The Whole World as His Enemy

The storage ring left behind by the Mountain Ancestor contains three layers of space.

Ning Qi's spiritual sense reached the innermost layer, which was the core space. It was pitch black inside, with occasional flashes of light, like a starry sky.

In the center of the starry sky, a faint, moldy green light flickered.

Ning Qi looked over and discovered that it was a moldy green bronze coffin.

The bronze coffin stood alone, its age unknown. The coffin was covered with patina, and the intricate patterns beneath the patina were faintly visible.

As soon as Ning Qi entered, he was drawn to it and sensed the immortal aura emanating from it.

"There are immortals too?"

Ning Qi remained cautious, his spiritual sense reaching towards the bronze immortal coffin.

However, he discovered that as soon as his spiritual sense touched the coffin, the celestial light emanating from it flickered even more intensely.

Ning Qi struck out with his palm.

The spiritual consciousness condensed into a giant hand, which traversed space and instantly grabbed at the bronze immortal coffin.

However, to Ning Qi's surprise, the bronze immortal coffin remained completely still and showed no signs of strain!

Ning Qi really didn't believe it.

He didn't sense any danger yet, so he prepared to give it his all.

The giant hand, formed from concentrated spiritual energy, gripped the bronze immortal coffin tightly with its five fingers, emitting a low, resonant sound.

A wisp of immortal power flowed from the Yin-Yang Dao Diagram within Ning Qi 'Divine Soul, empowering the giant hand and allowing it to continue pulling the bronze coffin.

However, the bronze coffin remained as immovable as a rock rooted to the ground.

"Even using Immortal Power won't work?"

While Ning Qi was still in shock and doubt, he suddenly felt the Immortal Power in his hand disappear at an extremely fast speed, as if it had been sucked into the immortal coffin.

Is this coffin drawing my power?

Ning Qi immediately cut off the supply of Immortal Power, but strangely, he found that the bronze coffin was like a bottomless pit, as if it had been activated, making it impossible for him to draw out the Immortal Power.

Even at this moment, Ning Qi's giant spiritual hand was attached to the surface of the bronze coffin, and he couldn't even let go of it.

A continuous stream of immortal power is being absorbed into the immortal coffin.

Ning Qi's expression inevitably changed.

Fortunately, he hadn't used his full strength before; he had only tested it with the immortal aura within his body. He discovered that he also possessed another power with a completely opposite nature!

In an instant, the yang fish within Ning Qi's Divine Soul swam, releasing a Boundless Evil Qi that rapidly flowed towards the bronze immortal coffin.

With the addition of Boundless Evil Qi, the bronze immortal coffin, which was originally absorbing Ning Qi's Immortal Power, began to tremble after only a short while.

The patina on it trembled slightly, and a lot of it fell off.

The entire immortal coffin seemed to have been poisoned; the next second, it suddenly spewed out a large amount of Immortal Power.

It's as if it swallowed a foreign object and had to spit it out.

Ning Qi immediately realized that the giant hand formed from his spiritual consciousness was no longer being sucked into the immortal coffin, and he could finally withdraw.

Ning Qi did not retreat; instead, he took a step forward and stood directly in front of the immortal coffin.

He slightly clasped his right palm together, as if scooping up air with a spoon.

The massive amount of Immortal Power spewed out by the immortal coffin was instantly condensed into a ball by Ning Qi.

Ning Qi looked at the Immortal Power in his hand; it was different from the Immortal Power of the Mountain Ancestor.

The mountain ancestor's Immortal Power was like the radiance of a full moon, incomparably pure, and the Immortal Power spewed from this bronze immortal coffin was also bronze in color.

Ning Qi immediately thought of the immortal gate that the Mountain Ancestor had created when he became an immortal, where a bronze gate had once appeared.

"Could it be that there is an immortal body inside this immortal coffin, whose immortal gate was once formed from bronze?"

Ning Qi could only guess at this.

The celestial coffin, after the previous tremors, immediately returned to calm.

Even when Ning Qi came in front of it, it no longer reacted.

"Get out here, you guys!"

Ning Qi gave a cold shout and addressed the bronze immortal coffin.

"Playing dead, huh!"

Ning Qi continued to channel a wisp of Immortal Power into it, but the immortal coffin showed no reaction.

"You're not smoking anymore?"

Ning Qi transformed his own power into Boundless Evil Qi and continued to transfer it towards the Immortal Coffin.

The immortal coffin remained unresponsive.

Ning Qi frowned.

This thing is completely unresponsive!

The next second, he merged the two powers and lifted the coffin lid.

Based on previous reactions, there may be living beings inside this bronze coffin.

Clang!

Ning Qi tried to pry it open, but he couldn't.

It should be known that the two powers he fused were enough to kill the Mountain Ancestor after he became an immortal, but when they landed on the bronze immortal coffin, not only could he not lift the coffin lid, but he could not even move it by the slightest bit.

Ning Qi couldn't help but feel curious.

What exactly is inside this bronze coffin—a human, a ghost, an immortal, or something else?

Why is there no response now?

Logically speaking, if the one inside is an immortal, their strength would at most be the same as that of the Mountain Ancestor.

However, Ning Qi was unable to open the coffin lid, which puzzled Ning Qi further.

Ning Qi stepped back slightly, then suddenly spat out a mouthful of Dao fire towards the immortal coffin.

Flames engulfed the immortal coffin, causing the copper rust on it to crackle and pop as it was burned.

Gradually, the patina on the entire coffin peeled away, revealing more prominent Inscriptions.

Inscriptions covered the coffin, with a circular pattern remaining above the lid.

Inside the circle was an incredibly ancient script, which Ning Qi realized he didn't recognize.

"What does this mean, and what is it that's so tightly sealed?"

Ning Qi had no choice but to temporarily abandon his exploration of the bronze immortal coffin.

He looked around. In this core space, besides the immortal coffin, there were some strange decorations scattered everywhere.

To the east of the celestial coffin stands a tree-like structure cast in bronze.

Ning Qi reached out and tried to grab it, only to find that the bronze tree was also immovable.

"Hmm, could it be connected to this immortal coffin?"

Ning Qi's gaze then turned to the west side of the immortal coffin.

At roughly the same distance, there is a small, hill-shaped mineral deposit.

Ning Qi continued to try to move the minerals, but still failed.

He could only take a closer look and discovered that it was actually a mine that had been folded and shrunk using spatial techniques.

The mine shimmered with light, containing various minerals, none of which Ning Qi had ever seen before.

No, I should say I've seen one of them before. One of the minerals is somewhat similar to the material of Shan Zu's storage ring.

"That should be immortal silver, and the others are at least minerals of the same level, most likely immortal mines from within the immortal realm..."

Ning Qi was somewhat annoyed, looking at the immortal mine, yet he couldn't take it away.

If he could move around, he could use these immortal ores to forge a complete set of immortal robes and swords!

Apart from this, there was nothing else in the entire space.

Bronze Divine Tree, Bronze Immortal Coffin, Mountain of Immortal Mines...

The three elements appeared mysterious and extraordinary in this space.

Ning Qi closed his eyes, and his spiritual consciousness reappeared deep within his Divine Soul.

He then went to the place where Shanzu was imprisoned.

The mountain ancestor sat cross-legged in the cage, his previous arrogance and madness completely gone.

He raised his eyes and looked at Ning Qi.

Ning Qi asked directly, "What exactly is in the third space of your storage ring?"

Upon hearing this, Shan Zu, who had initially wanted to ignore Ning Qi, instantly changed his expression.

"You cracked my storage ring?"

After he spoke, he knew it was all just empty talk.

Then he asked, "Did you see what was inside?"

Seeing his expression, Ning Qi's heart stirred.

"What exactly is that?"

The mountain ancestor suddenly chuckled, a strange glint flashing in his eyes.

I don't know what it is either.

Ning Qi narrowed his eyes.

"You won't talk, huh? I just tested it, and that immortal coffin can absorb Immortal Power. I'll put your immortal body next to it in a bit!"

Upon hearing this, the Mountain Ancestor's face, which had just been smiling, instantly showed a hint of fear.

"Don't want!"

"What exactly is in there?" Ning Qi asked again.

The mountain ancestor let out a soft breath.

Ning Qi used his immortal body as a threat, even though he was now a prisoner and even his immortal soul and immortal body had been separated.

But this threat was extremely effective against him.

"I didn't find any specifics in the Inheritance I received, but I've explored it. It seems to contain something terrifying. Only by constantly nourishing it with Immortal Power can it break free of the coffin. Why don't you give it a try?"

"Is this the only way?" Ning Qi glanced at him sideways.

The Mountain Ancestor waved his hand.

"Fine, don't believe me then."

Ning Qi paid close attention to his expression. In the depths of his Divine Soul, within the cage of the Great Dao, the Mountain Ancestor could not deceive him without being detected.

Clearly, the Mountain Ancestor wasn't lying; it seems he genuinely didn't know what that thing was.

Ning Qi thought for a moment and then said:

"You said before that they wouldn't let me go. Who exactly are you talking about, 'them'?"

The mountain ancestor's eyes gleamed.

"Don't try to fool me. You still retain your immortal soul, so you should know very well where you are. No amount of lies or deception can fool me."

Shan Zu gave Ning Qi a deep look.

Ning Qi's threat, of course, worked once again.

Whether the Mountain Ancestor can survive now rests entirely on Ning Qi's decision.

Perhaps this is a bit of an exaggeration, but focusing on his Great Dao cage does indeed have the power to punish him.

He didn't want to be whipped by those great lightning bolts again.

The sensation was so intense that even his immortal soul could hardly bear it.

Shan Zu even thought that he would never have suffered like this, even if he were someone else's prisoner.

After all, the most others could do was punish him with their Immortal Power.

Ning Qi, this freak, this guy who's similar to a demon, can use the Boundless Evil Qi in the Boundary Sea.

Immortals feel a deep-seated disgust and aversion to Boundless Evil Qi.

Therefore, Shan Zu became increasingly aware of his own situation and realized that there was no need to continue fighting and cursing with Ning Qi.

"I can tell you, but could you really spare my life?"

Ning Qi's gaze was sharp as a knife as he looked down at the Mountain Ancestor in the cage.

"It all depends on the value of your intelligence!"

Shan Zu seemed a little more relaxed.

Although he had committed many evil deeds, he still had a relatively positive view of Ning Qi's character based on what he had seen along the way.

Therefore, he was not worried that Ning Qi would go back on his word or try to trick him.

Next, the Mountain Ancestor slowly began to speak.

You think things will be easy for me after I become an immortal, right?

"What's the hidden story behind this?" Ning Qi asked again.

Shanzu finally confessed completely this time.

"Becoming an immortal is not as simple as you imagine, especially since I am a descendant of Mount Buzhou... I have to deal with the troubles that come with this identity, and one of the people I mentioned is facing this trouble!"

"One of them?"

The Mountain Ancestor licked his lips, even though he was currently alive as a celestial soul.

"Indeed, how sacred and magnificent Mount Buzhou was in the past! Do you really think I have obtained the complete Inheritance of the entire Mount Buzhou?"

Ning Qi immediately thought of the remains of Mount Buzhou.

Since it is a fragment, there must be other fragments existing; otherwise, how could it be called a fragment?

The Mountain Ancestor continued:

"After receiving the Inheritance, I knew that once I became an immortal and summoned the remnant of Mount Buzhou, it would attract the covetous eyes of others who had also received the Inheritance of Mount Buzhou."

"Before I became an immortal, I never dared to summon the remnants of Mount Buzhou in advance, and that was for this reason."

Ning Qi asked, "Are you saying that your summoning of the remnants of Mount Buzhou may have already attracted the enemy's attention?"

The Mountain Ancestor smiled.

"Of course, that's Mount Buzhou! It was once one of the most powerful forces under the Immortal Realm. Even if it collapsed and turned into several fragments scattered across the Boundary Sea, as long as there are still people alive within its forces, or who have obtained its Inheritance, they will surely follow the traces to find it!"

Upon hearing this, Ning Qi frowned slightly.

"This is just one of your enemies; another terrifying enemy awaits you!"

The mountain ancestor looked at Ning Qi with a pitying gaze.

"Is it the Immortal Alliance you mentioned?"

The Mountain Ancestor scoffed lightly, "It seems you did take my curses to heart."

"You've fused with Boundless Evil Qi, and I don't know why you've managed to retain your own will and haven't transformed into a human-demon! However, all the immortals in the entire Celestial Realm consider it their duty to slay the Twisted Monsters within the Boundary Sea, including human-demons driven by Boundless Evil Qi!"

"A demon?"

Ning Qi repeated these two words.

This was the second time he had heard this term from Shanzu.

"My junior sister forcibly fused with the energy of the Boundary Sea, which is almost equivalent to severing her path to immortality, but at least she won't be considered a human-demon."

"And you, Ning Qi, hehe, once the Boundless Evil Qi enters your body, it is absolutely impossible to expel. And as long as others sense the presence of this Evil Qi, you will be considered a demon and hunted down by all the cultivators in the Immortal Realm. You have personally ruined your path to immortality!"

"Hehe, if I were you, I would never aspire to become an immortal again. I would only find a remote area of the Boundary Sea and hide away for the rest of my life."

"Otherwise, once you are discovered by the immortals, they will send your information to the Immortal Alliance, and the entire Immortal Realm will regard you as an enemy. Your future is destined to be one of universal enmity, hehehe!"

The Mountain Ancestor's spirit laughed with great pride, yet also with a hint of sorrow.

He certainly wasn't grieving for Ning Qi, so it could only be for himself.

He had clearly become an immortal, yet he perished because of Ning Qi; one can imagine how unwilling he was.

The mountain ancestor kept his eyes fixed on Ning Qi's expression.

He wanted to see if Ning Qi could remain so calm after hearing the information he revealed.

Ahead, Ning Qi hovered outside the Great Dao Cage.

Ning Qi's brows still seemed furrowed as he listened to the information provided by Shan Zu.

The next second, Ning Qi raised his hand and rubbed his brow, his slightly furrowed brows instantly relaxing.

"No matter how many enemies they have, let them come; I'll be waiting for them! As for being enemies with the whole world, so what? Do you think I'd be afraid?"

Ning Qi said in a deep voice.

His eyes shone like stars, revealing a confidence to challenge anything.

The strong are not afraid of their enemies; they only think of ways to defeat them, and thus, the strong become even stronger.

"You..."

Looking at the spirited Ning Qi, Shan Zu couldn't help but feel a sense of surprise.

Just mentioning those enemies made him feel incredibly troubled, even after he became an immortal; he felt there was no way out for him.

But Ning Qi possesses an amazing character; he faces difficulties head-on and goes against the grain.

Perhaps this is also why he lost to Ning Qi.

A thought flashed through the Mountain Ancestor's mind: what exactly constitutes a true powerhouse?

Is ruthlessly sacrificing all living beings and adhering to the world's Principle survival of the fittest truly the mark of the strong?

Or is it someone like Ning Qi?