“Heavens!” Xianlan’s mouth dropped open in astonishment. “What kind of treasure is this?”
“This is an Ice Silk Wind Chime. It’s purely transparent and can only be heard, not seen,” the shopkeeper proudly raised three fingers. “It originates from the Northern Universe, which no longer exists. There are fewer than ten of these Ice Silk Wind Chimes in existence. I’m practically losing money selling it for three million imperial credits.”
“Ice Silk Wind Chime?” Yang Hao looked puzzled. “Does such a purely transparent object really exist in this world?”
The shopkeeper blew between his fingers again, and the pleasant sound echoed once more. He continued proudly, “This chime isn’t simple. Its main material is the millennium ice from a planet in the Northern Universe, which never melts no matter the environment. It’s then polished by artisans and strung together with the strongest Soulless Spider silk to complete the creation. Even if the Northern Universe still existed, a masterpiece like this would only produce half a set per year. Which woman wouldn’t love such a treasure?”
“Love it! Love it!” Xianlan’s eyes sparkled as she practically wanted to snatch it. “I’ll take it,” Yang Hao smiled.
Delighted, the shopkeeper quickly packed the Ice Silk Wind Chime into a box and looked at Yang Hao with anticipation.
However, Yang Hao’s smile soon turned into embarrassment as he realized he had left in a hurry without even bringing his credit card. “Uh… I seem to have forgotten my money.”
The shopkeeper’s excited expression froze. Indeed, he was a shrewd businessman who wasted not even a single expression, quickly hiding the box behind his back, fearing that someone might look at it for too long.
“In that case, please come back with money,” the shopkeeper said coldly. “However, something as good as this will be sold within an hour.”
Before the shopkeeper even finished speaking, Yang Hao had already waved his hand, and somehow the box flew into his hand with a whoosh.
“Hey, are you robbing me openly?” the shopkeeper jumped up.
Yang Hao gave him a cold stare. “You can come to the Dan Ding Sword Sect later to collect the money. Do you really think I’d stoop to robbing you?” With that, he walked straight toward the door.
“Wait, wait!” Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper was greatly alarmed and quickly rushed in front of Yang Hao in just a few steps. “Did you say… Dan Ding Sword Sect?”
“What about it?” Yang Hao looked displeased. “I’m Yang Hao from the Dan Ding Sword Sect. Do you think I won’t pay you?”
The shopkeeper was already sweating profusely, stunned for several seconds. The old man had never imagined that the person in front of him was none other than Yang Hao, the Undying War God and one of the top ten council members of the Merchant Guild.
Although this shop was affiliated with the Starlight Circus, it was still under the jurisdiction of the Merchant Guild. If Yang Hao had revealed his identity earlier, the shopkeeper wouldn’t dare to show even the slightest disrespect.
The shopkeeper immediately bowed respectfully to Yang Hao. “I didn’t know it was one of the council members visiting. I was wrong. I was wrong.”
Yang Hao was momentarily taken aback. Although he had been a council member for some time, he had never used his position to intimidate others. He hadn’t expected it to be so effective.
“Well, a council member wouldn’t owe you money, right? You can come to the sword sect later to collect the payment,” Yang Hao said.
“No, no, no,” the shopkeeper was greatly alarmed. “How could I dare to take your money? I’ll give it to you for free.” The shopkeeper quickly grabbed a handful of gemstones from the counter and presented them to Xianlan with both hands. “These insignificant items are just small gifts. I hope the council member and the council member’s wife will like them.”
The council member obviously wouldn’t be interested, but Xianlan seemed quite pleased with the title of “council member’s wife.” She graciously accepted the gemstones and stuffed them into her handbag like ordinary trinkets.
Yang Hao gave her a disapproving look. As a princess, she was still greedy for small gains.
“Welcome Council Member Yang Hao anytime,” the small shopkeeper kept enthusiastically bidding farewell as Yang Hao walked out of the store.
Not far from the entrance, Princess Xianlan stretched out her hand toward Yang Hao as soon as she was out. “Give it to me!”
“Give what?” Yang Hao pretended to be clueless.
“The wind chime!” Xianlan pouted. “Isn’t it bought for me? Hurry up and give it to me. Since you’ve shown sincerity, I’ll reluctantly forgive your past disrespect.”
Unable to feign ignorance any longer, Yang Hao straightforwardly said, “Who said it’s for you? I bought it to hang for myself.”
“What do you need a wind chime for, being a man?”
“I like it. What do you care?” Yang Hao waved his hand, and the box had already vanished into his robe. Xianlan couldn’t even get close to snatch it back, especially since Yang Hao was already swaggering towards the Starlight Circus tent.
“You!!!” Xianlan was furious. She stood there stomping her foot.
However, aside from attracting strange looks from the surrounding people, Yang Hao didn’t even bother to change his expression this time. Yang Hao had thoroughly offended Princess Xianlan, and her cold war with him continued until the Starlight Circus performance began.
But there were still great benefits to hanging out with a princess, such as not having to squeeze with others during the performance and directly sitting in the best seats in the VIP box, with robots attending to them and continuously serving fresh fruits and fine wines.
However, not long after the performance started, Yang Hao’s attention was drawn to something else. Yang Hao noticed that in the nearest VIP box to the performance area, Kan Ling was sitting there. Moreover, it was directly facing the direction where Zhou Yao was performing, clearly indicating that Zhou Yao had arranged this to please Kan Ling.
Yang Hao seemed to hear Xianlan’s cold chuckle from the side. He immediately understood that the demon princess hadn’t invited him to watch the performance just for the sake of it. What she wanted him to see was probably another show.
What kind of exciting performance would unfold between Zhou Yao on stage and Kan Ling in the audience?
Yang Hao coldly watched the performance on stage while the surrounding audience roared with cheers, as if something incredible had happened. In reality, it was just the circus taming some cosmic beasts and making them perform poetic and unimaginable actions.
Suddenly, a thought flashed through Yang Hao’s mind, something he should have thought of long ago but had just remembered now.
The Starlight Circus.
The Star Sword.
Among the Ten Sword Sects, there seemed to be one called the Starlight Circus. However, this sword sect had never appeared before, so Yang Hao had ignored it for so long. This sect also possessed one of the ten divine swords, the Star Sword.
In other words, wasn’t this circus troupe right in front of him?
A trace of a strange smile appeared on Yang Hao’s face. The Starlight Circus indeed had some skills, becoming famous through their side business and successfully concealing their identity as one of the Ten Sword Sects.
However, remembering this now was actually good news for Yang Hao because he had finally found an excuse to strike back.
If it were just a matter of competing for Kan Ling’s affection, it would be beneath the dignity of a martial arts expert. However, the opposing side was one of the Ten Sword Sects that had best preserved their strength. Given Yang Hao’s vendetta with the Ten Sword Sects, even if he eliminated them, others probably wouldn’t say much.
As Yang Hao was excited about finding a reason to beat someone up, the circus on stage reached a new climax.
Dozens of cosmic beasts were driven onto the stage by people. Several psychic abilities collided, actually exploding into clusters of ice flowers. Under the purification of the ice flowers, the thick and ugly beasts began to jump in clumsy dances, making people unable to help laughing.
“Since everyone is so happy, let’s add some more jokes,” Yang Hao raised his eyebrows, maliciously shaking his wrist. Dozens of threads of true energy, filled with aphrodisiac components, were shot out in the form of thin threads, accurately piercing into the beasts’ big noses. With Yang Hao’s current cultivation, as long as he was willing, those true energies could absolutely be used as super potent aphrodisiacs, and their effects would be incredibly fast.
Immediately, changes occurred on the stage. First, the circus tamer felt the beasts reacting strongly, seemingly no longer following commands. Especially a few beasts with strong psychic powers began shaking their big heads and roaring wildly.
The formation of the dance line also collapsed instantly.
Gradually, even the tamers were shocked by the beasts’ madness. Some of the usually docile small beasts started running around and headbutting people.
The cheers from the audience were replaced by gasps of astonishment, with most people standing up in confusion, wanting to see what was happening on stage. After all, in the nearly hundred-year history of the Starlight Circus, there had never been a failure during a performance.
Just as all the members of the circus troupe rushed onto the stage to forcibly control the beasts, the biggest climax of the day was born.
Those dozens of beasts from different races and with different skin colors actually started mating… openly on stage…
This was simply an unprecedented wonder. It was well known that although beasts in the universe were not considered intelligent species, they still had their own rules and temperaments. Between different species, not only was mating unthinkable, but even getting along peacefully was difficult.
Even with all the efforts of the Starlight Circus, these beasts would still fight every few days.
However, today, a true miracle occurred. Those beasts of various breeds, even those with mutual hatred, actually drew their weapons and openly mated on the grand stage.
The most amusing part was that due to the limited number of females, at least two male beasts were squeezed out and eventually clung together, creating an unbelievable scene.
“Heavens…”
The audience was almost driven crazy. At this point, even if a supreme being arrived, no one could believe that this was part of the circus’s original performance plan.
The unbearable scene caused parents with children to angrily scold, while some aristocratic nobles wildly booed. The whistling and jeering were like a tidal wave, as if they wanted to shake the entire circus tent to pieces.
The Starlight Circus had traveled across the entire universe in its hundred-year history, performing countless shows. But this was the biggest crisis in its history. If this crisis couldn’t be resolved, the Starlight Circus’s reputation as an immortal art troupe would have to be discarded.
Yang Hao, the culprit, sat in the VIP box with a delighted expression, watching as if it had nothing to do with him. Although Xianlan was suspicious of the scene, seeing that Yang Hao hadn’t even moved, she naturally didn’t suspect him.
What made Yang Hao even happier was that Kan Ling, sitting in the front row, was comfortably leaning back in her chair with her eyes closed, showing no sign of worrying about the current situation of the circus. It was evident that Kan Ling had no feelings for Zhou Yao at all.
However, Yang Hao’s happiness seemed a bit premature.
The Starlight Circus had survived for such a long time because they naturally had many secret techniques, sometimes more than just one or two.
Just as everyone was unable to subdue the beasts and the boos from the audience reached their peak,
The entire performance hall was plunged into complete darkness.
The audience erupted into even louder anger and frightened screams. However, these sounds were immediately silenced by the strange sight that followed.
In the darkness, several bright silver lights appeared, like the faint starlight at the beginning of the universe. Amidst the powerful and majestic music, these starlights rapidly expanded, transforming into dazzling nebulae and an endless Milky Way.
What was presented before everyone was a scene of the universe’s creation from nothingness, the birth and death of stars.
And this scene was performed by just one person and a sword.
As soon as the person appeared, Yang Hao couldn’t help but let out a discontented hum. Other than Zhou Yao, the pretty boy, no one else in the Starlight Circus made Yang Hao feel so displeased.
What made him even more unhappy was the sword in Zhou Yao’s hand. That sword, glowing with divine light, was obviously one of the ten divine swords—the Star Sword.
The strange spectacle continued to unfold above the performance stage. The nebulae seemed to grow with a howl, and grains of planets were born in beautiful halos of light.
These mysterious illusions made the audience completely forget about the chaos that had just occurred on stage.
As a martial arts expert of Yang Hao’s level, he could even see that Zhou Yao wasn’t just performing. Each sword technique he executed was able to refract massive amounts of energy and accurately strike one of the beasts in the darkness. In just a short amount of time, those dozens of beasts had probably all been killed.
The Star Sword’s ability seemed to allow the user to harness the power of the stars in the universe.
And the sword technique Zhou Yao was now displaying was the famous “Brilliant as Starlight” sword style from the Ten Sword Sects. This sword style wasn’t just powerful; it also created an incredibly beautiful spectacle when used. Zhou Yao had used this sword style to enter the ranks of young experts and had even won the affection of many beauties.
With a single set of the Brilliant as Starlight sword technique, Zhou Yao effortlessly resolved the biggest crisis in the history of the Starlight Circus. His graceful posture in mid-air triggered countless shrieks from young girls, even making Xianlan’s eyes light up. Fortunately, Lan Ling, sitting in front, still remained indifferent with her eyes closed. Otherwise, Yang Hao would surely have lost his temper.
But the temper he was holding back was inevitable. Zhou Yao’s next action completely ignited Yang Hao’s suppressed anger.
Just as the Brilliant as Starlight sword dance finished and the beasts on the performance stage were cleared away, under the dazzling glow of the starlight, Zhou Yao, like a superstar, stretched out his arms and slowly descended from the air.
He landed right in front of Kan Ling. As Zhou Yao stood in front of Kan Ling with a beaming smile, a massive bouquet of flowers suddenly appeared in his hands.
Zhou Yao knelt on one knee in front of Kan Ling, offering the bouquet of over a thousand flowers.
This unexpected scene drove all the women watching the performance into a frenzy. Who could resist such a romantic sight? The brightest star of the entire show had suddenly knelt before them. How could any woman withstand such a moment?
Xian Lan finally broke into a bright smile. Naturally, she had known about this scene beforehand, otherwise she wouldn’t have dragged Yang Hao here. Xian Lan wanted Yang Hao to understand clearly: Lan Ling simply did not belong to him.
“Zhou Yao is pretty handsome, right?” Xian Lan said with a sly grin. “He and Kan Ling have been childhood sweethearts. When they were very young, the Elders had already arranged their engagement. After today, they could get married anytime. You…”
Before Princess Xian Lan could finish her sentence, she suddenly noticed that Yang Hao, who had been sitting beside her with a gloomy expression moments ago, had already vanished.
Kan Ling herself was somewhat surprised. She had come to watch the performance at Xian Lan’s arrangement. Although she had known Zhou Yao might pull some stunts, she hadn’t expected something this grand.
When Zhou Yao placed over a thousand flowers before Kan Ling, the woman didn’t show even a hint of delight. She merely sighed softly. Her sigh was naturally for the person offering the flowers—not the one she truly longed for.
If the person kneeling before her were Yang Hao, Kan Ling might have smiled happily even in her sleep. But unfortunately, it wasn’t.
Kan Ling placed both hands on her chest and allowed Zhou Yao to remain kneeling without even the slightest gesture of acceptance.
Yet Zhou Yao was in high spirits. This wasn’t the first time he had pulled this stunt. In the past, whenever he did, young girls would swoon completely and then submit to his every whim.
Therefore, Zhou Yao firmly believed his ultimate move on women would work. He just needed a little more time.
It was precisely this thought that prompted him to add some sweet words: “Xiao Ling, I…”
Thus began the tragic chapter of Zhou Yao’s life. He had barely begun his sentence when he suddenly felt his hands lighten. The massive bouquet of over a thousand flowers vanished abruptly.
Kan Ling lifted her head just in time to see the shattered flower petals drifting down like snowflakes. Then, her hand was suddenly seized tightly—so tightly that she couldn’t possibly pull away.
Not that she wanted to.
Yang Hao’s fury had reached its peak. While Xian Lan was speaking, he had already been on the verge of losing control. By the time he flew to Kan Ling’s side, Zhou Yao had just opened his mouth. Hence, Zhou Yao’s bouquet became the first victim of Yang Hao’s sword.
If Kan Ling hadn’t willingly allowed Yang Hao to hold her hand, Zhou Yao wouldn’t have survived even the next second.
“You… who are you?” Zhou Yao exclaimed in shock as he stood up. His expression wasn’t much better than that of the surrounding audience. Yet, after asking this foolish question, he quickly recognized Yang Hao’s identity and hastily swallowed the threatening words he had intended to say.
Yang Hao’s expression was cold enough to freeze the entire world: “I told you before—Lan Ling is my woman.”
“I… I…” Zhou Yao took two steps back under Yang Hao’s murderous gaze. Relying on being on his own turf, he tried to sound defiant. “I am the one who…”
The surrounding people had already recognized Yang Hao. Many of them were nobles from the capital who naturally knew all about Yang Hao, the newly rising star. Numerous women whispered among themselves.
“The Undead War God is here.”
“So the rumors between the Undead War God and the number one beauty are actually true.”
“Yang Hao looks way better than Zhou Yao…”
Hearing the murmurs around him, Zhou Yao’s face changed dramatically: “You really are the Undead War God Yang Hao?”
“Lan Ling is my woman,” Yang Hao emphasized slowly and clearly. “Get out of the capital now, or you’ll leave here in a coffin.”
Zhou Yao had never been so humiliated in his life, especially not within his own circus. Even if this guy were a clay idol, he probably couldn’t stand it anymore. Zhou Yao, after all, was among the top young experts of his generation. Though not as strong as Kan Ling, his sword techniques were still formidable.
“The Undead War God?” Zhou Yao brandished his Starlight Sword. “No one is truly immortal under my Shining Star Sword Technique.”
“Is that so?” Yang Hao smiled.
Kan Ling looked at Zhou Yao with pity. Although she didn’t have feelings for Zhou Yao, they had grown up together. She didn’t want to see him die right in front of her. Carefully, she tugged Yang Hao’s hand, hoping he might show mercy despite his jealousy.
Seeing the man she loved getting worked up over her—what woman wouldn’t find that blissful?
Just as Yang Hao was momentarily distracted by Kan Ling’s gesture, Zhou Yao launched his Shining Star Sword Technique. An unbelievable stellar brilliance erupted from the divine sword, tracing the most beautiful arc as it pierced toward Yang Hao.
Zhou Yao’s entire body seemed enveloped in starlight, dazzlingly beautiful.
The audience gasped in horror. Everyone saw that when Yang Hao turned his head, Zhou Yao had already launched a surprise attack. The distance was so close that Yang Hao seemed unable to draw his sword to defend himself.
Was the legend of the Undead War God truly destined to end here?
Everyone had forgotten—Yang Hao didn’t need to draw his sword. Shadow Moon was hidden within his body, ready to emerge at a mere thought.
Therefore, when Shadow Moon’s nearly unstoppable force surged forth, Zhou Yao and his beautiful sword technique were sent flying like dry leaves, spraying blood into the air.
Zhou Yao flew a full thirty meters before landing in the middle of the performance stage, unable even to stand, only groaning pitifully.
“A beautiful sword technique is useless,” Yang Hao sneered as he released Kan Ling’s hand, swiftly swallowing a sword pill unnoticed.
“Thousand Miles, Flowing Kill!!” Yang Hao enunciated each word of the sword move. As he spoke, a bloodthirsty force surged, making everything around tremble. Fortunately, Kan Ling managed to stabilize herself nearby. Otherwise, the audience would have been crushed by Yang Hao’s overwhelming power.
The flowing crimson sword light of Thousand Miles surged forward, transforming into a blood-red blade aimed at Zhou Yao in the center of the stage. This invincible sword technique was difficult even for the Swordmaster Legion’s leader to resist, let alone Zhou Yao, who couldn’t even defend himself.
Clang!!
An astonishing sword strike was intercepted mid-air.
Yang Hao shot forth like an arrow, colliding three times in succession with the one who blocked his attack. Blinding Holy Domain radiance erupted from both figures.
When they finally separated, people were astonished to find Zhou Chuanqian, the circus master of the Starlight Circus, standing opposite Yang Hao. The old man radiated Holy Domain light just like Yang Hao, revealing himself as another peak Holy Domain expert.
From their rapid exchange, it was clear Yang Hao had the upper hand. He stood proudly, Shadow Moon whirling above his head. Zhou Chuanqian, however, had blood trickling from his lips and was panting heavily.
Nonetheless, witnessing a duel between two peak Holy Domain experts was already a rare and precious sight. The noble spectators erupted into wild cheers, treating this as the climax of the show.
Zhou Chuanqian wore a bitter expression. Only after blocking Yang Hao’s relentless strikes did he realize their terrifying power—far beyond imagination. He finally understood why the Ghost Elder had returned defeated and severely weakened.
Yang Hao’s strength was simply beyond ordinary comprehension. As a peak Holy Domain expert, his power was further enhanced by the alchemical sect’s techniques, sword pills, and the divine Shadow Moon. Without even using fire-elemental techniques, Yang Hao could already dominate all comers.
If Zhou Chuanqian himself hadn’t been a peak Holy Domain expert, he would have been obliterated in that initial assault. Saving Zhou Yao would have been impossible—he’d have been lucky to escape with his life.
This unexpected scene drove all the women in the audience wild. Such a romantic spectacle appearing right before their eyes—the most dazzling star of the entire performance kneeling before them—was more than any woman could handle.
Xianlan finally broke into a radiant smile. She had known about this scene in advance, which was why she had dragged Yang Hao here. She wanted him to see for himself that Blue Ling was never meant to be his.
“Zhou Yao is quite handsome, isn’t he?” Xianlan said with a sly grin. “He and Lan Ling grew up together. The elders arranged their marriage when they were very young. After today, they could get married anytime. You—”
Before Princess Xianlan could finish, she was shocked to find that Yang Hao, who had been sitting beside her with a dark expression, had vanished without a trace.
Lan Ling was indeed surprised. Her presence at the performance today had also been arranged by Xianlan. Though she had expected Zhou Yao to pull some tricks, she hadn’t anticipated such a grand gesture.
When Zhou Yao placed a thousand flowers before Lan Ling, the woman showed no trace of joy, merely sighing softly. Her sigh was not for the flowers but for the man who had given them.
If it had been Yang Hao kneeling before her instead of Zhou Yao, Lan Ling would have smiled in her sleep from sheer happiness. But fate had other plans.
Lan Ling kept her hands folded in front of her, letting Zhou Yao kneel without making the slightest move to accept his gesture.
Yet Zhou Yao was undeterred. This wasn’t the first time he had used this move, and in the past, it had always left young women utterly smitten, willing to do anything for him afterward.
So Zhou Yao was convinced that his surefire tactic would work on Lan Ling—it just needed a little more time.
With this in mind, he prepared to sweeten the deal with some honeyed words: “Ling, I—”
And thus began Zhou Yao’s tragic downfall.
Before he could even finish his sentence, he suddenly felt the weight in his hands vanish—the massive bouquet of a thousand flowers had disappeared into thin air.
Lan Ling looked up just in time to see the shredded petals fluttering down like snow. Then, her hand was seized—tightly, with no room for resistance.
Not that she wanted to pull away.
Yang Hao’s fury had reached its peak. While Xianlan was speaking, he had already lost control. By the time he reached Lan Ling’s side, it was Zhou Yao’s turn to speak. And so, Zhou Yao’s bouquet became the first casualty of Yang Hao’s sword.
If Lan Ling hadn’t willingly let Yang Hao hold her hand, Zhou Yao wouldn’t have survived the next second.
“Y-you… who are you?” Zhou Yao stammered as he scrambled to his feet, his expression no better than the stunned audience around him. But as soon as he uttered this foolish question, he recognized Yang Hao’s identity and quickly swallowed the rest of his threat.
Yang Hao’s icy glare could freeze the entire world. “I told you before—Blue Ling is my woman.”
“I… I…” Zhou Yao took two steps back under the murderous intensity of Yang Hao’s gaze. But emboldened by the fact that this was his turf, he tried to stand his ground. “I am the one who—”
The surrounding crowd had also recognized Yang Hao. Most of them were nobles from the imperial capital, well aware of the rising star that was Yang Hao. Whispers spread like wildfire among the women.
“The Undying War God is here!”
“So the rumors about him and the Empire’s top beauty are true!”
“Yang Hao looks way more dashing than Zhou Yao…”
Hearing the murmurs, Zhou Yao’s face twisted in fury. “You… you’re really the Undying War God, Yang Hao?”
“Lan Ling is my woman,” Yang Hao repeated, each word dripping with menace. “Get out of the capital. Or leave in a coffin.”
Zhou Yao had never been humiliated like this in his entire life—especially not in his own circus. Even a saint would have lost their temper. As one of the top young talents of his generation, Zhou Yao was no pushover, even if he wasn’t as formidable as Lan Ling.
“Undying War God?” Zhou Yao brandished his Starfire Sword. “Under my Starlight Swordplay, no one is truly undying.”
“Is that so?” Yang Hao smirked.
Lan Ling looked at Zhou Yao with pity. Though she had no feelings for him, they had grown up together, and she didn’t want to see him die in front of her. Gently, she tugged at Yang Hao’s hand, silently pleading for him to show mercy despite his jealousy.
Seeing the man she loved lose his temper for her sake—this was a woman’s greatest happiness.
But just as Yang Hao was distracted by Lan Ling’s silent plea, Zhou Yao unleashed his Starlight Swordplay. A dazzling cosmic radiance erupted from his divine sword, tracing a beautiful arc as it thrust toward Yang Hao’s body.
Zhou Yao’s entire figure seemed bathed in starlight, a breathtaking sight.
Gasps erupted from the audience. Everyone saw Yang Hao turn his head just as Zhou Yao launched his sneak attack—so close that Yang Hao wouldn’t even have time to draw his sword.
Was the legend of the Undying War God about to end here?
What everyone forgot was that Yang Hao’s sword didn’t need to be drawn. Shadowmoon resided within his body, ready to strike at a mere thought.
So when Shadowmoon’s unstoppable force erupted, Zhou Yao—along with his dazzling swordplay—was sent flying like a withered leaf, blood spraying through the air.
Zhou Yao was flung thirty meters away, landing in the center of the stage, unable to even crawl, reduced to pitiful moans.
“Pretty swordplay is useless,” Yang Hao sneered, releasing Lan Ling’s hand and swallowing a Sword Pill with a speed no one could detect.
“Thousand-Mile—Instant—Kill!”
As Yang Hao enunciated each word, the bloodthirsty power around him stirred violently. If not for Lan Ling stabilizing the surroundings, the audience would have been torn apart by the sheer force of Yang Hao’s aura.
The sword light of Thousand-Mile Instant Kill surged forth, transforming into a crimson blade beam that cleaved toward Zhou Yao at the center of the stage. This peerless sword technique was something even the leader of the Swordmasters’ Guild would struggle to withstand—let alone a defenseless Zhou Yao.
Clang!
Shockingly, the deadly strike was intercepted mid-flight.
Yang Hao shot forward like an arrow, clashing three times with the person who had blocked his attack. A blinding radiance of the Saint Realm erupted from both combatants.
When the two finally separated, the crowd was stunned to see that standing opposite Yang Hao was none other than Zhou Chuanqian, the master of the Starlight Circus. The old man’s body shimmered with the same Saint Realm radiance as Yang Hao—a peak Saint Realm expert!
Their brief exchange had clearly ended in Yang Hao’s favor. While Yang Hao stood tall, Shadowmoon spinning ominously above his head, Zhou Chuanqian was panting heavily, a trickle of blood at the corner of his lips.
Regardless, witnessing a duel between two peak Saint Realm experts was a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. The noble audience erupted into frenzied cheers, treating this as the climax of the show.
Zhou Chuanqian wore a bitter expression. Only after enduring Yang Hao’s relentless assault did he realize just how terrifying the man was—far beyond imagination. Now he understood why even the Ghost Elder had returned defeated, his strength greatly diminished.
Yang Hao’s power defied common understanding. Peak Saint Realm was merely his baseline. Combined with the Alchemy Sect’s techniques, Sword Pills, and the divine might of Shadowmoon, Yang Hao didn’t even need to resort to his fire-based ultimate skills to dominate the battlefield.
If Zhou Chuanqian hadn’t been a peak Saint Realm expert himself, he would have been obliterated in that exchange. Saving Zhou Yao? Forget it—he’d be lucky to escape with his own life.
Originally, the Elder Council had only nine peak Saint Realm experts—the Nine Grand Elders. Zhou Chuanqian, as the leader of the Ten Sword Schools, had only recently reached the Saint Realm, making him an ordinary elder at best. But after a series of fortuitous encounters—some even linked to the Supreme One—he had ascended to peak Saint Realm, becoming the tenth such powerhouse in the Elder Council.
In theory, such a level should make him invincible. Unfortunately, he had crossed paths with Yang Hao, a demon whose strength defied all logic.
Faced with Yang Hao’s overwhelming presence and the deafening cheers of the crowd, Zhou Chuanqian’s heart trembled. With forced humility, he bowed to Yang Hao.
“Lord Governor, must you always target my nephew?”
“Ask him why he keeps harassing my woman,” Yang Hao declared loudly, without a shred of restraint. His words sent shockwaves through Lan Ling and the audience.
The entire empire knew that Yang Hao and Princess Xianlan were betrothed and would soon marry. Who else would dare claim to be Yang Hao’s woman? Even if he had other romantic entanglements, they were meant to stay private—not flaunted in public like this.
Instantly, thousands of eyes turned toward Lan Ling. If those gazes had been lasers, she would have been incinerated on the spot.
But Yang Hao wasn’t done. In a voice loud enough for everyone in the venue to hear, he proclaimed:
“Lan Ling—she is my woman!”
The crowd erupted into chaos. Some sharp-eyed spectators noticed Princess Xianlan sitting in the VIP box, sparking wild speculation about a love triangle.
The nobles could already imagine the headlines:
*Undying War God Yang Hao, attending a show with his fiancée, publicly claims another woman as his own!*
Gossip like this was irresistible, especially when it involved two of the capital’s three most beautiful women.
Even Zhou Chuanqian couldn’t help but worry for Yang Hao. “Lord Yang Hao, since you are soon to marry the princess, why declare Lan Ling as your woman? Everyone in the capital knows she is betrothed to my nephew, Zhou Yao.”
“Betrothals are meant to be broken,” Yang Hao retorted, showing no regard for Xianlan’s dignity. “If the Starlight Circus wants to survive, stay away from my woman.”
“But—” Zhou Chuanqian tried to reason.
Lan Ling suddenly stood up, her expression darkening under the weight of the crowd’s judgmental stares.
“I never agreed to the Elder Council’s arranged marriage,” she said coldly, addressing Zhou Chuanqian. “So please, Elder Zhou, never mention it again.”
Before Yang Hao could even smile in satisfaction, Lan Ling added:
“And I am not your woman, Lord Yang Hao. You should focus on marrying the princess as soon as possible.”
With that, she turned and walked away without a backward glance. Moments later, Xianlan rushed out of the VIP box, her face filled with concern as she hurried after Lan Ling. Despite her scheming nature, Xianlan still cared deeply for her best friend.
Yang Hao, already seething with anger, was further provoked by Lan Ling’s rejection. As he watched her disappear, his gaze slowly shifted back to Zhou Chuanqian, making the old man’s heart tremble once more.
“Very well. You’ve done well,” Yang Hao said, his smile chilling.
“Lord Governor,” Zhou Chuanqian pleaded, “if we truly fight, I cannot stop you. But the tens of thousands of innocent bystanders will suffer. Please reconsider!”
He wasn’t exaggerating. A battle between two peak Saint Realm experts could easily destroy half the capital.
Yang Hao’s eyes narrowed, Shadowmoon humming ominously.
Zhou Chuanqian braced himself, expecting Yang Hao to lose control. But instead of attacking, Yang Hao remained perfectly still—while Zhou Chuanqian suddenly sensed a scorching, murderous aura behind him.
The audience screamed in terror.
Zhou Chuanqian whirled around just in time to see a massive fireball materialize out of thin air and slam mercilessly into Zhou Yao’s body.
“Ahhhhh—!”
Zhou Yao’s agonized shriek was cut short as his body was engulfed in flames—flames that then exploded violently.
Yang Hao’s Detonation technique had reached the point where he could summon it with a mere thought.
Only then did Zhou Chuanqian realize that Yang Hao’s earlier stance had been a distraction—his real target had always been Zhou Yao. By the time Zhou Chuanqian rushed to extinguish the flames and suppress the explosion, Zhou Yao was already a charred wreck, barely clinging to life.
He would survive—but as a cripple.
“YANG HAO!!!”
Zhou Chuanqian’s rage erupted.
The old man had no children of his own, and the Zhou family’s lineage was already thin. Zhou Yao was the last hope for their bloodline. If he was ruined, who would inherit the Starlight Circus?
Even a paper man would burn with fury at the sight of his nephew’s condition. Zhou Chuanqian roared, vowing to fight Yang Hao to the death.
“YANG HAO!!! I’LL KILL YOU!!!!”
But the stage was empty.
Having achieved his goal, Yang Hao had already left in a hurry—off to console his girlfriend, with no concern for the Zhou family’s legacy.
This unexpected scene drove all the women in the audience wild. Such a romantic spectacle had appeared right before their eyes—the most dazzling star of the entire performance was kneeling before them. How could any woman resist such a sight?
Xianlan finally broke into a radiant smile. She had known about this scene in advance, which was precisely why she had dragged Yang Hao here. She wanted him to see for himself—Blue Feather was never his to begin with.
“Zhou Yao is quite handsome, isn’t he?” Xianlan said with a sly grin. “He and Lanling grew up together. Since they were children, the Elder Council arranged their marriage. After today, they could wed at any moment. You—”
Before Xianlan could finish, she froze in shock. Yang Hao, who had been sitting beside her with a darkened expression, had vanished without a trace.
Lanling was indeed taken aback. Her presence at the performance today had also been arranged by Xianlan. Though she knew Zhou Yao would pull some tricks, she hadn’t expected such a grand gesture.
When Zhou Yao placed a thousand flowers before her, Lanling showed no trace of joy—only a soft sigh. Her sigh wasn’t for the man before her, but for the one she truly longed for.
If it had been Yang Hao kneeling there instead of Zhou Yao, Lanling would have smiled so brightly in her sleep. But fate had other plans.
With her hands resting on her chest, Lanling remained motionless, offering no sign of acceptance as Zhou Yao knelt before her.
Yet Zhou Yao was undeterred. This was far from the first time he had used this trick. Every time, it left young women utterly spellbound, surrendering to his whims.
So he was certain his charm would work—it was just a matter of time.
With this confidence, he prepared to sweeten the moment with honeyed words: “Lanling, I—”
And thus, Zhou Yao’s tragic fate began.
Before he could even finish his sentence, he suddenly felt his hands lighten—the massive bouquet of a thousand flowers had vanished into thin air.
Lanling looked up just in time to see the shredded petals fluttering down like snow. Then, her hand was seized—firmly, unyieldingly—by someone else.
And she had no intention of pulling away.
Yang Hao’s fury had reached its peak. While Xianlan was speaking, he had already lost control. By the time he reached Lanling’s side, Zhou Yao had just begun his speech.
Thus, Zhou Yao’s bouquet became the first casualty of Yang Hao’s wrath.
Had Lanling not willingly let Yang Hao hold her hand, Zhou Yao wouldn’t have survived the next second.
“Y-you… who are you?” Zhou Yao stammered as he scrambled to his feet, his expression no better than the stunned audience around him.
But even as he asked the foolish question, recognition dawned on him. He swallowed the rest of his threat mid-sentence.
Yang Hao’s icy glare could freeze the entire world.
“I told you before—Blue Feather is mine.”
“I… I—” Zhou Yao stumbled back two steps under the murderous intensity of Yang Hao’s gaze. But emboldened by the fact that this was his territory, he tried to stand his ground. “I’m the one who—”
The surrounding nobles, recognizing Yang Hao, began whispering among themselves.
“The Undying War God is here!”
“So the rumors about him and the Empire’s top beauty are true!”
“Honestly, Yang Hao is way more handsome than Zhou Yao…”
Hearing the murmurs, Zhou Yao’s face twisted in fury. “You… you’re really Yang Hao, the Undying War God?”
“Lanling is mine,” Yang Hao repeated, each word sharp as a blade. “Get out of the capital. Or leave in a coffin.”
Zhou Yao had never been humiliated like this in his life—especially not in his own circus. Even a saint would have snapped.
As one of the younger generation’s top swordsmen, Zhou Yao was no pushover. Though not as skilled as Lanling, his swordsmanship was formidable.
“Undying War God?” Zhou Yao brandished his Starblade. “Under my Starlight Swordplay, no one is truly undying.”
“Is that so?” Yang Hao smirked.
Lanling watched Zhou Yao with pity. Though she felt no affection for him, they had grown up together. She didn’t want to see him die here.
Gently, she tugged Yang Hao’s hand, silently pleading for mercy amidst his jealousy.
There was a certain joy in seeing the man she loved rage for her sake.
But just as Yang Hao was distracted by Lanling’s touch, Zhou Yao struck.
His Starlight Swordplay erupted in a dazzling display—celestial brilliance arcing toward Yang Hao in a deadly, beautiful strike.
Zhou Yao’s entire body shimmered with starlight, a breathtaking sight.
The audience gasped. By the time Yang Hao turned, Zhou Yao’s sneak attack was already upon him—too close for Yang Hao to even draw his sword.
Would the legend of the Undying War God end here?
But they had forgotten—Yang Hao’s sword didn’t need to be drawn.
Shadowmoon resided within him, ready to strike at a mere thought.
So when its unstoppable force erupted, Zhou Yao—along with his dazzling swordplay—was sent flying like a withered leaf, blood spraying through the air.
He landed thirty meters away, sprawled in the center of the stage, unable to rise, only whimpering in pain.
“Pretty swordplay is useless,” Yang Hao sneered, releasing Lanling’s hand. With a motion too quick for most to see, he swallowed a Sword Pill.
“Thousand—Miles—One—Kill!”
As he uttered the name of his technique, a bloodthirsty energy surged, stirring everything around him. If not for Lanling stabilizing the area, the audience would have been torn apart by the sheer force.
A crimson blade of energy shot forth, aimed straight at Zhou Yao.
Even the Swordmasters’ Guild leader would struggle to withstand this strike—let alone a defenseless Zhou Yao.
*Clang!*
Yet, astonishingly, the attack was intercepted mid-flight.
Yang Hao shot forward like an arrow, clashing three times with the interceptor in a dazzling exchange of divine light.
When the two finally separated, the crowd gasped—facing Yang Hao was none other than Zhou Chuanqian, the master of the Starlight Circus.
The old man radiated the same divine aura as Yang Hao—a peak Saint Realm expert.
Their brief exchange had clearly favored Yang Hao. While he stood firm, Shadowmoon humming above him, Zhou Chuanqian was panting heavily, blood trickling from his lips.
Still, witnessing a duel between two peak Saint Realm experts was a rare spectacle. The nobles in the audience erupted in excitement, treating this as the climax of the show.
Zhou Chuanqian wore a bitter expression. Only after enduring Yang Hao’s onslaught did he realize just how terrifying the young man was.
This was why even the Ghost Elder had retreated in defeat, his strength severely diminished.
Yang Hao’s power defied imagination. Peak Saint Realm was merely his baseline—augmented by the Dan Ding Sect’s techniques, Sword Pills, and the divine Shadowmoon.
Without even invoking his fire-based ultimate techniques, Yang Hao was already unstoppable.
Had Zhou Chuanqian not been a peak Saint Realm expert himself, he would have been obliterated in that exchange. Saving Zhou Yao? He’d be lucky to escape alive.
Originally, the Elder Council had only nine peak Saint Realm experts—the Nine Grand Elders. Zhou Chuanqian, as the leader of the Ten Sword Schools, had only recently reached the Saint Realm.
But during his travels, he encountered extraordinary opportunities—some even tied to the Supreme One. Now, he stood as the tenth peak Saint Realm expert in the Elder Council.
By all logic, he should have been invincible.
Yet fate had pitted him against Yang Hao—a monster whose strength defied all norms.
Facing Yang Hao’s overwhelming presence and the roaring crowd, Zhou Chuanqian trembled inwardly.
With forced humility, he bowed.
“Lord Yang, must you always target my nephew?”
“Ask him why he keeps harassing my woman,” Yang Hao declared loudly, without a hint of restraint.
The statement sent shockwaves through the audience—especially Lanling.
The entire empire knew Yang Hao was betrothed to Princess Xianlan, their wedding imminent. Who else dared claim to be his woman? Even if he had lovers, such matters were never flaunted so openly.
Thousands of eyes turned to Lanling—if those gazes were heat, she would have been incinerated on the spot.
But Yang Hao wasn’t done.
“Lanling,” he announced, his voice booming through the hall, “is my woman!”
The crowd erupted.
Some even spotted Princess Xianlan in the VIP box, sparking wild speculation about a love triangle.
The nobles knew—within hours, gossip columns and online forums would explode with this scandal.
*The Undying War God attends a performance with his fiancée, only to fight over another woman.*
And with two of the capital’s top three beauties involved? The scandal was irresistible.
Even Zhou Chuanqian couldn’t help but worry for Yang Hao.
“Lord Yang, given your impending marriage to the princess, how can you claim Lanling as yours? The entire capital knows she is betrothed to my nephew.”
“Betrothals are meant to be broken,” Yang Hao retorted, showing no regard for Xianlan’s dignity. “If the Starlight Circus wishes to survive, stay away from my woman.”
“But—” Zhou Chuanqian tried to reason.
Lanling suddenly stood, her expression darkening under the audience’s scrutiny.
“I never agreed to the Elder Council’s arrangement,” she said coldly. “Elder Zhou, do not bring it up again.”
Before Yang Hao could savor his victory, Lanling delivered the final blow.
“And I am not your woman, Lord Yang. Marry the princess as soon as possible.”
With that, she turned and walked away without a backward glance.
Moments later, Xianlan rushed out of the VIP box, chasing after Lanling with visible distress. Despite her scheming nature, she still cared deeply for her friend.
Yang Hao, already seething with rage, was further provoked by Lanling’s rejection.
As he watched her leave, his gaze slowly returned to Zhou Chuanqian—and the old man’s heart trembled anew.
“Fine. You’ve done well,” Yang Hao said, his smile chilling.
“Lord Yang, if we truly fight, I cannot stop you. But the tens of thousands of innocent bystanders will suffer. Please reconsider.”
Zhou Chuanqian wasn’t exaggerating. A battle between two peak Saint Realm experts could level half the capital.
Yang Hao’s eyes flashed. Shadowmoon buzzed ominously.
Zhou Chuanqian braced himself, expecting an all-out assault.
But instead, Yang Hao remained still—while behind Zhou Chuanqian, the audience screamed in terror.
The old man whirled around just in time to see a massive fireball materialize out of thin air—and crash mercilessly onto Zhou Yao.
“Aaaahhh!!!”
Zhou Yao’s agonized shriek was cut short as flames engulfed him. Then, the fireball exploded.
Yang Hao’s *Blazing Detonation* technique had reached instant-cast perfection.
Zhou Chuanqian realized too late—Yang Hao had distracted him while targeting Zhou Yao.
By the time he extinguished the flames and stabilized the explosion, Zhou Yao was a charred wreck—barely alive, but effectively crippled.
“YANG HAO!!!!”
Zhou Chuanqian’s roar shook the heavens.
The old man had no children. Zhou Yao was the sole heir to their dwindling lineage—the last hope of the Zhou family and the Starlight Circus.
With Zhou Yao ruined, who would carry on their legacy?
Even a paper effigy would burn with rage at such a sight.
“I’LL KILL YOU!!!!!”
But the stage was empty.
Yang Hao, having achieved his goal, had already left—rushing off to console his lover, utterly indifferent to the Zhou family’s plight.
Thus, Zhou Chuanqian could only sigh, wondering how he had ended up opposing Yang Hao.
Faced with Yang Hao’s imposing presence and the roaring cheers of the crowd, Zhou Chuanqian’s heart quivered. He humbly bowed to Yang Hao:
“Lord Yang, why must you always target my nephew?”
“That depends on him—why does he keep clinging to my woman?” Yang Hao’s words rang loud and clear, shocking Kan Ling and the surrounding people.
Now, the entire empire knew that Yang Hao had been engaged to Princess Xian Lan and would marry her soon. Who else dared claim to be Yang Hao’s woman? Even if Yang Hao had rumors and mistresses, such things were best kept private—not declared so brazenly.
Tens of thousands of eyes turned instantly to Kan Ling. If gazes could emit heat waves, Kan Ling would have been roasted alive.
But Yang Hao wasn’t finished. He raised his voice even louder, ensuring everyone in the building could hear clearly: “Kan Ling—she is my woman!”
“Huh!” A thunderous uproar erupted from the crowd. Observant spectators noticed Princess Xian Lan sitting in the VIP box. Instantly, the imagination of two women sharing one man ran wild.
The nobles could bet their fortunes: before tomorrow, this news would flood the internet and gossip magazines.
The Undead War God Yang Hao brought his fiancée to a show, only to fight over another woman—such news was irresistibly sensational. Especially when the gossip involved two of the capital’s top three beauties.
Even Zhou Chuanqian couldn’t help worrying for Yang Hao: “Lord Yang, since you’re about to marry the princess, why do you insist Kan Ling is your woman? Everyone in the capital knows Kan Ling was betrothed to my nephew Zhou Yao.”
“Betrothals are meant to be broken,” Yang Hao didn’t intend to spare Xian Lan’s dignity. “If the Starlight Circus wants to survive, stay away from my woman.”
“But…” Zhou Chuanqian tried to plead further.
Kan Ling suddenly stood up, her expression dark—likely due to the malicious gazes directed at her.
“I never agreed to the Elder Council’s engagement,” Kan Ling addressed Zhou Chuanqian firmly. “Please, Elder Zhou, don’t mention it again.”
Before Yang Hao could even form a satisfied smile, Kan Ling’s next words arrived:
“I am not Lord Yang Hao’s woman either. You should marry the princess as soon as possible.”
With that, Kan Ling turned and walked away without looking back. Shortly after, Xian Lan rushed out from her box, her face anxious as she followed Kan Ling. It was evident that despite Xian Lan’s scheming nature, she still cared for her dear friend.
Yang Hao was already brimming with anger, only to be cut off by Kan Ling’s words. As he watched Kan Ling disappear and slowly turned back toward Zhou Chuanqian, the old man’s heart quivered again.
“Very well, you’re both very good,” Yang Hao said, his face displaying a sinister smile.
“Lord Yang, if you truly intend to fight, I naturally cannot stop you. But countless innocent people around us will surely suffer. Please reconsider.”
Zhou Chuanqian’s words weren’t idle threats. A battle between two peak Holy Domain experts could not only harm innocents but potentially devastate half the capital.
Yang Hao’s eyes flared, and Shadow Moon buzzed loudly.
Zhou Chuanqian quickly braced himself, fearing Yang Hao might attack recklessly. Yet, to his surprise, Yang Hao made no move whatsoever. However, Zhou Chuanqian distinctly felt a scorching killing intent in the air behind him. The audience seats erupted into deafening screams.
Zhou Chuanqian hastily turned around, just in time to see a massive fireball materialize out of thin air. With unstoppable force, it slammed into Zhou Yao’s body.
“Ahhhh!!!” Zhou Yao barely managed a piercing scream before being engulfed in flames. Even more terrifying, the flames rapidly exploded.
Yang Hao’s fireball mastery had reached the point of instantaneous release.
Only then did Zhou Chuanqian realize Yang Hao had merely distracted him earlier—the true killing blow was aimed at Zhou Yao. By the time Zhou Chuanqian rushed back to extinguish the fire and contain the explosion, Zhou Yao’s body was charred black, barely breathing. Though not dead, he was effectively a cripple.
“Yang Hao!!”
Zhou Chuanqian roared in fury.
The old man had no children, and the Zhou family was sparse across generations, with Zhou Yao being the sole heir. The entire family’s future rested on this young man.
If Zhou Yao was crippled, who would carry on the Zhou family and the Starlight Circus?
Even a paper man would ignite with rage seeing his nephew’s condition.
Zhou Chuanqian’s furious roar declared his intent to fight Yang Hao to the death.
“Yang Hao!!! I will kill you!!!!”
Yet the performance stage was already empty. After landing his decisive strike, Yang Hao hadn’t lingered, rushing off urgently to appease his girlfriend, completely indifferent to the Zhou family’s legacy.
Yang Hao
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