In the imperial capital of the Shi Kingdom, shocking news spread like wildfire, stirring up a storm—Shi Yi had returned, emerging from the ancient sacred grounds of the Heaven Mending Pavilion! The entire nation was in an uproar, and the hearts of the people in the capital could not remain calm. The return of the Double-Pupiled One was so abrupt, signaling that he had achieved perfection in his cultivation. What heights would he reach now?
“My dear younger brother, I have returned. Where are you?” That very day, Shi Yi’s voice echoed through the capital, sending shockwaves through the populace. Everyone knew this was a direct response to Shi Hao’s challenge. The emergence of the Double-Pupiled One, destined to clash with another young supreme genius, swept across the Shi Kingdom like a tempest, reaching every major city. The news spread like the tides, quickly reaching neighboring ancient nations and the vast wilderness beyond.
The name of the Double-Pupiled One shook the world. His extraordinary talents had long been known, hailed as the reincarnation of an ancient deity. Who could compare? Who dared to stand in his way? As for Shi Hao, his reputation was no less formidable—breaking records in the Void God Realm, his battles in the North Sea, slaying a revered elder in the capital—his feats were legendary. Now, these two supreme young geniuses were about to clash, igniting fervent discussions and boiling excitement among the masses.
Amid the clamor, people couldn’t help but marvel. Two supreme geniuses from the same family—brothers! Yet, it was a pity. Everyone sighed. The Shi Clan had been blessed by the heavens, envied and admired, but now faced such a conflict. Perhaps this was the inevitable decline after reaching the peak, something even the heavens could not tolerate.
—
In the ancestral lands of the Fire Nation, within the molten lava, a school of fish darted swiftly and nimbly, their golden bodies gleaming like scattered fragments of gold, leaving trails of radiant light. These were no ordinary fish—they thrived in the scorching heat, their tails flicking with vitality, exuding a powerful life force and spiritual energy.
“What kind of fish are these?” Several youths gaped in astonishment. Even as descendants of Fire Nation nobles, they had never heard of such creatures dwelling in the ancestral lands. Occasionally, fearsome beasts lurking in volcanoes were one thing, but an entire species living in molten lava? It defied all logic.
“Shh!” Shi Hao raised a finger to his lips, gesturing for them to retreat behind a massive boulder by the lake, careful not to disturb the fish. His eyes burned with excitement—these were legendary beings, incredibly rare. To find them here was a stroke of fortune.
“About forty or fifty in total,” Shi Hao counted. Not many, but not too few either, considering their rarity. The challenge was catching them. The fish were astonishingly fast and voracious, devouring most of the crystalline marrow particles along their path from the depths of the lake.
Despite their small size—no longer than a finger, with the largest only half a foot—they were incredibly agile, darting like streaks of lightning. Shi Hao took out the Heaven-Transforming Bowl, preparing to cast it, but the fish were alert. Even from a distance, they sensed danger and stopped approaching the shore.
The leading fish, half a foot long, opened their mouths, stirring powerful whirlpools in the lava, drawing all the bait toward them.
“Such small fish, yet capable of such divine abilities?” The big-eyed girl gasped, then quickly realized—any creature living in lava was bound to be extraordinary.
Shi Hao waited, hoping they would come closer for a perfect capture. But suddenly, figures appeared on the shore.
“Could those be… the legendary Sunfish?!” someone exclaimed.
Realizing the situation was deteriorating, Shi Hao acted swiftly, casting the Heaven-Transforming Bowl into the lake to ensnare the fish. The lava churned violently as the bowl sucked in the fiery liquid, but the fish scattered in panic, their bodies flickering with runes, evading capture.
“Rise!” Shi Hao commanded. The bowl glowed with auspicious light, strands of radiance piercing the lava, immobilizing the fish. A few smaller ones were already drawn into the bowl, but the rest struggled fiercely.
“Leave the fish, young man,” a voice called from the shore. Strangers had arrived, one throwing a massive banner into the lake, disrupting Shi Hao’s efforts. The bowl trembled, and the fish fled.
More intruders acted—some summoned a blue gourd to compete for the fish, while others hurled spears to interfere.
In the end, Shi Hao managed to capture only eighteen Sunfish, far fewer than expected. The interlopers, having failed, turned their greedy eyes to his bowl.
“Hand over the bowl and leave,” one demanded.
Shi Hao’s expression darkened. These people had ruined his hunt and now sought to rob him.
“Shameless. Prepare to die,” he declared coldly.
The ensuing battle was swift. Despite their strength—ranging from their twenties to forties—these outsiders were no match for Shi Hao. Within moments, they lay defeated, their bodies shattered.
—
“What are these Sunfish for?” the youths asked in awe after witnessing Shi Hao’s power.
“Legend says they are a variant of firefish, capable of surviving in the sun itself. They possess divine properties,” Shi Hao explained as he carefully refined the fish in his bowl.
Despite their size, the Sunfish were incredibly potent. A single drop of golden essence was extracted from the batch, rivaling the energy of a massive beast.
Over the next few days, Shi Hao repeated the process, capturing nearly a hundred Sunfish in a larger lake. After refining several drops of golden essence, he consumed them and entered seclusion. His body resonated with power, his mind clear as he meditated on the Dao, making tremendous breakthroughs.
Days later, Shi Hao emerged revitalized, his spirit soaring. He was confident that with more Sunfish, he could soon reach the mid-stage of the Engraving Realm.
Meanwhile, strange events unfolded in the Fire Domain—shadowy figures roamed, and rumors spread that Princess Huo Ling’er had entered the region.
Two days later, a black-clad figure found Shi Hao, hesitating before speaking.
“You’ve been tracking me. What do you want?” Shi Hao asked.
“I am a general under Princess Huo Ling’er…”
“Take me to her,” Shi Hao interrupted.
Soon, he stood before the princess, learning crucial news—Shi Yi had returned.
Huo Ling’er stood tall, her robes fluttering, her slender waist and long legs accentuating her ethereal beauty. She was like a fairy born of flames, captivating and radiant.
“Shi Yi is formidable. Even my old servant trembled from afar just by sensing his presence,” she warned.
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