Chapter 1746: The Dragon

Above the Stone Capital, a dragon soared through the skies.

At that moment, it noticed a figure and a lion standing atop the city walls. The dragon approached from afar, arriving just outside the imperial city.

It was formidable, hovering effortlessly in the void, its muscular body forged like crimson divine metal, wreathed in scarlet mist. Thick, swirling chaos energy surrounded it, enhancing its majestic presence.

Though its ten-zhang-long body wasn’t overwhelmingly large, its aura and might were awe-inspiring, making it seem like a true dragon.

Shi Hao had seen it all—what hadn’t he encountered? He had once unearthed the Heavenly Horned Ant, a creature on par with true dragons, and even encountered a fallen Blood Phoenix in the foreign realms. He was particularly sensitive to the Ten Fiends.

He had even once used the pure-blooded Qilin cub, cradled by the Lunar Grace Goddess, as a pillow, snatching it to prop under his head. Though the little rabbit had bitten him and the snow-white Qilin had bared its teeth, he had merely laughed, ruffling the little creature’s fur playfully.

In all the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, the only two known immortal beast offspring—the Heavenly Horned Ant and the Qilin—had both suffered his antics, leaving him with a deep understanding of the extraordinary traits of the Ten Fiends’ descendants.

**”Roar!”**

The crimson dragon let out a deafening roar at Shi Hao, shaking the heavens and causing the void to tremble violently.

Even the imperial city walls quaked—no small feat, considering they were reinforced with divine-grade formations, one of the Stone Nation’s greatest defenses. Without such protections, its roar alone would have leveled entire palaces. This was a fearsome beast!

“Impressive. In the years I’ve been gone, the lower realm has birthed some extraordinary creatures,” Shi Hao murmured, nodding in approval as he studied the dragon.

He already knew who this was—he had seen it before.

But back then, it had taken the form of a human youth, barely in its teens, not the true draconic form before him now.

“Big Brother, this dragon has been blocking the city, demanding I take it to Stone Village. It wants to challenge all the experts of the Shi Clan,” Qing Feng explained.

If he refused, the crimson dragon would attack the capital, forcing Qing Feng into a standoff. No matter what, he couldn’t reveal the location of the Shi Clan’s ancestral lands—both he and Shi Hao regarded it as a sanctuary, untouched by worldly conflicts.

They would never allow war to reach that place.

“Ge Gu?” Shi Hao called out, addressing the crimson beast in the sky.

The ten-zhang-long dragon gleamed with a cold metallic sheen, its crimson scales indestructible, covering every inch of its body. Its five claws were razor-sharp, capable of distorting space with ease.

Upon its head, a pair of crimson horns branched out, ancient and powerful, etched with Dao symbols. The more one looked, the more it resembled a true dragon!

“It’s me!”

The beast’s voice was unexpectedly youthful.

Shi Hao nodded. This was one of the two powerhouses he had encountered in the Void God Realm.

Back in the Three Thousand Provinces, he had stepped out of the Spirit World’s gate, descended the celestial stairs, and entered the Void God Realm to uncover secrets—though his true goal had been to later demand treasures from the Bird Grandpa and the Essence Wall Grandpa.

He had broken countless records in the Void God Realm, obtaining fragments of a bronze scripture that could be exchanged for an invincible secret art!

That day, Ge Gu had been locked in battle with a youth named Xi Gu. Shi Hao’s sudden appearance had angered them, leading to a clash—only for both to be subdued by him.

“A pity. It’s still lacking. I thought it was a true dragon,” Shi Hao mused after closer inspection, concluding that its physical evolution was incomplete.

“Who are you? Move aside! Tell the ruler of the Stone Nation to take me to Stone Village. I demand a challenge!” Ge Gu roared, its body swaying, stirring fierce gales.

“It refuses to accept the legacy of the Little Stone and seeks to challenge the Shi Clan’s hidden experts,” the War King explained, standing steadfastly by Shi Hao’s side as always, now assisting Qing Feng.

Grateful, Shi Hao smiled and placed a hand on the War King’s shoulder. A flash of divine light surged through the elder’s meridians, healing all his hidden injuries in an instant.

The War King was stunned. Though he had once broken through to the Noble King Realm with the help of a Small Nirvana Pill, his foundation had been unstable. Subsequent attempts to advance had only left him with lingering ailments.

Yet, in a mere moment, Shi Hao had not only healed him but elevated his cultivation to the late-stage Noble King Realm.

“So it’s here for me,” Shi Hao chuckled.

Qing Feng nodded. Though the Little Stone had long departed, his legend endured. Many newcomers sought to challenge him, only to find him gone.

Some had turned their attention to Stone Village, believing it to hold extraordinary secrets.

“Who are you? You resemble the Little Stone,” the crimson dragon suddenly exclaimed, its eyes blazing with intensity.

“A human related to the Little Stone?” It had never seen Shi Hao’s true form but had glimpsed statues. Though it hadn’t paid much attention, the resemblance was undeniable.

It refused to believe the Little Stone could return, assuming this was perhaps a younger brother.

After all, Shi Hao still looked impossibly youthful—a decade had passed, yet he retained the appearance of a graceful young man.

“Clansman of the Little Stone, face me in battle!” the dragon bellowed, a mix of fury and suspicion in its voice as it glared down from above.

Shi Hao was intrigued. Did this dragon harbor hostility toward him?

“Audacious! How dare you speak the name ‘Little Stone’ so casually!” a Stone Nation general shouted.

“A bunch of defeated weaklings dare disrespect me? Bring out the one related to the Little Stone!” the dragon roared, having recently bested a group of powerful warriors.

Though only at the Noble King Realm, its true dragon bloodline set it apart.

Rumors even claimed that its talent, along with another youth named Xi Gu, rivaled that of the legendary Twin Stones.

Shi Hao waved a hand, silencing the crowd. He stepped forward, walking through the void toward the crimson dragon.

“I’d love to devour it,” the Golden Lion muttered, eyeing the dragon with disdain—though its bloodline intrigued him.

The onlookers exchanged glances. Even the Young Emperor’s mount wanted to slay a dragon?

Many were eager to see the Young Emperor in action again, though some felt uneasy about his return.

Shi Hao kicked the lion aside. He had no intention of killing the dragon—just capturing it. With a single motion, he reached out.

**”Roar!”**

The crimson dragon surged forward, its horns glowing with Dao symbols, ready to rend its foe apart.

But against Shi Hao, it stood no chance.

**Boom!**

With one grasp, Shi Hao seized it, his hand blotting out the sky.

The spectators shuddered. Just how strong had the Little Stone become?

Had he ascended to the True God Realm?

To cultivators, a decade was but a blink. Even if Shi Hao had grown stronger, they assumed he’d only reached True God status.

**”Awooo—!”**

The dragon howled in fury—and shock.

Its keen senses recognized the one who had suppressed it in the Void God Realm. Back then, Shi Hao had concealed his true appearance.

But a creature with true dragon blood could not be deceived.

“You—you’re the real Little Stone!” it cried.

Since its defeat in the Void God Realm, it had sought answers from the Essence Wall Grandpa, who had only hinted that its subduer had descended from the Upper Realm, his physical body unable to return.

Suspecting it was the Little Stone, the dragon had come to the Stone Nation, seeking to vent its frustration.

“Indeed, it’s me,” Shi Hao confirmed with a smile. “We met in the Void God Realm. My offer stands—will you take me as your master?”

The crowd was stunned. Such a mighty dragon, captured with one hand? The Little Stone’s power was terrifying.

The soldiers and guards erupted in cheers, hailing the Stone Emperor.

**”Whoosh!”**

Suddenly, the dragon’s soul shot out from its body, fleeing into the distance.

“Interesting,” Shi Hao murmured, stopping the Golden Lion from pursuit. “Let it go.”

He had sensed it—the moment its soul separated, the true dragon aura intensified. This was no ordinary descendant. It was a genuine heir of the Ten Fiends.

“Brother, why let it escape?” Qing Feng asked.

“I did it on purpose. That’s a true dragon. With luck, we might find its lair,” Shi Hao said with a grin.

“Let’s go.”

Leaving the Stone Nation’s officials to their duties, he took Qing Feng and the Golden Lion, tracking the dragon in secret.

“Incredible speed—True Dragon Flight. Despite its low cultivation, it moves like lightning. Most wouldn’t stand a chance,” the Golden Lion remarked.

They raced across the wilderness for eight hundred thousand li before the dragon plunged into a mountain range and vanished.

After a brief search, Shi Hao found a cavern leading to ancient tunnels.

“A true dragon’s lair,” he concluded.

“A land of chaos?” The Golden Lion was astonished. The moment they entered, they were met with surging chaos energy—this was a pocket world carved from the primordial void.