, and not a hint of impurity.

The pillar of white light gradually vanished, and the black-haired woman descended from the heavens, landing above the mouth of the cave. She lifted her head to gaze at the distant sky, a contemplative look settling upon her features. Swish, swish, swish!

Several figures abruptly burst from the cave: six elders of varying girths and heights. Following these six, a middle-aged man emerged. His face was pale, his brows sharp as blades, his nose high-bridged, and his lips thin.

His pale eyes held a chilling intensity, underscored by a deep-seated melancholy. Embroidered onto his chest was the emblem of a blazing sun—a symbol known to all high-ranking figures: the clan elder medallion of the Bai family. “Jun’er…” the middle-aged man murmured, his voice laced with infinite tenderness, a hint of exhaustion, and a discernible thread of pain.

The black-haired woman snapped back to awareness, her form drifting gracefully downward. A peaceful smile softened her cool expression. “Father, you needn’t worry.

Life and death are fated; they cannot be forced. This malady, across all recorded history, through the rise and fall of countless civilizations, no cure has ever been found. The great Divine Farmer Emperor of the early spiritual age tasted all 108 most venomous herbs of the ancient world and found no antidote.

Your efforts, exhausting yourselves to extend Jun’er’s life by another decade, were already an act against the heavens, a struggle against fate. Jun’er is content.” Sorrow darkened the middle-aged man’s eyes as he reached out to stroke the black hair of the woman. He sighed deeply, tilted his head toward the vast expanse above, and remained silent for a long time.

After what felt like an age, he clenched his fist, a surging battle-will and profound unwillingness blazing in his eyes. He rasped, “When your mother was dying, I wrestled fate itself, wounding the heavens, yet I could not reclaim her vanished soul. Even pulling countless souls from the Gate of Reincarnation to piece your mother’s spirit back together proved futile; she was gone forever.” “And now, you too must leave…” “All my life, I slew countless enemies, my renown echoing far and wide.

I breached the Gate of Reincarnation, clashed with the Heavenly Dao, deciding the fate of billions with a mere wave of my hand. Yet in the end, I could not even save the lives of my wife and daughter!” “All my arduous cultivation, what has it amounted to in the end?!” His voice was heavy with immeasurable sorrow, sharp indignation, and rage. He glared fixedly at the firmament, as if attempting to pierce through the very sky.

The black-haired woman remained silent, turning to look back at the distant, graying heavens. She subtly tightened her fingers, murmuring inwardly, The five-year pact. Do you still remember it...?

... Amidst the peaks of White Spirit Mountain, as time flowed onward, the usual quiet gave way to growing excitement, stirring intense private discussions among the Bai family disciples cultivating there, as they spoke of the powerful figures they had just witnessed. “Did you hear?

The Purple Blood from the Gate of Reincarnation has arrived. They say this monster once fought bare-handed and slew a God-level powerhouse!” “I heard that too. Apparently, he used no weapons at all, relying purely on his own strength.

And that God-level powerhouse was no weakling, employing both Laws and secret techniques, yet he still fell. Truly terrifying!” “The Sixth Prince of the Ice Snow Empire is here too. That fiend supposedly killed a mature Nine-Lion Dragon in the North Nether Sea.

Unspeakably monstrous!” “The Fourth Prince of the Dark Empire has also arrived, along with the Eighth Prince of the Golden Light Empire, the Second Prince of the Blazing God Empire, and the Seventh Prince of the Black Rock Empire.” “Tsk, tsk. Nearly everyone from the Ten Great Halls has shown up. I wonder what kind of battle will unfold this time!” “That goes without saying.

What stature does the Third Miss possess? She is a paragon of beauty. Merely catching a glimpse of her peerless visage is a blessing earned over three lifetimes.

Besides, our Third Miss’s innate talent is astounding; ordinary mediocrities are simply not worthy of her.” When the Bai family disciples spoke of the “Third Miss,” reverence and unspoken piety filled their expressions. Time pressed on. Approximately one day later, the bells rang out across the main peak of White Spirit Mountain, and countless figures streaked across the sky, converging atop the summit.

Eight battle stages had been erected on this main peak. Each stage was encircled by metal railings, and designated seating areas were reserved for honored guests. The surrounding area was choked with people—a sea of heads stretching as far as the eye could see.

Those permitted to watch the proceedings live were all inner disciples of the Bai family, each capable of amplifying their secret arts by over a million times. Everyone else could only watch via video feeds set up on the adjacent peaks. Currently, many figures occupied these VIP seats—men and women, old and young—representing various civilizations, figures rarely seen even on normal days.

The aura emanating from each of them was no less potent than that of Elder Han stationed at the mountain gate. These inner disciples of the Bai family were usually well-traveled and had witnessed many Divine Emperor-level powerhouses, so they did not react with overwhelming shock. However, upon spotting the individuals in the VIP section, a collective gasp echoed through the crowd.

“Is that the Sea Buddha of the South? Wait, who is that delicate young girl standing behind him?” “Look! That’s the Snow Mountain Sage from the Ice Snow Empire.

Heavens, even he has come.” “There is the Black Demon Man of the Dark Empire! Legend says he killed two Marquis-level experts in the Black Sea!” Exclamations of awe rippled through the crowd. Given their experience and discerning eyes, seeing a common Divine Emperor did not elicit such a reaction.

Yet, the sight of those assembled in the VIP seats inspired deep shock. There were at least two or three dozen figures occupying the guest seats. Divine Emperor experts were usually elusive, appearing only when they chose.

Seeing even one was a rarity. This current assembly instantly permeated the entire venue with a palpable pressure, making the very air feel suffocating. The crowd roared, the atmosphere crackling with heat.

Just then, a slow-forming vortex opened in the sky, and a majestic middle-aged man stepped out—none other than the Bai Clan Elder. He stood suspended in the air, looking down upon the assembled multitude. His expression remained largely unchanged, casually acknowledging them.

“You have traveled thousands of miles to grace Bai’s humble home. I hope your stay proves comfortable.” The figures in the VIP section bowed slightly in unison. “Clan Elder Bai is too kind.” “No need for formalities, Clan Elder Bai.” “This White Spirit Mountain is indeed blessed with fine scenery and clear waters—a truly marvelous locale!” The assembled experts exchanged polite courtesies.

Bai Tian nodded slightly. “That is best.” He turned and returned to his seat of honor, surveying the crowd. Facing the numerous Divine Emperor powerhouses present, he displayed no fear, his demeanor unchanged.

“Clan Elder Bai!” From the ranks of the competitors, a young man in black robes slowly stepped forward. Under the gaze of everyone, he moved to the center of the arena, a serene, elegant smile on his face. He flipped his long, fair hand, revealing a delicate, palm-sized brocade box emitting a faint, powerful radiance.

“This contains a Dragon Joy Pill, refined by Master Iron Core of the Fire Civilization. It can enhance human genes, allowing them to absorb Dragon Qi. Ingesting one can boost human genetics fiftyfold.

I hope Uncle will graciously accept it!” the young man stated respectfully. Bai Tian’s expression remained impassive. A middle-aged man standing beside him quickly stepped forward, received the brocade box, and placed it on the nearby gift table.

The young man in black felt a chill; his brow furrowed slightly. He understood immediately that his offering had failed to meet Bai Tian’s unspoken standard, as the Elder hadn't even glanced at it. A shadow of disappointment crossed his face as he slowly retreated.

After he departed, a young man clad in white stepped up, standing gracefully in the open space, his gaze fixed confidently upon Bai Tian with a smile. He flipped his hand, and a black-and-white mirror appeared, shedding a soft light that seemed to draw faint black streaks out of the void itself. He stood neither subserviently nor aggressively.

“This is the Cosmic Mirror, a peak Domain Artifact. It can harness Yin and Yang, forged using eons of Dragon Crystal from the North Continent combined with Star Fragment Stone from the South Sea. Its power is absolute.

I hope Uncle will graciously accept it!” Bai Tian spared it a glance and nodded slightly. The young man in white felt a surge of relief. He handed the Cosmic Mirror to the waiting middle-aged man and respectfully withdrew.

Next, a third man approached, a youth in deep purple robes. Tall and slender, he smiled faintly at Bai Tian, then swept his hand, tearing open a vortex from which a flowerpot drifted out. Planted within was a small tree, entirely black, bearing only a few sparse black leaves, looking utterly unremarkable.

However, the moment the pot appeared, it captured the attention of most of the audience. “That is a Sapling of the Tree of Life, originating from the Elven Civilization. It is said there are only nine such trees in the entire ancient world.

This sapling is incredibly rare. A single leaf from it can extend one's life by a million years. A mature Tree of Life?

One leaf grants one hundred million years of life.” “This sapling's trunk is prime material for forging a peak Domain Artifact. Carrying it with you constantly can extend life and ward off evil and toxins. It is both nourishing and usable.

I hope Uncle will graciously accept it!” Bai Tian gazed down at the Tree of Life for a moment, a slight frown creasing his brow as if something had crossed his mind. He waved his hand dismissively. The middle-aged man promptly stepped forward to receive the Tree of Life, placing it upon the gift table.

In the ensuing silence, the fourth youth, smiling calmly and elegantly, approached Bai Tian... In an instant, the surrounding Bai family disciples watching were dazzled and mesmerized. Piece after piece of peerless treasure was presented—treasures like the Eight Treasures Pagoda, the Tree of Wisdom, the Senluo Elixir, and the Myriad Manifestation Codex, all considered upstream of peak Domain Artifacts, priceless relics of unmatched rarity throughout history.

These artifacts now lay like ordinary objects upon the gift table. Were it not for the presence of Bai Tian and the two or three dozen Divine Emperors, someone might have risked everything to snatch them up. “Uncle!” Suddenly, a youth in white stepped out from the crowd.

He was tall and handsome, his fair skin radiating a crystalline divine light, as if every inch of his flesh contained latent divine energy. Faintly visible behind his head was a shimmering halo of wisdom. His white robes were simple, yet carried an aura of transcendent detachment.

He smiled gently, his expression peaceful, holding a string of prayer beads between his fingers. Each bead was exquisitely translucent, a brilliant emerald green, radiating a faint, powerful light. ...

Three updates today, replacing the chapter missed yesterday. I’ve been running a high fever the past two days, hovering around 38.5 degrees Celsius. I have not forgotten the foreshadowing and major unresolved threads in the darkness; brothers, do not worry.

Although a new book is about to start, the later stages of the darkness plot will be concluded properly.