Chapter 627 - 621: Disciples of the Four Great Divine Beast Families

"Shen Haoran?" Tian Ruyi walked up to Shen Haoran and asked coolly, her tone betraying no emotion.

"I doubt anyone else in Central City would dare call themselves Shen Haoran," Shen Haoran said casually with a shrug.

"You certainly have guts. But without strength to back it up, you’re just a fool trying to impress people—all brawn and no brains," Tian Ruyi remarked indifferently upon hearing Shen Haoran’s admission.

Shen Haoran simply maintained his smile at her words, not bothering to refute them. ’I know my own strength best; I don’t need anyone to remind me. But I don’t think I have any history with this Tian Ruyi, do I? Why does it feel like she’s constantly targeting me?’ Shen Haoran was a little confused.

"Sister Ruyi, Brother Shen is actually very strong!" Wu Daotian quickly spoke up for Shen Haoran. He and Tian Ruyi were old acquaintances, which explained his more familiar form of address.

"Xiaowu, you’re too simple and honest. Don’t be fooled by someone’s appearance," Tian Ruyi said, looking at Wu Daotian before glancing coolly at Shen Haoran.

"No, no, Brother Shen is a good guy!" Wu Daotian said with a grin, scratching his large, shiny head good-naturedly.

"He’d better be," Tian Ruyi said, giving Shen Haoran one last cold look before turning to leave.

"Brother Shen, don’t mind her. Sister Ruyi is actually a very nice person. She and that Feng Miaoke are best friends. You taught Feng Miaoke a lesson before, so it’s only natural for Sister Ruyi to be a little hostile toward you," Wu Daotian hurriedly explained after Tian Ruyi left.

Hearing this, Shen Haoran looked at Wu Daotian and couldn’t help but shake his head inwardly. ’This big guy is really too simple-minded.’ But now he understood why Tian Ruyi was hostile. ’So it was because of Feng Miaoke. Come to think of it, the two of them are quite similar—both self-centered.’

SCREEE...

While Shen Haoran was lost in thought, a clear phoenix cry echoed through the grand hall. A moment later, a brilliant ball of fire lit up the dim space, and a Phoenix wreathed in crimson flames slowly appeared before everyone, landing on the stone platform a moment later.

The crimson flames slowly dissipated, revealing Feng Miaoke dressed in a tight-fitting red outfit. The moment she appeared, the Alchemists on the stone platform went wild. They stared at her with feverish eyes, looking as if they would do anything for her, even be her slaves.

It couldn’t be helped. Those participating in the Pill Emperor’s contest were all Alchemists of the younger generation. Feng Miaoke was not only a genius in Martial Arts but also in Alchemy. She was the goddess of all the young Alchemists and Martial Artists of the Demon Race. How could they not be excited to see their goddess in person?

Feng Miaoke raised her head arrogantly. She reveled in being the center of attention. In this moment, she felt like the master of the world, and everyone had to obey her command.

Feng Miaoke’s gaze swept across the crowd. When her eyes fell upon Shen Haoran at the back, the smile on her face instantly vanished, replaced by a cold, dark expression. The sight of him reminded her of the humiliation she had suffered at his hands a few days ago, and a furious anger began to burn within her.

Seeing Feng Miaoke’s glare directed at Shen Haoran, the surrounding Alchemists also turned to look at him with angry expressions. If looks could kill, Shen Haoran would have died a thousand times over. It was his own fault for offending their goddess.

’Calm down, calm down!’ Feng Miaoke repeated to herself. If she acted against Shen Haoran now and scared him off, all her future plans would be ruined. With that thought, she took a deep breath, suppressed her anger, and ignored Shen Haoran, walking toward Ji Wuqing and Tian Ruyi instead.

Feng Miaoke might have turned her attention away from Shen Haoran, but her admirers had no intention of letting him off the hook. They all stared at him with dark expressions, looking as if they would rush forward and seize him the moment Feng Miaoke gave the word.

However, the man at the center of it all, Shen Haoran, didn’t spare Feng Miaoke a single glance from beginning to end, let alone the other Alchemists. He couldn’t care less what these irrelevant people thought. Of course, if they were itching for a beating and decided to provoke him, he wouldn’t mind loosening their bones for them.

ROAR!

After Feng Miaoke’s arrival, another earth-shattering roar echoed. This time, a cyan dragon’s silhouette flew in from outside the hall, transforming into a streak of cyan light that landed instantly on the stone platform.

Following the cyan dragon, two more flashes of light—one white, one yellow—streaked by. Then, a White Tiger and a Profound Turtle appeared in the hall, landing on the stone platform. With that, everyone from the Four Great Divine Beast Families had arrived.

Shen Haoran looked over with curiosity. He had long heard of the prestige of the Four Great Divine Beast Families within the Demon Race, and now he had a chance to see what their genius disciples were truly like.

At the edge of the stone platform, three figures were walking slowly toward the crowd. The young man in the lead wore the cyan robes of an Alchemist. He had a handsome face with a charming, heartthrob-like smile. Two dragon horns protruded from his head, giving him a fantastical appearance. This must be Long Aotian of the Cyan Dragon Clan.

Beside Long Aotian was a young man with a sinister, effeminate face. A large White Tiger head was embroidered on his chest. A wicked smile played on his lips, and his eyes held a dark glint. The first sight of this man gave Shen Haoran an uncomfortable feeling. This was Bai Shaohong of the White Tiger Clan.

When Shen Haoran’s gaze fell on the last disciple, the one from the Black Tortoise Clan, he froze on the spot. The disciple from the Black Tortoise Clan was a petite little girl. ’In my mind, shouldn’t the Black Tortoise Clan be full of brawny, incredibly strong men? Wu Daotian next to me looks more like a disciple from the Black Tortoise Clan.’ But that little girl... The corner of Shen Haoran’s mouth couldn’t help but twitch.

However, when Shen Haoran noticed the flagstones the little girl walked on, his pupils constricted. Fine cracks appeared on every stone she stepped on. One could only imagine what kind of monstrous power was hidden within her tiny body.

His eyes swept over the three, then added Feng Miaoke of the Vermilion Bird Race to the count. ’None of these four are easy to deal with. It seems the most talented disciples of the Four Great Divine Beast Families really have some skill.’

"The bloodline power within all four of them has reached the Ninth Grade Bloodline, making it almost a true Divine Beast Bloodline!" Changmao exclaimed in surprise from within Shen Haoran’s body. "You have to understand, ever since the Four Great Divine Beasts disappeared, a bloodline power this pure has never appeared."

"Now this is what makes it interesting. Otherwise, what fun would there be in this Pill Emperor’s contest?" Shen Haoran replied to Changmao, a strange smile creeping onto his face. The sight made Changmao shudder. Muttering the word "Pervert," he fell silent...