As the phantom of a man drifted out from his body, Su Hao immediately knelt on both knees and said, "Master, I stripped Su Chen of his Emperor Bone years ago and awakened the Seven-Kill Sword Blood Wheel, so why have I only just broken through to the Nascent Soul Realm now?"
He felt incredibly frustrated and, more than that, deeply unwilling. His innate talent was exceptional; even without the fused Emperor Bone, he believed he could have reached the Nascent Soul Realm by now relying solely on his Seven-Kill Sword Blood Wheel. The Emperor Bone seemed to have become a burden. He hadn't told anyone about this, not even his father.
The phantom figure smiled and said, "Do not panic, my disciple. For ten years, I have been suppressing both your Emperor Bone and your cultivation. Do you know why?"
"This disciple does not know."
His master had deliberately suppressed him? No wonder his cultivation speed hadn't seen a significant boost; it turned out to be his master’s doing. Su Hao felt no anger; he knew his master must have his own reasons for doing so.
"Your Emperor Bone did not awaken within your own body; you forcefully stripped it from another and fused it into yourself. This temporary fusion might have helped you improve quickly at first, but as your cultivation grew, the Emperor Bone would not only cease to be your foundation but would eventually backfire, consuming you entirely."
"Ah?" Hearing his master’s words, Su Hao was completely stunned, his body trembling in fear. If it were truly as his master said, he shuddered just thinking about the danger he had been in.
"I have spent ten full years suppressing that Emperor Bone. With my power, it has taken all ten years to allow the bone to fuse with you completely. This Emperor Bone is far too powerful. Now that you have broken through to the Nascent Soul Realm, the bone is fully integrated. From this moment on, your cultivation speed will increase tenfold. Within a year, you will surely reach the Peak Nascent Soul Realm and be able to challenge the Soul Palace Realm."
His face was filled with surprise and excitement. "Thank you, Master, for your guidance."
"You are my most outstanding disciple. Regardless of where the Emperor Bone came from, possessing such a treasure ensures that you will become the most powerful existence in this world."
"This disciple will not let you down, Master."
"Begin."
"Yes."
***
Su Chen, having lost his Emperor Bone, now possessed three stacked Blood Wheels, the Chaos Devouring Tower, and had mastered both the Primordial God-Demon Art and the Ancestral Phoenix Nirvana Art. His opportunities far surpassed those of Su Hao. As for their fated battle, only time would tell who would emerge victorious.
Three days later.
After the ten students returned to their dorms from the Myriad Beast Tower, someone relayed a message from the academy for Su Chen: he was to report to the Dean's office immediately; the Dean wished to see him.
Without any hesitation, Su Chen left his dorm and headed toward the Dean’s office. Deep within the academy stood a simple, unassuming white building constructed of marble with strange patterns.
Su Chen knocked on the door.
"Come in."
He pushed the door open and entered. Behind the desk sat a middle-aged man with a refined and scholarly appearance. He had sharp, sword-like brows and piercing eyes, currently focused on a book in his hands.
"Student Su Chen greets the Dean."
Putting down the book, Lan Shang looked at Su Chen and said with satisfaction, "You really are very similar to your father."
At the mention of his father, Su Chen felt a pang of sorrow. His father was now a living corpse, lying in an ice coffin at the family estate, never waking.
Seeming to sense Su Chen’s sadness, Lan Shang continued, "I do not like people who use connections to get ahead. Your grandfather has already spoken to me about your situation. Within this academy, you will not receive any special treatment. You must earn everything yourself. Do you understand?"
"I understand."
"Very well. As for the Su Clan and the Tang Clan, I will handle them. As long as you are a student here, they won't be able to touch a hair on your head."
He had come to the Eastern Wilderness Academy to use its prestige to deter the Su Clan and buy himself more time to cultivate. As for the Tang Clan, it seemed the Dean already knew that Su Chen had crippled Tang Hao’s Blood Wheel. He dared to do it, so he dared to own it. Even if he had to do it again, Su Chen would not regret it; they had signed a life-and-death pact and fought a duel to the death.
"You really know how to stir up trouble. You’d barely entered the academy before you crippled Tang Hao’s Blood Wheel."
Su Chen remained silent.
Without dwelling on the issue, Lan Shang said, "Given Su Hao's talent when he stripped your Emperor Bone, he should have reached the Soul Palace Realm by now. However, according to my information, he has only just broken through to the Advanced Solid Core Realm."
The Level 7 through Level 9 Solid Core Realms were collectively referred to as the Advanced Solid Core Realm. Even Lan Shang found this suspicious, as merging with an Emperor Bone should have provided immense benefits to his cultivation. Su Chen was also doubtful; when he had seen Su Hao again in the Heavenly Punishment Forest, he had sensed that his cultivation speed wasn't as fast as one might expect. The Eastern Wilderness Academy gathered all the geniuses from the entire region, yet Su Hao, with his own talent plus the Emperor Bone, should have been peerless. So why wasn't he?
"I will help you investigate this, but you must understand that since Su Hao has fused with the Emperor Bone, it certainly won't be a simple matter. If you want revenge, your priority is to focus on your cultivation, not to stir up more trouble. Do you understand?"
"I understand."
"You may go."
"Yes."
Just as Su Chen turned to leave, the Dean’s voice sounded again.
"My name is Lan Shang. Your father once saved my life. If you encounter any insurmountable problems, come directly here to find me."
Su Chen nodded and walked out without looking back. Watching his retreating figure, Lan Shang sighed deeply. He was strict precisely because he wanted to push Su Chen to cultivate diligently without wasting a moment. Su Hao, with his fused Emperor Bone, and Tang Hao, whose Blood Wheel had been crippled—both the Su and Tang Clans were top-tier powers in the Eastern Wilderness. Even if the academy could deter them for now, the moment Su Chen left, they would surely strike. Could he protect Su Chen forever? No one, not even himself, could do that. Su Chen had to rely on himself, not others.
"I hope you are even more exceptional than your father. To lose an Emperor Bone... alas!"
"With the Emperor Bone, one is destined for the Emperor Realm. What a waste."
Throughout the entire Eastern Wilderness, for over a thousand years, there had been no reports of anyone awakening an Emperor Bone. Su Chen was the first, yet because the Su family was too weak to help him fuse with it in time, Su Hao had taken advantage of the situation and stolen it.
"Such is fate."
Outside the office, having apparently overheard the Dean’s words, Su Chen clenched his fists tightly, his eyes flashing with determination. "I will control my own fate. If fate is unjust, I will defy the heavens and change it. I will slaughter anyone who dares to block my path, and even if it be the heavens themselves, I will walk above them."
*Su Hao, just you wait. I, Su Chen, will eventually come to the Su Clan to seek vengeance for the theft of my Emperor Bone and the ruining of my Blood Wheel.*
***
The Tool Pavilion was where all the academy’s treasures were kept. Students could trade for them as long as they had enough credits. Su Chen still had 30,000 credits and wanted to see if there was anything he needed in the Tool Pavilion and the Martial Pavilion.
The snow-white building consisted of two floors. Students from the junior, intermediate, and advanced classes could only exchange for goods on the first floor; only Ace Class students could enter the second floor.
Su Chen registered his jade identity token and walked in.
"So large."
The first floor was massive, like a soccer field. Icy-blue spheres of light were neatly arranged in rows, too many to count. In front of each light sphere was a description of the treasure and the cost in credits. He had originally thought 30,000 credits would allow him to exchange for many things, but now it seemed he couldn't afford a thing.
"Langya Sword, requires 23,400 credits." Looking at the description, Su Chen knew it was worth it; outside, this would be a priceless treasure. Gold coins? They couldn't buy this.
"Heavenly Bone Sword, requires 48,888 credits."
"Flying Spirit Tool, requires 190,000 credits."
Su Chen’s eyes turned greedy at the mention of a flying spirit tool. He understood exactly what that meant among spirit tools. Anyone would be tempted, but he only had 30,000 credits—less than a sixth of what was needed. He felt quite frustrated.
"Heavenly Gang Hammer, 120,000 credits."
"Cloud Soaring Boots, 177,899 credits."
He stopped looking. He realized that with his 30,000 credits, trying to trade for any decent spirit tool was a joke.
Just as Su Chen was about to leave, his Primordial God-Demon Art suddenly began to circulate on its own. Su Chen jerked around, staring at the first floor of the pavilion. If something could trigger his art, it definitely wasn't simple. Following the divine-demonic aura within him, Su Chen walked toward a forgotten corner.
A nondescript light sphere on the left was covered in dust; it looked as if no one had touched it in ages.
"Incomplete artifact, only 10,000 credits."
No wonder no one cared; the label "incomplete artifact" was enough to scare anyone away. 10,000 credits was not a small amount.
Without hesitation, he placed his identity token in front of the sphere. Instantly, 10,000 credits were deducted, leaving him with 20,000. The light faded, and a mirror appeared in his hand. It was cracked in two—he finally understood why it was labeled incomplete. The handle was inscribed with the characters "God-Demon." Su Chen knew this was the God-Demon Mirror.
"Tower Spirit, can this artifact be repaired?" This was what he needed to know; if it couldn't be repaired, his 10,000 credits would be wasted.
The Tower Spirit’s voice echoed in his mind: "To repair the God-Demon Mirror, the master must nurture it with their own soul. However, you must remember: soul-nurturing creates a special bond. If the mirror shatters, your soul will shatter with it. Furthermore, soul-nurturing consumes a great deal of soul power and takes a very long time."
Hearing this, Su Chen sighed. The choice was clear: soul-nurturing was the only way, but it carried immense risk. He stared at the mirror and finally decided to proceed, asking the Tower Spirit for instructions. It turned out he had to constantly feed the mirror with his soul, which would affect his martial cultivation, as the soul was vital to martial progress.
Weighing the pros and cons, Su Chen decided to do it.
"So you are Su Chen from the junior class, number one on the Rising Dragon Board."
Hearing a voice behind him, Su Chen made the mirror vanish and turned to see Shen Bingyue. This woman, whom he had almost killed, actually dared to come looking for him. Su Chen ignored her, his face showing unbridled disgust and mockery.
The more he acted this way, the angrier Shen Bingyue became. She coldly stated, "My sister, Shen Bingxue, wants to see you."
Shen Bingxue, from the Ace Class 2, was a Level 5 Golden Core Realm expert with the Ice-Snow Blood Wheel. Shen Bingyue knew she was no match for Su Chen; the fact that a newcomer had taken the top spot on the Rising Dragon Board spoke for itself. She had to ask her sister for help; even if it was shameful, she couldn't let herself be the academy’s laughingstock.
Su Chen chose to ignore her entirely. *She wants me to go see Shen Bingxue?*
Ignored? The furious Shen Bingyue snapped, "Su Chen, don't be so arrogant! My sister is from the Ace Class!"
Su Chen didn't care about the Ace Class. He suddenly remembered he needed a larger spatial ring; the one on his finger was too small.
"Little sister, don't be rash." At that moment, a woman who looked about seventy percent like Shen Bingyue, but with an even colder aura, walked over. She wore a snow-white dress that perfectly accentuated her figure.
"Shen Bingxue from the Ace Class." Many male students' eyes lit up; Shen Bingxue was even more beautiful than her sister and famous throughout the academy.
She walked to Shen Bingyue's side and looked coldly at the arrogant young man. "Bullying women by relying on a few tricks—you certainly bring honor to men, Junior. I am truly impressed, which is why I came to see what kind of hero you are."
"An insult without a dirty word—vicious enough!"
Shen Bingyue’s eyes were icy, staring at him as if her gaze could kill. Su Chen remained unfazed, his expression unchanged. Shaking his head, he mocked, "Birds of a feather, really. You’d better stay away from me, or I’ll make you regret it."
"So arrogant!" The onlookers were stunned. A junior student, even if he was on the Rising Dragon Board, couldn't possibly contend with an Ace Class student. Ace Class students were all in the Golden Core Realm, and Shen Bingxue was Level 5 Golden Core. A Void Pill Realm cultivator had no chance against a Golden Core.
"Su Chen, stop being insolent! You cannot be disrespectful in front of my sister."
Stopping her angry sister, Shen Bingxue was actually curious. She couldn't understand where this person got his confidence. Was it just because he was number one on the Rising Dragon Board? There were two boards: the Rising Dragon Board and the Hundred Battles Board. The lowest-ranked person on the Hundred Battles Board could easily defeat the top of the Rising Dragon Board. That was the gap in realms—something nothing could bridge.
"She’s your sister, not mine. Why shouldn't I be disrespectful? If you ask me, you two are just cheap, looking to be insulted. I don't have time for you. Get out of my sight."
He gave them no face whatsoever, completely ignoring their beauty. The onlookers were shocked; they had never met anyone like this. Shen Bingxue smiled, though everyone could see she was furious to the point of exploding. She held back, however. As an Ace Class student, attacking a junior student—let alone the repercussions from the academy—would ruin her reputation.
Suppressing her anger, she said coldly, "Su Chen, I, Shen Bingxue, formally challenge you. I accept any form of challenge, including a life-and-death battle. Do you dare to accept?"
*A life-and-death battle?* Su Chen had already had one with Tang Hao, and the academy had suppressed the news.
Su Chen laughed, his smile filled with mockery and disdain. "How truly shameless. You, a dignified Ace Class student, are challenging me, a junior student who just entered the academy? Tell me, are you the bottom-of-the-barrel student in the Ace Class, looking to find some relevance with me?"
The onlookers whispered. An Ace Class student challenging a junior class student was unheard of.
"You shameless..."
"Shameless? The shameless ones are you two sisters, especially your sister. If you want a life-and-death battle, wait until I’m in the Ace Class. Then I’ll show you the gap between us."
Shen Bingxue laughed coldly, "You? Wanting to enter the Ace Class? In three years, five years, or ten? By the time you get there, I’ll be in the Ace Class!"
She looked down on him entirely. Su Chen, however, wouldn't take the bait. He wasn't a fool; he knew that with his current strength, he couldn't defeat a Golden Core martial artist.