Only a select few can traverse this altar, which leads directly to the depths of the Stone Kingdom’s imperial palace.
The place is eerily quiet, for without Qing Feng’s permission, no one can approach. This is to guard its secrets and minimize its connection to the outside world.
Moreover, even if someone did manage to reach here, they would still need the precise spatial coordinates of Stone Village to activate the altar and arrive there.
The vast hall remained unchanged, just as it had been in the past.
Shi Hao had once lived here for a time, contending with various factions, quelling internal strife within the Shi Clan, and later resisting external enemies, annihilating the allied forces of multiple sects.
Back then, he was truly fearless—his cultivation might not have been high, but he dared to challenge the great orthodoxies, making each of them taste bitter defeat.
Here, he thought of many people. How were the old-timers like the War King, the Bright King, and the Roc King? They had all supported him wholeheartedly in the past.
Thus, before leaving, Shi Hao repaid their kindness by refining some Minor Nirvana Pills, elevating them to the Venerable Realm so they could safeguard the Stone Kingdom.
However, upon returning to Stone Village this time, he heard unsettling rumors—the Stone Kingdom was in turmoil.
Some factions sought to restore the true imperial bloodline of the Stone Kingdom!
Though Qing Feng was of the Shi Clan, in the eyes of the orthodox, he was merely a collateral descendant, distant from the imperial lineage.
“Before I left, I refined priceless treasures to create several Venerables. I hope you haven’t disappointed me!” Shi Hao said coldly.
He believed the War King and the Roc King would never betray Qing Feng—they weren’t that kind of people. It was precisely because of Venerables like them that Qing Feng could remain securely on the throne.
Of course, those scheming in the shadows might also fear the unknown whereabouts of Stone Village.
To some, that place was terrifying—it had produced the Little Stone, witnessed the departure of the Willow God, and most importantly, might still house a divine-level Zhu Yan.
Shi Hao had heard that the recent unrest might be because their opponents had also found a divine-level creature.
“This shabby palace dares to call itself an imperial palace? It’s no better than our kitchen stove, let alone compared to the imperial and emperor clans of the other realms,” the Golden Lion scoffed.
*Thud!*
Shi Hao nearly stomped it into the ground, silencing it instantly.
“No matter how capable you are, you’re still just my mount,” Shi Hao said, unafraid of its resentment. If he ever doubted its loyalty, he wouldn’t hesitate to eat it.
He had an incurable habit—a love for exotic delicacies. A rare and powerful bloodline like the Fearless Lion was naturally a “delicacy” in his eyes.
The Golden Lion had no choice but to submit. Resentment was futile when faced with daily oppression. The only option was obedience.
It secretly steeled itself, enduring humiliation, vowing revenge one day—to trample this bastard beneath its feet.
Yet, it worried. Lately, it had grown increasingly docile, almost habitual. It feared this obedience might become second nature, leading to true submission.
The only consolation was that Shi Hao was afflicted with the Immortal-Severing Curse. By all logic, he shouldn’t last much longer. Soon, he’d be crippled!
“Ah, that damned contract left by the Immortal King… How do I break it?” the Golden Lion schemed silently.
Without it, it felt its spring was just around the corner.
Footsteps echoed as Shi Hao stepped out, startling a group of vigilant guards.
“You… you…”
At that moment, several guards froze, stunned to the point of speechlessness, their eyes wide with disbelief.
“Stone Emperor!”
“The Young Human Emperor!”
Finally, a few cried out, their voices trembling with excitement, their chests heaving as if they couldn’t believe their eyes.
Back then, Shi Hao had single-handedly pacified the Stone Kingdom, suppressed rebellions, and repelled foreign invaders, leaving an indelible mark on those who witnessed it.
*Thud! Thud!*
They dropped to their knees, one after another.
The newer guards, unfamiliar with Shi Hao, stood dumbfounded. Why was this youth being addressed as the Human Emperor?
They couldn’t comprehend it. They had their own Human Emperor—Qing Feng. What was happening?
Time had left no trace on Shi Hao’s face. He remained as youthful as he had been over a decade ago, only taller, still resembling a teenager.
“Who is he?” the other guards whispered in confusion.
“Pay your respects! This is the Little Stone of legend, the former Stone Emperor!” an old guard barked, reminding them.
The name “Little Stone” was even more renowned than Shi Hao’s own.
The others’ jaws nearly hit the ground. This was the legendary Young Human Emperor?
Hadn’t he ascended to the Upper Realm, carving a path alone? How was he back?
Everyone knew that once one chose that path, returning was impossible. Yet, this youth had once again defied expectations, creating his own miracle.
“Your Majesty!”
The crowd knelt, overwhelmed with emotion. To them, this youth was a living legend, a myth incarnate.
Back then, the Little Stone had shaken the world, crushing all opponents, even triumphing against the Seven Gods descended from the Upper Realm—an unimaginable feat.
Even after all these years, even after his departure, his name still echoed.
This was why some within the Stone Kingdom hesitated in their schemes. The Little Stone had suppressed the kingdom, slaughtering countless enemies, leaving a legacy of awe.
“Rise,” Shi Hao commanded.
Without needing guidance, he strode forward. With his current profound cultivation, his spiritual senses were razor-sharp.
Not just the palace—even the vast wilderness couldn’t hide from his divine awareness. He knew exactly where Qing Feng was.
The imperial city was a maze of grand halls and towering palaces, impressive by mortal standards, fortified with divine-level formations.
Yet compared to the clans of the Nine Heavens, it seemed humble and plain.
Those families boasted palaces floating in the void, divine islands suspended in the heavens, and spiritual waterfalls cascading for miles, like paradises of immortals.
“Qing Feng!”
Shi Hao called out. On the city walls stood a group of people, tense as they watched the skies beyond. At their forefront was Qing Feng, clad in battle armor.
Years had passed, and he had grown up. Though his face remained handsome, it was no longer delicate—his eyes now held determination and resolve.
Qing Feng whirled around at the sound, spotting Shi Hao instantly. His expression transformed into one of sheer elation.
“Big Brother!”
He rushed forward, tears streaming down his face, his emotions raw. After over a decade apart, this reunion filled him with joy and gratitude.
All these years, no matter the challenges or the lurking threats, he had never faltered or shed a tear. Yet now, his eyes brimmed.
Shi Hao’s heart swelled as he stepped forward, his own eyes stinging. The memories of their past flooded back.
Back then, as mere children of eight or nine, he had protected Qing Feng on their perilous journey to the Sky-Suppressing Sect, traversing countless miles of wilderness.
Qing Feng had suffered greatly in his youth, forced to endure hardship in Shi Hao’s stead, confined to a manor on the kingdom’s border.
Shi Hao embraced him tightly. “A man doesn’t shed tears lightly. Don’t cry.”
“Big Brother, I missed you so much. I thought I’d never see you again,” Qing Feng said, wiping his eyes.
“I missed you all too. That’s why I’m back,” Shi Hao replied, then swept his gaze across the surroundings.
On the walls, the assembled dignitaries of the Stone Kingdom trembled, their minds reeling. They couldn’t believe their eyes—the Young Stone Emperor had returned!
Some of the old kings were overjoyed, while others felt a chill in their hearts, uneasy.
The Upper Realm was a place of no return. Yet the Little Stone had come back simply because he missed the Lower Realm? Such words only underscored his unyielding dominance.
Who could ascend and then descend? Everyone knew it was impossible!
Yet here he was, not only returned but exuding an overwhelming aura, his piercing gaze silencing all.
“I’ve heard there are those in the Stone Kingdom stirring trouble?” Shi Hao demanded openly, holding nothing back. At this point, he had no need for restraint.
Many faces paled.
“Members of the Rain Clan… they seem to have contacted their god,” Qing Feng whispered.
“Oh?” Shi Hao was surprised. He hadn’t expected the Rain Clan, whom he had crushed long ago, to resurface.
In the past, their feud had been mortal. He had been hunted, then turned the tables, slaughtering their elites.
Especially when his grandfather, the Great Demonic God, had returned in fury, wreaking havoc in the capital to suppress their enemies.
Shi Hao knew the Rain Clan had once produced gods, but that was in ancient times, far in the past.
Their clan possessed curses and altars, allowing a trace of their god’s will to manifest across the ages, causing much chaos.
Shi Hao had faced these threats before, even battling a fragment of the Rain God’s decree.
Even in the Upper Realm, he had searched for traces of this so-called Rain God but found none.
Where, then, did the Rain Clan’s god project from?
This time, Shi Hao was determined to uncover the truth.
With his current cultivation, he understood that projecting across realms was no feat for ordinary beings.
“Hmm, is that… a true dragon, wreathed in pure dragon aura?” Shi Hao’s eyes narrowed as he looked beyond the city walls.
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