Five hundred matches—a dying man had actually won five hundred consecutive matches in one breath, shocking all the geniuses to the point of disbelief.
This situation had to be stopped. The various powerhouses could no longer sit still, or else this mysterious ancient arena would likely declare Shi Hao as the ultimate victor!
However, to everyone’s confusion, Gu Jian Yun still hadn’t moved, still refusing to step forward.
Some went to seek his opinion, but his response remained the same: he wouldn’t fight a dead man and didn’t consider Shi Hao a threat.
But others couldn’t sit still. Some whispered that Gu Jian Yun was likely intimidated by Shi Hao, too afraid to step onto the stage.
“We must act! Drain Shi Hao’s essence and blood, make sure he dies sooner rather than later!” someone schemed in secret.
“Hmm, drag Gu Jian Yun into this. Shi Hao’s condition is dire—he’s bound to fall. The key is that Gu Jian Yun has been conserving his strength. He should be the one to clash with Shi Hao!”
“That’s the way it should be!”
…
Some began plotting, sending their subordinates onto the stage, offering hefty rewards to lure experts to challenge and exhaust Shi Hao’s vitality.
Among them were prodigies from the three thousand provinces and even natives of the Immortal Ancient Realm, recruiting fighters with treasures and rare materials to battle on the arena. For instance, Yin Kun of the Silverblood Demon Tree Clan, who had been brutally beaten by Shi Hao and thrown out of the Soul Island, harbored deep hatred. With venom in his eyes, he paid others to deal with Shi Hao.
From the 501st match onward, the battles grew fiercer.
Shi Hao’s body swayed. His cultivation had reached a critical juncture—he had fully comprehended the Willow Deity’s techniques and was undergoing a fierce transformation, burning himself to await success.
Undoubtedly, this was perilous. A single misstep could spell eternal doom, especially since he was still engaged in combat. The difficulty was immense.
Battle after battle, by the 567th match, Shi Hao made a careless mistake. A sharp pain shot through his shoulder as an arrow from a powerful opponent pierced him.
Though the arrow only penetrated half an inch before shattering, it was an extremely dangerous sign—his condition had plummeted to its lowest point!
“Whoosh!”
Shi Hao took a deep breath, and behind him emerged a colossal feather sword, towering to the heavens, radiating blinding golden light—a manifestation of the Kun Peng technique.
The One True Feather Sword!
He split the attacker in two, blood spraying as the man fell in halves.
After the 500th match, though he had defeated his opponents, he rarely killed, allowing them to escape. His weakened state made it unwise to waste energy on finishing them off.
But now, he forcefully channeled his essence to slay this man—solely because he had wounded Shi Hao’s shoulder.
Though this act was intimidating, it couldn’t conceal his frailty.
Many eyes gleamed with excitement. The opportunity had truly arrived—Shi Hao had been wounded for the first time. Perhaps he could be slain here and now.
“Go! Cripple him! Drag him down like a dead dog!” Yin Kun gritted his teeth, still paying exorbitant sums to lure outside geniuses into action.
Other enemies did the same, their eyes alight with excitement, eager to eliminate Shi Hao.
Many true experts also grew restless. They weren’t aiming for supremacy but sought to quickly dispatch Shi Hao, seize his Immortal Seed, and flee.
After all, Shi Hao’s Immortal Seed had once drawn the covetous eyes of seven Heavenly Deities—its allure was fatal to them.
Many even believed that Shi Hao’s immense strength and achievements were largely due to his Immortal Seed. Obtaining it could elevate them to unparalleled heights!
“What a pity Gu Jian Yun won’t act. We’re still missing an opportunity. It’d be best if Shi Hao dragged him down before dying!” someone lamented.
At this moment, other anomalies watched like tigers, hoping for mutual destruction.
“Thud!”
By the 587th match, Shi Hao was wounded again. A Primeval Direwolf roared, its glowing claw slashing his arm, damaging his flesh.
Yet, no blood flowed—his essence was nearly depleted, his vitality burned to the brink.
“He’s done for! No blood left, essence dried up—this is a man on death’s door. How else could a wolf claw harm him?” Many were exhilarated, emboldened.
Bang!
Shi Hao’s arm trembled, and the Direwolf was sent flying, exploding midair into a mist of blood.
But Shi Hao himself swayed, feeling utterly drained—his condition was dire.
“Who among you will step forward? Great Nirvana Pills, Quasi-Patriarch weapons—once we leave the Immortal Ancient Realm, they’ll be yours! If you doubt us, we’ll swear blood oaths!”
Survivors from the Demon Sunflower Garden, Netherworld, and Celestial Nation arrived, joining Shi Hao’s other enemies in offering exorbitant rewards for his death.
Major sects like the Divine Temple, Flaming Cloud Cave, and Dragon Demon Sect had long been mobilizing, hiring fighters to exhaust Shi Hao.
“Kill him! Don’t worry about rewards—look at this! A treasure pill infused with divine herbs! A sky-high bounty!” Yin Kun snarled.
Meanwhile, the clans of the seven Heavenly Deities—Golden Elephant, Ancient Ape, Ma Yuan, Di Kun, and Horned Dragon—had also arrived, their faces dark as they hired fighters to kill Shi Hao.
“Want to die honorably on the arena? Not a chance!”
“Overwhelm him with numbers! Beat him into a dead dog and drag him down!”
“Let him die in the most humiliating way possible!”
Some among the seven clans grew frenzied, sparing no expense to hire killers, eager to disgrace Shi Hao utterly.
In the last few dozen battles, Shi Hao had been too weak to kill more than ten opponents. Though he defeated many, they escaped—he lacked the strength to finish them.
This emboldened many, lured by the hefty rewards, to leap onto the arena and challenge him.
“Thud!”
The 600th opponent fell, slain by a single finger strike from Shi Hao, collapsing backward.
“Continue!” Shi Hao gritted his teeth. He had heard that in one era, an ancient anomaly had dominated over 700 matches without finishing the competition, declared the victor prematurely.
Thus, he resolved to endure, hoping to end this contest swiftly before outside patriarchs intervened—a true disaster.
Then, something shocking happened. Shi Hao could no longer sit cross-legged, swaying precariously, yet he kept winning!
698th match, 699th match…
“Heavens! Is he the reincarnation of an Immortal King? How can he still continue?!” People were terrified.
700th match!
Shi Hao survived another round, stunning everyone. By now, all faces had changed.
Fear gripped many. Could it be that Shi Hao wasn’t injured at all—that this was a ruse to lure them in?
Eyes turned to Gu Jian Yun, admiration dawning. His foresight was uncanny—he must have sensed something.
“Don’t look at me. He’ll last another hundred matches at most. If someone presses him hard, he might not even reach the 800th,” Gu Jian Yun said calmly.
“Kill him!” someone hissed, face twisted with malice, rallying forces to attack Shi Hao.
701st match, 702nd match…
True to form, Shi Hao grew weaker, narrowly escaping death several times—further inflaming the crowd.
By the 795th match, Shi Hao sighed inwardly. He couldn’t hold on much longer. It was a pity—according to legend, someone had once won over 700 matches in a row and been declared the victor.
Now, he had surpassed that record, yet the arena hadn’t acknowledged his victory.
Soon, he understood. That ancient anomaly had been so overwhelmingly powerful that few dared challenge him. His own situation was different—his injuries made him a target.
“This is it. I need to rest, complete the Willow Deity’s technique, and finish my transformation!” Shi Hao made his decision.
800th match—against all odds, he prevailed!
The crowd was silent. This was monstrous, utterly unnatural. If he hadn’t been injured, how terrifying would he be?!
Finally, Shi Hao rose unsteadily and stepped down from the arena.
“What? He’s leaving the arena voluntarily?!”
People froze, then realized—Shi Hao could no longer hold on.
The revelation sparked an uproar, the place erupting in noise.
Shi Hao was spent, his vitality and essence exhausted. This also meant he might soon die—his foundation cracked, his body grievously wounded.
Many glanced at Gu Jian Yun, awed by his sharp judgment. He had predicted Shi Hao would last only 800 matches—uncannily accurate.
“Shi Hao’s finished! His body betrays him. Haha… what wonderful news!”
Many laughed, gloating without sympathy, thrilled by his plight.
Killing intent flickered in numerous eyes. Were it not for the natives protecting him, many would have struck already.
After all, Shi Hao was at his weakest—easy prey. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have left the arena.
“Shi Hao! Dare you face us, the natives of Immortal Ancient? The arena barred us before, but now we challenge you!”
“Exactly! If not for the arena’s restrictions, you outsiders wouldn’t have stood a chance. Shi Hao, do you dare fight me?!”
Voices taunted from the shadows.
The crowd was stunned. This was unexpected.
“Is this appropriate? It might offend people,” someone murmured in the distance.
Yin Kun shook his head, a cold smile on his lips. “What’s the problem? We’re not the ones acting. Let them challenge him openly—we’ll just watch.”
“But… you instigated this. If word gets out, it won’t reflect well.”
“What does it have to do with me? They’re acting on their own. Besides, the descendants and tribes of the seven fallen Heavenly Deities are also egging them on. As long as we don’t intervene, it’s fine.” Yin Kun lounged casually, his gaze venomous.
“Shi Hao! Do you dare fight? Do you dare face us natives of Immortal Ancient? Your achievements mean nothing!” someone jeered.
The seven Heavenly Deities’ descendants smirked, inciting ruthless fighters.
“Shi Hao! Don’t disgrace the geniuses of the three thousand provinces! Don’t throw away your honor! What are you afraid of? Fight them!”
Even among the outsiders, some from the three thousand provinces stirred trouble, clearly with ill intent, fanning the flames.
Everyone could see Shi Hao was at his weakest. Challenging him now was tantamount to murder.
Yet they persisted, hurling insults.
“Shi Hao! Is your blade only sharp against the geniuses of the three thousand provinces? When outsiders provoke you, will you cower like a turtle?!”
Some were even more direct, their words cutting and humiliating.
Survivors from the Demon Sunflower Garden, Divine Temple, Netherworld, Flaming Cloud Cave, Dragon Demon Sect, and Celestial Nation also fanned the flames from the shadows.
“Shi Hao! Are you truly so weak? Too scared to fight? You shame the geniuses of the three thousand provinces!”
A chorus of malicious voices rose, their intentions vile.
The Eight-Armed Soul Clan wanted to intervene, but Shi Hao stopped them.
He stood there, expression icy. The descendants of the seven Heavenly Deities among the natives were one thing, but the traitors from the three thousand provinces were even more despicable.
“Since you seek death, I’ll slaughter you all!” Shi Hao’s gaze was frigid.
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