The Bow of Return

The legendary Soul-Slaying Broken Spear had a tangible form—it was the Annihilation War Spear, a baleful weapon forged and tempered to annihilate the souls of Ancestral Gods, said to be unquenchable through the ages.

This filled Xiao Chen with a blazing fury. He desperately wanted to use the divine diagram or the ancient scroll to try to take the broken spear, but the little old man beside him made him hesitate.

"Let's go our separate ways. You go on ahead alone—after all, as you put it, you're a supreme master who needs no one's help."

Xiao Chen wanted to act alone, but the old goat shamelessly insisted on following him.

"You wouldn't happen to be from the Nine Provinces, would you? Looking to avenge them? I'd advise you to hold back. Among those six Otherworld experts, aside from that white-haired one, there's another who's terrifying. If you act rashly, you could be annihilated in both body and soul without even knowing how you died!"

The little old man glanced at him and warned him in this way.

"Heh heh..." Just then, a sinister cold laugh came from the passage ahead. "More remnants of the Nine Provinces here? Perfect timing to clean up."

Three of the six Otherworld experts manifested at the corner ahead. The white-haired Ancestral God and the unfathomably terrifying figure were not among them. The three wore sinister smiles as they prepared to strike at Xiao Chen.

"We're not from any Nine Provinces faction; don't misunderstand!" the wizened little old man explained.

"I know you're not, but as for him, it's hard to say... You, stand aside." The Otherworld Ancestral God strode forward, facing Xiao Chen with a sinister smile. "I sensed your hostility just now. Whoever you are, whatever faction you belong to, you won't be leaving here today."

"Ahhh!"

Just then, a scream rang out. A golden arrow pierced one of the three Otherworld Ancestral Gods. Ancestral God blood splattered.

"Remnants of the Nine Provinces!" The other two Otherworld Ancestral Gods roared in anger, simultaneously unleashing divine light to protect the wounded one.

A figure flashed through another passage and disappeared around a corner.

"Go!"

The little old man grabbed Xiao Chen's arm, shouting in a low voice as he swiftly dashed into a passage blazing with flames.

The three Otherworld Ancestral Gods did not pursue them but charged into the other passage, hunting down the one who had loosed the divine arrow.

"That person helped us; we can't just flee like this," Xiao Chen said, wanting to stop.

The old goat gripped his arm tightly and rushed a great distance forward, turning through several passages before stopping. "That was close—a deadly trap just now. Those three were only the decoys. That white-haired little Ancestral God and that unfathomable mysterious expert are both lurking in the shadows. If we had fought, they would have pounced and slaughtered us. They wanted to kill us all right there."

"Aren't you the brother of Shi Zhongdi? What are you afraid of them for?" Xiao Chen shook him off. "That means the person who helped us is now in danger."

"Even if I am Shi Zhongdi's brother, I can't go around killing just anyone..." The little old man looked utterly brazen.

"No, I have to go back and help that person."

"Don't worry, that person is definitely in no danger. He loosed that arrow precisely because he spotted the white-haired one and that unfathomable Otherworld expert hiding in the shadows. He can surely escape safely."

"Then let's go our separate ways!" Xiao Chen truly wanted to part ways with this little old man; otherwise, he couldn't use the ancient scroll or the divine diagram. He believed that here in the Star Palace, which could block the divine senses of Ancestral Gods, using the Pangu Stone Seal to conceal himself, he could deploy his great killing weapons without being detected.

But the little old man stuck to him like a plaster, shamelessly refusing to leave.

Xiao Chen ignored him and proceeded alone. No sooner had he entered another hall than a blaze of dazzling divine light swept toward him. A cultivator he had never seen before struck at him.

Clearly, entering this hall was deadly at every step—if not aligned, then enemies.

Swish!

Xiao Chen dodged to the side, evading the divine art, and violently charged forward with his peak-level Ancestral God physical body, a savage collision.

Bam!

The sound of bones breaking came. The attacker ahead spat blood, his arms snapped in two, and he transformed into a streak of light, vanishing from the hall.

"How utterly reckless!" The little old man swayed as he followed, staring at the retreating figure. "A weakling like that dares to come in here? Pure suicide!"

Xiao Chen paid him no mind, following the trail of blood. He wanted to try his luck, hoping to find that heaven-defying war treasure.

He had not pursued far when he felt something unusual. Passing through another hall, a chaotic primordial aura came from ahead. The passage led him to a mysterious region—no longer buildings, but a cavern of primordial chaos.

"Lucky!" the little old man exclaimed. "That fellow was just a scout. There's probably something important in that chaotic cavern ahead. Someone is trying to force open a seal."

At the mouth of the chaotic cavern, a hazy light flickered; beams of treasure light gleamed within.

Xiao Chen cautiously stepped into the chaotic cavern. The moment he entered, he heard a rumbling sound. Three people ahead were bombarding a dark door of chaos, while the one who had attacked Xiao Chen earlier watched the entrance warily. Seeing Xiao Chen and the old goat enter, his eyes immediately widened.

The three who had been forcing the seal stopped. One was a Third Heaven Ancestral God, the other a female Ancestral God at the Fourth Heaven.

"Ah, it's you. We're on the same side." The old goat walked forward with a familiar air.

The female Ancestral God snorted coldly. This was the same one who had stood with the old goat back at the Sun Palace earlier, then distanced herself because of his loose talk.

The three ahead watched the old goat and Xiao Chen with hostile expressions, especially the wounded cultivator, who showed a strong enmity toward Xiao Chen.

"The three of you will have a hard time breaking this seal. The five of us working together might stand a chance. Otherwise, by the time others arrive, you may end up with nothing." The old goat made the suggestion with a perfectly natural expression.

"Don't hesitate, or you'll lose everything. Even the Corpse Corpse and the Lotus King have come. Other strong cultivators at their level must be arriving in droves. There's no time to waste!" the old goat urged.

The three ahead were reluctant, but they admitted that what the old goat said made sense. If truly powerful figures showed up, they would gain nothing and might only lose their lives.

"Fine. Let's join forces and break the seal quickly!" The female Ancestral God relented, but a glint of sharpness flashed in her eyes. This was clearly only a temporary alliance; once the seal was broken, peaceful coexistence was unlikely.

Though the cultivator wounded by Xiao Chen was unwilling, he had to accept the reality. The five of them struck with all their might, rapidly working to break the seal.

Through the sealed dark door, waves of divine radiance overflowed, and the chaotic cavern became a flow of rainbow light.

Half a shichen later, a thunderous crash shook the chaotic cavern violently. Mists of chaos roiled, beams of treasure light surged forth, and then divine flames blazed, scorching and dazzling.

The five all charged forward, vying for the treasures.

In the piercing light, a stone table ahead shattered—clearly from the impact of the seal being broken. Among the rubble, a glossy white jade bottle shimmered, exceptionally eye-catching.

The female Ancestral God and her two companions all scrambled for the white jade bottle. But the old goat did not; instead, he darted toward a few rotten arrows in the pile of rubble.

Xiao Chen felt that without revealing the divine diagram or the ancient scroll, he could not contend with those three. Seeing the old goat grab at the rotten arrows, he had a thought and reached for them as well.

"Kid, you're too greedy. You're even competing with me for things like this!" The old goat hurriedly swept them together, but his position was worse than Xiao Chen's. He only grabbed four rotten arrows, while Xiao Chen got five.

They were truly ragged arrows—mere wooden shafts, rotten in places and nearly broken.

The three beside them had jointly grabbed the white jade bottle. They curled their lips disdainfully at the two, while inwardly breathing a sigh of relief—after all, they had obtained the heavy treasure.

"All sacred treasures under heaven belong to those of virtue." The female Ancestral God reminded them with the old goat's own words, afraid they might try to take it.

"Right, exactly. Don't worry, we won't plunder an ally's treasure." The old goat nodded repeatedly.

The moment Xiao Chen gripped the five rotten arrows, he already sensed that these were no waste; they might be even more mysterious and precious than the white jade bottle. He felt an endless fire essence within the rotten arrows, and an inexhaustible divine power that had likely emitted the blinding light earlier.

"Heh heh, how pathetic! Taking the bottle that holds the treasure as the treasure itself, and discarding the true treasure—truly pitiable and laughable..." Just then, a cold voice sounded. The Otherworld white-haired Ancestral God had arrived with four others, blocking the exit of the chaotic cavern. Only the unfathomable mysterious expert was not in sight.

The white-haired Ancestral God had reached an unknown level; even Xiao Chen could not judge it. Blocking the exit clearly meant to seize the treasure.

"What are you saying?" the female Ancestral God asked with astonishment and growing unease.

"Those nine rotten arrows are the true treasures. The white jade bottle is merely a vessel for them. Arrows once used by a Stone Man King—how could they compare to ordinary divine treasures? You abandon the treasure and pick up trash—isn't that ridiculous?"

"What?!" The three were both shocked and embarrassed.

"Heh heh..." The old goat smugly hugged the four rotten arrows to his chest, boasting shamelessly: "Who do you think I am? These eyes of mine see true treasures clearly. How could I miss such a find? All sacred treasures under heaven belong to those of virtue."

Hearing this, the three opposite felt even more ashamed. In the end, they had only snatched a bottle meant to hold the treasure.

"The three of you, don't worry. That white jade bottle is no ordinary item—you should have already sensed it can contain and seal powerful beings within." The old goat explained to them.

Beside him, Xiao Chen readied himself for battle. The Otherworld white-haired Ancestral God was blocking the entrance—there was clearly no way he would let them go, especially given the earlier minor clash.

"Unfortunately, you are merely treasure hunters. These treasures do not truly belong to you. Best leave them behind." The white-haired Ancestral God was terrifyingly powerful; his towering body blocked the cavern mouth, and his mighty divine sense sealed off the escape route. He clearly intended to annihilate everyone here.

"Not a single one of you will leave. You'll all die!" With those words, he made plain his intent to silence them.

"This is hardly that heaven-defying war treasure. You don't need to go this far, do you?!" The old goat's beard twitched; his mouth was both crude and sarcastic. "If you want it, just say so. I can give it to you. If you don't say it, how am I supposed to know? Only if you say it will I know. And if you say it, I can give it to you. Are you sure you want it? I can really give it to you."

Boom!

A blazing divine flame flickered. The moment the old goat finished his jibe, he grabbed Xiao Chen and joined the nine rotten arrows together, stabbing them at the chaotic wall beside them. The nine wooden arrows, which seemed extremely worn, instantly erupted with raging divine flames. They shattered the chaotic wall, opening a new passage that led to the distant halls.

The old goat hopped and skipped, scurrying away as fast as his legs would carry him. In this special hall, Xiao Chen could not tear through space; he transformed into a beam of light and fled, following close behind.

At the same time, the white-haired Ancestral God had already struck. His long white hair flew as he instantly pierced through the three Ancestral Gods ahead who held the white jade bottle, tearing them into shreds. Three Soul-Slaying Broken Spears had already pierced them from behind, their tangible forms killing before they even noticed. They were given no chance to resist at all!

"Truly terrifying." Sensing what had happened behind him, the old goat leaped and bounded, leading Xiao Chen through the maze-like halls in escape.

"Aren't you the brother of Shi Zhongdi? Is your skill only in running?" Xiao Chen taunted as he ran.

"Even the brother of Shi Zhongdi has to retreat sometimes. Not every situation calls for a fight to the death." The old goat's mouth was tougher than his body; he hopped around like a living hare.

Boom!

Just then, a terrifying surge of divine power came from ahead, causing an ominous feeling in the heart.

The old goat cried out in alarm: "Bad news! We've just escaped the white fur, and now we've run into an even bigger one!"

Even the phrase "bigger one" came out of his mouth. Xiao Chen seriously doubted whether he was really an Ancestral God—he sounded more like a common street vendor.

Just then, a figure staggered and rushed toward them. The moment he saw Xiao Chen, he collapsed to the ground. He was covered in blood, his form nearly shattered, his divine consciousness fading to the extreme, and he was being worn away at a terrifying speed. It seemed he would soon be annihilated in both body and soul.

"Go quickly," he said, but still he warned Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen grabbed him and dragged him along, following the old goat deeper into the maze.

"It's too late. His divine consciousness has already been destroyed. Even if my brother Shi Zhongdi were here, he couldn't save him."

Hearing the old goat say this, Xiao Chen fell silent.

"Are you really a cultivator from the Nine Provinces?" The Ancestral God in Xiao Chen's arms was a mass of gore, impossible to recognize. Now his body and consciousness were rapidly collapsing, his voice faint and weak.

"Yes, I come from the Nine Provinces."

"I long to return to the Nine Provinces..." This Ancestral God seemed deeply sorrowful. "I have left my homeland for an entire civilization cycle, fighting all the while in the Heavenly Realm, with no chance to return."

He said, "I had hoped to share some of the burden on the Nine Provinces, but we could not. We could only watch helplessly, unable to stop it. Now, the Nine Provinces Ancestral Gods who came to the Heavenly Realm are nearly all fallen in battle—almost extinct. We were powerless to defend our land... I... truly cannot accept this!"

As he spoke, crystalline droplets fell from his eyes, but his form grew increasingly faint. His voice weakened further. "We... we could not, but we truly gave our all... nearly all of us have fallen..."

"I know, I know. You have already given everything; you have paid completely!" Xiao Chen frantically infused him with divine power, using his own divine consciousness to stabilize the ancestor's fading will. Anxiously, he said, "Do not blame yourself. You have done all you could, all that should be done... We will not forget you!"

The blood-soaked, fading Nine Provinces Ancestral God smiled bitterly, uttering with infinite desolation: "We have changed nothing..."

His divine consciousness grew infinitely weaker, barely able to speak. He opened his mouth, blood spilling freely. He lowered his head, seeming to gaze downward, his eyes trying to pierce through the Sun Star, through the Heavenly Realm, toward the Nine Provinces...

"I want so much to return to the Nine Provinces, to have a look... to go back to my homeland..."

With these words, his voice ceased abruptly. His form slowly faded, his divine consciousness completely obliterated. Flecks of light drifted between Xiao Chen's hands. This ancient Ancestral God of the Nine Provinces had left the world with infinite regret.

Clang!

A crisp ringing sounded in the passage. A longbow fell to the floor of the Star Palace, gleaming with faint light. Two crystalline drops of liquid still clung to it, the final tears of the Nine Provinces, tinged with traces of blood.

Xiao Chen picked up the longbow and gripped it tightly. In a daze, he heard again a voice filled with infinite longing, regret, and desolation echoing faintly: "I want so much to return to the Nine Provinces and have a look... to go back to my homeland..."

"I will take you back!" Xiao Chen felt his eyes grow moist—something that had not happened in many years. Even if he were made of iron and stone, at this moment his heart was filled with bitter ache, a heavy weight. He solemnly put away the longbow.

"Let him return in glory to his homeland! Use this longbow to loose nine arrows and slay his enemies, then bury the bow in the Nine Provinces!" The old goat solemnly handed the three arrows he held to Xiao Chen.

"An Ancestral God of the Nine Provinces... a bow laid to rest in the Nine Provinces!" Xiao Chen, consumed with hatred and fury, gripped the nine arrows tightly.