“Too fast, utterly inconceivable!” A crowd was stunned. Just who was this woman who could traverse such a battlefield and whisk Shi Yi away with such ease? Not only were the denizens of the Netherworld Lake left dumbfounded, even the revered elders were rendered speechless. The ancient formation of the Netherworld Lake failed to serve its purpose, unable to halt her steps. She moved as if through an uninhabited land, evading all the deadly glyphs.
The elders from the outside world were indignant. They had fought their way here, launching a great battle, and just when they were on the verge of success, someone had snatched away that supreme treasure—the peerless physique of Shi Yi.
“Chase her, quickly!” someone shouted. This was beyond outrageous. They had fought tooth and nail, staining the Netherworld Lake with blood, leaving countless corpses in their wake, only for this mysterious woman to appear out of nowhere and take Shi Yi’s body. Who could accept such an outcome?
Many figures gave chase, vanishing into the vast wilderness, but the woman was already gone—where could they even begin to search? That gray-clad woman was simply too fast. With a single step, the sun and moon seemed to reverse, mountains and rivers shifted—such speed was beyond human capability. Her sleeves fluttered as she disappeared beyond the horizon in the blink of an eye.
Countless towering peaks stretched endlessly, and though the elders rode their treasures like streaks of light, darting through the mountain ranges, they found no trace of her. She had vanished from the Netherworld Lake as if evaporated from the mortal realm.
“It’s not that we’re slow—it’s that she’s too fast. Unless one masters the Kun Peng’s divine technique, only a handful of supreme arts could match her speed,” someone lamented.
The elders who had rushed here pounded their chests in frustration. To have victory snatched away at the last moment was unbearable. But if anyone was most aggrieved, it was the people of the Netherworld Lake. Shi Yi had been their “seed,” their greatest hope. Even in death, his body should have been theirs. Yet now, they could only watch helplessly as that woman took him away, unstoppable.
Some were driven to the brink of madness. All their efforts, all their sacrifices—everything had been in vain. They had gained nothing.
The mighty searched, but the wilderness yielded no answers. The gray-clad woman had long since departed, leaving behind only bitter disappointment.
“Ah—!” An aged elder roared. His life was nearing its end, and he had hoped to seize a final chance at glory, only to be met with such humiliation.
“That was the elder of the Twin Stones—a peerless physique unmatched in this world, gone just like that!” Another elder, his body riddled with hidden ailments, clenched his fists.
“Damn it all!” Curses echoed through the Netherworld Lake, directed both at the meddling elders and the mysterious woman. In the end, it had all been for nothing.
Soon after, the outside elders withdrew, while the Netherworld Lake’s people wore expressions of fury. They had nearly lost their entire legacy, yet gained nothing in return. How could they bear such shame?
The outcome of the battle spread like wildfire, shocking the world. The battle in the Void God Realm had just concluded, and now the Netherworld Lake had suffered calamity—a clash of elders that sent waves of astonishment across the land.
Many regretted not witnessing the battle firsthand. The events were simply too staggering.
The turmoil in the Barren Domain refused to settle. The duel of the Twin Stones had shaken the world—Shi Yi had fallen, while Shi Hao ascended to the pinnacle, becoming the sole Young Supreme of the Barren Domain.
What did it mean to be supreme? It meant standing alone, unrivaled. Even pure-blooded creatures could no longer compare. In that battle, Shi Hao had fought like a deity incarnate, sweeping aside all challengers of his generation.
“The elder stone has fallen, the younger stone rises—who dares contend?” Such was the lament of the people.
But what if one looked beyond the Barren Domain? Uncertainty crept in. After all, following the battle of the Twin Stones, someone had dared challenge the Domain Envoy. Greater storms were surely brewing.
“The Divine Arena will soon manifest. The era of prodigies clashing across domains is nigh.”
“Lunar Grace Goddess and the Demoness are peerless, destined to dominate their generation.”
And then came the realization—the Barren Domain was on the brink of chaos. The world would soon be embroiled in strife, heralding a terrifying age.
Yet history showed that such times birthed the mightiest of legends. Chaos bred prodigies—such was the way of the world.
The outside world buzzed with endless clamor.
“What a pity for the elder stone. Regardless of his character, his talent alone was enough to overshadow the ages. Yet he perished young—truly, heaven envies the gifted.”
The uproar surpassed all expectations. Every major sect, every ancient kingdom, every gathering of cultivators—none could escape the topic.
“Young Shi Hao is absurdly powerful. Before the battle, who truly believed in him? Most thought his innate deficiencies would doom him. And yet—how wrong they all were!”
“Rumor has it that not only did that mysterious man seek to claim Lunar Grace Goddess, but Young Shi Hao also once spoke of carrying the Fairy of the Heaven Mending Sect back to his so-called village?”
The outside world remained in turmoil for many days, unable to calm. But for now, Shi Hao remained untouched by it all.
He had returned to Stone Village. The moment his spirit reintegrated with his body, he grimaced in pain—the wounds from the Void God Realm had manifested in his flesh.
The sensation was bizarre, as if his body had truly endured that brutal battle. His injuries were severe, nearly causing him to collapse on the spot.
Returning had brought some relief, but after pushing himself to the brink in battle, he could barely move, his eyelids heavy.
“Amazing! Little Hao won!” The villagers cheered, their joy genuine and heartfelt.
“Can’t… sleep…” Shi Hao gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay awake. The battle had been perilous—he had faced a supreme foe and nearly perished. But the gains were immense.
He fought to remain conscious, retrieving the meditation mat obtained from the Kun Peng’s Nest. Sitting cross-legged, he began to meticulously review every moment of the battle.
Life-and-death struggles, evenly matched—such duels were rare. This had been the most grueling battle of his life, and he needed to savor every lesson.
The villagers, understanding his condition, ceased their celebrations, granting him peace until he rose again.
Thus, Shi Hao entered a profound state of enlightenment. His brow glowed faintly, intricate patterns shimmering across his skin.
Occasionally, he would awaken to sip a cup of Monkey Wine, nourishing his body and mending his wounds.
His injuries were grave, but through meditation, he nurtured his recovery, existing in a strange state of rejuvenation.
A full month passed in this manner—half in enlightenment, half in healing.
When he finally awoke, he stood, realizing he had reached the peak of the Engraving Realm. His strength had surged once more.
“One month in enlightenment, another in recovery?” Shi Hao was stunned. The battle had drained his very essence.
Yet such life-or-death struggles held immense fortune. The insights gained in that month were invaluable, impossible to articulate but certain to shape his future cultivation.
Just the fact that he had progressed from late-stage Engraving to perfection in a single month was staggering—a speed that would shock the world.
“Ah! Uncle Hao is awake!” A child’s voice rang out in delight.
“Wonderful! Little Hao is safe, fully recovered!” The village erupted in joy, all worries melting away.
“I’m fine. Sorry for worrying you all.” Shi Hao smiled, warmed by their care.
That night, the village celebrated around a bonfire. Roasted game, bubbling stews, and the fragrant aroma of Monkey Wine filled the air.
Shi Hao remained in the village, for he still had crucial matters to attend to—the divine imprints within him.
These marks were extraordinary, and to fully grasp them, he immersed himself completely, nearly severing ties with the outside world.
“These imprints came at the perfect time,” he murmured half a month later, having made astonishing progress. They would help him break through the limits of the Engraving Realm!
At the peak of Engraving, he sought to surpass all predecessors. What better reference than the imprints of gods?
Though fragmented and profound, they offered invaluable insights. Each day brought new revelations—his divine energy took the form of cauldrons, furnaces, bells… and finally, the Kun Peng.
Had outsiders witnessed this, they would have been astounded. Even among the most exceptional marquises, few could touch upon such a realm—transforming divine energy into myriad dao symbols.
Yet Shi Hao had ascended further, manifesting Kun Peng-shaped divine energy. Though sparse, it amplified his combat power immensely.
Days turned to months. By the time half a year had passed, Shi Hao had fully surpassed the Engraving Realm’s limits.
At just over fourteen years old, he had achieved the impossible.
Testing his newfound strength, he was shocked—within the Engraving Realm, he was now invincible.
Days later, radiant light enveloped him as he stepped into the next great realm.
With a thunderous boom, he ascended.
Now, he was a true marquis—no, a king. A fourteen-year-old king.
Were this known, the world would tremble.
Not necessarily unprecedented, but certainly a rarity. At this age, he stood atop his generation, unrivaled.
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