Chapter 334: The Wild Desolate Sect's Shi Hao
"Wait, early stage eighth grade Supreme? Do you have an artifact to hide your true strength?"
Inside the Ancient Secret Realm, the man facing Xiao Tiance was utterly shocked as he felt the sudden surge in Xiao Tiance's aura, revealing early stage eighth grade Supreme strength. Instinctively, he stepped back, his expression betraying a growing fear.
However, he quickly regained some composure. After all, they were both at the same cultivation stage. If it came down to a fight, he believed he might not be completely at a disadvantage.
"Heh, why don't you take another look?" Xiao Tiance's playful smile deepened as his aura shifted again, this time to the early stage ninth grade Supreme level.
The man's fear intensified, his earlier confidence evaporating. Against someone at the ninth grade Supreme level, he knew he didn't stand a chance.
"Y you… who are you?"
Stepping back further, as if the extra distance could protect him, the man's voice trembled. But he knew deep down that retreating wouldn't save him if Xiao Tiance decided to kill him.
"This one is Xiao Tiance."
Xiao Tiance spoke with a calm smile, but the weight of his name made the man's face turn even paler.
"X Xiao Tiance… You're the same Xiao Tiance who forced the Western Heaven Battle Hall to stand down in Luo Shui City?!"
"If no one else is using that name, then yes, that's me." Xiao Tiance chuckled before his expression turned cold. "So, you know me?"
"Of course, sir! Your name has been echoing throughout the Western Heaven Continent!
"A fortnight ago, you forced the Western Heaven Battle Hall to retreat without a fight, and even prevented them from taking their Sacred Son, Ling Longzi, back with them. After that, your reputation spread far and wide.
"But I never thought I'd meet you here. Please forgive my earlier offense. It wasn't intentional. This Ancient Secret Realm is full of dangers, and even Earth Supremes can fall here.
"I'm merely trying to survive, and avoiding unnecessary conflict is my goal.
"Earlier, I only acted because I noticed you didn't recognize the Hunter Flower. My plan was to take the flower first, then tell you how to neutralize its poison. Please, Master Tiance, forgive my momentary lapse in judgment!"
The man hurriedly explained, his words stumbling over one another in his panic.
The Price of Calculations
Xiao Tiance's face remained impassive, though inwardly he found the explanation amusing. While the man's story sounded plausible, it was impossible to verify. What was more likely was that if Xiao Tiance had been poisoned, the man would've seized the Hunter Flower and left him to die.
Still, the man's actions reflected the brutal survival rules of the Great Thousand World, where strength dictated morality, and caution was a necessity.
"Heh, I didn't realize my name was so famous. That's news to me.
"However…" Xiao Tiance's tone shifted, his cold gaze sending a chill down the man's spine. "Do you think I believe your story?
"If the poison from the Hunter Flower had incapacitated me, my life would've been at your mercy. And now you think you can talk your way out of this? Let's discuss how you intend to buy back your life."
The man's knees buckled as the weight of Xiao Tiance's aura pressed down on him. Throwing dignity aside, he dropped to his knees and begged for forgiveness.
"Master Tiance, please forgive me! I was blinded by greed. It was a moment of foolishness please, show mercy!"
Xiao Tiance remained unmoved, but a golden flame suddenly appeared in his hand the Golden Emperor Heaven Burning Flame.
As the flame ignited, the poison clinging to Xiao Tiance's hand from the Hunter Flower was instantly burned away. The intense heat radiating from the flame hung like a sword over the kneeling man's head.
"Master Tiance! Wait! I have information that may interest you!"
"Speak."
The single word, calm and indifferent, made the man shiver. He knew the value of his information was the only thing keeping him alive.
A Warning from the Western Heaven
"Master Tiance, I've heard that you're not from the Great Thousand World?"
"And what of it?" Xiao Tiance's tone was sharp, his expression cold.
"So it's true…" The man swallowed hard before continuing. "If that's the case, then I believe you'll find this information valuable.
"I overheard something about you from the Western Heaven Battle Hall. The elder known as Elder Winter, second in strength only to the Western Heaven Battle Emperor, was seen at the Bone God Clan's entrance to this realm. He was chatting and laughing with the Bone God Clan's leader and a few other Earth Supremes.
"Additionally, I've heard that the Blood God Clan and the Force God Clan have been contacted by Sacred Sons Ling Jianzi and Ling Zhanzi. Initially, no one thought much of it, but rumors began to spread that you humiliated the Western Heaven Battle Hall in Luo Shui City by capturing Sacred Son Ling Longzi.
"If my sources are correct, this alliance of theirs in the Ancient Secret Realm may be specifically targeting you."
Having relayed all the information he could muster, the man anxiously awaited Xiao Tiance's reaction.
A Plot Confirmed
Xiao Tiance's expression remained calm, but his mind raced. He had expected retaliation from the Western Heaven Battle Hall; they wouldn't let their humiliation go unanswered. The alliance the man described was well within the realm of possibility.
The Western Heaven Battle Hall's past connections with the Bone God Clan and their attempts to involve the Force God and Blood God Clans were strategies that matched their style.
"If they intend to move against me in this realm, then they must have found allies capable of challenging the strength of my side. They wouldn't risk humiliation twice," Xiao Tiance thought.
The previous stalemate in Luo Shui City was due to his overwhelming advantage. The Western Heaven Battle Hall had backed down only because they lacked the strength to win. If they were gathering allies now, it could only mean they were confident in their chances.
Xiao Tiance's lips curled into a faint smile. "So, they've gone to this extent? Interesting. Let them come."
His calm yet chilling demeanor made the man before him tremble. "M Master Tiance, I've told you everything I know. I hope you'll spare my life!"
Xiao Tiance extinguished the golden flame in his hand but said nothing, leaving the man's fate uncertain.
After all, this was the Western Heaven Continent. Having embarrassed the Western Heaven Battle Hall in Luo Shui City, they would surely attempt to save face. If they didn't retaliate and the Western Heaven Battle Emperor heard about their failure after emerging from seclusion, wouldn't he consider them useless?
This meant the man's words were likely true.
Xiao Tiance retracted the Golden Emperor Heaven Burning Flame from his hand and asked in a calm tone, "What's your name? Which continent and sect do you hail from?"
A Nervous Introduction
The man let out a long sigh of relief as the oppressive flame vanished. Quickly wiping the sweat from his brow, he answered hastily, "Reporting to Master Tiance, this humble one is named Shi Hao. I am a native of the Western Heaven Continent and the current sect leader of the Wild Desolate Sect."
"Shi Hao?"
Xiao Tiance's brow furrowed slightly upon hearing the name. A name as legendary as that of the Desolate Heaven Emperor from Perfect World, a peerless figure and one of web fiction's ultimate powerhouses. Yet, the man before him, groveling in fear, clearly did not live up to the name.
"Present!" Shi Hao assumed Xiao Tiance was calling for him and promptly answered with exaggerated respect.
"You brought me information that I need, so I'll spare your life. However, while I'll excuse the death penalty, you won't escape punishment entirely.
"I will give you an opportunity to atone for your actions. If you succeed, I'll forget about today's offense. How about it?" Xiao Tiance's tone turned cold, offering no room for negotiation.
Although Xiao Tiance framed it as a choice, the overwhelming gap in strength made refusal impossible. Shi Hao kowtowed deeply, replying, "I am at your command, Master Tiance. Whatever task you assign, I will do my utmost to fulfill it!"
A Dire Task
"Hmm, you may have failed to live up to your name, but at least you're wise enough to recognize the situation.
"Here's what you'll do: stay in the Ancient Secret Realm and continue investigating the whereabouts of the Force God Clan's leader, Ao Tianxiu, the Bone God Clan's leader, Gu Changming, and Elder Winter of the Western Heaven Battle Hall.
"If you can provide me with valuable information, I will consider your debt repaid. However, if you fail…"
Xiao Tiance's voice grew colder, and his eyes narrowed.
"Well, you better pray that I'm defeated and killed by Elder Winter and his allies here in the Secret Realm. Because if I survive, neither you nor your Wild Desolate Sect will have any reason to exist."
Shi Hao's face turned ashen. Cold sweat dripped down his back as he stammered, "Master Tiance, I… I fear my strength is too lacking. How could someone like me uncover the movements of such high ranking figures? If I fail to complete this task, I would be guilty of a grave sin and deserve a thousand deaths!"
His words were no exaggeration. As an eighth grade Supreme, his power was middling at best in this perilous realm. Attempting to trail powerful Earth Supremes like Elder Winter was tantamount to courting death.
A Threat and an Agreement
"Oh? So you're refusing me, then?"
Golden flames burst forth from Xiao Tiance's hand once more.
"Master Tiance, please wait! I'll do it! Even if it costs me my life, I will do everything in my power to accomplish your command! But… if I succeed, how should I contact you?" Shi Hao's panic was evident as he quickly caved under the renewed threat.
"Haha, I knew you'd agree," Xiao Tiance said, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. He retrieved a communication jade from his spatial ring and tossed it to Shi Hao.
"This is a communication jade. It works just like a regular messaging device. Channel your spiritual energy into it, and I'll receive your message. Speak directly to it if you have anything to report."
Shi Hao caught the jade with trembling hands, his heart bitter. Could he have refused? The moment he hesitated, Xiao Tiance had summoned his flame again. If he'd delayed even a moment longer, he might've been reduced to nothing but ashes or perhaps not even ashes, given the ferocity of that fire.
"Yes, Master Tiance. I will remember," Shi Hao replied, clutching the jade tightly.
"Good. Now go. I hope you don't force me to personally visit the Wild Desolate Sect."
"Yes, yes! I will not disappoint you!"
Without another word, Shi Hao turned and vanished into the distance as fast as his feet could carry him.
Exploring the Forest
With Shi Hao gone, Xiao Tiance resumed his search through the forest for rare treasures. Unfortunately, his luck seemed to run out after finding the Hunter Flower. He discovered only a handful of minor treasures during his exploration.
However, Xiao Tiance remained unfazed. As Luo Tian Shen had mentioned before, time flowed differently inside the Ancient Secret Realm. Five days inside the realm equated to just one day outside. With the realm open for three full months in external time, he had the equivalent of fifteen months to explore.
Moreover, the most coveted treasures would not appear until much later, as the early stages of the realm's opening were usually spent familiarizing oneself with the environment and ensuring survival. The true tests and rewards lay ahead.
After finishing his search, Xiao Tiance caught a fiery hoofed bull from the forest. The beast, a late stage Celestial Fusion level spirit beast, looked ferocious with its flaming hooves and razor sharp horns. However, to Xiao Tiance, it was nothing more than dinner.
After expertly butchering and cooking the bull, Xiao Tiance prepared a feast, even making a hot pot.
"This tastes incredible. The meat is tender, full of flavor, and brimming with spiritual energy. Simply exquisite," he remarked between bites, thoroughly enjoying his meal.
After eating his fill, Xiao Tiance leaped onto a nearby tree to rest. His aura, radiating without concealment, ensured that no spirit beasts dared approach within ten miles of his position.
(End of Chapter)
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