“He… doesn’t have the best eyesight,” the purple-clad maiden whispered softly, her voice barely audible to avoid provoking the savage child. Glimmering rain of light cascaded around her, enveloping her in a shimmering veil as if countless crystalline petals danced in the air, rendering her ethereal and transcendent, as though she didn’t belong to the mortal realm.
Clearly, her explanation was half-hearted and unconvincing, prompting the silver-haired girl to pout and mutter, “No one has eyesight *that* bad.”
The group of young women swayed gracefully, their slender jade-like figures accentuated by elegant curves—each with a willowy waist and radiant beauty, exuding youthful vitality, far from anything remotely resembling “plumpness.”
Shi Hao’s delicate face twisted with suspicion. “Why are you whispering behind my back?” he asked.
The girls studied him with odd expressions, their curiosity piqued by this extraordinary human boy who had managed to open ten Heavenly Passage realms.
“Did I just hear you call us fat?” the silver-haired girl asked sweetly, her glossy hair reflecting light like a mirror.
“Isn’t it obvious?” the holy terror retorted, as if the answer were self-evident. His big eyes darted around, lingering in places they shouldn’t. “The divine mountain sure has an abundance of spiritual herbs—looks like you’ve overindulged.”
Among them, two or three maidens stiffened at his words, their ivory-like skin tensing as their delicate fists clenched. The faint sound of teeth grinding could be heard.
“Don’t mind him,” the purple-clad girl teased with a light laugh. “In his eyes, only burly warrior women are majestic and awe-inspiring.” Her graceful figure was bathed in a hazy glow, her flowing hair obscuring her delicate features, though her obsidian-black eyes sparkled with an almost divine brilliance.
“Nonsense! Your sense of aesthetics is severely flawed,” Shi Hao countered seriously. “Don’t measure a normal person’s standards by your bizarre tastes.”
The purple-clad girl gritted her teeth. *Whose* aesthetics were truly bizarre here? Was this brat doing this on purpose? She pressed a hand to her flawless forehead, utterly defeated, and wisely sealed her lips shut, refusing to engage further lest she be dragged into his absurd worldview.
Beside her, the other maidens seethed with indignation, feeling utterly powerless against his infuriating gaze. One of them, with a radiant lotus mark glowing between her brows, snapped, “Little brat, asking for a beating, aren’t you? Keep mocking us, and I’ll thrash you.”
“You want to wrestle me? You’d lose for sure—ask *her* if you don’t believe me,” the holy terror declared, tilting his chin toward the purple-clad girl.
The maiden, who had maintained an air of transcendent grace since their encounter at Hundred Shattered Peaks, now twitched her brows, her watery eyes flashing with irritation. She had no desire to revisit *those* memories. Wrestling and brawling with a brat like him? Utterly humiliating.
The others exchanged puzzled glances. Had something actually happened between them?
Their bickering was more amusing than hostile, though the blue-haired youth standing to the side seemed forgotten. He let out a cold snort, his gaze icy as he glared at Shi Hao.
“Hey, what’s with the glare?” Shi Hao asked, eyeing him sideways.
“You should know this is the Ancient Divine Mountain,” the blue-haired youth said with an air of superiority. “This isn’t your human kingdom, nor the Void God Realm. As a mere human, you should learn reverence!”
Shi Hao shrugged. “I *do* know. You invited me here because you need me. So *you* should be the one showing *me* respect. Got it?”
His nonchalant tone dripped with sarcasm, as if the entire mountain meant nothing to him.
The blue-haired youth’s eyes burned like emerald flames, his arrogance and hostility barely restrained. He knew this human boy was no ordinary figure—otherwise, how could he have dared to come alone?
*Could he truly be from a village where gods reside?*
“Enough discord,” a fiery-haired youth interjected, his crimson locks cascading like flames. “We must unite if we hope to obtain the Kun Peng’s divine technique in that sea.”
With tensions momentarily eased, the purple-clad girl led them into the mountain.
This was an alliance of formidable forces, each with a glorious past—unattainable to ordinary beings. Now united, their goal was clear: the legacy of the Ten Calamities.
The mountain was a paradise—flocks of five-colored cranes, soaring phoenixes, and fragrant spirit herbs bathed in radiant mist. The group moved like deities among the sacred peaks.
Shi Hao marveled at the sight. *This is a true immortal’s abode.*
He plucked a spirit herb from a crevice and woke the golden-furred ball snoozing on his shoulder, shoving the herb into its tiny paws. The creature, initially furious at being disturbed, immediately brightened upon seeing the treasure and began munching happily.
At the summit, an assembly awaited them before a celestial palace.
“Now that everyone is here,” a voice declared, “let us work together to claim that supreme technique.”
The gathering was majestic—ancient structures exuding the aura of antiquity, divine beasts like five-colored peacocks and three-legged golden crows soaring above.
Shi Hao was guided to a jade table, facing an assembly of beings from divine lineages. Even the elders, though hunched, radiated overwhelming power, like living deities.
“Everything is prepared,” one announced. “We depart soon.”
But murmurs arose.
“I fear the so-called Ten Heavenly Passage prodigy may be too weak,” someone muttered.
“Let me test his strength,” a youth declared, stepping forward.
Shi Hao’s expression darkened. “Am I here to assist or to be challenged?”
A servant quickly intervened with apologies, but the elders remained silent, their expressions obscured by divine light.
“If you don’t need me, I’ll leave,” Shi Hao snapped. “But if you challenge me publicly, you insult me—and I *won’t* let that slide!”
With a *crack*, he shattered his jade table and stood.
Gasps filled the air. Who dared act so boldly in the Divine Mountain?
Pointing at his challenger, Shi Hao commanded, “Come. Face death.”
The youth, two years into the Transformation Realm, lunged forward, his attack manifesting as a divine crane.
Shi Hao didn’t move.
Then—**BOOM!**
Ten Heavenly Passages erupted into a divine ring, annihilating the crane in an instant. With a single palm strike, his opponent exploded into a bloody mist.
Silence.
Then outrage.
The blue-haired youth shot to his feet.
“Come then,” Shi Hao taunted. “I’ll cut you down.”
A deep voice from above finally spoke:
“Young friend, calm your fury.”
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