In the blink of an eye, another half month passed.
Qin Chuan and his son, Qin Zi, continued their journey deeper into the Starshatter Demon Domain aboard the "Challenge" flying boat, encountering countless demons along the way.
Among them were some terrifying demon emperors. A few even made Qin Chuan feel a sense of threat.
However, none of these demon experts attacked upon seeing the "Challenge" flying boat; they all pretended not to see it.
The tradition of challenging was quite unique, akin to the saying, "in the heat of battle, no envoy shall be harmed."
Of course, that was as long as the "envoy" didn't engage in killing. Otherwise, they would be transformed from an "envoy" to "fodder."
Finally, one day, a grand structure appeared before Qin Chuan and his son.
It was an enormous gateway, but calling it a gateway was somewhat inaccurate—it was more of a giant crocodile's skull!
The gigantic crocodile had its mouth wide open, and the distance between its upper and lower jaws stretched for tens of thousands of feet, resembling a towering gate of unimaginable proportions.
It was awe-inspiring!
Through the crocodile's open mouth, they could see a white, skeletal mountain range shaped like the crocodile's body. Upon the mountain, there were many buildings that radiated wildness yet shimmered with golden splendor.
The Starshatter Academy of the demon race was actually built upon the remains of a colossal crocodile!
"Hiss! What an enormous creature! This must be the skeleton of a demon emperor," Qin Zi gasped, drawing in a breath of cold air.
He had never seen such an enormous being in his life.
Even Qin Chuan was a bit shaken.
However, he remained calm, saying nothing, though the slight disdain in his eyes was unmistakable.
It was as though he had seen the grandeur of the oceans and could no longer be impressed by mere rivers!
Seeing this, Qin Zi couldn't help but ask, "Father, what's the largest creature you've ever seen?"
Just waiting for you to ask!
Qin Chuan inwardly chuckled, then said in a calm voice, "Comparable to the stars themselves, about as large as the entire Ziyun Domain."
Qin Zi's heart raced!
So big!!
"Don't aim too high. These things are still far beyond your reach. When you reach that level, you will encounter them naturally," Qin Chuan advised earnestly.
"Understood!" Qin Zi clenched his fists. Such things were indeed still far off for him. What he needed to focus on now... was to sweep through Starshatter Academy!
He took a deep breath.
Instantly, a powerful suction force drew in the air from hundreds of meters around, making his chest swell like a frog. Then, he roared, "Qin Zi of Ziyun Academy, here to challenge your gates!"
Whoosh!
His voice, like a southern wind sweeping across the land, echoed across the mountains and rivers, shaking the entire Starshatter Academy.
"He's really here!"
"Unbelievable!"
"How arrogant!"
"This is simply bullying the demon race too much!"
Within Starshatter Academy, chaos erupted, and curses rang out from all directions.
Then, one by one, figures soared into the sky from the buildings, revealing their massive true forms in the air—birds of all kinds and pitch-black bats, numbering in the hundreds, their wings blotting out the sun.
"If you want to enter the academy, you'll have to get past us first!"
"Roar!!"
These massive birds and bats swooped down toward Qin Zi, their auras fierce and overwhelming.
"Rising Sun!"
Qin Zi raised both hands above his head, unleashing a technique from the Sun-Swallowing Emperor Sutra. Instantly, a domineering golden light gathered above him, transforming into a blazing sun that he hurled forward.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
"Ah!!"
"It's too big, too hot!"
"I can't take it anymore!"
"Bang! Bang!"
The sun, radiating the majesty of the heavens, swept across the sky like a real star. Wherever it passed, all the birds and bats screamed in agony, their bodies scorched black as they plummeted to the ground, covered in blood.
Qin Zi, like a rainbow, followed the sun and charged straight into Starshatter Academy.
"Boom!!"
The blazing sun exploded in the plaza of Starshatter Academy, sweeping away debris and sending several demons who had been cultivating there flying.
Surrounded by radiant light, Qin Zi slowly descended from the sky.
"Today, I have come to challenge your gates. Any Saint of the First Heaven realm from Starshatter Academy may step forward. Of course, you may all come at once if you prefer," Qin Zi declared arrogantly, his aura unmatched.
"Human! You've already killed Senior Brother Ying Kong, and now you come to challenge our academy? Isn't that going too far!"
"Yes, this is bullying the demon race!"
"You're immoral!"
Some of the disciples from Starshatter Academy surrounded him, maintaining their human forms inside the academy, their faces filled with righteous indignation.
"A challenge is a challenge. What's morality got to do with it?" Qin Zi retorted confidently. "I'm standing here. If you can beat me, then step forward. But if none of you can, then we can discuss compensation."
"I've traveled for a whole month to get here, and the mental toll alone is no small matter..."
The demons flushed red upon hearing this, their teeth grinding in fury.
Yet none of them dared step forward to humiliate themselves. After all, even Senior Brother Ying Kong had been slain by this man. What difference would it make if they challenged him?
"I'll be here waiting. The longer I stay, the more embarrassing it'll be for Starshatter Academy. And even if I break through to the Second Heaven Saint realm while waiting, I'm confident none of you will still be able to defeat me."
Qin Zi spoke leisurely.
"Arrogant!"
"When you break through to the Second Heaven, plenty of our senior brothers will be able to deal with you!"
"Exactly! How could you compete with those who have trained for so long in the Second Heaven?"
The disciples of Starshatter Academy shouted.
Qin Zi's eyes lit up!
Then, with a smile, he said, "If that's the case, none of you can beat me right now, and it's not likely that any newly promoted First Heaven Saints can either."
"So if you want to defeat me, your only option is to help me break through to the Second Heaven. Otherwise... I'll be blocking this gate for a long time."
His gaze shifted meaningfully toward the depths of Starshatter Academy.
It was clearly a message to the higher-ups.
"Bastard!!!"
From the depths of Starshatter Academy came an angry roar, and a giant figure, part tiger and part man, rose from the ground, towering into the sky.
"Human brat, are you trying to extort us?!"
The tiger-headed figure bellowed furiously.
"Not at all. I'm just giving you a choice. Either help me break through, or let me stay here indefinitely."
Qin Zi sat cross-legged and spread his hands nonchalantly. "Leaving is out of the question. Even if you offer compensation, I'm not going anywhere."
"You!!"
"Shameless!"
"Absolutely despicable!"
The disciples of Starshatter Academy cursed angrily.
There's a saying: it's easy to invite a god, but hard to send one away. But in this case, they hadn't even invited him! He had come uninvited!
Not only had he arrived uninvited, but now he was trying to extort them. If they didn't comply, he would simply refuse to leave!
"Hmph! You're out of control! Do you really think Starshatter Academy has no one capable of dealing with you?!" At this moment, a cold voice rang out.
The crowd turned to look.
A handsome man in white robes slowly approached, surrounded by a glowing aura, like a god descending to earth.
"It's Junior Brother Mingyu!"
"Junior Brother Mingyu's true form is a Celestial White Crane. It's said that he's a descendant of an ancient demon emperor, undefeated within his realm!"
"But he's only at the Ninth Level of the Supreme Saint realm. Could he be planning to break through here and now to suppress this arrogant man?!"
"This will be interesting!"
The disciples of Starshatter Academy were excited, their faces filled with anticipation.
However, Qin Zi seemed uninterested and said indifferently, "Since I began my cultivation journey, I've surpassed countless people, and those weaker than me have never had any chance to catch up."
"Ignorant fool!"
Mingyu sneered coldly. "I heard you come from a fragmented continent. It seems your horizons are pitifully narrow."
"Do you really think the main continent is like your little fragmented land, where there are no tigers in the mountains, so the monkeys become kings?"
"I hadn't planned on breaking through so soon, but since you're so arrogant, I'll let you witness... what it means to have a sky beyond the sky!"
Boom!!
With a single step, a vast aura erupted from Mingyu's body, and a pillar of light shot up from the ground, piercing the heavens. The skies darkened with black clouds, and lightning crackled in the air.
Within the pillar of light.
Mingyu spread his arms, his robes billowing as his body slowly floated into the air, lightning flickering in his eyes.
He looked down at Qin Zi, raised his right hand slowly, and said coldly, "Today, I'll defeat you with just one hand!"