Chapter 345

Chapter 345: Haotian Realm

"Begin."

Mad Daoist opened his palm. A crystalline, palm-sized World Flower fragment slowly levitated. He bit the tip of his tongue and spat out a drop of primordial vital essence blood.

The blood landed on the World Flower fragment, instantly staining it crimson. Innate divine patterns awakened one by one, unleashing a majestic aura.

The human ancestor, too, channeled his power. A drop of his vital heartblood merged with the fragment.

The convergence of both cosmic peak cultivators’ primordial heartblood erupted with terrifying power. An overwhelming pressure swept through the heavens and earth.

Within Yuan Realm,

Li Ruoyu’s pupils constricted. His gaze instantly locked onto the direction of the human ancestor and Mad Daoist.

"Have they joined forces?"

One possibility immediately surfaced in Li Ruoyu’s mind.

"Impossible."

The next moment, he shook his head dismissively. "Mad Daoist’s obsession lies with ascension. He’d never risk his own Path for mere ants of the lower realm."

"These two are Nuwa’s first-created humans. Their alliance must concern Haotian Realm."

The ever-perceptive Heavenly Emperor deduced their purpose almost instantaneously.

Simultaneously,

Inside Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, Ye Xu and Formless Demon Lord sensed their shifting energies. Beneath the scars of the heavens, celestial phenomena warped. The sound of the Dao echoed continuously as an ethereal, crystalline flower bloomed in the void, seemingly enveloping all realms.

"It’s the World Flower."

Formless Demon Lord’s eyes blazed with fervor. He turned to Ye Xu and asked, "Master, it’s common knowledge that World Flower ranks among the Nine Great Spirit Roots of Heaven and Earth. So why is it absent from the Talented Individuals and Rare Treasures List?"

Ye Xu smiled faintly. "Because it has been shattered."

"…"

Formless Demon Lord fell speechless. Wasn’t it universally acknowledged that the World Flower splintered into countless pieces scattered across the world?

Ye Xu’s own curiosity stirred.

Yet, he possessed only foundational knowledge of the nine great Spirit Roots. He knew nothing of Nuwa reforging the World Flower, after Repairing the heavens, into the Xuantian Merit Dao Embryo.

"What’s their intent in collaborating?" Ye Xu wondered silently.

He of course remained unaware of their plan to unlock Haotian Realm.

Boom!

The World Flower gradually unfurled. The human ancestor and Mad Daoist sat in lotus position, their powers merging as one. A radiant crystalline pillar descended from the firmament towards Yuan Realm’s earth.

KABOOM!

In a flash, Yuan Realm underwent cataclysmic upheaval.

Where the crystalline light pillar shone, space rippled violently. Immortal light continuously decomposed matter, seemingly devolving it to primordial form.

This spectacular phenomenon instantly seized the attention of all within Yuan Realm.

In the Everlasting City of Desolation, Lin Qianmo and Xuanxin, leader of the Undying Divine Clans, snapped alert. They fixed their gazes upon the radiance. Space decayed where it touched, yet the immortal light expanded unceasingly.

After an unknowable span of time, immortal light shone into the depths of Time and Space, and an incomparably ancient Immortal Gate slowly materialized.

"The Primordial Immortal Gate!"

Both the Mad Daoist and the human ancestor jolted with intensity.

The Nuwa Secret Realm, guarded by the Primordial Immortal Gate and sealed in the depths of Time and Space, was so concealed that without the blood essence from their hearts—even if it were the Heavenly Emperor—none could locate the exact position of the Haotian Realm.

Now, the two had jointly opened the Haotian Realm, bringing the Primordial Immortal Gate into the world.

This ancient portal, unchanging since time immemorial, stood firm between heaven and earth, supporting the Haotian Realm while emanating an aura of profound antiquity.

"Old madman, now is the time!"

The human ancestor transformed into a streak of light, charging towards the Primordial Immortal Gate.

The Mad Daoist’s eyes gleamed. At the dawn of creation, countless innate supreme treasures were born from the heavens and earth; the Primordial Immortal Gate and the Gate of All Mysteries were among them.

"This gate would surely fetch a fine price."

"The Mother Goddess was indeed generous towards us, leaving behind such a rich inheritance."

The human ancestor couldn’t be bothered to argue with him.

Opening the Haotian Realm was the paramount task.

The Primordial Immortal Gate’s manifestation was fleeting; they had to lock it in place. Otherwise, within mere breaths, it would vanish back into the depths of Time and Space, and finding it again would require considerable effort.

"Great Luo Hand!"

The human ancestor unleashed his divine power. A gigantic hand, vast enough to blot out the sky and the sun, descended, firmly seizing the Primordial Immortal Gate and fixing it in position.

The Mad Daoist plucked a strand of hair, blew gently upon it, and it transformed into an immortal rope. It wrapped around the Primordial Immortal Gate like a shackle, sealing away the spiritual energy and severing the gate’s connection to the outside world.

As these two supreme masters made their move, the Primordial Immortal Gate was instantly secured.

"The Primordial Immortal Gate… the Nuwa Secret Realm…"

Xuanxin murmured.

"Nuwa?" Lin Qianmo furrowed her delicate brows.

Xuanxin explained, "She was the first, and the only one in this universe since the Mother Goddess, to achieve Ascent through Merits. She garnered great virtue through Repairing the heavens."

"I know."

Lin Qianmo nodded slightly. Ascent through Merits was a path to transcendence.

Yet, perhaps the entire universe could only sustain one such journey.

Nuwa was the fortunate one.

"So it is truly the Haotian Realm!"

A flicker of delight appeared in Li Ruoyu’s eyes. Ever since his ascension as Emperor, he had scoured all realms seeking traces of Nuwa, coveting the Haotian Realm intensely.

However, without the help of the human ancestor and the Mad Daoist, he had never been able to locate it.

"Teacher, you hid for tens of millions of years, yet now you’ve grown impatient and opened the Haotian Realm yourself… Ha!" Li Ruoyu threw back his head and laughed, a trace of madness shining in his eyes.

"Master, what precious treasures!"

The Formless Demon Lord watched with unbearable craving. "For it to be guarded by an innate supreme treasure, requiring the joint effort of two supreme beings to open… this Secret Realm must hold extraordinary value."

Ye Xu nodded expressionlessly.

In all realms, any Secret Realm causing such a grand commotion would surely rank on the Secret Realm Ranking. Yet, for the moment, Ye Xu couldn’t pinpoint exactly which Secret Realm the two had triggered.

"Two old fellows, ruining my scheme." Ye Xu grumbled.

With the Secret Realm opened, he stood to earn less profit.

Thump!

Mad Daoist channeled his divine power, gathering cosmic energy into his palm as he struck the Primordial Immortal Gate. Countless innate divine patterns suddenly erupted, coalescing into an awe-inspiring grand array—even his formidable strength failed to breach the gate.

"Foolishness overtakes you."

The human ancestor scoffed scornfully. "Throughout all existence, none possess the brute force to shatter this gate."

Except the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

He silently added the thought within his heart.

"What then?" Mad Daoist retorted irritably. "Shall we merely gape like fools at this relic… this Haotian Realm?"

"Essence heartblood."

The human ancestor sighed. He channeled his magic power, extracting a single drop of heart’s blood brimming with vast divine energy and sent it toward the Primordial Immortal Gate. Mad Daoist mimicked the gesture without delay, expelling a drop of his own essence heartblood.

Huuuuum…

As the two drops merged into the Primordial Immortal Gate, the immense grand array gradually retracted into the gate. Upon its surface, two streams of light—one pure black, one brilliant white—rose sinuously.

Click!

The very next moment, a faint, splitting sound emanated from the Primordial Immortal Gate. The colossal, sky-scraping gate creaked ponderously open.

An overwhelming aura surged forth.

"Mother Goddess…"

Profound reverence washed over the human ancestor’s aged countenance, akin to a long-absent wanderer finally returning home.

Having toiled exhaustively for humans and all postnatal beings, his inner suffering found no ear to hear.

Only the Mother Goddess, he feared, could comprehend him.

Mad Daoist, however, wore an expression of utter frenzy.

The Haotian Realm, object of his ceaseless yearning, now materialized before him.

"Old fool, let’s settle this first: the treasures within—we split them equally," Mad Daoist stated solemnly. "I shan’t exploit you, nor shall you exploit me."

"The unlocking of the Haotian Realm creates turbulence too immense," the human ancestor countered coldly. "Even if denizens from the Immortal Realm cannot descend, will the powers of the lower worlds idly watch you plunder every treasure?"

"Let them try. Whoever dares to seize anything will die," Mad Daoist declared, his eyes glinting with cold venom. "The Heavenly Emperor… will be no exception."

"Hahaha…"

Peals of laughter rang out as Li Ruoyu approached, flanked by Pang Taiyue and a man with sword-like brows and star-like eyes. With hands clasped behind his back, his smile lacked its usual refined warmth, replaced instead by a trace of arrogance.

"Generationally speaking, I qualify as your junior disciple—ought I not address you as Uncle Master?" Li Ruoyu remarked lightly. "Uncle Master needn’t act with such harshness."

"Speak of the devil."

Mad Daoist jeered derisively. "Drop the pretentious airs before me."

"Did your own hand not steer events toward this juncture?"

Li Ruoyu remained unfazed.

His ultimate aim, transparent as polished jade to top-tier cultivators like the human ancestor, Mad Daoist, and the Heavenly Emperor, mattered above all.

Even if granted a chance to rewrite history, Li Ruoyu would not flinch.

He sought transcendence.