Jin Xu’s face was contorted with rage, his features twisted almost beyond recognition. The sight of Shi Hao standing there made him want to slap him across the face.
Unfortunately, they hadn’t reached the arena yet.
“Hey, where exactly are you taking me? Isn’t this just an inn?” Shi Hao questioned.
It was indeed an inn, grand and imposing, with two massive stone qilin statues at its entrance, shimmering with radiant light and occasionally flashing with divine runes.
Immortal mist continuously wafted from the inn, making it clear that this was no ordinary place—it was an ideal spot for both cultivation and lodging.
“The arena is inside the inn. It’s nothing like the lower realms you’re used to,” Qin Lin explained to him.
In Pan King City, even the inns were extraordinary—not only magnificent in appearance but also meticulously designed within, each a hidden paradise in its own right.
The moment Shi Hao stepped inside, his expression shifted to one of astonishment. The air was thick with immortal mist, saturated with an abundance of undying essence.
Its name was equally remarkable—Chaos Inn.
However, the prices here were shockingly high, deterring most ordinary cultivators from even considering a stay.
A highly skilled cultivator, deep in cultivation yet serving as a mere attendant, greeted them warmly. The innkeeper himself also came forward.
Shi Hao quickly realized just how exorbitant the costs were when Jin Xu pulled out divine essence stones to prepay—a staggering sum that spoke volumes about the inn’s exclusivity.
When it was Shi Hao’s turn, he had nothing. Bai Ze reluctantly covered the cost for him, grumbling internally. From being suppressed by Shi Hao in the lower realm to constantly cleaning up after him now, Bai Ze was thoroughly fed up.
“Oh, a cultivator from a broken world, needing someone else to pay for him? But our rules here are strict—are you sure he’s qualified?” The innkeeper, a fair-skinned man with a cunning look and a thin mustache, eyed Shi Hao up and down skeptically.
“Don’t worry. Both the Pan and Ao families have issued decrees allowing his passage. He’s been given an invitation, so there’s no need for concern,” Zi Kun interjected.
Shi Hao glanced at the innkeeper but ignored him.
Yet, the inn was worth every penny. As Shi Hao ventured deeper inside, his amazement grew. The interior was a hidden world, completely different from its exterior appearance.
It was a pocket dimension, transformed into a celestial abode!
Ahead, islands floated in the void, one after another, while spirit mountains towered amidst swirling clouds, adorned with jade palaces and pavilions.
This was a true paradise for immortals, far surpassing the so-called “holy lands” of the lower realms.
Even true immortals could choose to seclude themselves here, surrounded by an overwhelming abundance of primordial essence.
Clearly, this was no ordinary inn—it housed an entire world within, nurturing the very essence of heaven and earth.
According to the innkeeper, the most expensive lodging—the Celestial No. 1 Chamber—was actually a former abode of an Immortal King, where the density of primordial essence was terrifyingly rich, and traces of the Great Dao flickered within.
It was reserved exclusively for Immortal Kings!
Not just anyone present, but even true immortals would salivate at the thought of cultivating there—the benefits far surpassed anything available outside.
Just how much better? Most wouldn’t know, as they lacked the qualifications to experience it.
An Immortal King’s abode wasn’t just a name—its price was astronomical, and even those with wealth couldn’t enter unless they could withstand the crushing pressure of the Great Dao runes within.
Such a place, existing as its own world, naturally included an arena.
The forces backing this inn were formidable—otherwise, it wouldn’t have been possible to operate such an establishment.
“In all of Pan King City, only a handful of places possess an Immortal King’s abode—and our Chaos Inn is one of them,” the innkeeper boasted.
An inn where the Celestial No. 1 Chamber was an Immortal King’s abode? That alone commanded absolute respect. No one would dare cause trouble here.
When they stated their purpose—to use the arena—the inn’s staff looked surprised.
“Come on, Blondie. Hand over those immortal resources sooner, and I’ll send you packing sooner,” Shi Hao taunted, beckoning with a finger.
Jin Xu’s eyes burned with fury, like a wild beast ready to pounce. He couldn’t stand this brat any longer—he wanted to tear him apart right then and there.
The arena was massive, known as the Chaos Arena, constructed from enormous rocks that seemed hewn from ancient cliffs.
Surrounded by towering stone railings interwoven with Dao runes, it was designed to protect the battleground and prevent the combatants’ techniques from harming the spectators.
“Rest assured, this platform is sturdy enough. The Chaos Arena can withstand battles between true immortals!” the innkeeper declared smugly, stroking his mustache.
He also emphasized that the inn took a commission from any wagers made here—a full ten percent.
“Talk about a no-risk business,” Shi Hao muttered, displeased. In his eyes, Blondie was just a fat sheep delivering immortal resources, yet someone else was skimming off the top.
“If you’re unhappy, take your fight to the streets. Every inn charges the same rate,” the innkeeper said dismissively.
“Let’s go!” Jin Xu roared, already stepping onto the arena.
By now, a crowd had gathered—some who had followed them in, others who were already guests of the inn.
The innkeeper squinted, delighted by the spectacle. More people meant more business. He waved over a servant and ordered, “Go spread the word on the streets. Tell everyone that an undefeated expert from the Human Dao Realm is here, seeking a worthy opponent.”
“No need for you to advertise. A crowd is already on its way,” Qin Lin said with a smile.
The innkeeper’s face stiffened in embarrassment.
Sure enough, within moments, a flood of people arrived—members of various great clans, not just young talents but also renowned elders.
“Look! That’s the divine maiden from the Peacock King’s family!”
“Is that the cousin of the Ao Clan’s young lord?”
“Hmph, the major true immortal families of the city move fast. They’re all here already.”
…
In no time, the place was packed, making the innkeeper’s eyes gleam and his mustache twitch with excitement.
“Come on, you backwater savage! Today, I’ll teach you just how high the heavens are and how thick the earth is!” Jin Xu bellowed.
Normally, he wouldn’t resort to such words, but Shi Hao had provoked him beyond reason. The moment Shi Hao stepped onto the stage, Jin Xu attacked without hesitation.
“Blondie, this Emperor is here. Kneel and submit, or I’ll personally crush you!” Shi Hao shouted back, even fiercer than Jin Xu.
The crowd burst into laughter at his audacity. To call himself “Emperor” in the Immortal Realm? Even the scions of Immortal King families wouldn’t dare claim such a title.
“Pfft!”
Some of the women giggled, amused by him calling Jin Xu “Blondie.” Everyone knew Jin Xu was notoriously arrogant—now he was being openly mocked.
“You little—! Prepare to die!” Jin Xu roared.
With a thunderous boom, he unleashed a gale of wind and lightning, his massive golden claws slashing forward, accompanied by crackling thunder.
He fought with everything he had, immediately revealing his true form—a golden lion with nine heads, a supreme bloodline of the Nine-Headed Lion lineage, far superior to any mixed-blood descendants in the lower realms.
*Clang!*
Shi Hao punched, deflecting the attack. “Hah! A Nine-Headed Lion! Perfect mount material. I already have a Fearless Lion in the lower realms—you can keep it company.”
The crowd erupted in laughter. Who would dare suggest a descendant of a true immortal family become a mount? His entire clan would hunt him down for that insult.
“Die!” Jin Xu’s eyes burned crimson as he unleashed a barrage of divine techniques, golden lightning surging like an endless sea.
“Isn’t there a legend that Nine-Headed Lions are the greatest… mounts of all time?” Shi Hao teased, pausing dramatically for effect.
The crowd fell silent. In the Immortal Realm, only an Immortal King would dare ride a Nine-Headed Lion.
“Kill him!” The lion roared, all nine heads spewing sword light capable of slicing through the void itself.
Shi Hao waved his hand, summoning a storm of golden feathers—manifestations of the Kun Peng’s wings—that clashed violently with the sword beams.
The battle was intense and spectacular, shifting from divine techniques to physical clashes, then to Dao comprehension, and finally to forbidden arts, neither side willing to yield.
The spectators cheered, some nodding in approval, while others scoffed. *This is the guy calling himself Emperor?*
Bai Ze and Zi Kun exchanged odd glances, their expressions complicated. They had personally experienced Shi Hao’s power—how could he be struggling like this? Back in the lower realm, a mere projection of his had effortlessly suppressed both of them.
They quickly realized—Shi Hao was holding back. He was fishing for more opponents, unsatisfied with just Jin Xu.
Nearby, members of the Ao Sheng Immortal King’s family had arrived, having heard the news. They still remembered how Shi Hao had ruined their plans by stealing the Ten Thousand Dao Tree.
Two of their peak Sovereigns, who had personally witnessed that event, immediately sensed something amiss.
*This bastard is definitely scheming something!* they cursed inwardly.
But they kept quiet. They had never publicized their humiliating defeat in the lower realm—otherwise, Bai Ze and Zi Kun wouldn’t have fallen into this trap.
“For someone from a barren lower realm, he’s not weak at all,” someone remarked.
The battle raged on. By the eight hundredth exchange, the Nine-Headed Lion finally faltered. Shi Hao’s palm strike sent him flying, blood spraying from his mouth as he crashed into the stone railings.
“You’re strong, but compared to me? Worlds apart. You’re too weak! Out of respect for my sworn brother, a Nine-Headed Lion from the lower realms, I’ve gone easy on you today,” Shi Hao declared loudly.
“Boo!” The crowd jeered. Eight hundred exchanges of brutal combat, and he called that “going easy”? More like barely scraping a win.
Jin Xu’s veins bulged in fury. To lose so publicly to this detestable brat was unbearable.
“Fight me again!”
“Got more immortal essence stones? If you want a rematch, bring ten times the wager. Otherwise, I’ve no interest in teaching you,” Shi Hao sneered.
Fuming, Jin Xu stormed off to borrow weapons for another round.
The crowd continued mocking Shi Hao’s arrogance.
“Still Unconvinced? Come here. This Emperor will teach you humility in minutes,” Shi Hao pointed at another challenger who had been cursing him.
“What did you say?!” the man roared.
Just then, two figures arrived—Zhe Xian and Princess Yao Yue, both from the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, here for the Peach Banquet. Hearing the commotion, they had rushed over.
They exchanged exasperated glances. *This guy… even made it to the Immortal Realm?* They had assumed he’d be trapped in the lower realms forever. Yet here he was, stirring up trouble in Pan King City, challenging everyone in sight.
Truly, Shi Hao was incapable of staying “lonely” wherever he went.
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