Asura Emperor Venerable-Chapter 1542: Deepening

The three women still entered the Immortal Abode, while Shi Hao and the Purple Gold Rat strolled leisurely.

As he walked, Shi Hao kept thinking about the Petrification Technique.

Although limited by his realm, Shi Hao couldn’t perfect the Petrification Technique, but he could make corresponding adjustments.

If a living being is completely petrified, their body and soul are in a synchronized petrified state. To them, no matter how long they’re petrified, once released, it feels like just an instant, with no perception at all.

However, if the petrification of the body and soul are separated.

For example, if the body is petrified but the soul is not, what would happen?

It would be an indescribable terror.

If he could achieve this, the Petrification Technique would become the enemy’s nightmare.

Shi Hao began to research in this direction. It’s actually quite simple: stop the petrification at the Soul Sea, and then turn the entire body into a cage, imprisoning the soul within.

In this way, the body cannot move, but the soul perceives everything. What kind of torment would that be?

No one would want to experience it.

It took him over half a year, but he finally succeeded.

"This move must be used cautiously, otherwise, it could easily drive someone insane," Shi Hao murmured.

Along the way, he made some progress, advancing his cultivation slightly to the mid-stage of the Twelve Stars.

Over five years, he could only improve this much?

It shows how slow progress is when one reaches this stage without the supply of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, relying solely on personal effort to cultivate.

Ahead, the vast barren land finally appeared, the area where that terrifying little grass resided.

It swayed with a tiny flame at the top, seemingly harmless to humans and animals, yet even Immortal Venerables were somewhat apprehensive of it.

Shi Hao wondered if he could also harness the fiery power of the grass.

However, that seemed difficult.

Because he couldn’t risk trying it himself, unlike a stone statue, which could be undone. If burned to death, there would be no return, completely beyond salvation.

So, it remained a beautiful wish.

Shi Hao waited with patience, and after several days, the blazing fire began.

It burned for half the day before finally stopping.

Shi Hao immediately crossed, apprehensive all the while, fearing the grass might suddenly attack him if it got into a bad mood.

However, if danger truly arose, he still had Yue Ying. It should be enough to hold for a few moves under its might.

Fortunately, the little grass seemed to completely disregard him, ignoring him entirely.

After half a day, Shi Hao passed through the area, letting out a long sigh of relief.

"What’s the story behind this grass?" Shi Hao asked curiously.

"Perhaps it’s a fallen Immortal Venerable," replied the Purple Gold Rat casually. "While each era can only have nine Immortal Venerables, over the countless years, many have naturally emerged. Most enter the Forbidden Land in their twilight years, seeking hope for another life."

"Even if they succeeded once, they are ultimately destined to perish here, the difference being in which attempt."

"The power of an Immortal Venerable is such that even posthumously, their remains can undergo transformations, such as becoming a stone statue or a grass."

"Besides Immortal Venerables, even quasi-Immortal Venerables can evolve into formidable existences."

Shi Hao nodded; the Forbidden Land’s abundance of treasures drew Immortal Kings and Venerables to explore, yet most ended up buried within, forming a cycle that nurtures the land, creating more legends.

This also makes the Forbidden Land increasingly perilous. Originally, it might have just had some natural dangers, without things like stone statues or small grass.

Shi Hao continued to advance, searching all the way.

Yet, the deeper he went, the rarer the treasures became. In the days that followed, Shi Hao gained nothing.

Several months passed, and Shi Hao finally reached the Two-Worlds Passage.

The immense abyss seemed like a ferocious beast, capable of devouring everything.

Shi Hao didn’t enter, having no urgent need to venture into the Asura Realm. Moreover, if the Great Emperor there discovered the mark on his soul had been erased, would he take action to eliminate him — or at least replant the mark within his soul?

So, he bypassed it.

He wanted to know what lay hidden deep within the Forbidden Land, and he intended to find the burial site of the Selfless Immortal Venerable.

After all, a quasi-Immortal Venerable must have treasures hidden on their body.

Furthermore, the person had perished searching for a Supreme Great Medicine. If Shi Hao could follow the path to the end, he would also gain a Supreme Great Medicine.

—A great medicine even Immortal Venerables covet.

Live a new life without increasing the mark of reincarnation.

It’s practically a free gain!

For ordinary people, living another life means being insignificant, causing no ripple in the world, but for an Immortal Venerable, it’s different. Such an existence can rule the world for at least a million years; during that long time, no new Immortal Venerable will emerge.

The impact is immense, as one can imagine!

As he continued, it became even more perilous.

Here, even Immortal King-level beasts were absent, yet the environment’s danger peaked.

Sword lights occasionally streaked across the sky, capable of slaying Immortal Kings, even severely injuring Immortal Venerables, or vast floods descending from the heavens, turning areas into lakes. If one couldn’t escape in time, they’d surely drown.

Can an Immortal drown? Isn’t that a joke?

No!

Within this marshland, an Immortal loses all Divine Skills, becoming like an ordinary mortal. Thus, drowning is very much possible.

Shi Hao found each step arduous, even with the quasi-Supreme Treasure Yue Ying, still filled with trepidation.

—After all, even the Immortal King Ziyue, having reached quasi-Immortal Venerable and wielding Yue Ying, perished within. It demonstrates how dangerous this place is — capable of easily slaying quasi-Immortal Venerables.

Though progress was slow, Shi Hao had no intention of giving up.

In this place, there’s often little gain, but once found, it would be astonishing.

Here, strength is vital, but luck is even more critical.

Shi Hao believes his luck has always been good.

In fact, it’s true. He navigated the journey with thrills but no real danger — even Yue Ying intervened at the most perilous moment, slicing through with sword light, resolving the crisis, though Shi Hao still suffered minor injuries.

Another two years elapsed, and Shi Hao didn’t acquire a single Heavenly Material or Earthly Treasure, yet his body was covered in scars, looking utterly miserable.

However, Shi Hao seemed to have undergone a baptism, sharpening his resolve to an unmatched level.

Of course, Little Star Universe played a crucial role, repeatedly detecting dangers, allowing him to take preemptive action.

Two more days passed, and he suddenly spotted a corpse ahead!