As the Sacred Minister hesitated, the Primordial Immortal King stepped out of the Reincarnation Whirlpool, fully revealing his presence to the Immortal Spirits.
The Primordial Immortal King stood tall and broad, his imposing figure draped in tattered robes. His upper body was wrapped in strips of cloth that swayed slightly in the air. His long, gray hair flowed over his shoulders, emanating a primal, ferocious aura.
The strands of his ash-colored hair twisted and churned like ancient rivers, disrupting the surrounding spiritual energy. The disturbance caused visible distortions, creating a shocking visual impact.
He seemed as though he had emerged from the dawn of time, stepping from the very origin of the river of ages. His arrival brought an oppressive presence that weighed heavily upon all beings in the Heavenly Spirit World.
The Immortal Spirits gazed at him with awe and reverence, unable to look away.
Below the Reincarnation Whirlpool, the figures kneeling in its shadow radiated an aura akin to the Primordial Immortal King's—cold, lifeless, and filled with death. Yet their expressions betrayed not shock but an exhilaration, as if they had long anticipated his return and were ready to follow him into the coming storm.
The Primordial Immortal King let out a slow, deep exhale, releasing a scorching wave of air. His bloodshot eyes gradually regained clarity, and his gaze swept first over the figures below the Whirlpool before shifting toward the distant Immortal Spirits.
Even though his gaze was distant, the Immortal Spirits felt an involuntary chill. Some instinctively stepped back.
The Primordial Immortal King was far from the idealized figure they had imagined. Instead, his entire being exuded an unsettling danger, a creeping terror that wormed its way into their souls.
"Now…" the Primordial Immortal King began, his voice raspy, filling the void with an even heavier atmosphere.
Before he could finish, he suddenly opened his mouth and let out a deafening roar.
The roar was earth-shattering, reverberating throughout the Heavenly Spirit World. Every living being heard it. Even those in the Hidden Paradise Cave Heaven and the Submerged Spirit Palace—such as Tian Yao'er, Tianqing, Tianbai, and the Deep Sea Dragon Koi—were startled awake as if from a nightmare.
The roar wasn't a mere sound; it was a direct assault on the soul.
Those who heard it were gripped with fear, their spirits thrown into disarray. Creatures across the land even began to see a mirage-like vision of the Primordial Immortal King towering in the sky, his massive, roaring figure pressing down on their hearts.
At that moment, Gu An stood on the streets of the outer sect city. Around him, other cultivators gazed at the sky, their faces pale with terror.
Not far from Gu An, the Demon Emperor's son, Di Xie, also looked skyward, his brows furrowed tightly.
"What is that…" Di Xie murmured under his breath.
Gu An sighed, "It seems another great disaster is upon us."
The two had rarely crossed paths, but now they stood together. Just as they exchanged a few words, the Primordial Immortal King's roar interrupted them.
Years ago, during the invasion of the Human Domain by the Demonic Lands, Di Xie had secretly infiltrated Tai Xuan Sect, where he remained for centuries. Now, he was one of the sect's senior members, working to bridge the divide between humans and demons.
In the beginning, he and Gu An had gotten along well, but as their statuses diverged, they had grown distant.
Di Xie took a deep breath and said, "Indeed."
Looking down at Gu An, he added with a smile, "You have nothing to fear. The Tai Xuan Sect is undoubtedly the safest place in the world right now."
Gu An nodded and continued chatting with him.
Perhaps due to the Primordial Immortal King's arrival, Di Xie, usually reserved, found himself unusually talkative. He began describing the unparalleled strength of the Tai Xuan Sect.
Beyond the heavens.
Before the Reincarnation Whirlpool, the Primordial Immortal King floated silently. His roar subsided, and his arms hung loosely at his sides. Suddenly, his gaze shifted toward the Immortal Dynasty's forces.
The abrupt attention made the Immortal Spirits shudder in fear.
The Primordial Immortal King's lips curled into a sinister grin. His gaze sharpened, and in an instant, the void was filled with countless eyes, large and small. On closer inspection, every single one was the Primordial Immortal King's eye.
The Immortal Spirits were gripped with horror, feeling as if they were being watched by an infinite number of enemies. Before they could flee, the eyes in the void widened simultaneously. The Immortal Spirits' expressions changed drastically—they couldn't speak, couldn't run. Their souls, beyond their control, began flying out of their bodies, drawn toward the eyes.
The scene was terrifyingly bizarre. Even the powerful beings using their divine sense to observe from afar felt their hearts tremble.
The Immortal Dynasty made no move to intervene, leaving the Immortal Spirits to their fate. One by one, their souls were devoured by the Primordial Immortal King's eyes.
Once the souls were consumed, the Primordial Immortal King closed his eyes. The countless eyes across the void vanished instantly.
When he reopened his eyes, the bloodshot veins were gone, and much of the deathly aura around him had dissipated. He now appeared more alive, more vital.
With a faint smile, he exhaled softly over the empty shells of the Immortal Spirits. In that instant, thousands of bodies turned to ash, scattered into the wind.
"Welcome the Immortal King back from the Abyssal Nether!"
A mysterious figure emerged from the Reincarnation Whirlpool and called out loudly.
Hearing this, the other figures in the whirlpool followed suit, their voices echoing the Immortal King's name across the cosmos.
The Primordial Immortal King raised his right hand, and the Heavenly Spirit World trembled. The sea of clouds churned, and a distant ocean exploded with a deafening roar. A massive, mountain-like black object surged from the depths, piercing the sky as it flew toward the Primordial Immortal King.
Boom!
The Primordial Immortal King caught the incoming object in his right hand. It was an enormous black blade. The hilt alone spanned tens of thousands of feet, resembling a rugged mountain ridge. Its surface was etched with mysterious runes, and the blade itself was thick and unsharpened, radiating no aura but pure, oppressive darkness.
From the vantage point of the Heavenly Spirit World, the black blade surged forth, cutting through the clouds and leaving a vast opening. Below the rift in the sea of clouds, a deep blue ocean revealed a fissure that widened as the blade approached.
The Primordial Immortal King gazed at the massive black blade in his hand and murmured, "It has been so long since I held you. I miss the days when we fought side by side."
He raised the black blade and gently swung it. The force of the swing tore through the outer layers of light beyond the heavens and caused distortions in the Reincarnation Whirlpool behind him. Ripples of power spread outward, leaving the figures kneeling by the whirlpool even more fervent, chanting the Immortal King's name in unison.
While the outer heavens buzzed with energy, the Heavenly Spirit World fell into an eerie silence. All living beings seemed afraid to disturb the atmosphere. None dared to make a sound, let alone step forward.
The Primordial Immortal King lifted the black blade high, fully unleashing his overwhelming aura—an aura that stood at the pinnacle of the Nine Heavens of the Immortal Dao!
Even the Sun Immortal Emperor had never displayed such a formidable presence!
Far away in the Immortal Dynasty, the Sun Immortal Emperor stood atop a golden hall, gazing at the scene with a somber expression. The Ancient Immortal Emperor materialized beside him, his face dark and stormy.
"Is this part of your plan as well?" the Ancient Immortal Emperor asked gravely.
The Sun Immortal Emperor's face remained emotionless. "Would I resurrect another Emperor of the Immortal Dynasty to replace me?"
Hearing this, the Ancient Immortal Emperor furrowed his brows and asked in astonishment, "Then who could it be?"
The Sun Immortal Emperor's voice grew distant. "It seems the Yuanxu Immortal Ancestor created the Reincarnation Whirlpool for reasons beyond our knowledge. Perhaps this was all the Primordial Immortal King's plan from the start. The war between the Immortal Dynasty and the Sacred Court may have muddied the heavenly threads, providing him the opportunity for his resurrection."
Concern flickered in the Ancient Immortal Emperor's eyes as he listened.
The Primordial Immortal King's aura was overwhelmingly strong—so much so that even the Ancient Immortal Emperor, a True Immortal of boundless freedom, found himself deeply unsettled. How could he not feel apprehensive?
What was most alarming was that after the Primordial Immortal King's resurrection, his first act was not to target the Sacred Court but to annihilate the Immortal Spirits of the Immortal Dynasty. This was a dangerous signal.
"Could this be the Sacred Court's doing? But it doesn't make sense… How could they possibly achieve this?" the Ancient Immortal Emperor muttered to himself.
The Sun Immortal Emperor remained silent, his expression devoid of concern but brimming with fighting spirit.
From the moment he ascended to the throne of the Immortal Dynasty, there had always been comparisons to the emperors before him, and the Primordial Immortal King—the founder of the Immortal Dynasty—was a standard he could never surpass.
Countless times, he had imagined what it would be like if he and the Primordial Immortal King had lived in the same era. Who would emerge victorious?
He was confident in himself. Even when facing the invincible Sacred Heaven, he had believed in his own superiority, for he was far younger than Sacred Heaven.
Even now, as the Primordial Immortal King's awe-inspiring aura filled the heavens, the Sun Immortal Emperor did not feel fear. Instead, his fighting spirit burned brighter than ever.
Elsewhere.
Within the Sacred Court, the Sacred Minister and the Sacred Gods were engaged in discussions when the Primordial Immortal King obliterated the Immortal Spirits.
"What's going on?" one of the Sacred Gods asked, turning to the Sacred Minister. "Is this your doing?"
The Sacred Minister looked toward the outer heavens and shook his head slightly. "It has nothing to do with me. It seems we're about to face another unforeseen variable."
Hearing this, the Sacred Gods grew even more perplexed. None of them felt joy at the Immortal Spirits' annihilation; instead, a deep unease settled in their hearts.
Who was orchestrating these events from behind the scenes?
At the Reincarnation Whirlpool.
After sensing the power of the black blade, the Primordial Immortal King raised his left hand and touched the crown of his head.
"There's still something missing," he muttered to himself. His gaze shifted toward the Heavenly Spirit World, locking onto a specific location. A faint smile appeared on his face before he vanished without a trace.
At Tai Xuan Sect, in the outer sect city.
Gu An was engrossed in conversation, listening to Di Xie recount the recent growth of the Tai Xuan Sect. According to Di Xie, the sect had grown incredibly powerful, expanding its influence even overseas with an intricate network of connections.
All of this success could be attributed to one individual—the Sword Master of the Dao.
Thanks to the Sword Master of the Dao, the sect's overtures to overseas powers were met with warmth. Following his direct interventions, those powers' attitudes had become even more enthusiastic.
Di Xie was about to recount the Golden Scorpion Island battle from the previous year, a pivotal conflict that had bolstered Tai Xuan Sect's reputation. It proved that the sect was formidable even without the Sword Master of the Dao taking action.
Boom!
A figure descended from the sky, slamming into the street behind Gu An. The impact sent debris flying, and nearby cultivators were hurled backward by the shockwave. Even Gu An's robes billowed loudly from the force.
Di Xie's pupils dilated in shock. Without hesitation, he flashed behind Gu An, shielding him.
But in the next moment, Di Xie regretted his decision. He had caught a clear glimpse of the newcomer's face.
It was none other than the Primordial Immortal King!
The lingering image of the Primordial Immortal King's roaring figure hung in the sky. The surrounding cultivators instinctively glanced upward before turning their terrified gazes back to the figure before them.
Chaos erupted.
The cultivators scattered like a receding tide, some even leaping into the air to flee as quickly as possible.
Di Xie, however, stood frozen in place. His legs felt as heavy as lead, preventing him from moving. Though fear gripped his heart, he couldn't bring himself to run. The only sound in his ears was his own pounding heartbeat.
The Primordial Immortal King's expression was emotionless as he stared directly at Gu An. In front of him, both Di Xie and Gu An appeared insignificant, the difference in their power levels immeasurable.
"Junior," the Primordial Immortal King said, his deep voice cutting through the air, "do you know the origin of the crown you wear?"
Hearing the Primordial Immortal King's question, Gu An turned to look at him. Pointing to the crown on his head, he asked, "Are you saying this crown belongs to you?"
The Primordial Immortal King's lips curled into a faint smile. "That's right, it's mine. This treasure was crafted when I ascended to the Ninth Heaven of the Immortal Dao. It is the Immortal King Crown, capable of absorbing the life essence and blood of living beings to store immense magical power."
The Ninth Heaven of the Immortal Dao!
An Immortal Dao Supreme Treasure!
Di Xie nearly collapsed upon hearing this, cold sweat dripping down his face in large beads.
Against such an existence, he had no chance of resistance!
Not just him—this revelation spelled potential disaster for the entire Tai Xuan Sect. Despair began to well up in his heart, and a trace of blame toward Gu An crept in. How could you have stumbled upon such a thing with such an incredible origin?
He had always thought the Immortal King Crown looked strange, especially with its many empty slots meant for jewels that Gu An had never bothered to fill. Now it made sense—the crown wasn't incomplete; it simply couldn't be casually adorned.
Gu An regarded the Primordial Immortal King with a calm expression. "So? You want it back?"
Around them, the gathered cultivators were tense, their breaths caught in their throats. Although the Primordial Immortal King was terrifying, they were disciples of the Tai Xuan Sect, bound by duty to protect their sect even in the face of such overwhelming danger.
Hearing Gu An's bold reply, the crowd cursed silently in their hearts: This kid's crazy!
He dared to provoke such a monstrous being!
The Primordial Immortal King's eyes narrowed as he examined Gu An from head to toe.
[The Primordial Immortal King shows hostility toward you and intends to crush you to dust. Would you like to use the Lifespan Investigation ability?]
Gu An immediately selected to investigate.
[Primordial Immortal King (Free Immortal Realm, Ninth Layer): 0/0/0]
All zeros!
Not a living entity!
Gu An felt a tinge of disappointment. To him, the Primordial Immortal King wasn't even worth as much as a Qi Refining Realm cultivator.
The Primordial Immortal King took a step forward, standing before Di Xie. His oppressive presence caused Di Xie's pupils to dilate with terror. His entire body trembled as he was enveloped in the shadow of the Immortal King.
Looking down at Di Xie, the Primordial Immortal King's voice was cold and commanding. "Mortal, do you dare to block my path?"
From the distance, figures began to appear—powerful cultivators of the Tai Xuan Sect. Among them were the Nine-Finger Divine Lord and Shen Xin Zi, their faces pale with fear.
What an overwhelming aura!
Who is this terrifying individual?
Di Xie, normally composed and dignified, looked utterly humiliated. He wanted to speak, but not even the strength to beg for mercy remained within him.
And it wasn't just him.
All around, Tai Xuan Sect disciples stood frozen with fear, too petrified to act. The courage they had summoned to not flee outright was the most they could muster.
"Kneel!"
The Primordial Immortal King's eyes gleamed fiercely, his voice a thunderclap that reverberated across the space, shaking everyone to their core.
Di Xie's face turned ashen as his legs gave way. He nearly collapsed to the ground when, suddenly, a hand grasped his arm, pulling him upright.
It was Gu An.
While steadying Di Xie, Gu An kept his gaze fixed on the Primordial Immortal King.
From the rooftops in the distance, the Nine-Finger Divine Lord observed the scene, his heart pounding. Who is this Gu An, really?
The confrontation between Gu An and the Sun and Moon Nether Emperor still lingered in his memory. It only deepened his curiosity about Gu An, though he dared not inquire too deeply.
With Gu An supporting him, Di Xie felt a strange sense of relief. He turned to look at Gu An, wanting to say something, but the cold and resolute expression on Gu An's face stopped him.
The look in Gu An's eyes was intimidating, commanding an involuntary sense of reverence.
The Primordial Immortal King's expression shifted slightly as he stared at Gu An. Raising the massive black blade in his hand, he hoisted it above his head in a threatening stance, preparing to strike.
"Be careful!" a Tai Xuan Sect disciple shouted from the crowd. He was a former disciple of the Third Medicine Valley, someone who deeply appreciated Gu An's past assistance. Seeing Gu An in danger, his instinct was to warn him.
It was the only thing he could do.
Gu An tilted his head slightly, his expression calm as he locked eyes with the Primordial Immortal King. "I'll give you one chance—just one strike."
The Primordial Immortal King's gaze turned icy. With a twist of his wrist, he swung the massive blade downward with all his might.
Di Xie, half-kneeling, looked up. His vision was dominated by the immense black blade descending, his face etched with despair.
Boom!
The black blade collided with earth-shattering force.
In an instant, the black blade disintegrated into dust, taking the Primordial Immortal King with it. Both were reduced to ash in a single, devastating moment. The residual energy from the impact obliterated nearby buildings, and the clouds overhead were dispersed entirely.
Gu An stood in place, his expression unchanging. Only his hair and robes danced wildly in the gusts, as though flames engulfed his figure.