Gai Shentong, Chu Shanwang

Shen Shihuang watched the expressions of the two Dou Zong powerhouses before him, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly.

It was easy enough to understand.

If they could have broken through to Dou Zun on their own, they would have done so long ago. Having been stuck at this bottleneck for who knows how long, judging by their appearance, their lifespans were likely nearing their end.

At a time like this.

With a chance to break through to Dou Zun right before their eyes, anyone who dared to interfere would surely face their desperate, life-risking wrath.

Earth Demon Old Ghost looked at the two of them, his eyelids twitching. "What is the meaning of this?"

Earth Demon Old Ghost was no fool; the words of these two were clearly a warning directed at him.

"Hmph, you know full well what kind of reputation Demon Flame Valley has. Earth Demon Old Ghost, you had best not try any tricks." Having said that, the two stopped looking at him.

Although Earth Demon Old Ghost's strength was only at the seven-star Dou Zong level.

No one knew what the situation was like inside, and among those present, he was the only one who posed a significant threat to them.

Heaven Eye Pupil Elder and the others had known each other for a hundred years, and they were well aware of each other's characters. Even though they were in the Black-Corner Region, they weren't all enemies. At the very least, since they could appear alongside Heaven Eye Pupil Elder, the three of them were definitely on the same side.

And Shen Shihuang?

His four-star Dou Zong strength was not enough to threaten them.

Besides.

The things inside were only useful to high-level Dou Zong powerhouses; they might not be of any use to a four-star Dou Zong like Shen Shihuang.

"What exactly is inside this Ancient Venerable Abyss?"

Shen Shihuang racked his brains, but he couldn't imagine what could possibly allow a peak nine-star Dou Zong to break through to the Dou Zun realm.

Zi Yan was also looking around with curiosity.

She tugged at the corner of Shen Shihuang's sleeve, looked up, and asked, "Old Shen, I smell something."

Shen Shihuang was taken aback.

He knew of the innate abilities of the Ancient Void Dragon, so he asked, "Do you know what it is?"

Zi Yan shook her head.

She said, "I'm not sure. This is the first time I've smelled this scent, but one thing is certain: it is definitely something delicious."

Shen Shihuang: "...!"

He turned his head to look at Heng General. "Can you shrink your body?"

Heng General understood Shen Shihuang's intention instantly. With lightning flickering across his body, the massive Heng General transformed in a flash into a palm-sized, furry little beast. He leaped onto Shen Shihuang's shoulder and nudged his face against Shen Shihuang's cheek.

"Let's see how things develop."

"We need to be careful with something that can make nine-star Dou Zongs go green with envy. Since we're here, we can't return empty-handed."

Although Shen Shihuang didn't know what the item was.

However.

If it could allow a nine-star Dou Zong to break through to Dou Zun, it had to be a treasure.

Zi Yan's eyes widened.

She whispered, "Are you planning to snatch it?"

Her voice seemed to carry a hint of excitement.

Shen Shihuang looked helplessly at the three Dou Zong powerhouses, including Heaven Eye Pupil Elder. "Zi Yan, who gave you the confidence to think I could snatch something from the hands of three peak nine-star Dou Zongs?"

Even if Xiao Yan were here, he would need Yao Lao to possess him to have a chance.

Let alone him.

The three, led by Heaven Eye Pupil Elder, stood firm and looked back at Shen Shihuang. "Little friend, since you've come, why not contribute some effort? The things inside go to those with destiny, how about it?"

Shen Shihuang naturally wouldn't take Heaven Eye Pupil Elder's words to heart.

Go to those with destiny?

Give me a break.

It should be "to those with the strength to take it."

"Very well!"

"This junior will just treat this as an opportunity to broaden his horizons. After all, I am truly curious about what could allow seniors to break through from peak nine-star Dou Zong to the Dou Zun realm." Shen Shihuang wore a smile as he stepped forward.

One of the grey-robed elders saw Shen Shihuang and revealed a kindly smile. "Little fellow, I quite like you for being able to speak so plainly."

Shen Shihuang cupped his hands. "You are too kind, Senior."

The grey-robed elder shook his head.

"To be a Dou Zong powerhouse at such a young age, I imagine it will be easy for you to break through to Dou Zun in the future. Unlike us, who have reached our limits relying on our own abilities; if we don't break through now, I fear we won't even live another ten years."

Heaven Eye Pupil Elder glanced at the grey-robed elder. "Gai Shentong, enough with the idle chatter. There will be plenty of time for that once we get out."

The grey-robed elder was named Gai Shentong.

A hundred years ago, he had once been a hegemon within the Black-Corner Region.

Now, unable to take that final step, the vitality within his body was gradually fading away.

"Something is not right!"

After walking closer to Gai Shentong, Shen Shihuang frowned. His soul power clearly sensed a powerful, sharp force emanating from Gai Shentong; he even had a fleeting illusion that if Gai Shentong could control this power, he could crush space itself.

Noticing Shen Shihuang's strange reaction, Gai Shentong turned his head and smiled at him: "You felt the power within this old man?"

Shen Shihuang took a deep look at Gai Shentong. He was truly a big shot.

"Senior's strength seems to be..."

Gai Shentong said nonchalantly: "Actually, it's nothing. My aptitude wasn't great, so I could only cultivate desperately. Years ago, I obtained a cultivation technique in an ancient ruin, which allowed me to become a Dou Zong. Later, as I practiced, it seemed the technique had some issues, causing me to be unable to take that final step no matter how I cultivated."

"Therefore, there is at least a century's worth of Dou Qi stored within my body."

Shen Shihuang: "Holy crap!!"

Upon hearing Gai Shentong's words, Shen Shihuang immediately felt a sense of unease. With so much Dou Qi stored in his body, what kind of scene would it be if he were to break through?

It was like seawater being dammed up, far exceeding the water level. If the dam were removed, it would surely be a catastrophe. But for Gai Shentong, if he broke through, wouldn't this century of Dou Qi erupt in an instant?

Terrifying!!

Gai Shentong looked at Heaven Eye Pupil Elder and said with a chuckle: "Kid, no need to be shocked. This Pupil Elder is the most terrifying one. She cultivates a pair of eyes, though I am not sure what level of Dou Technique it is."

"At the very least, as far as I know, no one other than myself has ever survived in her hands."

Shen Shihuang: "...!"

Shen Shihuang looked at the other elder.

Unlike the somewhat frail grey-robed elder, he carried an overbearing power, as if it were the primal strength of a physical body.

Just by taking one look, Shen Shihuang felt as if a great mountain had pressed down upon him.

Gai Shentong said: "His name is Chu Shanwang. He cultivates body-refining Dou Techniques; he has pushed his pure physical strength to the absolute limit."

Shen Shihuang: "...!"

You three big shots are clearly unable to break through because your power is too overwhelming, causing problems with your bodies! You have simply cultivated the Dou Zong realm to its absolute peak.

"Three seniors, you have truly opened this junior's eyes."

I have to say, these three seniors are all extraordinary talents!!

One cultivates their eyes, one has gathered a century of Dou Qi, and one has pushed physical Dou Techniques to the limit.

The hidden experts in the Black-Corner Region are truly full of crouching tigers and hidden dragons.

"Let's begin!"

Heaven Eye Pupil Elder struck out with a palm, directly shaking the bones off the barren mountain before them. Shen Shihuang looked over and saw that beneath the bones, a vortex had appeared, from which a power that made the soul tremble seemed to emanate.

"Do it!"

Gai Shentong did not waste words. With a flick of his fingertip, his Dou Qi, like a divine sword, tore through space and struck into the vortex.

BOOM~~~~~~~~~~~