Chapter 98: The Fifth Realm, Carving the Immortal King's Bones

The Ancestor's figure vanished within the great hall, and the ancient‑suppressing immortal aura dispersed with it, yet the heaviness in everyone's hearts inside the hall did not lessen at all.

"Impacting the Immortal King Realm"—these six characters represent a high‑stakes gamble.

If they win, the Gu Family will truly stand atop the heavens, impervious for ten thousand eons.

If they lose, all True Immortal forces in the Primordial Immortal Realm except the Gu Family must die, and the Gu Family will lose its greatest guardian deity.

"Everyone, rally your spirits."

Gu Lin Tian looked at the solemn expressions of the crowd and shouted in a deep voice,

"Since Father, that old man, dares to close his cultivation, it shows he is fully confident. What we must do is not worry pointlessly here, but safeguard the family business so that he has no worries behind him."

He is now a True Immortal, and every word and deed carries unquestionable authority.

"Yes, family head."

Gu Lin Jiang, Gu Xuan Ce, and the others bowed together, their expressions solemn.

They knew that from now on, the burden of protecting the Gu Family rested on the newly ascended True Immortal Gu Lin Tian's shoulders.

"Mother, I, your child, am also ready to close my cultivation."

Gu Yuan walked to Jiang Rou's side and said softly.

"Closing again?" Jiang Rou heard and a trace of heartache flashed in her eyes.

She had already realized how many contributions her son had made to the family during her own healing cultivation.

Gaining the essence of an immortal body, helping her husband advance further, the Gu Family produced several Supreme Ones.

After returning from Sanqian Zhou, in one breath the Gu Family added three Heavenly Emperors—including herself—and her husband also successfully broke through to True Immortal.

Even the Ancestor now has a great chance of breaking through to Immortal King.

Then came the conferral ceremony, tribulation crossing, celebratory banquet—hardly a moment of rest.

Now that she finally has some leisure, she must plunge back into arduous cultivation, which makes her, as a mother, unable not to feel heartache.

He has endured too much hardship for the family.

"Hmm." Gu Yuan nodded, "This time in Sanqian Zhou we reaped abundantly; I feel the child must tighten his cultivation."

His words were not meant to comfort his mother.

After devouring a World Tree sapling and witnessing his parents' tribulation crossing with his own eyes.

The realm is no longer a limitation for him.

What he lacks is only resources.

And those resources were fully compensated after obtaining that Immortal King's remains.

Sufficient for his own use for a long period.

Gu Yuan vaguely sensed that once he entered the Divine Dao Realm, the chaotic singularity within his body would evolve to a higher level.

Moreover, the Ancestor's closed cultivation impacting the Immortal King gave him immense pressure and motivation; he cannot always live under his elders' wings.

He must grow quickly and become a shelter for the family against wind and rain.

A True Immortal is still too weak.

"You child…"

Jiang Rou wanted to say something else, but Gu Lin Tian stopped her.

"Let him go."

Gu Lin Tian looked at his son's steadfast gaze and said contentedly,

"A fledgling must eventually leave the nest; Yuan'er has his own path, and all we can do is support him."

This son of his can no longer be judged by ordinary logic.

He looks forward to what surprises Gu Yuan will bring when he emerges from his cultivation again.

"Very well then."

Jiang Rou sighed, finally nodded, and gently admonished,

"In cultivation, do not rush; be sure to solidify the foundation and never leave hidden dangers."

"Child understands."

Gu Yuan smiled and replied.

After explaining everything, Gu Yuan no longer lingered, turned and flew toward the Ancestor's inner universe.

There, the Chaotic Immortal Bell's suppression makes it the safest place for the whole Gu Family.

It is also the most suitable place for his closed cultivation.

Watching his son's departing figure, Gu Lin Tian withdrew his gaze and turned to look at Gu Lin Jiang and Gu Xuan Ce.

"Yuan'er has gone to close his cultivation; we should attend to our duties as well."

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he said in a deep voice:

"Relay my command: one month later, on Divine Island, convene the Immortal Realm Ten Thousand Clans Summit; all Lords of the Immortal Dao Lineage and Headmasters of the Supreme Great Sect must attend in person without fail, even those two True Immortals are no exception."

"Family head, you intend to…"

Gu Lin Jiang felt a stir in his heart, vaguely guessing something.

"Hmph."

Gu Lin Tian let out a cold hum, the aura of a True Immortal fully displayed,

"Before Father closed his cultivation, he entrusted the family to my hands; naturally I cannot disappoint that old man."

"This Primordial Immortal Realm should now have a unified voice."

"Our Gu Family will be the sole king of this Immortal Realm."

……

Inside the Bronze Immortal Coffin, within that vast inner universe.

Gu Yuan sat cross‑legged on a desolate star, his expression calm.

He did not rush to begin cultivation; instead, he first settled his mind and spirit, reviewing his experiences since his transmigration.

From initially rejecting the system, to later using the system as a conquering Compass, then leading his clan to campaign across the Profound Heaven Continent, sweeping through Sanqian Zhou…

It all seemed as if it had happened yesterday.

"Not enough, still far from enough."

Gu Yuan muttered to himself.

Having seen a remnant immortal and having witnessed a fragment of the Immortal King, he knows better than anyone.

A True Immortal is far from being the end of cultivation.

Above all the heavens and myriad realms, there exist even broader and more perilous worlds.

"Huh……"

After a long while, Gu Yuan exhaled a breath of foul Qi, expelling every stray thought from his mind.

His gaze once again became as still as an ancient well.

He extended his hand; a flash of light burst from his palm, and a segment radiating immortal brilliance, entwined with the bone bearing the Immortal King's Dao principle, materialized in his grasp.

It was a piece of the Immortal King's remains—a complete rib!

Before his seclusion, his grandfather had taken away most of the Immortal King's remains.

Yet the remaining portion was still enough for Gu Yuan to cultivate for a long stretch.

One could say the Immortal King's remains were his greatest gain in this Sanqian Zhou venture.

Of course, this is only temporary.

His goal, however, surpasses his grandfather becoming an Immortal King, even higher.

To bring the entire Sanqian Zhou under his control.

Only the two great states, Thunder and Fire, have enough unspoiled material; the rest is still insufficient.

Recollecting his thoughts, Gu Yuan stared at the Immortal King's rib.

Translucent as jade, it was etched with naturally formed Great Dao patterns; merely appearing here caused the surrounding stars to tremble faintly, as if unable to bear the lingering might of the Immortal King.

"After the 4th realm, the Spirit‑Shaping Realm, comes the 5th realm, Bone Carving."

"For ordinary cultivators, Bone Carving means engraving runes onto their own bones, forming the prototype of their personal law."

"And I…"

Gu Yuan looked at the Immortal King's rib in his hand, a flash of madness crossing his eyes.

"I will forge this Immortal King bone into my own body, using the Immortal King's law to reshape my foundation."

"Moreover, I will inscribe the Original Unending Scripture, stroke by stroke, perfectly onto every inch of my bones!"

It was an idea both wildly insane and extraordinarily bold.

If successful, his flesh would reach an inconceivably terrifying state.

Yet the risk involved was not low.

Although most of the lingering will within the Immortal King bone had been erased by his grandfather before departing, the remaining strength was still troublesome.

"Wealth and honor are sought within danger!"

Gu Yuan hesitated not a moment; his mind shifted.

The World Tree sapling rooted upon his dantian's chaotic singularity unfurled its branches once more.

Countless emerald roots extended from his body like ravenous divine dragons, driving forcefully into the Immortal King's rib.

At the same time, he began to circulate the Original Unending Scripture!

The indestructible Immortal King bone, under the entwining of World Tree Roots and the Dao fire forged by the Original Unending Scripture, showed no change at first.

But as time passed,

it began to soften and crumble bit by bit.

Drops of golden liquid were extracted.

It was not ordinary marrow; it was the concentrated essence of the Immortal King's Dao fruit, terrifyingly heavy—each drop could crush the void.

"Come!"

Gu Yuan opened his mouth and inhaled.

The golden torrent, like a massive whale drawing water, surged into his body.

"Crack!"

Excruciating pain struck instantly.

Gu Yuan's original bones, before this overwhelmingly domineering force, were as fragile as dead twigs, instantly riddled with cracks and then shattered piece by piece.

Such bone‑shattering pain could drive even a steadfast Supreme to madness on the spot.

Yet Gu Yuan didn't even furrow his brows; instead he grinned, golden strands of blood seeping between his teeth, looking rather feral.

"Exhilarating!"

The Original Unending Scripture roared wildly, and from the chaotic singularity surged a massive vitality that enveloped the shattered bones.

The old bones perished, and new bones were reborn, nourished by the Immortal King's essence.

The newly formed bones were entirely a dark‑gold hue, no longer bearing engraved runes but naturally grown Great Dao patterns identical to those of the Immortal King bone!

The first bone was reshaped completely!

With a body of the Human Dao realm, he refined the Immortal Dao bone.

This path is the right one!