Chapter Forty-Nine: The Young Eagle Shall Soar Across the Vast Skies

Crackle! Surrounded by golden currents, Sun Hao—his head still bleeding from Liu Ji’s blows—wore a grim expression. As chunks of yellow armor spirit parts emerged from within his flesh, his body began to grow taller and taller. In the end, he was transformed into a three-meter giant, encased in thick yellow armor spirit, the earthen-hued mask upon his face inscribed with intricate patterns.

He exhaled a searing breath, his voice now as heavy and sonorous as a great bell. “Liu Ji, let’s see how you’ll fight me now!”

Though his armor spirit was merely the Immaculate Armor Spirit, it bestowed him with extraordinary defensive power. Coupled with his own cultivation, he was vastly superior to Liu Ji. In his eyes, Liu Ji, who relied solely on the Supreme Saint Heaven-Defying Art, could not possibly stand against him.

With a thunderous stomp, Sun Hao’s foot crashed into the wooden floor, splintering it and leaving a deep pit. His entire body charged toward Liu Ji.

“Brother Sun, don’t!” Zhang Yihan’s face changed as he dashed after Sun Hao, golden lightning crackling about his body.

“So this is the armor spirit?” Watching Sun Hao—now a towering giant shrouded in earth-yellow armor—and Zhang Yihan, whose body was wreathed in golden electricity, Mu Wanjun bit her red lip, eyes glimmering with envy.

Despite the giant Sun Hao rapidly approaching him, Liu Ji remained calm, not the least bit flustered, as if unconcerned that Sun Hao could do him any harm.

“Die!” Towering above Liu Ji, Sun Hao’s mountainous frame loomed over him. With a roar, he swung his armor-clad, basin-sized yellow fist mercilessly at Liu Ji’s head.

The fierce, overwhelming force of the punch barreled toward Liu Ji. He marveled inwardly—the sheer pressure from this single blow was terrifying, a testament to its incredible power.

But, alas…

“Bold knave! How dare you attempt to kill the young lord!” Suddenly, a thunderous shout rang out. A black figure flickered from the first-floor entrance and appeared before Liu Ji in an instant. With a casual swat—like brushing aside a fly—he sent the three-meter Sun Hao hurtling away.

With a tremendous crash, Sun Hao was knocked from the fourth floor, his heavy form slamming into the ground floor. Even the great ship beneath their feet rocked violently from the impact.

Everyone was left dumbfounded, unable to comprehend how Sun Hao—whose strength had surged after summoning his armor spirit—could be so effortlessly swatted aside.

Zhang Yihan could only sigh and cradle his forehead.

Brother Sun, oh Brother Sun… You’ve let your rage cloud your mind. Who is Liu Ji? He’s the heir of the Duke of Southern Pacification! Would he not be accompanied by guards? Would his guards stand by and let you harm their young master?

“Seize him!” The square-faced man beside Liu Ji, a commander among the Southern Tiger Cavalry, looked coldly at Sun Hao. In a flash, several black figures darted in, appearing beside Sun Hao and pinning him down without mercy.

One of the Tiger Cavalry struck Sun Hao’s head with a heavy blow, and Liu Ji watched as the earthen yellow armor enveloping Sun Hao flared like burning paper, flickered, and vanished into nothingness.

Sun Hao roared, “Liu Ji! You’re despicable! You only dare to throw your weight around because you’re the young lord! If you have the guts, tell them to let me go and fight me one-on-one! Do you dare?”

His heart was filled with grievance and fury. He, a proud student of the Celestial Academy, had just been suppressed by Liu Ji and beaten bloody. He’d hoped to exact revenge by summoning his armor spirit.

Who could have guessed… that he would be captured by Liu Ji’s guards just like that.

It was enough to drive him mad with rage!

Liu Ji scoffed, “If you have the ability, you could have your guards seize me, too. Too bad it seems you don’t dare.”

“You… I…” Sun Hao spluttered, unable to speak. Only now did he recall that Liu Ji was not an ordinary person—he was the heir of the Duke of Southern Pacification. Even if Liu Ji stood there and let him hit him, he wouldn’t dare. If he did, his entire family would suffer!

But… That made it all the more infuriating!

He hated the powerful and privileged!

Liu Ji sighed, looking skyward. “How tedious. This martial tournament is utterly dull. To think even people from the Celestial Academy are so feeble. If all your academy’s students are as weak as you, then the so-called Celestial Academy is nothing special.”

“Liu Ji! Don’t be so arrogant!” Sun Hao was furious at Liu Ji’s insult to the academy. “I am merely at the bottom of the ranks in my academy,” he sneered. “If my senior brothers and sisters were here, would you dare speak that way?”

“Oh? So you’re even more worthless than I thought? You acted all high and mighty before, but it turns out you’re just a pig’s tail?” Liu Ji remarked in feigned astonishment.

“You!” Sun Hao nearly coughed up blood at this. Was Liu Ji not calling everyone in the Celestial Academy a pig?

Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, Liu Ji left the Dragon-Phoenix Pavilion with Liu Yuqing, while Sun Hao was released by the Southern Tiger Cavalry.

Not long after Liu Ji departed, a clamor erupted from within the pavilion. He could already foresee that news of this event would spread like wildfire, sweeping across the entire Southern King City.

Undoubtedly, he would find himself at the center of the storm once more.

But… It mattered little.

Southern King City was, after all, the stronghold of the House of Southern Pacification—his Liu family’s domain. No matter how powerful his enemies were, could they reach into his home?

If he couldn’t live freely in his own house, then what kind of heir was he? He’d long wanted to deal with that Sun Ziang! Always muttering and complaining…

Upon returning to the Southern Pacification Manor, Liu Ji had barely stepped inside when a servant approached him. “Young Master, His Grace asks you to come to the main hall.”

Liu Ji was momentarily taken aback, then nodded.

Upon entering the main hall, he saw Xiao Mei watching him with schadenfreude, while his father, Liu Heng, wore a dark expression.

His heart skipped a beat, and he sighed inwardly. He knew Liu Heng would find out, but he hadn’t expected his father to hear of it so soon.

News traveled fast…

Liu Heng’s voice was cold. “What did I tell you?”

Liu Ji replied, “Not to reveal my strength lightly. But I think you understand why I acted as I did. Had I not intervened at that point, wouldn’t others laugh at the great Young Master Liu Ji for being weak and incompetent?”

“Nonsense!” Liu Heng snapped. “As the heir, do you lack even this much patience? Do you realize how dangerous it is to reveal your strength in public? Have you forgotten what happened just days ago?”

Liu Ji sneered inwardly.

How could he forget? He did not consider himself a villain, but he was not one to forgive easily.

He still remembered the attempt on his life.

He only hoped he’d get his chance.

Otherwise…

Liu Heng suddenly sighed. His gaze was filled with complexity and regret. Wasn’t he partly responsible for all that had happened today?

If he weren’t the Duke of Southern Pacification, if he didn’t command the Southern Tiger Cavalry, if he had not mastered the Supreme Saint Heaven-Defying Art, if he did not possess that armor spirit…

Then he would not be a thorn in the side of the royal family.

He would be just a minor official, and perhaps Liu Ji could live out his days in peace and contentment.

Wouldn’t that be better?

He recalled his father’s words—spoken to him with utmost gravity: “I know you’re dissatisfied with your lot. I know you want to seek the truth of the world. But the world is perilous, the martial realm treacherous. Once you step into it, you may never return.”

But that man was already dead.

He remembered also his second brother, who had been killed by the Southern Barbarians, along with his sister-in-law.

All because of him—because he’d led the Liu family from obscurity to the stage of history, and paid a bitter price for it.

Suddenly, his heart trembled as he recalled what someone had said to him not long ago: “Why is it impossible to leave? If one’s strength is great enough to overturn the martial world, to slay all one’s enemies, why would one not be free to leave?”

As these thoughts churned, he took a deep breath, his gaze growing resolute.

He understood now—since Liu Ji wished to forge his own path, then let him do so!

He could protect Liu Ji for a time, but not for a lifetime.

The fledgling eagle must one day soar into the heavens, mustn’t it?