“My grandfather… is still alive?!” Shi Hao was stunned, then let out a cry, a mix of sorrow, joy, and shock surging through him, his emotions in turmoil before finally being overwhelmed by sheer happiness. He was truly astonished. During that battle years ago, his grandfather had been pursued by an adult Pi Xiu, cutting off all contact and vanishing without a trace. Everyone believed he had perished in battle. Otherwise, why would he not have appeared all these years? If he were alive, he would have returned long ago—especially when Shi Hao’s Supreme Bone was extracted and Shi Ziling was forced into exile. The old man would never have tolerated such things had he been alive.
“Where is my grandfather?” Shi Hao asked after calming down slightly.
“In the capital of the Stone Kingdom,” the Willow God replied.
“I must go. I must see him!” Shi Hao exclaimed. After so many years without seeing his blood kin, his heart ached with longing. He knew that his grandfather’s disappearance—his presumed death—was entirely for his sake, venturing into the Hundred Clans’ Battlefield to seek pure blood, only to provoke the wrath of the Pi Xiu lineage and trigger a bloodbath.
“Don’t rush,” Shi Lin Hu and others approached, comforting him.
It took a long time for Shi Hao to settle down. The unexpected news had stirred him deeply, filling his mind with countless images of reunion.
Two years had passed since he left. The villagers were overjoyed to see him return, swarming around him—Little Rascal and Er Meng slinging arms with him, while toddlers barely two years old tugged at his pants, staring up at him curiously. Er Meng, Hu Zi, and Little Rascal were all married now, with children of their own. Even the snot-nosed brat was preparing for his wedding.
“Uncle, uncle! We want treats!” the little ones chirped, their bright eyes filled with anticipation.
“Haha, they all know you’re a foodie. They’ve been waiting for you to come back!” the snot-nosed brat laughed.
To these children, Shi Hao was the uncle who ventured beyond the village and always returned with delicious treats—so much so that they equated him with food itself.
“So adorable!” Shi Hao chuckled, pinching their chubby cheeks. There were boys and girls, all fair-skinned and irresistibly cute.
With a *thud*, Shi Hao summoned a massive sea beast, sending the children into excited shrieks. The braver ones, barely able to walk, charged forward, only to be swiftly stopped by the adults.
“Today, we feast on seafood!” Shi Hao announced, pulling out an array of marine delicacies—giant turtles, silver sharks, sea serpents, demon octopi—so many bizarre and wondrous creatures that the villagers gasped in awe. Born and raised in the wilderness, they had never seen such things before, poking and prodding in amazement.
The village had changed greatly. Dozens of spirit herbs thrived, lush and vibrant, while at the center stood a quasi-saint herb—the Silver Peach Tree—radiating auspicious mist. The entire village was bathed in spiritual energy, and the elders, glowing with health, seemed even more robust than before.
A plump chicken strutted leisurely past, casting a sidelong glance at Shi Hao before continuing on its way—utterly unbothered. It was the Eight Treasures Chicken, now a cherished member of the village. Every fortnight, it laid an egg as potent as any spirit herb, making it more valuable than a mountain of gold.
The villagers were overjoyed at Shi Hao’s return, especially the aunties, who grinned at the mountain of ingredients, eager to showcase their culinary skills.
“Where are Big Red and Baldie?” Shi Hao asked, also noting the absence of Zi Yun and the others.
“They’ve been in the mountains lately, coming and going mysteriously. They might be searching for the Supreme Divine Treasure,” Er Meng said.
Shi Hao relaxed. The Azure-Scaled Eagle had begun exploring over two years ago, and now with Big Red Bird joining, their group had grown significantly stronger.
In the distance, the lake shimmered, golden fish leaping from its surface while small luan birds strolled along the shore. Farther off, dozens of silver-maned unicorns galloped toward them, led by a majestic steed that gleamed like celestial jade.
Xiao Bai, now a fierce beast, had grown much stronger. The villagers said it no longer just grazed on grass and berries but hunted powerful beasts for meat.
Shi Hao’s return was a day of laughter and joy. Soon, the village was alive with the aroma of cooking seafood.
Two years had matured everyone, even Qing Feng, who was no longer as naive as before.
“Big brother, take me with you when you leave this time!” he pleaded, eager to explore the world.
“I’ll consider it,” Shi Hao replied, unsure of his grandfather’s current state and wanting to assess the situation first.
After calming down and catching up with the villagers, Shi Hao returned to the great willow tree at the village entrance, seeking more details.
The Willow God spoke succinctly, recounting recent events learned through the Void God Realm.
“What? Grandfather stormed the Martial King’s residence and shot Rain King in half with an arrow?!” Shi Hao was stunned, his eyes reddening with unshed tears. He knew his grandfather must have learned of his past suffering and gone berserk with rage. This was his way of demanding justice, of venting years of pent-up fury.
For over a decade, Shi Hao had endured the injustice of his stolen Supreme Bone. Only now, with the Great Demon God’s return, had the tide turned.
“Grandfather, you’re truly formidable!” Shi Hao marveled upon hearing how his grandfather had slain the Ancient Netherfiend Spider, sweeping through enemies with unstoppable might.
That night, Shi Hao feasted and drank with the villagers around a roaring bonfire, laughter filling the air. The next day, he would depart once more.
“Willow God, I didn’t use this branch,” he said, offering back the still-lush green twig.
“Keep it with you,” the Willow God replied.
Late into the night, Shi Hao shared the Kun Peng’s treasure technique with the Willow God. By dawn, the entire tree glowed with vibrant life, its aura stronger than ever—a sign of profound enlightenment.
As the sun rose, mist curled around distant peaks while the village basked in golden light, the Willow God radiating serenity.
Shi Hao prepared to leave once more, his heart torn between reunion and duty.
“Willow God, I want to reach the Stone Kingdom’s capital quickly,” he said, hoping for a shortcut.
The Willow God agreed, opening a passage—not directly into the capital, to avoid attention, but close enough.
And so, Shi Hao set off again, alone this time, unwilling to risk others in the unpredictable dangers of the capital.
A radiant gateway opened, and Shi Hao sprinted through, waving farewell before vanishing into the light.
The passage trembled violently as he ran, time and space warping around him. Suddenly, immense pressure bore down—the tunnel shuddered as if about to collapse.
Through the distortion, he glimpsed a colossal emerald spider, its black eyes filled with malice, locked in battle with a radiant figure.
“What is this?!” Shi Hao gasped. The sheer power of their clash had projected into the passage—a sign that these were at least Venerable-level beings.
“The Stone Kingdom’s capital, eh?” the spider sneered, its voice dripping with venom.
Shi Hao’s heart clenched. A Primordial Netherfiend Spider, mentioning the capital—what did this mean?
Thankfully, the Willow God’s passage held firm, bypassing the battle unscathed.
Emerging in a mountain range, Shi Hao quickly learned he was mere hundreds of miles from the capital—a trivial distance for him.
Without summoning any treasures, he ran on foot toward the legendary city.
At last, he saw it—the towering walls, majestic and vast, stretching like a mountain range.
“I’ve returned…” Shi Hao murmured.
Born in this city, yet exiled as an infant, he had never truly known it. Though he had dreamed of returning, he had planned to wait until he was stronger.
Now, fate had brought him back sooner.
With a deep breath, Shi Hao strode toward the grand gates, his heart a storm of emotions.
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