Shi Hao’s fingers were incredibly strong, gripping one of his opponent’s arms. Both sides were channeling their profound techniques, their bones emitting crisp cracking sounds.
Lin Tian struggled, his expression immediately changing. His opponent’s strength was overwhelming, like an immortal’s shackles binding him, causing excruciating pain in his arm.
**”Boom!”**
Between the two, a blinding light erupted—a collision of treasure techniques and glyphs, unleashing a violent shockwave.
With a *splat*, a streak of blood flashed as Lin Tian leaped into the sky, soaring away.
Everyone turned their gaze toward the two. Who had won in that brief but fierce exchange?
**”A forearm!”** Some gasped in shock.
**”Huang is too domineering!”** Many trembled in fear.
In Shi Hao’s hand was a severed forearm, dripping with blood—ripped straight from Lin Tian’s body.
In the sky, Lin Tian’s face twisted in agony, sweat beading on his forehead. The pain was unbearable. He had lost an arm, suffering a devastating injury.
This was, without a doubt, the most severe wound he had ever endured. In his ancient realm, he was a prodigy, unmatched even in defeat—never had he lost a limb.
The crowd erupted in shock. **”Lin Tian is injured! He lost an arm!”** This was explosive news. Since arriving in the Three Thousand Provinces, Lin Tian had swept through all opposition, undefeated.
In the Upper Realm, countless Heavenly Gods had fallen before him. The strongest among them had barely lasted ten moves.
Now, this had happened—shattering everyone’s perception. The seemingly invincible Lin Tian had been defeated, his arm broken.
**”Ah—!”**
Lin Tian roared, his voice like a dragon’s cry, thunderous and resonant. The onlookers felt their blood churn, their bodies trembling, barely able to withstand the pressure.
Defeated—first suffering a crushing loss at Ning Chuan’s hands, then losing an arm to the man who had taken his Five-Colored War Chariot. He was drowning in frustration.
**”You’re Huang?!”** Though he had already guessed, saying it aloud was another matter entirely.
**”Indeed, it’s me,”** Shi Hao replied. He glanced at the severed forearm in his hand, channeling his profound technique to see if it would reveal its true form—but it remained as it was.
**”How disappointing. It’s just human. Here, take it back!”** Shi Hao flicked his wrist, tossing the forearm into the sky. The blood that spilled from it shimmered unnaturally.
The crowd shuddered. What terrifying bloodline was this, infused with immortal essence? No wonder he was so powerful.
Yet, even such a man had fallen to Shi Hao—a truly shocking outcome.
Lin Tian caught the arm, his face alternating between pale and flushed. With a flash of divine light and the bloom of glyphs, his arm reattached seamlessly.
In truth, even if Shi Hao hadn’t returned it, Lin Tian could have regenerated the limb—though it would have cost him some of his innate essence.
The battlefield fell silent. It was clear that Shi Hao’s gesture wasn’t one of goodwill—he simply didn’t care. Even at Lin Tian’s peak, he had no fear.
On the Five-Colored War Chariot, the Long-Armed Divine Ape was stunned. In its eyes, its master was invincible—yet now, he had been defeated.
Lin Tian had lost to Ning Chuan first, then had his arm broken by Shi Hao—the most humiliating defeats of his life.
**”Lin Tian, return!”** A woman with deep blue eyes spoke from the Violet-Gold Battleship, summoning him back.
Her hair gleamed like silk, her pupils like the purest azure ocean, shimmering with divine light. She glanced at Ning Chuan atop the Qilin Ridge, then at the composed Shi Hao.
**”I never expected the Three Thousand Dao Provinces to have such figures. We thought this ancient realm had completely declined,”** she murmured.
Though Lin Tian seethed with resentment, he hesitated only briefly before returning to the Violet-Gold Battleship.
First, this woman held an extraordinary status and immense power—her words carried weight. Second, Lin Tian had realized he was no match for those two. Continuing the fight would only bring greater humiliation.
Nearby, Ning Chuan turned his gaze toward Shi Hao—his greatest rival.
Shi Hao met the white-robed man’s eyes, his own blazing with intensity. He rose into the air, ready for battle at any moment.
The atmosphere grew oppressive. The onlookers tensed, instinctively retreating from the area saturated with the auras of these titans.
Only when they had put enough distance between themselves and the battlefield did the pressure ease. Then, anticipation surged—was Huang about to face the Six Crown King in a decisive battle?
Many already knew of their enmity. One had vowed to suppress the descendants of the Sinful Blood, while the other had once disrupted his heavenly tribulation.
In fact, Shi Hao had once wounded Ning Chuan severely during a lightning tribulation, forcing him to retreat in a trail of blood—a tale many had heard.
Clearly, this was Ning Chuan’s greatest shame, a battle that had cost him dearly.
Now, the two stood in a silent standoff, an invisible force field crackling between them, as if lightning might strike at any moment.
Yet neither made a move—not with the Violet-Gold Battleship nearby, carrying five experts, each more formidable than the last.
**”Next time, we settle this,”** Ning Chuan declared coldly.
Shi Hao smirked but said nothing, turning his attention to the battleship.
**”Both of you are exceptional, true sovereigns of your generation. You qualify to join the Celestial Academy,”** a purple-haired youth on the battleship announced.
This took everyone by surprise. They had expected an all-out battle, with the outsiders ganging up on Shi Hao and Ning Chuan—yet nothing of the sort happened.
**”That’s it?”** someone muttered in disbelief.
**”Indeed. Anyone who can defeat Lin Tian—or any one of us—earns the right to join the Celestial Academy and leave the Three Thousand Dao Provinces,”** the blue-eyed woman said with a smile. Her fair skin and radiant beauty were striking.
But who among their peers could defeat them? Searching the entire Upper Realm, perhaps only Shi Hao and a handful of others stood a chance.
The crowd despaired. It seemed this path was paved only for the strongest—most would never set foot in the Celestial Academy.
**”What benefits does the Celestial Academy offer?”** Shi Hao asked bluntly.
On the battleship, Lin Tian glared at him, furious and humiliated despite his defeat.
**”The Nine Heavens and Ten Earths are vaster than you imagine. Countless secret arts and peerless experts await. Join the academy, and all of this will be revealed to you,”** the woman replied.
**”Are there girls?”** the Divine Striking Stone blurted out.
The blue-eyed woman froze, her flawless face stiffening in shock.
Even Shi Hao, thick-skinned as he was, felt embarrassed. **”What nonsense are you spouting?”** he scolded before hastily explaining to Huo Ling`er beside him, **”This stone has always been shameless.”**
To everyone’s surprise, the woman on the battleship laughed, recovering quickly. **”Naturally, there are. Am I not one?”** She didn’t seem offended—her smile was sweet, exuding an immortal aura.
**”With that icy woman behind you, that makes only two,”** the Divine Striking Stone retorted.
Huo Ling`er pinched Shi Hao’s waist, whispering, **”Did you teach it to say that?”**
**”Wronged! This thing was always rotten—it has nothing to do with me!”** Shi Hao defended himself.
**”I heard that in the Ancient Immortal Ruins, you once boasted about slaughtering all the male ancient freaks and capturing the females to warm your bed—and you actually did it,”** Huo Ling`er murmured in his ear.
**”I did slay some ancient kings, but I didn’t take any to warm my bed,”** Shi Hao whispered back before adding slyly, **”Unless you volunteer tonight?”**
**”Drop dead!”** Huo Ling`er’s cheeks flushed pink. **”You didn’t capture any because there were hardly any female ancient kings to begin with.”**
**”Nonsense! What about the Dragon Girl? She’s young, and I met her,”** Shi Hao muttered.
Though others couldn’t hear, the five on the battleship had keen senses—they caught every word through the protective glyphs around the pair.
For a moment, they were torn between laughter and speechlessness.
**”I also heard that the first time you met the Dragon Girl, in that cursed nest, you groped her backside!”** Huo Ling`er accused.
Shi Hao broke into a sweat. **”Who leaked that? No—who’s spreading lies?”** He immediately glared at the Divine Striking Stone.
**”Don’t look at me! The Imperial Butterfly snitched!”** the stone cried.
Shi Hao shot it a venomous look. This troublemaker had just confirmed the rumor.
The blue-eyed woman on the battleship chuckled. **”The Nine Heavens and Ten Earths are boundless. It wouldn’t be strange for true descendants of immortals to appear—even immortal maidens might emerge in the academy.”**
She smirked at Shi Hao. **”Would you dare to capture them… to warm your bed?”**
Shi Hao scowled. This woman was deliberately stirring trouble.
Sure enough, Huo Ling`er’s “dragon claw technique” found his waist again, making him grimace in pain.
**”Someone like you, though talented, would be beaten to a pulp if you act so recklessly in the Celestial Academy,”** a cold voice interjected. Another woman on the battleship, icy as a glacier yet breathtakingly beautiful, spoke.
**”Let me introduce her—this sister’s ancestors once included a true immortal,”** the blue-eyed girl said playfully.
**”You two have already qualified. Will you come with us now?”** The purple-haired youth cut short their banter.
**”Where to?”** Ning Chuan asked.
**”To meet some great figures. They have words for you—perhaps you may even become their disciples,”** Lin Tian said coldly. Despite his defeat, he dared not neglect this duty—he had been tasked with selecting candidates.
**”Fine. Let’s see what they have to say,”** Shi Hao agreed.
**”Board the ship!”** someone commanded.
Shi Hao tossed the Long-Armed Divine Ape toward Lin Tian. **”Here, take it back!”**
But he kept the Five-Colored War Chariot without hesitation. Then, wrapping an arm around Huo Ling`er’s waist, he soared onto the Violet-Gold Battleship.
Ning Chuan followed suit.
Below, the crowd watched in awe and envy. Were they really about to leave the Three Thousand Provinces so soon? This defied all expectations!
The battleship vanished into the void in an instant.
**”Boom!”**
The news spread like wildfire, shaking the Three Thousand Provinces.
**Huang and Ning Chuan had been chosen for the Celestial Academy!** The world trembled at the revelation.
On the battleship, Huo Ling`er felt uneasy. The five experts glanced between her and Shi Hao, clearly disapproving of him bringing a companion.
Yet, they didn’t outright refuse.
After an indeterminate time, they arrived in the Central Province, stopping before a massive broken cliff where three figures stood.
Three middle-aged men, dignified as temple idols, shrouded in chaotic mist and threads of immortal aura, stood motionless.
Shi Hao’s heart pounded. These were undoubtedly terrifying figures!
**”Will you take me as your master?”** one asked.
**”I already have a teacher,”** Shi Hao replied.
**”Hmm.”** The man nodded. **”I know of you—connected to that willow tree. I won’t force you.”**
His words struck Shi Hao deeply. This confirmed his resolve to venture beyond this realm. Through them, he might learn about the Willow Deity.
**”Can I bring family?”** Shi Hao asked shamelessly.
The three supreme beings exchanged odd looks. In the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, others would tremble before them—yet this youth dared to ask such a question.
**”Do you think this is a pleasure trip? You’re going to cultivate in perilous lands, where survival itself is a challenge,”** one said sternly.
**”Where exactly?”** Shi Hao pressed.
**”First, you must learn of the Ancient Covenant. You’ll be tested in an ancient city. Only those who pass may enter the supreme academy!”**
**”What?!”** Shi Hao was stunned. If he proceeded, many of his unanswered questions might finally be resolved.
He had to go.
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