Chapter 1403: Chapter 1404 Immortal Gods Realm
Li Xiaobai carried the crystal old man on his shoulder.
This was his first official step into the grey domain. Terrifying energy surged wildly, constantly pouring into his body.
He could clearly sense that this massive power was not inherently malicious or attacking outsiders, but rather a novel and incomparably pure energy. The moment this energy made contact with cultivators, it surged into their bodies like a swarm. However, this power was so pure that it vastly exceeded the tolerance limits of cultivators from the Central Origin Realm, resulting in most of them exploding and dying upon contact.
This was the reason why countless strong cultivators who once stepped onto the grey staircase immediately exploded and perished.
The Saint Realm cultivation level alone was insufficient to contain this energy. Only those who had surpassed the Saint Realm and reached the Transcendent Level could barely adapt to the terrifyingly pure power.
Fortunately, most of the energy was being absorbed by the crystal old man on his shoulder, sparing him from enduring excessive pressure.
“I wonder who placed this kind of power here. It seems like their intention was to aid those ascending the stairs. It’s a pity, though, that the energy left behind is too pure. Instead of helping, it ends up causing them to blow apart.”
“If I didn’t have the crystal old man, things would’ve been unimaginably difficult. Thankfully, I brought him along.”
Li Xiaobai’s thoughts raced as he walked. The crystal old man on his shoulder was like a bottomless pit, devouring the oppressive energy around them like a terrifying black hole. Thanks to him, their journey became much easier.
A group of juniors followed behind, protected by the temporary worker. They didn’t encounter any problems. The temporary worker moved silently, his longsword dancing in an impenetrable arc, deflecting and dispersing the encroaching forces with incredible skill.
The juniors could only gasp in awe.
The staircase was eerily silent—so quiet it was unsettling.
With the crystal old man and the temporary worker there, the group found a rare moment to admire the scenery. At the end of the staircase, a visible vortex loomed, radiating multicolored light, obscuring its interior. Only the rumble of thunder could be heard faintly from afar.
This vortex was the connection between the two realms and also the barrier that sealed them apart. It blocked external invaders but allowed internal cultivators to pass through freely, provided they underwent the trials of punishment laid within.
“Master, is the vortex’s end the Immortal Gods Realm?”
Fu Tiantian asked curiously, her wide eyes filled with wonder at the vortex. Truth be told, the group was stunned that they had made it across the staircase unscathed. The whole experience felt surreal.
Were they really about to break through the barriers and ascend to the Upper Realm?
“Indeed. But the vortex itself is rife with danger. You’ll need to stay on guard.”
“Moreover, we have no idea what awaits us on the other side. For all we know, a million-strong army could be lying in wait!”
Li Xiaobai cautioned solemnly. To be honest, he had no real understanding of what the Immortal Gods Realm was like. He only hoped they wouldn’t immediately run into familiar Immortal Gods blocking their path.
“With Master here, we’ll smash through any god in our way!”
Ma Niubi waved his enormous hand dismissively, his carefree manner making Li Xiaobai twitch. Was this what blind fanaticism looked like?
The vortex led to another unknown world, one that even Li Xiaobai couldn’t quite fathom. Yet these juniors appeared fearless, boldly associating their confidence with his reputation. Still, for the sake of morale, he could only go along with it.
“It’s no big deal. On the other side of the vortex is the world of Immortal Gods. Let’s go slaughter some Immortal Gods, claim territories, and snatch resources!”
With a grand wave of his hand, Li Xiaobai stopped hesitating and plunged into the vortex. The rest of the group followed without a moment’s doubt.
Within the vortex was a domain of thunder. To Li Xiaobai’s familiarity, it bore a striking resemblance to the electric discharges he used with Godzilla. Calling it a lightning domain felt more accurate—it was like a pool of lightning. Silver electric eels darted around like in a marshland, making every step laborious and charging the air with volatile lightning energy.
[Attribute Points +5 billion…]
[Attribute Points +5 billion…]
[Attribute Points +5 billion…]
In just one breath, the values on the System panel skyrocketed madly. The explosiveness of these numbers made Li Xiaobai’s heart race uncontrollably—it was enough to nearly hit the Transcendent First Layer’s upper limit in an instant.
Glancing back at his disciples, he saw them struggling but still managing to hold on. This steadied his nerves slightly. Although he didn’t understand the exact mechanics, it seemed the pressure on his disciples differed from his own and was still within tolerable limits.
[Attribute Points +10 billion…]
[Attribute Points +20 billion…]
[Attribute Points +30 billion…]
In just that brief moment of thought, even more outrageous numbers leapt onto the System panel—these belonged to the temporary worker. Entering the lightning pool, he too received its furious assault.
Seeing these terrifying numbers, Li Xiaobai immediately understood that the vortex’s lightning pool was the true test of ascension. Its energy adjusted to challenge the strength of those who entered it at varying levels of intensity.
This explained why cultivators emerged unscathed from the energy-filled outer staircase. That staircase, it turned out, had been a man-made construct, a gift to aid ascenders by offering them power and fortune. But instead of being a blessing, it became a deadly trap.
Compared to that, the real test of the vortex’s lightning pool seemed much lighter by comparison.
“Well, this just got a whole lot easier. With the System Defense on my side, no amount of extreme pressure or damage can break through my defenses!”
Peeling off his shirt, Li Xiaobai activated the Explosive Clothing Divine Skill, instantly doubling his defensive power. The Heavenly Tribulation, calibrated to match a cultivator’s cultivation level, simply couldn’t penetrate his defenses as long as it remained below the Transcendent First Layer.
Still, something didn’t add up. Although the System panel values escalated continuously, they remained as mere Attribute Points. The System Defense showed no reaction. What exactly was this ‘Unlimited Eternity’ required for advancement? It was baffling.
The vortex was nothing but endless lightning pools, shrouded in chaos. Time and space vanished within the tempest of thunder. Li Xiaobai wandered aimlessly, and one look at his struggling juniors told him they wouldn’t be able to navigate either. He simply decided to follow his instincts.
The temporary worker had vanished at some point. His cultivation level was too high, and the test calibrated to his strength had become outrageously harsh. He hadn’t lasted until the end.
After what felt like ages, a faint radiance appeared ahead, accompanied by a refreshing energy that soothed the spirit.
“We’ve made it to the Immortal Gods Realm!”
Li Xiaobai’s heart surged with excitement. They were about to step into a higher-grade world and uncover the schemes of the Immortal Gods.
Ma Niubi and the other juniors dragged themselves to the finish. Their bodies were charged with transcendent power. While the journey was arduous, they had endured the trials of the lightning pool.
“Master, we did it!”
Fu Tiantian exclaimed with joy.
Li Xiaobai took a slow drag of his Huazi cigarette, exhaling a puff of smoke: “Stay calm. Keep your cool. Once we’re through, stay sharp. If there’s anyone blocking the gate, just tie them up without hesitation!”