Chapter 132: Shao Hua: Face Me, Brothers! (4k)

Chapter 132: Shao Hua: Face Me, Brothers! (4k)

Wu Shi and Wan Qing’s meeting was far from pleasant. Wu Shi, however, was quite thrilled to finally find a worthy opponent, even if he was a bit reluctant to strike back at first and opted to run instead. Wan Qing, on the other hand, was both angry and frustrated. The sudden ambush was bad enough, but the thought that the little brat was actually his senior sister’s younger brother made him want to beat the living daylights out of him.

Unfortunately for Wan Qing, Wu Shi possessed a Holy Body and had undergone divine furnace refinement, making his physical strength incomparable. The combination of Zhe’s Secret Art and Heng’s Decree made him nearly invincible, even to a Holy Sage. Adding to that, Wu Shi had the Xing’s Secret Art, which allowed him to avoid direct confrontation, leaving Wan Qing feeling rather helpless.

Both of them had their strengths, but Wu Shi’s physical prowess was more pronounced, while Wan Qing excelled in spirit energy. However, their respective strengths and weaknesses were only noticeable when compared to each other. No one else could even come close to matching them.

"Where did this come from?"

Wu Shi was bewildered. After being kicked by Wan Qing, he found himself inexplicably transported to another world. Wan Qing, who had been dragged along, felt a whirlwind of dizziness before they both found themselves in a vast, desolate wasteland.

"Could this be a trial ground?"

They glanced at each other and quickly realized what was happening. As they had guessed, this was a trial ground left by Shao Hua, a fragment of a star domain refined to mimic the Starfield Ancient Path, with forty-nine levels of challenges.

At that moment, two beams of light enveloped them, each setting off on their respective trial paths.

"Who would have thought you two would come together." A graceful figure appeared, watching the two small figures with a smile.

"Twenty-four levels each. I hope you enjoy yourselves."

Wu Shi and Wan Qing hadn’t even left the Big Dipper when they were treated to a glimpse of the depths of the starfield. Various powerful races materialized, each one a living entity, putting immense pressure on them.

At first, they were confident, breezing through several levels. But soon, the difficulty spiked. Later, they faced a purple dragon, a blood phoenix, and a roaring qilin, all seemingly battling ancient emperors. The challenges were intense, to say the least.

It wasn’t just the ancient emperors from their own realms; they were also facing ancient emperors at the same stage, each using divine prohibitions and forbidden techniques from the Ancient Emperor Canon, fighting to the death.

However, the benefits they gained were immense. Their combat experience soared, and they could deeply understand the dao of the ancient emperors through their battles. They also received tangible rewards, such as ancient scriptures and the nine secrets.

At the twenty-fourth level, they reunited and witnessed a historical event from tens of thousands of years ago, a cataclysmic upheaval that had once shattered this star domain.

Time seemed to rewind, and the past unfolded before their eyes. Numerous Forbidden Area Monarchs emerged, orchestrating world-shaking plots, causing chaos and fear among the masses. They heard countless people calling out for the Eastern Empress, hoping she would quell the turmoil, realizing just how revered their senior sister was.

This was the ultimate test. In each Monarch Battlefield, they could choose to face ancient monarchs suppressed to their own level. It was incredibly challenging, especially the scenes of being ambushed on the Immortal Path and facing the four great figures from the Spirit Ruins with their Immortal Artifacts, which almost broke their spirits.

But they were Wu Shi and Wan Qing. Despite the overwhelming odds, they managed to triumph, displaying an extraordinary level of strength.

"Congratulations on passing those trials. I thought you would need to work together for the final level, but you managed to overcome it alone, better than I expected. I am proud of you."

A clear voice rang out, and Wu Shi and Wan Qing looked up, their faces filled with shock, seeing the familiar figure. The two ten-year-olds were almost moved to tears.

"But there seems to be a bit of a rift between you? No matter, I will teach you the meaning of unity!"

Shao Hua’s avatar turned around, her face beaming with a smile. She waved her sleeve, and divine light rained down, instantly healing their wounds and dispelling their mental fatigue.

Wu Shi and Wan Qing stared at each other, wide-eyed and dumbfounded. When they finally came to their senses, they found themselves back in the desolate wasteland where they had first arrived.

"Come, face me, brothers." Shao Hua smiled and sent them flying with a single slap.

Twenty-four levels each, this was the ultimate challenge of the forty-ninth level. Today, she would punch Wu Shi and kick the Green Emperor.

"Fight back, or you’ll really die!" she taunted.

"Not enough, not nearly enough. Is this all you can do?"

"Can’t even defeat my mark, and you want to realize the dao?"

No one knew how Wu Shi and Wan Qing managed to leave the trial ground. When they returned, they looked like they had been through a rough time.

"Argh, why are you so mean, Sister? I don’t like you anymore", Wu Shi muttered, lying on the grass, his eyes unfocused.

"You can have her if you don’t like her", Wan Qing said coldly.

Wu Shi’s spirits lifted instantly. He leaped up, his eyes fixed on his friend, a hint of menace in his gaze.

"Qing, if you say that, we’re no longer brothers."

Friendship is precious, but brotherhood is even more valuable. For the sake of their sister, they would both be willing to let go.

"Heh, like we were ever really brothers. Don’t think just because we were forced to team up, we’re friends now", Wan Qing sneered. "And don’t call me that."

The tension between them grew thick.

"By the way, how did you end up with my sister? Why do you call her senior sister?" Wu Shi asked, frowning.

"Long ago, after she realized the dao, she found my predecessor in the chaos and kept me by her side for over a hundred thousand years, inseparable. She was the one who finally freed me from my bondage. I call her master, sister, and senior sister—what’s wrong with that?"

Wan Qing explained, but it seemed more like a boast, especially the part about being inseparable.

Wu Shi was envious and jealous. His sister had only been with him for three years after his birth, and even including her avatars, it was only six years in total. The thought of Wan Qing being by her side for over a hundred thousand years almost made him choke.

"Hmph, that’s a nice story, but why don’t you call her mother?" Wu Shi tried to reclaim some ground.

Before Wan Qing could respond, a voice from deep within the Deathless Mountains answered, "Because I am her daughter."

"????"

This time, even Wan Qing was shocked.

What, there’s another expert here?

Following the voice, they soon found a Nine-Aperture Crystal Stone and a divine tree on a cliff. The Ginseng Fruit Tree stood beside the stone, which was translucent and dripping with essence, with nine apertures and eight holes, luminous and clear, continuously absorbing the essence of the sun and moon.

"Such a divine embryo, nurtured by the convergence of heaven and earth, truly astonishing. I can sense the aura of immortality", Wu Shi murmured.

"Almost reaching the realm of immortality, with the Elixir of Immortality by its side. Once it reaches full maturity, it will surely realize the dao and become an emperor", Wan Qing added.

They both gave it high praise. Although their current cultivation was not yet at the sage level, their intuition told them they were right.

"You are a Divine Spirit, how can you be her daughter?" Wu Shi asked.

"I am both a Divine Spirit and her daughter. She bestowed me with the power to transcend and cleansed me with her blood, guiding me to goodness. She is my mother in every sense."

Liu Nian spoke with certainty. Divine Spirits are naturally born of heaven and earth, but she was different, recognizing Shao Hua as her mother.

"So, that makes you my niece?" Wu Shi grinned, waving his hand. "Once I realize the dao and become an emperor, I will also bestow you with the power to transcend and directly ascend to immortality!"

Wan Qing, irritated by his boasting, said, "Ha, who knows if either of us will realize the dao this lifetime. It’s too presumptuous to say such things. I know the Central Plains’ dragon vein has also nurtured a Divine Spirit, along with a group of enlightened divine jade. I’ll go back and capture those enlightened jade for you to keep company."

Before he could finish, Wu Shi interrupted him.

"Why wait? Qing, lead the way. I’ll go back to the Jade Pond with an Imperial Artifact and capture that dragon vein Divine Spirit right now!"

"Although it’s far from fully formed, once it retreats into the dragon vein, no one can catch it", Wan Qing said.

"So what? We’ll just sink the Central Plains!" Wu Shi declared.

Wan Qing was genuinely shocked. How could his gentle sister have such a brother?

"That would cause too much disturbance. Mother wouldn’t approve", Liu Nian finally spoke, suggesting, "Why not bring the Immortal Bell? Its chime will ensure it can’t escape, even if it’s born of the dragon vein."

Wan Qing couldn’t help but give a thumbs up. Truly, they were a family.

At that moment, an Immortal Bell faintly appeared in the sky above the Deathless Mountains. Wu Shi’s eyes lit up with excitement.

He himself had forged a bell, and to see the legendary Immortal Bell was a thrilling experience. He nearly drooled as he approached it.

"This Immortal Bell truly brings me joy!" The bell resonated and landed on the cliff. Wu Shi couldn’t resist and pounced on it, lying on the bell.

Wan Qing facepalmed, feeling embarrassed. It was just an Immortal Artifact; he had seen them before and even had the mark of the Huang’s Tower.

But for now, Wu Shi and Wan Qing stayed in the Deathless Mountains, as there were still many blessings to be gained. The trial ground could be reopened several times, and there was a celestial palace within the mountain, reshaped from the Spirit Ruins, filled with various challenges.

They could also pick leaves from the Ancient Tea Tree of Enlightenment to make tea, which was a rare treat. They had an endless supply, enough to even use for foot baths.

"The only ones who can realize the dao in this world are Qing and I!" Wu Shi raised the teacup left by Shao Hua and declared.

"..." Wan Qing didn’t bother with the nicknames. The guy was so full of himself; arguing was a waste of breath. Better to enjoy the tea.

They would often engage in intense battles, forming a fierce rivalry that pushed their cultivation and dao to new heights. From the Immortal Second Stage to the Immortal Third Stage, they fought with all their might, undisturbed by outsiders, undergoing the most rigorous training and battles.

If they weren’t in the Deathless Mountains, the noise from their battles would have drawn attention.

By the age of twenty, their cultivation reached new heights. They were sent to the outer starfield by the Immortal Bell to undergo tribulation and successfully broke through to the Immortal Fourth Stage, entering the Sage realm!

In fact, if they hadn’t deliberately suppressed their progress to solidify their foundations, they would have become Sages even sooner.

After becoming Sages, Wu Shi and Wan Qing finally left the Deathless Mountains. The Jade Pond Grand Sage, who had been waiting outside, breathed a sigh of relief. If she hadn’t known the Deathless Mountains were once the Eastern Empress’s training ground, she would have used the Immortal Tear Emerald Golden Pagoda to force her way in.

Their reappearance in the world caused a stir. After being out of sight for nearly a decade, many wanted to see how much they had grown. A group of challengers came forward, only to be sent flying by Wu Shi, literally causing the sky to collapse. The remaining Holy Sons and Holy Daughters trembled in fear.

"Boring. It seems we should enter the Starfield Ancient Path", Wu Shi sighed.

"Not necessarily. Look, more people are coming to challenge us", Wan Qing said calmly.

They had planned to go to the Qin Range in the Central Plains to capture the dragon vein Divine Spirit, but they were ambushed by assassins from the three great assassin divine courts. No one knew who had hired them, but it was likely a collective effort from various factions to prevent the rise of two invincible figures.

Perhaps they feared the two would overshadow them and wanted to eliminate them early, using their blood to solidify their own immortality.

But no one expected Wu Shi and Wan Qing to already be Sages. The assassins came and died, and the two retaliated, breaking into the secret realms of the assassin divine courts.

Whether it was the Heavenly Court, Hell, or the Human World, anyone who dared to provoke them faced their wrath. Even the three great assassin divine courts, with their many Sages and even stronger figures, could not match the power of the Jade Pond Sacred Land.

Without the need for assistance from other forces, an ancient grand sage from the Jade Pond Sacred Land, with the revived Immortal Tear Emerald Golden Pagoda, single-handedly decimated the three divine courts, nearly wiping them out completely!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end