“What do you possess that is worthy of my humiliation?” His face was indifferent as he added these words, staring at Shi Hao.
Shi Hao remained silent. At this point, what more was there to say? This man clearly harbored no goodwill.
At the same time, he sighed inwardly. To think there was someone like this waiting for him here.
One must understand that those who could appear in this place were no ordinary powerhouses. Yet, this man seemed to have a grudge against him. Without even thinking, Shi Hao knew his path ahead was bleak, filled with thorns.
In truth, Shi Hao had already prepared for the worst—perhaps he would perish here. But he refused to accept it!
“You resent me? That look in your eyes!” The gray-robed man spoke coldly, his youthful face turning even icier as he fixed his gaze on Shi Hao’s eyes.
“Great chaos is coming. We are both of this world, not mortal enemies. Yet your actions are indeed an insult to me. I will not yield!”
Shi Hao spoke firmly. To search his soul imprint like this would strip him of all secrets and dignity.
“What nonsense from a mere Saint Sacrifice cultivator! Even a true Heavenly Deity would obey me without question. What’s wrong with me searching your imprint?!” The gray-robed man sneered, extending a finger and taking direct action, aiming for Shi Hao’s brow.
At this moment, Shi Hao felt his bones on the verge of shattering, his divine sense about to collapse. He could not resist.
All he could do was fight with every ounce of strength, even if it meant his body turning to dust—because this was simply too much to endure, too humiliating to accept!
If this were a true enemy, he would have nothing to say. But this was clearly one of their own.
Of course, he now regarded this powerhouse as an enemy. Even if this man played a crucial role in the coming chaos, even if he was one of the Imperial City’s guardians, Shi Hao refused to acknowledge him!
In his eyes, in his heart, from this moment on, this man was an adversary—nothing else!
**Boom!**
Enduring excruciating pain, Shi Hao summoned the battle armor related to the Thunder Emperor to manifest on his body. With the Ten Thousand Spirit Diagram in one hand, he resisted the overwhelming pressure, refusing to let his soul be searched.
Moreover, in his other hand appeared the Reverse Dragon Scale. Though it was difficult, he still thrust it toward the man!
Unexpectedly, it was not the Ten Thousand Spirit Diagram or the Reverse Dragon Scale that awakened first—but the Thunder Emperor’s battle armor. It clanged loudly, radiating divine light in countless layers.
At this moment, the armor trembled, its scales parting like fish scales, emitting dazzling light and resonating with metallic clarity.
Originally covered in rust, it now gleamed with crystalline brilliance, transforming from dullness to radiance in a shocking metamorphosis.
Of course, the armor was damaged, riddled with gaping holes—flaws that could not be concealed.
“Hmm? The Thunder Emperor’s Armor?” The gray-robed man’s expression changed. His finger, nearly touching Shi Hao’s forehead, abruptly halted.
The armor shone like jade, like blazing flames, growing increasingly transcendent. Under immense pressure, it erupted with astonishing beams of light and an overwhelming aura.
“I despise being constrained by others. This armor is indeed extraordinary, carrying endless glory and legend. But to use it against me is a mistake. I will not relent!”
The gray-robed man’s face darkened. Though surprised and shocked, his perpetually bloodless face now twisted with anger. He was determined to act against Shi Hao, to plunder his divine sense.
His palm descended with overwhelming force, as if capable of shattering the sun, moon, mountains, and rivers.
The armor erupted with auspicious light, resisting that finger!
Shi Hao’s eyes were sharp as blades. His heart raged with fury—this man was truly unrestrained, acting with reckless arrogance. Shi Hao was the victim, merely resisting, yet the man grew furious as if Shi Hao were born to submit, as if any defiance were a grave sin.
The armor creaked as all its metal plates trembled, releasing blazing divine radiance to block that hand.
Yet, it was ultimately a broken armor, riddled with fatal flaws—those gaping holes.
The gray-robed man’s finger pressed down, slipping through one of the holes, intent on siphoning Shi Hao’s memories, his gaze icy and ruthless.
However, another unexpected event occurred. Precisely because of these holes, the armor was extraordinary. From within them surged mysterious fluctuations, transforming into terrifying whirlpools that violently repelled the intrusion.
Moreover, at this moment, the armor’s color changed—from radiant brilliance, it gradually darkened, becoming deep and terrifying, exuding an aura of chilling coldness and releasing an overwhelming presence.
Though the finger descended, it failed to pierce Shi Hao’s brow, blocked by the blackened armor and its formidable aura.
A violent shockwave erupted from the epicenter, sweeping outward in all directions like a meteor crashing into the ocean, sending towering waves that engulfed the heavens and earth.
“The Thunder Emperor’s Armor—once again turning to darkness, forced into this state by sheer oppression!”
From afar, a voice spoke, filled with anger, helplessness, and killing intent.
**Boom!**
Someone arrived, throwing a punch so fast it was nearly invisible, as if riding the river of time, emerging from the past to strike in the present.
**Bang!**
Finally, the gray-robed man attacking Shi Hao hesitated. He withdrew his hand to counter the sudden punch. Between them, sparks flew, and runes soared.
Were it not for the Thunder Emperor’s Armor, Shi Hao would have been obliterated by the aftershocks, reduced to dust.
Even so, he could feel the overwhelming power of the battle armor and the devastating remnants of the clash—truly terrifying.
**Thud!**
Their fists collided like exploding suns, instantly illuminating the dim world, brighter than daylight.
On the ground, skeletal remains flew up before shattering into snow-white powder, scattering like sand or snowflakes.
At the same time, formations emerged on the earth—one after another—sealing the land and stabilizing the void, preventing further destruction.
The newcomer flicked a sleeve, shielding Shi Hao from the battle’s aftermath, lest he be crushed to nothingness.
“He has the revived Thunder Emperor’s Armor. You needn’t worry—he won’t die,” the gray-robed man said, his youthful face etched with complexity.
“And you dare speak of the Thunder Emperor’s Armor? Can’t you see? It’s pitch-black! Once again, within the Imperial City, it’s being pushed toward darkness!” the newcomer rebuked.
In the Imperial City, the Thunder Emperor’s Armor seemed agitated, its aura vast and majestic as it shielded Shi Hao. Yet, a dark energy also sought to corrupt him.
“Ah—!”
Finally, unable to restrain himself, Shi Hao let out a roar and attacked, striking toward the gray-robed man.
His heart burned with fury, and the armor trembled as if sharing his resentment, merging with his will to retaliate.
“You dare strike at me?!” The gray-robed man’s eyes turned frigid as he raised his hand to counter.
“Do you wish to fully plunge the Thunder Emperor’s Armor into darkness?!” the other man intervened, shouting angrily.
“Can’t you see? A mere Saint Sacrifice cultivator, unworthy of entering the Imperial City, dares to attack me. He must be punished!” the gray-robed man retorted.
Though his fist was blocked, his body glowed as bone scripts surged toward Shi Hao.
**Bang!**
The shockwaves clashed, forming undulating tides of energy, accompanied by deafening roars.
Shi Hao’s battle blood boiled, and the Thunder Emperor’s Armor darkened further, turning his eyes into abyssal voids—terrifying beyond measure.
Yet, despite the overwhelming force, Shi Hao survived, blocking the bone scripts.
“Enough!” the other man roared, launching a frenzied assault on the gray-robed man. “Back then, it was because of an immense injustice in the Imperial City that the Thunder Emperor’s Armor’s will rebelled, nearly succumbing to darkness. Now, if your obstinacy forces this divine armor to become a dark relic, driving away another genius, can you bear the responsibility?!”
**Thud!**
Amid the rebuke, the two clashed again, their battle fierce and unrelenting.
Though tainted by dark energy, Shi Hao remained unharmed. He heard and saw everything clearly, his heart surging with turmoil. Had similar injustices occurred before?
Likely far worse than his own, driving people to rebellion, causing the Thunder Emperor’s Armor to darken and flee.
“He’s just a minor cultivator. Capture him, and we’ll refine the armor together to resolve this,” the gray-robed man said.
“Jade, don’t be obstinate! If something goes wrong, you cannot bear the consequences!” the other man warned.
Now, Shi Hao seemed like an outsider, silently watching their battle from a distance.
“What consequences? He’s just a Saint Sacrifice cultivator—nothing significant. If he were a true emperor, I’d accept it!” the gray-robed man, Jade, scoffed.
“Jade, your Dao heart is flawed. You’re letting external matters disturb your composure—this is the precursor to demonic deviation!” the other man chastised.
Jade sneered, his movements growing even swifter.
“Jade, you hail from Boundless Heaven. Just because a few juniors were suppressed by this youth, you hold a grudge and target him?” the man pressed.
“Nonsense! I’m merely fulfilling my duty. He vanished for months—strict investigation is necessary!” Jade snapped.
**Boom!**
A violent tremor erupted as they clashed repeatedly, bone scripts intertwining, divine light illuminating the region endlessly.
“Shame on both of you! Fighting among yourselves—have you no dignity?!” A stern voice suddenly rang out from afar.
Clearly, the speaker held high status, making Jade hesitate. Their battle slowed, then ceased.
“Return to the city!” The voice, aged yet authoritative, commanded coldly.
Jade said nothing, casting one last glance at Shi Hao before turning and vanishing toward the Imperial City’s core.
“Let’s go.”
The other man patted Shi Hao’s shoulder, guiding him forward.
The land was vast, stretching beyond measure. For ordinary experts, traversing it would be like crossing the cosmos, seemingly endless.
In truth, it was no different from traversing the universe. Along the way, they passed shattered star remnants scattered across the ground.
They arrived, nearing the colossal city—the inner city, the true core of the Imperial City.
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