In just two short days, over a dozen factions arrived at the Celestial Academy, politely requesting Shi Hao to join their prestigious ancient lineages.
Among them were top-tier aristocratic families and even immortal clans—truly the most powerful sects of the Nine Heavens.
Yet, Shi Hao declined them all. He had no desire to get involved or stay. His mind was made up, and no amount of persuasion would sway him.
“Young friend, do you harbor concerns? Are you afraid of being ambushed in the Nine Heavens, hence your insistence on leaving?”
The Xu Clan, the immortal dynasty to which Princess Yueyao belonged, was relentless. A high-ranking figure had been persistently engaging with him, refusing to leave. Finally, they voiced this suspicion.
The elder believed he had guessed Shi Hao’s true thoughts—that his refusal to return to the Nine Heavens was merely a cover for deeper fears.
The truth? The elder was convinced that, given Shi Hao’s nature as “Huang,” it was only a matter of time before he stormed back. He wouldn’t remain dormant for long!
And when that day came, it would be like a dragon emerging from the abyss!
Shi Hao sighed. “Elder, you overthink it. I am truly weary. I only wish to live out my days in peace, far from strife.”
“This doesn’t sound like a young man. You’re in the prime of your life, with boundless ambition. How can you speak like an old man?” the elder pressed.
Shi Hao shook his head. “I’m tired. I just want to return to my homeland. I left as a youth, witnessed brilliance and tragedy, and walked the path of cultivation long enough. Looking back now, what I once pursued seems illusory. I only wish to go back, to live simply, free from conflict and bloodshed.”
The elder was speechless. This young man was far too passive, lacking the sharpness of youth, the indomitable spirit that had once dominated the battlefield and crushed imperial clans.
Seeing no way to persuade him, the elder could only bid farewell once more.
Of course, Princess Yueyao’s dynasty would not give up. Their envoys remained at the Celestial Academy.
Though Shi Hao declined all offers, he still engaged with these factions, seeking information on how to safely return to the lower realm.
He inquired about the legendary ancient paths, but no one could provide precise directions—only vague clues.
Still, Shi Hao now had a direction. As long as there was a way back, no matter how difficult, it wasn’t hopeless.
Then, the arrival of a high-ranking figure from the Heavenly Dao Sect surprised him.
This was Qing Yi’s current sect, Yue Chan’s current home—one of the strongest orthodoxies in the Nine Heavens.
The lower realm had the Heavenly Dao Pavilion, the three thousand provinces had the Heavenly Dao Sect, and the Nine Heavens had the Heavenly Dao Path—an ancient and illustrious lineage.
“Young friend, we know of your deeds. You share a bond with our disciples, Qing Yi and Yue Chan. Regardless of past events, fate has woven a connection between you.”
The elder spoke warmly, his expression sincere.
He was direct—the Heavenly Dao Sect had the means to bring everyone from Stone Village, even Stone Country’s elite, to the Nine Heavens. If Shi Hao agreed, they would act immediately.
“You wish to return home? We can bring that sacred land directly to you!” The Heavenly Dao Sect was indeed formidable, bold enough to make such an offer.
“I want to go down, not bring them up,” Shi Hao countered. The two were entirely different.
How dangerous was the Nine Heavens? No one knew better than him.
The Wang Clan was at its zenith, watching like a tiger. And Jin Tai Jun—she wasn’t even dead!
The supreme beings were all injured, barely clinging to life. Jin Tai Jun, though crippled, was still a threat.
Worse yet, the true traitors—those who had conspired with the foreign realm—remained unknown.
And then there were the immortals. Shi Hao had heard whispers at the Imperial Pass—some of those beings still lingered, clinging to life.
The ancient war of the Kun Peng, the unjust branding of the Sinful Blood descendants—all pointed to a terrifying, hidden force.
What sickened Shi Hao most was that during the border war, when the battle reached its peak, those so-called immortals had not shown themselves.
And that was why Meng Tianzheng had fallen.
Had those dormant immortals, those surviving supreme beings, stepped forward, Meng Tianzheng would not have died with regrets.
But no one came. The Grand Elder had no choice but to break through, severing his own path.
Thinking of this, Shi Hao clenched his fists.
Thus, he resolved to return to the lower realm. Whether it was a cage or the land where the Kun Peng had fled, it was safe for him.
He needed to recuperate, to bide his time.
The true dragon would rise when the time came.
“It’s the same, isn’t it? Bringing them up ensures reunion. The cultivation resources here are abundant, while the lower realm is barren,” the elder argued.
“Can the Heavenly Dao Sect send me down directly?” Shi Hao asked.
The elder hesitated.
Bringing people up was one thing. Sending Shi Hao down? That was an entirely different challenge.
The villagers of Stone Village were weak in cultivation.
Shi Hao, however, was at the Dunyi Realm. The two were incomparable.
In the past, sect masters of the three thousand provinces had barely managed to send a few Divine Flame Realm cultivators down, at great cost.
Now, sending a Dunyi Realm cultivator down was pure fantasy. No sect could achieve it.
Unless they found one of those ancient paths, it was impossible.
Forcing it would not only kill Shi Hao but also bring unpredictable backlash upon the Heavenly Dao Sect.
“I heard you and Qing Yi share a bond of destiny. Will you truly abandon everything and leave?”
The elder, desperate, resorted to emotional manipulation.
It showed just how much they wanted Shi Hao. Even the illustrious Heavenly Dao Sect lacked a monstrous talent like him.
By now, the entire Nine Heavens knew how terrifying Shi Hao was. At the Imperial Pass, he had slain imperial clansmen without hesitation.
Who else in the Nine Heavens could do that?
Imperial clans were the strongest, yet in battles of the same realm, Shi Hao had cut them down like weeds, staining the desert with their blood.
He was a seedling of war. Given time, he would dominate heaven and earth.
No—he was no longer a seedling. At just over twenty, he had already reached the Dunyi Realm, surpassing all legends.
There was no one younger at his level in this entire era.
Thus, any price was worth paying to secure him. Given time, he would be invincible.
“Possessing Huang ensures future supremacy”—this was the consensus among the great factions, hence their relentless efforts to recruit him.
“If the Heavenly Dao Sect truly wishes to forge this bond, why not let Qing Yi accompany me to the lower realm? If she’s willing and you don’t stop her, wouldn’t that be a true act of goodwill?” Shi Hao suggested.
“Done! No problem!”
The elder, perhaps realizing Shi Hao’s resolve, agreed without further argument.
Shi Hao was surprised by his decisiveness.
“However, you must know—she and Yue Chan were once one. Prolonged separation will cause problems,” the elder added.
Shi Hao frowned. At his level, he understood ancient arts well enough to recognize the risks.
“They must merge eventually. Her current method is incomplete. Without fusion, her Dao will stagnate, even her soul may suffer. I suggest they merge in the Nine Heavens first, then descend with you,” the elder advised.
Shi Hao smiled but said nothing.
“Young friend, you may think I’m stalling, but I assure you, this is no delay. Let me speak to Yue Chan. Perhaps she and Qing Yi can descend with you and complete their fusion in your Stone Village.”
Shi Hao was taken aback, then laughed. “Are you giving me two brides at once?”
The elder left, intent on returning to the Heavenly Dao Sect to arrange this.
Shi Hao was stunned. He couldn’t imagine Yue Chan’s reaction—she had always opposed him.
Would she lash out when she heard this?
*Is it getting dark early, or is it just me? If I say this, will I get beaten up?*
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