Asura Emperor Venerable
Chapter 435: Investment

Chapter 435: Chapter 435: Investment

Shi Hao looked at the Eternal Stone and, after a long time, his expression turned to one of disappointment.

Damn, is that it?

I am now the foremost in all eternity. How come there’s no reward?

At the very least, give me something!

Shi Hao ranted inwardly, sighed, and decided it was time to leave.

"Young brother!" At that moment, the powerhouses of the Supplementing Divine Temple approached him.

"Join our Taihua Sect, and we’ll provide all the Spiritual Artifacts and Spiritual Medicine you could want."

"No, come to our Nine Yin Valley. We are ranked in the top ten in the Western Rock Continent!"

"Hehe, our Three Maple Sect is also well-known in the South Wood Continent. Join us instead."

"..."

These Supplementing Divine Temple powerhouses all had eager looks in their eyes. With Shi Hao in their sect and their full investment, the day Shi Hao stepped onto the Heaven Building Ladder would be when their sect’s fame would shock the world and lead the way.

Myriad Sects coming to pay homage—what an alluring thought!

The greatest glory for a sect, isn’t this it?

Shi Hao then apologized with a smile, "Thank you all for your kind offers, but I already have a mentor. Unless I get his approval, joining another sect without permission would make my master very upset!"

Huh, he already has a mentor?

But, he must be a lone traveler; otherwise, he wouldn’t just mention his master.

That means there is still hope!

Having a master and joining a sect aren’t mutually exclusive. It just means you can’t take a new mentor after joining—unless the first mentor agrees and the second mentor doesn’t mind.

"Young man, here is a Spiritual Medicine for you, a gift to celebrate you becoming number one in eternity."

"I shall also give you a Talismanic Soldier."

"Here, a Spirit Fruit, may you reach the top."

"..."

To win over Shi Hao, these Supplementing Divine Temple powerhouses eagerly presented their treasures. Although not highly valuable to them, these lower-tier Spiritual Medicines were exceedingly useful to Shi Hao, who was only in the Other Shore Realm.

Shi Hao wasn’t shy; he would accept their gifts, and perhaps he would look after them once he became the strongest.

"Esteemed seniors, I must continue my training; therefore, I must take my leave." After collecting the gifts, Shi Hao bid farewell to the powerhouses.

"Go ahead." The powerhouses waved their hands.

Even if Shi Hao didn’t join their forces in the future, the bonds formed by their gifts today would likely earn them his favor.

This is an investment.

The enthusiastic response from the powerhouses of the Supplementing Divine Temple also quelled the jealousy and hateful desires of those who wanted to harm Shi Hao.

—Wouldn’t attacking now just invite a beating to death?

Of course, not everyone had dropped the idea of killing him.

As Shi Hao continued onward and walked out of a dense forest, he noticed someone lying in ambush ahead at a distance of thirty-one feet. The person was an old man in his sixties with a cold smile on his face.

Using his domain, Shi Hao could catch every detail of the man, even the faint energy seeping from his pores and the chilling intent to kill.

Clearly, the man wasn’t there to bring him a gift.

Founding King Royal Court, one of the five kings.

Shi Hao easily discerned the opponent’s level of cultivation. He smiled lightly and flicked his hand, now holding a piece of paper.

Talismanic Soldier, previously given by a strong practitioner from the Supplementing Divine Temple.

This Wu Wang hid in the shadows, clearly preparing to ambush, strike successfully, and then quickly flee.

Was it jealousy of his own talent, or the desire to plunder after seeing those strong practitioners giving him gifts?

Shi Hao was unconcerned, "If you wish to kill me, then you’d better be prepared to die."

His pace didn’t change. In an instant, whoosh, a flash of cold light, the Wu Wang had made his move.

Shi Hao caught the action clearly, the opponent’s face contorted in ferocity, even exuding a perverse delight reminiscent of ’burning a zither and boiling a crane’.

Why bother?

Shi Hao flicked his finger lightly, and the Talismanic Soldier struck out.

Suddenly, a black hammer appeared, viciously smashing towards the Wu Wang.

With a splat, the Wu Wang didn’t even have the chance to resist and was instantly crushed.

"Tsk, truly, a Talismanic Soldier crafted by the Supplementing Divine Temple. It easily killed a Wu Wang." Shi Hao murmured, "Unfortunately, it can only be used once."

"So many from the Supplementing Divine Temple, yet only one sent a Talismanic Soldier. Now that I’ve used it, there’s no next time."

"However, my speed now is not weaker than the Founding King Court’s. I can always run if need be."

Shi Hao searched the body of the Wu Wang. Although it was blown to pieces, he still discovered a Spatial Spirit Tool, a necklace.

Usually, Spatial Spirit Tools are fashioned into easy-to-carry designs for practicality.

However, this Founding King Court is really destitute, hardly any Spiritual Medicine, no wonder they eyed Shi Hao’s possessions; yet they did not anticipate the strong practitioner from the Supplementing Divine Temple sending a Talismanic Soldier.

Shi Hao found a spot to sort out the Spiritual Medicine he carried to see if he could immediately refine it into pills.

Indeed, he could.

He took out the Pill Furnace and began the refinement process.

"Yue Ying, I’ve broken through ten islands, impressive, isn’t it?" With nothing else to do, Shi Hao multitasked, showing off to the Arrogant Spirit Tool.

Yue Ying was speechless, obviously, his achievement was formidable, and it could no longer use this to taunt Shi Hao.

"So, don’t hide any treasures, quickly bring them out. When I become the number one under the heavens, I might even set you free." Shi Hao coaxed, then added silently to himself: before that, he definitely needed to give this Arrogant Spirit Tool a good thrashing.

Yue Ying rolled its eyes, saying, "Even if your talent is truly remarkable, the path of cultivation is incredibly rugged. The higher you climb, the more prone you are to fall! Moreover, do you think you’re the only one who has cultivated ten islands?"

Oh?

Shi Hao was taken aback, asking, "Who else has cultivated ten islands?"

"As far as I know, not one thousand, but at least eight hundred." Yue Ying seemed to have found a way to tease Shi Hao, suddenly becoming haughty again.

What, there are so many who have broken through ten islands?

In the midst of the Sea of Suffering, Shi Hao regarded Yue Ying with doubtful eyes: "Really? You don’t have to lie just to demean me, or else you’ll be struck by lightning!"

Yue Ying scoffed, "Nonsense, why would I need to deceive a youngster like you? Not to mention others, but the one who brought me out of the Forbidden Land, that guy called Gu Shiyun, he has cultivated ten islands."

With this statement, it indeed felt somewhat guilty.

Truly, it had seen, if not eight hundred then certainly around a thousand, who had cultivated ten islands. But then, to what degree had it—or rather, its creator—climbed?

At that level, wasn’t everyone nearly at the Peak?

Therefore, these individuals were certainly geniuses among geniuses, breaking through extremes was mandatory!

Yet, to reach such heights, tens of thousands of years might pass without a single person emerging, so although Yue Ying was taunting Shi Hao, it was also feeling very insecure.