High above, three figures sat upon the clouds, untouchable and unchallenged. Each was a Transcendent Stage Master, bearing the title and rank of Emperor. Between them, they commanded galaxies—known in the mortal tongue as continents—or even clusters of them.
One of them, Emperor Midas, broke the silence. His golden eyes narrowed.
"The Blood Continent has never produced a Nascent Soul since its birth. What makes this era so different?"
The question lingered in the air—until a voice, vast and resounding, swept across the heavens.
"That boy below... is a soul shard of an Immortal."
At once, the three emperors rose to their feet and bowed low.
"Your Eminence."
The voice rumbled again, ancient and steady.
"Do not forget the era before ours. We Transcendents stand as the peak only because the path beyond us has been sealed. That boy is one of the keys to reopening it.
Our Nine Basins are nothing more than the remnants of the Nine Realms that once were. Beyond them stretch endless plains of shadow—where monstrous things now stir. Perhaps survivors of that lost age were trapped outside this iteration... perhaps they were twisted, infected by the emptiness.
Every iteration has its calamities. This one will be no different. If we are to survive, the Immortal Path must be opened once more. You three are my most trusted. I entrust you with this task—find the other shards."
Before each of the three emperors, a flower blossomed from the void—its petals shimmering with both flame and feather.
"These are Dragon Phoenix Lilies," the voice declared. "Place them within your Cultivation Seas. They will resonate with the Immortal Energy of the shards whenever you draw near.
The other Basin Lords and I will turn our focus to the eroding borders of our realms, while you search. An Interbasin Council of Emperors shall be formed, composed of those most trusted by their respective Lords, to oversee the hunt.
Remember this well: the shards are to be treated with reverence above even us Basin Lords. Their existence surpasses ours. No life-threatening harm shall befall them, but we cannot interfere with their growth."
The three emperors bowed deeply, then withdrew to their palaces, already weaving plans.
Meanwhile, far below and utterly unaware of the vast designs unfolding above, Yun continued forward with Jax at his side. Together, they pursued strength—enough to avenge the bloodlines they had lost.
The next morning, the rising sun marked the beginning of the trials. The Hart Sect's sevenfold-refined Teleportation Platform thrummed with power, carrying the fresh disciples into the Auroros Beast Lands in streams of crimson light.
Some immediately clustered into teams—bands of three, five, even ten—while others strode alone, determined to carve their names by solitary strength. Their seventy-two–hour ordeal began the instant their boots sank into the wild soil.
Around the arrival platform stretched a frontier city, forged from equal parts bravery and desperation. Shops lined the streets, hawking weapons, charms, beast-luring incense, and hastily scrawled maps. Rest lodges and taverns thrived on the courage—or recklessness—of those willing to live so near to the roving monsters. This place was more than a supply hub; it was a vein of wealth for the surrounding systems, pumping out beast cores and rare materials to fuel cultivation across the continent.
Though technically under the Scarlet Pavilion's protection, the Auroros Beast Lands were no one's to rule. It was an independent domain with its own harsh laws and customs, where the strong thrived and the weak became fodder.
For the new disciples, the greatest treasure here was not beast cores, but information. Which valleys to avoid. Which rivers were home to the fiercest creatures. Where the highest quality cores could be hunted—and which paths promised swift death. Knowledge itself was worth more than coins, and those who lacked it would pay in blood.
Yun and Jax found themselves in a scholar's shop, intending to purchase a map of not just the surrounding area, but of the entire continent and its key spots. Just like the rest of the Blood Continent, these lands too were once battlefields in ancient times, and were bound to hold hidden treasures and Blood Pools to fuel one's cultivation.
However, what they received was far more than expected. The shop contained countless detailed maps and neatly drawn talismans. Then, one of the attendants—a peak stage Core Formation master—led the two quietly to a private room at the back. There, a glowing crystal floated, projecting a shifting holographic map of the continent. Different colors marked regions: reds, greens, oranges, yellows, and blues, each denoting the scale of danger to relative safety.
"There are countless wonders in these lands," the attendant explained. "This city has stood for 368 years, yet we have only truly mapped no more than twenty percent of the Beast Lands." His tone was calm, but his words carried weight.
He continued, "I have some connections with the Hart Sect, so I occasionally assist their disciples—if fate brings them to my shop. Unfortunately, many look down on this place, so it is rare that anyone comes. Only a special few who care not for appearances or status arrive at my door. You two, despite passing through the more luxurious shops, still chose to come here. Perhaps this is destiny."
The attendant raised his hand, and from the crystal two small shards of light broke away. They drifted gently into Yun's and Jax's palms, warm and alive.
"These are updated map crystals," he said. "They can be stored in your Cultivation Sea and accessed telepathically, ensuring no one else can glimpse what you carry. Use them well."
The two young men left the store believing they had purchased nothing more than elaborate maps. In truth, what they carried was far greater—but that revelation would only come at the right moment.
Wasting no time, they made their way to the western gate, which led directly into Zidan Pass. Of the thirteen mapped regions within the Beast Lands, Zidan Pass was by far the most expansive and diverse, rich with both ferocious beasts and rare plant life. Its entire territory stretched out like a star, its arms reaching in every direction.
Originally, the Beast Lands had been divided into only four vast regions. But two centuries ago, all except Zidan Pass were further split into smaller sections for easier navigation and control. Though still dangerous, Zidan Pass remained far safer than its counterparts. Its unique geography made it a natural crossroads, serving as a gateway into five neighboring regions whose borders it touched.
It was also the only region named after a person—a mark of respect and mystery that carried its own quiet weight in the annals of Blood Continent history.
Yun's goal was simple in thought. On their first day, they would locate a Blood Pool to refine their foundations—or perhaps even push for a breakthrough. Along the way, they would collect whatever herbs they could and, if fortune allowed, uncover a hidden treasure.
Rank and recognition meant little to them. Even if the two of them retrieved only a single beast core each and ended at the bottom of the rankings, it would not matter. What truly mattered was perfecting their skills and steadily increasing their power.
According to the map, Zidan Pass contained three Blood Pools, as well as a set of ancient ruins vast enough to have once been a city. Such ruins promised not only the possibility of treasures but also shelter, should they ever need it.