The Departure

Upon hearing this, a flicker of excitement flashed in Mo Yu’s eyes before he bowed his head deeply. “Thank you, Your Excellency!”

He took a deep breath, and as a dark green luster swirled around him, his human form began to undergo a dramatic transformation. Under the gaze of countless eyes, his figure rapidly expanded and elongated, brilliant dark jade scales covering his entire body. Antler-like horns sprouted from his head, spiritual whiskers swayed beneath his chin, and eerie flames flickered beneath his four hooves.

He had manifested his majestic and divine true form—a Qilin!

Though his aura was somewhat diminished due to his injuries and the oath he had sworn, the pressure of imperial blood coursing through him and his divine beast posture still commanded awe and admiration.

Mo Yu stepped forward, walked up to Xiao Ruobai, and docilely lowered his body.

Xiao Ruobai remained composed. Reaching out, he gently brushed his hand over the cool, resilient scales on the Qilin’s neck.

The next moment, with a subtle shift, he was seated firmly upon the Qilin’s broad back.

“Let’s go.”

A simple, calm command.

The Qilin let out a low, resonant hum as it rose into the air on its hooves, accompanied by spontaneously forming dark auspicious clouds. Carrying the man and beast, it turned into a streak of light and vanished beyond the horizon in an instant.

Only after the streak of light had completely disappeared from view did the deathly silence over the ruins shatter, replaced by a cacophony of complex sighs and murmured discussions.

“Today… we have truly witnessed something extraordinary,” an old cultivator muttered to himself, his face still displaying a lingering shock and awe.

“First, we witnessed an earth-shattering battle—a rebellion against a king. Then, we saw a Qilin prince bearing imperial blood swear fealty and pledge himself as a master. To have seen such a scene in this lifetime… it is an unforgettable experience!”

“Indeed, who could have imagined the outcome would be like this?” others chimed in, their voices filled with disbelief.

On a distant mountaintop, the Divine Physique of the Jiang Clan cast a profound glance toward the direction Xiao Ruobai had departed. Purple energy rippled faintly around him. Without a word, he turned and vanished into a beam of light.

The Crown Prince of the Great Zhou, Ji Xuanye, lightly tapped his folding fan against his palm, a sharp glint gleaming in his eyes. With a slight nod to his guards, his group quietly took their leave.

The other prodigies, with solemn expressions, either sank into solitary thought or exchanged whispers with their companions, before turning into streaks of rainbow light and scattering in all directions.

What they had seen and heard today had shaken them profoundly.

Be it Wang Zhan’s battle with the Heavenly Cang Sacred Body, the terrifying display of the War Asura, or the Qilin prince’s final choice—each struck like a heavy hammer, shattering their pride as prodigies.

The path to the imperial throne was far more brutal and unpredictable than they had imagined. Geniuses emerged endlessly in this world.

A palpable sense of urgency spread through every departing prodigy’s heart. They needed greater power, and a more steadfast Dao-heart!

In the crowd, Shi Jingxian and his companions, watching their junior brother Xiao ride away on the Qilin prince, couldn’t help but let envy flicker in their eyes.

“When will we ever possess such strength…”

Just then, a telepathic message from Xiao Ruobai suddenly echoed in their minds.

“Senior brothers, Master asks that you return to the Purple Bamboo Peak at your convenience.”

Shi Jingxian, Lin Moyu, and Mu Chenyu exchanged glances, their eyes filled with surprise and confusion.

“Uncle Gu summons us back?” Shi Jingxian scratched his head, looking baffled. “At this hour? Is something happening in the sect?”

Mu Chenyu frowned thoughtfully. “Uncle Gu’s actions are always deliberate. If he summons us now, there must be a reason.”

Though they could not guess the specific cause, they dared not delay when it came to their elder’s command.

“Let’s go. Since it’s Uncle Gu’s order, it must be important,” Lin Mochen said, taking the lead.

“Yes, we’ll find out when we return!” Shi Jingxian suppressed his curiosity and nodded firmly.

Mu Chenyu silently agreed.

The next moment, three streaks of light rose silently from the ruins, abandoning lingering there and setting aside their intended training journey, heading straight toward Azure Mystery Sect.

The ruins fell into silence once more, the scars of devastation alone telling the tale of the previous earth-shattering events.

The ripples caused by that great battle and the oath of allegiance would soon sweep across the broader world at an even faster pace.

As the prodigies departed from all directions with varied expressions, the clamorous ruins slowly sank back into stillness, only the wind whining as it stirred the dust.

Yet, at the edge of the largest and deepest crater, one figure remained—unlike the others who had left.

It was Wang Zhan.

He still stood there, his black battle robe tattered, blood stains fresh on his body, and his right arm hanging unnaturally limp.

But now, the overwhelming rage and humiliation on his face had faded, replaced by an almost icy calm.

He did not watch anyone leave, nor did he pay any attention to the searing pain in his body. Slowly, with absolute resolve, he sat down cross-legged at the edge of the crater.

This spot was the very place where Xiao Ruobai had punched him down, where he had suffered his most humiliating defeat.

He closed his eyes. The once-turbulent azure-celestial energy around him—wrought by fury and injury—began to flow again, with an unusually slow yet tenacious rhythm.

He did not immediately tend to his wounds, but instead sank his mind fully into his body, replaying every detail of that crushing defeat.

Lost.

Completely, utterly lost.

The Heavenly Cang Sacred Body defeated by the War God Physique, the King Realm bested by the Transcendent Human Realm. For him, it was an unprecedented blow—a total shattering of his pride.

But was defeat the end?

No.

Wang Zhan’s mind worked like the finest engraving tool, tracing back the battle moment by moment.

Xiao Ruobai’s will—pure to its core, born solely for combat; his punches and kicks—simple, direct, yet brimming with the power to shatter all laws; and the final terrifying blow that had shattered even his Sacred Body Phenomenon…

Every scene was etched deep into his soul like a brand.

Did it hurt? Piercingly so.

Was it humiliating? Utterly so.

But this pain and humiliation now turned into the most blazing flame, searing his Dao-heart and refining his will!

“The Heavenly Cang Sacred Body, the path of invincibility… So, this is where my path has strayed…” Wang Zhan murmured inwardly.

In the past, he had relied too heavily on the inherent might of the Sacred Body, seeking to crush all with absolute power. He had lacked the pure battle intent honed at the border of life and death, the tragic resolve to break all laws and stand alone!

Today’s defeat—like a basin of ice water—woke him up.

Losing to the War Asura was not terrifying! What was terrifying was drowning in defeat and never rising again!

Was the Heavenly Cang Sacred Body so easily broken?

This defeat was precisely a mirror to see his own flaws—a whetstone to temper the invincible Dao-heart!

“War Asura, I concede that you have bested me today! But the path to the throne is long. This is only the beginning!”

“When I forge my battle heart anew, digest today’s defeat, and truly tap into the Sacred Body’s potential, the next time we meet, I, Wang Zhan, will reclaim everything with my own hands!”

A will—more restrained, yet harder and more dauntless—as molten lava buried deep underground, began to gather and surge within Wang Zhan’s heart.

His aura visibly condensed and thickened. The scattered phantom image of the Sacred Body Phenomenon began to show signs of re-coalescing. Though faint, it was far more pure!

He turned this place of utter defeat into a training ground for self-cultivation! He went into seclusion here, comprehending the Way amidst failure!

In the distance, the few who had not yet fully left sensed this shift in his aura. They turned their heads, their eyes once again revealing shock.

"Wang Zhan is actually going into secluded meditation right here?"

"What formidable willpower! Instead of sinking into despair after a crushing defeat, he uses it to temper his dao heart, seeking to break through and rebuild!"

"As expected of the Divine Celestial Body, such a mindset is truly terrifying! After this setback, if he can truly weather the storm, his future might become even more fearsome!"