Shi Hao faced off against Ning Chuan, both young overlords possessing three strands of immortal energy, a sight that would astonish all across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths!
The two had clashed many times before, making them sworn rivals. Now, as they confronted each other again, it was truly a battle of titans!
“Desolate One, today I will wash away the shame of my past defeat. Last time, you disrupted my tribulation—today, I demand an explanation!” Ning Chuan roared, his usual transcendent demeanor now laced with killing intent.
In the eyes of the world, Ning Chuan was peerlessly elegant, always clad in white, his hair silver, his face exquisitely beautiful, surpassing even many women, making him appear otherworldly.
Boom!
The heavens trembled as he tore through the sky. The once serene and transcendent Ning Chuan erupted with unprecedented ferocity, striking with overwhelming dominance.
His silver hair billowed, his pupils transformed into glyphs. He formed the Kirin Seal, an ancient celestial diagram manifesting behind him as he charged forward, engaging Shi Hao in a fierce battle. Brilliant bone inscriptions erupted between them.
At this point, few dared to clash head-on with Shi Hao. His physical prowess alone was enough to suppress and crush most opponents.
Among those of the same realm, none could match Shi Hao’s physique. Colliding with him was like porcelain striking divine iron—instant shattering. Yet Ning Chuan dared.
His grace unmatched, his white robes fluttering like an unrivaled Divine King patrolling the heavens, he exuded both transcendence and supreme majesty, looking down upon the mortal world.
Now, with the fury of a Divine King, the skies split, the heavens shattered, and the battle reached a fever pitch.
“Whoosh!”
Divine rainbows streaked across the sky—one after another, bone inscriptions danced like rainbows, illuminating the cosmos.
“Crack!”
A radiant sun exploded, painting the world in dazzling colors. It was the collision of divine techniques, as if the heavens themselves were collapsing in brilliance.
All eyes were fixed on the battle. Many held their breaths, hearts pounding. The duel between these two powerhouses made them acutely aware of their own inadequacies.
If they were to step into that battlefield, how could they withstand either Shi Hao or Ning Chuan? Both displayed invincible dominance!
Suddenly, a beam of light descended, severing the heavens and freezing space, as if time itself had come to a standstill.
Shi Hao and Ning Chuan were forcibly separated, unable to continue their battle.
The three supreme middle-aged experts had arrived, seated in the void. One of them had extended a single finger, creating this phenomenon and parting the two prodigies.
“Even in the previous era, talents like yours were rare. With the coming chaos of war, how can we afford internal strife here?” one of them spoke.
“War? In his eyes, I am a descendant of the so-called ‘sinful blood.’ Today, I want to ask him—how does he define it?” Shi Hao retorted, unwilling to back down.
His words were also a test—to see if these supreme experts knew the truth about the borderlands and the ancestors branded with “sinful blood.”
“These are matters of the distant past. Let us not dwell on them now,” one of the supreme experts said.
“Why not?!” Shi Hao demanded answers.
Others were equally stunned. What had begun as a duel between two young overlords had suddenly shifted to this contentious topic, with Shi Hao pressing relentlessly.
“This involves several factions, some of whom still live and witnessed those events. We will discuss it another time,” another expert said, clearly unwilling to delve deeper.
At that moment, Shi Hao’s heart surged with turmoil. He sensed that this supreme expert was deeply apprehensive, treating the matter with extreme caution.
“Are they survivors from that era, or is it the events themselves that make them so wary?” Shi Hao wondered.
The topic was dropped. The three supreme experts remained silent, unwilling to speak further, and Shi Hao could press no more.
“Enough. To the Imperial City!”
The three declared their mission complete. Their performance had been exemplary—uncovering corrupted beings and even locating a young Kirin. A resounding success.
Clearly, they had more to say, but not here. They would speak upon returning to the Imperial City.
The three experts were overwhelmingly powerful. With a wave of his sleeve, one of them enveloped Ning Chuan, the Banished Immortal, and even the foreign prodigies.
In the next moment, they all vanished, leaving no trace behind.
The Imperial City loomed vast and majestic, towering into the heavens, encircled by stars and exuding an oppressive aura.
Its walls, built from stacked stars, radiated grandeur and weight, shimmering with supreme laws that suppressed the very fabric of the world.
Shi Hao and the others had returned, yet they still lacked the qualifications to enter this colossal city. It stood silent and boundless, its gates open only to Emperors or those bound by the ancient covenants.
But those who entered never returned. Their fates remained a mystery.
Mystery, vastness, and the unknown—these were the city’s defining traits.
The group returned to the market district, where they could freely enter the surrounding towns.
“You may explore freely here. Learn from the locals. We have matters to discuss,” the three supreme experts said.
Without further ado, they took the Lunar Grace Goddess and the young Kirin, leaving no room for questions.
Even Shi Hao, who wished to inquire further about the little rabbit, found no opportunity.
Almost instinctively, the prodigies dispersed into the city.
Soon, Shi Hao spotted familiar faces—Zhen Gu, Teng Yi, Feng Wu, Zuo Xiao Di, Mu Zi Xiao, and others had also arrived.
Zhen Gu, of the Spirit Clan’s golden bloodline, was born clutching coagulated blood, which transformed into an indestructible spear said to pierce all defenses in his realm.
Teng Yi, the strongest young warrior of the Fire-Gold Clan, once one of the ten great ancient races and a former imperial lineage!
Feng Wu, the most outstanding disciple of the Celestial Immortal Academy, was an immensely powerful first-generation genius and close friends with Lian Yi.
As for Zuo Xiao Di and Mu Zi Xiao, they hailed from the Divine Cliff Academy in Fire Province, near the Celestial Immortal Academy.
Among others, many old acquaintances had gathered. Shi Hao greeted Feng Wu and the rest warmly.
Finally, his face lit up—he had spotted Qing Yi. She had arrived as well.
Despite being only a secondary body, Qing Yi had cultivated a strand of immortal energy, thanks to the Azure Moon Flame. Her strength was enigmatic, impossible to gauge.
The flame had never left her, merging with her essence.
“Qing Yi, we meet again,” Shi Hao approached, his smile warm and genuine.
In the ruins of the Immortal Ancient, the two had shared an intimate moment. Since their parting, they had rarely met, separated by circumstance.
In truth, Qing Yi had been avoiding him, embarrassed and resentful over what had transpired.
The city bustled with life, yet the joy of reunion remained undimmed by the surrounding clamor.
For Shi Hao, it was pure delight. For Qing Yi, it was discomfort.
“Oh my, sisters, are you twins? I just noticed!” a foreign maiden laughed, pulling Yue Chan closer while eyeing Qing Yi.
Yue Chan remained silent, but her gaze sharpened as she studied Qing Yi. She had no intention of explaining their connection to the outsiders.
Her heart was in turmoil. This reunion was agonizing—she longed to merge with her secondary body, to become whole again.
But she knew it was impossible. Defeating Qing Yi alone was daunting, let alone with Shi Hao and the others present.
“Qing Yi, how have you been? Where have you gone?” Shi Hao stepped closer, his gaze unwavering, indifferent to the onlookers.
“I’ve been well,” Qing Yi replied, her beauty transcendent, her robes fluttering like a goddess descending from the moon.
Memories flooded Shi Hao’s mind—from their initial hostility to their camaraderie, and especially their time in the Immortal Ancient ruins. His expression turned playful.
After their intimacy, they had parted abruptly, exchanging only fleeting glances from afar. Now, they truly reunited.
“Why are you staring at me like that?” Qing Yi flushed under his intense gaze.
The city was vast, teeming with life.
They stood in the street, close enough to touch, surrounded by other prodigies.
“Have you forgotten what you promised me?” Shi Hao grinned.
“What promise?” Qing Yi’s face reddened further. She remembered but feigned ignorance, too flustered to respond.
“Let me remind you. You said if I emerged as the undisputed champion of the Immortal Ancient ruins, you would… what?” Shi Hao’s smile was radiant, his teeth gleaming.
Qing Yi’s cheeks burned. She dreaded this moment, especially with Yue Chan watching.
In truth, Yue Chan was even more uncomfortable. As primary and secondary bodies, they shared thoughts and emotions. Qing Yi’s reactions were hers to experience.
Yet Yue Chan should despise Shi Hao—they were enemies.
Now, with Qing Yi standing beside him, Yue Chan felt a bizarre dissonance, her emotions in turmoil.
“Don’t stand so close,” Qing Yi chided, nudging Shi Hao’s shoulder as his breath brushed her face.
“I’m waiting for your answer,” he said.
“There is no answer. I’ve forgotten the past,” Qing Yi defied her usual ethereal demeanor, her eyes rolling in a rare display of petulance.
“You said if I claimed the top spot in the Immortal Ancient, you’d marry me,” Shi Hao teased.
“I did not!” Qing Yi glared.
“Hey, a promise is a promise,” he insisted.
“You were the one being shameless!” she retorted.
“Shameless? You said it yourself.” Shi Hao caught her arm as she tried to flee.
“Let go!” Yue Chan snapped before Qing Yi could speak.
The proximity made her feel as though she were the one interacting with Shi Hao.
“None of your business. Are you sure you want to join us at the Celestial Academy?” Shi Hao wrapped an arm around Qing Yi’s slender waist, glancing back at Yue Chan.
This was torture for Yue Chan. The thought of the two growing closer at the academy was unbearable—a living nightmare.
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