"Kid, are you alright? What are you up to now?"

Gu Jun noticed that Xu Yang’s face was a bit pale, his expression dazed and unfocused, and couldn’t help but frown.

Xu Yang carried an immortal legacy—no one could fathom nor weigh it. His actions, both before and after, were miracles that shook the world; no one could comprehend what he was doing.

He was just afraid Xu Yang was up to something again!

Don’t go overboard.

Xu Yang jolted back to his senses and met Gu Jun and the worried gazes of Xue Ming and the others beside him. He grinned: "It’s nothing, don’t worry, Teacher—it’s a good thing!"

A good thing?

Gu Jun’s mouth twitched. Though he didn’t understand, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

A glimmer of delight flashed in Xu Yang’s eyes.

He had figured out how to master the Immortal Artifact.

His absent-mindedness just now was all relentless attempts.

But with the spirit realm’s usual refining methods, nothing worked.

Not even his will could leave an imprint on the immortal artifact; this alone proved conventional means were useless.

Gu Jun’s interruption had startled him awake, but suddenly gave him an idea.

The Immortal Bridge!

Crossing the Ascension Bridge alone, one can scale the Immortal Dao.

The Immortal Bridge was clearly the key.

Xu Yang’s mind stirred, and the Immortal Bridge manifested in his divine consciousness.

The next instant—

His will arrived at the Tripod of Heaven and Earth, bringing forth the Immortal Bridge.

Buzz!

The violet immortal blade seemed to sense the Immortal Bridge’s manifestation and let out a low hum.

At this, Xu Yang finally relaxed.

He wrapped his consciousness around the immortal blade and suddenly set foot upon the Immortal Bridge.

Hua!

On the Immortal Bridge, brilliance surged mightily.

The immortal blade was enveloped within, quivering slightly.

Just as Xu Yang hesitated on what to do next, the immortal blade abruptly threw itself toward the Immortal Bridge.

Buzz!

The violet immortal blade fused directly with the Immortal Bridge.

Roughly several dozen breaths passed.

The blade’s surface gained a hint of brilliance before slowly rising, hovering above the Immortal Bridge, dazzling radiantly!

Xu Yang immediately sensed an extremely faint link between himself and the immortal blade.

He could even feel the damage to the blade, clear and distinct.

Right on the verge of collapse; all spirituality lost!

To restore it, not only would unimaginable immortal energy be needed, but also immortal treasures brimming with immense spirituality.

"Total restoration is clearly a pipe dream. For now, so long as it can be slightly nourished and reveal some power, that’s enough."

Xu Yang shook his head lightly, then summoned a few unrefined immortal essences and merged them into the immortal blade.

In an instant, the immortal blade devoured them all, not a ripple left behind.

He could not sense any change in the blade at all.

In truth, a trace of immortal essence like this was a drop in the bucket for the blade!

Still, Xu Yang was more than content.

He slowly opened his eyes and looked around; the team pressed forward at breakneck speed.

All around, Immortal remnant shadows clashed with terrifying force, the battle still breathtaking.

Yet, after avoiding most of the fatal areas, there was little real threat blocking their path ahead.

Along the way, neither the Bright Mirror Grotto Heaven nor the Five Elements Celestial Realm teams appeared—they’d clearly been left far behind.

Spotting a few immortal remnant shadows up ahead, Xu Yang’s eyes flashed, and he strode forward: "Let me."

Zuo Shenzong, who was about to act, paused in surprise, then said, "Be careful."

He wasn’t worried about Xu Yang’s strength either.

Even if he lost, there were experts nearby ready to act at once.

Right now in the party, anyone could risk falling—except Xu Yang!

Xu Yang flashed ahead. An immortal remnant shadow rushed at him head-on, its aura astonishing, even more potent than a high-level Shenxiao cultivator.

Xu Yang struck with his palm.

At the instant of contact, a faint violet glow flashed across his palm.

Pft!

The immortal remnant shadow froze and immediately collapsed.

Not even a trace of immortal essence remained.

This scene left Zuo Shenzong and the others dumbfounded.

"That was too easy, wasn’t it?"

"Looked like he barely touched it, and it was obliterated—hiss!"

"The immortal essence? Why’s there nothing left? Did Xu Yang devour it?"

The group was stunned, deeply shaken!

A glint of amazement flashed in Xu Yang’s eyes—this Immortal Artifact’s might was beyond imagination.

So weakened, so damaged, and still could instantly erase immortal remnant shadows.

Worthy of being an Immortal Artifact!

As for the immortal essence those shadows should’ve left—it’d been devoured by the artifact the moment it was destroyed.

This seemed to be yet another way to nourish the Immortal Artifact.

Hunt immortal remnant shadows!

Xu Yang’s spirits soared, and he dashed toward the remaining shadows.

Each was slain with ease, wiped out in an instant.

Among them was even one with power at the very peak of Shenxiao!

None could resist the might of the Immortal Artifact!

The crowd was shaken to the point of numbness.

Xu Yang did not explain—he carried so many secrets that the group long since took it in stride.

After that, nearly all the immortal remnant shadows along the way were left to Xu Yang to hunt.

No one objected to this at all!

Although Xu Yang did not personally gain immortal essence, he could gradually sense that the artifact was slowly recovering—even its surface violet-jade immortal glow was beginning to flicker again.

"Hmm?"

Xu Yang’s mind trembled. Upon the Immortal Bridge, the violet-jade immortal blade let out a low hum, as if sensing something.

He suddenly scanned the distance, brow furrowing.

"Is it an Immortal Artifact?"

"An Immortal Artifact being controlled... then it can only be Gou Mu!"

Xu Yang suddenly recalled the earlier scene where the team had been attacked by those immortal artifact fragments.

And the truth dawned on him.

It was all Gou Mu working behind the scenes!

"That bastard—he actually commands an Immortal Artifact!"

"He can operate it at a distance, which means his artifact is far more intact than mine. Though he’s borrowed the body of a spirit realm martial artist, his strength is surely not simple!"

If we really cross paths, it won’t be easy to handle him!

Xu Yang glanced at the violet blade upon the Immortal Bridge, thinking, when the time comes, I’ll have to rely on this very artifact!

He regained his calm, blending into the group as if nothing had happened.

Three days later.

The vast and boundless ancient continent suddenly trembled.

Storms began to rage; a majestic tempest of immortal artifacts blanketed the heavens and sun.

The darkened sky reflected all manner of immortal light, within which countless blurred figures wove, looming with a scene of endless slaughter.

The clashes manifested below all collapsed together.

They converged in the sky, densely packed, enough to numb one’s soul.

"It’s breaking down."

"Hurry!"

Can Sutian and the other two’s expressions shifted dramatically. They shouted urgently, leading the group forward with all their might.

Once the manifested power collapsed and rampaged, unleashing the cataclysmic tempest, all that awaited them was destruction!

Know this—the power to manifest such a grand battlefield, even if only residual, was still truly at the immortal level.

They were cultivators who had never yet stepped into immortality; to face it directly spelled certain death!

Everyone braced themselves to the utmost, racing for their lives without a second thought.

Fortunately, no obstacles remained ahead—the path was clear all the way!

Even mighty figures like Can Sutian personally swept up the weaker members of the group, surging out at the utmost speed.

Rumble!!

Behind, a flood-like shockwave erupted. Heaven and earth warped, cracks sprawling out at visible speed.

In the sky, immortal light boiled over, abysmal flames of calamity ignited, pouring down like a meteor storm.

The earth sank, the ruins shattered!

Destruction spread out; the ancient continent collapsed!

A world-ending might swept over all, chilling souls and draining courage to the marrow!

The storm of destruction was madly pursuing the group.

In the distance, the edge of the horizon suddenly revealed a towering, sky-piercing black wall, stretching endlessly across the land.

Unreachable, flanked by infinity!

It appeared even more terrifying than the storm of destruction behind them!

"What is that?"

"Is this the edge of the ancient continent?"

"Hiss—that’s not a wall, it’s a storm!"

"Are we doomed?"

"Look, the Five Elements Celestial Realm and Bright Mirror Grotto Heaven are right ahead. Maybe the storm ahead isn’t a dead end after all!"

...