Chapter 1: The Bounty Order

Above the mortal world, yet beneath the celestial realm, lies the Dimensional Battlefield!

A crescent moon, sharp as a scythe, hung in the sky, casting a cold, silvery glow over the endless land below.

Before them stretched a sheer cliff, its edges cut as though by sword and blade—perfectly vertical, its surface smooth as a mirror. Beyond the precipice lay a vast, unseen sea, its waves crashing against the cliffside with a thunderous roar, ceaselessly eroding the ancient rock.

Atop this precipice stood a massive, octagonal summoning platform, weathered by time and the elements. Wind and sand had partially buried sections of it, leaving behind the traces of a forgotten era.

Near the platform sat a modest thatched hut, surrounded by a small vegetable garden and a bamboo grove. The tranquil setting carried an air of seclusion, as if untouched by the chaos of the outside world.

Buzz… Buzz… Buzz…

In the next moment, the summoning platform emitted a low hum, followed by a burst of shimmering light. From within the glow, two figures emerged—Lin Jiufeng and the Sacred Beast Qilin.

"So, this is the Dimensional Battlefield?" The Qilin glanced around, eyes filled with curiosity.

Lin Jiufeng took a deep breath. The dense spiritual energy of this realm surged into his body, invigorating him instantly. Yet, as an unexpected wave of dizziness struck, he quickly halted his deep breathing.

"The spiritual energy here is too pure," he realized. "Absorbing too much at once causes discomfort to both body and soul—a phenomenon known as Spiritual Intoxication."

"The energy density of the Dimensional Battlefield is at least a thousand times greater than that of the mortal world." Lin Jiufeng made a mental calculation. Even if spiritual energy in the mortal realm were to fully recover and reach its peak, it would still pale in comparison to even the most barren regions of this battlefield.

No wonder the many races of this realm have no desire to descend into the mortal world.

Just then, the Qilin beside him wobbled slightly, appearing intoxicated.

Lin Jiufeng quickly steadied him. "Seal your body's energy intake—don't absorb too much at once. The density here is far beyond what we're used to."

The Qilin obediently suppressed his absorption and, after a moment, felt slightly better. Shaking his head, he chuckled at himself. "Never thought I'd experience Spiritual Intoxication in my lifetime."

"At least you realized it in time."

A deep, aged voice drifted in from outside the summoning platform.

Lin Jiufeng and the Qilin turned toward the source.

Standing before the thatched hut was an old man.

He was frail and hunched, his wrinkled face marked by time. A missing front tooth became visible as he grinned, and his messy white hair stuck out in all directions. He wore a black Daoist robe, its fabric worn and faded.

"You must be the guardian of the summoning platform?" Lin Jiufeng asked cautiously as he stepped down from the platform.

"That's right," the old man nodded matter-of-factly.

Lin Jiufeng immediately recalled the words of the Old Dragon from the mortal world—the guardian of the summoning platform was said to be a descendant of celestial beings.

Could this unkempt, seemingly feeble old man truly be of celestial lineage?

"How should I address you, Elder?" Lin Jiufeng inquired carefully.

"Why bother? We won't meet again after today," the old man replied dismissively.

"Fate has brought us together," Lin Jiufeng smiled.

"Or misfortune," the old man snorted before turning his sharp gaze toward the Qilin.

Under the elder's scrutiny, the Qilin instinctively moved closer to Lin Jiufeng, uneasy.

"Tsk, tsk… A Qilin, from the mortal world? Now that's a rare sight." The old man stroked his beard in amazement.

"There are no Qilins in the Dimensional Battlefield?" Lin Jiufeng asked, puzzled.

"The last one perished six thousand years ago. Since then, no others have existed in this realm," the old man mused. "If the myriad races here learn about you, they will hunt you down with everything they have."

Lin Jiufeng immediately stepped protectively in front of the Qilin. His expression darkened. "Elder, you… wouldn't spread the word, would you?"

"I would," the old man nodded without hesitation.

Lin Jiufeng and the Qilin tensed.

"Should we… silence him?" The Qilin's voice echoed in Lin Jiufeng's mind.

"No." Lin Jiufeng responded telepathically. "He may seem weak, but we don't know his true strength. We must not act recklessly."

The Qilin remained still but kept his wary gaze locked on the old man.

The elder, however, remained utterly indifferent. He picked at his nose and remarked, "Even if I say nothing, the moment you step beyond this platform, someone will notice. Rather than wait, I might as well spread the news myself—and earn some Divine Essence while I'm at it."

Lin Jiufeng frowned. "We can use illusions to conceal our true forms."

The old man scoffed. "With your Eleventh Ban Peak Stage cultivation and his Eleventh Ban Initial Stage? Your illusions might fool mortals, but here? At best, you'd deceive a handful of people. Do you think this battlefield is anything like the mortal realm? Here, experts are as common as weeds. In some major cities, Tenth Ban cultivators are mere gatekeepers, and Eleventh Ban cultivators are barely qualified to sweep the streets."

Lin Jiufeng's frown deepened. The old man's words were harsh but undeniably true.

Frustrated, the Qilin muttered, "Maybe I should find a place to hide and cultivate for a while. That way, I won't slow you down."

The old man chuckled. "You think that would keep you safe?"

Lin Jiufeng's eyes sharpened. "What do you mean?"

Hands clasped behind his back, the old man began to stroll around them leisurely. "Just a few days before your ascension, I overheard something interesting. Want to know what it was?"

Lin Jiufeng's demeanor turned respectful. "Please, enlighten us, Elder."

"Now that's more like it. Youngsters should be humble, unlike that Qilin of yours—always thinking about killing to silence people." The old man shot the Qilin a sly grin.

Lin Jiufeng's heart sank.

He heard our telepathic exchange?!

Just how powerful is he?!

Realizing his mistake, the Qilin lowered his head in embarrassment, obediently standing behind Lin Jiufeng without further argument.

The old man paid no mind to their reactions. As he casually dug his finger into his nose, he continued, "Recently, something major happened in the Dimensional Battlefield. Some of the strongest warriors—those thought to be long dead or imprisoned—have torn through space and returned."

Lin Jiufeng immediately understood.

These were the criminals who had escaped from the Dimensional Prison—some of whom he had slain, while others he had forced to ascend.

The old man smirked. "Their return has stirred chaos. Many powerful factions want them eliminated before they regain their strength. One of these fugitives is the Ancestor of the Skeleton Clan."

Lin Jiufeng recalled the Skeleton Clan expert he had driven to ascend—one who had sworn vengeance.

"The Skeleton Ancestor barely survived the pursuit of multiple races. He was forced to flee to Skeleton Island, where he barely clung to life."

The old man's smile widened. "Once there, he immediately issued a bounty order."

Lin Jiufeng's expression darkened. "A bounty? For whom?"

The old man's voice dropped to a whisper, filled with amusement.

"A bounty for a human who has just ascended from the mortal world…"

"…A man they call the God of the Mortal Realm."

"Tell me, Lin Jiufeng—do you know him?"