Chapter One: The Divine Art Emerges

Year four of the Sealing Heaven Realm, two thousand one hundred years since its founding.

Wanggu Cliff was overflowing with people; all manner of demons, ghosts, immortals, and spirits had converged here. From Valley Continent, Plains Continent, and even the distant Summit Cloud Continent, every sect had sent their most formidable cultivators. Some had even brought out those ancient beings who hadn't left their secluded cultivation in ten thousand years—dragging their coffins along with them.

Beneath Wanggu Cliff, the brilliant seven-colored radiance grew ever stronger. Tens of thousands of cultivators lining the edge of the precipice stared, unblinking, their gazes fixed intently on the abyss below…

Not far from the cliff, atop a low peak, two elderly men watched the crowd in silence.

"Look at this, just look! If you hadn't shown off, would we be seeing this spectacle now?" The black-robed elder cast a cold glance at the white-robed one beside him.

The white-robed elder wiped the sweat from his brow, somewhat embarrassed. "I was just passing by and happened to see this magnificent view, so I casually posted it in the feed. Who could have guessed the whole world would find out?"

"Hmph! Where there is seven-colored light, there must be a treasure about to appear. Do you really need me to remind you of such basic common sense?"

"Fine, fine, I admit my mistake, alright? You've been harping on about it for half a month already. Now that the light's intensifying, the treasure should reveal itself within half an hour. Instead of wasting time, shouldn't we be discussing our plan?"

At these words, the black-robed elder's expression grew more serious. He gazed again at the towering seven-colored radiance, now stretching ten thousand feet skyward.

"Our cultivation has already reached the pinnacle of the Sealing Heaven Realm. As long as we don't quarrel and work together, even among these tens of thousands, claiming the treasure will be as easy as turning our hand."

The white-robed elder nodded vigorously in agreement. "You're absolutely right, Brother Gu. Such an immortal treasure can only be shared between the two of us."

They exchanged a smile, as if the treasure was already in their grasp.

Suddenly, Wanggu Cliff shook violently, and the seven-hued radiance beneath surged even more fiercely. The crowd above tensed, swords drawn, poised to snatch the treasure the instant it appeared.

On the low peak, the two old men watched the cliff with utmost gravity.

Soon, a thunderous boom echoed from below. The seven-colored light abruptly converged into one, and a beam of golden light shot up, piercing the sky in a flash and soaring into the clouds.

The experts from every sect simultaneously unleashed their arts, soaring into the air in pursuit of the golden radiance.

The two elders on the mountain watched as tens of thousands of cultivators flew skyward, both letting out a cold snort.

"Valley Ghost Sect is in quite a hurry. Do they really think themselves the overlords of Valley Continent?"

"Let them be the cannon fodder; it saves us a lot of trouble!"

"Hmph. Once they're locked in a life-or-death struggle above, I'll cast the Infinite Spirit-Trapping Array. After that, it will be up to you, Brother Gu."

"The title Sword Saint of Valley Continent is not for nothing. With my ultimate technique, none of them will escape!"

"Hahahahaha…!"

The two burst out laughing, faces openly gleaming with excitement.

"Snap!"

"Hmm?"

A flash of golden light swept past, and something fell at their feet.

Looking down, they saw a golden scroll lying motionless between them.

Faint immortal energy emanated from the scroll, and the golden glow, refracted through the immortal mist, seemed like countless celestial maidens dancing in the air.

An enchanting, seductive aura wafted from it, as if whispering:

"Hello, I am the immortal treasure. Come claim me, come claim me, or I'll leap into your arms myself!"

"Uh…"

The two elders stared dumbly at the scroll, momentarily bewildered.

After a moment, the black-robed elder slowly crouched down and picked up the scroll.

"This… this is…"

Now the white-robed elder recovered his senses. He opened his mouth, lips trembling, about to speak, when he felt a presence above.

He looked up abruptly. A young man, dressed in gray with a white sash, hovered in midair, glaring at them.

"Gu… Sword Saint of Valley Continent, and the Ascending Immortal Daoist!"

Sweat instantly broke out on the young man's brow as he recognized the two below. These were among the most fearsome figures in the entire Sealing Heaven Realm; their very presence could chill one to the bone.

"Gulp!"

Swallowing hard, he fumbled in his sleeve for a communication talisman, opened his sect's group chat, and sent a location pin.

"The treasure is here! Hurry! I'm going to die! I'm going to die! I'm going to die!"

His fingers trembled, sweat soaking his body, but he still sent the message. His sect was close by—once the elders arrived, he might just survive.

Seeing the young man's actions, the two elders frowned.

The Sword Saint, clad in black, crouched low. Every second was precious now; if he could avoid complications, he would.

He shot a glance at the Ascending Immortal Daoist in white. "You stall him, I'll go first. Meet at the usual place!"

The Ascending Immortal Daoist's eyes flashed as he nodded in response.

The Sword Saint returned the nod and was about to turn and leave.

But just as he turned, a fierce gust struck him.

"Thud!"

It was a gleaming white fist—the fist of the Ascending Immortal Daoist.

The blow was so close and so unexpected that the Sword Saint had no time to defend. The punch landed squarely.

Seizing the moment, the Ascending Immortal Daoist snatched the golden scroll from the Sword Saint's hand, unfurled an arcane art, spun around, and shot into the distance at blinding speed.

The Sword Saint stood dazed, clutching his face, staring at his now-empty hands, then at the direction the Daoist had fled…

A furious roar shook the heavens.

"Damn you!"

"We were supposed to share!"

…

Half a stick of incense later, thousands of miles away in the sky.

The Ascending Immortal Daoist pushed his spiritual power to the utmost, his flying sword beneath him glowing red-hot.

He moved so fast that even the air twisted in his wake.

Yet he dared not relax for a moment; he could feel several auras closing in from behind.

The Sword Saint of Valley Continent, and even some ancient monsters from other sects, were in hot pursuit. Some were burning their own blood essence, just to keep up for a chance at the spoils.

Thus began a relentless chase that lasted nearly four hours, the gap between them slowly closing.

The Ascending Immortal Daoist's breath grew ragged; his throat tasted of blood, which he soon spat out.

He was exhausting his body to the limit. At this rate, today might well be his last day alive.

Unwilling to accept defeat, he clutched the scroll tightly, suddenly raising his head as an idea flashed in his mind.

Without hesitation, he extended his hand; the blood he had just coughed up began to wriggle, forming a talisman in his palm.

He pressed it forward, and a mist spread out; before him, a giant crocodile appeared.

The enormous beast instantly grew several times larger, opened its jaws, and the Ascending Immortal Daoist dove inside.

With a lurch, the crocodile plunged downward, crashing into the endless sea below…

…

A month later, beside a small island in the heart of the endless sea.

A huge eye slowly rose from the water, glanced left and right, then submerged again.

Two hours later, another eye surfaced at a different spot, scanning the surroundings as cautiously as before.

For three days, this ritual repeated over and over, until at last the crocodile came ashore.

The Ascending Immortal Daoist carefully pried open the crocodile's jaws and peered out, then slowly crawled forth.

His gaze was dazed, but he spread his divine sense and meticulously scouted several hundred miles around.

"Safe!"

He snapped his fingers, stretched his old back, and drew out the golden scroll.

"Ha… a divine technique!"

"Heh… a divine technique!"

"Heh heh… hahahahaha…"

Clutching the scroll, the Ascending Immortal Daoist's face was streaked with tears as he burst out laughing, his body trembling with excitement.

"Um… excuse me…"

"Hic!"

The laughter stopped abruptly as a stranger's voice echoed across the quiet little island.

To the Daoist, it was as jarring as a thunderclap.

In an instant, a long sword appeared in his hand.

He spun around to see, at the water’s edge, a strangely dressed youth half-emerging from the crocodile’s mouth, staring at him in a daze.

The youth’s expression was rather awkward.

"Could you give me a hand? I… seem to be stuck…"