Bronze Immortal Palace

Arriving on the Human Ancient Road, Zhang Huan inquired about the situation in the Underworld.

This place gathered outstanding talents of all races from all corners of the universe, making it the most suitable for gathering information.

The Imperial Pass.

The significance of this place was momentous, and whether one could reach here was seen as a marker of true supreme talent.

In a magnificent and gigantic city, shouts of hawking rose and fell in succession, and a sweep of one's gaze revealed that even those of the lowest realm were Saint Kings.

This was one of the final checkpoints of the Ancient Road, and the renowned figures of the Ancient Road all gathered here.

The atmosphere was very lively; over the past few centuries, the new generation of the Ancient Road had also gradually matured, and some had already become Great Sages.

Roam-walking for several successive days, Zhang Huan learned of many recent developments.

First of all, the Demonic Court had suffered no major upheavals and was still developing steadily, setting Zhang Huan's mind at ease.

There was a rumor that was running very hot: in the past few years, the Underworld had suppressed several Supreme Emperor Weapons and announced its emergence, causing widespread panic and unease.

Not long after, a Spirit Bird at the Saint realm wreaked havoc on the Monster Ancient Road, with no one being a match for it. Once it stirred the fate energy of heaven and earth, even Saint Kings had to give it a wide berth, and its Daoist Dharma was eerie and special.

It came from the Underworld, carrying a Heavenly Halberd Emperor Weapon, and felt completely secure with its backing. After running amok and finishing with the monsters, it ran over to the Saint Spirit Ancient Road, boasting that it would fight in the same realm, and wherever it went, a bloody storm followed.

Zhang Huan had asked about the situation at the Underworld's base camp, but the replies he obtained were scanty. Hardly anyone knew the matter of the Underworld being uprooted, which showed that the Underworld intentionally concealed this. After all, family shame should not be aired publicly.

"Alas, that spirit bird's realm-breaking is like divinity. I'm afraid the Saint Spirit Ancient Road isn't enough for it to slaughter through either. It probably won't be long before it comes here."

Someone sighed. This spirit bird was now disliked by everyone who saw it, and each of them wished to avoid seeing it.

In truth, the Black Bird was indeed as he said, rushing toward this place. Only a moment passed before a clamor spread through the city—it had arrived, and it wanted to challenge the most famous individuals in the city.

Carrying the Heavenly Halberd on its back and standing beside a completely ordinary old man, it brandished its might the moment it entered the city.

Although it was at the Saint realm challenging Great Sages, it demanded a battle in the same realm. With an Emperor Weapon in hand, it left others no choice, and those who were unwilling would be suppressed on the spot.

Nowadays, pretty much all of those famous Emperor Weapons between heaven and earth were sealed. Where else was there any power capable of suppressing it?

"A battle in the same realm, beautifully spoken. Those who can't beat it must die, and those who can beat it must also die."

The surrounding people gave it a wide berth, and among them, someone muttered complaints.

There had once been someone who beat this black bird into a sorry state within several hundred strikes, only to be personally slain by the Zhundi by its side, with the excuse that someone too powerful might hinder its Dao path.

In short, the people it took a fancy to and demanded a battle with never managed to ultimately survive. Though called sparring, it was actually for the purpose of seeking out the monstrous talents of all races to obliterate them, facilitating its future path of contending for the Dao.

"I'll go. Someone has to suppress its arrogance and let them know that the Underworld has not yet dominated the universe and cannot run amok indefinitely."

A handsome young man with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes said. He was a young Great Sage of the God Clan, and together with another physique of the Supremacy, they were called the Peerless Twin Talents, standing out as the most outstanding youths of the human race in recent years.

"You'd better not go. The Underworld is treacherous, and even if you can fight them, it will be hard to escape the lethal blow of an Emperor Weapon."

Someone kindly reminded him, not wishing to watch a rising new star perish right then and there.

"No matter, I have my own measure."

The God Clan youth's physique was upright and straight, bearing unangered might. He strode forward with dragon-like steps toward the outside of the city, and cultivators of all races cleared a passageway for him.

Since his youth, he had obtained a slight fortuitous encounter, possessing a life-saving talisman that could protect him in retreating safely.

However, before he could even walk forward, an aura surged toward the spirit bird.

"That is... a Zhundi!"

The oppressive might made the heaven and earth rumble and roar. Zhang Huan's momentum was like a thunderbolt, and before the spirit bird could even react, it encountered a killing blow. The Heavenly Halberd autonomously awakened and blocked it, allowing the bird to escape a calamity.

Drawing the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Jar from his hand, Zhang Huan manipulated it to contend against the Heavenly Halberd, while his gaze locked onto that Zhundi. In his spiritual sense perception, the man was actually also a peerless powerhouse of the fifth heavenly layer.

The Azure Gold Cauldron gathered divine might and smashed toward the Zhundi in a flash of lightning and stone, blasting him tens of thousands of li away with a single blow.

"This is... my Dao-proclaiming artifact!"

The spirit bird exclaimed.

Years ago, before it had yet emerged, the Underworld had forged an extremely rare Supreme Emperor Weapon embryo for it.

During that great battle, someone seized the opportunity to break into the Underworld and snatch it away. Over these days, it had cursed the murderer who broke into the Underworld not a little. Now that the arch-criminal was right here, its gaze burned with intensity, wishing it could burn Zhang Huan on the spot.

The Heaven Swallowing Demonic Jar and the Heavenly Halberd were evenly matched, two Supreme Emperor Weapons tied with each other, splashing a basin of cold water on its heart for revenge.

Zhang Huan looked at the Zhundi who was in the same realm as him, his battle intent boiling. Coming to the Ancient Road this time yielded such harvest, which happened to test his entire cultivation level.

Myriad Transformations Immortal Art!

Flying Immortal Power crisscrossed, painting heaven and earth a milky white, beating the Underworld Zhundi until it panted heavily, its continuous secret arts making it difficult for it to parry.

The Zhundi's dharma and magical power awed the world, and the aftershocks shattered heaven and earth, causing the Great Sages of the Imperial Pass to tremble, feeling like mere ants under this force.

The Underworld Zhundi's hand was pitch-black as it unleashed the Extreme Palm of Calamity, which was shattered by Zhang Huan with his physical body, causing an entire arm to burst open.

After several strikes, Zhang Huan caved in its chest with a single palm, and Zhundi blood dripped from the Underworld Zhundi's lips. It was no match for Zhang Huan, being completely crushed in every aspect.

Zhang Huan's body glowed, a falling blow pulverizing everything, carrying several profound and taboo restrictions as it chopped straight at its head, smashing it and a patch of the starry river together into fine powder.

Under this blow, its primordial spirit also lacked the strength to resist and dissipated, scattering across the empty air and exploding with law intent.

"So these are cultivators of the fifth heavenly layer of Zhundi. Weaker than imagined by quite a bit."

Zhang Huan muttered to himself, simultaneously collecting the blood of the Underworld Zhundi and putting away the corpse.

Everything happened in the span of a fleeting moment; in the time it took to blink twice, a Zhundi fell on the spot.

Seeing this, the Heavenly Halberd refused to entangle itself with the Demonic Jar. Developments had exceeded control, and it was in a rush to take the spirit bird and escape.

"Did I let you leave!"

Zhang Huan shouted loudly, looking at the Heavenly Halberd and triggering the Lesser Soldier Secret. The Heavenly Halberd trembled, and taking advantage of this gap, the spirit bird was exposed outside, lacking law protection.

Zhang Huan condensed a Flying Immortal Sword and slashed down, cleaving the spirit bird's body and primordial spirit, returning with half a torso.

There was something on the spirit bird protecting its life, so a single strike did not take its life, but this sword strike also crippled it halfway. The Flying Immortal Power churned the aura, destroying its foundation completely.

Zhang Huan snorted coldly, watching the Heavenly Halberd break through space and depart an instant later. The spirit bird was full of murderous intent, so leaving it half-crippled was letting it off easy.

Holding half of its torso and its primordial spirit in his hand, Zhang Huan scanned the symbols within its origin clean.

No longer lingering in this place, Zhang Huan tore open a spatial rift and left.

A few days later, he refined a corpse pill inside the Azure Gold Cauldron, and after swallowing it, his cultivation level advanced a bit further.

He estimated that with two more, he would possess the foundation to charge at the sixth heavenly layer.

Zhang Huan gathered some information on the Underworld Zhundis, discovering it was hard to replicate this encounter; Underworld Zhundis basically never appeared in the outside world.

He could only shelve this matter of corpse pills for now and consider other fortuitous encounters first.

He had not yet forgotten that ruin mentioned by the Big Dipper's Old Daoist Green Ox. Even immortal gold could be obtained there, so the good things inside must be quite numerous.

"I might as well drop by the Supreme Dao forces to ask around; perhaps there will be some new discoveries."

Pinching his fingers to calculate, Zhang Huan also hadn't returned to the Big Dipper for quite a while.

He first visited the Ji Family.

The Void Mirror and the Great Sages of the clan's foundation all came out, secretly receiving Zhang Huan with great importance, and spoke of many matters.

"The Underworld has already discovered that I was among the participants of that day, and over these years they have tested us several times."

The Void Mirror's deity spoke bluntly, stating that with the Underworld's methods, wanting to find out the person who broke into the Underworld's base camp that day was only a matter of time.

Even if they wiped the traces completely clean, those people still had ways to confirm the true culprit.

The Void Mirror bore the brunt and was suspected first. Over these years, the suspicion had practically been cemented, which was why the Underworld had attacked the Ji Family several times. Now, the Ji Family's relevant figures had all shrunk back into their base camp, not even daring to go anywhere else in the Big Dipper.

According to what it said, the Underworld would find out sooner or later that Zhang Huan was the master of the Demonic Court.

Hearing of Zhang Huan's formidable display on the Ancient Road, the Void Mirror advised him to keep a close eye on the Demonic Court in these recent days, as the Underworld might make abnormal moves, and they would not let the matter of that day rest.

Zhang Huan nodded, proposing an alliance to the Ji Family to jointly deal with the Underworld alongside Supreme Dao forces whose Emperor Weapons were trapped.

He further proposed treasures needed to rapidly enhance his strength. After pondering, the Void Mirror agreed; Zhang Huan becoming powerful would benefit them all.

"Call me the next time the Underworld makes a move, and I'll help you completely eradicate the people the Underworld dispatches."

Zhang Huan put away the Ji Family's gifts, tore open a spatial rift, and left.

Within the Ji Family's clan land, a few Great Sages looked at the spatial ripples that were slightly stirring and sighed, guessing that Zhang Huan might attain the Dao in the future.

"This master of the Demonic Court possesses unfathomable strength and has achieved extraordinary accomplishments on the Zhundi path."

"With him walking at the front in this generation, those young talents can only eat his dust, destined to merely be foil to the shining stars."

Visiting the relevant Supreme Dao forces one by one, he didn't expend much effort before they all agreed. The situation forced their hands, and every single one of them was very cooperative, sending out extremely lavish gifts.

Secretly arriving at the Daoist temple of Old Daoist Green Ox in Central State, the fellow was lying on a grandmaster chair built from red jade, fanning himself leisurely.

Silently arriving before him, Zhang Huan pinched his fingers and pointed a strand of divine fire to burn the old man's backside, causing the old Daoist to immediately howl in panic and leap to his feet.

"Old thing, you don't want your life anymore, have you been living peaceably these years?"

The old Daoist looked toward the direction of the cold voice. The person before him was identical to the powerhouse of the Ruthless Bloodline from a century ago, instantly frightening his soul out of his body. He dropped to his knees on the ground and begged for mercy.

"Lord Demon, it's not that little ox was ignorant, it's really because..."

Old Daoist Green Ox looked as if he had bitter grievances he couldn't voice, stammering out words.

When Zhang Huan left, he had agreed with the old Daoist that the supplies would be delivered once every hundred years, received by a dedicated person dispatched by the Holy Religion Leader that Zhang Huan had created in the past.

The Holy Religion had perished not long after a century ago, replaced by an emerging force pushed by great powers behind the scenes, and that leader had also died within the Holy Religion.

Therefore, no one contacted him. The old Daoist thought something had happened to the Ruthless Bloodline, and as time grew long, he became increasingly slack. He stopped storing supplies, using them as he pleased, acting as if the words Zhang Huan had spoken didn't exist.

"I'll give you a chance to redeem yourself. Describe that ruin in detail and accompany me to explore it. If you dare play clever again, I'll make you pay."

Zhang Huan threatened, taking Old Daoist Green Ox with him as he rushed toward the ruin where the old man had obtained the immortal gold.

According to what he said, the entrance over there was surrounded by immortal light that took human lives; touch it and you die, and only after a hundred years would there be a few days of fading time, allowing a Saint to cross.

Upon seeing the immortal light, Zhang Huan directly tore open a gap with great magical power, stepping into it with the old man.

"This, you..."

Seeing the immortal light broken open so effortlessly, the old Daoist shrank his head in fear, unable to speak out.

Finding the immortal light and entering it, the two were teleported to a small world, which formed a realm of its own.

"This is the Bronze Immortal Palace!"

Zhang Huan's expression turned solemn. How could it be this place?

Ahead stood a massive bronze palace, magnificent beyond compare.

It was as large as a small city, mottled with green rust, completely matching the Bronze Immortal Palace in Zhang Huan's impression.

A few ancient corpses in the city had expressionless faces, mechanically turning their heads. Their clothing varied, all originating from an extremely ancient era.

There was not a shred of life force left on them; they had long since died, bearing a layer of waxy skin and relying on the immortal palace's properties to avoid complete decay and death.

This palace could not be separated from ties to the Ruthless Emperor. In later generations, someone even discovered an emperor corpse she had shed here, a single immortal character remaining undying and spreading for tens of thousands of years.

Presently, it hadn't been seen yet, though.

The few ancient corpses before his eyes all had treasures on them, either glowing blue at their waist or emitting Dao rhyme at the crown of their heads.

They too had been people who came seeking treasures, but pitifully, they obtained treasures yet were unable to leave, dying here alongside the treasures.

Zhang Huan helped them find release and accepted the treasures. Some people had been unwilling to die here and left behind inheritances, which Zhang Huan swept away together.

The immortal palace was vast, and this was merely the outermost layer. Zhang Huan walked toward the interior, investigating cautiously.

Old Daoist Green Ox was very sensible, rapidly recounting to him the fortuitous encounters existing in certain locations, and one place was precisely where he had obtained the immortal gold.

"Have you ever seen an immortal character written in blood?"

Zhang Huan asked.

"No, my strength was insufficient to set foot in many places..."

Zhang Huan didn't speak. Breaking open a restriction, he stepped into a palace gate. Massive life force overflowed from the interior, lingering with chaos mist, hazy and illusory, and the air held multicolored brilliance.

The source was a large expanse of chaos soil, manifesting multicolored divine light. It could catalyze all things and could also be used as a weapon-refining material; hard to find since ancient times, yet here there were several squares.

Old Daoist Green Ox's eyes went straight at the sight. It was said that this kind of rare soil could even nourish Immortal Medicine, and just eating a single mouthful yielded immense benefits with boundless marvels.

Zhang Huan glanced sideways at him, instantly causing him to behave honestly. Reaching out, he grabbed toward the chaos soil, stowing it all into the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Jar.

Walking toward another location, there were several pieces of immortal gold the size of fingernails on the ground, and Old Daoist Green Ox immediately lit up with joy, recounting that this place was precisely where he had obtained the immortal gold.

He hadn't expected that coming today, there would be a few more pieces; the immortal gold seemed to simply grow out of this region.

Ahead lay the core land of the immortal palace, and faint, extraordinary oppressive might drifted from within. The last time Old Daoist Green Ox came, he hadn't dared to delve deep, slipping away after picking up some immortal gold.

Zhang Huan walked forward cautiously, stepping into the deepest part step by step. The oppressive might rose sharply, causing even him to generate a bit of pressure.

Passing through the greater part of the immortal palace, Zhang Huan looked inward. Inside the palace were several thick pillars of immortal gold, with law symbols densely packed, entangling a white broken sword.

All the oppressive might came from it; the immortal palace and the immortal gold were merely restraining it, sealing it in this place.

At a glance, Zhang Huan perceived the strength of this broken sword. It was definitely a creation of the immortal Dao; even though the blade was broken and no longer complete, it could still contend against the immortal palace.

He did not alert the broken sword, fixing his gaze on the immortal gold trapping it. Some of it had already fractured, slashed off by the immortal sword and fallen to the ground.

Those outside were merely scraps.

The only remaining ones connected to the immortal palace were two pillars, and at this rate, it would break free sooner or later.

During the time he observed, the immortal sword had already brewed its momentum, its aura surging violently once more as it slashed toward a divine chain, and thousands of order symbols shattered once again.

It became even more frantic, desperately slashing toward the final chain. The blade even cracked with new splits, alas the final chain was the thickest, and the symbols upon it were many times more numerous than the other divine chains, making it difficult to sever in a short time.

"It cannot be allowed to break free!"

Zhang Huan generated a sense of crisis. Once such a great lethal weapon broke free, everything within the immortal palace, including himself, would become the target of the other party's vented fury.