Whoosh!
A bronze arrow streaked through the sky, tearing through the air with a thunderous boom, carrying an ancient, unyielding aura and an unstoppable momentum. It shot straight toward Shi Hao with terrifying speed.
Furious, Shi Hao transformed into a Kun Peng. Did these people truly mistake him for mere prey, daring to hunt him down?
At the same time, he realized that these newcomers were outrageously arrogant—so much so that they would even shoot at a Kun Peng, whether they recognized his true form or not. Their audacity was beyond measure.
To attack him on sight spoke of terrifying confidence and a bloodthirsty nature!
Hum!
Shi Hao’s wings trembled, stirring up a tempest that surged into the heavens. His body shrank, and in a flash, he turned into a streak of golden light, narrowly evading the bronze arrow.
Boom!
Not far away, a massive volcano was struck by the arrow and instantly exploded. Molten lava erupted violently, only to be instantly suppressed and annihilated by the arrow’s power, reduced to ashes.
The sheer destructive force of a single arrow left everyone stunned.
It must be known—this was no ordinary place. This was the Five Elements Continent, where the land was reinforced by the densest primordial energies, making its mountains as sturdy as divine treasures.
And this particular region was even more extraordinary, suspected to be a sealed domain where every volcano was imbued with powerful divine runes, making them nearly indestructible.
Yet a single bronze arrow, casually loosed, had obliterated one of these sacred peaks. Such power was terrifying!
“Hmm, this feathered beast has some skill, dodging my arrow,” came a surprised voice from the ancient warship floating in midair.
The vessel was enormous, shrouded in an ethereal mist that lent it an air of profound mystery, as if it had sailed through the ages from the dawn of creation.
Faint traces of axe marks and arrow holes marred its hull, bearing the scars of time, with patches of verdigris in places—as though it had only recently broken free from some ancient ruin.
On the deck stood several young men, all exuding an imposing aura. Their eyes were sharp, their bodies wreathed in immortal energy, making them an intimidating sight.
They possessed the grace of immortals, yet their demeanor was razor-sharp—clearly not pampered flowers but battle-hardened warriors who had weathered blood and fire.
One of them, clad in light-blue metallic armor, carried a bloodthirsty halberd on his back and wielded a massive bronze bow. He drew another arrow from his quiver and nocked it.
His long, dense purple hair cascaded past his waist, and his eyes gleamed like twin golden stars, their pupils shaped like crosses, sharp as blades.
His face was chiseled, exuding a mix of rugged determination and wild arrogance. With a cold shout, he loosed the arrow: “Hit!”
“Are you seeking death?!” Shi Hao roared, enraged. This man had already shot at him once, and now he dared to try again, treating him like mere game.
His thunderous bellow shook the heavens, making the very air tremble.
Yet the archer showed no sign of stopping. Instead, he drew his bow again and released another arrow, its feathers streaking through the sky like a rainbow, its killing intent overwhelming.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
This time, as Shi Hao dodged, countless golden feathers erupted from his body, transforming into divine arrows that shot back toward the attacker.
Meanwhile, the bronze arrow obliterated five more massive volcanoes—sacred peaks reinforced with divine runes—reducing them to rubble.
“Impressive speed. He possesses the Kun Peng’s extreme swiftness,” remarked one of the youths on the ship, unperturbed. Only the archer remained solemn, his golden cross-shaped pupils blazing brighter.
His light-blue armor glowed, shielding him as he stowed his bow and drew his halberd, slashing through the incoming golden feathers.
Clang!
Sparks erupted as blinding light filled the air.
At the same time, Shi Hao reverted to human form, landing with Qing Yi atop a volcanic crater, enveloped in dense Five Elements energy. His eyes burned with fury.
“Not bad. He actually blocked Wu Tai’s divine arrow!”
“Ah, and he’s brought a little beauty with him—exquisite, truly. No, wait, I misspoke. She’s peerless, a rare gem in this world. Hahaha…”
The group showed no remorse, laughing boisterously as they leered at the pair below.
“Who are you people? Why do you shoot at others without provocation?” Shi Hao demanded, his voice icy.
Though he could tell these were no ordinary individuals, their arrogance was beyond belief—attempting murder and then mocking him afterward.
“Tch, boy, you’d best watch your tone. Are you challenging us? We didn’t actually kill you, so quit your whining!” one of them sneered.
“Little beauty, why waste your time with him? Come aboard our immortal warship. We have divine opportunities awaiting you.”
Their laughter was brazen, their disdain palpable.
Shi Hao’s expression darkened. These people were beyond insolent—shooting at him, failing, and now openly mocking him while coveting his companion.
The other disciples of the Heavenly Deity Institution were equally stunned, bewildered by this group’s audacity in provoking Shi Hao.
At the same time, they were awed by the warship’s majesty, shrouded in immortal mist—a sight that inspired both reverence and fear.
Without another word, Shi Hao drew his own bow, pulling it to full draw before releasing a divine arrow that streaked toward the ship with earth-shaking force.
“Oh? Bold move, daring to retaliate!”
This time, the youths on the ship didn’t act. Instead, they chanted incantations, causing the vessel to glow as a barrier formed, incinerating the arrow mid-flight.
“Who dares attack our ship?”
A deep, authoritative voice boomed from within the warship, its tone imposing. The defensive measures had alerted the elders inside.
“Apologies, Elder. Just some wild brat—nothing to concern yourself with,” one of the youths replied dismissively.
By now, the elders of the Heavenly Deity Institution had also arrived, their expressions grave as they studied the immortal warship.
After a moment, the Fourth Elder spoke: “Might you be fellow Daoists from the Immortal Academy?”
The students nearby gasped. This ship was from the Immortal Academy? The very place they were destined to enter?
The Immortal Academy and the Sacred Academy were reclusive, their disciples rarely seen. Yet now, they had emerged to recruit from the Heavenly Deity Institution.
Some glanced at Shi Hao with odd expressions. Barely a meeting, and he had already clashed with these elites.
The warship’s cabin doors opened, and several ancient figures emerged—far older than the Heavenly Deity Institution’s elders, their faces deeply lined, their hair white as snow or entirely gone.
Yet despite their age, their eyes burned like golden lamps, their life force astonishingly vigorous.
These were true ancient monsters, each as formidable as the Second Elder, their power restrained only to avoid overwhelming the younger generation.
They were envoys from the Immortal Academy—the pinnacle of ancient cultivation, where supreme scriptures and perfect environments awaited the chosen.
“Ah, fellow Daoists from the Heavenly Deity Institution. We were just about to visit you—what a coincidence to meet here,” said one of the elders, his hair still thick despite its snowy hue, his face ruddy with vitality.
“A misunderstanding, nothing more. We are all allies,” the Fourth Elder replied diplomatically.
Both factions belonged to the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, destined to fight side by side. Moreover, the Heavenly Deity Institution’s best would eventually join the Immortal Academy, making their ties crucial.
Still, the thought of losing their finest disciples rankled the Heavenly Deity Institution’s elders, though they could do little about it.
“Youth is fleeting. Were we not the same in our younger days? A little fire is no bad thing,” chuckled one of the Immortal Academy elders.
Clearly, the old monsters had been aware of the conflict but chose to let it unfold.
Shi Hao’s displeasure was palpable. Being shot at for no reason wasn’t something he could easily brush off.
“You’re not bad. With some effort, you might even become our junior,” the youths taunted, still unrepentant.
More young elites emerged from the ship—men of striking valor and women of peerless beauty, all radiating immortal energy.
“Why not bring that little beauty aboard? Let’s get acquainted,” the archer sneered, his tone dripping with mockery.
“Who the hell do you think you are, ordering me around? So what if you’re from the Immortal Academy? Come down here, and I’ll break every bone in your body!” Shi Hao shot back, his words as sharp as blades.
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