Chapter 1111: Departure

Yuan Feng, clad in silver armor, stood there, gazing in their direction.

His spiritual senses were sharp, and he felt an instinctive tension, his piercing eyes fixed on Shi Hao with an intensity like the blazing sun.

Su Lan and Chen Nuo had expected Shi Hao to step forward and challenge him, but to their surprise, he turned and walked away without making a move.

“This isn’t like you!” Chen Nuo said, baffled. Seeing him arrive with such fanfare, they had assumed a fierce battle was imminent.

“That guy just entered the academy and doesn’t even have a drop of Phoenix Blood. Fighting him now would be a waste of time,” Shi Hao scoffed.

Su Lan and Chen Nuo were stunned, staring at him in disbelief.

The moment Shi Hao turned away, a cold glint flashed in his eyes—gone in an instant. The truth was far from what he had claimed. This man wasn’t here for a mere challenge.

**Kill.**

That was the only word in his mind. He intended to give Yuan Qing a “surprise” and reclaim some of the debt owed.

That was why he had marked Yuan Feng as a target to eliminate—not acting now was deliberate. He didn’t want to show too much hostility here. Instead, he would hunt him down in the Immortal Battlefield.

There, no restraints would hold him back, and he wouldn’t have to worry about interference or punishment from the academy elders.

“Stop!” A sharp voice rang out from behind. Yuan Feng stepped forward, his expression dark as he stared at the retreating figures of Shi Hao and his companions.

“Do you need something?” Su Lan turned to face him.

“Are you Wang Xi’s followers?” Yuan Feng’s gaze bore into them. Though he hadn’t been in the academy long, he had already gathered plenty of information.

“What if we are?” Su Lan retorted.

Shi Hao turned back, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“Ha, I heard you love dueling. Why turn tail and run when you see me?” Yuan Feng taunted, his eyes gleaming with a sharp light.

“Oh? You want to fight me?” Shi Hao asked.

“A friendly spar, following your rules—the loser offers Phoenix Blood,” Yuan Feng said, his lips curling into a confident smirk.

Su Lan and Chen Nuo exchanged glances. This man was clearly after the Phoenix Blood, just like Shi Hao. His so-called “spar” was merely a pretext.

“I have four drops of Phoenix Blood. Do you?” Shi Hao asked calmly, pulling out several crystalline orbs that glowed like blood diamonds, radiant and eye-catching.

Yuan Feng’s eyes burned with greed as he stared at the Phoenix Blood.

“If I lose, I’ll naturally hand over the Phoenix Blood,” Shi Hao said, the sacred crimson light from the crystals illuminating his face. “But if you want to challenge me, show me your stake first.”

“I don’t have any right now, but I will soon. We can fight first—if I lose, I’ll repay you afterward!” Yuan Feng declared.

His gaze was predatory, locked onto the four Phoenix Blood crystals in Shi Hao’s hand.

“No stake, no duel. Trying to get something for nothing?” Shi Hao flatly refused.

Truthfully, he wanted nothing more than to strike now. But this was the Heavenly Deity Academy. Defeating Yuan Feng here would only draw unwanted attention—and he couldn’t kill him. Better to wait.

Shi Hao turned and walked away once more.

“Wait!” Yuan Feng pursued him. He had heard of Shi Hao’s exploits—how he had defeated numerous official disciples despite not having cultivated Immortal Qi.

Yuan Feng, also a recent addition to the academy, coveted the Phoenix Blood. Knowing Shi Hao possessed a significant amount, he sought to challenge him and claim it for himself.

Of course, he needed an excuse. Openly robbing someone would invite severe consequences.

“You’re just Wang Xi’s follower, not an official disciple, yet you strut around provoking real disciples. Today, I’ll teach you a lesson!” Yuan Feng declared righteously.

“Hypocrite!” Su Lan muttered, seeing through his act.

“You’re that eager to fight me?” Shi Hao turned back with a smirk.

“Official disciples won’t be humiliated by the likes of you. Someone needs to put you in your place!” Yuan Feng proclaimed, his tone brimming with false righteousness.

Shi Hao sighed inwardly. This guy was really committed to his role—he might even believe his own act.

“Not interested,” Shi Hao said, walking away again.

“You’re not leaving!” Yuan Feng roared, lunging forward to block him. His eyes darkened, like an endless abyss.

**Crack!**

Lightning erupted as they clashed. Shi Hao held back, suppressing his true strength. A blinding radiance burst between them.

“Pathetic. I expected more from you,” Yuan Feng sneered, his body covered in bone runes as he unleashed two strands of Immortal Qi to suppress Shi Hao.

Yet, despite the fierce exchange, Shi Hao managed to retreat without being overpowered.

“If I win this fight, will you honor your word and hand over the Phoenix Blood?” Yuan Feng asked with a faint smile.

“I already told you—show me your stake first, or this duel means nothing,” Shi Hao said, shaking his head.

“Trying to weasel out? A bet is a bet!” Yuan Feng barked. From the moment Shi Hao revealed the Phoenix Blood, he had resolved to take it by force.

But as time passed, he still hadn’t succeeded.

**Boom!**

Another explosive clash sent both fighters reeling. Shi Hao seized the moment to grab Su Lan and Chen Nuo, swiftly retreating.

“Don’t run! Hand over the Phoenix Blood!” Yuan Feng’s mask of civility crumbled.

“With what stake? You have nothing to wager!” Su Lan shot back.

“Besides, you didn’t even win,” Chen Nuo added. Though he disliked Shi Hao, he stood by him against outsiders.

Shi Hao didn’t linger. Riding a bolt of lightning, he vanished, leaving Yuan Feng seething with regret. If he had pressed harder, he might have succeeded.

“He fled. If the fight had continued, he would’ve lost,” Yuan Feng muttered to himself. He still had hidden strength—his confidence was unshaken.

Later, word spread, and some willingly lent Yuan Feng Phoenix Blood, hoping he would challenge Shi Hao.

As a peak expert among those with two strands of Immortal Qi, Yuan Feng naturally attracted attention and support.

But just as he prepared to issue his challenge, news broke—the Immortal Battlefield was opening!

This was a monumental event, shaking the entire academy. From elders to disciples, everyone was abuzz.

Of course, participation was entirely voluntary.

That day, the academy erupted in noise as disciples mobilized.

“Finally, it begins,” Shi Hao murmured, rising from his meditation in Wang Xi’s cave. His eyes gleamed with divine light.

Nearby, Wang Xi also stood, serene and graceful in her flowing gown, her figure radiant and ethereal.

She had waited long for this moment.

The same day, Lü Tuo let out a mighty roar, declaring his intent to venture into that ancient land.

Feng Xingtian, Princess Yao Yue, Xuan Kun—none hesitated. All were determined to enter the battlefield.

“Rumor has it that those who perform exceptionally there might be rewarded with Immortal Jade Scriptures upon their return,” someone whispered excitedly.

“If you excel in that battlefield, why would you need the academy’s rewards? That ancient land is said to hold lost scriptures and divine artifacts beyond measure.”

Even before departure, ambitions soared.

**Woo—**

The war horn sounded, summoning them to battle.

That day, a colossal ship hovered over the academy, ready to carry them to the distant ancient land.

The golden behemoth lifted into the sky, vast as a floating island. Crowds gathered on its deck, gazing down at the world below.

Onboard, Shi Hao spotted familiar faces—Mo Nü, Cao Yusheng, Chang Gongyan, the little rabbit, Qing Yi. They, too, had chosen to enter the battlefield.

But now wasn’t the time for reunions. If he went on a killing spree there, he didn’t want to drag them into it.

Stars shimmered as the battleship glowed, as if preparing to leap into the cosmos.

“What’s that?”

“Are we there? Is that where the immortals once fought?”

A storm was brewing.