The wind was eerie in the Divine Punishment Meteor Fall Region.
Trees as tall as towers whispered with leaves sharp like knives, and occasional streaks of lightning crackled from nowhere, striking seemingly at random.
No one in their right mind would enter this place without good reason.
But seven figures — cloaked and serious — moved deeper through the ever-thickening forest without hesitation.
A lean figure with sea-blue eyes walked in front, holding a faintly glowing compass-like artifact in his hand. His black hair swayed slightly with the wind.
Behind him was a fat boy with a smile and flaming-red hair, a chubby-cheeked blonde boy munching on dried rations, and a cold-eyed prince-like man with dual pupils and blonde hair.
The other three were a group of middle aged men. One with a flat head and sissy expression, the other short and burly, the last one with hook nose and spectacles.
This was Tang San's group who had entered the Divine Punishment Meteor Fall Region, in search of treasures.
Amidst Yu Xiaogang's frowning and frustrated expression, who was still displeased at Tang San's decision to not follow the soul ring choices that he had personally designed.
The group followed Tang San's lead and silently strided into the depths of the forest, under the stealth cover of Asura Sword fragment.
"Are you sure this is the place, Xiao San?" Dai Mubai finally asked, narrowing his eyes at the forest path ahead.
Tang San didn't reply at first. His spiritual force — connecting with the Divine sense in Asura Sword fragment — extended like threads across the forest floor, feeling through roots, rocks, and the very ambient energy. At last, he nodded slowly.
"Yes. I remember this energy… It's the same as the inheritance altar the Asura God left behind. It's the energy of old Asura God. In my past life, I came to this place due to a spatial distortion,which brought me to the secret space."
Tang San said this in the sound transmission channel shared by the four, in order to keep the privacy of the past life from the three middle aged men following them.
Oscar adjusted the sausage strapped to his waist and muttered, "You sure this isn't just a giant trap left behind by some disgruntled mushroom spirit beast?"
"I'm definitely sure that we'd be torn to pieces if the protection of Asura Sword Fragment's stealth suddenly disappears."
"Brother San has already been here before. He can't be wrong!" Ma Hongjun declared, his chest puffed up, determined. "Besides, we're already here! If there's danger, we deal with it somehow!"
"Love-obsessed fat man, no sense of danger at all." Oscar muttered.
But all conversation stopped as Tang San finally came to a halt.
Before them stood a massive grey boulder.
No, not massive — gigantic.
It was as large as a Spirit City colosseum, with cracks running through its surface like veins of ancient age. It was half-covered in moss and spiritual plants, but in the center, a huge section of the rock was unnaturally caved inward — like something punched it hard enough to shatter a whole mountain.
Seeing the Asura Sword Fragment shinning even brighter than before, Tang San stepped forward.
The cracked stone surface was darker than the rest. As he placed his palm against the dent, his hand… passed through it.
"Spatial distortion," he muttered. "It's an entrance to the hidden realm I mentioned! It is very carefully hidden!"
Dai Mubai stepped up beside him and crossed his arms. "A hidden space. That confirms it. This is definitely a god-level trick. Xiao San, this must definitely be it. Lord Asura God's hidden back up for you."
Tang San turned to the rest. "Stay close. The spatial wall is unstable. If we go in at different times, we might get separated inside."
Oscar gulped. "I hate teleporting and other space abilities. It always gives me nightmares. Last time, that white haired bastard had teleported me to the middle of an ice field region of Snow Demon Titans. I barely survived because of luck."
"Move." Tang San activated the Asura Sword fragment with a flick of his hand. A small red symbol glowed on his palm — the sigil of the Asura God — a blood red sword pattern.
Together, the four walked through the caved-in boulder — and into another world.
Yu Xiaogang, Flender and Zhao Wuji also silently followed in.
At some point, they realized that they seemed to have no purpose in being here.
Well, except Yu Xiaogang.
Yu Xiaogang's eyes glowed with excitement, seeing all the mystism around him.
'Xiao San really is my lucky star! My days of misfortune are over!'
...
Tang San stepped forward. A deep hum echoed. The others followed close behind.
As soon as they touched the edge of the crater, the world twisted.
They were pulled into a pocket space — a hidden dimension carved into the boulder itself.
The moment they stepped through, the air shifted. It was no longer chaotic, like the Divine Punishment Forest. Here, it was… serene.
Dai Mubai, Oscar and Ma Hongjun were amazed. Even in Ice Fire Yin Yang Well, they had never seen such a scenery of verdant beauty.
Flender and Zhao Wuji were also greatly shocked.
Just by breathing the air here, they felt their cultivation improving.
Yu Xiaogang even broke through two levels of soul power after taking two deep breaths.
Of course, this was also because his soul power has been reduced to below level 10 — because of the runic curse from before.
As they stepped further inside, the fog slowly peeled away to reveal an impossible sight.
A hidden garden bloomed before them.
The atmosphere changed instantly. Air fragrant with herbal energy greeted them. The ground glowed with strange vines, rivers flowed with liquid spirit essence, and in the center was a sacred tree, shining with countless herbs, each of them exuding terrifying aura.
Vines of starlight climbed curved crystal trees. Pools of radiant dew shimmered like molten rainbows. Strange flowers with halos of divine aura hovered mid-air, untethered by gravity. Everything pulsed with sacred life.
Immortal herbs.
Not one.
Not five.
But over two dozen.
Tang San's eyes gleamed like a starving beast.
"This is… the Asura God's backup! In my past life, I only received immortal herbs from the Guardian beast without ever having the opportunity to enter this space."
He clenched his fists. His expression twisted into a dark grin he quickly wiped clean.
"These will bring us back to the apex."
He approached a glowing red lotus suspended over black mist—a Nine-Fire Asura Blood Lotus, rumored to temper divine bloodlines.
With this, he can elevate his Blue Silver Grass bloodline to a level comparable to or beyond Blue Silver Emperor.
Not to mention, this immortal herb will greatly increase one's affinity towards killing law.
This immortal herb is the perfect foundation for him to better inherit Asura God Position.
But before he could touch it, a soft voice broke the silence.
"...So many..."
It was Ma Hongjun.
He had wandered off to a corner where a pale blue herb bloomed like a frostfire butterfly.
"It's the Water Spirit Orchid," he whispered, kneeling. "This... this can elevate even the weakest of water-type martial souls to top grade. Cui Hua's martial soul is Water Lily, with almost negligible water attribute. This immortal herb is perfect for her."
He closed his eyes.
"Cui Hua… this time I'll make up for all my regrets… I'll bring this to you, I promise."
Oscar glanced at him. For a moment, his usual jitter faded.
"You still think about her?"
Ma Hongjun didn't answer. His fingers gently cupped the orchid's stalk, eyes glinting with grief and hope.
Meanwhile, Dai Mubai was crouched near a pair of twin vines or scorpion tails—one red, one gold—twisting around each other like lovers in embrace. They also had black tiger-like patterns on them.
"Twin Tiger Lust Scorpion Orchids… ahaha… not bad! With these, I'll not only gain poison resistance, but I might even awaken a new bloodline!"
He laughed shamelessly, eyes gleaming with greed.
Oscar gagged.
"You really are hopeless."
But Tang San ignored them all.
His gaze scanned the herbs, lips curled in a faint smirk.
"With these, even if Rayne stands in our path... we'll rise again."
He didn't care who made this garden.
He didn't care if this land was sacred.
All he saw… was opportunity.
Tang San and Ma Hongjun's eyes gleamed with joy. They were the most happy people right now.
They had found it. The Asura God's secret herb garden. Their biggest opportunity.
But before they could cheer—
"Stop."
A calm yet ancient voice echoed across the garden.
The space trembled.
From the roots of the sacred tree rose a plant-type soul beast, emerald in color, with glistening petals and flowing tendrils that resembled hair. A single eye in the center of its flower-head glowed gently.
"I am called Verdure Guardian. I was born here by the will of the God of Contracts, but I have also inherited the mission to protect the legacy of Asura. You are not supposed to be here."
Tang San's eyes lit up.
Of course he knew who or what this soul beast was.
He also knew that, this soul beast is also an arrangement and opportunity left for him by Asura God.
This is a super soul beast called Spirit Eyed Emerald Flower with ultimate life attribute. It's cultivation is as high as 500,000-years-old.
Compared to humans, it surpasses level 98 and can even be said to rival most of the ones at level 99.
Absorbing this soul beasts soul ring and soul bones, would elevate his Blue Silver Grass martial soul to the ranks of top grade martial soul and even an ultimate martial soul.
He knew that now is not the time to claim this opportunity.
Tang San stepped forward. "I know. But I am his chosen. I carry his divine seed in my soul. I… I must have the herbs. For the world to survive what's coming."
The guardian trembled… but slowly stepped aside.
Just as Tang San reached for a glowing red leaf—
BOOOOM!!
Six pillars of elemental light erupted from the sky!
The entire realm shook. The sacred garden screamed, the herbs recoiled.
From above descended six beings. Their aura made even Tang San's divine core ache with pressure.
"Unforgivable." A cold, emotionless voice rang.
"Human tainted by Asura... I had warned you once to leave. To seek fortune from this land... Your impudence is unforgivable."
First came the Spirit of Darkness — a cloaked woman, face hidden in deep shadow. Wherever she floated, the light fled. Her presence turned warmth into dread.
Then came the Spirit of Light.
She was breathtaking. Silvery white hair flowed like starlight, and in her hand, a golden spear — pulsing with judgmental brilliance — pointed down. "Asura God... He dares taint Father's sacred land with his corruption."
Behind them, one after another descended:
A Phoenix of crimson flames, screeching as fire danced around its wings — Spirit of Fire.
A beautiful Ice Phoenix, her wings casting frost across the sky — Spirit of Water and Ice.
A green-haired Dryad, with eyes like emerald galaxies, her steps blooming flowers — Spirit of Life.
And finally… a terrifying Ghostly Bone Dragon, formed from ancient white bones and surrounded by death qi — Spirit of Death.
Their auras were each at the 990,000-year level.
Each one just a breath away from true Godhood.
Tang San recognized them immediately.
The Six Spirits of Creation, created by God of Contracts himself to maintain the balance and peace in Meteor Fall Forest and City of Contracts.
They may be recognized as soul beasts by the laws imposed on this world.
But they are not soul beasts. They are spiritual beings born from the creation divine power of Contract God.
They are the manifestation of laws itself, born from the essence of God of Contracts creation divine power — which incorporated all elemental and conceptual laws.
"Who gave Asura God the right to defile Father's land?" the Spirit of Light thundered.
"The Guardian… betrayed us," the Spirit of Darkness whispered. "She welcomed invaders. Her roots are no longer worthy."
"If I didn't keep an eye on these humans from the beginning, we wouldn't even know that there is a traitor like this among us."
The Dryad frowned in pain. "Sister… must we?"
She is the ruler of all plant and life soul beasts in Divine Punishment Meteor Fall Region.
The Guardian Beast is someone she had known for a long time and is quite close to.
Although she is disappointed that the latter had done something, as blasphemous as, leading in the source of another enemy God into this land.
Spirit of Life is ultimately a very kind and merciful being. She still hopes to give the Guardian beast, a chance to reform.
But the judgment had been passed.
The Spirit of Light raised her Golden Spear of Contract Judgment.
"Divine Tool?!" Dai Mubai and Oscar exclaimed in shock.
The guardian tried to flee — but before she could vanish into the trees, the spear pierced the earth before her. Golden light wrapped around her limbs. Chains formed from divine contract law shackled her down.
"Verdure Guardian," the Spirit of Light declared, "you are no longer a creation of harmony. You are corrupted. Judgment: Eternal Stasis."
With a flash, the guardian was encased in divine crystal — alive, but frozen for eternity.
Tang San shouted, "You! I'm simply taking what is left here for me! As beings of balance, don't you feel ashamed for your hypocrital act!"
But the Spirit of Death snarled, "You… don't belong here. But the same can't be said for these plants."
"It may have been Asura God who brought the seeds of these immortal herbs to this land."
"But, these immortal herb grew by the blessing of our Father's creation power. They are also blessed with law seeds, because they are favored by our Father's grace."
"You impudent and arrogant human. Tell me, are these immortal herbs still not something belonging to this sacred land?"
Spirit of Light looked at Tang San and group with cold eyes.
Zhao Wuji and Flender were trembling, their martial souls completely suppressed, their soul power restrained.
They didn't have hidden divine power like Tang San and co, to resist the innate suppression.
It is already a great achievement for them to not faint.
As for Yu Xiaogang...
He had already fainted. The nether region wet with yellow stains. The back side had an even deeper yellow and brown stains.
He lay there fainted, twitching all over.
"If you had normally found treasures from this forest, we wouldn't say anything. But, your blasphemy has touched our bottom line."
Spirit of Fire spoke with fiery wrath in her voice.
The Six Spirits of Creation were truly infuriated this time.
The Divine Punishment Meteor Fall Region is not just a blessed land created for soul beasts. But is also the main location of the Divine Trials of God of Contracts.
There are three entrances to the secret realm that hosts the Divine Trials of Contract God.
One, located in Sunset Forest, at the former location of Ice Fire Yin Yang Well.
The second one, in an isolated island, somewhat close to Sea God Island.
Then the last and the main entrance, as well as the actual place where the secret realm of Divine Trials is located.
The very center of the Meteor Forest. The massive bowl shaped deep crater, which has now turned into a vast calm and mirror-like lake of nine colored water.
Beneath the surface of the lake — is an entire world, with a completely different flow of time.
This world not only serves as a secret living space for countless soul beasts. But is also the trial space of the Divine Trials of God of Contracts.
This land is the sacred land that carries the legacy of their Father God.
Asura God — one of the enemy gods of God of Contracts — dared to scheme on this sacred land.
This is also why the spirits are furious now.
The six spirits moved together, their aura rising into a vortex of divine elemental power.
Tang San bit his lip. "We have to leave. Now."
He pulled out a Asura Divine Sword fragment — his only trump card that can be used without the reliance on his past life's Divine power.
With a flash of bloody-red light, a tear in space opened behind them.
With a reminder from Dai Mubai and Oscar.
The unconscious Yu Xiaogang, pulled along by Flender, and Zhao Wuji leapt into the tear in space.
Oscar, Ma Hongjun, and Dai Mubai also leapt in. Tang San looked one last time at the frozen guardian and the more than two dozen immortal herbs blessed with the seeds of laws, and clenched his fist in frustration.
"I'll be back. One day."
And then he vanished.
The spirits stood above the sacred garden, staring at the herbs.
"Cleanse everything," the Spirit of Light commanded. "This place must remain pure."
The Phoenixes screeched. The garden wept.
But the Spirit of Life stopped them, saying that these plants themselves are innocent and are still beings without consciousness.
This time, other spirits gave in to her request.
....
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