Such a powerful pure-blooded creature was captured, leaving the crowd dumbfounded and silent—this was truly a spine-chilling event. Even the Flood Dragon was stunned. Though it had long anticipated this youth’s strength, it never imagined he would be this formidable, almost demonically so, effortlessly suppressing the Demon Spider.
“Release me!” the Demon Spider struggled, desperate to escape. Yet the ceramic bowl was extraordinary, imbued with potent glyphic power. Though its mouth remained unsealed, swirling glyphs coiled around it, naturally suppressing the creature. The Demon Spider was firmly stuck to the bowl’s base, utterly unable to break free. With just a slight activation from Shi Hao, terrifying force would manifest, refining it.
“You think I’ll release you just because you say so? A mere spider dares to stir trouble in the imperial capital? If not you, then who should I suppress?” Shi Hao remarked, holding the small bowl and examining it closely. He treated this pure-blooded creature as nothing more than an ordinary spider. “Too weak to guard a village, and too immature for alchemy—still just a juvenile. It needs to be raised for a while longer.”
The crowd was stunned. What kind of person was this? Raising a pure-blooded creature was more shocking than keeping it as a pet—this was outright treating it like livestock, fattening it for slaughter. Even the Sixteenth Princess, the Thunder Clan’s eldest daughter, and the other jewels of the imperial capital were terrified. This was beyond astonishing.
“Who are you…?” inquired a descendant of a noble house. Such a dominant figure had emerged, yet none knew his identity—clearly, their intelligence was lacking.
“I’m just passing through,” Shi Hao chuckled, offering no further explanation.
“Brother, you’re truly remarkable! Today was exhilarating. I can’t thank you enough for subduing that spider!” The drunkard from the Martial Prince’s estate had sobered up completely after witnessing such an event.
Meanwhile, several other young men wore grim expressions—they were the Demon Spider’s entourage, some from the Martial Prince’s estate, others from different factions.
“Esteemed brother, may we speak privately?” one of them ventured.
“Speak your mind,” Shi Hao replied calmly.
“You must know he hails from the Demon Spirit Lake, and his status is extraordinary. This course of action is unwise. I implore you to show mercy and release him.”
“What’s unwise about it? Does coming from the Demon Spirit Lake grant him the right to act tyrannically? This is the Stone Nation’s imperial capital, not his domain.” Shi Hao’s expression turned stern, his voice rising sharply. “You’re a descendant of the Martial Prince’s estate, not this spider’s servant! Your surname is Shi, not ‘Spider.’ Do you even realize what you’re doing? Step aside!”
The young man flushed crimson, nearly exploding in rage but dared not act out—this youth was too formidable. He muttered, “You’ve brought disaster upon yourself. No one can save you now.”
Shi Hao shot him a disdainful glance. “Fool, don’t you understand? As a Martial Prince’s descendant, involving yourself in this disgraceful affair is beyond idiotic. You bring shame upon your entire estate, inviting scorn and hatred.”
“You—!” The group was left speechless, faces burning with fury. They belonged to Shi Yi’s faction and had recently allied with the Demon Spirit Lake, making their resentment all the more intense.
“Scram!” Shi Hao barked. A single word, yet it thundered through the Azure Grove Garden, stirring the nearby emerald lake into towering waves.
The crowd was astounded. This youth was too domineering—suppressing the descendant of an ancient Demon Spider, rebuking noble heirs, fearless as if he were a young supreme ruler.
“You disgraceful wretches, get lost! You bring shame to your families!” The drunkard and others from the Martial Prince’s estate roared, long disgusted by their opponents.
“Fine, fine! Just you wait!” The group stormed off, shooting venomous glares at Shi Hao.
With a cold snort, Shi Hao flicked his sleeve, summoning a gale that sent them flying into the lake, drenching them thoroughly.
“Leave now. If I catch you acting as lackeys or spider servants again, I’ll cut you down where you stand.” His voice was icy, chilling to the bone.
“Bravo!” Cheers erupted not just from the drunkard’s group but from many noble heirs. The Stone Nation was built on martial prowess, and many of its proud descendants were filled with righteous fury.
Recently, powerful pure-blooded creatures had entered the capital under the guise of celebrating the Human Emperor’s birthday, leading some spineless nobles to grovel and curry favor—much to the disgust of the more resolute. Shi Hao’s dominance today ignited their fighting spirit, stirring their blood.
“*Hehe*…” The Heavenly Fox Maiden approached with a radiant smile, her ivory-white figure swaying gracefully, her curves barely concealed by her robes. Her raven-black hair cascaded down, framing her enchanting face and sparkling eyes.
The crowd instinctively parted for her. “That Demon Spider is a calamity in your hands. Give it to me,” she purred.
Everyone was stunned. She wanted the pure-blooded creature—was she trying to share the burden of his trouble? What was their relationship?
Shi Hao’s response surprised them all. “No. This is one of the Ancient Five Poisons, a crucial ingredient for divine elixirs. If you want it, trade me something valuable.”
“You don’t understand. If you don’t hand it over, disaster will befall you soon,” the Heavenly Fox Maiden warned.
“And giving it to you would spare me? If someone seeks vengeance, let them come. For now, this is a priceless alchemical catalyst. Offer me a treasure if you want it.”
What was meant to be a gathering of prodigies had turned into this. All eyes were on Shi Hao, whose appearance had upended expectations.
Soon, Marquis Huntian approached, clinking cups with Shi Hao and praising his heroism. A formidable marquis, only twenty-five yet already a famed frontier governor, he left with a stunning beauty in tow, inviting Shi Hao to visit him in the borderlands.
Other renowned noble heirs followed, eager to befriend Shi Hao regardless of whether he survived the coming storm. His strength alone warranted their respect.
To Shi Hao’s surprise, more pure-blooded creatures were present than he’d anticipated. Besides the Flood Dragon, he spotted the Bifang and Zhujian—former adversaries from Hundred Shattered Mountains, now in human form.
Other divine mountain envoys were likely present too, as he caught a glimpse of the purple-clad Yun Xi conversing with powerful beings.
“This is lively. I wonder if any Venerables will appear. The Desolate Territory is truly descending into chaos. These divine mountains are sending their disciples to gather intelligence,” Shi Hao mused.
“You’re quite the enigma—so powerful, yet unheard of. Are you from beyond this domain?” The Thunder Clan’s eldest daughter approached, raising her cup with a coy smile, her crimson lips stark against the jade vessel.
Nearby, Gu Linglong looked uneasy. Earlier, she had tried to suppress Shi Hao, only to be humiliated by subsequent events. Her brother had long since fled in fear.
“I heard you have a younger sister?” Shi Hao asked casually, vague memories surfacing.
“What do you want?” The Thunder Clan’s eldest daughter tensed. Her sister was the clan’s pride, a true disciple of an ancient divine mountain, radiant and peerless—the capital’s reigning beauty, coveted by many.
“Just curious,” Shi Hao replied.
Gu Linglong and the others relaxed, smirking knowingly, while the Thunder Clan’s eldest daughter frowned, eyeing him sidelong.
Suddenly, chaos erupted in the distance—beastly roars and the rumble of a war chariot tearing through the sky.
“They’re here! A noble’s chariot!”
“That’s… Shi Ziteng!”
The crowd erupted. Though anticipated, the arrival of this powerhouse in person sent shockwaves through the Azure Grove Garden. This was a reckoning.
The chariot landed, and several figures stepped onto the grass, faces grim.
Shi Ziteng was a legend—enigmatic, having trained at the Demon Spirit Lake, his past shrouded in mystery. Though low-key, those who crossed him never survived, including many illustrious figures now long dead.
His presence heralded a storm.
With luminous hair and jade-like skin, Shi Ziteng exuded calm, his footsteps syncing with the pulse of heaven and earth. The world seemed to hush, his aura merging with nature, radiating a terrifying Dao rhythm.
The crowd trembled.
“You suppressed a disciple of the Demon Spirit Lake?” Shi Ziteng asked.
Behind him stood others, ranging from their twenties to forties, all formidable, their gazes piercing.
Shi Hao looked up. By blood, this man was his uncle—yet he felt no kinship, only cold detachment.
“It was me,” Shi Hao replied evenly, holding the small bowl where the emerald spider lay immobilized.
All eyes were on them. A tempest was coming.
“Release him,” Shi Ziteng said, his tone serene, yet his presence ethereal, as if one with the cosmos.
“No.”
This was Shi Hao’s first confrontation with Shi Ziteng—and he would not yield.
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