The ruins of the Sky Mending Pavilion lay desolate, its once-glorious grandeur now reduced to broken walls and scattered rubble. The Golden Spider remained vigilant, aware that the Desolate Domain was on the brink of chaos. The “Taboo” was about to emerge, and all factions were preparing—some lying low, others ready to resist. Among them, Shi Yi was the one it held in the highest regard.
The spider’s body gleamed like forged gold, its shrunken form still spanning several zhang. In truth, its true body was as massive as a mountain. “Could the Dual-Pupiled One truly be emerging? I sense movement there, with supreme beings lying in wait.” The news finally spread, stirring unrest in these already turbulent times, unsettling hearts and minds.
“If Shi Yi returns, will that savage child appear? Can he stand against him, given the three- or four-year gap?” Many believed that while Shi Yi was a prodigy with unparalleled cultivation speed, the “savage child,” though extraordinary, was still younger—a natural disadvantage.
“Just wait and see. It will be a fierce battle between dragons and tigers. I suspect their duel might even draw in supreme sects from beyond this domain, leading to a clash of great factions.” A storm was brewing, one that would shake the entire Desolate Domain when it erupted.
When would the battle of the young supremes begin? Everyone was waiting. “Either one of them is enough to leave their name in history, their talents astonishing, surpassing the ancients. Pity that one must fall.”
There was no need to elaborate—Shi Yi, the Dual-Pupiled One, now possessed the Supreme Bone, an unprecedented enhancement, a divine miracle. His future achievements were beyond measure. Meanwhile, Shi Hao, despite losing his Supreme Bone, had risen with his own legend, destined to shock the world.
The world was in upheaval, with the Stone Country at the center of attention. If a battle were to occur, it would likely take place there.
Shi Hao ventured deeper into the desert, the ground beneath him growing hotter. Soon, he saw plumes of steam rising in places, underground gases bursting forth. “Such a scorching place. Have I wandered into a volcanic region?”
The land was barren. After traveling dozens of li, he saw no grass, no living creatures—only rocks and desolation. White smoke curled from the ground, carrying the pungent stench of sulfur. The heat intensified as if he were walking into a fiery hell.
After another hundred li, the air ahead grew hazy, thick with white smoke and the acrid scent of burning. The earth itself seemed ready to ignite.
Suddenly, a massive beast soared overhead—a monstrous bird with wings spanning dozens of zhang, stirring a fierce gale as it passed. On its back, figures looked down at Shi Hao, surprised to see him traversing the desert alone.
“Someone actually crossed this wasteland without detours or caution? Is he baiting some great opportunity?”
“What a fool, bold to the point of stupidity. Let him scout ahead. If he finds anything, we’ll take it.”
The bird circled, vanishing into the clouds to monitor Shi Hao’s movements. He glanced up but said nothing, continuing onward.
A roar echoed in the distance. A crimson wolf, wreathed in flames, stood ten zhang tall and thirty zhang long, its fangs like swords, its fur blood-red and radiant. A powerful beast.
Shi Hao knew he was nearing his destination. The presence of creatures meant danger was close.
The ground here spewed steam, hot enough to cook a man. In some places, bubbles of magma surfaced, glowing faintly red.
Where had he come to? He still didn’t know but felt the need to find out. Attempting to greet others, he found only wariness.
A few li later, the scent of blood mingled with sulfur—a sign of danger. A golden-eyed, dragon-horned lion lay dead, its massive body torn apart. Scattered around were fragments of treasures and human remains, evidence of a massacre.
A small pool of magma, bright red and clear, lay at the center. The corpses had been half-devoured by something lurking within.
The terrain was peculiar—a vast desert with no volcanic craters, yet magma pools and steam vents dotted the landscape, distorting the air.
“You, go check that pool,” someone from the crimson wolf’s back ordered, pointing at Shi Hao.
Ignoring them, Shi Hao observed. They were nobles of the Fire Nation, identifiable by their sleeve insignias.
“Did you hear me? Go inspect that pool!” They saw him as weak, perhaps the sole survivor of a destroyed team.
“Are you deaf? Move, unless you want to die.”
Shi Hao ignored them, murmuring, “Something’s odd about that magma. The creatures here are different.”
A sword aura slashed toward him, forcing him forward as bait.
“Fine. If you refuse kindness, suffer punishment.” They sought to drive him into the pool.
“Fools. Even your elders wouldn’t dare treat me this way.” Shi Hao’s cold gaze sent shivers down their spines.
Purple lightning flashed from his eyes, splitting the sword aura. A golden hand of wind and lightning seized the crimson wolf, overpowering them effortlessly.
The youths were strong by ordinary standards but no match for Shi Hao. Even beings from the ancient divine mountains had fallen before him.
“Who… who are you?!” they stammered, shocked by his power.
Lightning crackled, electrocuting them and the wolf. The bird above fled into the clouds.
Shi Hao showed no mercy—they had sought his death. Yet, he wasn’t as ruthless as them, merely kicking one closer to the pool.
“No! Pull me back!” The man, scorched and paralyzed, begged.
“Speak. What is this place? What are you after?” Shi Hao demanded.
Their jaws dropped. “You don’t even know where you are? How did you get here?”
A scream cut their words short—the man near the pool sank into the magma as a winged creature dragged him under.
“Huh? A chicken?” Shi Hao frowned. The creature’s strength defied logic.
“Talk, or you’re next,” he warned the others.
The wolf howled, struggling as a red-feathered beast attacked. Shi Hao repelled it, saving the wolf.
“We’ll talk! Just get us away from the pool!” they pleaded, pale and sweating.
“This is our ancestral land, where the Fire Nation rose to power,” one blurted.
Shi Hao was stunned. He had stumbled into the Fire Clan’s forbidden territory.
He learned more: in ancient times, the Fire Nation’s rise was tied to this land, rich in divine substances that accelerated cultivation.
“Even ordinary creatures grow powerful here.”
Shi Hao’s eyes gleamed. This was the perfect place to break through to the next realm.
“Even geniuses from beyond our domain have come.”
“Why?”
“Foreign sects sought an alliance with the Fire Emperor, offering support in exchange for access to our ancestral land.”
The details were scarce, but Shi Hao guessed this place held secrets valuable enough to tempt powers from beyond.
He also learned that every Fire Emperor had risen here, swiftly gaining strength to claim the throne.
This intrigued him further. Shi Yi would soon emerge from the ancient sacred academy, his cultivation far advanced. To match him, Shi Hao needed to close the gap—without relying on external aids like the little pagoda.
“A perfect place. I can spar with foreign geniuses, hunt divine creatures, and refine myself to accelerate my growth.”
He realized this might be a gift from Fire Spirit—one he couldn’t waste.
Shi Yi’s return would shake the world. Their battle was inevitable, and not far off.
“What else is strange here?” Shi Hao pressed.
“Many oddities. Even gods once came here, searching for something.”
The most shocking revelation? The Fire Nation’s guardian spirit was born here, protecting the ancient kingdom since antiquity.
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