“Good heavens, we’ve finally returned!”
“Thank the heavens and earth, we’re back in the mortal realm. Surviving that desolate Immortal Battlefield was no easy feat.”
The warship landed in the Celestial Academy, and many let out sighs of relief—especially the attendants of the powerful, who patted their chests in relief. In such an environment, these followers had been sent purely as cannon fodder.
“Alright, you may all go and rest,” instructed an elder.
Upon their return, the elders aboard the warship vanished immediately, for the treasures they had retrieved from the Immortal Battlefield were extraordinary and required urgent study.
They had obtained a total of four jade scriptures—a glorious achievement.
The ancient figures of the academy gathered together, trembling with excitement as they pored over these immortal scriptures.
Combined with the academy’s existing collection, their repository had grown even richer, stirring hearts and minds. The elders were engrossed in research and contemplation, for these scriptures were priceless.
However, there was a major problem—these texts seemed impossible to cultivate effectively in this era, leaving them stumped.
Not everyone had ventured to the Immortal Battlefield, and now, upon hearing the news, many were left dumbfounded.
Clearly, the academy was anything but peaceful. One shocking revelation after another spread like wildfire, causing an uproar.
“Immortal scriptures! And not just one—now we all have a chance to study them!”
“Who is that guy? He’s from the other shore of the world and was taken as a servant? You must be joking! They actually captured a being from the foreign realm alive!”
Rumors flew thick and fast, sparking heated debates.
“What kind of creature is the Three-Headed King? You actually killed one? Didn’t you bring back its corpse for us to see?”
“Ah, what a miraculous journey! Someone actually harvested Dragon Grass from a True Dragon’s lair and consumed it, greatly enhancing their physical strength to become a Body Refiner?!”
The academy was in chaos. Even those who hadn’t gone to the Immortal Battlefield, as well as those who had, were stunned upon learning the hidden details, filled with envy and jealousy.
“Hey, that guy suspected of killing the Three-Headed King was taken away by the elders. Are they questioning him about that insane feat?”
Shi Hao was led away to the Grand Elder’s secluded retreat and emerged only after a long time. No one knew what they had discussed.
But from the moment he entered until his return, rumors had already spread like wildfire.
Upon his return, Shi Hao remained silent, quietly meditating and cultivating atop a towering peak in his dwelling—a sacred mountain within Wang Xi’s Pure Land, shrouded in mist and bathed in radiant light, piercing the clouds.
The quieter Shi Hao was, the more curious others became, eager to uncover the truth.
As a result, that very day, cultivators began appearing among the peaks outside Wang Xi’s cave abode, coming and going, all seeking answers.
Everyone was curious about him—how he had subdued Mo Dao, who possessed three immortal auras; how he was suspected of slaying the Void Beast; and how he had reached the pinnacle of Body Refinement…
Soon, the storm grew fiercer. Some claimed the Grand Elder had revealed that Shi Hao had killed the Three-Headed King. Others insisted that even if he hadn’t cultivated three immortal auras, his unparalleled talent as a Body Refiner made him comparable to Princess Yao Yue.
There were even whispers that the reason he had become Wang Xi’s companion was because he was her suitor, hence his residence near her cave.
Many events had unfolded on the Immortal Battlefield, and news about him dominated the discussions.
At the same time, other shocking revelations emerged.
“The young prodigy of the Feng Clan perished on the Immortal Battlefield?!”
“Is it true? Feng Xing Tian, who had cultivated three immortal auras, died so young?”
Shi Hao merely smirked coldly upon hearing the news.
In truth, if the storm continued, it would bring more trouble—such as the fact that the descendants of Yuan Qing, whom Shi Hao despised, had also been slain there.
Many began to recognize Shi Hao’s extraordinary nature and sought to investigate him.
Of course, some insisted that Shi Hao couldn’t have killed the Three-Headed King—it must have been Mo Dao’s doing.
The truth behind Shi Hao’s subjugation of Mo Dao was also clarified: during their duel, they had agreed to use only two immortal auras each. But as a Body Refiner, Shi Hao had narrowly prevailed.
Amid the chaos and clamor, the Celestial Academy was anything but tranquil.
Most astonishingly, Princess Yao Yue, Wang Xi’s rival, had sent emissaries multiple times to invite Shi Hao, clearly attempting to recruit him—but he had refused each time.
Soon after, other geniuses extended their olive branches as well.
Rumor had it that their respective clans were behind these efforts, eager to win Shi Hao over.
All of this stemmed from one crucial reason: while many debated Shi Hao’s strength, others had already set their sights on his servant—Mo Dao.
In their eyes, this servant was of immeasurable value, far more “precious” than his master!
With the passing of the Immortal Ancient Era, this was the first time beings from the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths had made contact with those from the other shore—and even captured one alive.
At least, that was the official narrative!
The implications were profound. Many powerful factions sought to obtain Mo Dao, hoping to extract secrets about the foreign realm from him. He was a living treasure trove!
Any information gleaned from him could be transformed into immense value and power.
Unsurprisingly, the Celestial Academy acted first. With Mo Dao already within its walls, the ancient figures there wouldn’t let such an opportunity slip.
In fact, one of the academy’s elders approached Shi Hao with a smile and promptly took Mo Dao away.
Shi Hao protested but eventually relented, demanding that the academy ensure Mo Dao’s safety and prevent outside forces from seizing him.
The elder solemnly agreed.
Regrettably, Mo Dao remained tight-lipped, refusing to answer any questions about the foreign realm.
The academy’s mighty figures, unwilling to give up, resorted to force, attempting to extract the information by probing his soul.
But this nearly caused disaster—Mo Dao almost died as a result!
A mark had been planted in his soul. Any attempt to forcibly explore it would trigger an explosion, annihilating Mo Dao and all nearby beings.
“What?! A mark left by an Immortal Sovereign?!” The academy elders were aghast.
Mo Dao’s head blazed with terrifying light, as if poised to obliterate everything.
At the critical moment, they summoned the Ten Realms Diagram and the Nine Phoenix Furnace, swiftly suppressing the threat—otherwise, lives would have been lost.
Even so, Mo Dao was nearly destroyed. Several elders intervened to protect him, even sending him to the Phoenix Blood Pool to recover.
That day, Shi Hao made a scene, reclaiming Mo Dao and declaring that anyone who targeted him would face his wrath.
There was sincerity in his actions, but also theatrics. He couldn’t openly oppose the academy elders, nor did he wish to humiliate Mo Dao. This was the best he could do.
The academy elders naturally ceased their efforts, realizing that coercion wouldn’t yield the secrets of the other shore.
Instead, they privately urged Shi Hao to coax Mo Dao into revealing valuable information, whether through subtle influence or genuine persuasion.
Though the academy’s mighty figures backed off, external forces remained covetous and eager.
During this time, more and more visitors approached Shi Hao for discussions.
Playing both sides was exhausting, but the benefits were substantial. Many sent gifts, which Shi Hao and Mo Dao selectively accepted.
“Hey, have you heard? That Body Refiner might leave the academy. A long-life family has offered him incredible benefits.”
“This guy is truly mysterious. Subduing a servant has caused such a stir. Did he really kill the Three-Headed King and the Void Beast?”
Within days, countless theories emerged.
Indeed, during this period, several long-life families had approached Shi Hao—not just for his talent, but also to obtain Mo Dao.
“Haha, everyone, let’s not entertain misguided ideas. This man is a follower of our clan’s jewel, Wang Xi. His servant naturally belongs to us as well!”
The Wang Clan had also stepped in, directly confronting other long-life families with designs on Shi Hao.
Of course, such words weren’t spoken in Shi Hao’s presence.
In fact, the Wang Clan treated him with utmost courtesy, eager to recruit him.
But Shi Hao’s Heavenly Eye saw through their facade. From the very first meeting, he detected arrogance and condescension in their gazes—they believed the Diamond Bracelet on his head meant he was under their control.
They masked it well; most wouldn’t sense the disdain. But Shi Hao’s sharp perception left no room for deception.
To make matters worse, among the visitors, Shi Hao recognized faces—members of the Wang Clan who had once forced him into the Primordial Ancient Mine.
Clearly, they had recognized him through the Diamond Bracelet and knew exactly who he was!
“It’s him! He entered the Primordial Ancient Mine and survived—and now he’s here?!” They gasped, stunned.
Two of them turned red-eyed. Survivors of the Primordial Ancient Mine usually returned with treasures. Moreover, during those days, the mine had echoed with the sounds of scriptures, as if someone was attaining enlightenment.
They had every reason to suspect Shi Hao had obtained the true scriptures of the Primordial Ancient Mine.
Thus, they now regarded him with fervent greed, eager to seize whatever he had brought back and to exploit Mo Dao’s secrets.
In no time, Shi Hao became a prime target, with the Wang Clan treating him as their exclusive property.
When outsiders sought him out, the Wang Clan obstructed them at every turn.
“Overestimating yourselves! Do you really think you can take him into your family? Can’t you see the Diamond Bracelet on his head? No matter how strong he is—even if he subdued a foreign being with three immortal auras—he’s destined to be our servant. He can’t resist!”
“Haha, he’s extraordinary, but he’s merely a follower of our young lady, Wang Xi. Once the Diamond Bracelet is on, he’ll serve her for life!”
Other younger members of the Wang Clan in the academy, far less composed than their elders, made such remarks when clashing with peers from other families.
Such words couldn’t stay hidden and soon reached Shi Hao’s ears.
Having already seen their arrogance and scorn in their eyes, he was furious.
“Do you really think I’m the Wang Clan’s servant? Just because of this damned Diamond Bracelet? I’ll tear it off soon enough!” Shi Hao said coldly.
For this time, he had personally heard the Wang Clan brazenly flaunting their control over him during disputes.
“Haha, brother, you’re already part of the Wang Clan. No use denying it,” the man replied without a hint of shame.
Shi Hao’s anger flared. “To wash away this humiliation, it seems I must take action!”
Soon, news spread that this focal figure had snapped—he had restrained Wang Xi, sealing them both inside her cave abode.
“Heavens! Rumor has it that guy was so enraged he captured Wang Xi and performed a wedding ceremony with her to cleanse his shame!”
“Wait, didn’t the Wang Clan say the Diamond Bracelet was placed on him by Wang Xi herself? How could this happen?”
“Precisely because of that, he did this to reclaim his dignity!”
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