Shi Hao drove away in the chariot, leaving behind a group of people crackling with lightning and billowing black smoke, trembling with rage. They never expected to encounter someone so brazen—simple, direct, and utterly ruthless. Not only had he beaten them up, but he had also outright stolen their chariot. For them, this was an unprecedented humiliation. Barely into the confrontation, they had been utterly suppressed, tossed aside like discarded sacks. The young man’s every word and action radiated dominance and sharpness, and now he had taken their war chariot with ease. How could they possibly face this disgrace? Truly, they had sought trouble only to be trounced in return.
As the lightning dissipated, they rose from the ground, their bodies charred black, seething with fury. Their lungs felt ready to burst from sheer rage. Were they still supposed to attend the gathering now, with their chariot stolen? This was beyond humiliating.
“Who the hell is that guy? Never seen him before—seems ridiculously strong!”
“If we don’t show up at the gathering and just slink away, people will laugh at us,” one of them muttered.
The owner of the bronze chariot, his face alternating between green and pale, was drowning in self-inflicted shame. If only he hadn’t provoked that savage brute, none of this would have happened.
“This chariot belongs to my grandfather—I can’t afford to lose it,” he fretted.
“Let’s wait here for a while. If we see someone we know, we’ll go with them. Otherwise, leaving like this would be too embarrassing,” someone suggested.
Meanwhile, Shi Hao was in high spirits. Earlier, he had been walking alone on this road, drawing curious and judgmental stares as if he were some oddity. But now, he had resolved the issue in the most satisfying way.
The chariot was no ordinary bronze war vehicle—its design was ancient and dignified, engraved with depictions of mountains, rivers, beasts, birds, fish, insects, and celestial bodies. The eight fierce beasts pulling it were formidable, each exuding a murderous aura, clearly veterans of the battlefield.
“Roar—!”
Not long after setting off, the eight beasts grew restless. Intelligent and aware of their new master, they resisted, attempting to throw Shi Hao off.
“Stay in line!” Shi Hao barked, summoning a golden-winged roc with a Treasure Spell. The massive bird hovered in mid-air, glaring down at them with overwhelming pressure.
The beasts shuddered, their defiance instantly crushed by the innate racial suppression emanating from the roc. Shi Hao hadn’t used the true Kun Peng Treasure Spell—only a fragment—fearing that revealing the full technique might invite catastrophic consequences.
Soon, they arrived at Qinglin Garden. Towering stone gates, as massive as small mountains, stood wide open as chariots streamed in one after another.
“Hmm, that’s the chariot of Marquis Lingyun. The young marquis must be here too,” someone noted at the registration.
But when Shi Hao cheerfully greeted the gatekeepers, the registrars froze in shock—he didn’t look like the young marquis at all.
“Those fine gentlemen lent me their chariot,” Shi Hao declared casually before driving straight into the garden.
Qinglin Garden was vast, with ample space for parking. The atmosphere ahead was heavy, filled with the presence of numerous fierce beasts—yet all remained eerily silent, disciplined by their masters’ orders not to roar.
Shi Hao observed that this place was brimming with terrifying war chariots, undoubtedly powerful treasures. Some were even drawn by ancient remnant species—beasts that, once fully grown, could dominate entire regions. The fact that these chariots used top-tier remnant species as draft animals spoke volumes about their owners’ status.
“That’s the chariot of the War King… and over there, Marquis Shenwei’s…” Shi Hao overheard murmurs, realizing that many of these young nobles had borrowed their ancestors’ chariots to flaunt their prestige. After all, none of them could command adult remnant species on their own.
“Liu Han, you’re late too?”
Just as Shi Hao parked, a voice called out. He turned to see a golden chariot approaching, its occupant—a youth—peering at him.
“Eh? You—” The boy was startled, recognizing the chariot but not its current rider.
Clad in golden dragon robes like a prince, the youth’s eyes gleamed with a wild intensity as he scrutinized Shi Hao.
“What’s going on? Isn’t this Marquis Lingyun’s chariot? Why is it in your hands?” he demanded sharply.
“Oh, they lent it to me. I’ll return it later,” Shi Hao replied with a friendly smile before calmly walking away.
Qinglin Garden was enormous. Shi Hao strolled along the winding paths, passing through ancient groves before arriving at the heart of the garden, where the trees thinned and lush grass carpeted the ground. Ahead lay a vast, crystal-clear lake, shimmering like a colossal gemstone.
The area was crowded with young elites, ranging from their teens to twenties, each extraordinary in their own right. Some were clearly not ordinary humans, their auras striking and their features remarkable.
Shi Hao noted a few individuals whose strength was so overwhelming it even surprised him. Their eyes crackled like cold lightning—men and women alike, the latter as radiant as blooming flowers.
“Wow, the Sixteenth Princess is here—the brightest jewel of the capital! Who’s that man beside her?”
“Must be someone of great stature, undoubtedly a formidable expert. Watch your tongue.”
In the distance, a graceful figure in flowing yellow robes approached—the Sixteenth Princess, her figure enchanting. Beside her walked a red-haired man of striking presence.
Soon, another stir erupted as another stunning maiden appeared, surrounded by admirers like the moon amidst stars.
“That’s the younger sister of Marquis Huntian—not only breathtakingly beautiful but also incredibly skilled,” someone whispered.
Nearby, her brother drew even more attention, with both men and women crowding toward him.
Marquis Huntian stood tall and imposing, his black hair loose, clad in dark golden battle armor that gleamed ominously. At only twenty-five, he had already earned his title, defending the borders with unmatched valor. As a direct descendant of the Shi Clan’s nobility, he had recently acquired the Blood Demon Ruler at an auction.
On the battlefield, he was ruthless; in life, he was unrestrained. Laughing heartily, he wrapped an arm around a beautiful woman’s waist without a hint of restraint.
The woman squirmed slightly before resigning, her cheeks flushed. The crowd roared with laughter as young men eagerly sought his advice on border warfare, while maidens flirted shamelessly.
“This guy’s really popular. Even a bunch of chubby folks are swarming him,” Shi Hao muttered under his breath.
Those nearby stiffened—chubby? The people around Marquis Huntian weren’t fat at all! The girls were slender, just… generously proportioned in certain areas.
“Hey, isn’t that the guy who went to Little Western Heaven for training? He’s back?”
A commotion broke out as many turned toward a young nobleman laughing merrily, surrounded by beauties as he drank without a care.
“I heard Little Western Heaven is full of ascetics who preach abstinence, but this guy’s an anomaly. Every time he returns, he indulges in debauchery,” someone whispered.
Yet no one dared underestimate him. His name was Li Baiding, rumored to have mastered Little Western Heaven’s secret arts, making him unrivaled among his peers in the capital.
Had Shi Yi’s brilliance not overshadowed him, this noble scion would have been the brightest star. Even so, he commanded attention.
Suddenly, an enraged shout cut through the air:
“Li Baiding! You—I’m utterly disappointed! I swear I’ll break off our engagement!”
All eyes turned to a stunning young woman, her face livid as she watched him openly flirt with several girls.
“Beautiful, were you calling me? Come, have a drink!” Li Baiding, thoroughly drunk, laughed recklessly, further infuriating her.
The crowd gaped—this guy was even more debauched than the rumors suggested. His fiancée was one of the capital’s brightest jewels, on par with the Sixteenth Princess and the Thunder Clan’s eldest daughter. Yet here he was, shamelessly misbehaving.
“Throw him into the lake!” she ordered her elderly servant.
Boom!
But as the servant moved, radiant light erupted from Li Baiding’s body, manifesting a wrathful vajra guardian that sent the old man flying, nearly into the water.
“What?! That’s the Indestructible Vajra Divine Ability—Little Western Heaven’s forbidden art! He’s mastered it to this extent? Even elders can’t touch him now?”
“Come, beauty, let’s keep drinking,” Li Baiding said, pulling a girl closer for a toast.
His fiancée stormed off in fury.
“What a playboy,” Shi Hao murmured, having already encountered several eccentric figures in such a short time.
“Jealous?” A fragrant breath tickled his ear.
“Absolutely,” Shi Hao admitted.
“Tsk, so young and already so wicked. Good—I can sell the Pure Fairy to you without guilt,” the fox maiden teased, her smile enchanting.
Shi Hao turned, not particularly eager to engage with her. While her allure was undeniable, she was also lethally dangerous.
“All talk. You’d really sell her to me?” he challenged, refusing to let her dominate the exchange.
“Patience. She’ll be yours,” the fox maiden purred before sauntering away.
Her long legs, slender waist, ample curves, and snow-white skin made her impossible to ignore. Every head turned as she passed—even Marquis Huntian’s gaze burned with primal intensity.
Soon, a crowd swarmed around her, treating her like the moon among stars.
“Ah, the Martial Prince’s Manor has representatives here too.”
People noticed a few youths from the manor, their expressions shifting. The Great Demonic God’s recent battle had shaken the capital, but his subsequent departure left the manor divided, its former glory dimmed.
“Pity it’s not Shi Yi. I wonder if he’ll return.”
At the mention of that name, everyone tensed. Though only sixteen or seventeen, Shi Yi’s reputation was unparalleled. Given a few more years, he might sweep through all rivals unchallenged.
“Has Shi Yi returned?” someone asked.
Those from factions hostile to the Martial Prince’s Manor seized the chance to provoke:
“Rumor has it the manor’s in decline. Only Shi Yi’s return can salvage it now.”
One of the manor’s youths, drunk from recent tensions, blurted out:
“What do you know? Our manor isn’t just about Shi Yi! There’s another—a born supreme being! Don’t you dare underestimate us!”
Laughter erupted.
“Ha! Did we just hear ‘born supreme being’?”
“Ah, so you’re splitting now? Will there be a ‘Demonic God’s Manor’ too?”
“Look, we respect Shi Yi. Everyone here does. In the Stone Nation, no one his age can match him—he’s a true young supreme. But if you’re from the Great Demonic God’s faction, don’t embarrass yourself. Who else can your clan rely on besides Shi Yi?”
The harsh words sparked heated discussions—some nodding, others sighing in regret.
“Word is Shi Yi’s returning. If true, it’ll be something to see. But spare us this ‘born supreme’ nonsense.”
“It’s true! There was another child in our manor—a born supreme being! His name was Shi Hao!”
The drunkard’s roar echoed across the lake, the name “Shi Hao” thundering in everyone’s ears like a bolt from the blue.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage