Chapter 3: The Beginning (Part 1)

The news of the opening of Qikoujiao was swiftly transmitted back to the United Sect via flying shuttles. With a large number of advanced professionals there, within moments, hundreds of flying shuttles appeared in the sky above the Bloody Secret Realm. Most of them came to rescue the disciples undergoing training there, while a few headed toward Qikoujiao.

Zhang Yaojin and the others who were transported to the bottom of Qikoujiao through the Ancient Symbol Gate also realized something was wrong. The entire sky had changed, forming a giant funnel, with dark clouds swirling rapidly like vortices. If Guo Shier had seen this, he would surely say it was the tornado he had seen in his past life.

Zhang Yaojin looked up into the distance and saw the vortex in the sky spinning faster and faster. Suddenly, a long wind column descended, and a beam of light shot straight up toward the top of the vortex. A dull thunderclap followed, giving the impression that the heavens were shaking. After hesitating for a moment, he immediately ran in the direction of the light column.

Chen Zhen Dong, Zhou Xiaoling, and the others also ran toward the light column without hesitation after seeing it.

In the Bloody Secret Realm, whether in the gray mist area, blood mist area, or black mist area, the thick mist was gradually dissipating, as if being sucked away by something. The disciples undergoing training were all in a state of panic.

…

At this time, Guo Shier stepped onto the eighth level. The ancient symbols resembling giant beetles rose again. This time, there were over eight hundred such symbols, still swirling around Guo Shier. These ancient symbols were light green, like green buds just sprouted in spring. Upon closer inspection, Guo Shier discovered that the light green symbols were actually composed of two ancient symbols—one light yellow and one light blue. When combined, they formed the light green symbol, which looked very beautiful.

Once the ancient symbols entered his soul, they immediately rushed into the seven ancient symbol arrays, filling in the gaps within them. As the ancient symbol arrays slowly rotated, the power of his soul was gradually infused, causing Guo Shier to feel dizzy. It took about two hours before they were completely absorbed.

Guo Shier steadied his mind and stepped onto the ninth level.

…

Chen Zhen Dong, Zhang Yaojin, Zhou Xiaoling, Xuan Ai, Yang Qi, Lan Hu, Sun Min’er, Peng Yuanwang, and the others ran desperately toward the altar. Suddenly, a blinding light flashed, and a thunderbolt struck from the sky with a loud explosion. The thunderbolt hit a forest filled with storage wood, and a huge fire broke out as the thunder rang out.

As if responding to a signal, thunder and lightning suddenly appeared in the sky. Lightning bolts flashed from time to time, striking the ground, igniting massive fires in the forests of storage wood. Everyone watched in heartache—such precious storage wood being destroyed was truly a shame. Yet no one could stop it; it was heaven showing its power, and they could only watch helplessly as vast areas of storage wood burned. The thunder grew louder, and more lightning strikes occurred, forcing everyone to slow down, staring at the sky in confusion. Fortunately, the lightning did not target them, otherwise, it was uncertain whether they could avoid its attacks. It was a strange phenomenon—all lightning strikes hit the forests of storage wood, with almost no lightning falling elsewhere, meaning the open areas were safe. Gradually, everyone noticed this and redoubled their efforts, rushing toward the distance. … The ninth step. This time, the ancient runes that appeared were still composite, formed by two runes stacked together. Over 900 ancient runes quickly merged into his soul, continuing to fill the seven ancient rune arrays. These seven arrays began absorbing the existing runes within his life rune sphere and altering them recklessly, causing the entire life rune sphere to decompose violently. Guo Shier felt a chill, but at this point, he had no other choice but to persevere. Soon, the life rune sphere began to reorganize. The rune flames that originally surrounded it were drawn into the ancient rune arrays, turning into fire runes within them, consuming most of the high-level rune flames in an instant, leaving Guo Shier stunned. The life rune sphere remained spherical, but it was no longer the original one. Enhanced by the seven layers of ancient rune arrays and reconstructed with over 900 ancient runes, it had become a completely new life rune sphere. The original runes within it were rearranged in new positions. All of this happened automatically, without Guo Shier’s intervention. He couldn’t decide whether to feel happy or sad. Seeing the life rune sphere in his soul calm down, he knew he couldn’t stay longer and stepped onto the tenth step. Over a thousand ancient runes flew up, each the size of a fingernail. These runes were light red and struck his body instantly, shattering his clothes completely as they adhered to his skin. Guo Shier thought to himself, “Tempering the body? Could it be meant to temper my body?”

A severe pain made Guo Shier almost shout out; his legs trembled uncontrollably. Guo Shier knew that he must not lie down under any circumstances—once he did, his inheritance would end. He would never do such a thing unless absolutely necessary.
Endure!
Guo Shier had no choice but to endure. This was the physical training of the Ancient Soul Altar, and the opportunity was extremely rare. He focused his attention on the ancient runes attached to his body and soon discovered their secrets. These over a thousand ancient runes actually formed various ancient rune arrays. Though he still couldn’t understand what kind of arrays they were, he could tell they were part of an array structure.
The ancient runes formed circular, interconnected arrays that extended from his chest to his forehead, up along his head to the back, down to his legs, and then from his chest to his arms. In moments, a complete array structure was formed. Guo Shier saw clearly that this was just a framework, not yet complete.
An hour later, all the ancient runes floating around his body found their places, sticking tightly to his skin and gradually merging with it. Then, a new life essence rune sphere began to rotate, and the seven layers of ancient rune arrays floating on it also spun rapidly, gradually connecting with the runes on his skin. Inside and outside connected, forming a three-dimensional ancient rune array.
By the time the entire ancient rune array stabilized, Guo Shier was drenched in sweat from the pain. He took a deep breath to calm himself slightly before stepping onto the eleventh step.
……
The Soul Altar was about five to six days’ journey away from the Ancient Rune Gate. As they ran, Zhang Yaojin and the others gradually gathered together, only then realizing that Guo Shier and Eagle Demon were not in the group.
Looking at the spectacular tornado in the distance, Zhang Yaojin wondered, “Could it be done by Shier?”
Chen Zhendong replied, “How is that possible?”
It was impossible to use flight runes here, so they had to rely on running on their feet, which was very strenuous for everyone. The easiest one was Zhou Xiaoling, as she was a master of rune martial arts and had the strongest physical strength and constitution.
Zhang Yaojin asked, “Where have those two gone?”
Chen Zhendong said, “No matter where they are, seeing such a scene, they would also run there… Let’s speed up. I don’t know how many more days we’ll have to run.”
Zhang Yaojin said with a wry smile, “I keep feeling something’s wrong. Sigh, I hope nothing serious happens. If we alert the shuttle patrol, that would be troublesome… We’re both undocumented!”
……
The eleventh step.

The ancient runes that emerged from the Soul Altar this time were somewhat strange—there were seven in total, and their appearance was vastly different from ordinary ancient runes. These sky-blue ancient runes resembled sapphires. Guo Shier didn’t dare touch them with his hands; instead, he stared at them intently, trying to see more clearly.

The sapphire-like ancient runes floated around him slowly, allowing Guo Shier to clearly observe their shape. They resembled diamonds cut into multiple facets, forming a rhombus shape, with an ancient rune on each facet. These must be runes composed of multiple runes combined. As the seven ancient runes circled around him, he could feel the rune array on his body vibrating slightly. After a moment, the seven ancient runes flew one after another and landed on his forehead.

Guo Shier mustered up his courage and remained motionless. He felt a slight coolness on his forehead, and the seven gem-like ancient runes had already entered his soul.

The ancient runes were quickly drawn into his Life Essence Rune Ball and soon stabilized within the seven-layer rune array, with each layer containing a sapphire-like ancient rune. In an instant, Guo Shier’s soul seemed to boil, as a massive amount of soul energy flowed into his Life Essence Rune Ball.

Guo Shier felt as though he was being drained, his body weak and limp, with a severe dizziness filling his mind. He bit his tongue hard; the intense pain helped him regain some clarity, and a metallic taste filled his mouth. He swallowed the blood, trying hard to stay calm, but the dizziness continued to wash over his brain wave after wave.

With no other choice, Guo Shier began reciting the Soul Scriptures silently, trying to relieve the dizziness. Unexpectedly, after reciting the scriptures once, more than a hundred strange runes appeared in his soul. Upon closer inspection, they resembled the Tibetan script from his past life. These runes floated up and down within his soul. Surprised, Guo Shier decided to recite the scriptures aloud.

Immediately, drastic changes occurred in his soul, and an unparalleled sucking force emanated from his body. The previously calm ground suddenly sprouted countless tiny soul threads. Unlike those in the black mist area, these soul threads seemed purified, being extremely refined, and they were quickly drawn into his soul. Guo Shier was puzzled but continued to recite the scriptures loudly.

His soul grew stronger rapidly, with the incoming soul threads replenishing his nearly depleted soul. Guo Shier was almost intoxicated by the sense of fulfillment in his soul, which brought him immense joy.

The nearly depleted soul grew stronger once again. Most miraculously, the over a hundred strange runes that appeared suddenly formed countless tiny entities, like little fish. It was as if the soul was water, and they were the fish in that water, swimming freely, stirring the soul, and consuming its impurities, making it purer.
Guo Shier felt mixed emotions—he didn’t know if this situation would affect his next reincarnation.
Once everything settled down, Guo Shier gritted his teeth and stepped onto the twelfth level.
……