The mighty were envious, witnessing two celestial maidens vying for his attention, their rivalry setting the blood of many youths aflame with longing to take his place. Yet, the man in question remained indifferent, for Shi Hao knew these two were perilous—future adversaries, perhaps even mortal foes.
The jade platter gleamed, its Nine Dragon Cup exquisitely crafted, a masterpiece of artistry. Neither gold nor stone, it shimmered with nine-colored divine radiance, its emerald liquor exuding an intoxicating fragrance. Shi Hao raised the cup in thanks and drank it in one gulp. Instantly, a surge of heat coursed through him like a rampaging flood dragon through his meridians, forcing a gasp from his lips.
This was no ordinary wine—it surpassed even the fabled Monkey Wine. Infused with rare spirit herbs and sacred ingredients, it was a divine elixir beyond measure! Thunder rumbled within Shi Hao’s body as verdant light erupted from him, his vitality surging. His flesh turned translucent, teetering on the brink of breaking into the Engraving Realm.
Alarmed, he halted his ascent. Though he had perfected the Spirit Transformation Realm, he sought to surpass the ancient limits before advancing. Yet the wine’s potency was overwhelming, forcing him to sit and channel all his runes to suppress it. Eventually, he condensed the emerald radiance into a ball, slowly absorbing it into his flesh.
The crowd was stunned. Many knew he had reached the legendary pinnacle of Spirit Transformation, yet he refused to break through. Why? The beings of the Ancient Divine Mountains exchanged knowing glances—some of their ancestors had done the same, ascending to become Heavenly Deities!
Yue Chan and the Heavenly Fox Fairy watched with newfound gravity. Shi Hao’s defiance of norms marked him as an enigma—a genius who shouldn’t belong to the barren lands but to the ancient sects that groomed peerless prodigies.
“Sister, are you ready to serve the Demon King?” the Heavenly Fox Fairy teased, her smile devastatingly alluring. “I glimpsed a fragment of the future…”
“He shares ties with my sect,” Yue Chan replied, serene and saintly. “Yours will never claim him.”
The military grounds erupted as news spread—Shi Hao had slain two Venerables! Unthinkable for a youth, yet undeniable.
Finally, Shi Hao rose, having sealed the elixir’s power for his future breakthrough. “My thanks to the Human Emperor!” he declared.
Silence fell as all eyes fixed upon him—tall, black-haired, and poised. Then, golden flames erupted from the celestial palace, warping the void with terrifying intensity.
“Shi Hao, heed the decree!” a thunderous voice boomed. “The Stone Emperor names you Marquis!”
The crowd gasped. A thirteen-year-old marquis? Unprecedented!
“Too young for a princedom, but a marquis he shall be,” someone interpreted the emperor’s will.
“Which rank?” another asked.
“**Celestial Marquis!**”
The title sent shockwaves. A Celestial Marquis at thirteen—next step, prince! The emperor’s intent was clear: Shi Hao was now a contender for the throne.
Yet Shi Hao remained calm. In the coming chaos, such prominence was dangerous.
“By decree, Shi Hao is named **Wilderness Celestial Marquis!**”
The crowd froze. The prefix “Wilderness”—was this the emperor’s gambit? Even princes exchanged uneasy glances.
“Brother, congratulations!” The Rampaging Marquis clapped his shoulder, a beauty on his arm. “Now we stand as equals!”
The emperor’s word was law, and the uproar was inevitable.
“Sire, this places him in peril,” an elder in the celestial palace cautioned.
“A test,” the Stone Emperor replied. “Dragon or insect, his fate is his own.”
Thus, Shi Hao’s legend grew—youngest marquis, ten heavenly passages, slayer of Venerables. His new estate, a refurbished royal manor, saw endless visitors, though he received none, feigning seclusion.
Days later, he resolved to leave. After meeting key figures—the Rampaging Marquis, Princess Fire Spirit—the Thunder Clan arrived: their eldest daughter, a formidable elder, and a stunning matriarch.
The matriarch revealed a bombshell: “Your mother is not of this domain.”
Shi Hao shot to his feet. “What?”
She explained—his mother, a foreign cultivator, had once saved her life. After suffering near-fatal injuries, she’d met Shi Hao’s father.
“She likely returned to the Profound Domain for sacred herbs,” the matriarch said. “But with the coming chaos, crossing domains is impossible save for supreme sects.”
Shi Hao’s fists clenched. “Then I’ll rise here—and descend upon the Profound Domain as its conqueror!”
The matriarch chuckled. “I once joked my daughters would wed you. The younger fled to the Divine Mountains in fright!”
“Aunt, you birthed two lovely plump sisters,” Shi Hao grinned, triggering a spit-take from the Thunder heiress.
After their departure, more visitors came—including private audiences with the Heavenly Fox Fairy and Yue Chan.
But Shi Hao had made his choice. The capital’s glitter was a cage.
Before leaving, he issued a challenge:
“**Shi Yi! Do you dare face me?!**”
Whether his rival had emerged from seclusion mattered not. The storm was coming—and Shi Hao would meet it head-on.
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