Chapter 425: Chapter 424: The Battle for the Spots Ends
"ROOOOAR..."
The echoes reverberated endlessly in everyone’s minds. It wasn’t until a long while later that the sonic wave finally dissipated, but the throbbing pain in their heads lingered. They all stared at the back mountain, their hearts pounding with apprehension. What in the world just happened?
"What was that?" Tian Ao looked down at the disciples, their spirits clearly dampened, before turning his gaze toward the now-barren back mountain. Even he had been slightly affected by that sonic wave just now. If he hadn’t been so far away, it probably would have inflicted a minor injury. A sonic wave capable of injuring a Spirit Emperor Powerhouse... Just how terrifyingly powerful was its originator? They had to be at the Spirit Emperor Level, at the very least.
At that thought, Tian Ao’s heart leaped into his throat. ’A Spirit Emperor Powerhouse... Is someone here to cause trouble today?’
"You all stay here and maintain order. Stabilize the disciples’ emotions. I’m going to the back mountain to check things out!" Tian Ao said to the Elders in a low voice. Then, with a flicker, he vanished on the spot.
...
Meanwhile, on the back mountain of the Celestial Spirit Sect, a massive crater had appeared in the forest. A figure was curled up inside it, their body twitching nonstop, as if enduring some unbearable pain.
This figure was none other than Shen Haoran, who had been on the back mountain practicing his Soul Shattering Celestial Assault. And that terrifying sonic wave from a moment ago had also been unleashed by him. But right now, Shen Haoran didn’t seem to be in good shape.
Shen Haoran was clutching his own throat. Blood trickled endlessly from his mouth, his face a mask of agony, but he couldn’t even cry out.
That Heaven-Shaking roar just now had nearly destroyed Shen Haoran’s throat. Soul Shattering Celestial Assault was an Earth Tier High-Level Martial Skill to begin with, immensely powerful on its own. The might it produced when amplified by the Taotie Beast Soul—the head of the Ancient Ten Fierce Beasts—was even more unimaginable. Shen Haoran had spent the last three days studying it relentlessly and had finally mastered it. Unfortunately, he hadn’t controlled his power properly on his first attempt and had almost ruined his own throat in the process.
"Cough, cough..."
After a long moment, Shen Haoran finally came to his senses. He coughed violently a couple of times, still feeling a searing pain in his throat. He quickly took out the spring water from his Storage Ring and gulped down two large mouthfuls, which brought some relief.
When Shen Haoran came to and saw the nearly barren back mountain around him, he was stunned. The towering ancient trees snapped in half at the trunk, the shattered earth... as a breeze blew past, the clouds of dust it kicked up assaulted his senses.
"This... This was all caused by my ’Broken Soul’ just now!" Shen Haoran couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath. Now he understood why Earth Tier High-Level Martial Skills were sought after by countless people, why even the ancient Major Sects and great families treasured them as their ultimate heirlooms. The power was simply too immense!
SWOOSH—
Just as Shen Haoran was lost in thought, a figure flashed over at an incredible speed, quickly arriving above him. The newcomer was none other than the Celestial Spirit Sect’s Sect Leader, Tian Ao.
Tian Ao had originally thought a Spirit Emperor Tier powerhouse had come looking for trouble, but he didn’t sense any particularly strong aura on the back mountain. When he saw Shen Haoran below, his brow furrowed, and he descended.
"Sect Leader!" Seeing the visitor, Shen Haoran quickly snapped to attention. He looked at Tian Ao sheepishly. He figured the huge commotion he’d caused had probably alarmed the upper echelons of the Celestial Spirit Sect, which was why Tian Ao had come to investigate.
"Shen Haoran, have you been on this back mountain the whole time? Have you seen any suspicious people, or any powerful Martial Artists?" Tian Ao asked with a frown, his voice low.
"Suspicious people? No, I’ve been the only one on this back mountain the entire time!" Shen Haoran was completely baffled by Tian Ao’s question.
"Then this back mountain...?" Seeing Shen Haoran’s completely clueless expression, Tian Ao pointed at the devastated landscape around them and asked.
"Er... Sect Leader, this is all my fault. I was practicing a Martial Skill and didn’t control it properly, so..." Shen Haoran finally understood what Tian Ao was getting at and spoke with some embarrassment.
"You’re saying... you caused this?" Hearing Shen Haoran’s words, Tian Ao froze. He looked around and couldn’t help but swallow hard. ’Even a Spirit Aspect Powerhouse couldn’t cause this level of destruction! What in the world is this kid cultivating to have such destructive power!’
Seeing Tian Ao’s shocked expression, Shen Haoran nodded, worrying inwardly, ’He’s not going to make me pay for this, is he? This back mountain is huge. I shouldn’t have been so impulsive just now!’
"Um... you just carry on. I have other matters to attend to..." When Tian Ao saw Shen Haoran nod, he was once again profoundly shocked. ’This kid is just too demoralizing. It’s one thing for him to be stronger than the other disciples, but that sonic wave he just unleashed... even I would have to take it seriously. This guy is trying to wipe everyone out, not even sparing me, the Sect Leader...’
"Remember, no more destroying public property!" Before leaving, Tian Ao couldn’t help but glance one more time at the ravaged back mountain, his expression strange.
Hearing this, Shen Haoran nodded awkwardly. It had just been an accident. Now that he understood the terrifying power of Soul Shattering Celestial Assault, he would be more careful.
With that, Tian Ao turned and left the back mountain. He really didn’t want to stay with Shen Haoran any longer. Who knew what shocking thing the kid would pull out next? If this kept up, how was he supposed to maintain his dignity as the Sect Leader?
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