“He’s charging at the ancient sacred artifact!” Many gasped in shock as Shi Hao stomped the ground with tremendous force, shaking the entire martial arena before dashing toward the radiant weapon. The artifact gleamed blindingly, its light so piercing it brought tears to the eyes and stung like needles as it shot toward the boy midair.
“The Azure Heaven Treasure Wheel!” Some recognized the famed artifact, renowned for its brilliance in ancient times. It was a circular, emerald-hued wheel, engraved with countless mystical runes that radiated divine light, resembling a green sun etched with symbols—both magnificent and terrifying. Originating from the Azure Heaven Divine Mountain, this weapon had slain countless ancient powerhouses, its history steeped in blood. Despite enduring countless battles over the ages, it remained flawless, its power undiminished.
Shi Hao soared upward, his left arm blazing with luminous runes, transforming into something akin to a divine limb. The symbols spread across his body, shielding him in a cocoon of sacred energy.
“What… is that sacred aura?!” The crowd was stunned, their minds reeling from the overwhelming presence. The energy emanating from him was no weaker than the Azure Heaven Treasure Wheel—perhaps even more enigmatic, its undulations vast as a starry sea.
A strange sound echoed in the air as the treasure wheel was sent flying backward, its radiance flickering erratically. Meanwhile, Shi Hao was also thrown back, his body wreathed in layers of shimmering runes before crashing onto the ground. The impact shook the earth, but the arena remained intact, protected by hidden formations.
Far away, the Azure Heaven Treasure Wheel hovered, its light dimming and reigniting like a green sun.
“How is this possible? He survived a direct hit from an ancient killing artifact?!” Many rubbed their eyes in disbelief. The “holy terror” had not been reduced to ashes.
Shi Hao wiped blood from his lips, injured but far from defeated. His body was covered in mysterious runes, all emanating from his left arm.
“Impressive. This thing is really something!” he muttered, quickly recovering his breath before glaring ahead.
The crowd erupted in shock—how could anyone withstand an ancient sacred artifact and still remain so energetic?
In the distance, the gray-haired youth paled, gasping for breath. Activating such a weapon drained immense divine energy, leaving him exhausted. Yet, the human boy still stood.
“That’s the Azure Heaven Treasure Wheel!” he screamed. “Even ancient powerhouses fell to it! How can a mere Spirit Transformation realm brat survive?”
“You lack the strength to wield it properly,” Shi Hao said calmly, striding forward.
“That can’t be it! Your arm—it must contain an unblemished ancient artifact!” the gray-haired youth stammered, retreating.
Shi Hao surged forward, intent on subduing his foe. He now understood—this was an assassination attempt by the Azure Heaven Divine Mountain. Without the mysterious artifact within him, he would have perished.
“Azure Heaven Treasure Wheel—suppress and kill!” The gray-haired youth roared, forcing the wheel to dive once more.
Shi Hao’s eyes blazed as he raised his left arm, its brilliance rivaling the sun.
“A bracer… it’s a radiant bracer!” The crowd finally saw it—a strange artifact fused with his flesh, its symbols pulsing with power.
“Wait… isn’t that the divine artifact from the Heavenly Deity Mountain?” someone whispered.
“Exactly. It looks just like it,” a youth from the Primordial Divine Mountain murmured.
Many turned to the violet-robed Yun Xi, puzzled. That artifact was a legendary heirloom of her lineage—how had it ended up in an outsider’s hands?
With another deafening crash, Shi Hao repelled the treasure wheel once more, spitting blood but otherwise unharmed.
“Is that truly the Heavenly Deity Mountain’s artifact?”
“It must be, though its state is unusual.”
Indeed, Shi Hao wielded the soul of a bracer—not its physical form—acquired through extortion in the Void God Realm. Back then, Yun Xi’s grandfather had lured him into danger, intending to silence him afterward. As collateral, Shi Hao had demanded this artifact’s spirit.
The Heavenly Deity Mountain was a formidable forbidden land, its name signifying its legacy—once home to true deities. Their artifacts were naturally peerless.
“If that bracer were in its complete state, the Azure Heaven Treasure Wheel might have shattered,” someone murmured.
Yun Xi sighed inwardly. Once the “holy terror” got his hands on something, retrieving it was near impossible—unless they captured him alive.
Meanwhile, the gray-haired youth wobbled, unable to sustain the artifact’s activation any longer. He tried for one last strike, but Shi Hao gave him no chance, lunging like lightning.
Though Shi Hao was also drained—activating a divine artifact, even just its spirit, consumed vast energy—his ten heavenly passages granted him unparalleled reserves.
“Die!” the gray-haired youth snarled, but he was no match. A single sweep of that divine arm sent him flying, blood gushing from his mouth.
Before he could land, Shi Hao was upon him, stomping him into the ground.
The sickening crunch of bones made the audience wince.
“Let me up!” the youth howled.
“You think you deserve mercy?” Shi Hao raised his hand to finish him—until an aged cough interrupted.
“The Stone Emperor decrees: duels are permitted, but no killing,” the guard captain announced.
Shi Hao relented—this was the emperor’s birthday, after all. But he wasn’t done.
“I won’t kill you… but that doesn’t mean I’ll let you off.”
With that, he proceeded to kick the youth’s backside relentlessly, each blow cracking bones and shredding dignity. The gray-haired youth screamed in humiliation—a scion of the Primordial Divine Mountain, publicly spanked like a child!
“And you three!” Shi Hao pointed at the other youths, who bolted in terror.
None escaped. With the divine artifact’s suppression and his ten heavenly passages, Shi Hao immobilized them before delivering brutal kicks to their pelvises.
Their agonized wails filled the arena as they rolled on the ground, bones snapping.
The crowd sighed. These fools had picked the wrong enemy—now they’d carry this trauma for life.
Human spectators gaped, hands over their mouths. Shi Hao had just manhandled pure-blooded beings like they were nothing.
“Is he… betrothed?” a starry-eyed girl whispered.
“Dream on. Someone who can thrash Primordial Divine Mountain heirs won’t settle for your clan,” another scoffed.
As the battle concluded, the defeated were carried off, utterly disgraced.
“They never expected him to possess the Heavenly Deity Mountain’s artifact,” someone remarked.
Indeed, without it, Shi Hao—no matter how talented—would have perished.
“Why does he have their ancestral treasure?” many wondered.
“A girl gave it to me,” Shi Hao answered casually.
All eyes turned to Yun Xi, expressions turning suggestive.
“You—stop lying!” Yun Xi flushed crimson, mortified by the implications.
“I’m not! The person who gave it made me promise to keep it safe,” Shi Hao said innocently before eyeing the hovering Azure Heaven Treasure Wheel greedily.
Yun Xi seethed, her cheeks burning. This wretched brat had just ruined her reputation!
“Brat, dare you covet my artifact?” a cold voice boomed, shaking the arena.
“Which old ghost is yapping?” Shi Hao retorted fearlessly.
“A speck of dust challenging the sun? Know your place.”
“Old fool, come fight me—I’ll kick your backside too!”
Silence.
Did he just… threaten to spank a revered elder?
The crowd froze in disbelief.
“Insolent whelp!” Thunderous rage split the sky, making many cough blood.
“Bring it! And that giant spider too—I’ll kick all your backsides!” Shi Hao taunted.
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