Chapter 442: Chapter 440: A Man’s Dignity
"So that’s how it is," Shen Haoran said, nodding gently as he gazed through the immense, shimmering light.
"What? You didn’t know, Brother Shen? Aren’t you a disciple of the Celestial Spirit Sect? Didn’t the sect explain this common knowledge before you left?" Xu Hao asked in confusion, seeing the look of sudden understanding on Shen Haoran’s face.
"Uh... is that so? All the sects explain this stuff?" Shen Haoran asked, a bit embarrassed. He was indeed a disciple of the Celestial Spirit Sect, but he had only joined a little over a month ago. It was a miracle he’d even managed to snag a spot. As for this common knowledge, Shen Haoran was completely in the dark. ’She sent me into this Secret Realm to find something for her, but she didn’t tell me a single thing!’ he cursed the Third Elder in his mind. ’In the end, I’m on my own. If the Earth Spirit Profound Nether wasn’t so incredibly important to me, I would’ve just thrown in the towel and quit already.’
"Come on, let’s go check it out!" Shen Haoran said, quickly changing the subject as he looked toward the immense, shimmering light.
"G-go over there?" Hearing this, Xu Hao and the others were stunned, finding it hard to believe.
"Why not? How could we miss out on such a great opportunity?" A corner of Shen Haoran’s mouth lifted as a fervent glint flashed in his eyes.
At Shen Haoran’s words, a fanatical look also appeared in the eyes of Xu Hao and his companions. Before this, they would never have dared to approach any sect ruins. Even if they saw one right in front of them, they would have had to meekly walk around it, let alone go inside to hunt for treasure. But now, following Shen Haoran, they were starting with the ruins of a second-class sect. This was something they would never have even dared to imagine before. Only now did Xu Hao and the others truly feel what a correct decision it had been to follow Shen Haoran.
"Let’s go, or someone else will snatch all the good stuff!" Shen Haoran said again. He then took the lead, rushing toward the place where the immense light was erupting. Xu Hao and the others hurried to follow.
The ruins of the second-class sect weren’t too far from the cave Shen Haoran and his group had been in; otherwise, the aftershocks from the ruins’ opening wouldn’t have destroyed their cave. After just half a day, Shen Haoran’s group arrived before a massive mountain gate.
"Are these the ruins of the second-class sect?" Shen Haoran murmured, gazing at the huge mountain gate before him. In front of the gate, a massive Stone Sword was plunged deep into the ground. Due to the erosion of time, the great Stone Sword was already battered and broken, but from it, Shen Haoran could still feel an extremely sharp Powerful Qi radiating outwards, as if he were facing an incredibly Sharp Sword that one dared not look at directly.
"Ten Thousand Swords Sect!" On the body of the Stone Sword, these four words were inlaid. Just these four words alone gave off an invincible feeling.
"It’s actually the ruins of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect!" Xu Hao cried out in alarm after seeing those four words. Without waiting for Shen Haoran to ask, he immediately began to explain on his own.
"The Ten Thousand Swords Sect was one of the hegemons of the Northern Domain during the Ancient Era. Even as a second-class sect, it was considered one of the absolute top-tier, to the point that even first-class sects had to show them some respect. The Ten Thousand Swords Sect’s foundation was incredibly profound. Even the present-day Celestial Spirit Sect and Wind Sword Sect combined might not be a match for a single Ten Thousand Swords Sect. Among their techniques, their ultimate skill, One Sword Asura, was hailed back then as the strongest offensive Martial Skill. If we could obtain it from the ruins of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, we could do whatever we want in the Northern Domain in the future!" A look of excitement appeared in Xu Hao’s eyes.
"Is that so?" Shen Haoran nodded. He then turned his gaze back to the area before the mountain gate. A large crowd of Martial Artists had gathered there. It seemed quite a few people had been drawn by this second-class sect.
"Hm?" As his gaze swept over the crowd standing before the Ten Thousand Swords Sect’s gate, Shen Haoran spotted a familiar face: Ling Feng, who had helped him several times at the Celestial Spirit Sect.
"Let’s go down," Shen Haoran said after seeing Ling Feng, and he headed directly for the Ten Thousand Swords Sect’s mountain gate. Xu Hao and the others took a deep breath and followed closely behind him.
When Shen Haoran appeared before the mountain gate, he drew the attention of the crowd of disciples. Everyone here wanted to obtain the Ten Thousand Swords Sect’s inheritance. Every disciple present was a competitor, and naturally, they all hoped for fewer rivals.
"Junior Shen!" Ling Feng was also a bit surprised to see Shen Haoran. Upon entering the Secret Realm, everyone had been teleported to random locations and scattered. Shen Haoran was the first familiar person Ling Feng had seen in all his days in the Secret Realm.
"Junior Shen, were you also drawn here by the Ten Thousand Swords Sect?" Ling Feng walked up and asked enthusiastically.
"Mhm, I was nearby, so I came to check it out. I didn’t expect it to be a second-class sect, the Ten Thousand Swords Sect," Shen Haoran said with a smiling nod.
Seeing the two interacting so warmly, the expressions of the surrounding disciples turned a little sour. Everyone was here for the Ten Thousand Swords Sect’s inheritance. Ling Feng, as a disciple of the Celestial Spirit Sect, was already putting a lot of pressure on them. If Shen Haoran was added to the mix, their pressure would be even greater! They had all witnessed Shen Haoran’s power for themselves at the Altar Square.
Shen Haoran felt the hostile gazes from the crowd, but he paid them no mind. These Ten Thousand Swords Sect ruins belonged to no one; it was a prize for the taking by whoever was capable enough.
"Hmph, who does he think he is? If it weren’t for the name of the Celestial Spirit Sect protecting him, he’d be nothing!"
"So what if he beat that loser from the Qi Refining Sect? He acts like he’s invincible!"
Seeing that Shen Haoran was completely ignoring them, those disciples muttered in discontent.
"Hey, what are you muttering about? Don’t think we didn’t hear that!" Shen Haoran didn’t care about such gossip, but Xu Hao couldn’t ignore it. Shen Haoran held a high position in his heart now. They could talk trash about him, but talking trash about Shen Haoran was unacceptable.
"Well, well, isn’t this the genius disciple from the Qi Refining Sect? What’s wrong? Weren’t you and Shen Haoran mortal enemies? Why are you speaking up for him now?"
"Isn’t it obvious? Haven’t you heard that birds of a feather flock together? Losers naturally like to stick with other losers, haha!"
"No wonder a disciple from a bottom-feeder sect dares to come to the ruins of an Ancient Sect. So he’s latched onto Shen Haoran’s coattails!"
Seeing Xu Hao actually stand up for Shen Haoran, the surrounding disciples mocked him one after another. Hearing these nasty words, Xu Hao began to tremble with rage.
"Xu Hao, let me tell you something," Shen Haoran said calmly, looking at Xu Hao, who was still trembling with anger. "As a man, you can be without power, without money, without strength, but you can never lose your dignity! And if anyone dares to trample on your dignity, then you must make them pay the price, even if it costs you your life!"
Shen Haoran’s words struck Xu Hao’s heart like a heavy hammer. His trembling body gradually calmed, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. He glared viciously at those who had insulted him, his fists clenching tightly.
’You can hit me, and I can endure it. You can curse me, and I can endure that too. But daring to trample on my dignity? That is something I absolutely cannot endure. Since it’s reached the point of no return, the only thing left to do is fight!’
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