The bouts in the Arena ended, and Jun Moxiao stopped playing as well. He came down for a cup of tea and asked those around him, "Everyone! How were the fights just now?"
Some of the Heavenly Prodigies said, "Incredible! Even though we lost, the fighting felt incredible. The Marquis of Desolate Heaven truly deserves his reputation as the peerless genius who defeated Shi Yi of the Double Pupils. We accept our defeat at his hands wholeheartedly."
Other Heavenly Prodigies declared, "I'm certain that apart from Invincible Handsome Guy, no Heavenly Prodigy is a match for the Marquis of Desolate Heaven."
Shi Hao came down too and said excitedly to Jun Moxiao, "Xiaoxiao! That divine ability of yours was amazing! It stirred up everyone's desire to fight, setting our blood boiling and filling our bodies with strength. Oh, right! What was that divine tune you played?"
Jun Moxiao said, "That divine tune is called 'Swordsman’s Song.' I didn't use any divine ability. The piece itself is simply divine."
Shi Hao said, "'Swordsman’s Song'-what a song of laughing proudly over the rivers and lakes! I hope that one day, we too can laugh proudly over the rivers and lakes, and over all heaven and earth."
Shi Hao addressed everyone with heroic gusto. "You could say we've become friends through fighting! Being able to make friends with all of you through martial arts today was fate. Let me introduce Invincible Handsome Guy. His name is Jun Moxiao, and he's the truly invincible, monstrous genius. From now on, you can call him the Free and Unfettered Heavenly Emperor!"
Everyone exclaimed, "He dares call himself a Heavenly Emperor? That arrogant? Isn't he afraid of incurring tremendous karma?"
Shi Hao said, "That's right! My brother is just that arrogant, but he has the strength to back it up. I'm sure you all witnessed his divine ability just now."
Everyone was stunned. This was far too badass.
Jun Moxiao said, "Hao Tian! Why are you suddenly promoting me?"
Shi Hao said, "So your invincible reputation will resound across the four seas and eight wildernesses!"
Jun Moxiao told everyone, "Don't listen to his boasting, and don't casually call me the Free and Unfettered Heavenly Emperor outside. The words 'Heavenly Emperor' are taboo."
One Heavenly Prodigy asked, "What happens if we call you a Heavenly Emperor?"
Jun Moxiao said, "You'll be struck by lightning. Go outside and try it if you don't believe me."
That fellow really did refuse to believe him. He ran outside Sunset Glow Garden and shouted, "Free and Unfettered Heavenly Emperor!"
The instant he finished shouting, thunder cracked overhead, and a bolt of lightning struck him squarely on the head. His entire body instantly turned charcoal-black, his hair standing on end.
Everyone roared with laughter. Jun Moxiao told the charcoal-black fellow, "Believe me now?"
Shi Hao asked Little Pagoda, "What's going on? Xiaoxiao called himself the Free and Unfettered Heavenly Emperor before. Why wasn't he struck by lightning?"
Little Pagoda said, "It can only mean that your brother will become powerful enough to transcend everything in the future. Even the Heavenly Dao won't have the right to punish him."
Shi Hao sucked in a breath of cold air. Just how powerful would that be? An Immortal Emperor? Or above an Immortal Emperor? Come to think of it, was there even anything above an Immortal Emperor?
Jun Moxiao had previously told him about Immortal Kings and Immortal Emperors, so he had learned quite a lot.
Witch was startled by this title of Free and Unfettered Heavenly Emperor too. In the Upper Realm, no one dared call themselves an emperor, let alone a Heavenly Emperor.
Just then, another group arrived outside. Jun Moxiao looked over and saw the Heaven Mending Pavilion's Senior Sister and the War Goddess, Yun Xi, the Celestial Clan Saintess from Primordial Divine Mountain, Fairy Yuechan of the Heaven Mending Sect, several young people from the Heaven Severing Sect, and some other Heavenly Prodigies. Their arrival caused a sensation.
Everyone started saying, "Look! That's Fairy Yuechan, the Heaven Mending Sect Saintess, and Fairy Yun Xi, the Celestial Clan Saintess from Primordial Divine Mountain! They're so beautiful!"
The four women-Fairy Yuechan, Yun Xi, Xia Youyu, and the War Goddess-walked toward Jun Moxiao's group.
At that moment, Witch noticed that the Yuechan who had come was actually her secondary body.
"Sister! You came too! Hmm! You sent your secondary body, Qingyi."
Jun Moxiao took a look. Sure enough, she wasn't as icy as Yue Chan's Primary Body. This secondary body really was Qingyi.
Saintess Yun Xi said to Shi Hao, "Shi Hao! Give me back that Divine Armguard."
Shi Hao said, "No! Your grandfather gave it to me himself back then. Why should I return it?"
Yun Xi said, "Shi Hao! What exactly will it take for you to give it back?"
Witch chimed in, "How about Fairy Yun Xi goes back to the village with Shi Hao and becomes his wife?"
Yun Xi's face flushed red in an instant. In truth, she felt something inexplicable for Shi Hao. Perhaps it had started when he bit her ear in the Hundred Broken Mountains!
Shi Hao added, "Keep pestering me and I'll carry you back to the village."
Huo Ling'er stood nearby, gritting her teeth in anger. She whispered to Feng Ling beside her, "Go bring that rotten rascal a plate of pig ears."
Huo Ling'er walked over and said to Yun Xi, "Fairy Yun Xi, would you like to fight a round in the Arena?"
Yun Xi said, "Sure! You look quite strong too, so let's have a match!"
The two women entered the Arena and fought, locked in a fierce, evenly matched exchange. But Jun Moxiao could tell that Huo Ling'er was much stronger. After several dozen exchanges, Huo Ling'er defeated Yun Xi.
Everyone was dumbfounded. "Wow! Who knew Her Highness the Fire Kingdom Princess was this strong too? She actually opened Ten Cave Heavens in the Cave Heaven Realm! That's the standard for First Generation Heavenly Prodigies in the Upper Realm!"
Xia Youyu and the War Goddess were stunned too. "Little Sister Ling'er has actually broken through to the Array Formation Realm as well."
Jun Moxiao said, "Haven't both of you senior sisters broken through to the Array Formation Realm too?"
The War Goddess said, "That was all thanks to your help, little junior brother. Otherwise, how could I have achieved what I have today?"
Jun Moxiao watched the scene in the Arena. Wasn't this a picture of the lawful wife beating up the mistress? Still, Yun Xi was very strong too. After all, she came from the Celestial Clan and had plentiful resources. But she hadn't managed to open Ten Cave Heavens in the Cave Heaven Realm, leaving her a little behind Huo Ling'er. Huo Ling'er had benefited from cheats and was now a bona fide First Generation Supreme!
Just then, Qingyi said to Shi Hao, "I lost to you a while ago. I've decided to challenge you again."
Shi Hao said, "Again? You can't beat me. Keep pestering me and I'll capture you and take you home as a maid."
Witch fanned the flames from the side. "Hao Tian! This is Fairy Yuechan's secondary body, Qingyi. She's very warm and enthusiastic, not that icy Yue Chan from last time. I support you carrying her back to Stone Village! Look at Fairy Qingyi's figure. She's the perfect Fat Girl-one glance tells you she'd be good at bearing children."
Jun Moxiao burst out laughing. Good grief! With Witch fanning the flames, Huo Ling'er, Yun Xi, and Qingyi had turned this into a full-blown romantic battlefield.
How would Shi Hao solve this difficult problem?
Huo Ling'er stamped her feet in anger. Witch hurriedly soothed her. "Little Sister Ling'er, don't be angry. Outstanding men always attract beautiful women."
Huo Ling'er told Witch, "Sister! Then you'd better keep an eye on little junior brother. Just look at the adoring gazes Princess Qianqian and Princess Bingqing are giving him."
Witch whispered, "Don't worry! They don't even catch my eye. They're only admiring him, that's all."
Fairy Qingyi stood in the Arena holding a flute artifact, preparing to compete against Shi Hao!
Jun Moxiao decided to have them compete in a different way. He appeared in the Arena with a whoosh and said, "Why don't you two change the way you compete? A martial contest of precious techniques and divine abilities will inevitably cause injuries. Why not have a contest of the arts instead? I see Fairy Qingyi is versed in music too. Hao Tian, take out your Desolate Heaven Zither and have an artistic contest with Fairy Qingyi. Compete in music."
Shi Hao hurriedly summoned the Desolate Heaven Zither from his Cave Heaven and said, "That works too. I've learned plenty of famous pieces, so let's give it a try!"
Fairy Qingyi nodded in agreement. She had come this time intending to improve her relationship with Shi Hao and Jun Moxiao anyway.
Then Fairy Qingyi began playing her flute, sending out elegant, clear notes. As soon as Jun Moxiao heard them, he blurted out, "Holy shit! Why does this sound a little like the melody of 'Phoenix Seeks the Phoenix'?"
Jun Moxiao froze. Could Fairy Yuechan be a case of extremes turning into their opposites? Did an ice-cold Primary Body mean she would have a secondary body as passionate as fire? Did this secondary body long for someone to love her too?
Jun Moxiao sent Shi Hao a voice transmission. "Hao Tian, play 'Phoenix Seeks the Phoenix' to accompany her. You'll get an unexpected reward."
Shi Hao was always the first to follow Jun Moxiao's arrangements. Beautiful zither notes from "Phoenix Seeks the Phoenix" soon rang out, accompanying Qingyi perfectly. A moment ago, Shi Hao had been a battle maniac; now he had transformed into an elegant man of letters. Two polar opposites!
This was all Jun Moxiao's influence leading him astray. Jun Moxiao had passed on a thousand classical masterpieces to Willow Deity, Shi Hao, and Witch, and "Phoenix Seeks the Phoenix" was among them.
Witch said in surprise, "They're actually performing 'Phoenix Seeks the Phoenix' together? Fate really is wondrous!"
Huo Ling'er asked, "What is 'Phoenix Seeks the Phoenix'?"
Jun Moxiao explained the meaning of "Phoenix Seeks the Phoenix" to Huo Ling'er. After hearing it, she puckered her little mouth and kept stamping her feet.
Jun Moxiao said, "It's fine, senior sister. I have plenty of pieces here. If you want to learn, I can teach you."
Unwilling to concede, Huo Ling'er declared, "I want to learn too! Teach me, little junior brother. I'm going to outdo them."
Witch hurriedly took Huo Ling'er's little hand and said, "All right, Little Sister Ling'er. Let's not get angry. I'll teach you, and we'll outdo them."
Xia Youyu and the War Goddess told Jun Moxiao, "Little junior brother, we never imagined you were so talented."
Jun Moxiao said, "Stay calm, senior sisters. This is just routine."
His words earned him a pretty roll of the eyes from both women.
Watching the two people in the Arena perform in perfect harmony, Jun Moxiao called out loudly, "One song rends the heart and soul; where at the ends of the earth can one find a kindred spirit?"
Big Red piped up in his cracked-gong voice, "Oh! Big brother! That's a fine verse!"
Nine-Headed Lion slapped Big Red and shouted, "You shameless bird! You always love ruining the mood!"
Watching Shi Hao elegantly play the ancient zither onstage, the spectators below remarked, "The Marquis of Desolate Heaven can not only fight, he's accomplished in the arts too. He's an all-round talent! Compared to him, it feels like all we can do is fight, fight, and fight."
Others said, "Oh, give it a rest! You can't beat the Marquis of Desolate Heaven even in a fight. Now that's a peerless, monstrous genius."
Some also said, "That fairy is so beautiful. She's my goddess."
Someone beside one of them poured cold water on his enthusiasm. "Hey! Go have a nice dream. You can have anything in your dreams."
Saintess Yun Xi gazed at Shi Hao with eyes full of affection, thinking, Shi Hao is simply too outstanding. Although Jun Moxiao was the most monstrous genius, his whole being was shrouded in mystery, his strength unfathomable, making him feel impossible to hold on to.
Moreover, during the Battle of the Two Stones, a mysterious masked woman had appeared beside Jun Moxiao. Her powerful aura and Peerless Beauty bearing were beyond anything women like them could compare with, and her relationship with Jun Moxiao was definitely no ordinary one.
Of course, winning either of these two men would be an incredible windfall. And Shi Hao still held her earring-that was a token of love! At this thought, a faint blush spread across Yun Xi's face.
Before you continue