Chapter 1272: Reckless and Unbridled

No one had expected Shi Hao to emerge victorious, defeating Zi Shan Kun!

“Still not coming over?” Shi Hao cast a sidelong glance at the Golden-Horned Rhino, his voice still calm, just as it had been moments ago. But now, those words carried an entirely different weight in the ears of the crowd.

Huang had triumphed overwhelmingly!

At this moment, though he appeared as composed as ever, an immense pressure radiated from him. No one dared to ignore his words—everyone tensed, bracing themselves.

The Golden-Horned Rhino felt a chill run down his spine, his hair standing on end. That indifferent voice thundered in his ears like a bolt of lightning, nearly knocking him to the ground.

How could this be? Huang had won, and Zi Shan Kun had lost. This outcome left him numb, utterly unprepared for such a conclusion.

“Do I need to say it a third time?” Shi Hao turned, his eyes flashing with sharp lightning, his pupils deep and unfathomable. His entire demeanor sharpened, exuding an intimidating aura.

The arena fell silent. Whispers and murmurs vanished as hearts pounded. Many eyes turned to Zi Shan Kun nearby—would he intervene?

After all, Huang was now acting with absolute disregard, ignoring his opponent and everyone else, doing as he pleased. It was a low-key display of dominance.

“Lord Huang, please forgive my insolence! I swear I’ll never dare again!” The Golden-Horned Rhino, trembling with fear, forced himself forward, his legs shaking uncontrollably. He bowed his head, pleading in a submissive tone.

Now, he regretted everything, wishing he could slap himself. Why hadn’t he just waited quietly for the outcome earlier? Why had he been so foolish as to mock and taunt Huang at the critical moment?

Now, retribution had come. Huang had won, and the result was the complete opposite of what he had expected!

And now, Huang had singled him out, declaring he wanted to taste him—an utterly terrifying prospect for the Golden-Horned Rhino. A genius of his generation, having ascended to the level of a sect master, was about to be reduced to food.

Especially when he recalled the rumors about Huang—visions of himself skewered over a fire, roasted into golden meat flashed through his mind. He nearly collapsed on the spot.

The more he thought, the more terrified he became. Huang was a “repeat offender,” having devoured non-human enemies more than once. To the Golden-Horned Rhino, he was nothing short of a nightmare incarnate.

“You were gloating earlier, wishing for my immediate death. Now you beg for mercy—isn’t that a bit too quick a turnaround?” Shi Hao swept him with a cold glance.

“My lord, please spare me! I’ll never dare again!” The Golden-Horned Rhino’s legs trembled uncontrollably. He sensed the situation was dire—Huang’s indifference made it clear he intended to make a meal of him.

“Strip him! No, wait—eat him! Eat him all up!” At that moment, the Lunar Grace Goddess piped up.

She looked pure and innocent, with long silver hair, ruby-red eyes, and delicate features like a porcelain doll—beautiful and exquisite.

But her words now made her seem like a little demon, scaring the Golden-Horned Rhino so badly he collapsed on the spot, his pores oozing cold sweat.

“You think a simple apology is enough after mocking and provoking Huang? At least let us all have a taste!” Cao Yusheng and the others chimed in, smirking.

“My lord, save me!” The Golden-Horned Rhino turned to Zi Shan Kun as if grasping at a lifeline.

“Brother, show mercy. He merely slighted you—must you be so relentless?” Zi Shan Kun finally spoke.

The crowd had been waiting for his response. After all, Huang had humiliated his attendants, suppressed Wu Tai and the Golden-Horned Rhino right before his eyes—showing no respect whatsoever.

The atmosphere grew tense. Everyone held their breath, watching silently to see how events would unfold.

“You speak lightly. If it were you, and someone kept buzzing around, cursing and wishing for your death, wouldn’t you slap them dead?” Shi Hao countered calmly. “I’m being merciful—I don’t kill. I’ll just take some rhino meat to taste.”

The Golden-Horned Rhino was both terrified and speechless. Did Huang really see him as walking meat? He truly was a demon!

Others looked at Huang with strange expressions, realizing they should never provoke him—lest they become nothing more than fresh food in his eyes.

“Brother, must you be so unyielding? Can’t you show leniency?” Zi Shan Kun’s voice was icy, his skin glowing with purple light, wrapped in ethereal purple mist—radiant yet cold.

“Easy for you to say. Where were you when he insulted me? Now you want to play the noble one?” Shi Hao mocked. “You’ve already lost. If I were you, I’d step back and stay quiet. As the loser, you should just stand aside.”

With that, Shi Hao strode forward, his bright eyes and refined features exuding an otherworldly aura as he reached the center of the arena, sweeping his gaze across the crowd.

This posture—utter disregard for Zi Shan Kun!

His words were blunt, devoid of tact, and paired with his indifferent demeanor, they carried an unshakable confidence.

Zi Shan Kun’s face alternated between green and red. No one had ever slighted him like this—dismissing him outright, calling him a loser in front of everyone.

What kind of humiliation was this? His face burned with shame.

Never in his life had he imagined being defeated, let alone publicly mocked as a failure.

Huang was brutally direct!

“Are you forcing me to fight again?!” Zi Shan Kun’s voice was hoarse, his anger boiling. To him, this was a challenge to his authority—a trampling of his dignity.

“Tch.”

Shi Hao chuckled lightly, utterly casual. “Didn’t we just fight? You’re no match for me. Still not satisfied? Want another round?”

His nonchalance only amplified the pressure. The crowd grew even quieter, afraid to speak lest they provoke a storm.

Zi Shan Kun seethed inwardly. His meaning was clear—if Huang didn’t back down, he would unleash power from a higher realm!

A threat. A warning.

Yet Huang acted as if he hadn’t heard, still looking down on him with the air of a victor, a faint trace of disdain in his eyes.

Yes—disdain. Arrogance. Overconfidence. Huang held his head high, gazing down at him, treating this Heavenly Monarch as beneath him.

Zi Shan Kun’s heart raged. Purple divine light flickered around him. How dare anyone look down on him? This was sheer audacity!

Others were speechless. Had Huang truly not understood?

Some, however, were shocked. Huang was fearless—direct and unyielding, facing Zi Shan Kun head-on. Was this a challenge?

Did Huang truly dare to fight again? Was this a bluff, or did he genuinely possess such strength?

“You’re forcing my hand!” Zi Shan Kun’s voice was icy, low but laden with menace.

“What are you? If you want to fight, come at me. A defeated opponent—I don’t mind beating you again. At the Heavenly Deity Realm, you’re far inferior. Hmph, for someone who can’t accept loss, I suppose repeated defeats might teach you humility.” Shi Hao spoke lazily.

The more indifferent his tone, the darker Zi Shan Kun’s expression grew. Fortunately, his face was veiled in purple mist, hiding his fury.

Zi Shan Kun began to wonder—had Huang truly misunderstood, or was he deliberately mocking him?

His face darkened. Regardless, he wanted to teach Huang a lesson. But when he glanced back, he saw Lan Xian, Qi Gu, and others—his peers, all titled as Supreme.

Their expressions were odd, almost mocking.

In that instant, Zi Shan Kun cooled down—but his anger only grew. He knew they were laughing at him in secret. Such a crushing defeat was a disgrace.

And now, he seemed like a sore loser, demanding a rematch. If word spread, it would tarnish his reputation!

Prideful, he suppressed his rage and said coldly, “Fine. This battle is yours. But mark my words—our paths will never cross again. Otherwise, you’d learn the true might of the Primordial Purple Qi Seed!”

Arrogance. A threat. And bitter resentment.

“A defeated opponent who knows his place. At least you’re sensible.” Shi Hao paced leisurely, standing at the center of the arena, exuding an air of supremacy.

This was blatant scorn—a taunt that made Zi Shan Kun’s blood boil.

Clearly, Shi Hao was doing it on purpose. The crowd was speechless. Had Huang even grasped Zi Shan Kun’s implied threat? His response was baffling.

“Still not stepping back?” Shi Hao barked, publicly reprimanding Zi Shan Kun before the crowd. He stood tall at the center, the focus of all eyes.

Everyone was stunned into silence. The tables had turned completely.

“Golden Horn, come with me!” Zi Shan Kun, furious, decided to act regardless of consequences, using the rhino as an excuse.

But the Golden-Horned Rhino’s reaction stunned him—he bowed to Shi Hao, trembling. “My lord, spare my life, and I’ll accept any punishment.”

“Hmm.” Shi Hao nodded.

Zi Shan Kun’s hair nearly stood on end, his teeth grinding. This coward had completely surrendered at the critical moment!

“Good. Step aside for now.” Shi Hao then turned to Zi Shan Kun. “Anything else? If not, step back.”

The crowd was dumbfounded. What could anyone even say to this?

Only Zi Shan Kun’s face twisted between green and red, nearly erupting in fury. The humiliation was unbearable.

“Huang, don’t get cocky! You only won at the Heavenly Deity Realm. At higher realms, you’re nothing! The Primordial Purple Qi Seed will crush you—you’ll never surpass it in this lifetime!”

From afar, the battered attendant struggled to rise, half his body shattered, bones broken beyond count.

“You really are like a cockroach—tenacious.” Shi Hao’s expression darkened. With a light stomp, the ground trembled, sending the attendant flying, coughing blood, his body on the verge of disintegration.

At the last moment, Zi Shan Kun shielded him—otherwise, he’d have been reduced to mist.

“What’s your game? Striking repeatedly in my presence—do you think I’m patient? If you want to be crippled, try it again!” Zi Shan Kun’s voice was glacial, his aura shifting entirely.

“You’re nothing. Fight me at any realm—I’ll crush you ten times, a hundred times over!” Shi Hao roared back.

Suddenly, the Muddy Pond glowed, suffused with radiant mist, sacred and soothing.

“Hmm?”

Lan Xian, Qi Gu, Da Xu Tuo—even Zi Shan Kun—flashed to the pond’s edge, vying for the immortal treasure.

In that instant, Shi Hao moved like a phantom, leaving an afterimage as he materialized at the pond’s very center.

“You dare come here?”

The four powerhouses fixed their gazes on him—Qi Gu, Da Xu Tuo, Lan Xian, and Zi Shan Kun surrounding him as he stood at the heart of the pond.

“You’re strong, defeating Zi Shan Kun at the Heavenly Deity Realm. But contending at higher levels? You’re lacking. This isn’t a place for you,” one said coldly.

Clearly, the four didn’t believe he could compete for the immortal treasure.

Shi Hao laughed heartily. “Today, I’ll enter the Immortal’s True Cave. Let’s see what you can do to stop me!”

His laughter boomed like thunder, shaking the earth, making many stagger, their blood churning.

At this moment, Shi Hao radiated overwhelming pressure—and utter disdain. Unfazed even when encircled by four Supreme beings.

“You—such arrogance! This place is forbidden to you!” someone shouted.

“Who are you to stop me? Who dares?!” Shi Hao’s voice was icy, piercing souls.

The crowd was stunned. Earlier, Huang had faced Zi Shan Kun alone—now, he stood against four Supreme beings at once!