Shi Hao’s ten heavenly passages erupted with radiant light, resonating like thunder as they connected to form a colossal sun. He descended like a deity from the heavens. The Lunar Grace Goddess paled—this strike was overwhelmingly powerful. Her delicate jade-like hand clashed with his palm, unleashing a dazzling burst of light that sent violent tremors through her body.
At the same moment, the Heavenly Fox Fairy arrived, extending her jade arm as the world itself seemed to shift, the heavens and earth collapsing into a swirling mist that surged forward, pressing down. The Lunar Grace Goddess, now besieged, found herself unable to withstand the combined assault of these two powerhouses and was on the verge of capture.
Shi Hao’s expression flickered with intrigue. He still held back, neither sealing the void nor unleashing the full might of his fleshly heavenly passages. Yet, as the battle unfolded, he realized he might truly capture this celestial maiden. Earlier, he had doubted his chances, unwilling to fully provoke the Lunar Grace Goddess. But now, it seemed the demoness had outmaneuvered her—this divine battlefield was eerily peculiar.
“Sister, you cannot escape,” the Heavenly Fox Fairy declared, stepping forward.
Shi Hao struck simultaneously, shattering countless glyphs with a single palm and suppressing the Lunar Grace Goddess. With a resounding *thud*, he seized her slender arm, feeling its softness and intoxicating fragrance.
“Wait—something’s wrong!” The Heavenly Fox Fairy suddenly exclaimed, sensing an anomaly.
At that instant, the divine battlefield was split apart. A blinding sword beam tore through the leaden clouds above, cleaving the heavens like an immortal descending from beyond. Simultaneously, the void collapsed, the battlefield vanished, and they found themselves back in the real world.
Ahead, a pristine lake shimmered, and standing upon it was a peerless fairy, wielding a jade sword. It was she who had shattered the battlefield, dissolving the illusion.
Shi Hao felt his grip loosen—the celestial body before him dissolved into a rain of light, flying toward the fairy in the lake and merging into one of her heavenly passages.
*The Lunar Grace Goddess!*
The demoness laughed. “Sister, you truly are remarkable. To refine your sect’s supreme divine ability to such perfection, even recreating a true self from a spiritual avatar—so lifelike it could deceive the heavens themselves! I am in awe.”
Shi Hao’s heart chilled. *That was a spiritual avatar?* It had been indistinguishable from the real body! The Lunar Grace Goddess was terrifying—she had never truly been cornered. Her real self had remained outside all along, even fooling the demoness momentarily.
The battle had not lasted long, and most on the lakeshore had not noticed. Now, as gazes turned toward the two fairies standing upon the water, shock rippled through the crowd.
Shi Hao, in particular, had gone largely unnoticed.
The Lunar Grace Goddess remained composed, neither angry nor perturbed. With a faint smile, she said, “Little sister, your methods are truly impressive.” Then, her luminous eyes turned toward Shi Hao, nodding slightly—no hostility, no intent to strike.
Shi Hao rubbed his chin. *What an unexpected mess.* He had never intended to get entangled in their feud, yet here he was, having taken action regardless.
“What just happened?” Many murmured in confusion.
*Swoosh!*
Suddenly, a radiant net descended from the sky, enveloping both the demoness and the Lunar Grace Goddess—even Shi Hao was caught in the crossfire. The net was terrifying, woven from what seemed like strands of starlight, its crystalline threads resembling intersecting rivers of stars. It draped over the entire lake, exuding an oppressive aura.
“My young master wishes to invite both fairies as guests,” a voice boomed from the heavens, accompanied by rolling thunderclouds that rapidly descended.
“Even the mighty will be reduced to mere weeds. The master of your ancient divine mountain must have failed in his teachings if his descendants dare act so recklessly,” the demoness sneered.
At the same time, the Lunar Grace Goddess acted. Her sword erupted with divine radiance, slicing through the sky with unparalleled sharpness. The demoness, too, summoned a treasure artifact—a miniature sun that soared into the heavens. With a single tremor, the very fabric of space quaked, and heavenly thunder crashed down.
*Crack!*
The net shattered, obliterated by the two fairies. Their artifacts—the Lunar Grace Goddess’s divine sword and the demoness’s radiant treasure—continued to pulse, dispersing the clouds above and filling the sky with blinding light.
“What… what kind of treasures are these?” The crowd gasped, utterly shaken.
That net had been of monarch-tier quality, and yet it had been effortlessly destroyed. The power behind these artifacts was unimaginable.
*Thud!*
The Lunar Grace Goddess’s jade sword, no longer than a foot, unleashed a devastating slash, severing the head of a colossal bird in midair.
“The Lunar Grace Goddess is terrifying! Is that sword an ancient sacred artifact?” Many shuddered at the sheer might of that strike.
*Boom!*
The demoness’s treasure artifact flared, reducing the bird’s remains to dust. Both artifacts then returned to their owners, vanishing into their bodies as the two fairies stood upon the lake, poised like divine beings.
The onlookers trembled. These two women were beyond comprehension—their talents heaven-defying, their artifacts capable of slaying monarchs.
“How can they be this strong?” Many found it hard to believe.
“Even a prodigy like Shi Yi, when he reaches their age, might only match them at best. Could he surpass them?” Some murmured in awe.
And yet, their beauty was equally unmatched—transcendent, as if celestial fairies had descended to the mortal realm.
More realized the truth: these two hailed from beyond their domain. Were they the strongest young prodigies from the outer realms? Otherwise, how could they dare enter the Desolate Wasteland so boldly?
Beautiful as they were, their status and power rendered them untouchable. Many young geniuses sighed, knowing they could only admire from afar.
The two fairies no longer faced each other. Without another word, they parted ways, their conflict dissipating like mist.
Crowds surged toward them, eager to converse, though their earlier boldness had waned.
“The world is peaceful again,” Shi Hao muttered, shrugging innocently. He stood by the lake, but neither woman paid him further attention.
He knew this was temporary. Though they had ceased fighting, they still watched him—just not openly, to avoid exposing his uniqueness.
Shi Hao wandered toward the banquet tables, where roasted delicacies and fine wines awaited.
“Now this is the kind of gathering I like!” Soon, he forgot everything else, indulging heartily.
Despite his earlier proximity to the two fairies, no one had linked him to them. They assumed he had merely been caught in the crossfire.
Only when his voracious appetite became apparent did nearby onlookers take notice.
“Look at him! He just devoured an entire roasted savage bull by himself!” a young woman whispered.
“Ah, it’s you—the glutton!” another beauty recognized him, delivering the blunt assessment.
“Hey, chubby, I’m not eating your share!” Shi Hao shot back.
The young mistress of the Lei Clan gritted her teeth. This brat had snatched that mysterious bone at the auction, and now he dared call her *chubby*? Infuriating!
With a stomp, she stormed off.
“So, you *did* show up—and now you’re feasting like a king!” A furious voice rang out. It was Liu Han, the one whose bronze war chariot Shi Hao had commandeered earlier, along with his companions.
They had brought reinforcements—two powerful scions of noble houses.
“Thanks for lending me the chariot. It’s parked somewhere—go fetch it yourself,” Shi Hao said between bites.
“You—how dare you?!” Liu Han seethed. As a scion of the Lingyun Marquisate, he had never suffered such humiliation—beaten and robbed of his chariot.
But he dared not make a scene, lest his disgrace become public knowledge.
“Let’s teach him a lesson and toss him into the lake,” he muttered, urging his two allies to act.
“Remember, Liu Han—you owe me a powerful treasure for this,” one of them said coldly.
“Fine!” Liu Han agreed, willing to pay the price for revenge.
*Boom!*
One of the nobles struck, palm surging forward. “Take a dip in the lake to cool off!”
The crowd scattered—such skirmishes were common at these gatherings.
*Splash!*
Water erupted as someone was hurled into the lake. But to everyone’s shock, it wasn’t Shi Hao—it was the attacker himself!
“You—!” The noble floundered, face alternating between green and white.
“Stay put. If you climb out, I can’t guarantee you’ll survive,” Shi Hao said flatly, not even rising from his seat.
“What kind of freak is this kid?!” Liu Han yelped.
*Splash! Splash! Splash!*
One by one, Liu Han and his group were flung into the water, drawing raucous laughter from the crowd. Humiliated, they swam to the opposite shore rather than face Shi Hao again.
The incident passed quickly, and Shi Hao resumed his feast.
“Brother, might you reconsider parting with that bone from the auction? We’re willing to pay a high price,” a youth approached.
Shi Hao’s senses sharpened. This was no ordinary human—likely a pure-blooded creature. The Lei Clan’s connections ran deep.
“Sorry, it’s not for trade,” he refused. That bone might hold another chapter of the *Primordial True Record*—he couldn’t risk losing it.
Had they recognized its value too?
“A pity. Let me know if you change your mind,” the youth said before departing.
“The exchange has begun! Let’s see what treasures emerge,” someone announced. Even the imperial princess hurried toward the event.
Shi Hao followed.
The gathering wasn’t just for sparring—it was a rare opportunity to trade artifacts. Sometimes, it became a contest of treasures, with rival nobles clashing openly.
This year was especially lively, with weapon shops showcasing their finest wares.
*”There’s something I need here,”* the tiny pagoda nestled in Shi Hao’s hair whispered.
A merchant displayed ancient relics—some broken, but remnants of their former glory lingered.
“These were once mighty treasures, but time has worn them down,” the merchant explained.
Most dismissed the fragments, but Shi Hao quietly purchased a shattered wolf-tooth dagger.
In seclusion, the pagoda devoured it instantly.
*”I’ll save you one more time,”* it declared.
“That was fast. What *was* that thing?” Shi Hao asked, stunned.
*”Not a wolf’s tooth—a dragon’s. Or rather, a dragon offspring’s,”* the pagoda clarified.
Shi Hao nearly choked. *A dragon’s tooth?!* And it was just… *eaten*?
But now, he felt invincible. Even if Shi Zi Teng or his backers came for him, he could fight—or flee—without fear.
“Ancient Demon Spider, you drove my grandfather away. You *will* answer for it,” he murmured.
“Grandfather, I’m alive. Soon, the world will know.”
His fists clenched.
The reckoning had only just begun.
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