Chapter 228: First Hearing

“The savage child is back again—what does he intend to do this time? Surely, he won’t stir up another cataclysmic storm?” Many were genuinely afraid of him. This fellow brimmed with boundless energy, and who knew what he might do next? Especially those major sects that had narrowly escaped annihilation—they were trembling with fear, gnashing their teeth in frustration. With the holy terror’s return, who could say if he’d target them again?

A crowd stood on high alert, their faces grim, anxiously awaiting his next move. Little Rascal, however, remained blissfully oblivious. The moment he appeared, he acted like an old friend, waving at some, clapping others on the shoulder. “You look familiar—didn’t I kill you before? It’s only been three months, and you’ve already recovered. Impressive!” His overly enthusiastic demeanor was unbearable.

Those who recognized him in the crowd paled in terror, fleeing in panic. Their injuries were far from healed, and they had only forced themselves to come and gather information. If the savage child slaughtered them again, their true bodies might be crippled for good. The humiliation and frustration were overwhelming—within moments, a mass exodus ensued.

“Ah, were all of you my past victims? Did I really kill that many? I don’t recall being that ruthless,” Little Rascal scratched his head in confusion.

The crowd inwardly cursed. *You’ve slaughtered countless!* His rampage had left the Rain Clan, the Tuoba Clan, and the Four Great Noble Families in ruins. His reappearance drew a massive crowd—recently, he had become the hottest topic in the Void God Realm, with both enemies and allies watching him closely.

“Don’t run! I still have a few Soul-Severing Needles, but they’re not meant for you. What’s there to fear?” Little Rascal called out kindly.

The words were a brutal blow. Clearly, he deemed them unworthy of such lethal measures, but to the crowd, it was nothing short of insulting. *Too humiliating!* Many seethed, especially the young geniuses, who swore never to return to the Void God Realm again.

Little Rascal, seemingly oblivious to their distress, cheerfully waved them off, assuring them he wouldn’t give chase.

“I’m going to explode with rage!” Both elders and youths felt the urge to vomit blood. The Rain Clan, the Tuoba Clan, and the Xiling Beast Mountain contingent wore expressions of deep regret—they never should have come to witness this humiliation.

With a swift motion, Little Rascal vanished from the Initial Land, ascending through a golden passage to a higher realm—the place where the Ten Heavenly Passage was forged.

“I’m here! Pay your debts!” he bellowed the moment he arrived in the mountain range.

Outside the Initial Land, within the chaotic ruins, the Willow God stood rooted, its tender branches piercing the heavens as if awakening something dormant. The very world trembled.

Within the blessed land, a cascade of multicolored light descended, scattering divine rain across the mountains. A radiant orb plummeted, resonating with a metallic hum as divine light erupted from it. Two bronze fragments manifested, landing in Little Rascal’s hands.

As the glow faded, the bronze pieces revealed their ancient, unadorned surfaces, etched with cryptic patterns.

The onlookers were stunned. *Had this child defied the heavens?* A single shout demanding repayment had summoned two divine scripture fragments from the Void God Realm. It was beyond belief.

Everyone stood dumbfounded. *Was this real?* He hadn’t lifted a finger, yet he’d obtained two bronze scriptures effortlessly.

Countless observers lingered in the distance—Little Rascal’s infamy had drawn a crowd eager to witness his next move.

“How stingy! Where’s the interest? Only two pieces after all this time?” Little Rascal grumbled, shaking his fist at the sky.

The crowd turned to stone. *This kid was beyond outrageous—defying the Void God Realm’s laws with sheer audacity.*

A dark cloud rumbled in the void, threatening to descend upon Little Rascal’s head.

“Fine, keep the interest!” he yelped, bolting away. Last time he’d been banished, black mist had enveloped him, marking him as unwelcome. He had no desire for a repeat exile.

The dark cloud dissipated, restoring peace. The crowd was awestruck—the Void God Realm indeed had a will of its own, not to be provoked. Their reverence deepened, wondering how the gods had forged such a place. Could remnants of ancient beings still linger here?

A crystalline stele materialized, its glowing inscription arriving belatedly but unmistakable—only four words: **”Heavenly Passage Supreme.”**

The crowd erupted in chaos. Those four words said it all—this was an acknowledgment, an unparalleled honor. In the realm of Heavenly Passages, he stood unrivaled, perhaps the strongest in history within the Void God Realm of the Barren Wastelands.

“He’s terrifying—rising with unstoppable momentum. How many years has it been since such a figure emerged?”

“The vast lands teem with countless beings, birthing countless legends. Who can say how strong the truly legendary figures are?” Some shook their heads, noting that this was only the Barren Wastelands’ Void God Realm.

Few were as brazen or unrestrained as Little Rascal—charging ahead with reckless confidence, his nerves either unshakable or his arrogance boundless.

Little Rascal gleefully examined the bronze scriptures. With these, he now had five fragments—half of the complete book.

“Tsk, after toppling so many great sects, I didn’t get any rewards. Is the system broken again?” He glared skyward, tempted to shout once more.

“Definitely not. In ancient times, someone far more ruthless than you once annihilated dozens of sacred lands in a single day—far more than you’ve destroyed,” a distant voice retorted.

“I’m so kind-hearted,” Little Rascal mused.

*Bullshit!* Many inwardly cursed, particularly those from the ruined sacred lands, though none dared voice their grievances.

“Why isn’t anyone trying to rob me now? I was looking forward to it,” Little Rascal muttered, juggling the bronze fragments like bricks.

The crowd seethed. *This brat truly was “loathed by gods and men alike.”* Many indeed coveted the scriptures but lacked the courage to act, burying their envy deep.

“Young man, we’ve finally caught up to you—you move too fast!” A group of elders panted as they approached, their bodies radiating divine light—some wreathed in silver, others in violet mist or crimson halos.

The crowd gasped. These were no ordinary figures—they exuded the aura of ancestral-level powerhouses.

“Do I need to run? Are you here to steal my scriptures?” Little Rascal spun around, eyes gleaming with excitement.

“No, not at all!” they hastily denied, fearing he’d use it as an excuse to pummel and rob them.

Soon, Little Rascal learned their origins—they hailed from the Primordial Divine Mountains, their appearances varied and extraordinary.

One elder, shrouded in golden light like a miniature sun, was a Golden Beast—humanoid but covered in golden fur, his teeth nearly gone with age. The others bore similar traits—some silver-cloaked Spirit Clan members, others Wood Clan elders, all ancient retainers.

They represented different factions of the Primordial Divine Mountains, preparing for an imminent voyage across the sea. Having searched endlessly for Little Rascal, they now urged him to hurry.

“I haven’t even entered the Spirit Transformation Realm yet. Got any secret manuals or supreme techniques to help me break through?” Little Rascal asked shamelessly.

The elders were speechless. *Ten Heavenly Passages complete, yet stuck before Spirit Transformation? Impossible!*

“Time is running out. We must depart soon—you can’t delay any longer,” a soft, ethereal voice interjected. A purple-robed maiden approached, her sacred aura enveloped in gentle radiance.

“What about the information I asked for?” Little Rascal’s tone was uncharacteristically solemn.

“You care deeply for them, it seems,” the maiden observed, her violet eyes gleaming with insight.

“Just tell me already,” he pressed.

The maiden’s flawless brow twitched. She clenched her fists but restrained herself, though inwardly, she cursed vehemently.

“Nine years ago, there was indeed a pair of formidable young individuals. They lingered near a Primordial Divine Mountain before departing the Barren Wastelands.”

Little Rascal’s eyes widened, his face a mix of sorrow and shock. He stood silent for a long time.

“I need more details,” he finally said.

“They left the Barren Wastelands. Gathering further information will be difficult,” the maiden replied. Even the Primordial Divine Mountains had limits, especially beyond this domain.

Little Rascal’s eyes reddened—uncharacteristically quiet, he took a long moment to compose himself.

“I want everything you can find,” he demanded.

“We’ll do our best. But now, you must advance to the Spirit Transformation Realm. The coming voyage will be a bloodbath—countless factions will clash, staining the seas red. You must strengthen yourself to survive.”

“I know,” Little Rascal said tersely before turning away.

The elders, representing various forces, moved to press him for a timeline, but the maiden stopped them. She understood—the more they pushed, the more he’d resist.

“Father… Mother… where are you?” Little Rascal wandered alone, vanishing into the horizon.

He traversed the ruins of the Rain Clan and the Tuoba Clan, lost in thought. The major sects watched with dark expressions—was he revisiting his “glorious conquests”?

None dared confront him. By now, Little Rascal had become synonymous with savagery, a force none wished to provoke.

Unconsciously, he arrived before a majestic sacred land, where spiritual energy cascaded like waterfalls from the mountains.

“Martial Prince’s Mansion!” His gaze sharpened at the inscribed stele.

“Father, Mother… you must have come here once, though it’s no longer your home.” His fists clenched, eyes flashing like lightning.

After a long silence, the terrifying aura faded.

“Halt! No entry allowed!” guards barked as he approached the grand gates.

“You—what do you want?” one stammered, recognizing him.

“I’m here as a guest,” Little Rascal replied simply.