"When I seize the opportunity here, and one day trample you beneath my feet, I will tell you what I have obtained!" Shi Hao left behind these words and strode away.

Lin Hongdao trembled all over, experiencing an indescribable fury, mixed with a trace of fear.

He had witnessed Shi Hao’s exceptional talent.

If the other continued to grow, he would soon surpass him in strength and realm. By then, he might indeed be trampled underfoot by Shi Hao.

Would he remain on the Summit of the Stars for his entire life?

Yet, if he missed this chance, would there be another opportunity to kill Shi Hao?

There was one more.

Once he went out, he would immediately breakthrough to the Golden Immortal level and then kill Shi Hao with a single blow.

However, outside, there were Path Protectors of the Summit of the Stars, some of whom were of the Jade Immortal level. Even if he achieved Golden Immortal status, could he accomplish murder?

Almost impossible.

Therefore, he had to seek another opportunity, waiting until Shi Hao was alone to make his move.

He must, must kill Shi Hao.

Not just to soothe his resentment, nor solely for Woo Yueyi, but for the treasures on Shi Hao!

The Immortal King Artifact and the peerless opportunity Shi Hao will soon obtain both aroused his greed.

They must be mine, they must belong to me!

... 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Shi Hao turned and walked, asking Yue Ying as he went, "Now can you tell me your connection to this place?"

Yue Ying was silent at first, then spoke after a while, "I did not expect you to come here, and so quickly either!"

"Indeed, that’s called fate," Shi Hao said with a smile, "What is this place, after all?"

The name Great Wilderness Realm was coined by later generations; it certainly wasn’t called this initially.

Yue Ying fell silent again before saying, "This place once belonged to Immortal King Ziyue."

Immortal King?

Shi Hao was astonished; could an Immortal King be so powerful, capable of creating such wonders?

Not to mention, the legacy of Divine Beasts here numbered in the tens; no Immortal King could achieve that, right?

"Immortal King Ziyue almost had one foot in the Immortal Venerable realm, calling her a quasi-Immortal Venerable or half-step Immortal Venerable wouldn’t be unjust," Yue Ying continued.

Shi Hao nodded in agreement; this explained it. Although she only touched a bit of the Immortal Venerable level, the gap between Immortal Venerable and Immortal King was massive. Therefore, a quasi-Immortal Venerable could crush any Immortal King; that level of power was absolute.

"However, the number of Immortal Venerables in the world is limited," Yue Ying spoke slowly, "The extremity of heaven is capped at nine, so the world can only birth nine Immortal Venerables. Later aspirants seeking to become Immortal Venerable must push one of the current Immortal Venerables off."

She paused, then elaborated, "To use onions as an example, after reaching the sixth layer of Immortal Rule, only nine segments remain. To become an Immortal Venerable, one must comprehend one segment, and it must be held firmly. Otherwise, if someone else also comprehends it, they can seize it."

Shi Hao interjected, "Can it be understood that merely comprehending the sixth layer of Immortal Rule is only considered quasi-Immortal Venerable, and only by claiming it truly does one become a real Immortal Venerable?"

"It’s somewhat correct, but not entirely," Yue Ying replied, "Even if one is a quasi-Immortal Venerable, the grasp of the sixth layer of Immortal Rule varies, and if fully mastered, there’s almost no difference in strength with a true Immortal Venerable."

"Hence at this stage, Immortal Rule also chooses who to let rule."

"Among these two Immortal Venerables, one must unceremoniously retire."

"Precisely, the existing Immortal Venerables are highly vigilant; they monitor whether any Immortal King has silently crossed into the quasi-Immortal Venerable stage, resorting to thunderous measures once they find out, to prevent future troubles."

Shi Hao understood and said, "Then Immortal King Ziyue was—"

"Targeted by the Immortal Venerables, so this Summit of the Stars was destroyed," Yue Ying said, in a tone steeped in melancholy, "However, as a quasi-Immortal Venerable, Immortal King Ziyue managed to escape into a Forbidden Land, seeking one last chance."

Forbidden Land!

This place was extremely dangerous; even Immortal Kings and Immortal Venerables dared not enter lightly; its core could shred powerhouses like them.

"Still, Immortal King Ziyue was grievously injured, unable to find divine medicine for the Undead, and ultimately perished," Yue Ying spoke with an unparalleled sorrow.

"So, you were the Immortal King Artifact refined by Immortal King Ziyue?" Shi Hao asked.

"Half-step Supreme Device!" Yue Ying corrected, where at another time, the tone of this arrogant spirit tool would have been exceedingly proud, but now, she merely corrected him.

Alright, no wonder this entity is exceptionally proud; before, it didn’t even regard Immortal Kings seriously, yet still exercised extreme caution, unwilling to strike, clearly fearing that its actions would be sensed by the Immortal Venerables and result in destruction.

In the face of Immortal Venerables, even the Supreme Treasure is vulnerable, let alone a half-step level.

Immortal King Ziyue fell in the Forbidden Land, and Yue Ying also suffered severe damage, until countless years later, Old Gu coincidentally ventured there and accidentally brought Yue Ying out.

And then coincidentally, Shi Hao brought her back here.

"This place was originally nurtured by Immortal King Ziyue for her successors," Yue Ying voluntarily explained, "The so-called opportunity to achieve Immortal King consisted merely of a shred of understanding of the Path of Immortality that Immortal King Ziyue relinquished. Only an entity like Immortal King Ziyue could possess such miraculous abilities."

Shi Hao nodded in agreement; with this perspective, the level of Immortal Venerable indeed sits high above. Even a mere fragment of quasi-Immortal Venerable’s understanding of the Path of Immortality could significantly boost one’s chances of becoming an Immortal King.

"By the way, what happened to the supposed Ferocious God that was suppressed here earlier?" He suddenly realized, once having no one to ask, but now things were different; Yue Ying could at least represent half of Immortal King Ziyue.

"That was no Ferocious God, but... the king of the Asura Realm, also called a warrior king, a general. Haven’t you seen it?" Yue Ying said.

What!

It was an Asura Realm general, equivalent to an Immortal King here!

"The Asura Realm has always sought to invade; these restless souls possess Undying lifespans, differing entirely from the Immortal Realm," Yue Ying continued, "Thus, the passage of time only makes the Asura Realm stronger; Immortal Venerables and Immortal Kings here are limited in number, yet the Asura Realm... can grow indefinitely strong."

"Each Summit of the Stars suppresses a Two-Worlds Passage infiltrated by the Asura Realm, preventing the passage from solidifying and expanding, allowing stronger restless souls from the Asura Realm to pass unharmed."

"Originally, Immortal King Ziyue ventured alone into the Asura Realm, captured one of their kings, divided it into twenty-four parts, and sealed them, harnessing its undying nature to continuously provide energy for disciples to cultivate and irrigate the medicine field."

Wow, that’s incredible!

Shi Hao was slightly dumbfounded, this figure was truly strong, going alone into the Asura Realm, capturing an opposing general, and using it as a power source after dividing it.

If Yue Ying had not spoken of this, he might have thought it was absurdly far-fetched.