Shi Hao clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white, for the Crippled Immortal had gone too far in his bullying!
Clearly, the Crippled Immortal did not regard him as worthy of attention. When deciding his fate, he hadn’t even spared him a glance, merely discussing it with the being atop the Five Elements Mountain.
The silver war chariot halted before the Five Elements Mountain, its curtain already drawn aside, revealing the Crippled Immortal’s high regard for the being within.
“This is my bottom line. To dare defy and offend me naturally demands a price. Sparing his wretched life is already an act of mercy beyond the law,” came the voice of the Crippled Immortal from within the chariot.
In the distance, an edict glowed, and an ancient battle-axe roared, representing the will of another Crippled Immortal!
*Clang!*
At that moment, the bronze palace shrank, its verdigris-covered surface appearing ancient and worn. It condensed to the size of a fist and vanished into the silver war chariot, appearing in the Crippled Immortal’s palm.
The tension was palpable—a single misstep could ignite a full-scale battle!
Though neither side had yet struck, both held their own unyielding stances. If neither could retreat or compromise, war would be inevitable.
“Let me take a look,” the being atop the Five Elements Mountain spoke.
Eight celestial steeds neighed, their massive hooves shattering the void as they pulled the silver chariot away, vanishing to the horizon.
A golden path extended from the Five Elements Mountain, guiding Shi Hao upward until he stood before the being.
Shi Hao did not resist, for the being atop the mountain sought to protect him—an attitude entirely different from the Crippled Immortal’s.
*Hmm!*
The being atop the mountain was secretly startled. Opening its immortal eyes, it grasped Shi Hao’s arm and sensed something hidden within him. At such close proximity, nothing could escape its perception.
A flame lay dormant within Shi Hao’s body!
Though dispersed and concealed within his flesh and blood, the being still detected it.
When an existence of this level grasped the arm of a mortal-realm cultivator, it could naturally discern the secrets within.
Yet, the being showed no outward reaction, maintaining a calm and indifferent demeanor.
It communicated with Shi Hao through a hidden transmission.
“The Crippled Immortal fears me. He won’t kill you, but he intends to cripple you.”
Shi Hao nodded in understanding.
“However, there may still be a way out. There is a flame within you. If I assist, you might evade this calamity,” the being said.
Shi Hao sighed. Escaping the grasp of a true immortal was no easy feat—this was destined to be a life-and-death trial.
If the Crippled Immortal struck, even with the being’s protection, Shi Hao might still be crushed between their powers, reduced to a mist of blood.
The being atop the mountain gazed toward the Crippled Immortal and said, “Even if I lend him my strength, he cannot withstand your attack. He will not survive.”
“I said I would not kill him—only a minor technique, ensuring his life is spared,” came the Crippled Immortal’s voice from the chariot.
“Very well. I shall shield him with a sacred barrier. The rest is up to fate,” the being replied.
With a thunderous boom, it acted. A radiant barrier enveloped Shi Hao, forming a dazzling halo that illuminated his body in resplendent brilliance.
“Remember your words—do not slay him,” the being warned one last time.
“Rest assured,” the Crippled Immortal agreed.
Throughout this, Shi Hao remained silent, not uttering a word. He was sent down from the mountain, standing motionless in the void.
Outmatched in strength, he had nothing to say. The Crippled Immortal’s assault made him acutely aware of his own insignificance. To stand against such power, he needed to step into the immortal realm.
But how could that be easy?
*Heh…*
The Crippled Immortal chuckled, his tone light and indifferent, yet grating to Shi Hao’s ears.
The Crippled Immortal was about to strike—so casually, as if swatting a fly. His laughter alone conveyed his utter disregard for Shi Hao.
To him, this was no different from executing a stray dog.
The curtain of the silver chariot lifted, revealing a silver-clad arm encased in gleaming armor—the first glimpse of his form.
It was a human arm. With a mere flick of his finger, silver radiance erupted, illuminating the heavens and shaking the world.
A vast surge of power rippled forth before swiftly condensing into a single streak of silver light, hurtling toward Shi Hao to pierce his body.
*Clang!*
A protective barrier shimmered around Shi Hao, placed there by the being atop the mountain to shield him from harm.
Yet, in an instant, the being’s expression changed—shocked and dismayed.
Shi Hao’s face paled as well. The barrier was already on the verge of shattering, the being’s defenses rendered useless.
*Boom!*
The next moment, the radiant halo around Shi Hao trembled violently, emitting an even fiercer light. It was infused with immortal power, yet it was being corroded.
In the end, the barrier did not break, but a wisp of silver light slipped through, unstoppable.
A sinister glow seeped into Shi Hao’s body, sending violent tremors through him.
Simultaneously, the being atop the mountain froze in disbelief, then horror. It had not anticipated this outcome.
In its view, its barrier should have blocked the attack. Even if breached, the youth’s hidden secrets might have countered it.
But now, its face twisted in fury, anxiety, and shock.
“It’s that… the unsolvable curse of ancient times!” the being murmured, its voice tinged with desolation and resignation. This curse was too dreadful.
“The Immortal-Severing Curse—gone for so long, yet it reappears in this world,” the being lamented, utterly helpless.
The Immortal-Severing Curse was infamous for crippling even immortals. Once afflicted, there was virtually no cure—a truly vicious hex.
Under its influence, one’s cultivation would be stripped away, their power dissolving into nothingness, reducing even a true immortal to a mere mortal.
Thus, those who knew of this curse could not help but pale at its mention.
Even in the ancient immortal era, it was a thing of terror—yet so rare that many believed it lost to time.
Who could have guessed that this Crippled Immortal still wielded it?
“You are too cruel!” the being atop the mountain spat before shaking its head and vanishing into the mountain in a flash of light. It believed all was over.
This curse ignored defenses, defied immortal runes, and pierced through all barriers—which was why its protective shield had failed instantly.
In ancient times, perhaps only an Immortal King could resist it. Otherwise, resistance was futile.
*Heh…*
“You have one month left. Enjoy the pleasures of flight and cultivation while you can. Soon, gazing upon majestic landscapes will become… troublesome,” the Crippled Immortal said coldly.
And with that, it was over.
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