The void of silver and violet energy was not the peaceful transition Ling Tian had anticipated. It was a maelstrom of raw, untamed forces—the collision of universal laws as the Seven-Heaven Realm barrier shattered.
Ling Tian, fortified by his Perfect Golden Chaos Core, stabilized himself against the crushing pressure. His ascent was deliberate, but the cosmic turbulence was fierce.
The pressure here is a hundred times stronger than the gravity chamber of the Sky Cloud Sect, Ling Tian mused, his golden core pulsing violently to counteract the void's hostility. A normal Nascent Soul cultivator would be instantly ripped apart.
After what felt like days suspended in the chaotic expanse, Ling Tian saw a speck of light below—the destination.
The Landing and the Shock of the New Realm
Ling Tian burst through the final layer of the void and slammed hard onto the ground. The landing was rough, kicking up a cloud of ochre dust. He found himself in a vast, desolate plain, utterly silent except for the harsh, dry wind.
He had arrived in the Nine Immortal Realms, specifically a remote region of the Lower Tier.
Ling Tian immediately began drawing the surrounding energy into his Dantian to replenish the Qi expended during the ascent. He stopped abruptly, his violet gaze narrowing.
The energy was different.
"What is this?" he muttered.
The air was saturated with Immortal Qi—an energy far purer and denser than the spiritual Qi of the Seven-Heaven Realm. However, for the Primordial Chaos Core, this Immortal Qi was stubborn, refusing to be absorbed easily.
My Primordial Chaos Core is too high-level. It views this Immortal Qi as a pollutant, not a source of power, Ling Tian realized, a rare frown crossing his face. I must refine every trace of it, slowing down my recovery tenfold.
He was severely weakened. His Perfect Golden Core was intact, but his available Qi reserves were critically low. Against the overwhelming power of this new realm, his Golden Core strength felt equivalent to an Early Immortal Foundation cultivator—strong, but no longer the undisputed apex predator.
"The rules have changed," Ling Tian said, a cold glint of challenge entering his eyes. "Very well. I accept the challenge."
The First Danger
Just as Ling Tian finished gathering a meager amount of Qi, a rough, thunderous sound approached from the horizon.
Three figures on crude flying swords—clearly local cultivators—landed nearby. They were dressed in rugged leather armor and carried long, scarred blades. Their cultivation bases were shockingly high: all three were at the Peak Immortal Foundation level, equivalent to the Peak Spirit Foundation Ling Tian had previously toyed with, but their Immortal Qi was denser.
"Well, well. Look what the void dragged in," sneered the leader, a muscular man with a scar running across his face. "A freshly ascended one! I smell the stench of the Lower Realms on him. And he's weak!"
The second man rubbed his hands greedily. "He must have brought some excellent pills for the journey. He's practically a walking sack of resources!"
These were Ascension Bandits—cultivators who preyed upon the newly ascended, knowing they would be weak and disoriented after the transition.
Ling Tian looked at them, his customary arrogance immediately returning, overriding the fatigue.
"You look like dogs feeding on scraps," Ling Tian stated, his voice carrying the chilling authority of his core, despite his weakened state. "Before I obliterate you, tell me the name of this forsaken place."
The bandit leader laughed, drawing his heavy sword. "A confident lamb! This place is the Scarred Earth Plateau, boy. And you are standing in the territory of the Iron-Blooded Syndicate! Today, we collect the toll."
The three bandits lunged simultaneously, unleashing powerful Immortal Qi attacks—far stronger than anything Ling Tian had faced in the Seven-Heaven Realm.
Ling Tian knew he couldn't afford to waste energy. He needed to make a statement, even while depleted.
Time to show this new realm what Primordial Chaos truly means, Ling Tian thought, preparing his counterattack.