Chapter 161: A Rotten Road, Grandfather and Grandson Perform

However, compared to the boiling forces of the Zangdi Star Domain and the cautious remaining supers of the Forbidden Zone.

Gu Yuan and his grandson looked a little puzzled.

"The path is open, but this road… why does it feel a bit rotten?"

Gu Yuan stood at the entrance of the passage, brows furrowed, with a look of disdain.

From the outside, the road glittered with immortal light.

But getting close revealed that this so‑called path to immortality was actually a dead end.

The road surface was pitted and hollow, riddled with terrifying void fissures.

Countless skeletons lay on both sides, some exuding a decaying Imperial Dao aura, clearly the supers who had failed to break through.

More importantly, at the road's end there was no true immortal realm, but an even heavier, more hopeless barrier.

"The road is a dead end, but it isn't completely useless."

Gu Cangsheng crossed his arms, his eyes that had seen through the ages scanning the so‑called path to immortality with a hint of amusement curling his mouth.

"This is not a road to the immortal realm at all; it's a trap, a cage."

"A cage?" Gu Yuan was startled.

"Hmm."

Gu Cangsheng pointed at the gray barrier at the road's end,

"Beyond that lies the true wall that separates this world from the outside, extraordinarily sturdy— even a genuine Immortal King would need great effort to breach it. And this road is a special space created by the will of this realm, or rather by some entity, to digest those Imperial Dao supers unwilling to dissolve."

Gu Cangsheng paused, his tone tinged with faint sarcasm:

"It's like a flytrap: the entrance is wide open, coated with honey to lure near‑dying flies inside. Once they enter, they can't get out. These supers waste their final ounce of strength here, and eventually their Dao and law turn into nourishment for this shattered world."

"Warm water boiling a frog?" Gu Yuan understood instantly.

This method is strikingly similar to the Gu Family's plan to turn the Dusk Divine Realm into a breeding ground.

Only this time the scale is larger, using ancient supers directly as fertilizer.

"Then isn't that all for nothing?"

Gu Yuan felt a bit disappointed, but soon sensed something off.

Because the system's main quest 2 'Restart the Path to Immortality' did not show as completed.

That indicates only two possibilities.

First, the system bugged.

Second, this place isn't truly a path to immortality!

"Who says it's for nothing?"

As Gu Yuan pondered, Gu Cangsheng heard the words, laughed heartily, and patted his grandson's shoulder,

"Yuan'er, the pattern must be opened; a dead end, repurposed, becomes the stage for a great drama."

His deep eyes swept the void, as if seeing the lingering remnants of the forbidden zones trembling in every corner of the universe.

"The un‑human, un‑ghostly immortal corpse that fled the Underworld, and the rats of the Sea of Reincarnation, Undying Mountain, and Zangtian Island also fled; they hide within the ten thousand realms, too shy to show themselves, and sending someone to hunt them down is too troublesome."

Gu Cangsheng stroked his beard, a sly glint flashing in his eyes.

"But if… they see this old man force open the path to immortality, only to be stuck at the final gate, powerless, would they be tempted?"

Gu Yuan's eyes lit up instantly.

"Seizing your illness to claim your life?"

"Exactly so."

Gu Cangsheng nodded satisfactorily, "For these ancient foxes who have lived ten thousand ages, this is their only, and final, chance. Seeing a sliver of hope, they'll rush at it like sharks smelling blood."

"Grandfather is wise! What should the grandson do? Cheer you on from the side?"

"Just watch from the side."

Gu Cangsheng said, stepped forward, reached the end of the rotten road, and stood before the hazy final barrier.

He inhaled deeply, then… began his performance.

"Open— for— me—!"

Gu Cangsheng let out an earth‑shaking roar, his voice laden with strain.

From his body, half‑step Immortal King aura burst forth without reservation.

The golden spinal phantom etched with dense runes reappeared behind him, erupting in dazzling divine light.

He hurled a punch; atop the fist, chaotic Qi intertwined with Immortal King law, forming a torrent capable of tearing the universe, smashing the gray barrier.

Boom—!!!

A unprecedented roar echoed throughout the Zangdi Star Domain.

The gray barrier shuddered violently, a faint, barely perceptible crack appearing on it.

But that was all.

Gu Cangsheng's punch had no effect; his body even staggered, his complexion paling three shades.

"What a hard shell!" he gritted his teeth, summoned power again, pounding the barrier punch after punch.

Each attack made the whole universe tremble.

The raging energy aftershocks even caused several uninhabited ancient stars surrounding the Zangdi Star Domain to explode on the spot.

The scene was so real it could not be more real.

……

Meanwhile, across the entire Zangdi Star Domain, countless factions monitoring this place boiled over!

"That emperor… actually launched a fierce assault on the Path to Immortality!"

"Heavens! His aura… seems unstable!"

Yeah! Look, his face has turned pale! This shows that barrier, even a Great Emperor cannot shake it!

The Holy Lord of the Fluctuating Light Holy Land stood in the extreme distance, holding an Ultimate Dao Imperial Weapon, with complex light flickering in his eyes.

Elders, pass the order down, let all disciples prepare. If that Great Emperor truly runs out of strength…… we might……

He didn't finish, but everyone understood his meaning.

Ji Clan, Ye Clan, Jade Pool Holy Land…… the strong ones of all major forces are now secretly stirring.

They revere Gu Cangsheng's strength, but are even more greedy for the opportunity behind the Path to Immortality.

If this invincible Great Emperor truly runs out of strength here, then……

……

And in the depths of the void, amidst that chaotic turbulence.

The Netherworld Immortal Corpse's hollow eye sockets stared fixedly at the fluctuations coming from the direction of the Path to Immortality.

He…… he really is trapped……

The Supreme of Undying Mountain's voice trembled, his eyes flashing with uncontainable ecstasy.

This is our opportunity! The only opportunity!

The Ancient Emperor of the Sea of Samsara gritted his teeth, 'He forcefully opened the Path to Immortality, inevitably consuming enormous strength! Now is precisely his weakest moment!'

The Supreme of Bury Heaven Island could no longer restrain himself: 'If we can seize this opportunity to kill him, not only can we avenge our grudges, but we can also monopolize the Path to Immortality!'

This is our last opportunity…… the Path to Immortality…… is right before our eyes……

The Netherworld Immortal Corpse fell silent for a moment, deep greed and madness gleaming in its phosphorescent eye sockets.

"Not hurry! Wait a bit longer!" His hoarse voice suppressed everyone's impulse, "This person is too strange; perhaps it's a trap……"

Although he said that, his gaze never left the battlefield for a moment; the power within that immortal corpse's body was already stirring.

Boom!

Another loud bang, Gu Cangsheng threw another punch; this time, his whole body was shaken and sent flying hundreds of miles backward, a trace of golden blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. His aura obviously weakened considerably.

"Pfft……"

Gu Cangsheng clutched his chest, as if he had suffered a serious internal injury.

Seeing this, the Netherworld Immortal Corpse could no longer remain calm.

Opportunity must not be missed, time will not come again!

"Now!" he let out a sharp howl, "He is at the end of his rope! Elders, follow me in attack, together slay this fiend and tread the Path to Immortality!"

Before his words even fell, he was the first to tear through the void, six rotting bone wings flapping, bearing an overwhelming deathly aura, transforming into a black lightning bolt that surged straight at Gu Cangsheng at the end of the Path to Immortality.

"Kill!"

Undying Mountain, Sea of Samsara, Bury Heaven Island and other forbidden zones' remaining dozen or so ancient Supremes also erupted at this moment, they burned their remaining origins, unleashing their strongest Imperial Dao Principles, aiming straight at that figure that looked like it was about to collapse.

A dozen or so streams of light sliced through the universe, carrying endless killing intent and yearning for longevity, converging into a torrent capable of destroying everything.

Gu Yuan watched this scene, silently pulling out a handful of melon seeds from his bosom.

Little fish, the hook is set.