At first, everyone was stunned. The central heavenly palace of the imperial city, along with the entire plaza, rose from the ground with a thunderous roar, traversing the void to descend upon the military training field outside the city! What kind of power was this? Was it the doing of the Stone Emperor, or was this heavenly palace truly a supreme magical artifact?
Banners fluttered in the wind as a dense mass of heavily armed soldiers stood in formation. Each warrior exuded a fierce aura, like a pack of wolves or tigers—some gripping halberds, others wielding sharp swords—their murderous intent palpable as they stared down the crowd.
“The Human Emperor has arrived!” someone bellowed.
Soon, the killing intent dissipated as a general stepped forward to salute and began directing the soldiers in an orderly arrangement. The military field was vast beyond measure, dwarfing even the imperial palace’s training grounds. It stretched endlessly, as if they had stepped into a desolate wasteland.
Whispers spread—this place was once an ancient battlefield, stained with the blood of gods and demons, leaving it barren of life. Yet, it was the perfect place to temper soldiers, honing their will and battle lust.
High above, a colossal demonic spider loomed, its mountain-sized body shimmering with a jade-green hue. Its bristling hairs gleamed like icy spears, radiating a cold, crystalline light. It was deeply unsettled—the entire heavenly palace and plaza had suddenly transported it here, appearing right in the middle of the military field.
“Human boy, you may choose your manner of death,” the demonic spider declared, its voice not loud but carrying an overwhelming authority that reverberated through the sky, shaking the very ground beneath them.
People searched for Shi Hao. The Venerable One had appeared, ready to strike—but where was he?
One area remained eerily quiet, with everyone staring in disbelief. Finally, they spotted him—and jaws dropped.
He… was still eating!
“How is he still eating?!” someone shrieked, nearly losing their mind at his sheer audacity.
Seated cross-legged before a jade table, Shi Hao was devouring a golden spider leg, its outer shell peeled away to reveal tender, glistening meat. He savored each bite, washing it down with fragrant wine.
“Help yourselves, don’t be shy,” he called out casually, gesturing to those around him—members of the Rain Clan, Shi Ziteng, the Tuoba family, and even youths from the ancient divine mountains.
Everyone was dumbfounded. Who would dare eat? It was practically suicide! If the demonic spider saw this, none of them would be spared. Shi Ziteng and the Rain Clan members turned livid—this was sheer arrogance.
“Now, death would be too kind for you. I’ve decided to let you live!” The demonic spider’s voice boomed like thunder, shaking the void with its fury. Sometimes, living was worse than dying—it intended to torment Shi Hao, making every day a living hell.
“Big spider, you’re so dull. I never planned on dying anyway—spare me the nonsense,” Shi Hao retorted, rising to his feet.
The crowd was stunned. Was this really just a youth at the Transformation Realm? He showed no reverence for a Venerable One—even kings and marquises would tremble and kneel before such power. And yet, here he was, scolding a Venerable from the ancient divine mountains as if it were nothing.
The demonic spider’s gaze turned icy. Few had ever dared disrespect it, let alone repeatedly. Without a word, a chilling killing intent spread across the field, causing many to pale, some nearly fainting under the pressure.
Fortunately, golden flames erupted from the heavenly palace, dispelling the cold and restoring warmth.
This was the power of a Venerable—their emotions alone could sway the masses, inducing extreme joy or sorrow.
“Anyone else? Is that bird from the Azure Sky Divine Mountain here? One spider isn’t enough—you’d better team up,” Shi Hao taunted openly.
He was deliberately provoking them, unafraid of more enemies. He intended to maximize the value of the little pagoda’s power.
The Azure Roc Venerable, who had been drinking in the palace, stepped onto the void, his murderous intent clear. He would kill this brat.
“Who else dares fight me?” Shi Hao shouted, acting as if he ruled the world.
He knew he had slain multiple Venerable avatars in the North Sea—if those figures were here, they wouldn’t let him live. But no one else appeared.
“At the Kun Peng’s nest, I remember killing a few old men. Where are they?” he mused.
The crowd erupted. Rumors of the North Sea battles had spread, but now they were confirmed—this little terror was truly formidable.
“Enough nonsense. Time to die,” the Azure Roc sneered.
“No, let me refine him slowly. Death is too merciful,” the demonic spider countered coldly. Sometimes, suffering was worse than death.
Shi Hao strode forward. “Before we fight, answer me one thing—did you hunt my grandfather in person?”
The spider’s voice was icy. “He’s dead. You’ll never see him again.”
Shi Hao scoffed. “For someone who dismisses humans as ants, you sure fear the truth.”
The spider’s eyes flashed. “A mere human—whether he lives or dies means nothing.”
“Yet my grandfather still destroyed your avatar. Don’t overestimate yourself,” Shi Hao shot back.
Whispers spread—the Great Demonic God had been forced to flee the capital after clashing with the spider.
“The Great Demonic God was gravely injured but survived. He left for the outer realms, searching for Shi Ziling,” the guard captain revealed.
Shi Hao’s heart pounded. His grandfather was alive!
The spider’s gaze locked onto the gray-robed elder. “So it was you?”
Shi Hao recalled the battle he glimpsed while traveling to the capital—a colossal spider fighting a figure in the void. Had the guard captain intervened?
“A golden-winged roc hiding as a palace guard? Ridiculous,” the spider sneered.
Gasps filled the air. The guard captain was a Golden Roc?
The elder remained silent, retreating to guard the palace.
“Your grandfather was lucky. But the lesson I taught him will haunt him forever,” the spider gloated.
Shi Hao’s rage flared. His grandfather had suffered.
“You’ve cultivated for centuries, yet couldn’t kill a man who trained for mere decades? Pathetic. If I were you, I’d bash my head in,” he spat.
The spider roared. Its avatar had been crippled, leading to its humiliation in the capital.
“Enough talk. Just kill him,” the Azure Roc snapped.
“Then let’s fight.” Shi Hao stepped onto the field and began chanting:
“O wandering souls of the great void, heed my call! Cross the boundless worlds and join this battle!”
The crowd froze. What was he doing?
“Is that a curse?”
“No… it sounds like an ancient summoning chant—one that calls down meteors or even gods!”
The spider hesitated. This brat wasn’t insane—what was his plan?
Shi Hao continued chanting while silently communicating with the little pagoda, asking if it could act discreetly.
“Heroes of the Supreme Hall, awaken! Cross the starry gates, descend upon the barren land, and aid me in slaying this demonic spider!”
Nothing happened.
The crowd stared. Was this a joke?
The spider laughed. “Foolish babbling. Did you think you could scare me?”
It descended, its oppressive aura forcing Shi Hao to his knees—
Then, the chant took effect.
A ghastly wind howled. Spectral altars flickered into existence as ancient beasts roared, shaking the heavens!
The very air twisted. A colossal azure dragon soared, its bellows shaking the sky. A vermilion bird unleashed divine flames, soaring into the clouds.
A black cyclone engulfed the field, carrying the silhouettes of monstrous beasts and demonic birds, their phantom eyes glaring with terrifying might.
“What’s happening?!”
“Blood-colored fur is falling from the sky!”
The black wind turned crimson—real fur from ancient beasts, swirling in the storm, radiating boundless malice.
“NO!” The spider’s scream pierced the heavens.
Then, it vanished—swallowed by the crimson whirlwind.
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