The Grand Elder stood there in his billowing gray robes, his face lean and weathered, his long hair loose, his tall frame exuding an air of calm rather than intimidation.
Yet, everyone present felt an overwhelming aura from him—as if he could swallow mountains and rivers, gaze down upon the Nine Heavens, and was truly not to be provoked. To anger him would invite calamity.
This was not just a warning but an instinctive dread. Every expert in the vicinity felt uneasy, even fearful, their hearts unsettled in his presence.
Strangely, the Grand Elder’s expression was placid, devoid of joy or sorrow, yet his silent, intangible pressure was deeply unsettling, making many tremble.
“So it’s you, Senior,” the Wang Clan member who had earlier demanded to know his identity now spoke awkwardly, no longer bold or aggressive.
Not long ago, he and his clan had been scheming to force Shi Hao to hand over the golden Heavenly Horned Ant. But now, seeing the Grand Elder’s return, all such thoughts were abandoned.
Who in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths would not fear this man? Even if the Wang Clan summoned their most ancient ancestors, only their rumored “Patriarch”—if he still lived—could stand unshaken before him.
The Grand Elder cast a cold glance at the Wang Clan member, saying nothing, yet it sent a chill through their hearts.
“It’s been many years, Elder Brother. Your vigor remains undiminished, your presence even more imposing than before,” spoke an elder from the Feng Clan, a high-ranking figure among their elders.
The Grand Elder merely nodded. Though he disliked their earlier conduct, he could not outright snub someone of considerable seniority.
“The Grand Elder has truly nurtured an exceptional disciple—young in years but dazzling in talent, surpassing even the ancient sages!” declared Xu Mingxuan, ruler of the Eternal Immortal Dynasty and father of Princess Yaoyue.
Clad in a golden dragon-embroidered robe, crowned and radiant, he exuded majesty. A supremely powerful cultivator, though ancient in age, he appeared youthful, his vitality undiminished.
All knew he had attained the Supreme Realm countless millennia ago, his strength unfathomable—one of the most formidable beings in the Nine Heavens!
At least on the surface, the retired emperor of his clan held him in high regard, entrusting him with great authority to handle major affairs.
None had expected the ruler of an Eternal Dynasty to appear, let alone openly show goodwill toward the Grand Elder.
Was this an alliance in the making?
After all, this dynasty and the Wang Clan had long been at odds, locked in covert and overt struggles—hence Princess Yaoyue’s rivalry with Wang Xi at the Heavenly Deity Institution.
Thus, the Wang Clan members grew wary, their expressions guarded.
“Imperial Lord Xu’s presence merits a grand welcome from our Heavenly Deity Institution,” the Grand Elder said with a smile, his demeanor markedly different from before.
This contrast only deepened the Wang Clan’s discomfort.
The Feng Clan, at least, had maintained decent relations with the institution, save for their earlier hostility toward Shi Hao.
“Haha, Grand Elder, you flatter me. As my senior, such courtesy is undue,” Xu Mingxuan laughed, bowing once more.
Many stepped forward to greet the Grand Elder. Only then did the gathered prodigies realize that nearly every major immortal lineage had sent representatives.
This only underscored the significance of the Immortal King’s mansion beneath the institution!
And now, with Shi Hao bringing forth the Heavenly Horned Ant, the cave’s extraordinary nature was undeniable—enough to incite greed and conflict.
Yet, with the Grand Elder’s return, many restrained their ambitions, fearing to provoke this ancient monster and face annihilation.
In the Nine Heavens, the Grand Elder stood among the mightiest!
There was no doubt—his longevity alone hinted at his power. Some even speculated he had brushed against immortality, one foot already in the realm of eternal life.
If true, he might be this era’s first candidate for ascension!
Of course, many believed the Immortal Academy, Sacred Academy, and other ancient clans still had figures who could rival him.
Regardless, such a primordial being demanded caution; none dared offend him lightly.
“Nephew, you’ve come all this way for mere amusement?” the Grand Elder remarked to Xu Mingxuan.
“To witness if an Immortal King’s legacy truly emerges. Such a marvel stirs even my heart,” Xu Mingxuan admitted frankly.
Then he shifted tone: “In truth, I’m also here to seek a worthy youth—a potential Dao companion for my daughter.”
**Boom!**
This caused an uproar. None had expected the imperial lord to broach the topic so bluntly!
The pearl of an Eternal Dynasty, a princess of undying royalty—her hand in marriage was no trivial matter. To wed her meant access to divine medicines, peerless techniques, and boundless resources.
Such dynasties had endured since the last epoch, their foundations unfathomable. Provoked, they could shake the heavens!
“Nephew, such matters concern your daughter’s life. They shouldn’t be mentioned lightly,” the Grand Elder chided.
“Merely a thought. The choice lies with her. But with so many young supremes gathered, why not seek the finest?” Xu Mingxuan laughed, his gaze lingering on Shi Hao.
“He wants you as his son-in-law!” chirped the tiny golden ant on Shi Hao’s shoulder, arms crossed like a pompous elder.
All tensed. Xu Mingxuan’s glance was unmistakable—was he eyeing Shi Hao?
The Wang Clan’s hearts sank, a chill creeping in. They could not abide this.
Once, they had enslaved Shi Hao, branding him with a slave seal, sending him to the Primordial Mine to die mining life stones.
Long had they viewed him as inferior, clinging to arrogance even after his talents emerged.
Naturally, this led to their rift—Shi Hao shattered the seal, captured Wang Xi, and humiliated her overnight to cleanse his shame.
Now enemies, the thought of Shi Hao joining the Xu Clan as a son-in-law was intolerable.
With his unparalleled potential, such an alliance would be catastrophic for the Wang Clan.
The world would mock them for driving a peerless genius into their rivals’ arms—a lasting humiliation.
“The Xu Clan’s magnanimity is admirable. Shi Hao once mined for our Wang Clan—truly beneath his station. That you’d value him so speaks volumes,” sneered a Wang youth, a student of the Immortal Academy.
His words, seemingly praising, dripped with sarcasm—mocking Shi Hao’s past servitude and implying the Xu Clan’s disgrace in considering him.
Shi Hao’s gaze turned icy. “Do you seek death?”
The youth, prideful enough to taunt Shi Hao and the Xu Clan publicly, paled but retorted, “Shi Hao, you overreach! Do you think yourself above the Nine Heavens?”
“Fool. Do you think humiliating me here makes you a hero?” Shi Hao stepped forward, striking without hesitation.
**Boom!**
His fist tore through the void, the sheer force making the Wang youth cough blood before impact.
“Even if your clan’s top ten joined forces, I’d slaughter them all!” Shi Hao declared coldly.
Silence fell.
This was a blatant insult, a slap to the Wang Clan’s face before all.
“Hah! Well said! But let me play the villain!” Xu Mingxuan vanished, reappearing before Shi Hao, then backhanded the Wang youth.
**Crack!**
The slap shattered the youth’s face, sending him flying, unconscious, his soul nearly dispersed.
A mercy—a flick of Xu Mingxuan’s finger could have erased him entirely.
“Xu Mingxuan! How dare you?!” roared a Wang elder, livid at the public humiliation.
“Dare? Your clan’s lack of discipline lets a whelp spew venom. Do you seek war between our clans?” Xu Mingxuan thundered.
The crowd tensed. This was no jest—it was a grave provocation.
“You—!” The Wang elder seethed but could only snort and retreat, swallowing his rage.
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