Of course, this was merely his wishful thinking. No one could say for certain when the Immortal King would return!
Moreover, after stirring up such a storm, the attitudes of the immortals in this realm might very well reverse. The longer time dragged on, the worse his situation would become.
Beneath the Enlightened Tea Tree, several elderly figures wore uncertain expressions. They had contemplated intervening multiple times along the way but ultimately restrained themselves.
“Is that rumor true?” one murmured.
“There’s no smoke without fire. Otherwise, why would the immortals issue a decree allowing him to act freely?” another elder replied coldly.
The reason was that they had heard some shocking news—information that those without sufficient status would never be privy to.
Rumors claimed that the Immortal King sought Shi Hao not to suppress a prodigy but to nurture him for another purpose!
This was absolutely earth-shattering news. When the secret spread, the higher echelons of the foreign realm were shaken. Some living fossils were stunned speechless, and ancient figures remained silent for a long while!
Thus, the immortals had issued a decree pardoning Shi Hao. Otherwise, how could their stance have shifted so drastically?
This was classified knowledge, known only to a select few.
That was why the elders guarding the Enlightened Tea Tree hesitated, torn between striking ruthlessly against Shi Hao and holding back.
In fact, they even hoped that the conflict between Shi Hao and Chi Meng Hong would escalate, wondering if Chi Wang himself might emerge from seclusion and crush Shi Hao with a single slap!
“I find it hard to believe. Why would our ancient ancestors nurture an enemy’s offspring? Wouldn’t that be raising a tiger to invite calamity?” one elder beneath the tea tree questioned skeptically.
Someone sighed softly. “You’re mistaken. In the eyes of the Immortal Kings, no matter how extraordinary he is, he remains but an ant. Even if they raised him to the level of a True Immortal, they could still kill him without hesitation. Never measure our ancient ancestors by your own standards. Each Immortal King possesses unparalleled vision. Even if they nurtured someone for an entire era, they wouldn’t hesitate to execute them when the time came—there are precedents!”
“Another theory suggests that our ancient ancestors are cultivating bait—not for the creatures beyond the Imperial Pass, but for the prehistoric behemoths!” an elder suddenly interjected.
At this, they all fell silent, unwilling to speak further, as the topic bordered on taboo.
By now, some beings had realized that this era was destined to be both glorious and dark, filled with bloodshed and brutality, spanning multiple epochs—a grand reckoning was coming.
The Enlightened Tea Gathering ended abruptly, far less spectacular than imagined, all because of Shi Hao’s disruption.
Yu Yu, Wu Kun, and others wore grim expressions. In the past, the event would have culminated in fierce battles for the tea leaves.
But this time, Shi Hao alone had thrown everything into chaos, forcing the gathering to conclude prematurely.
Though skirmishes had broken out, they were merely chaotic brawls between the various kings and Shi Hao. The young elites of the imperial clans hadn’t even joined the fray before it ended!
The crowd descended the mountain, filling the paths. Out of respect for the sacred Enlightened Mountain, none dared to fly directly.
Yet, few dared to approach Shi Hao. His mere presence acted as a deterrent—anyone who drew near risked severe injury.
This battle had cemented his fearsome reputation.
Though, to the foreign kings, it might be more accurate to say he had become infamous!
As the crowd descended, many still gnashed their teeth, cursing Shi Hao for his audacity. He had taken over a hundred and twenty immortal tea leaves, inciting envy.
Especially among the plundered clans, the urge to fight him to the death burned fiercely.
But they restrained themselves, unwilling to throw their lives away needlessly.
At the mountain’s base, an elderly woman stood pale and trembling, shielding several children with her arms. She feared they might be devoured by the noble clans.
The hostile gazes of the descending cultivators sent chills down her spine.
A beautiful little girl hid behind her, eyes brimming with tears, utterly helpless.
The other children were too numb to cry, paralyzed by fear, unable to withstand the oppressive killing intent.
“Do you wish to die?”
A cold voice rang out, startling the surrounding cultivators, who quickly dispersed.
The old woman was stunned—someone had just intimidated the noble clans? She looked up and froze. It was that young man, Shi Hao, alive and descending the mountain!
As a fellow human, how could he be so formidable? With a single word, he had driven off the foreign cultivators. Her heart swelled with emotion. After so many years, could humans truly stand so tall?
“Big brother, are you here to save us?” the four- or five-year-old girl asked timidly, her tear-streaked face filled with hope.
Years later, when this little girl had grown into a towering figure, she would look back on this moment with gratitude and emotion.
For on that day, the young man named Shi Hao had torn through her darkness, offering her hope and light, setting her on a different path.
Shi Hao crouched down, gently patting the children’s heads before picking up the little girl and soothing her fears.
With a sharp rebuke, he sent the surrounding noble youths scattering, none daring to linger or watch.
He waited at the mountain’s base until Mo Xian descended, then handed the girl over and approached.
“As fellow humans, I believe you must have kindness in your heart. Please take these children with you,” Shi Hao said.
This was Mo Dao’s sister. Judging by Mo Dao’s temperament, Shi Hao trusted that Mo Xian was not heartless.
“You trust me so easily?” Mo Xian stood there, her flawless beauty reminiscent of a celestial maiden descended from the moon.
“I do,” Shi Hao nodded.
In truth, the main reason was his own inability to protect the children. As a captive in the foreign realm, taking them would only endanger them further.
“Very well,” Mo Xian agreed, lifting the little girl. “I hope my brother is safe too.”
With those words, she departed swiftly, taking the old woman and children with her.
“Wait!” Shi Hao called.
He tossed her a jade jar containing ten immortal tea leaves.
The surrounding nobles gaped. Shi Hao, the demonic plunderer, was giving away tea leaves?
Some seethed with envy, but none dared protest—none dared provoke Mo Xian.
Though human, Mo Xian was favored by an ancient imperial clan, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with their direct descendants. Her status was terrifyingly lofty.
“Quite generous,” Mo Xian remarked calmly, her luminous eyes shimmering as she accepted the gift.
“One more question—where in this foreign realm are the most extraordinary places for cultivation and enlightenment?” Shi Hao asked. With so many tea leaves, he needed to use them wisely.
“Closest here is the Sea Waterfall. You may go, but curb your curiosity. Otherwise, not even an Immortal King could save you,” Mo Xian warned seriously.
Following her directions, Shi Hao set off.
“Big brother, stay safe! I hope we meet again!” the little girl cried out, waving desperately, her eyes red.
“Farewell!” Shi Hao didn’t turn back, merely raising a hand in farewell as he strode away.
Hundreds of thousands of miles away—the Sea Waterfall.
True to its name, it was a breathtaking sight.
An endless, gray ocean roared and churned, suspended in the sky like a colossal waterfall.
But instead of cascading downward, it flowed upward from the earth, defying gravity.
Three feet above the ground, the water began, surging toward the heavens with no visible source.
At its zenith, fragments of time swirled like petals, accompanied by the faint currents of the River of Time.
This place was extraordinary.
Shi Hao shuddered upon seeing it.
Approaching, he spotted several figures—no aura of power, yet undeniably formidable. They sat motionless as statues, each holding a fishing rod, seemingly in meditation.
“Hmm?”
He recognized two of them.
A woman with fiery red hair, clad in crimson-gold armor—a stunning, alluring beauty.
And a man with radiant golden locks, exuding the sanctity of a sun god.
He had met them before—in the Burial Abyss!
The man was named San Zang, the woman Shen Ming. Both were golden burial beings, the most exalted of their kind.
At that moment, they opened their eyes, surprised yet pleased to see Shi Hao.
“Fate brings us together again,” San Zang said warmly, golden light radiating from him.
“What are you doing?” Shi Hao asked.
“Fishing,” San Zang replied.
Shi Hao: “…”
“I seek to fish up an era—when darkness shrouded the earth, and blood drowned endless ancient graves. The Age of Chaos,” Shen Ming said solemnly.
“I seek to fish up a cycle of reincarnation—three burials, three extinctions, three lifetimes,” San Zang declared.
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