"Battle!"

Shi Hu suddenly erupted with a burst of thunderous shout.

His spirit mark roared like thunder, the will to fight soared to the sky, vast and boundless as an ancient, desolate ocean of battle intent blanketing heaven and earth, suffocating all below!

The entire world trembled ever so slightly!

It was as if an ancient War God had revived upon the battlefield.

This region was almost transformed into a battlefield of unprecedented brutality and awe.

The air was rife with murderous intent, surging to the heavens!

Unyielding after a hundred battles!

All disciples of the Shi Family wore ashen faces, their hearts quivering, spirits utterly stifled!

Their terror could not be hidden—under this dreadful, savage battle will, they nearly knelt in submission!

Boom!

The spirit mark of two feet five inches lunged toward Xu Yang like lightning.

Xu Yang’s face remained calm, his mind moving in a flash.

Swish!

His own spirit mark rose violently, unleashing Heaven Locking intent!

Lock!

Buzz!

The twisted world abruptly came to a halt!

The ancient battle will seemed to be shredded by an invisible gale, vanishing without a trace in an instant!

That two-foot-five-inch spirit mark was eerily suspended midway, trembling like a sieve!

Above it, a one-foot-nine-inch spirit mark drifted ghostlike, as thin as a cicada’s wing, yet towering as a mountain!

Shi Hu’s eyes widened into orbs, his face instantly drained of all color!

Unwillingly, he tried to rouse his spirit mark.

But under the pressure of that one-foot-nine-inch mark, even its back could not straighten.

With a muffled groan, he was plunged into utter despair.

"Enough."

Shi Feng flicked his sleeve, and the two spirit marks dispersed instantly.

He shot a deep look at the spirit mark hidden within Xu Yang’s body, secretly shocked.

Though he sensed an astonishing sealing intent, the mysteries within it—even he found somewhat obscure.

This was simply inconceivable!

One had to know, he was a top-level Shenxiao Marquis.

If even he felt such, what of the Shi Family’s many elders?

Each and every face was filled with astonishment!

Below, the crowd was struck silent as death by the scene before them!

No one had expected that in spite of Shi Hu’s strength, the gap of six inches would be as futile as striking a stone with an egg—he was suppressed utterly, without even the smallest resistance!

Just how strong was he?

What kind of martial path forged his spirit mark?

"I lost."

Shi Hu seemed utterly defeated, his face twisted into a bitter, dejected smile.

Saying this, he tossed over the Cyan Flame Boat.

"Thank you, Brother Hu!"

Xu Yang’s face was alight with excitement, even his manner of address changed.

Shi Hu was older to begin with—calling him Brother Hu was no problem.

After all, he had just taken such a precious treasure from him.

At Xu Yang’s words, Shi Hu’s face twitched, as if sliced by a knife!

The pain was sharp indeed.

Though he ached inside, Shi Hu was not one who couldn’t afford to lose; he knew the stronger Xu Yang became, the greater the benefit to the Shi Family.

And under such monstrous pressure, his motivation to strengthen and catch up only grew fiercer.

"That Shi Hu brat, he’s bound to be heartbroken now."

"That Cyan Flame Boat—old man, I recall he traded much good fortune for it back then, even using up some rare materials from the treasury."

"Sacrifice brings gain. Judging by Shi Hu’s appearance, this might not be a bad thing for him either!"

"Indeed, Little Hu is quite resilient."

The elders exchanged quietly among themselves, their gazes glittering.

"Enough, the Spirit Source Baptism is complete. All disperse."

"Not a word of today’s events is to be spread outside!"

Shi Feng’s eyes swept over the assembly, his voice like a bronze bell ringing deep within everyone’s hearts.

"Yes!"

All replied respectfully in unison, then quickly faded away.

"Xu Yang, stay behind." Shi Feng waved Xu Yang over.

"War King Secret Skill!"

Shi Haoting walked past, whispering a reminder.

Xu Yang’s eyes flashed, and he hurried forward.

His heart struggled to settle, immense curiosity surging within.

War King Secret Skill—this was said to be the Shi Family’s supreme inheritance!

That they were willing to offer such a secret skill to an outsider—even Xu Yang himself found it surreal.

"No one foresaw this. Everyone believed Daqian, being a forsaken land, was inferior to the Spirit Realm. Who would have thought your spirit mark would be so astounding." Shi Feng gazed at Xu Yang in awe.

Xu Yang replied respectfully, "You praise me too highly, Patriarch."

Shi Feng smiled slightly, not dwelling on it. He raised a hand, producing a Storage Ring: "Inside are one hundred thousand supreme Spirit Crystals. In the Spirit Realm, True Sovereign and above cultivate mainly with supreme Spirit Crystals and Spirit Source, though Spirit Source treasures are quite rare."

"Upon attaining Shenxiao Marquis, there are even Shenxiao Spirit Crystals. These hundred thousand supreme Spirit Crystals should last you some time."

"Many thanks, Patriarch!"

Joy showed on Xu Yang’s face.

He had absorbed supreme Spirit Crystals before and knew their worth intimately.

Though not as precious as Spirit Source, Spirit Source was far too rare—supreme Spirit Crystals were what truly mattered.

They were also the main trading resource for the True Sovereign rank!

"Come with me. The War King Secret Skill is my Shi Family’s greatest inheritance. Since you earned first place, you may select one!" Shi Feng whisked Xu Yang away with a sweep of his sleeve, vanishing from the hall.

In the blink of landing, Xu Yang opened his eyes to find himself in a grand, secret chamber.

Embedded in the stone walls were fist-sized orbs, casting a gentle glow that lit the chamber through and through.

Before him stood seven massive, oval stones.

Xu Yang’s eyes flashed with surprise. Pointing at the stones, he asked, "Patriarch, could these stones be?"

Shi Feng smiled lightly, "Indeed, within these seven stones lie the seven War King Secret Skill inheritances of my Shi Family!"

"Step forward and press your palm upon them. If you are qualified, you shall obtain the inheritance!"

Xu Yang pondered briefly, then walked up to the first giant stone and placed his palm upon it.

By the side.

Shi Feng wondered which inheritance Xu Yang would receive?

Of course, it was also possible to gain nothing at all!

The first stone had no reaction!

Xu Yang did not hesitate and walked to the second.

No reaction!

The third stone, still no reaction!

Until the fourth!

Buzz!

A faint yet indescribable ripple surged forth from the stone.

Crack!

Xu Yang’s whole body trembled, dimly hearing something shatter in that instant.

Immediately after, a wild and fierce wave crashed into his spiritual core.

Clang!

It was the sound of a saber, ringing to the heavens, shaking earth and sea, as if a catastrophic storm rampaged unrestrained.

His divine palace throbbed in turmoil, sword-song exploding unceasingly in his ears!

Shi Feng’s pupils contracted, then he laughed in surprise: "So it was this one after all!"

"None of my current Shi Family use the saber. At last, there is someone to succeed!"

Murmuring softly, Shi Feng vanished into thin air.

Within the secret room, the ripples receded at a rate visible to the naked eye.

Xu Yang stood motionless, eyes firmly shut, fully immersed in the inheritance flowing from the massive stone.

On the surface, not a ripple stirred.

Yet within his spirit, endless radiant saber lights ebbed and flowed!

Wild and fierce, their might like beasts unleashed!

Xu Yang’s consciousness split into countless shards, fusing into each and every saber light within.

The vast profundities rendered his mind dizzy and awed.

Steadfast, Xu Yang guarded his soul’s core; the Minghuo within him billowed fiercely as black flames, like invisible veils, caressing every inch of his spiritual domain.

His dizzy consciousness gradually regained clarity and stability.

The formless mysteries surged unabated, wave after wave.

... 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Who knew how much time had passed.

Xu Yang’s body swayed; abruptly, he awoke as if from a dream.

In a daze he stared at the giant stone before him, and subconsciously blurted out, "Heaven Sundering Divine Saber!"

"What a terrifying saber technique—its power is at least several times greater than the Chaotic Void Celestial Saber!"

"Hiss!"

"So this is the supreme heritage of the War King Family—truly worthy of awe!"