“How could this be?” Jin Yun was in a daze, her face pale as death. She knew all the young supremes of the academy who had cultivated three strands of immortal energy—there was absolutely no one like this among them.
She had never imagined that the enemy she faced would be a supreme expert with three strands of immortal energy. It defied reality. There were only a handful of such individuals, all accounted for—where had this person come from?
Because she knew all the top-tier figures, and none of them matched this man, she had been fearless. With her two strands of immortal energy and secret treasures, who could rival her aside from Wang Xi, Lü Tuo, and their ilk?
What had just happened? The crowd around them was stunned. The situation had shifted so abruptly—Jin Yun had been seized by the neck and lifted into the air like a ragdoll.
The silver-robed woman was usually a dominant figure, proud and unapproachable. Few dared to provoke her. Yet now, she had been manhandled in such a humiliating manner—it was unimaginable.
Without a doubt, this was an immense disgrace for her. To be publicly grabbed by the neck like this was worse than death.
“How did Jin Yun lose?” Many still couldn’t comprehend it.
Moments ago, Jin Yun had unleashed two strands of immortal energy and launched a ruthless sneak attack. Though the crowd despised her treachery, they all believed the young man would suffer greatly.
Yet, in the blink of an eye, he had captured Jin Yun. The shift was too fast—so fast that no one even saw the immortal energy swirling in his palm before it was all over.
“Such incredible speed! Has this young man taken that crucial step on the path of the present world’s law? Even with Jin Yun’s two strands of immortal energy, he dodged and countered in an instant!”
“By the heavens! He didn’t even use immortal energy—he must be a master of the present world’s law!”
Many shouted excitedly, their eyes wide as they stared at the center of the field. Some cultivators felt their blood boil—they had just witnessed hope.
No immortal energy had been seen, yet he had subdued Jin Yun. This was the most direct and vivid proof that the present world’s law could triumph over the ancient methods.
The place erupted in noise, voices clamoring.
These people all cultivated the present world’s law and had long sought a reason to believe. Now, seeing this, they were invigorated and thrilled.
Though they knew the Sacred Academy had such extraordinary figures—perhaps even capable of slaying young supremes of their generation—they had never witnessed it firsthand. Now, seeing it with their own eyes, many felt the path ahead suddenly brighten.
“Cough, cough, cough…” Jin Yun choked as the young man coldly gripped her neck. Humiliated and furious, her face flushed red.
A master of the present world’s law? She wanted to curse aloud—she had clearly seen three strands of immortal energy! But as soon as she opened her mouth, she only gulped in cold air, coughing uncontrollably, tears nearly streaming from her eyes.
**Thud!**
Shi Hao flung her to the ground like a sacrificial animal, making her wince in pain. Never in her life had she been treated like this.
“With such meager skills, you dare bully others? You look down on the Three Thousand Dao Provinces, yet you’re nothing special yourself,” Shi Hao said, looking down at her.
Her silver robes were crumpled and torn in places. Raising her head, her eyes burned with hatred. To be humiliated like this in public was unbearable.
“What, you feel wronged after being openly defeated? When you betrayed your word and used underhanded means against Feng Wu, stepping on her in public and mocking her, what were you thinking? How does it feel now?”
Shi Hao showed no mercy. He kicked her, sending her rolling away.
Jin Yun groaned, her eyes darkening with malice. Half her body went numb from the impact, and she trembled, clenching her fists—because Shi Hao hadn’t even sealed her divine power.
Was it carelessness? No. It was indifference. He didn’t fear her resistance, which only deepened her humiliation.
Who was she? A prodigy from an ancient clan, a peerless expert among her generation. Even if she hadn’t cultivated a third strand of immortal energy, she was still a supreme figure.
Across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, only a handful of young supremes could suppress her. Yet now, she was being treated with such disdain.
Her face icy, she glared at Shi Hao. “You’re from the lower realm, just a nobody from the Three Thousand Dao Provinces. Think carefully—crossing me will bring you no good!”
Though not outright stated, the implication was clear: she was from the Jin Clan, an ancient family of the Nine Heavens with unimaginable influence.
If Shi Hao insisted on provoking her, he would face the wrath of an ancient lineage.
A blatant threat.
“You overestimate yourself and underestimate me,” Shi Hao replied before kicking her again, sending her sprawling like a dead dog.
“How dare you treat me like this!” she shrieked.
“What are you? Do you think the Jin Clan would offend the Heavenly Deity Institution for a worthless failure like you? I’m a disciple here now,” Shi Hao said.
He didn’t voice his full thoughts—he had cultivated three strands of immortal energy and achieved unprecedented success in the present world’s law, merging ten heavenly passages into one.
With such accomplishments, the institution would never abandon him. He would be nurtured as a core disciple, if not the sole seed.
“Stay back!” Jin Yun’s voice trembled, her resolve wavering.
But Shi Hao ignored her. Another kick sent her crashing into a boulder.
Disheveled, she screamed, “You savage from the barren lower realm! You’ll learn soon enough—you’re nothing in the Nine Heavens! My clan will make you beg for death!”
Realizing he wouldn’t stop, she shouted, hoping to summon the institution’s elders.
**Slap!**
Shi Hao struck from a distance, a massive palm manifesting to send her flying. “If you can’t even handle a ‘savage from the barren lands,’ what pride do you have left? Pathetic.”
“You’re the pathetic one!” she raged.
Shi Hao stepped closer. “Consider this payback for Feng Wu.”
**Whoosh!**
Suddenly, Jin Yun flicked her wrist. A streak of radiant light, wreathed in immortal mist, shot toward Shi Hao.
A cold smile curled her lips. Her earlier screams and feigned fury had all been a ruse—this was her true move.
“Watch out!” Feng Wu cried from behind. No one knew better than her how terrifying that light was.
It was an arrow forged from Seven-Colored Immortal Gold, inscribed with supreme runes. A single hit meant annihilation—body and soul.
This was the very arrow Jin Yun had coveted and stolen from Feng Wu!
Refined into her own treasure, it was a weapon of absolute slaughter—one that could evolve alongside its wielder, potentially becoming an immortal artifact.
The arrow pierced through Shi Hao’s figure, drawing gasps from the crowd. Had it killed him?
Jin Yun’s eyes lit up with glee, her hatred replaced by triumph as she stood.
“Celebrating too soon?” A cold voice spoke beside her.
Her blood ran cold. The figure the arrow had pierced was just an afterimage. The real Shi Hao stood beside her, lightning wings spread behind him, calm and indifferent.
His speed had surpassed her perception, rendering her killing strike useless.
**Thud!**
He seized her again, slapped her across the face, then kicked her away.
This time, she couldn’t rise—her bones were shattered, the pain unbearable.
“I truly don’t understand where your pride comes from,” Shi Hao said flatly.
Jin Yun writhed, humiliation burning through her. Worse still, she had landed at Feng Wu’s feet.
“Jin Yun, was this necessary? I knew you were shameless, but did you have to grovel at my feet?” Feng Wu teased, smiling brightly.
**Pfft!**
Jin Yun spat blood, her face ashen. She struggled to stand but collapsed again.
Being mocked by Feng Wu—the woman she had once trampled underfoot—made her vision redden with fury. “Beg you? In your dreams, you lowborn wretch! Have you forgotten how I humiliated you?!”
**Crunch!**
Shi Hao stomped down, breaking more of her bones. “Feng Wu, don’t wait. Take your turn—no, take your step.”
“Ah—!”
The next moment, Feng Wu, smiling sweetly, raised her foot and brought it down. Jin Yun’s screams filled the air.
Her rage faded, replaced by dawning horror as the pain set in.
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