Of course, Su Lan and Chen Nuo were also a bit worried. If this guy caused trouble and provoked a premature clash between Princess Yao Yue and their young mistress, that would be quite unfortunate.
Could he really be plotting something like this?
Along the way, the two of them grew suspicious, unsure of his intentions, because everything he did seemed utterly outrageous.
“Maybe we shouldn’t go,” Su Lan said.
“We’re almost there—no point stopping now. As Wang Xi’s followers, you should understand her intentions. Being so timid isn’t good,” Shi Hao replied.
The two of them shot him sidelong glances, convinced he was no good. The more “kind-hearted” and “diligent” he appeared, the more suspicious they became.
“Ah, we’re here. This is the place, right?” Shi Hao grinned.
Su Lan and Chen Nuo had no choice—they had already arrived before a towering divine mountain, Qi Lin’s cave abode. The massive peak radiated crimson light, resembling a giant red agate.
“You two go ahead and issue the challenge. Tell Qi Lin we’re here to fight,” Shi Hao said.
“Why should we be the ones to call her out? You were the one who insisted on taking the lead!” Su Lan snapped.
Chen Nuo stared at him. Was this guy really trying to drag them all into trouble?
Su Lan and Chen Nuo exchanged a glance, said nothing, and turned to leave, feeling unsafe around him. Of course, they didn’t go far, hiding nearby to watch.
Shi Hao didn’t stop them. He wandered around the glowing red mountain, found the cave entrance, and then approached politely, sending a respectful message requesting an audience.
When Qi Lin appeared, she was startled at first, then alarmed. “What do you want?”
“Miss Qi Lin, won’t you invite me into your cave for a cup of tea?” Shi Hao smiled.
Qi Lin was extremely wary. She didn’t dare let Shi Hao inside, fearing he might shout something incriminating—she still remembered the consequences of her last encounter with him.
With his notorious reputation, even if nothing happened, just being seen with him in her cave would be enough to ruin her.
“Say whatever you have to say here,” Qi Lin replied, tilting her sharp chin arrogantly.
“This isn’t the place for conversation,” Shi Hao said, rubbing his hands together.
“Your reputation is terrible. I wouldn’t dare invite you inside. Speak quickly,” Qi Lin retorted, showing no mercy.
“My ruined reputation—wasn’t that your doing?” Shi Hao countered.
“You… what do you want?” Qi Lin tensed, growing uneasy. “Don’t forget, you’re just Wang Xi’s follower, a servant, not a formal disciple. You have no right to enter my cultivation grounds.”
“Since you won’t let me into your cave to plunder—oops, I mean, visit—then we’ll settle things out here,” Shi Hao coughed.
“What?! You want to plunder my cave?!” Qi Lin’s eyes widened. She refused to believe that was a slip of the tongue—this guy was audacious enough to actually consider it.
“Come on, I challenge you right here!” Shi Hao declared, his gaze sharpening. He muttered, “I’ll move into your cave afterward.”
“You… you’ve got some nerve! Do you even know what you’re saying?” Qi Lin demanded.
“Of course. Doesn’t the academy encourage disciples to spar and challenge each other? I’m just following the rules,” Shi Hao said calmly.
“You’re nothing! You’re not even a formal disciple—you have no right!” Qi Lin’s voice wavered. She had already heard rumors about how extraordinary he was.
“If even a non-formal disciple defeats you, how can you justify occupying this divine mountain? Hand over your cave,” Shi Hao pressed forward.
He struck, his palms glowing with intertwined lightning, forming clusters of purple thunderballs like miniature stars. The attack expanded, resembling a tiny galaxy.
**Boom!**
The thunderous strike seemed to manifest a universe—vast and profound. The lightning stars surged toward Qi Lin.
She paled. A casual attack from him had created such a terrifying spectacle. Even with her immortal energy, she wasn’t sure she could match it.
She reacted swiftly, channeling her immortal energy to shield herself and counter the lightning.
A numbing shockwave sent her reeling. Blood trickled from the corner of her lips.
“Do you even know who I am? I’m Princess Yao Yue’s close friend! If you act recklessly, you’ll bring disaster upon yourself!” Qi Lin threatened.
Now, she was afraid—worried Shi Hao might kill her.
“Oh, Princess Yao Yue’s friend, huh? Then do you know who I am? Oh right, you should—you once claimed I was her man. Now, the ‘man’ has come to settle accounts with the ‘friend’!”
“Don’t you dare!” Qi Lin’s face drained of color.
**Whoosh!**
Lightning arched like a river of stars, crashing down upon her with even greater force.
Despite her immortal energy, Qi Lin was no match. She coughed up blood, suffering serious injuries.
“Let’s go—to your cave!”
From a distance, Su Lan and Chen Nuo watched in shock, realizing his strength had grown even more terrifying.
“What’s he doing? Plundering?!” Chen Nuo gasped.
“He’s completely emptying the place!” Su Lan was dumbfounded.
In fact, Shi Hao even kindly invited them over, offering to share some roasted meat—because he had cooked Qi Lin’s mount right outside her cave.
“Do you realize what you’re doing? Princess Yao Yue will come after you with everything she has!” Qi Lin threatened.
“Oh? Then tell her to go find Wang Xi. She’s been waiting. I’m just here to stir things up,” Shi Hao said irresponsibly.
“Hey! Don’t drag our young mistress into this! She has no intention of fighting Princess Yao Yue!” Su Lan fumed, rushing forward.
“You don’t understand. Some grudges can’t be ignored. Your mistress tacitly approved this. Those two fairies are bound to clash sooner or later!” Shi Hao said gravely.
“Is that true?!” Su Lan was deeply skeptical.
“Of course. Though the real battle will likely be in the Immortal Battlefield. Wang Xi can’t make the first move, so I’m helping her out,” Shi Hao said.
“My phoenix blood!” Qi Lin shrieked.
Shi Hao shamelessly rummaged through her belongings—even her robes—and retrieved four vials of phoenix blood.
“Being Princess Yao Yue’s friend sure pays well. Got any more?” He laughed.
“N-no! Stop touching me!” Qi Lin screamed.
Su Lan and Chen Nuo stayed silent, secretly pleased. This troublemaker had finally given them some satisfaction.
After all, it was Qi Lin’s loose tongue that had caused all the trouble. Seeing her get what she deserved was exactly what they’d hoped for.
**Thud!**
Qi Lin collapsed, unconscious.
A female cultivator, a genius who had refined immortal energy, now lay helpless before Shi Hao like a discarded scarecrow.
“Let’s go. Show me where Feng Xing Tian and Lü Tuo are,” Shi Hao called to Su Lan and Chen Nuo.
“W-what are you planning now?” The two of them shuddered. Was this guy really here just to stir up trouble?
“Relax, I just want to see them. Your mistress said that once we enter the Immortal Ancient Battlefield, all-out war will begin. I’m just scouting the enemy, estimating the outcome,” Shi Hao said mildly.
All-out war? Was that really their mistress’s stance? It sounded more like this guy was just making enemies left and right.
“Let’s go take a look!” Shi Hao said.
When they passed by Princess Yao Yue’s sacred land, he only paused briefly, not issuing a challenge.
Lü Tuo and Feng Xing Tian’s caves were shrouded in mist, veiled by chaotic energy, impossible to see through.
Su Lan and Chen Nuo were slightly relieved—at least he wasn’t arrogant enough to challenge those two supreme geniuses. After circling their lands twice, he left.
“I heard that Yuan Qing, the one who came last time, sent a descendant into the academy—completely against the rules. Where is he? Take me to see him,” Shi Hao said, asking if they knew anything about this person.
“His name is Yuan Feng, a prodigy who refined two strands of immortal energy. He missed the selection for the Celestial Academy due to some incident, so his elder personally brought him here,” Chen Nuo explained.
“Hey, what’s your game? First Princess Yao Yue’s friend, then Lü Tuo and Feng Xing Tian, and now Yuan Qing’s descendant? Are you trying to start the biggest mess possible?” Su Lan worried.
“You’re overthinking it. I’m just scouting for your mistress,” Shi Hao chuckled.
“Stop pinning everything on her! She would never approve of this. You’re just making excuses for your own actions!” Su Lan retorted.
Soon, they arrived at a mountainous region, lush with verdant peaks and swirling immortal energy—a true paradise.
“Hmm, this sacred land belongs to Yuan Feng,” Shi Hao mused.
Then, he spotted a young man with eyes like blazing suns, staring directly at him.
That was Yuan Feng—radiating an aura like an unsheathed divine sword, his gaze locked onto Shi Hao.
“Well, what a coincidence,” Shi Hao murmured to himself.
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