Chapter 307: Discernment Revealed

Shi Hao — a name totally unfamiliar to many, unheard of by most. Yet, within the Rain Clan, a handful of key individuals knew it all too well. To them, this name was no stranger — it was intimately known.

In the past, Shi Yi’s mother had sought help from within the clan. The clan dispatched a renowned elder to assist her in stealing the Bone of Sovereignty from a child known as Shi Hao.

This event had been highly secretive, yet it triggered a chain reaction of troubles — from Shi Zi Ling to the Great Demon Deity, continuing into the present, troubling the clan deeply.

But none of this truly mattered. If they could endure, everything would change for the better, for Shi Yi was destined to become supremely powerful, unstoppable in the world. Even if the truth were revealed, what then? What could Shi Zi Ling do? The Great Demon Deity posed no threat. No matter the opposition, all would be subdued and eliminated.

Their sole concern was that child himself — the original Shi Hao.

Through ancient texts and legends, they had uncovered a shocking truth: should this child survive and make it through his trials, he would grow even stronger, surpassing all that came before.

Now, a senior member of the Rain Clan had used the Bone-Piercing Mirror to examine Shi Hao’s soul and aura, confirming his lineage as identical to that of the Great Demon Deity and Shi Zi Ling. More telling still, terrifying energy seeped from his chest — a clear sign that the Bone of Sovereignty was regenerating within him, undeniable proof.

For they had once studied the aura of Shi Yi’s Bone of Sovereignty — exactly this kind of oppressive, overwhelming energy.

“It’s him — truly the child from back then… He… actually survived?” The middle-aged man whispered urgently to the surrounding elders, every face paling at once.

Especially the elders — their expressions turned icy cold, their gazes dark as storm clouds. This was an absolutely disastrous piece of news. How could this be?

To think, stripped of his Bone of Sovereignty, his vital essence lost, the boy should have perished within a year or two. That was their original estimation. He should have vanished from the world entirely.

“We made a grave mistake back then — we should have killed him outright instead of hesitating. We should’ve taken the Bone and ended his life.”

An elder muttered bitterly, his eyes filled with venomous regret. How was it possible for this boy to survive after losing the Bone of Sovereignty? Now, he was turning into a colossal threat.

“I knew it! Who else could open ten Heavens but someone like him — a born Sovereign who rose from ashes and was reborn through Nirvana?”

The Rain Clan’s senior officials were deeply shocked, consumed by regret — longing to turn back time, to enter that ancient ruin, take the Bone, and finish him off.

“Everything is clear now. He is here, following the Great Demon Deity’s path, coming to settle old scores, determined to disgrace our Rain Clan.”

One of them growled with hatred.

There were always those who refused to look inward for the source of their woes, blaming everything on the world.

“Kill him — quickly. Do not let him become a future calamity. Should this youth grow stronger, he will be a catastrophe.”

“Correct — eliminate him immediately. Even Shi Yi may not be able to suppress him. This is a born Sovereign reborn in Nirvana, with boundless potential.”

No further deliberation was needed. The Rain Clan swiftly made their decision — to suppress and kill him before it was too late.

But when they considered executing him, their unease deepened. He wore a black-gold battle armor, and his combat power had surged into the realm of a King-level being — a formidable foe indeed.

“Deploy our ancestral formation at once. Prepare it swiftly — and if necessary, activate the divine artifact of the clan.”

Unperturbed, Shi Hao stood with a cold smirk, silently regulating his breath and restoring his body to peak condition. The adverse effects lingering from his earlier battle with the Rain God’s projection had cleared.

Suddenly, a few senior elders of the Rain Clan launched an attack. The ruins exploded. The entrance collapsed into dust and rubble, revealing a mysterious object — an ancient bronze plaque that had once hung above the gate.

“This is a formation blueprint!”

The group was stunned as the plaque floated into the air, glowing with a faint yellow light, suspended in mid-air upon the elders chanting incantations.

At the same time, several bone-lamps emerged from the fallen courtyard walls and the ground itself. Radiant and brilliant, they flickered to life.

These were magical artifacts buried beneath the ruins, now activated to form a grand formation designed to trap Shi Hao.

The Rain Clan had prepared extensively, seemingly anticipating this situation. Though the courtyard had appeared compromised, hidden deadly countermeasures were still in place.

There were four bone lamps and thirty-six battle spears. As the bronze plaque trembled, these artifacts launched a ferocious assault toward Shi Hao.

“Zhi!”

Three dozen battle spears shot forth, rushing back and forth like brilliant beams of light, manifesting as colossal, radiant dragons slicing through the sky — dazzling and awe-inspiring.

The four bone lamps, meanwhile, emitted eerie glows, showering green flames that scorched the air. They sealed off all directions, aiming to incinerate Shi Hao within their core.

This was a powerful ancient formation of the Rain Clan, seldom used. Now, it was employed to contain Shi Hao while other forces prepared their backup plans.

Shi Hao withdrew a broken sword and plunged it into the ground, using it to disrupt the formation’s patterns beneath the earth. At the same time, he raised his palm, and a luminous radiance erupted — a mystical clay bowl materialized, capable of withstanding many attacks and even consuming heavenly forces.

He then summoned the stone case, unleashing eight vicious swords that slashed in all directions, clashing against the battle spears with a resounding clang.

With a flick of his wrist, he raised the stone case high into the heavens and activated the Eight Vicious Sword Formation — a killing array specifically designed to dismantle his enemy’s formation, countering it head-on.

“Eight Vicious Swords and the Formation Blueprint!” The Rain Clan’s senior members turned pale.

These rare artifacts were originally meant to defend their territory — and now they were being used against them, intact and flawless. It was a bitter pill to swallow.

“Clang!”

One vicious sword cleaved straight through two battle spears, sending a shower of fiery sparks into the air — its edge sharp beyond belief.

The Rain Clan sighed. Those eight swords were treasures beyond price. Crafted from the original bones of ancient beasts, they were virtually indestructible.

“Crack!”

One of the bone lamps was struck — its corner sliced clean off. The flame within faltered, nearly extinguishing.

The formation collapsed.

Shi Hao leaped into the air. The Divine Bowl in his hand flared with light, absorbing the essence of the battlefield. A few battle spears and one bone lamp were drawn inside, crushed into dust.

The base of the bowl shimmered, composed of divine materials, allowing it to melt down even the most powerful magical artifacts.

“The Rain Clan really is plagued by misfortune. First the Great Demon Deity, now this prodigy with impossible strength — today will surely bring them great disgrace.”

“Who exactly is this youth? Did you hear what the Rain Clan just discovered? They used the Bone-Piercing Mirror to analyze his soul and bloodline. What’s his origin?”

On the streets and in the skies above, whispers spread among the distant observers.

The young prodigy’s origins remained a mystery. No one knew his past, nor where he had come from — yet the Rain Clan seemed to know something.

But neither the boy nor the Rain Clan revealed the truth. The observers found it strange, sensing that if he revealed his name, it could shake the heavens.

“Just wait and see. I feel his identity will soon be revealed. For him to come this boldly, he must have a purpose. He will show who he is,” one observer speculated.

Within the Rain Clan grounds, a middle-aged man rushed in from the rear garden, his expression grim.

“The Guardian Spirit… it’s gone. It’s no longer in the estate!” he panted.

“What? Where did it go? When did it leave?” An elder barked, grabbing the man by the collar.

After the last encounter with the Great Demon Deity, the Rain Clan had felt the instability of their foundation in the imperial capital and thus retrieved the Guardian Spirit from their ancestral lands to act as a safeguard.

Though merely a descendant of the ancient Guardian Spirit, it still wielded tremendous power, capable of defending their territory.

“It went to visit a friend. It may have been gone for several days. It left behind only a note,” the man replied.

Their faces darkened. How could such a gap in security exist? No one had noticed earlier because the Guardian Spirit preferred solitude. It was never approached directly.

“We have no choice. He is already a King-level warrior. Drawing him into an ancestral formation may not work. Perhaps the only option left is to use the Rain God’s Decree,” an elder said grimly.

They regretted the situation. If the Guardian Spirit were present, perhaps they wouldn’t need to activate this divine artifact — a godly relic that should never be used recklessly.

“He must die. Otherwise, in just a few years, he will become a monumental threat. If he dares to challenge our clan now, imagine what he’ll become once a true King of Kings?” someone hissed.

The consensus was unanimous — Shi Hao must be eliminated immediately. There could be no delay, lest he become an unstoppable disaster.

Shi Hao sensed something unusual in the Rain Clan’s strange activities. His instincts sharpened, and he remained vigilant.

“Big Spider, you’re really holding your nerve — why haven’t you shown up yet? Wasting an opportunity to use the Little Pagoda here would be pointless.”

He began to retreat cautiously. For today, the Rain Clan had already been humiliated, their pride shattered. He had vented his anger sufficiently. Other matters could wait.

“There is something I need here — spiritual imprints left behind by a god,” the Little Pagoda suddenly spoke.

Shi Hao froze. He immediately realized — that must be the Rain God’s Decree. He refused to waste this moment, unwilling to let the Little Pagoda intervene and deal with the Rain God’s essence on his behalf.

“This won’t count as one of your uses. Use my power, wield my hand — retrieve the fragments of the divine decree,” the Pagoda instructed.

Though immensely powerful, the Pagoda spoke cryptically, as though the world were balanced, and gaining power required a price in return.

Shi Hao had long suspected the Pagoda might be shifting the burdens of fate onto him, exchanging things it needed through his body.

But right now, he had little choice — he desperately needed its power.

“Actually, your Indestructible Golden Body could be restored slightly by the divine decree,” the Pagoda added.

Shi Hao inhaled sharply. So his Golden Body was truly extraordinary — what might its full power be?

“Brat! You think your wings have grown strong enough to challenge our Rain Clan? Today, you shall receive a lesson you will never forget — very likely your last,” an enraged middle-aged Rain Clan elder roared.

Hatred burned in his heart — his own son had been slain by Shi Hao in the Hundred-Break Mountains, never to return.

Boom!

Deep within the Rain Clan’s estate, radiant divine light erupted. Within an ancient temple, a small altar lit up — revealing the divine decree of the god.

Golden light rained from the sky, dazzling and overwhelming, exuding an immense pressure that shook the hearts of all.

Not only the entire street, but even the imperial capital trembled. People across the city shivered in fear, their knees buckling, on the verge of collapse.

Yet Shi Hao remained fearless. For him, this was a relief — because now, the Little Pagoda would strike.

Within the depths of the Rain Clan, light surged like a starry river bursting forth, like a volcanic eruption in the heavens.

“Young fool — you’ve come to the wrong place. The Rain Clan cannot be disgraced by just anyone. It’s time for you to die,” an elder declared coldly.

Suddenly, the light at the temple dimmed in one section — as if the divine flame had flickered out.

In the next instant, Shi Hao felt a gust of wind brush past his ear — something disappearing into the Little Pagoda, as though it were devouring. At the same time, a golden parchment stuck itself to his body, attempting to fuse with his Indestructible Golden Body.

Initially, it shone radiantly, but soon, its light dimmed.

The young prodigy felt a surge of injustice — while others gained benefits, how come he received nothing? He tore the now-dim parchment from his body and lifted it to his mouth.

“Crunch!” He began biting down hard.

From afar, the Rain Clan’s senior members blinked rapidly, their eyes widening with disbelief, before erupting into furious shrieks.

“You dare?!”

What were they witnessing? The audacity — that boy was chewing on a divine decree like it was a radish, devouring the very command of a god, as though it were the most natural act in the world.