A startled cry rang out as the Primordial Spirit Sword Embryo was intercepted. The black short sword held in the infant girl’s arms dimmed abruptly, leaving her utterly shocked.
The Primordial Spirit Sword Embryo was supposed to be indestructible—how could it be damaged? Wang Xi was puzzled, her heart flustered.
Shi Hao was even more astonished. An ordinary person would have already aged under the power of reincarnation, unable to resist. Especially now, with three treasure techniques overlapping, their might amplified, their mysteries more intricate.
Yet, Wang Xi’s primordial spirit hadn’t aged—only the black short sword in her arms had been damaged.
Not daring to fight any longer, Wang Xi swiftly retreated toward her physical body, unwilling to take further risks. Her primordial spirit had not yet fully transformed into a sword embryo, had not yet reached the stage where it could defy all laws, unbreakable and eternal. Any further delay, and she might truly face calamity.
Only when fully perfected, when the infant girl vanished and the primordial spirit completely became a sword embryo, would she be truly invincible. At that point, no matter what technique was used against her, she could slay it with a single strike!
**Boom!**
Showers of light danced, sweeping through the area. The powers of Heaven’s Decree and Reincarnation surged forth, devouring mountains and rivers as they assailed Wang Xi, enveloping her primordial spirit and dimming it further.
**Clang!**
The infant girl swung her sword, but the black short sword in her hand cracked and then shattered under the erosion of Shi Hao’s three runes.
Her primordial spirit was wounded, but she used the moment to break free and rush back toward her physical body.
Had it not been for the sword embryo’s earlier assault, Shi Hao would have already targeted her body. Now, he would not let this opportunity slip.
**Whoosh!**
In the end, Wang Xi’s primordial spirit was a step faster, returning to her body first.
“She’s still lacking some refinement. Only when her primordial spirit fully transforms into a sword embryo will she achieve true invincibility. By then, it will be others who must think of fleeing!” Many sighed in regret.
Wang Xi’s setback left numerous onlookers dismayed.
In the blink of an eye, Shi Hao arrived, reaching for Wang Xi’s physical body.
**Swoosh!**
A final flash of sword light shot forth. Wang Xi’s body dimmed, blood trickling from the corner of her lips, but it was too late—Shi Hao had already seized her.
Golden willow branches coiled around her, glowing brilliantly, tightening until even her dress clung to her body, outlining her perfect curves.
Blood seeped from Wang Xi’s lips. When she had unleashed her Primordial Spirit Sword Embryo, it had clashed with Shi Hao’s treasure technique, leaving her severely injured.
“Fellow Daoist, you’ve lost,” Shi Hao declared, lifting Wang Xi up. Bound by the golden willow branches, she resembled nothing so much as a tightly wrapped dumpling.
Humiliated and furious, Wang Xi found this posture utterly undignified. Who was she? A proud daughter of heaven, the brightest pearl of the Wang Clan—yet now she was being held like this, utterly humiliated.
That address—*Fellow Daoist*—felt like mockery. Back then, she had invited Shi Hao into the Heavenly Deity Institution under that very title, asking him to follow by her side.
But then a series of events had unfolded. The Wang Clan had turned against Shi Hao, and now this “Fellow Daoist” had sought to test the young man’s strength—only to be captured instead.
“Wang Xi has been captured!”
“Heavens! The most perfect fairy in my heart has fallen into that guy’s hands!”
“That’s the young lady of an Eternal Clan, a figure of supreme status—yet she’s been defeated here!”
The area erupted in chaos. Everyone atop the stone furnace watched the scene unfold.
For Wang Xi, this was like the sky collapsing. Her history with Shi Hao was already tangled—filled with grudges and rumors—and now she had fallen into his hands. The consequences were unimaginable.
Even if he released her, the mere spread of this incident would cause an uproar!
She had cultivated the Primordial Spirit Sword Embryo, believing she could sweep aside all foes. Never had she imagined such a crushing defeat. Her heart trembled with shock.
After the brief clamor, the crowd was stunned anew—this time by Shi Hao’s true identity.
In fact, the revelation of Shi Hao’s identity caused an even greater stir than Wang Xi’s capture!
“So this is Huang! He’s truly young—barely twenty, yet already capable of such earth-shaking feats, having cultivated three strands of immortal energy!”
“Even Yuan Qing was summoned to oppose him, yet he couldn’t stop his advance. He still made it to the Heavenly Deity Institution. This youth is nothing short of a heavenly prodigy!”
Standing atop the stone furnace, Shi Hao’s bones crackled like frying beans. His frame grew more slender, and his features shifted, revealing a delicate, handsome face.
For the first time, he had shown his true appearance at the Heavenly Deity Institution!
Gasps of astonishment rippled through the crowd.
Qing Yi’s sleeves fluttered as she waved at him.
Yue Chan’s expression turned complicated. “So it really is him,” she murmured.
“So this is Huang? I always imagined him as a mighty, domineering figure—not this refined and handsome youth!”
“Isn’t this domineering enough? Did you not see him holding Fairy Wang Xi in his hand?” someone whispered.
Hearing this, Wang Xi burned with shame and anger. She was a young supreme, yet now she had been captured—how could she bear such humiliation?
By now, Lü Tuo and Mo Dao had ceased their battle.
“Does anyone else wish to fight?” Shi Hao asked, glancing at Lü Tuo, Princess Yao Yue, the Ten Crown King, and others.
“Why fight? Huang, I formally invite you to my home. No need for extravagant gifts—just hand over that Wang Clan girl,” Princess Yao Yue said with a giggle.
The crowd fell silent.
Wang Xi, though restrained and unable to move, glared furiously.
She felt nothing but humiliation. There was nothing worse than suffering defeat before a rival—especially one she had always competed with—only to end up being carried like this by a man.
“What’s in it for me?” Shi Hao asked, dead serious.
“What do you want?” Princess Yao Yue replied, clearly delighted at her rival’s misfortune.
“Ancient Heavenly Techniques, Ten Evils’ Treasure Arts, or perhaps the Wang Clan’s *Pacifying Chaos Sword Art* extracted from your captive. If you can get me any of those, I’ll hand her over right now.”
“So generous? Let me think—maybe I can find a way to interrogate her for the *Pacifying Chaos Sword Art*. I’ve always been curious about one of the three greatest sword techniques in history,” Princess Yao Yue mused.
The onlookers exchanged glances. Had these two turned into human traffickers, openly discussing Wang Xi’s value right in front of her?
Indeed, Wang Xi had never been so furious. Her body trembled slightly, and she nearly fainted.
After such an intense battle, the atmosphere had been heavy—yet here these two were, haggling over Wang Xi’s worth. It was both laughable and exasperating.
**Ahem!**
A hoarse cough interrupted them. The four elders of the Heavenly Deity Institution stepped forward.
“You are all students of this institution. Sparring is one thing, but do not humiliate your peers,” one elder said sternly before turning to Shi Hao. “Young friend, please release her.”
Shi Hao sighed. He had long known that killing or truly abducting anyone within the Heavenly Deity Institution was impossible. Reluctantly, he let Wang Xi go.
“Enough. You’ve fought long enough. Set aside your disputes and restore peace here. Go seek your treasure pills,” the fourth elder instructed.
Shi Hao acted decisively, placing Wang Xi on the ground. The golden willow branches vanished instantly, freeing her. She leaped up at once, putting distance between them.
“Let’s go!” Shi Hao said, charging into the stone furnace with Mo Dao.
Not to be outdone, Lü Tuo, Wang Xi, and the others followed swiftly.
Only after the young supremes with three strands of immortal energy had entered did the rest dare to follow, fearing interception otherwise.
The stone furnace was vast. Inside, it felt like the belly of an ancient mountain—spacious, with thick layers of ash covering the ground. Legends said these were the remnants of countless medicinal herbs burned long ago.
From the ashes, wisps of immortal energy rose, coiling in the air above.
Shi Hao and the others marveled. Even after all these years, the medicinal properties lingered, releasing immortal auras. In some places, auspicious light surged brilliantly.
“The elders must have left these here intentionally,” they realized—a gift for them.
“A pool of divine liquid!” Shi Hao exclaimed. The first radiant spot he uncovered held a small pool of un-dried divine liquid, exuding a rich, fragrant aroma.
“Collect!” Shi Hao said, retrieving a three-inch jade vial to store the liquid.
“Divine pill!” someone shouted in the distance, having discovered a golden divine pill amidst the ashes.
“Keep searching! Who knows how many divine medicines this furnace refined in ancient times? Perhaps only the ruins hold lasting treasures.”
**Hmm?**
Shi Hao activated his Heavenly Eye, seeking the most extraordinary spots. He found another area shrouded in immortal mist and dug through the thick ashes.
“What kind of pill fragment is this?” He frowned, sensing something unusual.
He picked up a fragment the size of a dragon’s fang, covered in intricate, mysterious patterns.
Holding it, his heart pounded wildly. Could this be a fragment of the *Nine Revolutions Immortal Pill*? Rumors said that refining such pills was perilous—often, only fragments remained after explosions.
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