The sky above the altar gradually brightened. The remnants of the dark energy that had once saturated the air slowly faded away, replaced by a refreshing breeze that brought a sense of relief. Chen Nian stood in the center of the altar, gazing at the lifeless body of the First Shadow, who had finally fallen."We did it," Long Bihu muttered, narrowing his eyes as he scanned the surroundings. His body was still wreathed in crimson flames, though he gradually calmed himself. "But this feels too easy. They must be hiding something."Chen Nian nodded in agreement and turned his attention toward the center of the altar. A faint light radiated from a small sphere of energy floating above a black stone pillar. It rotated slowly, emitting an unfamiliar aura—a fusion of life and destruction."That's the source of their power," Chen Nian said as he walked closer. "The First Shadow used it to strengthen himself. If we destroy it, perhaps all the remaining dark energy in this place will disappear

The Death Forest remained shrouded in dense darkness. Dawn had yet to fully arrive, and the damp air mixed with lingering dark energy pressed down from every direction. Tie Shan, accompanied by dozens of his subordinates, advanced slowly through the increasingly ominous forest. They had only just entered this notorious place, yet none of them rushed. Tie Shan's face was solemn, his eyes sweeping across every inch of the forest as though he could sense that something tremendous had happened.Soon, they arrived at a place bearing the unmistakable traces of an intense battle. The once-majestic altar had been reduced to rubble, its massive stone structure shattered into countless fragments. Residual energy still lingered in the air, while the scent of blood and dark power permeated the surroundings. Several motionless corpses still radiated remnants of terrifying strength."Young Master Shan, this battle was truly fierce. Should we still continue?" one of Tie Shan's subordinates asked ner

In front of him, Tie Shan knelt, his body trembling uncontrollably. The black sword he had wielded was split in two, its shattered fragments scattered across the blood-soaked ground. The dark aura surrounding his body gradually faded, leaving behind only the broken figure of a defeated man. "Chen Nian...!" Tie Shan gritted his teeth as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. His eyes burned with fury and bitterness. "You... will regret this day... even if I die here." Chen Nian lowered his spear and looked at Tie Shan with a sharp yet composed gaze. "I never sought you out, Tie Shan. You chose this path yourself. Was your ambition truly worth bringing about all this destruction?" Tie Shan let out a bitter laugh, despair mingled with hatred. "Ambition? You know nothing, Chen Nian. You are nothing but a thorn in the side of the Tie Clan. As long as you exist, we will never stand at the peak of the cultivation world." Chen Nian frowned. "This world is far too vast to be

As day gradually gave way to night, the forest remained peaceful. Although darkness had fallen, the mist blanketing the woods created the illusion that time flowed more slowly here—or perhaps had paused altogether. Chen Nian could feel the tranquility surrounding him, yet his mind remained active, contemplating what they should do next."We need to be prepared," he said, opening his eyes and looking at Long Bihu, who also appeared much more refreshed. "Our journey may soon lead us to an even greater trial."For the moment, however, they could enjoy a brief period of peace.Chen Nian took a small table and two chairs out of his storage space, arranging them neatly on a patch of level ground. After stretching his back, he sat down on one of the chairs, facing Long Bihu, who settled into the other.After a moment of silence, Chen Nian looked at Long Bihu seriously."We should start thinking about our next step," he said. "Do you think we're close to the Sacred Spring or the Spring of Lif

Meanwhile, in a remote corner of the forest, Chen Nian and Long Bihu had unknowingly become the center of a storm that was about to descend upon them. They enjoyed a brief moment of peace, completely unaware that the Tie Clan was preparing a massive campaign to hunt them down.---One day earlier.Beneath the towering trees overflowing with life energy, Chen Nian sat cross-legged atop a flat stone. Long Bihu leaned against a massive tree nearby, his eyes closed as he enjoyed the rare sense of comfort they had found. Although their bodies had mostly recovered, the mental exhaustion from their previous battles still lingered.Chen Nian let out a slow breath and gradually opened his eyes."The life energy in this place is truly extraordinary. Every breath feels warm, as if it's healing my body," he said while casually rolling a Healing Pill between his fingers.Long Bihu opened his eyes and looked at him."But something feels strange. This place is far too peaceful for an area so close t