“Whoosh!”
A streak of blue light soared into the sky, attempting to flee.
Yet, Shi Hao was faster. With a single stomp, he sent the silver-robed prodigy Luo Dao coughing blood, immobilizing him. Then, he shot into the sky in pursuit.
Swish!
A flash of light—his Kun Peng speed combined with the Shrinking Earth technique allowed him to leap ahead, cutting off the escape route. He blocked Lan Yichen, his gaze icy.
“Submit, or die.” His voice was calm, but to the onlookers, it struck like thunder. To demand two prodigies as servants—what audacity!
Below, the Divine Striking Stone glowed, expanding in an instant like a mountain, pressing down on the silver-robed prodigy, pinning him firmly in place.
In the sky, Lan Yichen’s face darkened. How could a proud prodigy submit? Yet, he sensed he was no match. A direct confrontation might mean death.
“Boom!”
Shi Hao gave him no time to think, striking out with boundless dominance. Sacred light surged, collapsing the void.
No submission meant death. Without hesitation, he unleashed his full power!
Lan Yichen’s expression changed. He activated his treasure technique, meeting the attack head-on. Blue metallic light erupted, transforming into countless divine swords slashing toward Shi Hao.
Born from refined metal, his body exuded a lethal metallic aura, capable of shaping endless weapons at will.
“Clang! Clang!…”
Yet, to Lan Yichen’s shock, every divine sword was shattered by Shi Hao’s palms, sparks flying.
Lan Yichen retreated, roaring as scorching molten metal surged from the earth, summoned from the mountains like a volcanic eruption.
The sight was terrifying—crimson liquid forming countless weapons, inscribed with runes, flooding the sky like an endless tide.
The crowd trembled. Such an attack was fearsome—commanding all metal in the world, imbuing it with bone scripts to slaughter foes.
An inexhaustible arsenal, an ocean of killing intent.
Shi Hao watched intently, intrigued. Mastery over an element granted such power?
But he was unafraid. Each punch sent molten metal splattering. No heat could scorch his body, making him seem like a battle immortal descended upon the world.
“Boom!”
Waves of crimson liquid, like blood, erupted from the earth, surging skyward like lava.
In truth, it was molten metal, infused with powerful runes, forming rivers and seas that engulfed the heavens, encircling Shi Hao.
Amidst this, Lan Yichen merged into the metal, hiding within, striking from the shadows. He knew he was outmatched—escape was his only option.
The spectators were spellbound by the duel.
“Is this all you’ve got?” Shi Hao said. Lightning crackled around him, and with a thunderous roar, bolts of lightning descended from the sky.
Instantly, it was as if the Milky Way had fallen—arcs of electricity plunged into the molten metal, triggering chaos!
The lightning erupted within the metal, blindingly intense.
Lan Yichen groaned, flung backward. His face twisted in dismay—this overwhelming thunder technique perfectly countered his metallic nature.
The world fell silent. No longer controlling metal, he charged at Shi Hao for close combat.
Though he knew he was outmatched, surrender was not an option. He unleashed his strongest ability—close-quarters combat with his metallic body.
“Clang!”
The sound was deafening, like a divine hammer striking metal.
Their fists collided. Shi Hao’s hand remained unharmed, glowing with eerie brilliance.
Lan Yichen shuddered, disbelief flooding him. How could this youth’s body be so indomitable? His own metallic form was deformed, wracked with pain.
“Die!” he roared, battling fiercely, refusing to believe Shi Hao’s flesh surpassed his metal.
“Clang! Clang!…”
The metallic clashes pierced the air, threatening to rupture eardrums. Each collision sent ripples through the sky, shearing off distant mountain peaks.
The sheer force was staggering!
The crowd was dumbstruck.
Lan Yichen’s hands were mangled, his arms, shoulders, and torso dented beyond recognition.
“Thud!”
When their legs clashed, Lan Yichen abandoned the assault—his right leg, once straight, was now twisted grotesquely.
“This…” A chill ran through him. Defeated in his own domain.
Had he been flesh and blood, he’d have been reduced to pulp. Even as metal, he was on the verge of shattering.
In treasure techniques, he was even more outmatched—the thunder arts countered him perfectly.
A sigh escaped him. He could rival prodigies, surpassing Luo Dao, yet against this youth, he stood no chance.
“Boom!”
A massive bolt of lightning nearly pierced him, slamming Lan Yichen to the ground beside Luo Dao.
“Last chance. Submit, or die. Choose.” Shi Hao looked down coldly.
He saw value in them—strong allies to gather sacred herbs while he cultivated, saving him time.
The distant crowd shuddered, retreating. This was too brutal—two prodigies, each capable of dominating their own realms, reduced to potential servants.
Outside, the sects were in uproar.
Prodigies, beings of supreme pride, effortlessly crushed by Shi Hao—now facing servitude!
“So ruthless!” they gasped.
The hardest hit were the Blue Gold Ridge and the Luo Clan of Scarlet Province—their young elites, their prodigies, captured.
Submit or die? Their faces were ashen, hearts in their throats.
They couldn’t bear their heirs becoming servants, nor could they afford their deaths. The loss would be catastrophic.
Torn, their expressions darkened further.
“That killer!” The clans trembled. One punch from Shi Hao, and their brightest would perish.
Now, even servitude seemed preferable—survival meant hope.
“Don’t provoke him. Endure. Just live,” some muttered, drawing sidelong glances.
Within the Immortal Ancient fragment…
“Who are you?” Lan Yichen asked.
“Fang, descendant of the Sinful Blood, Shi Hao.” Three identities in one.
Lan Yichen shuddered, staring in shock. “I knew it. We kicked an iron plate.” The title of “Fang” alone was enough—the Thunder Emperor’s techniques hard-countered him.
And the Sinful Blood lineage? Equally terrifying!
Shi Hao spared further details, not wanting to crush their spirits.
Luo Dao’s expression was complex. To encounter this demonic figure—infamous across the upper realm, slayer of the Immortal Palace heir’s avatar—had they known, they’d never have dared steal his herbs.
The distant onlookers paled. Fang or Sinful Blood—both were names none dared provoke. They scattered in panic.
Fang’s reputation was colossal—boiling prodigies alive in the Yuan Heaven Secret Realm, battling the Celestial Clan…
Unless one was a prodigy or a clan’s supreme, who would dare challenge him? The crowd fled in terror.
“You… how many identities do you have?” Hong Huang stammered. Shi Hao’s layers of identity, his renown—it was staggering.
The two prodigies bowed their heads. Lan Yichen whispered, “You won’t enslave us forever, will you? If so, I’d rather die.”
Shi Hao knew their pride had been chipped. Their resolve wavered.
“Once we leave Immortal Ancient, we part ways. Here, I don’t seek to enslave you—just aid me in gathering sacred herbs and divine springs. I need them.”
They exchanged glances. Pretty words, but still servants in all but name.
“Truly, you’re not slaves, but allies. I won’t take your fortunes—just life-rich herbs.” Shi Hao smiled.
They inwardly scoffed. Since when did allies beat each other half to death?
Finally released, they agreed to his “mutual assistance.”
The few remaining spectators were stunned. Two prodigies, submitting? This would shake the world!
“Someone tamed prodigies! This is monumental!”
Outside, the sects were equally shaken.
The Blue Gold Ridge and Luo Clan exhaled in relief. Their heirs lived, even if as servants.
“But how to ensure loyalty?” Shi Hao mused.
“Use the ‘Seed Array Art,'” the Divine Striking Stone suggested.
A profound array, planting a seed within them—control over life and death.
The two prodigies paled.
“Good.” After learning the details, Shi Hao nodded.
“You—” Luo Dao and Lan Yichen recoiled, faces grim.
“For now, this is necessary. Once trust is built, I’ll release you.” Shi Hao smiled.
In truth, he’d been sizing them up.
One was metal—inedible. The other, part Vermilion Bird blood, but humanoid—also unappetizing.
“Killing them would be a waste.”
Had others known his thoughts, they’d have been speechless. Had Lan Yichen and Luo Dao known, they’d have spat blood in rage.
“The array’s breached. Assist me.” Shi Hao directed them to retrieve the Void Heaven Divine Vine.
With resigned sighs, they complied—better alive than dead.
“Whoosh!”
As they entered, a sharp sword energy erupted, severing Lan Yichen in two. The array rumbled, its power surging.
“A trap?!” The Divine Striking Stone raged.
The broken array had mutated—the vine had lured them for a blood sacrifice, altering its nature.
The stone had foreseen this: post-sacrifice, the array might collapse or strengthen. The latter had occurred.
Lan Yichen tumbled out, Luo Dao pale-faced.
“What happened?!” they roared. This was suicide.
“A minor setback. Soon fixed.”
Lan Yichen’s halves merged, molten metal sealing the wound. Soon, he was whole.
Shi Hao was impressed. Near-immortality—prodigies indeed had unique gifts.
“This drains me,” Lan Yichen said, wary of being sent to die in the array.
Shi Hao nodded. His pupil revealed the truth—destroy the soul, and even this body would perish.
“Boom!”
The array flared, symbols blazing, radiating terror.
The vine was sentient—using the array, harnessing sacrificial power.
“Fight me? I’ll devour you root and stem!” the stone threatened.
In the field, a meter-long, thumb-thick vine shimmered—snow-white, radiant, exuding life. It trembled, its leaves shaking in fear.
“Resist no more. Spare the roots, and I’ll let you live.” Shi Hao said. Such a treasure was too rare to destroy—he only needed the stem.
Astonishingly, the vine nodded, swaying in response.
The stone cleared the final obstacles.
“Come out yourself.” Shi Hao waited outside.
The vine’s roots, translucent and dreamlike, slithered out like a dragon, heading toward Shi Hao.
Then—
“Whoosh!”
It plunged underground, attempting escape.
Though it couldn’t fly, its earth-gliding was peerless—vanishing in an instant.
“Gone!”
Even Lan Yichen and Luo Dao felt the loss. Such a treasure, slipping away—heart-wrenching.
Even Shi Hao’s enemies outside sighed—such a waste.
Yet some gloated—his loss, not theirs.
“Swish!”
Suddenly, the vine reappeared, darting back toward the array—only to hit an invisible barrier.
“Thought you’d escape? I sealed all exits.” The stone gloated.
Shi Hao had anticipated this, ordering hidden arrays.
In a flash, he seized the vine. Its purity surpassed jade, its fragrance intoxicating.
Every pore drank in its radiance—divine essence beyond imagination.
At last, Shi Hao relaxed. Such a slippery prize—had he been careless, it’d have fled.
“Captured?!” Luo Dao gulped. A supreme divine herb, witnessed falling into one’s hands.
In the upper realm’s three thousand provinces, few sects possessed such treasures. This would drive ancient factions mad.
Outside, chaos erupted. Even sect masters’ eyes gleamed with greed.
Had they been able to enter, war would’ve erupted.
“Is this real?” Hong Huang murmured, dazed. A treasure coveted by all, now Shi Hao’s.
The vine coiled around his arm, radiant as a white sun, like a dormant dragon.
“My path is clear!” Shi Hao exulted. An unimaginable harvest.
He collected the herb’s soil into a cauldron, replanting the vine within. No hesitation—this was his.
“I’ll find Lan Yu and Yingying,” Hong Huang said, departing.
Shi Hao then questioned the two prodigies about Immortal Ancient’s current state.
“The Dark Prodigy, Immortal Palace heir, and ancient freaks are deep within, yet to emerge.”
“Rumors of a Ten Calamities’ nest—many have gone to investigate.”
Nodding, Shi Hao absorbed the intel.
The two prodigies left, bound by their agreement—periodic deliveries of sacred herbs, extras theirs to keep.
“Let’s go.” With the stone and the Imperial Butterfly, Shi Hao vanished, circling back to the Azure Stone Path.
“Heaven as the furnace, the myriad dao as flames—temper the flesh, ignite the soul, forge the true self.”
Cross-legged, he prepared to seclude himself, ascending to new heights.
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