Shi Hao’s brows immediately furrowed upon hearing once more about Qin Hao’s severe injuries. That was his younger brother, yet he had been humiliated in such a manner. A raging fire burned in his heart.
The visitors from the Immortal Domain truly went too far!
After standing before the gate for a moment, Shi Hao’s eyes flickered with deep contemplation before he turned and left without entering.
“Huh? Did I just hear a sigh right outside the boundary gate?”
“Couldn’t be. I thought it was just my imagination. A moment ago, I thought I saw a shadow, like a ghost, flicker and vanish.”
“Could it be some great evil ascending from the lower realm? I heard that place is a prison, holding creatures guilty of heinous crimes from before the ancient times.”
Behind the boundary gate, a group of people exchanged uneasy glances, their spines tingling with dread.
“Silence! Who gave you permission to gossip here? If someone were to come up from below, your chatter would scare them off, rendering the traps and formations useless!” An elder strode over, berating them loudly.
Shi Hao did not enter. Instead, he retraced his steps, not returning to the Void God Realm but stopping at a bronze altar not too far away.
This place was called the Bronze Sparrow Altar, a high platform often used as an arena.
Back in the day, when he first ascended here, he had battled Feng Wu, fought against Teng Yi and Zhen Gu, and many others—memories still vivid in his mind.
Originally, he had planned to slip quietly into the Spirit Realm to gather information and devise a way to provoke Yi Luo’s elder brother into entering, where he could then capture and eliminate him.
But now, with so many people near the boundary gate, a forced entry would only alert his prey.
“Then I’ll wait here like a hunter. A little more patience won’t hurt.” Shi Hao sat down.
He was certain that if Yi Luo and Xu Hui remained absent for too long, those waiting above would grow anxious. Given his elder brother’s arrogance, he would likely descend to investigate.
“Challenging me, humiliating my brother—this man is proud and conceited. If he dares to enter the Void God Realm, he won’t back down.” Shi Hao murmured to himself.
His judgment was sound. The fact that the other party, fully aware of his legendary feats, still acted so brazenly showed his arrogance and thirst for fame. Clearly, he sought to rise by stepping on Shi Hao’s reputation.
In the Spirit Realm, Yi Hai had recently made a name for himself, his reputation shaking the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.
He had made several high-profile moves—defeating young elites who had fought at the frontier in the real world and shattering ancient records in the Spirit Realm.
Had it not been for the warnings from the envoys of the Immortal Domain, he would have continued challenging others, including the likes of the Ten Crown King, the Little Heavenly King, and the Double-Pupiled One.
Even the Wang Clan of the Everlasting Family, closely tied to the envoys, was on his list. He had heard that Wang Changsheng’s tenth son had recently emerged.
Many great families, fearing the destruction of the Nine Heavens by the Foreign Realm, had sealed away their most elite descendants as a contingency. Now that the calamity had unexpectedly receded, many “ancients” had emerged.
After the envoy’s warning, Yi Hai had no choice but to halt his challenges. Instead, he turned to the Spirit Realm, where he shattered several ancient records, showcasing his terrifying combat prowess.
Recently, he had been invited by various great families, treated with utmost respect and showered with rare treasures, all hoping for his favor.
After all, as a visitor from the Immortal Domain, every major faction sought to curry his favor, hoping for his assistance.
Not long ago, Yi Hai had visited the Immortal Palace, where he drank and conversed amicably with several powerful figures. Given that a crippled immortal was in seclusion there, he dared not act recklessly.
“What a pity. If the Desolate One hadn’t been crippled by the lords here, I would have risked the envoy’s wrath to defeat him!” Yi Hai declared.
“Brother Yi, with your celestial talent and unmatched prowess, even if the Desolate One were still around, he would flee rather than face you. How could he compare to the prodigies of the Immortal Domain?”
“That younger brother of his—I taught him a lesson. He won’t be able to walk for half a year, his bones shattered, his body ravaged by the power of laws. Consider it a warning to their bloodline.” Yi Hai laughed heartily.
…
These words were spread by the old servants of the Immortal Palace, sending shockwaves through the outside world.
Clearly, the denizens of the Immortal Palace sought to quell unrest. The crippled immortal’s act of crippling Shi Hao had stirred great controversy. Though none dared speak openly, many privately questioned the decision, and a significant number harbored resentment. Everyone knew of Shi Hao’s unparalleled contributions at the frontier! By releasing such rumors, the Immortal Palace subtly conveyed that even those from the Immortal Domain held grievances against Shi Hao, signaling their stance.
After leaving the Immortal Palace, Yi Hai was eagerly sought after by many factions, all vying for his favor. With the gates of the Immortal Domain now open, a select few elites would be chosen. Every major sect wished to send their own, but how many could be selected through formal duels? Thus, they sought alternative means, hoping to secure spots through connections.
As such, every sect flattered Yi Hai, hosting banquets in his honor and echoing his words.
“Milord hails from the Immortal Domain, while the Three Thousand Provinces are but a barren land, incomparable to the abodes of true immortals. Naturally, the strongest here cannot hold a candle to you.”
“Indeed, even if the Desolate One once shook the Ten Earths and dominated the Nine Heavens, facing you, Brother Yi Hai, he would stand no chance.”
Yi Hai smiled faintly. “What a shame he was crippled.”
“Being crippled preserved his reputation. Had he truly been defeated, it would have been far more humiliating,” someone chimed in.
“What a pity. I sought out his younger brother—his talent was indeed remarkable, but his combat experience was lacking, like a sprout in a greenhouse. I broke his bones and taught him a lesson, sparing his life only out of respect for the Five Elements Mountain.”
The crowd shuddered. The Qin Clan’s Five Elements Mountain was something even visitors from the Immortal Domain feared—or rather, had to show deference to. This revelation was both shocking and puzzling.
“In the past, the Five Elements Mountain held great prestige in the Immortal Domain,” Yi Hai remarked, though he offered no further details.
Yi Hai waited, but after a full day and night, his sister Yi Luo had yet to return.
Frowning, he recalled the warning from the young lord of the Immortal Domain—they had to be cautious and uncover the secrets of the Void God Realm without fail.
“I must go myself!” he muttered, a sense of unease creeping in.
“Milord plans to enter the Void God Realm?” someone asked.
“Indeed. Xu Hui and my sister have yet to return. I must investigate,” Yi Hai replied.
Their public pretext was a desire to tour the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths. Unable to descend to the Eight Regions below, they would take the Spirit Realm’s passage to explore.
“Perhaps they found the lower realm’s scenery enchanting and lingered an extra day. Or maybe they’re challenging others there,” someone suggested.
“Perfect. I shall enter the Void God Realm as well. If I encounter the Desolate One, all the better—though by my calculations, he should already be crippled by now.” Yi Hai stood.
“Milord jests. You are already invincible.”
“Still, I regret not facing the Desolate One myself. Ah, well. Judging by his younger brother, their bloodline is disappointing. But if I do meet him in the Void God Realm, it would be a delight.” Yi Hai sighed.
That day, he entered the Spirit Realm.
At the boundary gate, many rose and bowed deeply.
Yi Hai nodded with a faint smile, saying nothing as he strode into the Void God Realm.
“Ah, we forgot to tell the lord—earlier, there was a strange sound here, like a sigh.”
“No matter. Probably just our imagination. Besides, even if something were amiss, what’s there to fear? The lord wanted to challenge the Desolate One—he’s confident in his invincibility.”
They whispered among themselves.
On the Bronze Sparrow Altar, Shi Hao sat quietly, unperturbed. He was certain Yi Luo’s elder brother would descend—it was only a matter of time.
Footsteps approached. Someone was coming!
“Hmm?!” Yi Hai halted, spotting the figure seated with his back to him, calm and indifferent.
“Who are you? What are you doing here?” he demanded.
“Waiting for prey. For you,” Shi Hao replied without rising.
Yi Hai’s expression darkened, his gaze icy. Who did this man think he was, speaking to him so casually?
“Do you know who I am?!” His voice was frigid.
“A rabbit, nothing more. I’ve waited long enough.” Shi Hao’s tone was flat.
“You… seek death?” Yi Hai’s voice dripped with menace. Since arriving in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, no one had dared show him such disrespect.
“You’re the Desolate One, aren’t you?” He remained composed, quickly deducing the truth.
Shi Hao stood and turned, his cold gaze locking onto Yi Hai as killing intent erupted like a storm.
“Indeed. You must be him. You resemble that Qin brat. Pity your worthless younger brother was so weak—I crushed him with one hand, shattered his bones, and trampled him underfoot. Disappointing. Let’s see if you, his elder brother, fare any better!” Yi Hai sneered.
It was deliberate provocation, a test of Shi Hao’s reaction. Yet, Yi Hai already sensed he faced an unimaginable foe—far more terrifying than anticipated.
“Fools who court death shall find it.” Shi Hao spoke only these words before striking.
“Good! You’re not crippled yet. Today, I’ll render you half-dead in advance!” Yi Hai roared, lunging forward.
The battle that ensued was fierce. Yi Hai was a prodigy, far surpassing Xu Hui and Yi Luo in strength. Immortal energy surged, tearing through the Bronze Sparrow Altar.
Boom!
The platform was engulfed in what seemed like apocalyptic tribulation—blinding lightning, interwoven chains of order, chaos reigning supreme.
Shi Hao was surprised. This man was formidable, likely a standout even in the Immortal Domain.
In this era, how many of his peers could fight him to such an extent? Over a hundred exchanges had passed.
But it ended there. Shi Hao had no intention of prolonging the fight. His fist blazed like a sun, striking with thunderous force, forcing Yi Hai into desperation.
Alas, within a dozen moves, Yi Hai’s techniques were shattered, his divine light pierced. With a sickening crunch, his mouth took the brunt of the blow.
At the boundary gate of the Spirit Realm, a resounding clang startled the onlookers.
“What was that?!” They leaped to their feet.
“A tooth! A bloodied tooth!” someone shrieked.
“Clang! Clang! Clang!”
More impacts echoed from beyond the gate, leaving them dumbfounded.
A dozen teeth, all streaked with blood, came flying.
“I think… those belong to the young lord. This…”
The teeth were distinctive—gleaming white with crimson streaks. Yi Hai had passed through here earlier, and they remembered well the peculiar sight of his teeth, as if laced with scarlet lightning.
“Heavens! Those are the lord’s teeth! Who could have done this? Who dared strike him so?!”
“Thud!”
Next came several bones, dripping with blood and wreathed in scarlet light, crashing against the gate. The sight sent chills down their spines, their hair standing on end.
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