Shi Ziteng's face was cold and indifferent, no longer displaying his usual calm demeanor. His eyes flickered, and for a long time, he remained silent, as a chilling aura spread throughout the room.
The others were furious. They had acted on their own, without consulting Shi Ziteng, and took it upon themselves to suppress that young man, only to end up with such a disastrous outcome.
This was truly infuriating. Not only were the dispatched individuals killed, but their heads were sent back as a taunt and humiliation.
"Does he want to start a war with us? He's just a boy. Even if he has some significant backing, he's without any real protection. Does he really think he can challenge our Wuwang Manor?" said a middle-aged man, his tone sinister and murderous. He could no longer sit still. This was a severe provocation, and if not dealt with, they would lose all face.
Inside the Humen Inn, Shi Hao sat in the courtyard. He had anticipated the other side would be enraged and refuse to reflect on their own actions, instead blaming others for provoking them.
"You want to kill me, yet you blame others for fighting back. You're used to getting your way," Shi Hao muttered to himself. He figured if trouble was going to brew, it might as well escalate, causing them utter humiliation. After all, the Emperor’s birthday was approaching, and events were converging.
"First, inquire at the Rain King’s Manor and see if Yulin has returned," Shi Ziteng said.
At this moment, the Rain King’s Manor was also shrouded in a grim atmosphere. Many faces were dark with anger. When the heavy box was opened, it contained the head of one of their clan’s top experts.
Blood still dripping, Yulin's eyes were wide open in terror, as if he had been subjected to extreme torment before his death, filled with unwillingness.
"Is this a challenge to the authority of the Rain Clan?" someone roared in fury.
Recently, the clan had been enveloped in a heavy gloom. After the great demon god's incident, the Rain Clan’s reputation in the imperial capital had plummeted. That battle had left them utterly passive and humiliated.
Now, whenever the Rain Clan was mentioned, people would immediately recall the scene of them being massacred inside their own manor by the demon god, a complete disgrace and a hallmark of failure.
This was a far cry from the once mighty, prestigious, and glorious image they had built up. Their reputation was utterly ruined, and this defeat had struck them to the core.
"The head was delivered from the Humen Inn. Investigate! This cannot be left alone. No matter who it is, they must pay!" someone ordered.
"The other side's actions are equivalent to declaring war, waiting for us to react. They want to start a war!"
The Rain King's Manor had been in turmoil lately, with everyone holding back a simmering rage. First, the demon god had left their entire clan unable to lift their heads, and now this incident had occurred. It was like a fuse, ready to ignite a storm.
"Fine, let's see who dares to target our clan. We can use this as a means to vent the frustrations of some in the clan and remind the people of the capital that the Rain Clan is still an ancient family," one of the clan elders said.
Soon, several belligerent high-ranking members of the Rain Clan arrived to inquire about the situation. They were immediately furious, feeling utterly humiliated.
Recently, they had been investigating the trouble caused by the mischievous child, suspecting he might be the descendant of the demon god, which had already left them in a foul mood. Now, this incident gave them a reason to vent their pent-up anger.
"Gather some men and surround the Humen Inn. Don’t let him escape," the Rain Clan moved into action, sending out experts and swiftly executing their plan.
The main street descended into chaos, with the roars of savage beasts and the clatter of ironclad soldiers echoing through the streets. Pedestrians were shocked and quickly scrambled to avoid getting caught up in the fray.
The Rain Clan was on the move, a group of powerful warriors surrounding the Humen Inn. Many onlookers were left dumbfounded. What was this? Were they about to start a war?
Those warriors were the elite of the Rain Clan, clad in iron armor, wielding sharp weapons that gleamed coldly in the light. They sat atop fierce beasts, exuding an intense killing intent.
"Huh? What's happening with the Rain King’s Manor? After suffering a crushing defeat, they’ve been keeping a low profile lately. Why are they suddenly making such a fuss today?"
"Sir, what's going on?" the innkeeper appeared. To run such a large business and establish a presence in the capital, he must have had some notable background.
"Move aside," but the Rain Clan paid him no heed, pushing him away as they marched into the quiet garden.
Shi Hao’s courtyard gate was wide open, as if he had been waiting for a long time. He was surprised to see that the Rain King’s Manor had arrived first; this wasn't his first encounter with them.
"You're the one who killed my clan’s members?" The group that barged in wore icy expressions, radiating killing intent. They hadn't expected their target to be sitting here calmly, not having fled.
"Don’t you want to ask why?" Shi Hao glanced at them. These were seasoned warriors, having been through bloody battles, with a lingering scent of blood clinging to them.
"No need. You killed our clan’s members. Whatever the reason, you’re dead," one of the young men said coldly, brandishing a black demon blade and pointing it directly at Shi Hao’s forehead.
"Arrogant, overbearing, and conceited— you’ve got it all. Who do you think you are, killing without asking questions?" Shi Hao replied icily.
"If you provoke the Rain Clan, you should be prepared for the consequences. Not just anyone can step on our clan. If you seek death, you’ve only yourself to blame."
"Don’t take yourself too seriously. The Rain Clan may have been a royal family, and sure, it produced gods in ancient times, but now you’re nothing more than a shadow of your former glory," Shi Hao mocked.
"The Rain Clan, no matter how far it’s fallen, is not something any random nobody can provoke. Offend our clan, and you'll pay the price," the young man sneered, his black demon blade humming and emitting a sharp glow.
"This isn’t ancient times. The Rain God fell ages ago. You’re all too full of yourselves. Do you really think you can lord over the capital, deciding who lives and dies at will? It’s laughable how arrogant you are," Shi Hao scoffed.
"Clang!"
The black demon blade gleamed as the young man swung it, slashing at Shi Hao’s head.
"Clang!"
Shi Hao flicked his fingers, sending out radiant runes. A bolt of lightning clashed with the young man’s blade, producing a brilliant flash of light and a metallic clang.
The black demon blade trembled, arcs of electricity coursing through it, causing the young man’s body to shake violently. Though he was powerful, he had still been impacted by the force.
"Not many dare to make enemies of the Rain Clan. You’ve got some nerve," a middle-aged man spoke, his gaze cold as he studied Shi Hao, trying to discern something from him.
Shi Hao laughed aloud, "How ridiculous. Not long ago, the great demon god had you all beaten down, cowering in fear, afraid to leave your own manor while he tore down your gates. Where was your so-called dignity then? And now, here you are, putting on airs again, acting as if you’re untouchable. Isn’t that laughable?"
Shi Hao’s laughter grated on their ears, an open mockery that made them burn with rage. The demon god was like a shadow imprinted on their hearts, a constant source of shame and pain.
"Clang!"
The demon blade slashed again, as the young man charged forward. He was a prodigy of the Rain Clan, confident in his two decades of cultivation, believing he could suppress the young expert before him.
In fact, he underestimated Shi Hao’s strength. Even without merging with his Immortal Golden Body, Shi Hao broke through the blade’s light and closed in on him, his body radiating power.
"Slash!"
Shi Hao's palm, like a blade, met the opponent's weapon with a resounding "clang," shattering the runes and sending a tremor through the black demon blade. Cracks appeared along its length before it finally shattered.
The result astonished not only the young man but also the middle-aged individuals behind him. The power required to shatter a treasure with bare hands was immense.
"Bang!"
Shi Hao slapped the young man’s chest, sending him flying. His entire ribcage collapsed, suffering irreparable injuries with nearly all of his ribs shattered.
Blood spurted from his mouth, his face turned pale, and he crashed into the courtyard wall, sending debris flying and dust rising into the sky. He did not rise again.
The others were shocked. The youth was too powerful. With just one exchange, the outcome was clear—decisive and fierce. His combat experience was so rich that it made them uneasy.
At that moment, their contempt vanished. One of them, with eyes as cold as ice, was enveloped in mist, as heavy rain began to fall accompanied by thunder.
This was a true master of the Rain Clan, experienced on the battlefield of the Hundred Clans, and a formidable figure in the Inscription Realm.
Shi Hao did not dare to be careless. He had previously relied on lightning techniques to swiftly approach and incapacitate the young warrior. But now, the situation was different as the opponent was on guard.
In an instant, he radiated dark light, merging with the black metallic figure, his strength soaring to that of a top master in the Inscription Realm.
Raindrops fell, accompanied by flashes of lightning and thunder, drenching Shi Hao. Yet, amidst the clangs, he was unharmed and charged forward directly.
At this moment, the Rain Clan's masters were terrified, gasping in awe. Though they had anticipated that the opponent would be formidable, they had not expected him to be this powerful.
This was just a young man, yet he possessed the strength of a prince. It was beyond comprehension.
"Attack!" The others charged forward, and all spectators joined in, each using their treasures and invoking their magical artifacts.
However, the results were chilling. The young man’s strength was so overwhelming that it was heart-stopping. He seemed truly comparable to a prince, invincible. With a single slap, he shattered a treasure effortlessly.
It was like a humanoid Tyrannosaurus, crushing everything in its path. With a thud, a middle-aged man, who had transcended the Spirit Transformation Realm, was like rotten wood before the mighty palm, splitting into pieces.
It was incredibly powerful, causing others to tremble in fear.
"Clang!"
Another treasure shone and fell, but it was shattered into sparkling light rain by a single, simple, and forceful punch from the young man.
"Who are you?" The leader of the strong ones was thoroughly alarmed. This was too extraordinary. Even if the opponent had exceptional talent, it shouldn’t be this terrifying.
Shi Hao revealed his true face, deliberately allowing him to see it clearly.
"What? It’s you?" The people exclaimed, a mix of shock and terror on their faces.
They immediately thought of the mischievous child from the Void God Realm. There had been some rumors within the Rain Clan, with astonishing guesses about his background. Now, their faces turned pale, and they retreated continuously.
At this moment, their thoughts were not on killing their opponent immediately but on fleeing as quickly as possible, for the quagmire was too deep, and they feared never escaping it.
"You must have realized my origins by now," Shi Hao said calmly. "My grandfather once visited your manor. How could I, as his grandson, not follow in his footsteps?"
The people were stunned, as if they had fallen into an ice cave. While the Rain King’s Manor had speculated about this, the vast majority did not believe it. Now, the young man himself had revealed it.
"You intend to visit my Rain King’s Manor?" someone asked, trembling.
"Exactly," Shi Hao responded affirmatively.
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