The turn of events was far too sudden!
A cold spearhead, black as ink and razor-sharp, pierced through Wang Tianming, lifting him high into the air as blood cascaded down.
The ground split open, revealing five figures clad in black armor. Some wielded massive obsidian halberds, others celestial lances or icy war spears. Among them stood a tiny golden ant perched on the leader’s shoulder. They had erupted from beneath the earth, shattering the surface as they arrived at the Celestial Academy.
“Ah—!”
Wang Tianming screamed, not yet dead but writhing in agony, his face twisted in pain, his body convulsing. The black spear was thick and long, skewering him from the ribs to just below his neck, piercing through his entire torso—a devastating wound.
Worse still, the cold spearhead, now protruding from beneath his neck and dripping with crimson blood, hovered right before his eyes—a sight so ghastly it chilled the soul.
As the victim, Wang Tianming was utterly terrified. The spearhead, having impaled him, now loomed before his vision, the sheer horror of it nearly causing him to faint.
Yet, he couldn’t black out. The pain was too excruciating, searing his soul and scorching his flesh.
The weapon was terrifying—not just to him, but to everyone who witnessed it.
The black spear was wreathed in eerie symbols—curses, arcane power, divine energy manifesting as Dao patterns. These sigils burned like hellfire, consuming Wang Tianming’s body and eroding his soul.
“No! Put me down! Save me!” Wang Tianming shrieked, unable to endure the torment.
The onlookers paled. Wang Tianming was no ordinary figure—he was a supreme expert, his status nearly on par with the elders of the Immortal Academy.
Yet now, he had been broken. Impaled by the spear, his soul trembled as if facing the judgment of the apocalypse, powerless to resist.
Blood dripped steadily from the spear, splattering onto the ground, painting a gruesome scene.
Wang Tianming hung there, skewered by the massive spear, suspended midair as the surrounding space cracked. He couldn’t even twitch!
The sight was horrifying, leaving everyone aghast.
“You scum! You dare throw your weight around in your own territory, but here you are, running wild—utterly reckless!” the golden ant spat coldly.
It was furious. After returning from the Great Scarlet Heaven’s border with Shi Hao, they had been framed by these vile schemers who sought to capture them.
They had fought on the battlefield—Shi Hao alone against ten kings—while the Wang Clan, instead of defending, plotted in the shadows to eliminate dissent. How could the golden ant not seethe with rage?
Sensing danger, it had quietly slipped underground with Shi Hao, heading straight for the Celestial Horned Ant’s immortal abode to summon reinforcements.
“Release him!” Two Wang Clan elders in the distance scowled, their expressions shifting unpredictably. This turn of events had caught them off guard.
This was an ambush. They were inwardly shaken—they hadn’t anticipated the Celestial Horned Ant could summon such mysterious aid.
Everyone could see that the black-armored soldiers weren’t truly living beings but puppets, yet they obeyed the golden ant absolutely, retaining a trace of eerie sentience.
“You think you can just order us around? Who do you think you are?” the golden ant sneered from its perch on the leader’s shoulder.
Its hatred for the Wang Clan ran deeper than even its loathing for the foreign invaders.
Shi Hao stepped forward, ignoring the two elders, his gaze fixed on Wang Tianming. “I warned you. If you didn’t back off, you’d die.”
“Put me down! Now!” Wang Tianming snarled, unable to endure any longer. The black spear, wrapped in cursed runes, burned like hellfire, refining his soul.
His primordial spirit couldn’t even escape—trapped within his body, corroded, reduced to ashes by the black flames, vanishing bit by bit.
It was unimaginable torment—watching his soul crumble to dust, witnessing his own slow death. Worse than dying outright.
“Are you truly guilty? Resisting arrest is one thing, but killing an inspector? We’ve been patrolling, ensuring stability—only you dare act so arrogantly. Do you truly seek rebellion?” one of the Wang Clan elders growled.
“Have you no shame? How dare you spew such lies?” Cao Yusheng couldn’t help but curse.
The Wang Clan was twisting the truth, projecting their own guilt onto others, slapping labels on Shi Hao and his allies.
In truth, the two elders had no choice. Backed into a corner, they had no other excuse. Surrendering now would render everything meaningless.
They were here for the Indestructible Scripture, acting on the Wang Clan’s highest decree.
“Release him, and we’ll let bygones be bygones. Just explain what happened in the Great Scarlet Heaven, and we’ll clear your names,” one elder offered.
He didn’t dare push too hard. The five warriors brought by the golden ant unnerved him. Though they were mere war puppets, their power was terrifying.
“Has the Wang Clan truly lost all shame?” Shi Hao retorted. With a wave, he ordered the golden ant, “Kill him.”
Boom!
The golden ant uttered a command. The leader’s black spear trembled, erupting in black flames. With a scream, Wang Tianming’s body charred to a crisp, his primordial spirit incinerated to dust.
A high-ranking Wang Clan elder—slain just like that!
The spectators shuddered. This was a heavyweight from an immortal clan, executed in an instant.
“Shi Hao! Do you realize what you’ve done? Resisting arrest, killing an inspector—are you rebelling?!” a Wang Clan elder roared, though his bluster rang hollow.
Shi Hao scoffed. “Arrest? Who appointed you inspectors? What right do you have to detain anyone? While all immortal clans fight on the frontlines, you skulk in the shadows, then dare play the righteous card? Have you no shame? Utterly shameless!”
His voice thundered, deafening many. The Wang Clan’s faces twisted in fury.
“Even if you felt wronged, you could’ve spoken up. Why resort to murder? And with such vile black flames, burning souls—how cruel!” a Wang clansman argued.
“You tried to capture us without cause, yet dare question us? Disgusting!” the golden ant hissed.
“You call these flames cruel? These are immortal Dao runes—once used to slaughter countless enemies on the battlefield!” the puppet leader intoned flatly.
The words sent chills down everyone’s spines. These were ancient warriors who had fought foreign invaders—who dared question them?
The Wang Clan trembled. Did this puppet retain true consciousness?
“Seniors, please capture them all!” Shi Hao requested.
Clang!
The five warriors advanced, wielding spears, halberds, and celestial lances, their killing intent overwhelming, carrying an aura even time couldn’t erode.
“Don’t—don’t act recklessly!” The Wang Clan members panicked, their courage failing. Though mere puppets, these five were unfathomably powerful.
“Who’s more reckless than the Wang Clan?” Cao Yusheng snapped.
“Reckless? Let me ask—has the Wang Clan forgotten, or do you truly seek to betray the Nine Heavens?” Shi Hao thundered.
“What—what nonsense! Don’t slander us!” a Wang elder spat, his face dark.
“If not, why question those who fought on the frontlines?” An elder from the Celestial Academy stepped forward, no longer blocked by the two.
“Wang Clan, unless you seek rebellion, have you forgotten? Not long ago, the Grand Elder and I visited your clan, killed some of your people, and your ancestor Wang Changsheng swore to cease provocations. Yet here you are, breaking your word so soon—do you seek death? Or annihilation?” Shi Hao roared.
He was furious. The Wang Clan’s repeated schemes against him were unforgivable.
The crowd gaped. To openly rebuke Wang Clan elders and name-drop their ancestor Wang Changsheng—such audacity!
“You—” The Wang Clan was rattled. They had planned to swiftly capture Shi Hao and extract the Indestructible Scripture, never expecting this.
“You what? If the Wang Clan seeks madness and destruction, you’ll get your wish!” Shi Hao declared.
“You—you dare! Our clan has the Nine Dragons and our ancestor! Threaten us, and calamity will befall you!” a young Wang clansman shouted.
“Weed! Mutt! Who gave you the right to bark here?” Shi Hao strode forth, his right hand descending like a mountain.
“You—” The youth, who had earlier spouted nonsense, was smacked into a bloody mist.
“Outrageous! You dare kill our clansmen? This insults the dignity of an immortal clan!” another Wang member bellowed.
“Dignity? The Wang Clan has none—just trash. Defiant? Today, we make an example of you. Let’s see if your clan truly rebels!” Shi Hao retorted.
“Audacious!” A middle-aged man lunged, aiming to seize Shi Hao as a hostage. His violet-glowing palm shot forth.
Splat!
Blood sprayed as he howled. Shi Hao’s sword had pierced his hand, the wound bleeding endlessly. The blade seemed demonic, thirsting for his lifeblood.
The Wang Clan shuddered. Even the two elders paled. This youth was formidable on his own, and full of mysteries.
“Kill them!” Shi Hao ordered.
The golden ant was eager. The five warriors advanced, their black spears and icy halberds thrusting forward.
“You dare?!” the two elders bellowed.
“Why not? The Wang Clan broke their oath so quickly—killing you is justified. Let’s see if your Nine Dragons emerge!” Shi Hao said coldly.
Splat!
Blood sprayed as the five weapons struck. The Wang Clan couldn’t resist—instantly impaled!
Only the two elders dodged, proving their skill. But even they couldn’t hold out. The five weapons, already skewering others, turned toward them.
This was a battle formation that had slain countless foreign foes—overkill for these two.
Crack!
The elders’ lifebound treasures shattered under the spears and halberds. Then, the weapons pierced them, lifting them into the air, blood raining down.
The crowd was stunned. These were Wang Clan elders—slaughtered like livestock!
“You—you’ll pay! Our ancestor won’t let this stand!”
“Our Nine Dragons will rise—none can oppose them!”
The two elders weakly threatened.
“If the Nine Dragons emerge, I’ll slaughter them all!” Shi Hao said coldly. “Kill them.”
Splat!
The five weapons trembled. The impaled figures, including the elders, exploded into blood and ash.
Just like that—annihilated!
Silence. Heavyweights of an immortal clan—executed in moments.
“What now?” the golden ant asked, itching for more.
“Next, we purge the Wang Clan’s outposts in Boundless Heaven—especially those near the Celestial Academy. Leave none alive!” Shi Hao declared, his killing intent soaring.
“What?!” The crowd was aghast. This was madness—open war with the Wang Clan? Who could oppose Wang Changsheng?
“Child, reconsider!” A Celestial Academy elder stepped in, fearing Shi Hao would provoke disaster. If the Nine Dragons emerged, none could stop them—let alone if Wang Changsheng awoke.
“The Grand Elder has returned—he hasn’t left yet,” Shi Hao said quietly, reassuring the elder.
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