Asura Emperor Venerable
Chapter 496 Scaring Away

Chapter 496: Chapter 496 Scaring Away

Seeing this scene, everyone’s first reaction was, of course, disbelief.

How could this be possible?

A genius high-level martial artist on the Self-Observation major ranking list actually suffering a disadvantage while trading blows with a martial artist of the same realm.

You must know, that’s the major ranking list!

What does being on the major ranking list imply?

Those who are stronger than Jiang Zhengyue are the only ones ranked above him on that list.

Just these few dozen people!

But now, at least in the competition of Dharma appearances, Jiang Zhengyue was completely at a disadvantage.

My God! My God!

Everyone looked at Shi Hao incredulously, wondering if he might actually be a top figure on the major ranking list.

Even Wen Xiuxiu’s beautiful eyes shone. She was no ordinary woman, so even though Shi Hao was inexpressibly handsome, she only appreciated him without the slightest possibility of being moved.

However, when Shi Hao demonstrated his great strength, that changed everything.

— Given two men with exactly the same other qualities, one handsome and the other ordinary, how would a girl choose?

Simple, isn’t it?

"You—" Jiang Zhengyue was furious with shame, glaring at Shi Hao, feeling a burning sensation on his face.

Previously, he had been so dismissive, thinking that Shi Hao was not worth a single blow, but what happened? He was injured by Shi Hao with one move.

This made all his earlier scorn seem like nothing but slapping his own face.

But a genius is after all a genius. Jiang Zhengyue took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down and said, "Who on earth are you?"

Although he had been careless, the fact that Shi Hao could break his Dharma appearance with one strike meant that this person’s strength was not to be underestimated.

Shi Hao smiled faintly, "What concern is it of yours?"

"Good, I want to see just how strong you really are!" Jiang Zhengyue shouted lightly, boom, his momentum erupted, his body shining with light as if he were a War God.

His hand waved, and he now possessed a giant sword, its blade as black as ink, over a zhang long, with a hilt two feet in length, exuding an indescribable dominance when held.

"You will regret offending me!" Jiang Zhengyue raised his sword, pointing it straight at Shi Hao.

Shi Hao smiled and beckoned with his fingers, "Come!"

Jiang Zhengyue let out a loud shout and charged towards Shi Hao.

However, Shi Hao simply controlled the Sun Dharma Aspect and released blistering high temperatures, causing Jiang Zhengyue’s charging steps to stop abruptly.

He could not advance any further, his skin stinging painfully while his hair began to dry out, at risk of bursting into flames at any moment, as the moisture inside his body rapidly evaporated.

Jiang Zhengyue quickly circulated his Elemental Power to protect his body, trying to isolate the high temperatures and prevent the loss of moisture within.

However, he realized this was hardly effective; the high temperature was terrifying, his Elemental Power was quickly dissolving.

If he stubbornly continued, the only outcome would be him being burnt to a dry corpse!

With no other option, Jiang Zhengyue had to retreat, only stopping three zhang away, where the dreadful heat finally reduced to a level he could withstand.

The onlookers were unaware of the details and just saw Jiang Zhengyue rush forward and then frantically retreat by himself, leaving them extremely confused.

What’s going on?

Are you performing some kind of trick?

Jiang Zhengyue was shocked. Despite being a famous genius on the official list, he couldn’t even execute a single move against Shi Hao?

How vast was the gap in strength?

"Are you Zhu Beitian? Or Duan Luoying? Shang Wuxin?" he asked urgently.

The three people he mentioned were the top three geniuses on the official list, the only ones who could completely overpower all the other contenders. However, Jiang Zhengyue had never met them, so he could only guess.

Shi Hao shook his head: "I am just me."

Seeing that Shi Hao refused even to reveal his name, Jiang Zhengyue naturally felt a great humiliation. He gave Shi Hao a deep look before turning to leave.

Why stay and further embarrass oneself?

Wen Xiuxiu wanted to stop the other party, but she swallowed her words before they could leave her mouth.

Clearly, between Shi Hao and Jiang Zhengyue, only one could stay. So, was there really a choice to be made?

"Young Master Shi, please forgive Xiuxiu for the poor reception." She glided over to Shi Hao, curtsying slightly—she had already obtained information about Shi Hao from her subordinates.

Shi Hao smiled, appearing supremely aloof.

Wen Xiuxiu didn’t mind it. After all, geniuses were known for their eccentricities—without a bit of aloofness, they’d probably feel embarrassed to even step outside.

Others watched on, filled with both envy and jealousy, but what could they do?

A man who had scared off a contender from the official list and who was of the Self-Observation level. With no Founding King Court powerhouse coming forth, who could suppress him?

Alas!

Wen Xiuxiu personally arranged accommodation for Shi Hao, leaving the rest to be handled by the numerous members of the Wen Family.

Having a beauty by one’s side should be a delight many yearn for, yet Shi Hao had no intention to take advantage. His mind stirred, and he said, "Miss Wen, could I ask you a favor?"

"Just call me Xiuxiu," Wen Xiuxiu replied with twinkling eyes. "I’ll address you by your name too. Whatever it is, just ask. As long as it’s within my capabilities, I won’t turn it down."

Shi Hao, without further ado, said, "Help me investigate whether, twenty years ago, any family or power lost an infant."

Ah?

Wen Xiuxiu’s mouth fell open slightly, showing a troubled expression.

Digging up affairs from twenty years ago would be extremely difficult, and with the vastness of the Western Rock Continent, with countless infants stolen or lost daily, the magnitude of the task was immense.

Shi Hao smiled, adding, "Limit the search to the powers of the Supplementing Divine Temple and the Great Sacrificial Heaven of that time."

That allowed Wen Xiuxiu to breathe a sigh of relief. Although it was still challenging, it was not akin to finding a needle in a haystack. After all, the Wen Family was a member of the Heavenly Path Association, a true behemoth. They could ratify all sorts of lists, which showed how wide and deeply their influence reached.

"Alright, Xiuxiu will immediately start the investigation," she replied.

There was a question she didn’t ask: Was Shi Hao searching for his own origins?

Shi Hao settled down in the Wen Family residence, and during this time, he also gained a deeper understanding of the upcoming competition.

The Heavenly Path Association had strictly allocated the trading rights for various regions. For instance, in Six Spirits City, which family could sell Elixirs, which could deal in weapons, and which could manage the auction house—all under the tight grip of the Heavenly Path Association.

Any force wanting to seize control would have to clash head-on with the Heavenly Path Association.

Within a single region, it was not possible for just one family to hold sway. Take the Six Spirits City, for instance, with four major families, all members of the Heavenly Path Association. As the strength of each family changed, they held a competition every ten years to determine the distribution ratio of the trading rights.

For example, the lucrative Elixir sales were decided by Founding King level battles, with the first-place family taking forty percent of the offered stock, the second place thirty percent, the third place twenty percent, and the last place ten percent.

The sales of weapons and Formations worked on the same principle.

The Self-Observation level battles, like the one Shi Hao participated in, were to decide the profit sharing from the auction house, with the winner taking forty percent of the revenue!

The Wen Family had begun to decline several generations ago, falling from a seven-star to a six-star power. The absence of geniuses within the family forced them to seek external support for help in the competition, which was too significant to neglect this time.

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