The Name of Eternity.

Chapter 671 Musical Theory Thirteen, The Sixth Final Realm

This news was earth-shattering, plunging the entire city lord's mansion into silence, as if it were dead.

When they came to their senses, everyone stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

Jianlong Pass, the foremost pass on the eastern border, has actually been breached?!

The message from the Ancestral Dragon, written in dragon blood—this is the symbol of breaking through the barrier, but… how is this possible?!
"How could Jianlong Pass have been breached? We haven't even received a call for reinforcements yet. Could it have been a surprise attack?"

This sudden, unexpected shock sent chills down everyone's spines, giving them a sense of dread.

On the battlefield, things can change in an instant, and anything can happen, but this bad news is truly shocking.

"Quickly, send someone to Jianlong Pass to confirm the intelligence!"

After a moment of stunned silence, Long Potian came to his senses and hurriedly said...

The others also realized what was happening and quickly dispatched sentries to investigate.

Not long after, news came back from Jianlong Pass that of the sentry team, only one of them escaped back. As soon as he returned, he ordered an emergency blockade of the teleportation array and the destruction of the teleportation anchor point of the Jianlong Pass passage!
The news was also sent back to the city lord's mansion immediately. When Long Potian received the report from the sentry, it was a tragic and desolate scene. The solemn and iron-blooded Jianlong Pass, the city that had stood for countless years, had now become ruins!
The towering city wall, tens of thousands of feet high, is riddled with shocking holes, a sight that chills the heart.

On the ground were huge footprints, the earth was torn apart, and in the void there were holes that could not be healed for a long time. The holes contained the power of nothingness and destruction, and were not to be approached. They were like vortexes that could swallow up any living beings that came near.

The ground was littered with wreckage and blood, including remains from various tribes of the Eastern Region and a large number of ancient demon corpses.

The most terrifying thing is that the dragon sculpture at Jianlong Pass, which symbolizes the supreme symbol of the ancestral dragon lineage, was also broken. The dragon's head was shattered on the ground, its body was torn apart, and its claws were broken!
You must know that this Divine Dragon Sculpture is a forbidden imperial artifact!
Especially after being stained with the blood of the Ancestral Dragon lineage, it can unleash power comparable to that of an Immortal Emperor!
At this moment, the sculpture was damaged, and even the imperial artifacts were destroyed!

"What, what happened?"

Long Potian was shocked and incredulous. He felt his heart trembling. Although there were frequent battles on the border, he had never encountered such a devastating blow in all these years!

Jianlong Pass, as the foremost pass in the Eastern Region, has only been breached three times. The first breach was during the even more distant Battle of Duanjie Mountain, an ancient civil war among the myriad races of the heavens.

The second was the ancient demon war, and the third was a surprise attack by ancient demons 50,000 years ago.

And now, it's happened a fourth time!

"Jianlong Pass is guarded by the Great Emperor of the Zhulong Clan, and nine Quasi-Emperor level experts are stationed there. How could this be..."

Long Potian was somewhat dazed. The pass had been breached, and the crucial point was that they hadn't even received a message for help, which showed just how fierce the attack was!

Just as they were in a state of utter confusion, suddenly, a resounding dragon roar pierced the sky, extending from the void along a force beyond the laws of nature. The dragon roar was awe-inspiring, surveying all the heavens, and it was the power of the Ancestral Dragon Court of the Eastern Region.

A dragon's roar pierced the sky and descended upon the city lord's mansion, transforming into an Ancestral Dragon Token.

The order came from the Ancestral Dragon Court, transmitted through the Ancestral Dragon Decree:

"Jianlong Pass has fallen, and the Candle Dragon Emperor is seriously injured. He has led four Quasi-Emperors and the soldiers of Jianlong Pass to retreat to the Hundred Cities Defense Line. Using Zulong City as their base, they will fight the Ancient Demon. All cities must provide full support and fight to the death!"

The whisper from the Ancestral Dragon caused Long Potian and the others to freeze in shock. This meant that Jianlong Pass had indeed been breached, the sentry's message was true, and that the Candle Dragon Emperor had been severely injured. This was a Celestial Emperor, who would not have personally taken action in countless battles. Yet this time he was seriously injured and had no choice but to abandon Jianlong Pass and retreat to the second line of defense.

"Where are the spies among the ancient demons? Why is there no information at all? The ancient demons have suddenly launched such a mobilization, it must be that even the Great Emperor among the ancient demons has been dispatched!"

Long Potian looked surprised and doubtful, but his mind was in turmoil. He knew that the elders in the Ancestral Dragon Court would not sit idly by and would most likely have already rushed to the aid of Ancestral Dragon City.

The border conflict has taken a sudden and dramatic turn, with such heavy casualties, seemingly foreshadowing something big about to happen!

"Quickly, dispatch troops and send reinforcements to Zu Long City!"

Long Potian quickly gave the order.

Qingxuan nodded, his face extremely solemn, and cold sweat even seeped from his forehead.

He quickly issued orders, but as he was deploying the troops, some figures came to mind, and he immediately advised the troops to avoid those people.

After all, the casualty rate for this reinforcement is extremely high, so it's better for some of the seeds to remain in Lungmen City.

……

Outside Jianlong Pass.

In the darkness of the void starry sky, a group of figures stood there. Among them, three figures were the most majestic, like three mountains, standing silently. The aura emanating from their bodies made the entire void seem to freeze, and time and space were severed, not flowing, as if they were frozen outside the world.

This means that one can live forever in such a stagnant spacetime.

Their location is the realm of eternity.

Besides the three figures, there was a group of figures of varying heights standing beside them. Among them was a figure with a graceful figure and a cold, sharp gaze. Although her body was that of an ancient demon, her eyes were bright and captivating, like autumn water. Despite the coldness in her gaze, she possessed a kind of stunning beauty.

"Xueyao, your return this time, and the fragments of reincarnation you presented, are the greatest contribution!"

Suddenly, one of the towering figures spoke in a low voice, which was both ancient and gentle, with a kind and tender quality, like a dignified yet loving elder.

"Father, it was all thanks to your reinforcements that Xueyao was able to cross the Southern Region and return to the family."

The ancient demon, whose eyes were like autumn water, whispered softly.

If Li Hao were here, he would immediately recognize the voice as that of Mi Xueyao, an ancient demon he once knew.

"Xueyao is indeed a rare child. If it weren't for her, our five clans would not have reconciled. Now that the Gate of Reincarnation has been half-rebuilt, the other five clans are unwilling to unite. Once we take over the Eastern Region and establish the Gate of Reincarnation here, they will naturally come."

Another imposing figure spoke, his voice rough like a mountain rock, yet tinged with amusement.

"The myriad races of this True Realm have enjoyed peace and tranquility for far too many years. It's time to let them experience terror once again."

Another figure spoke calmly, his words carrying a chilling indifference.

Beside them, the other ancient demons of varying heights remained silent. They were all top-tier ancient demons or members of royal bloodlines from various races.

They have never shown any pity to the myriad races of the True Realm, regarding them as pigs and dogs, like a pond full of fish, including crucian carp, carp, and mandarin fish, just with a variety of types, but not much difference.

"Emperor Niejing and Emperor Duhuang have broken through their cultivation barriers. It's time for us to conquer a city. The old Dragon King of the Ancestral Dragon Court should have recovered by now. Everyone, be careful. The emperors of other territories will most likely not stand idly by. This is our second declaration of war in 100,000 years!"

The ancient demon's voice was as deep and resonant as a mountain rock.

His body was grotesque and unlike other ancient demons, his body was like a skeleton without flesh and blood, appearing extremely rough, with some bones like sharp knives.

Besides bones, there are numerous chains and terrifying weapon-like objects extending from its body, such as iron hooks, saw blades, and sharp cones.

Its terrifying body alone is enough to give you a suffocating feeling.

It felt as if they would be endlessly broken down, falling into unimaginable pain.

He was one of the ten royal families of the ancient demons, the Xinggu Clan. Beside him were several Xinggu Clan powerhouses, some smaller in stature but still towering tens of thousands of feet tall. Among them was a royal bloodline prodigy whose entire body was covered in chains, the ends of which were sharp barbs. Behind him were curved, spider-claw-like blades that stretched out at will, making him look extremely terrifying and eerie.

Compared to the Xinggu tribe, Mi Xueyao, dressed entirely in black, was undoubtedly "delicate and charming".

As a member of the Yama clan, she is considered the one among the ten clans whose appearance is closest to that of a human.

"Shatter the Eastern Region!"

Mi Xueyao's father, the Yama Emperor, spoke slowly and in a low voice.

Hearing her father's words, Mi Xueyao looked into the distance. The pass ahead was already in ruins, the city was broken and in disarray, with corpses scattered everywhere. The remaining soldiers were still barely holding on, but they became the enemy army's post-battle feast.

Suddenly, for some reason, a figure flashed through Mi Xueyao's mind.

Humans... She originally had no feelings or pity for humans, just like other ancient demons, she looked at humans as if they were insects.

But on the border of a certain immortal dynasty in the southern region, she was rescued by that human and spent several months with him... Those insects were not just capable of screaming and fighting, but also possessed a noble composure and serenity.

Thinking of that young man, she recalled his amazing culinary skills, which allowed him to consume ancient demons and quickly extract their power to enhance his soul.

After she returned, she searched for many chefs from the ancient demon race within her clan. However, the ancient demon race was not so picky about food and drink, but only about the ingredients, and when it came to cooking... they only cared about the simplest methods.

Although the royal family's chefs had become extremely skilled, they were still far from being able to extract the power to enhance the soul from the flesh and blood of the ancient demon.

She later sought out some human chefs, but they were still unable to do it. The best one among them spent countless divine medicines and years of effort to cook an ancient demon at the Immortal Lord level, but it could only barely nourish and improve the soul a little bit... The effect was too poor and not worth it at all.

Now, hundreds of years have passed, and no one knows where that boy is now, how many ancient demons he has devoured, or what level his primordial spirit has reached.

Since the end of the Southern Region Battle, she had never seen the boy again and had lost track of his whereabouts, so she returned to her family alone.

"Now, perhaps I should have reached the pinnacle of the Immortal Lord realm..."

She murmured to herself, but a smile involuntarily crept onto her lips. Although she knew that the young man could cook his own kind, her ancient demon clan not only looked down on all other races, but also on other ancient demon races. They regarded their own race as the most noble and supreme, and had little sympathy for their own kind.

Perhaps, their race is inherently devoid of emotion.

That's why it's so powerful, able to sweep across all races in the True Realm.

"Let's go. They didn't have time to react to the surprise attack at Jianlong Pass. This second pass won't be so easy, but fortunately, we've already made preparations in advance."

Another imposing figure spoke coldly. He was completely black, like a charred corpse, but black flames flickered in the cracks of his flesh. The flames did not emit high temperatures, but instead gave people a feeling of extreme cold or extreme heat, making it impossible to distinguish between fire and cold.

"You may all lead your troops and set off!"

"This is what Yama, the King of Hell, instructed."

The many figures around them all nodded.

Mi Xueyao bowed slightly and nodded, saying, "Father, I will go too!"

"Don't take risks, be careful of reinforcements from other domains."

"It is Yama, the King of Hell," Yama said gently.

Mi Xueyao nodded, and then her figure blurred as she swiftly flew forward.

……

In Longmen City.

Dragon Shield, seventh floor, first floor.

At the mountain spring atop the peak, Li Hao slowly opened his eyes. His eyes were grayish-silver, giving a sense of emptiness, yet they seemed to contain countless flawless silver lights.

"sound……"

A century of enlightenment on the ultimate path, plus ten years of seclusion in Dragon Gate City.

At this moment, Li Hao finally had an epiphany.

The sound channel is impenetrable!
The Tao says, "The highest good is like water, which benefits all things without striving."

Water is the gentlest of things, but when it freezes into ice, it becomes the sharpest.

But sound is even more terrifying; it can penetrate water and rock strata.

What is waterproof may not be soundproof. Sound is rhythm and vibration. Everything has sound, and once it resonates, it can be transmitted.

"Music...pierces through all things, pierces through the void, penetrates all surfaces, and reaches the depths of the soul!"

"It penetrates everywhere, seeps into everything, and can penetrate the very void with its celestial sounds..."

Li Hao muttered to himself.

A panel prompt appeared before his eyes.

[Having comprehended the 'Penetrating Void State of Mind,' the Dao of Music has been elevated to the thirteenth level!]

With his shackles removed, countless insights flooded his mind. Sitting in the mountain spring, Li Hao felt connected to the entire mountain. The penetrating power of music made him feel that he himself was also a kind of music, capable of penetrating all things, penetrating heaven and earth, and having a close connection with all things!
And this feeling is just like becoming an immortal!
Transforming into an immortal is the process of merging one's body into the universe and dispersing one's consciousness within it, achieving a delicate balance between form and dispersion.

Li Hao had already mastered the ultimate realm of Immortal Transformation, and under the current Void Realm, his feelings were even deeper, as if the experience of Immortal Transformation had been enhanced tenfold or a hundredfold.

Once, he vaguely touched the deepest part of heaven and earth, that majestic will.

That's the Celestial Venerable!

The ultimate goal is to become an immortal, and the final goal is to become a Heavenly Venerable!
At this moment, as Li Hao comprehended the Void Realm of Music, his consciousness also merged infinitely with heaven and earth, like the strongest sound touching the deepest part of heaven and earth.

He had previously barely touched the power of the Celestial Venerable and could vaguely sense it. Now, however, he could truly feel a power deep within the heavens and earth, which seemed to be the Heavenly Dao, but was different from the Heavenly Dao power he had sensed on his journey to heaven.

The Heavenly Dao, which I sensed on the path to heaven, was supreme and yet seemed to possess the emotions of life.

The Celestial Venerable he sensed at that moment seemed to be the truth of the universe's operation, the order of all things, cold, supreme, yet devoid of any emotion, indifferent and majestic, unmoving and inseparable.

"What...is this?"

Li Hao felt a shiver run through his body.

That Heavenly Venerable seemed to be an existence comparable to the Heavenly Dao, devoid of any emotion, yet terrifying to the extreme.

(End of this chapter)