The group from the Immortal Academy was utterly shocked, stretching out their hands and shouting in alarm, deeply worried that Shi Hao might stomp the Nine Nether Hound to death with a single step—an immeasurable loss.
No one had expected the battle to end like this. The terrifying Nine Nether Hound, infamous for its ferocity, now resembled a mere puppy, only a foot long.
It convulsed violently, whimpering as it struggled to rise, but it had been struck by Shi Hao’s most powerful Reincarnation Force, reverting it to its juvenile state. Despite its peerless divine abilities, it could no longer unleash them fully. No creature is particularly strong in its infancy, yet it still managed to claw deep gashes into the arena floor.
This sight left many in awe. Even in its juvenile form, the Nine Nether Hound was this formidable? One must remember, the arena was protected by dense arrays!
In its current state, it could likely tear apart a ferocious beast with a single swipe of its claws!
“Roar—!” The Nine Nether Hound snarled in fury, unwilling to accept this humiliation. Renowned as the strongest in the Heavenly Deity Realm within the Immortal Academy, it now lay trampled beneath someone’s foot—what an unbearable disgrace.
Shi Hao lowered his gaze, studying the beast. He exhaled slowly, finally relaxing. The battle had been grueling, and he had sustained significant injuries.
With a slight press of his foot, the Nine Nether Hound trembled violently, its wounds splitting open as blood spurted forth, suffering grievous harm.
Shi Hao had no intention of letting this savage beast recover and resume the fight once the Reincarnation Force faded. He had to cripple its combat strength now.
“Stop!” Many from the Immortal Academy paled, shouting repeatedly, but Shi Hao ignored them, continuing his assault, leaving them frantic.
The Nine Nether Hound was a pivotal figure in the Immortal Academy—the second and final disciple of the Grand Elder, a transcendent powerhouse destined to lead future campaigns. It could not be lost.
But any attempt to intervene now would be futile. Anyone rushing forward might provoke Shi Hao into delivering the final, fatal stomp.
Shi Hao refrained from killing it, aware of the watchful eyes of several ancient beings. The elders of the Heavenly Deity Academy had even warned him telepathically—eliminating this beast would invite dire consequences.
Naturally, Shi Hao complied. Though their stances clashed now, leading to this bloody battle, they were ultimately allies of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, destined to unite against external threats.
He lifted his foot, seizing the puppy-sized beast by its vital points, wary of a sudden recovery and counterattack.
“Grr—!” The Nine Nether Hound growled like a wolf, baring its fangs, eyes blazing with malice.
At this, the Immortal Academy’s disciples finally exhaled in relief. They sensed Shi Hao’s killing intent had faded—he would not deliver the final blow.
Who could have imagined the Nine Nether Hound reduced to such a pitiable state? The sight of the foot-long “puppy” struggling in Shi Hao’s grip felt surreal, stirring sympathy even for the beast.
The Immortal Academy’s disciples were the most disheartened. Initially brimming with confidence, they had expected the Nine Nether Hound to crush Shi Hao. Now, faced with this outcome, mere embarrassment couldn’t describe their emotions—their faces alternated between green and red.
The Sacred Academy’s members, however, grew solemn. Both the Nine Nether Hound and Shi Hao were formidable adversaries in their eyes, demanding utmost caution.
“Shi Hao is this strong?” someone murmured, frowning deeply.
As for the Heavenly Deity Academy, many were stunned. This result defied expectations—most had regarded the Immortal Academy’s disciples as invincible, their prestige unassailable.
The Nine Nether Hound’s defeat sent shockwaves through the crowd. Witnessing a descendant of the Ten Calamities fall, many had assumed no one could rival them.
Yet, this was the outcome!
Complex emotions swirled among the spectators. Once again, Shi Hao had proven his dominance—even against the Immortal Academy’s finest, he emerged victorious.
“Haha, our Heavenly Deity Academy’s disciple has won,” an elder chuckled from afar, conversing with the Immortal Academy’s ancient figures.
“The Immortal Academy boasts profound heritage—mystic arts, divine medicines, and treasures aplenty. How could they suffer such a crushing defeat today?” a Sacred Academy elder mocked.
“Care to test your Sacred Academy’s disciples against him?” the Immortal Academy’s elder retorted, glaring.
“No sect-leader-level figures are allowed!” a Heavenly Deity Academy elder hastily interjected.
“Our most outstanding disciples have long surpassed that level,” the Sacred Academy elder replied smugly.
“Our Little Heavenly King and others have also reached that realm. Perhaps our two academies should spar,” the Immortal Academy elder sneered.
Shi Hao flung the Nine Nether Hound off the arena just as the Reincarnation technique’s duration expired. The foot-long wolf pup expanded, reverting to its monstrous form.
It threw back its head and howled, a chilling, mournful sound—like a wounded beast-king roaring at the heavens, on the verge of madness.
The crowd shuddered, gripped by fear. This was a descendant of the Ten Calamities, its bloodline terrifying. If it truly went berserk, many young disciples would quail.
Fortunately, it soon calmed, fixing Shi Hao with an icy glare before blurring and transforming back into a man—Yu Wudi.
Without a word, he boarded a leaf-like vessel and vanished into the stone planet.
“A pity,” sighed the Immortal Academy’s disciples, disheartened. Yu Wudi, with his near-invincible talent, had suffered a crushing blow here.
On the rainbow bridge, the Immortal Academy’s elites stood in silence before turning to the Little Heavenly King.
Radiating transcendent grace, he stood serene as a celestial being, surrounded by drifting petals, as if enveloped in an immortal realm.
“Yu Wudi lost. As promised, the Azure Armor remains with you—for now. Once you fuse with your Dao Seed and ascend to sect-leader level, I will reclaim it,” the Little Heavenly King said calmly.
Beside him, Princess Yaoyue’s eyes flickered with surprise as she glanced between him and Shi Hao.
On the arena, Shi Hao merely laughed, offering no reply.
“Will no one else step forward? If not, the title of Heavenly Deity Realm’s strongest will belong to Shi Hao,” a voice taunted from the shadows, sowing discord.
The words were meant to provoke the Immortal Academy, pit others against Shi Hao, and drag the Sacred Academy into the fray.
All eyes turned to the slender figure on the arena.
Unperturbed, Shi Hao sat cross-legged, circulating his techniques. Runes unfurled around him, veiling his body as he absorbed the world’s essence, rapidly recovering.
“I’ll fight you!”
A voice rang out from atop a massive bone gourd in the sky.
“No, let me face him!”
“Step aside—I’ll take him on!”
Several figures argued, each eager to challenge Shi Hao—disciples of the Sacred Academy.
The crowd watched in disbelief. Even after witnessing Shi Hao’s might, these men still clamored to fight him?
“Allow me!”
One leapt from the bone gourd.
“Wait—I’ll battle him!” another protested, pulling him back.
The spectators nearly laughed. These men had the audacity to treat Shi Hao as if he were some common opponent, up for grabs.
Wang Xi frowned, her delicate brows knitting in worry. Having seen Shi Hao’s terrifying potential, she feared for the Sacred Academy’s disciples.
“You’ve witnessed his power. Rash actions will only lead to defeat,” she cautioned.
“Fear not, sister-in-law. We have our methods. Besides, we’ve boasted too much to back down now—it’d be humiliating.”
They admitted Shi Hao’s strength but saw no retreat—their earlier taunts left them no choice.
A crimson light descended onto the arena as a Sacred Academy expert landed, wreathed in blazing radiance.
“Chiyanzi challenges you!” he roared, launching a furious punch, brimming with overwhelming force.
This man wielded two strands of immortal energy—though that wasn’t his true strength. The Sacred Academy focused not on immortal energy but on pushing the limits of the present world’s laws.
His blood qi surged like a tidal wave, flooding the arena with scarlet mist.
“Such terrifying blood qi! This man is no ordinary foe,” even a Heavenly Deity Academy elder praised.
Shi Hao was startled. This man’s mastery over the Blood Movement Realm was unparalleled—his vitality so dense it felt less like a living being and more like an ocean of blood.
“He’s among the Sacred Academy’s top experts in the Blood Movement Realm,” a Sacred Academy disciple murmured.
“Boom!”
The blood qi transformed into raging flames, incinerating the skies—a supreme technique of the Sacred Academy.
Shi Hao didn’t underestimate him, activating his sole divine aperture for defense before charging forth, clashing fiercely.
“A peak body cultivator!” Shi Hao marveled. This was his first encounter with someone whose flesh rivaled his own—resonating like metal, radiating treasure light as they exchanged blows.
“By the heavens! He can match Shi Hao’s physique? Truly a disciple of the Sacred Academy!”
The Heavenly Deity Academy’s disciples gasped. They knew how monstrous Shi Hao’s body was, yet here was someone trading blows with him.
Chiyanzi swept his leg like a scythe, colliding with Shi Hao’s arm in a deafening impact. Then he lunged, palms descending like mountains.
“Boom!”
Fists met palms, blood qi erupting as the sky shattered.
“Pfft!”
After hundreds of exchanges, Chiyanzi was sent flying, his chest caved in by Shi Hao’s punch. He crashed beyond the arena, vomiting blood—utterly defeated.
“Let me try!”
Another Sacred Academy disciple lunged, his body etched with dense runes. Instantly, phantom weapons materialized—divine bells, pagodas, swords, and spears—all hurtling toward Shi Hao.
This was a master of the Inscription and Array Realms, unleashing his supreme arts.
“Pfft!”
Soon, Shi Hao’s whip-like leg sent him flying, bones fracturing as he tumbled out, defeated.
Three more challengers followed, each crushed by Shi Hao’s overwhelming might, left battered and bloodied.
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