Before long, rumors spread throughout the Celestial Arc Realm.

Word had it that someone had recently survived a heavenly tribulation and become an immortal, and would soon ascend to the Immortal Realm. The story spread like wildfire.

Naturally, Skyspire Order strictly forbade its disciples from leaking any information.

Unfortunately, the commotion caused by the Immortal Tribulation had been far too great. The Skyspire Order secret realm could not conceal it completely. Any Immortal Realm cultivator had sensed the arrival of the tribulation that day.

Fortunately, it had come and gone just as quickly.

Caelum had destroyed it with a single sword strike.

Most Immortal Realm cultivators had not even had time to react before the tribulation was already over. The speed of it had caught everyone completely off guard. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

These past few days, Master Heavensreach and the Elders had worn smiles wherever they went.

After so many years, their sect had finally produced another immortal.

And this was an immortal who did not need to ascend.

It felt like a blessing from heaven itself.

The disciples who knew the truth carried themselves with obvious pride. As far as they were concerned, no sect in the Celestial Arc Realm could match their confidence anymore.

A festive atmosphere filled the entire Skyspire Order.

After entering the Transcendent Realm, Caelum not only possessed power comparable to an immortal, but his lifespan had also reached the same level.

Immortal Realm cultivators could live for tens of thousands of years.

True immortals could live for a hundred thousand.

Even immortals, however, had not attained eternal life.

Longevity and Transcendence remained the ultimate pursuits of all cultivators.

"Take good care of my plants."

"Rest assured, Heir Apparent."

After giving the instruction, Caelum finally left Skyreach Monastery.

Rather than continuing his secluded cultivation, he decided to travel through the Celestial Arc Realm and see the world for himself.

It was not because he needed worldly experiences to temper his state of mind.

He simply wanted to enjoy himself.

After more than a decade of cultivation, he had barely explored the Celestial Arc Realm at all.

As he traveled, he gradually made his way toward Highmoor Province in the Western Expanse.

His destination had been decided from the very beginning.

The Eternal Forbidden Land located there.

Eternal Vale.

The next stage of cultivating the Worldbreaker Physique Art required a special substance.

It could be the essence of mountains and rivers.

The essence of seas and lakes.

Even the essence of heaven and earth, sun and moon.

Anything carrying vast, ancient, and immeasurable weight would suffice.

Naturally, Caelum intended to pursue the most extreme path possible.

He wanted Chaos Qi.

This substance existed only before heaven and earth were first formed.

Forget the Celestial Arc Realm.

Even in the Infinite Realms, it was considered a supreme treasure.

Almost impossible to find.

Only the Eternal Forbidden Lands still retained traces of it.

After all, the Primordial Kings had been the first generation of supreme beings after creation itself.

If even they did not possess Chaos Qi, nowhere else would.

Several months later, Caelum arrived outside Highmoor Province’s forbidden land.

Great terror existed within.

So did great opportunities and inheritances.

For those seeking fortune, what did life and death matter?

After years of activity, a thriving market had formed outside the forbidden land.

Most items brought out by cultivators were traded here.

Even the major Great Orders had established branch halls in the area specifically to purchase rare treasures.

Countless practitioners of the Four Arts had gathered as well.

"Essence Recovery Pills! Trading for equivalent treasures only!"

"Fragments of a forbidden land relic! For sale to the destined!"

"Celestial Grade Divine Armament! Looking for an item that can pierce illusions!"

Cultivators moved through the crowded streets.

The entire market buzzed with activity.

Clang!

A sword cry suddenly echoed above the marketplace.

World Essence surged violently.

A massive sword scar tore across the heavens, splitting the clouds in half.

The spectacle was astonishing.

Sword Qi filled the sky.

Cold killing intent swept through the air.

Buzz!

At once, swords and blades throughout the market began trembling.

"What terrifying Sword Intent!"

"Who is that?"

Amid the cries of surprise, two figures streaked across the sky atop sword light and divine radiance.

One of them was a graceful woman whose movements resembled a soaring phoenix.

The other was a sword cultivator.

Their battle shook the surrounding World Essence and stirred the heavens.

Many cultivators immediately recognized them.

"Torin from Cosmos Sword Sect!"

"And Lady Moonveil from Moonveil Court!"

Torin.

Ten years earlier, he had obtained an Immortal Legacy before joining Cosmos Sword Sect.

His cultivation had advanced at an astonishing pace.

He was now one of the most celebrated young geniuses in the Celestial Arc Realm.

His name was often mentioned alongside Lady Moonveil and other rising stars of the younger generation.

A faint glow from Caelum’s secret vault divine ability flashed through his eyes.

He easily saw through their true cultivation levels.

Torin was at Worldbinder Realm Layer 5.

Lady Moonveil was at Worldbinder Realm Layer 9.

In terms of strength, Lady Moonveil clearly held the advantage.

Even with an immortal sword art, Torin remained suppressed by the overwhelming power of her Lunar Physique.

"It’s her?"

Caelum looked surprised.

He recognized the woman.

She was the same traveler who had once stayed at the rundown Skyreach Monastery.

Back then, she had apparently been wandering the mortal world as part of her training.

In the crowd, Alex’s gaze swept across the market before suddenly locking onto a familiar figure.

He froze.

Then he immediately pushed through the crowd.

Yet in the blink of an eye, the figure had vanished.

"It’s definitely him!"

Alex gripped the hilt of his sword tightly.

The Sword Intent leaking from his body caused his blade to tremble excitedly.

His eyes searched every corner of the market.

It had to be the Divine Firmament Heir.

For years, he had wanted another chance to cross blades with Caelum.

Not for victory.

Not for pride.

But to break the obsession that had haunted him ever since the Immortal Estate.

If he could not survive even a single strike from Caelum, he would never find peace.

The battle in the sky soon came to an end.

Neither Torin nor Lady Moonveil had gone all out.

After a brief exchange, they both withdrew.

Sword light descended into the market.

Torin landed atop his flying sword and glanced toward Lady Moonveil’s departing figure, his expression serious.

As expected of Moonveil Court’s saintess.

The Lunar Physique truly was extraordinary.

A moment later, he approached Alex respectfully.

"Senior Brother."

"Mm."

Alex responded absentmindedly.

His attention remained focused on searching for Caelum.

Noticing this, Torin asked curiously,

"Did you spot someone you know?"

After failing to find any trace of him, Alex sighed in disappointment.

"I think I may have seen the Divine Firmament Heir."

"The Divine Firmament Heir!"

Torin’s eyes lit up immediately.

Although the Divine Firmament Heir had not appeared publicly in years, his reputation had only grown.

The story of him standing alone against multiple Great Orders while wielding a Sovereign Relic was still discussed everywhere.

Alex’s obsession with that encounter was well known.

Torin understood exactly how powerful Alex was.

Which only made him want to challenge the Divine Firmament Heir even more.

He was at the height of his confidence.

He possessed an Immortal Legacy.

His sword cultivation was exceptional.

Among the younger generation, he believed he could fight any genius alive.

Why should he fear the Divine Firmament Heir?

Just then, streaks of divine light raced across the sky.

A group of powerful cultivators flew directly into the forbidden land.

Their leader even possessed Paragon Realm cultivation.

"Astral Hall!"

"They’re here again."

Inside a nearby teahouse, one player leaned out to watch the spectacle.

He turned toward another player nearby.

"The four guilds’ raid team is back. If you ask me, they’re probably heading in there to die again."

The other player raised an eyebrow.

"What attempt is this?"

"If I remember correctly, their thirteenth."

He clicked his tongue.

"Seriously, what the hell is inside that forbidden land? Whatever it is, it’s vicious."

"Who knows?"