“What’s the matter?” Many were astonished. Had this elite disciple of the Crane Clan come here just to announce a piece of news?
Behind them, some ancient beings from the foreign realm stood as still as fossils, utterly calm. Clearly, they already knew what was coming.
“We must wait longer!” He Ziming declared, glancing back at the pitch-black abyss exit.
Something major was undoubtedly afoot—everyone understood that. Only the right moment was missing, but it was surely about to erupt.
On the side of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, tension gripped many. What could it be? It likely spelled disaster for their world.
Hearts grew heavy with dread, fearing the onset of some cataclysm.
“My lord, why not seize this chance to kill him?” The silver-haired woman urged again, pleading for He Ziming to act.
“I wouldn’t mind striking,” He Ziming paused slightly, as if regretful, “but I arrived a step too late. Still, if our realm loses in these ten duels, it would indeed be a pity.”
“Why? Why can’t you act?” the silver-haired woman pressed.
“Because the duel has already begun. The Immortal Tortoise Shell selects participants only from those who stepped forward earlier—I wasn’t present then. However, if he stands victorious after the ten battles, I will strike!” He Ziming’s words rang clear.
The crowd froze. They had forgotten this rule—only those who had stepped forward first could be chosen.
“What do you all think?” At this moment, on the side of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, Elder Meng Tian of the Celestial Academy whispered with members of the Everlasting Clans.
“Variables are at play. The situation is dire,” someone murmured.
The fall of the Great Scarlet Heaven’s border, the breach of the city built from immortal bones—all were due to the Refining Immortal Pot, a vessel forged specifically to annihilate true immortals. Its terror was unmatched.
Shi Hao had once told the elder that this artifact had been wielded by He Wushuang near the Indestructible Peak at the end of the Immortal Ancient Era, harvesting the essence of mighty beings.
Now, the pot had reappeared at the Great Scarlet Heaven’s border, undoubtedly linked to the Crane Clan—likely due to He Wushuang’s personal involvement.
With He Wushuang’s descendant here to announce news, it further implicated his clan, possibly as the orchestrators.
“Are you called He Xiaoshuang or something? Come here, acting all composed and dignified. Do you really think mimicking your ancestor makes you a peerless expert? Scram over here, and I’ll kill you!”
The golden ant shattered the silence, challenging He Ziming on the battlefield!
From the foreign realm, young monarchs watched. Though they respected the Heavenly Horned Ant Clan, they now saw this as suicidal folly.
“Little ant, your clan’s blood is the rarest, famed as a supreme tonic. Don’t trouble the lord—face me instead,” a creature taunted, eyeing its youth as an easy kill.
“Killing it would be a waste. Better to capture it alive and keep it close, so we can regularly drink its Limit-Breaking Blood,” another laughed.
Shi Hao stepped forward. “You lot are truly arrogant. Nine of you are already dead. Where’s the tenth?”
His words alone silenced the opposition. The bloody reality was undeniable—no one could restrain the Desolate.
He Ziming had arrived, yet he couldn’t join the duel now, unable to strike down the youth named Shi Hao.
“After the Immortal Tortoise Shell was lost to your realm, its nature was corrupted, now favoring you. Why hasn’t the tenth victim stepped forward to offer their head?” Shi Hao mocked.
His words dripped with contempt, branding the foreign realm’s young monarchs as mere sacrifices.
“Damn this Immortal Tortoise Shell! Once ours, has it truly turned demonic, wholly siding with the foreign realm?” someone muttered.
The golden ant remained defiant, still calling out He Ziming for a fight.
“Fighting you would be bullying. You’re not yet mature—I could behead you in mere moves,” He Ziming said calmly.
Such words, so composed, would sound arrogant from anyone else. Yet from him, it seemed natural.
The Heavenly Horned Ant seethed. Its youth invited scorn, barring vengeance. It knew its bloodline’s power wouldn’t peak until adulthood—it stood no chance now.
Yet, fury burned within. Facing the descendant of its siblings’ killer, it couldn’t back down, its heart ablaze.
“Isn’t it the same if I act?” Shi Hao consoled it.
Whoosh!
Just then, the Immortal Tortoise Shell glowed brilliantly, wreathed in strands of chaos. A fragment flew forth, landing before a silver-haired woman of the foreign realm.
She was stunning, her snow-bright hair cascading like a waterfall, her silver pupils lending an ethereal grace—a celestial beauty descended to earth.
Among the foreign realm’s youths, she stood unparalleled, a famed beauty ranking within their top ten.
“One of the Ten Great Beauties!” someone whispered, eyes gleaming.
Beauty drew eyes wherever it went, and hers was no exception, especially as this era’s tenth-ranked stunner.
Yet now, her face paled. Facing Shi Hao, victory seemed impossible. Her prowess, though considerable, couldn’t match her looks’ renown.
But now, none could replace her. The Immortal Tortoise Shell’s choice was absolute.
This artifact was eerie, capable of altering a clan’s fortune. Defiance or withdrawal might trigger dire consequences.
Legends spoke of the great wager at the Immortal Ancient Era’s end, conducted thus, its repercussions vast and secrets many!
Most dreaded the Immortal Tortoise Shell’s whims.
“I know you—Yin Ling, of the Silver King Clan from the Qilong Ancient Mountains,” Shi Hao said coolly, his gaze piercing her flawless visage.
She had slain a prodigy from the Sacred Academy earlier.
Of the initial young monarchs Shi Hao had slain—like the Serpent Nightfork and the Golden Demon Bird—only she remained.
“Honestly, the shell’s choice was unnecessary. The last one was always you. Why delay? Fear of death?” Shi Hao taunted mercilessly.
Her beauty moved him not. He recalled her coldly laughing as she killed the Sacred Academy disciple, blood spraying, her cruelty laid bare.
Back then, she’d boasted her lineage, daring any to seek vengeance.
Now, faced with Shi Hao’s might, fear rooted her in place.
“Earlier, you urged that Crane to kill me, because you’re scared, aren’t you?” Shi Hao struck at her weakness.
She had repeatedly goaded He Ziming, belittling Shi Hao as a mere servant to be crushed.
“Silence!” Yin Ling snapped, her fair skin taut with fury, her glare icy.
“Ten battles, ten wins—a perfect tonic!” Shi Hao said, eyeing her as already dead.
“I dislike your arrogance. None remain undefeated forever. Are you so sure of victory?” He Ziming interjected, his tone stern despite his calm demeanor.
“This fight, I’ll win. What are you? Your dislike means nothing,” Shi Hao retorted bluntly.
“Yin Ling, come. I have something for you,” He Ziming called her back.
Overjoyed, the silver-haired beauty hurried to him, certain he’d grant her a transcendent edge.
With gravity, He Ziming produced a white jade vial. Unsealing it unleashed a divine radiance that pierced the heavens, its aura so terrifying it forced onlookers to their knees.
He extracted a minuscule drop, swiftly resealing the vial, then diluted it in another flask. Only then did the pressure fade.
“Ancestral True Blood!” someone gasped in awe.
Only a special elixir could suppress its volatility—else, heaven and earth would shatter!
With care, He Ziming dipped a unique brush into the mixture and inscribed the character for “Kill” on Yin Ling’s palm.
The crowd recoiled. This was grave indeed!
As the character formed, a dreadful aura emanated.
“He Wushuang’s blood—less than half a drop—to kill Shi Hao!” an Everlasting Clan elder deduced.
“My thanks, my lord!” Yin Ling exulted, her palm now cradling what felt like an insurmountable martial monument, capable of annihilating all!
He Ziming stored the vial and brush. “As one of our realm’s Ten Great Beauties, none wish to see you fall.”
Blushing, Yin Ling bowed, then strode forth, confidence unshakable.
“You think half a drop of blood and a character can overturn fate?” Shi Hao watched calmly, having made no move to stop it.
“I merely remind you—none are invincible. Your attitude displeases me,” He Ziming replied, smiling.
“Then I’ll tell you—I’ll take this blood and feed it to pigs!” Shi Hao shot back.
“Die!” Yin Ling cried, her beauty now etched with ruthlessness. “Our realm shall not be insulted! Our ancestor’s majesty is sacrosanct! I’ll execute you here!”
“Worthless trash. Today, all your schemes come to naught!” Shi Hao struck, wasting no more time.
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