Chapter 2: News of the Ten Kings

Lin Jiufeng's expression remained unchanged as he looked at the old man and calmly stated, "I am that so-called 'God of the Mortal Realm'!"

The old man raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You're admitting it so directly?"

"You saw through it from the beginning. Denying it would be pointless," Lin Jiufeng replied with a smile.

The old man clasped his hands behind his back and muttered, "At least you're a smart one."

"Senior, what exactly does the bounty order say?" Lin Jiufeng asked, intrigued.

"Oh, nothing much. Just that anyone who provides information about you will receive a reward of 100,000 jin of Divine Source. And if someone captures you alive and hands you over to the Skeleton Clan, they'll receive 500,000 jin of Divine Source," the old man said nonchalantly.

Lin Jiufeng frowned. "What is Divine Source?"

"Divine Source is a condensed essence of spiritual energy, naturally nurtured by heaven and earth. It's a resource used for cultivation and trade. For instance, you're at the peak of the Eleventh Seal. With just a few hundred jin of Divine Source, you could break through to the Twelfth Seal," the old man explained.

"Now tell me, who wouldn't be tempted by 500,000 jin of Divine Source?" The old man chuckled.

Lin Jiufeng's heart tightened, and he instinctively took two steps back. He hadn't expected that the Skeleton Clan fugitive had prepared such an immense bounty for him.

At this moment, he realized that he had become a walking prize worth half a million jin of Divine Source.

"That bounty only lists a name. If we don't say anything, no one will know it's me," the Sacred Beast Qilin suggested.

"Heh, the bounty includes your real appearance. With time, it will spread throughout the entire Dimensional Battlefield. Soon, every expert in this realm will recognize you," the old man sneered.

Lin Jiufeng and the Sacred Beast Qilin both fell silent.

One was a rare Qilin, and the other was a walking treasure trove of Divine Source. Both had instantly become prime targets for every powerhouse in the Dimensional Battlefield.

Originally, Lin Jiufeng had planned to keep a low profile upon arrival, find a secluded place to cultivate, and observe the realm before making any moves—just as he had done in the Mortal Realm.

But now, before he could even take a step, he was already surrounded by danger.

Lin Jiufeng cautiously looked at the old man and asked, "Senior, do you intend to capture me and hand me over to the Skeleton Clan?"

Though the elder appeared frail and ordinary, the fact that he could effortlessly eavesdrop on Lin Jiufeng and the Sacred Beast Qilin's private communication proved that his strength was unfathomable.

If he wanted that bounty, Lin Jiufeng would have no way to resist.

The old man waved dismissively. "Of course I'd love to get my hands on 500,000 jin of Divine Source. But the Skeleton Clan requires that you be delivered to their island, and I don't have the time for such a long trip. So, I'll settle for selling your whereabouts for 100,000 jin instead."

Lin Jiufeng breathed a sigh of relief. Although he knew the old man would report his presence, he was still grateful. "Thank you, Senior."

The old man smirked and said, "Since you two are the only ones from the Mortal Realm to ascend in the last 5,000 years, I'll give you a piece of advice."

Lin Jiufeng and the Sacred Beast Qilin immediately perked up, eager to listen.

The world outside was full of enemies. Any guidance could be crucial.

The old man smacked his lips and said, "After you leave here, head south. You'll come across a massive, pitch-black valley filled with poisonous miasma. Enter it, and you'll find ruins—remnants of your human predecessors. There's something inside that will help you. Use it wisely."

Lin Jiufeng bowed deeply. "Thank you for your guidance, Senior."

The Sacred Beast Qilin also expressed his gratitude.

"Go on now. That brat was someone I watched grow up… such a pity…" The old man sighed regretfully before turning away.

The Sacred Beast Qilin started walking south.

Lin Jiufeng hesitated for a moment before asking, "Senior, you said we're the first to ascend from the Mortal Realm in 5,000 years. Doesn't that mean the Skeleton Clan Ancestor and the others couldn't pass through the Ascension Platform? And were there others who ascended 5,000 years ago?"

These were two questions that had been nagging at Lin Jiufeng.

Without turning around, the old man explained, "The Ascension Platform only guides those from the Mortal Realm. If someone carries even a trace of Dimensional Battlefield aura, they cannot use it. They must forcibly tear through the boundary themselves, enduring tribulations along the way—tribulations strong enough for experts of this realm to detect them."

Lin Jiufeng suddenly understood.

This explained why the Skeleton Clan Ancestor and the other escapees from the Dimensional Prison were so resentful.

Unlike him, they had to forcibly break through the dimensional boundary, which alerted many powerful figures in this realm. This was why they were so reluctant to ascend and had wanted to regain their strength in the Mortal Realm first.

But with Lin Jiufeng pressuring them, they had no choice but to ascend prematurely.

No wonder the Skeleton Clan Ancestor had vowed revenge. After barely surviving his tribulations and making it back to his clan, he had immediately issued a bounty on Lin Jiufeng.

As these thoughts raced through Lin Jiufeng's mind, the old man answered his second question.

"Five thousand years ago, ten human experts ascended. Since then, no one from the Mortal Realm has followed."

Lin Jiufeng's eyes flashed with recognition.

The Ten Kings from 5,000 years ago!

The Red-Clad Maiden, the Painted-Skin Scholar, Gu Baili, Changshengtian, the Great King Serpent, the Great Ape King, the Sword God Emperor Liu, the Mad Blade Bai Zhan, the Mortal Realm's Yama, and Madam Whale.

These figures had been absolute legends in the Mortal Realm.

Back then, they had ventured into the Immortal Burial Ground together. Whatever they found there had remained a mystery. Afterward, they vanished entirely from history.

Lin Jiufeng had spent years searching through ancient texts but had found no trace of them.

Now, for the first time, he had an answer.

They had all broken through the Eleventh Seal and ascended to the Dimensional Battlefield!

Lin Jiufeng wanted to ask more about their fate in this world, but the old man had already entered his thatched hut and closed the door.

With no other choice, Lin Jiufeng and the Sacred Beast Qilin set off southward.

From the moment they stepped off the Ascension Platform, Lin Jiufeng realized just how remote this place was. Behind them lay an endless ocean; before them stretched a vast, untamed forest.

To the south, an expansive plain unfolded beneath the starry night sky.

The two walked under the faint glow of the stars, steadily adapting to the powerful spiritual energy of the Dimensional Battlefield.

They had to replace their internal energy with this realm's unique spiritual essence.

The process had to be slow—too fast, and they risked being overwhelmed by its potency.

Fortunately, they weren't in a rush. As they walked, they gradually adjusted.

Late into the night, the two found shelter behind a massive boulder.

Sitting cross-legged, Lin Jiufeng focused on refining the spiritual energy within him.

His aura grew purer, his body glowing like translucent white jade.

Above him, his golden Nascent Soul floated, bathed in radiant energy, synchronizing with his physical body to absorb and integrate the new energy.

Nearby, the Sacred Beast Qilin was also silently cultivating, replacing his own energy, adjusting to this new world.