322: Depart

Hearing this, Mo Yu's eyes flashed with excitement, and he immediately lowered his head deeply: "Thank you, Venerable One!"

He took a deep breath, and dark green radiance flowed around his body, his human form beginning to undergo a drastic transformation.

Under the gaze of countless eyes, his figure rapidly expanded and stretched. Brilliant Mo Yu-colored scales covered his entire body, crystalline deer antlers sprouted from his head, spiritual whiskers fluttered beneath his jaw, and his four hooves trod on faint flames.

He spectacularly manifested his majestic and magnificent Qilin true form!

Although his aura was somewhat weak due to his injuries and the oath he had taken, the pressure of the flowing Imperial Blood and his Divine Beast posture still captivated everyone.

Mo Yu took a step, walking up to Xiao Ruobai, and obediently lowered his body.

Xiao Ruobai's expression was calm. He stretched out his hand and gently stroked the cool yet resilient scales on the Qilin's neck.

The next moment, his figure shifted slightly, and he was seated securely upon the Qilin's broad, thick back.

"Let's go."

A faint instruction.

The Qilin, transformed from Mo Yu, let out a low, soft cry. Its four hooves stepped into the air, and dark auspicious clouds spontaneously generated, carrying the man and the beast. They turned into a streak of light and vanished instantly at the edge of the horizon.

It wasn't until the streak of light completely vanished from sight that the dead silence over the ruins was broken by various complicated sighs and discussions.

"Today truly... opened my eyes."

An old Cultivator muttered to himself, his face still showing lingering fear after the shock.

"First, we witnessed a Heaven-Defying, epoch-making battle of slaying a King, and then we personally saw the Kirin Son, who possesses Imperial Blood, swear allegiance to a Revered Master. To have seen this in my lifetime, this trip was truly worthwhile, truly worthwhile!"

"Indeed, who could have imagined that the outcome would be like this..."

Others agreed one after another, their tones filled with disbelief.

On the distant mountaintop, the Jiang Family Divine King Body took a deep look in the direction Xiao Ruobai had left. Purple Qi faintly rippled around him, and without a word, he turned and fled as a streak of light.

Ji Xuanye, the Crown Prince of Great Zhou, gently shook the folding fan in his hand, a sharp light shining in his eyes. He slightly nodded to the guards beside him, and the group quietly departed as well.

Most of the other Prodigies from various factions also wore solemn expressions, either pondering alone or whispering to their companions, before successively transforming into streaks of rainbow light and dispersing in all directions.

What they had seen and heard today was too impactful for them.

Whether it was Wang Zhan, the Heavenly Azure Sacred Disciple, the terror of the Battle Asura, or the Kirin Son's choice, all were like heavy hammers, shattering their pride as Prodigies.

The struggle on the Imperial Road was far more cruel and unpredictable than they had imagined; Prodigies continued to emerge endlessly in the world.

An invisible sense of urgency permeated the hearts of every departing Prodigy. They needed stronger power, and a more resolute Dao Heart!

Amidst the crowd, Shi Jingxian and the others watched Junior Brother Xiao ride the Kirin Son away with such flair, and a hint of envy couldn't help but appear in their eyes.

"When will we be able to possess such strength..."

Just then, a sound transmission from Xiao Ruobai suddenly rang out in their Sea of Consciousness.

"Senior Brothers, Revered Master wants you to find time to return to Zizhu Peak."

Shi Jingxian, Lin Mo Yu, and the third person exchanged glances, their eyes revealing surprise and a hint of confusion.

"Martial Uncle Gu called us back?"

Shi Jingxian scratched his head, looking puzzled, "Right now? Did something happen in the Sect?"

Mu Chenyu slightly furrowed his brow and mused, "Martial Uncle's actions always carry deep meaning. Being summoned at this moment must have a reason."

Although they couldn't guess the specific reason, since Martial Uncle Gu had summoned them, the three dared not delay in the slightest.

"Let's go. Since it is Martial Uncle's command, there must be an important matter." Lin Mochen spoke first.

"Mm, we'll find out when we get back!" Shi Jingxian also suppressed his curiosity and nodded heavily.

Mu Chenyu nodded silently.

The next moment, three streaks of light quietly soared from the ruins. They no longer lingered here or continued their original training itinerary, but instead sped directly towards the Azure Profound Sect.

The ruins returned to silence, with only the devastation everywhere telling the tale of the earth-shattering events that had just occurred.

And the repercussions brought about by this great battle and the act of submission were bound to sweep across the wider world at an even faster pace.

As the Prodigies from all sides departed one after another, wearing various expressions, the noisy ruins gradually returned to dead silence, with only the wind whimpering and stirring up dust.

However, at the edge of the deepest and largest pit, one figure did not leave with the crowd.

It was Wang Zhan.

He was still standing in the same spot, his profound black battle robe torn, bloodstains still wet on his body, and his entire right arm hanging unnaturally.

But at this moment, the extreme rage and humiliation on his face had faded, replaced by a nearly icy calm.

He did not look in the direction anyone had left, nor did he pay attention to the scorching pain still radiating throughout his body. He simply, slowly and extremely resolutely, sat down cross-legged at the edge of the pit.

This location was exactly where he had been blasted down by Xiao Ruobai's punch and suffered his most devastating defeat.

He closed his eyes. The azure Qi and blood around his body, which had been somewhat chaotic due to anger and injury, began to flow again at an exceptionally slow yet tenacious pace.

He did not immediately treat his wounds, but instead completely immersed his mind within his body, sinking into every detail of the miserable defeat he had just suffered.

He lost.

He lost completely and utterly.

The Heavenly Azure Sacred Body lost to the War God Body, and the King Realm lost to the Heavenly Human Realm. For him, this was an unprecedented blow, a complete shattering of his pride.

But, having lost, was it all over?

No.

Wang Zhan's mind was like the most precise carving knife, beginning to trace back the previous battle thread by thread.

Xiao Ruobai's will, pure to the extreme and born for battle; his punches and kicks, seemingly simple and direct, yet containing the Profound Truth of destroying myriad laws; and that final terrifying strike that directly shattered his Sacred Body phenomenon... every scene was branded deeply into the depths of his Divine Soul.

Did it hurt? Heart-wrenching pain!

Was it humiliating? A tremendous disgrace!

But this pain and humiliation had now transformed into the most scorching flames, burning his Dao Heart and tempering his will!

"Heavenly Azure Sacred Body, the path of the invincible. It turns out my path had already gone astray..."

Wang Zhan whispered in his heart.

In the past, he relied too much on the Innate power of his Sacred Body, excessively pursuing the crushing of everything with absolute force, but he lacked the pure Battle Intent forged between life and death, and the tragic determination to shatter all laws and reign supreme!

Today's defeat was like a basin of ice water, splashing him awake.

Losing to the Battle Asura is not terrifying! What is terrifying is sinking into failure and never recovering!

How could the Heavenly Azure Sacred Body be so easily defeated?

This defeat is precisely the clear mirror reflecting his own shortcomings! It is the whetstone for tempering an invincible Dao Heart!

"Battle Asura, you gained the upper hand today, and I accept it! But the Imperial Road is long, and this is only the beginning!"

"Once I reforge my fighting spirit, fully digest today's defeat, and truly unleash the potential of my Sacred Body, the next time we meet, I, Wang Zhan, will personally reclaim everything!"

A more restrained, yet more tenacious and unyielding will, like magma buried deep underground, slowly condensed and surged in Wang Zhan's heart.

The aura around his body began to solidify and thicken at a visible speed. The scattered phantom image of his Sacred Body phenomenon even showed faint signs of re-coalescing; though dim, it appeared purer!

He actually treated this place of crushing defeat as a training ground for self-improvement! He entered secluded cultivation here, seeking enlightenment through failure!

In the distance, a few people who had not yet fully departed noticed this change in aura. They turned their heads, and their eyes couldn't help but reveal renewed astonishment.

"Wang Zhan actually entered secluded cultivation right where he is?"

"What powerful will! Not only did he avoid being disheartened by the crushing defeat, but he is using it to temper his Dao Heart, seeking to break through and establish himself anew!"

"As expected of the Heavenly Azure Sacred Body, this kind of Heart-Nature is truly terrifying! If he can truly overcome this setback, he will likely be even more formidable in the future!"