“No problem, as long as you can handle it—a fairy on the left, a temptress on the right, and a divine demon king in the middle. The real question is, are you up for it?” the demoness taunted.
Lunar Grace, pristine and saintly, remained unruffled, her expression serene. Such vulgar remarks were beneath her notice.
“What’s there to handle?” Shi Hao retorted.
“If you’re so confident, why not start by subduing this fairy here? Tame her until she’s utterly docile—that’s the mark of a true demon king. Otherwise, don’t even entertain such wild thoughts,” the demoness teased with a smirk.
In the end, Shi Hao left Moonview Tower, leaving the fairy and the demoness locked in their silent standoff. As he descended, he pondered the situation. For now, things seemed stable—neither would act rashly. But the future was uncertain. A fierce battle might await him, given how absurdly powerful those two were—peerless prodigies from supreme sects that no single domain could confine.
“With this matter settled, I’ll focus on my cultivation. Don’t provoke me, or I’ll haul all of you back to my village!” The holy terror waved a threatening hand at the tavern, his declaration a small oath born from the threats he’d faced since leaving the wilderness. Haul them all away.
“Haha, not ‘devour them all’ this time?” A girl’s laughter carried from a distance. Though not as breathtakingly beautiful as Lunar Grace or the demoness, she had a fresh, lively charm, her figure tall and graceful. Clearly, she knew of Shi Hao—his infamous catchphrase included.
The holy terror flushed with embarrassment. How had someone caught him in such a moment? He’d been too absorbed to notice.
“You’re Hun Tian Hou’s younger sister?” Recognition dawned on him. He’d glimpsed her from afar in Greenwood Garden, surrounded by a crowd of young men.
“My brother wishes to speak with you,” she said with a soft smile.
“Hun Tian Hou wants to see me?” Shi Hao was surprised. In such turbulent times, most avoided him for fear of inviting trouble.
“My brother is straightforward. If he takes a liking to you, it’s probably because you’re cut from the same cloth. He doesn’t care what the outside world thinks—he just wants to share a drink and chat,” she murmured.
“Fine, I’ll go.” Shi Hao nodded.
Hun Tian Hou was the youngest marquis of the Stone Kingdom, only twenty-five yet already ennobled for years. His talent was legendary, his strength undeniable.
The secluded garden they entered was also a tavern, but one reserved for select patrons—outsiders couldn’t gain entry. As a rising powerhouse with immense influence, Hun Tian Hou had the privilege of knowing such hidden retreats.
Deep within the garden stood an open courtyard adorned with exotic flowers, their fragrance intoxicating.
“‘Haul them all away?’ Hahaha! Now that’s bold—a true role model!” Hun Tian Hou laughed heartily as he welcomed Shi Hao inside.
A jade table laden with delicacies stood in the courtyard, surrounded by chairs crafted from rare spirit wood, their surfaces unassuming yet subtly pulsing with energy. It was the perfect setting for an intimate gathering.
Hun Tian Hou was tall, his hair cascading like a waterfall, his gaze sharp as a blade. As they conversed, several noblewomen from the capital lingered nearby.
“Bold words are one thing, but you’re the one actually hauling people around—four at once!” Shi Hao quipped, eyeing the women with a grin.
“These ladies weren’t hauled—we share common interests. They were curious to meet you,” Hun Tian Hou replied.
A man of passion, Hun Tian Hou was ruthless in battle yet relaxed in company, now casually embracing a woman as they bantered.
“Aren’t you worried about making enemies by associating with me? I’ve got plenty,” Shi Hao pointed out.
“Do I look like I care?” Hun Tian Hou scoffed, signaling for a beauty to pour wine.
“Even if you’re unafraid of nobles and factions, that colossal spider is another matter,” Shi Hao warned, not wanting others to suffer for his sake.
“How much longer can it last? The Barren Domain is on the brink of chaos. Some creatures strut now, but their reckoning is coming,” Hun Tian Hou said, utterly unfazed.
Shi Hao’s mind stirred. A calamity that could affect beings of that level? Astounding. It seemed Hun Tian Hou knew more than he let on—was he merely waiting for the storm to break?
“You seem detached, watching the chaos unfold,” Shi Hao observed.
“Fear won’t change anything. If we seize the sliver of opportunity, we might emerge stronger. When the storm hits, ancient kingdoms and giant spiders alike may vanish,” Hun Tian Hou declared, his words bordering on treason—yet he spoke freely, unconcerned about witnesses.
He met Shi Hao’s gaze. “We may yet collaborate. The upheaval won’t allow outsiders to flood in—this domain’s fate rests on us. You and I could rise together.”
Shi Hao pondered, then nodded. In that moment, countless thoughts raced through his mind. “Where did you hear this?”
“My mentor.”
Clearly, the man was no ordinary figure. Shi Hao didn’t press—everyone had secrets.
“I invited you today because I admire your spirit—razing the Rain Clan’s manor, battling the Martial Clan’s estate. Bold moves. And I respect the fifteenth lord even more. So let’s drink! War is my expertise, but so is revelry.”
With that, Hun Tian Hou pulled a woman closer, letting her feed him wine.
“So you’re just flaunting your carefree lifestyle while I sit here thirsty?” Shi Hao grumbled, pouring his own drink.
A girl giggled and stepped forward to serve him.
“I look forward to the day you haul Lunar Grace and that demoness back to your village. Mark my words—it’ll happen,” Hun Tian Hou roared with laughter.
Their meeting wasn’t just for idle chatter—they exchanged insights on the coming upheaval, Hun Tian Hou never dismissing Shi Hao for his youth.
“The so-called ‘gods’ in our domain aren’t true deities. Yet this land holds the potential to forge supreme ones—which is why even those two great sects are restless.”
Shi Hao seized the chance to ask, “How strong are the elites of the Heaven Mending Sect and the Sky Severing Sect? Can they truly dominate a domain?”
“They’re terrifyingly powerful—beyond our current reach. The Barren Domain has almost no true gods, let alone those sects…” Hun Tian Hou trailed off.
“How dull. All this fighting and scheming is pointless,” Shi Hao muttered into his cup.
“Truthfully, I’d rather stay out of it. But if we don’t act, we won’t survive. This is about self-preservation.”
“Maybe I’ll just retreat to the mountains—haul a couple of plump ones back, hide until the storm passes, then emerge strong enough to devour anyone who crosses me,” Shi Hao slurred.
Hun Tian Hou laughed. “You won’t have that luxury.”
“Who’s behind this coming chaos?”
“Taboo.” Hun Tian Hou’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if the word itself carried fear. His mentor had spoken of it—an entity even the foreign sects were riding the coattails of. Some whispered the taboo originated from those very sects.
“Just wait. When the chaos erupts, factions will scramble to establish power here. We’ll be swept in regardless—better to seize what’s ours first.”
His words painted a grim picture, one that unsettled Shi Hao. The future was spiraling beyond control.
“Some gaze at the boundless stars, others fixate on our Barren Domain. There are those lost in romance, and those mired in mundane toil.”
“I just want a free world,” Shi Hao murmured.
“Then rise in the Barren Domain. Conquer it, become its sole emperor. Only then might you claim what you seek. Otherwise… well.”
The drinking lasted hours, both men growing increasingly intoxicated, their words slurring. Finally, Hun Tian Hou clapped Shi Hao’s shoulder.
“I’ll toast to you hauling those two foreign women back to your village. What a spectacle that’ll be—a memory those sects will never forget!”
“Wait for my news,” Shi Hao hiccuped, then hoisted a woman over his shoulder and stumbled off, her shrieks following him.
“Put my sister down!” Hun Tian Hou barked.
*Smack!* Shi Hao swatted her rear. “Ah, that’s why it felt off. Later!”
Hiccuping, he wobbled away.
“The chaos is coming…” he muttered to himself.
Days passed swiftly, and soon it was the emperor’s birthday. The towering palace gates swung open, welcoming honored guests.
Shi Hao, now famed for his battles, received a golden invitation—a mark of prestige, as the emperor himself had intervened to save him from the colossal spider.
The imperial palace loomed magnificently, its ancient structures glowing gold in the dawn light like sacred temples. Up close, their scale dwarfed human figures, as if built for giants.
At the inner gates stood two mighty *bixie*, ancient beasts of fearsome lineage. Rumors spoke of an elder *bixie* deep within the palace, a guardian akin to a sacred spirit.
“The imperial clan’s might is undeniable,” Shi Hao mused, extrapolating from these glimpses.
Guests streamed in, their auras formidable. Today would be lively—and undoubtedly eventful.
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