This is the Celestial Deity Academy. What right does the Wang Family have to come here and dictate terms? Judging by their demeanor and words, they’ve already assumed themselves to be half the masters of this place.
“Hey! The Ninth Elder is questioning you. Why don’t you answer?!” A young man approached from nearby. He was strikingly handsome, but his gaze carried a sinister edge, far from friendly.
“He’s *your* Ninth Elder, not anyone else’s,” Shi Hao responded coolly. He had met this young man from the Wang Family before. Back then, the youth had regarded him with reverence, but now his arrogance was unmistakable—clearly emboldened by something.
The middle-aged man leading the group was the so-called Ninth Elder. Though he appeared to be in his prime, brimming with vitality, he had actually cultivated for countless years.
“Why aren’t you answering?!” another voice barked.
“You Wang Family members strut around the Celestial Deity Academy as if you own the place. What gives you the right to demand answers from me? Why should I bow to you?” Shi Hao shot back, glaring at them.
“The Wang Family sure is impressive—running wild in the Celestial Deity Academy. I didn’t see any of you at the Great Scarlet Sky’s border. What’s with the bravado here?” Cao Yusheng couldn’t hold back and sneered. He hadn’t returned to the Sacred Academy.
“Junior, I wasn’t speaking to you. Who gave you the right to interrupt?” The so-called Ninth Elder, Wang Tianming, swept a cold glance at Cao Yusheng.
“This is the Celestial Deity Academy. I’ll speak if I want to. What’s it to you? This isn’t the Wang Family. If you want to throw your weight around, go back to your Eternal Clan!” Cao Yusheng retorted without backing down.
“Silence!” Wang Tianming roared, infusing his voice with Dao resonance. The thunderous sound shook the void, making even the Celestial Deity Academy tremble.
Everyone paled. What was he trying to do?
This was the Celestial Deity Academy. The sudden arrival of Wang Family experts was already suspicious, and now they were targeting Shi Hao and his group.
“Speak! Why did you flee the battlefield and return alone? Are you deserters?” someone beside Wang Tianming demanded in a low voice.
The situation was dire. Without even hearing their side, they were already slapping labels on Shi Hao and his companions.
“Your Wang Family is too overbearing. This is the Celestial Deity Academy. What gives you the right to act like masters here? What exactly are you plotting?!” Shi Hao countered loudly.
The academy fell silent. Students gathered, watching the Wang Family members with suspicion. Today’s events were far too strange.
“The heavens and earth are changing. The foreign realm is invading. We patrol to prevent unforeseen incidents. The Celestial Deity Academy is a crucial location. Naturally, we must question those who return,” Wang Tianping replied calmly.
Then, his expression turned severe. “So many went to the battlefield, yet only a few of you returned—sneaking around like ghosts. You must have deserted. Seize them! Interrogate them thoroughly!”
Everyone’s expressions darkened. This was serious. The Wang Family was moving against Shi Hao—he wouldn’t escape unscathed.
Many realized this was revenge. The Wang Family was using this chance to target Shi Hao under false pretenses.
“Outrageous!” Shi Hao bellowed.
Cao Yusheng, furious, shouted again, “You lot were nowhere to be seen at the Great Scarlet Sky’s border, yet here you are, throwing your weight around. What kind of courage is that? If you’ve got guts, prove yourselves on the battlefield, you cowards!”
Shi Hao recalled carefully—he truly hadn’t seen any Wang Family members at the border. Had none of them answered the Ancestral Dragon Horn’s call?
This was terrifying. While the border war raged, chaos could erupt in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths. A shadow crossed Shi Hao’s heart.
Wang Tianming said coldly, “Juniors like you couldn’t possibly understand the plans of greater powers. We act on orders to ensure stability across the Nine Heavens, lest opportunists stir trouble. This isn’t the time for explanations. Confess now—why did you flee the battlefield? Take them down!”
Several middle-aged men beside him stepped forward, unleashing overwhelming auras to suppress Shi Hao, Cao Yusheng, and the others.
“Do you think the Celestial Deity Academy has no one left? The Wang Family sure has nerve, bullying us like this!” A cold snort came from nearby as an elder approached.
He was one of the academy’s elders. The others had left with the war vessels upon hearing the horn, heading to the Great Scarlet Sky’s border to fight.
The academy had acted selflessly, leaving only one elder behind to guide the remaining youths and prepare for even bloodier battles.
“Old friend, it’s been a while,” two elderly figures emerged, blocking the elder’s path. They were Wang Family’s ancient powerhouses.
Had the Wang Family gone mad?
Everyone was baffled. The Wang Family was blatantly targeting Shi Hao, undeterred even by the academy’s elder.
“Outrageous!” The elder was truly enraged. The Wang Family had gone too far.
“Calm yourself, old friend. Let us detain them for questioning first,” one of the Wang Family elders said with a chuckle.
“What exactly are you trying to do?” the academy elder demanded coldly. The Wang Family’s intentions were glaringly obvious.
“Despicable! While Shi Hao fought on the frontlines, defeating ten foreign prodigies and uplifting our Nine Heavens’ prestige, where was the Wang Family? Scheming in the rear, targeting your own allies—how vile!” Cao Yusheng spat, his usual humor replaced by fury.
Everyone was moved. Shi Hao had fought at the border? Such a feat—slaying ten enemy kings in battle—was awe-inspiring.
“Baseless claims. Who would believe you without proof? Once we take you in, the truth will come out!” Wang Tianming declared.
Everyone knew that in the Wang Family’s hands, Shi Hao would suffer—if not death, then ruin.
“Many can testify. The young geniuses of various clans have returned. The truth will spread across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.”
At these words, the two Wang Family elders and Wang Tianming’s eyelids twitched, but they quickly steadied themselves, insisting on an investigation.
“Shi Hao, recount the events of the battlefield truthfully for all to hear,” the academy elder instructed.
Shi Hao held nothing back, detailing the battles at the Great Scarlet Sky’s border. The listeners’ breaths grew ragged, emotions surging between tension and exhilaration.
When he spoke of the deaths of prodigies like Purple Sun Heavenly Monarch and Lü Hong, hearts grew heavy. These were the finest of their generation, fallen in battle.
And when Shi Hao calmly described his ten consecutive victories, the crowd could vividly imagine the scenes, their blood boiling.
“Baseless boasts. How could you surpass Purple Sun Heavenly Monarch and Lü Hong? They died, yet you returned unscathed, claiming ten victories? Lies! There must be more to this!” Wang Tianming sneered, adamant about detaining Shi Hao for interrogation.
“Wang Family, what is your aim? Do you intend to betray the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths?!” The academy elder could no longer contain his fury. The Wang Family’s demands were absurd and brazen.
“Speak plainly! What do you want?!” Shi Hao demanded.
“Damn it! Not a single Wang Family member was at the frontlines, yet here you are, bullying your own allies. What kind of scum are you?!” Cao Yusheng raged.
Wang Tianming’s face darkened. Their motives were too transparent, but they had no other pretext. He had orders—if the opportunity arose, Shi Hao *must* be captured to extract a certain scripture from his mind!
This directive came from several of the Wang Family’s nine ancestral elders—Wang Changsheng’s own sons.
They had learned that Shi Hao obtained an extraordinary scripture from the North Sea’s Stone Forest—possibly the *Indestructible Scripture*!
Rumors said Wang Changsheng himself had deduced this through divination!
This scripture was paramount. If Wang Changsheng obtained it, he might ascend to immortality, breaking into the eternal realm!
Thus, the Wang Family would stop at nothing—even making enemies of the world—to seize it.
Once Wang Changsheng became immortal, transcending all constraints, he would fear no force. In an era where immortality was unattainable, such an ascension would bring unimaginable benefits—far beyond mere True Immortality, perhaps even higher!
That was why the Wang Family had come, acting “deranged,” discarding all pretense to capture Shi Hao.
“Mind your words, lest you invite calamity!” Wang Tianming warned the academy elder. Normally, he’d show respect, but with two Wang Family powerhouses present—and possibly more on the way—he cared little for decorum.
“Such arrogance! If the Wang Family seeks to rebel, be prepared to pay the price!” The elder raised his voice, ready for battle.
“These slanders are unacceptable,” the two Wang Family elders stepped forward, exuding combat aura, preventing the elder from aiding Shi Hao.
Everyone shuddered. The Wang Family had torn off all pretenses. With the academy’s grand elders away at war, the situation was dire.
“Will you surrender, or must we force you?” Wang Tianming strode forward, hands behind his back, exuding absolute control.
“Shi Hao, you traitor, spinning tales of ten victories? Today, we’ll expose your lies!” the Wang Family youth mocked.
“Scram! While we fought on the battlefield, vermin like you hid in the rear, too cowardly to show your faces!” Cao Yusheng snapped.
“I stand right here. Let’s see who dares touch me,” Shi Hao said icily, utterly composed.
“Arrogant brat. You may have some skill, but before me, even a dragon must coil!” Wang Tianming hissed, advancing with his men, ready to strike.
“One more step, and I’ll kill you where you stand,” Shi Hao said softly, his voice chilling.
Everyone froze. In such peril, Shi Hao still dared to speak so boldly?
“Hahaha…” Wang Tianming laughed, then abruptly turned cold. “I’ll suppress you personally. What can you do?”
“Kill!” Shi Hao uttered a single word.
Wang Tianming’s mocking smirk stiffened—then twisted into a scream.
The ground split open. A black war spear, radiating ruthless slaughter-light, erupted from below, impaling him and lifting him high.
“You dare run wild on my turf? Seeking death!” The silent golden ant emerged, leading several ancient warriors clad in black armor from beneath the earth.
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