Chapter 1038: Lin Tian

On the black broken mountain, the gathered heroes all shuddered—was Huang finally about to make his move?

The people had waited far too long, eagerly anticipating his clash alongside the Banished Immortal and the Ten Crown King. The sweeping dominance of the outsiders across hundreds of states had left everyone with a stifling sense of frustration.

With three strands of immortal qi cultivated, surely he could triumph!

Many yearned to witness that battle.

“My master is a Heavenly Deity, and you are not—far from his match. If you release me, with your talent, you might even qualify for the Heavenly Deity Academy!” the Long-Armed Divine Ape declared, its eyes flickering with cunning. It desperately wanted to escape, unwilling to remain a captive.

Shi Hao laughed. “Do I need your approval to qualify?”

“You should know that detaining me is tantamount to provoking my master. He is a prodigy unmatched across your Three Thousand States. If you truly challenge him, the consequences will be dire,” the ape warned.

“Unmatched in the Three Thousand States? Who crowned him with that title?” Shi Hao scoffed, unimpressed. Then, his gaze sharpened. “You’d best shut your mouth before testing my patience. If you behave as a mere charioteer, I’ll spare your life. But if you keep yapping, I’ll be feasting on monkey brains.”

His tone was casual, yet it carried an undeniable threat.

Though the Long-Armed Divine Ape was proud and unruly, it had no desire to die. It could sense this man’s terrifying strength and knew better than to provoke him further.

“I… I was only trying to warn you. The Nine Heavens and Ten Earths are far vaster than you imagine, surpassing even these Three Thousand Dao States. There are countless experts, even descendants of immortal beings!” it muttered under its breath.

Though it dared not defy him outright, it still sought to intimidate Shi Hao with tales of the terrifying power beyond these lands, hoping he would release it out of fear.

Indeed, these words stirred waves of shock among the crowd. Many trembled at the thought—were there truly immortal beings in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths? And their descendants? It was a staggering revelation, sparking endless speculation.

Shi Hao was no exception. The more he heard, the more he longed to venture beyond the Three Thousand States, to enter the Heavenly Deity Academy and ascend the Nine Heavens, overlooking the ancient realms.

“I look forward to it. If there are indeed immortals in those realms, I’d gladly pay them a visit—or spar with their descendants. I wonder if any of them have come this time?” Shi Hao mused, staring at the ape.

“You should know, my master Lin Tian isn’t the only one here. There are several other young prodigies in his company, none of whom have yet to reveal their full strength!” the ape retorted.

“Good to know. Now, behave yourself and prepare to drive,” Shi Hao said with a nod.

The ape deflated. This man was utterly unshakable, unfazed by the threats of outsiders.

By now, the heroes on the black broken mountain regarded Shi Hao with awe. This was what true strength looked like—fearless in the face of so-called prodigies from the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Everyone could sense it—Huang hungered for battle, eager to test himself against the strongest of his generation, regardless of origin or status.

The mountain was alive with activity—small taverns, teahouses, and grand pavilions filled with cultivators. Even the highest-ranking figures, like the Moonlit Fairy, approached Shi Hao to converse and toast with him.

“Brother Shi, be cautious. I’ve heard Lin Tian is truly formidable. He’s already ascended to Heavenly Deity, his immortal qi transformed into petals of the Great Dao, hovering above his head—making him invincible from the start!” someone warned.

“No matter,” Shi Hao replied with a smile, clinking cups and shifting the topic to the Ancient Immortal Ruins.

From their words, he learned that the ruins had connected with the outside world. Many powerful figures had entered, seeking opportunities.

However, few had emerged, bound by the ancient curse that prevented them from straying far.

“Only the Nine Great Sect Masters can travel freely, having broken free of the curse’s influence,” the Moonlit Fairy said with a smile, her lips red as cherries, her hair silken, her eyes sparkling as she shared this news.

Shi Hao nodded. This was excellent. Those nine owed their freedom to him—the stronger they grew, the better for him.

When he had broken free, those nine had fought alongside the Willow Deity against the outsiders.

“Brother Shi, are you truly waiting for them to come to you? They’re no pushovers, and they won’t come alone. Facing them like this is risky,” someone murmured.

In the Upper Realm, many sects bore grudges against Shi Hao—Netherworld, Celestial Court, Fire Cloud Cave, Immortal Palace—all titanic forces. But many others remained neutral.

Those hostile sects were far from here, leaving no enemies on the broken mountain. The gathered crowd held no ill will, only curiosity.

“Let them come. Those of their caliber won’t gang up on a single opponent. They wouldn’t stoop to Siege a lone warrior of the Three Thousand States,” Shi Hao said.

In truth, he was confident, unshaken by any threat.

Only absolute strength could grant such assurance. Even if multiple immortal qi cultivators attacked him at once, he could hold his own, unafraid of any foe!

Still, he believed in their pride—they wouldn’t join forces.

The Divine Striking Stone chimed in, “Pfft! In the Ancient Immortal Ruins, we faced Siege plenty of times. Didn’t stop us from crushing them all!”

The crowd fell silent.

Soon, the black broken mountain buzzed with lively chatter, cups clinking, laughter ringing out.

All waited eagerly for Shi Hao’s clash with the outsiders.

Yet, no matter how long they waited, no figures appeared on the horizon. None of the legendary outsiders showed themselves.

“Where is your master? Why hasn’t he come? I’m waiting for our duel!” Shi Hao demanded, turning to the ape.

By now, the Long-Armed Divine Ape had grown meek, realizing this man’s terrifying dominance—especially his fondness for devouring Heavenly Deities. Provoking him further would be suicide.

“My master is at Black Cliff. You can seek him out yourself,” the ape said, its eyes darting craftily.

Huo Ling’er tugged at Shi Hao’s sleeve, whispering, “This creature’s shifty-eyed. Don’t trust it. Don’t take the risk.”

Though unafraid, Shi Hao refused to act on the ape’s words. “Listen well—I’m not chasing after him. I’ll wait right here. Let him come to me if he dares!”

The ape’s face fell. “Then you’ll have to wait at least a day.”

“Why?” Shi Hao asked.

“My master has an important duel scheduled for today,” the ape explained.

The crowd stirred. If the outsiders held someone in such high regard, this duel was no trivial matter. Who was his opponent?

On a black cliff, a young man stood, gripping a dark spear pointed southward, his hair wild, his eyes blazing with intensity.

He was Lin Tian, preparing for battle—a rare moment of solemn focus.

Since arriving in the Three Thousand States, his group had been casual, never taking things seriously. This was his first time treating a fight with such gravity.

“It’s time. We should go,” someone reminded him from afar.

Four young figures stood there—two men and two women—radiating immortal auras. The men bore noble bearings, the women breathtaking beauty, all clearly extraordinary.

These four were unfathomably powerful, their strength at least on par with Lin Tian’s, if not greater.

“I’m waiting for the chariot,” Lin Tian said, his hair shimmering, his spear like an inky dragon in his grip.

“It should’ve returned by now. Did the monkey run into trouble?” a stunning blue-eyed woman mused.

Lin Tian frowned, retrieving a five-colored whip. Channeling divine power, he tried to activate it—but it remained inert.

“Strange. The whip’s connection to the chariot is severed. Someone’s refined it,” he said, his gaze sharpening toward Qing Province.

“Someone actually defeated the monkey? Not bad. Without immortal qi, most Heavenly Deities wouldn’t stand a chance against that beast,” a purple-haired man remarked.

“Shall we investigate?” another asked.

“No time. We must depart. We’ll deal with it later.”

“No. I must reclaim my chariot. Who in the Three Thousand States dares take what’s mine?” Lin Tian’s voice turned icy.

“Fine. We’ll make a detour and settle this,” the blue-eyed woman agreed.

They soared into the sky aboard a violet warship, tearing through the void.

These youths hailed from extraordinary backgrounds, each wielding formidable travel treasures.

Back in Qing Province, on the black broken mountain, Shi Hao eyed the ape. “You’re saying Lin Tian is fighting Ning Chuan?”

“Yes. The duel was recently arranged. My master takes it very seriously,” the ape confirmed, unfamiliar with the Three Thousand States’ figures.

“The Six Crown King! He’s dueling the Six Crown King!” The crowd erupted in chatter, the mountain alive with excitement.

Shi Hao rose abruptly. “How disappointing. Couldn’t he spare time for me first?”

Huo Ling’er giggled, tugging his hand. “Let them fight. We’ll watch.”

Shi Hao smiled. “I’m not looking to interfere. I just want to spectate.”

He felt no guilt—having battled Ning Chuan in the Ancient Immortal Ruins, shaking the world. Now, watching those two clash would be entertaining.

“Who’s coming to watch? Let’s go together!” Shi Hao called out.

“Let’s go!” Many cheered, eager for the spectacle.

“Move out!” Shi Hao boarded the five-colored divine chariot, ordering the ape to drive while inviting others aboard. The chariot, a sect master-grade treasure, could expand to accommodate countless passengers.

Once the duel’s location was confirmed, the chariot blazed across the sky, eventually ripping through space.

Not long after, a violet-gold warship descended upon the black broken mountain, carrying five young cultivators.

Lin Tian’s expression darkened. His chariot was gone, commandeered by another.

“Someone actually dared to take my chariot?” he growled, glaring into the distance.

“Time is short. You must face Ning Chuan first,” the purple-haired youth reminded him.

“Fine. After I defeat Ning Chuan, I’ll deal with the fool who stole my chariot,” Lin Tian vowed.

The violet-gold warship set sail—heading in the same direction as Shi Hao’s group!