"Not good, the King of Dark Souls is about to break free!" Shi Hao was startled. Previously, that "Ferocious God" had said it was undying and unkillable, able to escape on its own strength. Back then, he thought it was boasting, but now it seemed it might just be true.

Yue Ying was nonchalant, saying, "Having been suppressed for so many years, the King of Dark Souls’ strength must have greatly diminished; even if it escapes, it will still be suppressed, no need to worry."

Aren’t they at least at the level of an Immortal King? Can’t you take it more seriously?

Alright, you’re a half-step Supreme Device, you can afford to be arrogant.

Shi Hao rubbed his hands together and said, "So, are there any treasures here that can immediately make me a half-step Immortal Venerable?"

If Yue Ying had a physical form, she would definitely be rolling her eyes, but she was merely an Artifact Spirit and naturally couldn’t: "Not to mention Immortal Venerable, even Immortal King requires your own enlightenment to advance! However, here, you have the opportunity to cultivate the Nine Deaths Heavenly Technique to perfection."

Hearing this, Shi Hao couldn’t help but be intrigued.

Is the Nine Deaths Heavenly Technique powerful?

It is!

In Shi Hao’s perspective, when Immortal King Ziyue was pursued by an Immortal Venerable and yet survived, even managing to escape into the Forbidden Land, the Nine Deaths Heavenly Technique must have played a major role, otherwise the difference of a half-step would be worlds apart!

A half-step is still a fact that you haven’t achieved Immortal Venerable, so it naturally can’t match an Immortal Venerable.

Thinking of it this way, it shows the terrifying nature of the Nine Deaths Heavenly Technique, giving an Immortal King a sliver of a chance even when facing an Immortal Venerable.

Unfortunately, though Immortal King Ziyue escaped into the Forbidden Land, she still couldn’t find a Great Medicine that could sustain a powerhouse of her level, ultimately leading to her lonely demise.

What a pity, what a sigh.

Though Shi Hao has several times comprehended on the edge of life and death, such situations are after all too rare. A single misstep could mean his real death, and being able to go through this five times already speaks to his resilience.

Despite that, Shi Hao remained cautious, not daring to easily attempt it.

Now, considering this place was arranged by Immortal King Ziyue specifically for comprehending the Nine Deaths Heavenly Technique, it must surely be much safer.

He was looking forward to it as he headed deeper into the great hall. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Soon, he discovered a stone bed.

Here, there was actually a stone bed?

How incongruous.

"Lie down on it," Yue Ying instructed.

Complying, Shi Hao lay down and refrained from making a snarky comment.

"Next, I will initiate a power to let your soul hover on the edge of life and death," Yue Ying said solemnly, "Do not take this lightly, although your physical body won’t be harmed, what you will experience will be incredibly real, so much so that you won’t be able to distinguish it."

"Once your soul believes you are dead, it will fall into an eternal state of desolation, turning you into a living dead!"

"Now, begin!"

Crap!

Shi Hao didn’t even have time to call for a halt—don’t you think you should have mentioned this earlier?

The arrow is already on the string, about to be released, and you’re telling me now?

You truly are an unreliable Artifact Spirit!

But in an instant, Shi Hao realized a terrifying attack was coming, forcing him to fight back with all his might.

Battle after battle, he was plunged into an endless bitter struggle.

He had never fought such a difficult battle; no matter how he exerted himself, the opponent would always be a bit stronger than him. Under continuous attacks, he kept getting hurt, gradually hovering on the edge of life and death, the utter reality of it blurred the line between reality and illusion for him.

Yet, his resolve would not waver under any circumstance.

Tenacious, proud, unyielding!

He would not die; he sought ultimate strength, to protect those around him!

This belief gave him boundless energy, pulling him back from the brink of death, and during this process, his understanding of the Nine Deaths Heavenly Technique rapidly deepened.

Unbeknownst to Shi Hao, as he intensified his understanding of the Nine Deaths Heavenly Technique, the stone bed below him was also radiating a gentle glow.

"Heavenly Dark Jade, a treasure unseen for tens of thousands of years," Yue Ying said, somewhat mournfully. "Originally, Mother intended to use it to resurrect me, but she perished, and I can no longer hope to walk the earth again. I bestow this opportunity upon you!"

"Shi Hao, in your soul, I have witnessed a terrifying murder intent, yet I also see the mark of hope. In the future, you could perhaps break free from the constraints of the Immortal Realm and become a being even greater than an Immortal Venerable!"

"The revenge for Mother... will be entrusted to you!"

Unfortunately, Shi Hao could not hear Yue Ying’s words, his body automatically absorbing the benefits emanating from the stone bed, especially with the presence of The Void, making this process far easier.

Buzz!

Seven days passed, and the life force radiating from Shi Hao’s body plummeted; his heartbeat stopped, his body turned cold, like a dead man. But after three more days, he suddenly burst back to life with a boundless vitality.

Between life and death, Shi Hao had already advanced to the sixth level of the Nine Deaths Heavenly Technique.

However, Shi Hao did not stop, he continued.

This was after all the place where Immortal King Ziyue created the Nine Deaths Heavenly Technique, for the purpose of understanding it, naturally making the process far more efficacious, not to mention Yue Ying’s assistance.

Seven more days passed, and Shi Hao once more entered a near-death state, yet after five days, Shi Hao revived once again.

The seventh level of the Nine Deaths Heavenly Technique!

Another seven days passed, and Shi Hao fell for the third time on the brink of death. This time, it took a full nine days before Shi Hao awoke, signifying his entry into the eighth level of the Nine Deaths Heavenly Technique.

Yue Ying was hesitant; as Shi Hao mastered the eighth level, it was clear he was struggling to keep going, though fortunately, he came back again. But could it be ensured he would succeed next time?

To "die" one more time may indeed spell real death.

But she hadn’t yet gotten around to awakening Shi Hao before he had already re-entered that vivid illusionary realm.

Waking Shi Hao now could cause irreversible harm to his soul.

Yue Ying had to abandon the idea, believing that Shi Hao could overcome this hurdle.

Now, Shi Hao could only rely on himself.

Within the illusionary realm, once again, Shi Hao was in a near-death state, his life force nearly extinguished.

One day, two days, three days... ten days, twenty days, thirty days, an entire month passed, yet Shi Hao showed no sign of revival.

Is this the end?

Yue Ying felt it, but Shi Hao’s soul had also fallen into a desolate state, as if truly having died in the illusionary realm and believed himself dead.

Hope flickered and extinguished!

Yue Ying was stunned, suddenly feeling immense regret.

If she’d known this, she shouldn’t have been so hasty; letting Shi Hao take it slow would have worked too. After all, the Nine Deaths Heavenly Technique is just an aiding method, it couldn’t propel Shi Hao instantly to the heavens.

Then, I will stay here with you, eternally entombed here.

Yue Ying said, this was where she was born and ultimately returned to seclusion, forming a cycle of life.

Another month passed, and suddenly, a sliver of vitality emanated from Shi Hao’s body!