The wind rose and mist drifted. This was a mysterious divine spirit minor realm — flowing springs and divine light dancing in unison, waterfalls and luan birds moving together in flight.

It was said that this minor realm was a remnant left behind by an ancient divine being — discovered by the people of an immemorial divine dynasty, who cultivated it into their own palace halls.

Cinnabar cliffs and strange boulders, peaks rising in isolation. Purple mist surged upward and strange beasts lurked within the landscape. Vast tracts of lush green ridges were also present, swathed in a misty, rosy haze.

At the deepest point lay a stretch of bone-constructed buildings — shrouded by a grey, primal light, heavy, dense, solemn, and majestic, yet simultaneously oppressive.

This was the ancient hall of the Mortal World — from the time of their founding to the present day, it had never once been breached by outsiders. It represented death and inspired despair: eerie and terrifying.

A massive white skeleton lay sprawled before it. Spanning several hundred zhang in length, a spine that had lasted through over a hundred thousand years without decay — still lustrous — the remains of an enormous ancient beast.

In ages past, it had been slain here. All the bones of its body had been sawed off to construct the palace halls. The remaining spine became an array standard, guarding this place.

At the center of this expanse of bone-constructed buildings stood the most ancient hall of the Mortal World. The grey mist there was so dense it could not dissipate. Killing intent stretched across the ancient past — threadlike yet substantial in its manifestation, seeping through to the outside.

It was constructed from the very bones of kings and saints!

Not large in scale — compared to those grand and imposing structures, it was quite small, able to accommodate very few people. Yet the ancient desolation and killing aura it exuded was something no other structure could remotely compare to.

This was the most sacred ancient hall in the Mortal World!

White bone gleamed with flowing radiance — nothing short of a saint’s withered remains, or the skull of a peerless figure of unique physique. To behold it was both eerie and deeply unsettling.

“The decayed aura of the Mortal World grows ever thicker. The path to immortalization is about to open — and yet the remnant of the Heavenly Court still exists in the mortal world. It is time to uproot them entirely.”

A hoarse voice drifted forth — aged beyond recognition, as though it might stop breathing at any moment. And yet it caused the entire bone hall to fill with a chilling, deathly gloom.

“The Heavenly Court has produced one who kills saints — they have been searching for the location of the divine spirit minor realm. If they are not eliminated, they will become a serious threat.” Another voice resounded, ghostly and dark, carrying with it the odor of decay.

This was a terrifying palace: built from bone, with the divine skin of Ancient Saints spread across the floor as carpet — radiating a bone-chilling luminance.

“They are nothing but remnants — long since having lost the grandeur of the ancient age before the primordial era. They cannot amount to anything. I have already made preliminary inquiries into the location of the Village of Heaven.” The aged voice gave a cold laugh.

“Wait for them to complete their refinement of the evolution liquid — then wipe them out entirely. Let them be nothing but the work of others’ hands, a windfall brought to the Mortal World and the Underworld — a heaven-defying great fortune!”

There were actually two Saint-Slaying Sages here. No one knew just how many years they had lived. Their skin clung to their bones, their eye sockets were sunken deep, their hair was tangled like wild grass — they resembled fierce ghosts.

They were older even than Qi Luo, their bloodlines withered and dry — yet their battle power was terrifyingly beyond measure. They had proven their Dao through slaughter, specializing in the slaying of saints!

“The two Ancestor-Slayers have been in secluded cultivation unto death for so many years — we do not know whether they have broken through. If they have truly become Great Saints, who in this entire world would there be to fear?”

“The Slaughter Ancestor’s flesh and blood has nearly dried up entirely, but his cultivation transcends ancient and modern. Even before heaven and earth changed, he could already see through to the very heavens. It is a pity that final step is too difficult to take.”

Had the outside world heard the discussion of these two Saint-Slaying Sages, they would surely have been overcome with dread. The Mortal World and the Underworld were more terrifying than people had imagined — it was not as simple as merely having two Saint-Slaying Sages keeping watch.

“As long as Gai Jiuyou does not die, the two Elder Ancestor-Slayers will remain somewhat wary.”

Above them still stood two Ancestor-Slayers — who had already been able to look down upon all living beings even before heaven and earth underwent their transformation. Their lifespans had merely dried up, and under ordinary circumstances they would not make a move.

And it was these very two individuals who, in years past, had tracked the Old Madman and nearly struck from the shadows — but ultimately had held themselves back.

“To exterminate the Heavenly Court remnants, the two Elder Ancestor-Slayers will most likely disdain to take action themselves. We shall offer that treasure liquid to extend their lifespans — and that may put the Ancestor-Slayers at ease.”

Those were two ancient saints who were unwilling to stir a single muscle — they had lived for far too long!

“Gai Jiuyou has lived far too long — but he should be close to entering his death meditation soon…” The ghostly words echoed through the ancient hall of the Mortal World.

“No one in the world can find the divine spirit minor realm, so there is nothing to fear. We can safely go and slaughter the Village of Heaven until nothing is left — whatever Extreme Yang Physique, prodigies, or heaven-sent geniuses there may be, they will all become the dry bones that pile up to build this hall.”

In recent days, the outside world had been in turmoil. The advance expedition force had set off for the Eternal Main Star and had been gone all this time with no news. Meanwhile, sage cultivators from beyond the domain had been appearing intermittently, keeping the Northern Dipper Star Domain unsettled and on the brink of a great storm at any moment.

Suddenly, a terrifying aura swept across the land. Out beyond the heavens it was vast and surging. Ordinary people merely felt a jolt of unease in their hearts — unable to perceive anything more even if they were aware of it.

Ancient Saints changed color. This made their very souls tremble. Something momentous had certainly occurred, and a number of people soared upward in rapid response.

“The path to immortalization has opened!”

On this day, a shattering piece of news arrived from beyond the domain, rocking the Northern Dipper Star Domain to its core!

“What — the immortal path has appeared, it… it truly exists, and it appeared today?!”

This was explosive news without question. The hearts of all saints were thrown into turmoil. Every clan surged with excitement. Countless powerful figures soared toward the outer battlefield.

It had come so suddenly — catching everyone completely off guard. Many powerful figures shouted out loud as they tore open the void and rushed toward the scene.

“Why is it beyond the domain — why not on an ancient star…?”

Some people harbored doubts — yet there was no time to dwell on them. Opportunity was fleeting. Only by making a decisive choice without delay could there be anything gained.

This was an explosive day!

The appearance of the immortal path left people barely able to believe it was real.

“Is this a rumor, or some kind of scheme?”

“How can this be — wasn’t it said that it would appear on the ancient stars of the Northern Dipper?”

Even those with doubts could not afford to hesitate too long. They rushed to the scene to verify with their own eyes — determined to understand every detail.

People went into a frenzy. All the saints moved out!

Even those who were not yet saints — cultivators from every clan — could not suppress their excitement either. They followed in the wake of their patriarchs, their hearts surging with passion.

The people of the Village of Heaven were naturally stirred as well. They set out for the outer domain — even the Saint-Slaying Sage Qi Luo temporarily left the Myriad Life Mother Qi Cauldron to see what was happening.

“It truly is an immortal gate — yet no one can enter it. It flickers in and out of existence beyond the domain!” The cultivators who had arrived early were engaged in animated discussion.

Ye Fan and the others arrived as well. After two days of pursuit, they finally glimpsed traces of the immortal — a hazy, indistinct immortal gate, misty and serene. Not even Ancient Saints could approach it.

It moved too quickly — like a dream, like an illusion, passing through the starry sky in an instant, threading through ancient and modern in a single flash.

“Can you all feel it? The drifting rosy light it emanates is most likely immortal energy — even from this great distance, it makes even saints feel an urge to bow in reverence!”

It was a grand spectacle. People employed every conceivable means to draw near.

“This is a divine gate — highly unstable. Where does it lead? Is the realm beyond it truly an immortal domain?”

“He entered — someone succeeded! An elder saint of the Origin King Clan, Wang Chong, charged into the immortal gate!” someone cried out in utter shock.

From within the immortal gate, a startled cry rang out — followed by booming laughter. Then the gate of light swiftly vanished.

People went into a frenzy, pursuing every trace — yet no matter what they tried, the gate could not be found.

Two days later, the immortal gate reappeared. The old patriarch of the Fire Kylin Cave chased it wielding an ancient imperial weapon — only for the gate to seem sentient, retreating in an instant to just barely elude him.

“Ha ha ha…” A saint-king of the Chaos Mixing Clan plunged into the gate, erupting inside with uninhibited laughter, as though he had discovered the most thrilling thing imaginable.

“Does it truly connect to the immortal domain? Why else would they be so overjoyed?”

The assembled heroes blazed with excitement — eyes turning red with desire. They scrambled for the immortal gate, searching for this intermittently appearing gateway in the outer domain.

“This is a crack in the immortal realm — a precursor to the opening of the path of immortalization. It truly connects to the immortal domain!” the old patriarch of the Scarlet Phoenix Mountain bellowed.

Once this news broke, the outer domain erupted completely.

In ages past, an ancient emperor had theorized that when the path of immortalization opened, it would inevitably trigger terrifying waves of immortal power, first piercing through the barrier between the two realms.

During this period, it was inevitable that small cracks in the immortal realm would appear and become accessible — passageways leading to the immortal domain.

“Even if this is not an immortal gate, it is a gateway left behind by an ancient divine being from high antiquity — leading to some kind of supreme primordial chaos divine earth. Long after its master’s death, across endless ages, it has opened again. The faint wisps of aura radiating from it are too mysterious — they may well be the breath of a divine being!”

A second theory emerged — for such a thing had occurred in ancient times before. Whoever managed to enter would surely receive a great windfall.

People’s eyes turned bloodshot. All of them erupted into action. Whether it was an immortal gate or a realm of primordial chaos divine earth, either would represent a great fortune. Whoever entered might rise to the heavens in a single step.

Great battles were, naturally, unavoidable. Every time that divine gate flickered into view, a great storm followed — multiple bloody clashes erupted!

Yet after many days had passed, only three people had successfully entered, and all three were saint-kings. All others failed to claim their chance.

“It appeared again — there it is again!”

Amid the battle cries, together with life-and-death fighting, a crowd surged forward, competing for the right to enter the immortal path.

Ye Fan was alarmed. Was this a preview of what would come when the path of immortalization opened? What kind of great war would unfold in the future? Even this single mysterious gateway had already triggered a blood-soaked battle beyond the domain.

Ordinary cultivators could not even be considered — they were instantly reduced to a haze of blood the moment they went forward. Even saints were directly severely wounded.

“I can’t believe it… immortal ascension is actually possible. This is immortal energy — my physique is undergoing transformation!” a saint-king of an ancient clan cried out in shock and joy after successfully claiming the immortal gate.

Hearing him say this, many people’s doubts vanished at once. They made their move in a frenzy, trying to follow him inside.

Yet as this saint-king swiftly became blurred and the immortal gate instantly vanished, it left everyone behind with nothing but empty regret.

“The fourth person — four peerless powerhouses have already entered! We still have a chance!” The crowd was in an uproar.

On the tenth day, wisps of immortal energy reappeared in the outer starry sky. This time, the fighting was even more brutal. Blood dyed the heavens red beyond the sky.

“It truly is the immortal domain — too magnificent and glorious beyond words. I saw… good heavens, a true immortal phoenix! It carries the aura of eternal life — before it, I feel like an ant!”

A saint-king shook with awe, unable to suppress his cries.

People went mad. Becoming an immortal was the dream of countless generations. Not even ancient Great Emperors could enter — and yet now, they themselves might storm their way in!

The opportunities were few, and no one knew when the immortal gate might close. And so people competed in a frenzy.

“Farewell — I am about to enter the immortal domain.” This was a saint-king of the Great Luo Clan — a man of deep sentiment, who turned for one last look before finally beginning to step forward.

But then something unexpected occurred. Before that immortal gate, two phantom-like figures appeared without a sound — almost transparent — and simultaneously struck, pressing their hands forward.

Splat!

The Great Luo saint-king let out a miserable cry. There was no evading them, no resisting them — he was killed outright on the spot.

“What manner of person could approach a saint-king soundlessly? How incomprehensibly powerful must they be?”

Everyone was shaken.

It was clear that the two phantom figures had been following the Great Luo saint-king all along, concealed and unmoving — waiting only until they had witnessed the wonders within the immortal gate with their own eyes before striking.

“To silently extinguish a saint-king — these two people… are too terrifying!”

“Killing intent — this is… a towering tide of killing intent, vast as an ocean. Good heavens, how can there be people this frightening? They seem to have come from the depths of the Underworld!”

Behind them, people were shaken to the core. Ancient Saints who had been surging forward came to a halt, one by one, their whole bodies turning cold — from head to foot.

They had never seen anything like this before. Concealed, these two seemed like empty void itself. Once they unleashed themselves, the density of their killing intent was like a field of carnage — and when it erupted, it horrified even saints.

The phantom forms became solid. People saw two individuals who were aged almost beyond recognition — skin wizened and dry, emaciated to the bone, sunken eye sockets, eyes nearly dried to nothing.

And it was these two people — these two — who had silently extinguished a saint-king!

“Human… these are human powerhouses!”

The Saint-Slaying Sage Qi Luo’s expression changed. “They are… Ancestor-Slayers. The Underworld and the Mortal World truly do harbor such existences!”

Hum!

The divine gate shuddered. As the two desiccated silhouettes — like gaunt ghosts — vanished, the gateway disappeared along with them.