Incorporating Buzhou

The deeper he went into Quicksand Marsh, the harsher the environment became. The sand beneath his feet grew scorching hot, and in some places, it split open directly, spewing blazing magma and toxic smoke.

The air was thick with the pungent stench of sulfur and violent fire spiritual energy. Ordinary Celestial Immortals would likely struggle to endure here for long.

Fortunately, with the "Heart of Quicksand" mark bestowed by Quicksand Spirit Venerable, the restless quicksand became docile wherever Li Su passed. Even the erupting earthfire actively avoided him, while the omnipresent pressure of chaotic laws was reduced by more than half.

This allowed him to focus fully on sensing the direction of the Buzhou Mountain fragment.

Following the mark's guidance, he arrived at the edge of a vast basin resembling a volcanic crater.

At the center of the basin was a lake of constantly churning dark-red magma. In the middle of the lake, a massive shadow, like a mountain, could vaguely be seen half-submerged and half-floating, emanating a heart-palpitating heaviness and sense of brokenness.

That was the Buzhou Mountain fragment!

Even from such a distance, Li Su could feel the fragment's immense pressure and the chaotic Law of Strength it radiated.

The surrounding space had twisted because of it, the light dimmed, as though that region existed apart from the Primordial World.

How could he get closer? Flying over directly was definitely impossible—the force field at the center was enough to tear apart an ordinary True Immortal. Going beneath the magma lake? That magma was certainly no ordinary mortal fire. It was likely Earth-Core Poison Fire, capable of melting an immortal body.

Li Su carefully swept the area with his Immortal Sense and discovered what seemed to be ancient, heavily eroded plank roads and caves winding along the basin's rocky walls toward the lake's center.

These traces were incomparably ancient, seemingly formed when Buzhou Mountain shattered. Perhaps they offered a path.

He cautiously made his way down along the largest plank road. The farther down he went, the greater the pressure and heat became. The chaotic force field even began to interfere with his Immortal Sense and the circulation of his immortal power.

He had no choice but to activate Profound Star Swirl Body Protection at full strength and draw upon the Dao resonance of the "Bedrock Rune" to resist.

The plank road was broken and intermittent. At times, he had to climb steep rock walls; at others, he had to pass through blazing caves.

Along the way, he even encountered elemental creatures born from earthfire and chaotic laws. Their forms were bizarre and their strength formidable, but he either killed them with thunderous force or avoided them.

At last, after several hours of arduous travel, he arrived at a massive platform near the center of the lake.

At the end of the platform stood the enormous Buzhou Mountain fragment. Like a shattered peak, it slanted into the magma lake, exuding a primordial, ancient, sorrowful, and incomparably heavy aura.

By this point, the pressure had become unimaginable! Li Su felt every inch of his bamboo body groaning, his immortal power circulating sluggishly, even his thoughts slowing.

The twisted force field around the fragment seemed like countless hands tearing at his body and soul.

Yet the "Bedrock Rune" deep within his primordial spirit was unusually active, trembling wildly and conveying an intense longing.

I have to get closer! I have to touch it!

Li Su gritted his teeth and pushed the Eight Nine Mysterious Art to its limit. The structure of his bamboo body adjusted slightly, becoming even tougher.

Step by step, as though carrying a mountain on his back, he trudged toward the massive fragment.

With every step closer, the pressure multiplied! The glow of Profound Star Swirl Body Protection around his bamboo body had long since shattered. He could only endure with his physical body!

Cracks appeared once more, and even some of his smaller bamboo branches began to break apart!

Just as he came within thirty meters of the fragment, nearly reaching his limit, he suddenly activated the "Oathkeepers" jade pendant he had been nurturing in silence!

A faint yet incomparably steadfast milky-white holy light shone once more. Though it could not fully negate the terrifying pressure of the force field, it was like a bright lamp, protecting the core of his primordial spirit and keeping him lucid, preventing him from being overwhelmed by the sorrowful and despairing will contained within the shattered mountain soul.

Now!

Li Su lunged forward, and the foremost section of a bamboo branch finally touched the cold, rough dark-brown mountain rock that contained supreme power!

The instant he touched it!

Boom!

Li Su felt a deafening explosion in his mind, as though heaven and earth were being created! Countless chaotic, vast, and boundless images and thoughts flooded madly into his consciousness!

He saw a giant standing between heaven and earth, wielding a massive axe and splitting open chaos! He saw the clear and turbid separate, heaven and earth take shape, the giant fall, and his spine become mountains!

He saw all races multiply, living beings suffer, gods and demons wage war, and the pillar of heaven collapse! He saw endless sorrow, defiance, rage, and... the shattered traces of the supreme Laws of "Strength" and "Defense" that had once supported heaven and earth!

The "Bedrock Rune" was like parched earth receiving sweet rain, wildly absorbing these shattered laws and thoughts. At an unprecedented speed, it became more complete, clear, and intricate! More ancient and powerful!

At the same time, the massive Buzhou Mountain fragment seemed to sense the aura of the same origin within him. It trembled slightly, and a thread of incomparably pure dark-yellow energy, heavy as a star—the origin essence of Buzhou Mountain—flowed through the bamboo branch and into Li Su's body!

The moment that thread of origin essence entered his body, Li Su felt as though his bamboo body were about to explode! It was too vast, too heavy!

His meridians, bamboo joints, even every tiniest structure within him, were being forcibly transformed, tempered, and enhanced!

The pain surpassed anything he had ever experienced! But the gains were equally unprecedented!

[Contacted Buzhou Mountain fragment, absorbing mountain soul will and shattered laws!]

[Bedrock Rune (Advanced) completed, advancing into Buzhou Dao Rune (Beginner)! Contains faint Laws of Strength and Defense!]

[Absorbed Buzhou Mountain origin essence. Foundation upgraded to: Buzhou Chaos Bamboo (Postnatal Supreme-grade Spirit Root)!]

[Physical body strength limit increased. Strength greatly enhanced!]

[Comprehended divine abilities: Buzhou Mountain Suppression (Beginner), Heaven-Supporting Defense (Passive)!]

The system notifications were nearly drowned out by the enormous torrent of information and energy.

Li Su's bamboo body underwent earthshaking changes. Its color became deeper and more archaic, taking on a dark gold-black hue, as though it bore the vicissitudes of countless ages.

The originally profound patterns on his bamboo body were replaced by even more complex Buzhou Dao Runes containing the ultimate principles of strength.

His height shrank once more, to only around fifteen meters, yet he was heavy as a mountain. The power contained within him now surpassed his previous strength by more than tenfold!

Who knew how much time passed before that thread of origin essence was completely absorbed and the chaotic images in his mind gradually settled? Only then did Li Su slowly come back to his senses.

He felt the terrifying power surging within him, as though he could shatter the heavens with a single punch, as well as his tougher bamboo body that was almost impervious to all laws. His excitement was beyond words.

Buzhou Dao Rune! A Postnatal Supreme-grade Spirit Root! This was simply a qualitative leap!

Though the massive Buzhou Mountain fragment had lost only an insignificant wisp of its origin and still stood there, for him, it was an immense stroke of fortune!

He solemnly bowed to the Buzhou Mountain fragment. To him, this object was like half a master.

Just as he was preparing to carefully experience his newfound power, the Jade Void Palace identity jade token in his robes suddenly began to tremble violently. Ming Xin's incomparably anxious voice, even carrying a sob, came through:

"Senior Brother Mo Xing! Something terrible has happened! Black Wind Mountain... Black Wind Mountain has been completely swallowed by the Demon Realm!

When we arrived, all we saw was endless demonic cloud... Senior Brother Yang Jian and Senior Sister Long Ji's auras... have vanished!"