After this battle, no one dared to underestimate the Desolate Domain again. Even the prodigies from beyond the borders had to swallow their arrogance—whether they liked it or not, they simply lacked the confidence to face Little Stone. Wherever Shi Hao’s blade pointed, who would dare oppose him? People believed that from this moment onward, this would become an unsolvable conundrum—not entirely impossible, but finding peers capable of rivaling him would be a rare feat indeed.
“A bunch of country bumpkins, used to strutting around in the Mystic Domain, now come to the Desolate Domain to cause trouble. Do they even know who rules here?” The Crimson Bird puffed up with pride. The crowd fell silent. To dare call the Immortal Mountain “country bumpkins” was unprecedented—if anything, the reverse was closer to the truth. To outsiders, wasn’t this place just a barbaric wasteland? But now, no one dared provoke misfortune. Little Stone was too formidable, even daring to cut down people from the Immortal Mountain as if they were mere vegetables. No one wanted to invite trouble.
As the battle ended, the manor gradually regained its liveliness.
“Second Brother, long time no see,” Shi Hao said with a grin, looking at the Nine-Headed Lion ahead. Their past was tangled with grudges—they had fought to the death before eventually reconciling.
The Nine-Headed Lion approached, its golden body radiating vigorous vitality. Even the pure-blooded creatures of the ancient divine mountains might not be its match, for its lineage was peerlessly strong.
“Over these years, I borrowed my clan’s Golden Divine Furnace to refine my true blood, seizing the essence of heaven and earth. My cultivation advanced swiftly, yet I still couldn’t catch up to you,” the lion said, conflicted. It had once been beaten by Shi Hao, endured hardships together, and eventually turned hostility into friendship. But deep down, it remained unwilling, always striving to surpass him.
For years, it had tempered its body with the ancient divine furnace, evolving rapidly and nearing the threshold of becoming a pure-blooded creature. Yet now, facing Shi Hao, it felt the gap remained insurmountable, no matter how astonishing its progress had been.
Shi Hao laughed heartily and patted its shoulder. The memories of their time in the Hundred Shattered Mountains felt as vivid as yesterday.
“Some of my companions have come as well,” the Nine-Headed Lion said.
The Five-Colored Luan Bird, the Fire Crow, the Purple Marten, and the two brothers from the Three-Eyed Clan appeared—precisely the ancient hybrids Shi Hao had befriended in the Hundred Shattered Mountains. Together, they had slain the White Tiger and feasted on the Golden-Winged Roc.
The atmosphere instantly grew lively.
“Let’s go find a place to drink!” Reuniting with old friends naturally called for celebration. The Desolate Domain was vast, and meeting again after so many years was no small feat.
Huo Ling’er also approached, chatting happily with them before excusing herself to attend to the guests—as the host, she had to receive the cultivators from various clans.
As they reunited, everyone marveled at Shi Hao’s early ascension to the King Realm, a feat that shook the world. The hybrids were awestruck.
“Brother Shi, you’ve truly astounded us. Back in the Hundred Shattered Mountains, you were just a mischievous brat shouting, ‘Eat it, eat it, eat it all!’ And now, you’re renowned across the Desolate Domain. Time flies, and so much has changed,” the Fire Crow remarked.
Shi Hao chuckled. Though young back then, he had been terrifyingly ruthless.
Their small group commanded respect wherever they went. Cultivators from all clans stepped aside, and even prodigies from beyond the borders avoided them, fearing to provoke Little Stone.
“Dignity is earned through battle. That much is certain,” the Nine-Headed Lion said, glancing disdainfully at the onlookers. “Not long ago, they were brimming with arrogance, looking down on us Desolate Domain cultivators. Now, see how they cower.”
“Brother Shi, you should be careful. Offending the Immortal Mountain is no small matter,” the elder of the Three-Eyed brothers warned.
Shi Hao nodded. “By the way, I once killed a young master from the Three-Eyed Sacred Mountain beyond the borders in the Fire Clan’s ancestral land. Does that have anything to do with you two?”
The brothers shook their heads. Just as humanity was vast and countless, their clan was also widespread across domains, with no hierarchical ties between branches.
Then, the Fire Crow revealed a secret, whispering to Shi Hao to beware of the Lunar Grace Goddess.
“How so?” Shi Hao had never underestimated the Fairy from the Heaven Mending Sect. She was a woman who could rival him in the same realm, her talent world-shaking. Not only was she peerlessly beautiful and ethereal as an immortal, but her strength was extraordinary, unafraid of the potential of the Twin Stones. She might one day lead the Heaven Mending Sect.
“She has already entered the Array King Realm and is now preparing for Nirvana. Once she succeeds, she may come for you,” the Fire Crow said.
Shi Hao’s expression shifted. The word “Nirvana” was enough to startle anyone—it signified a rebirth, a transformation surpassing the past.
Though he had already reached the King Realm and, with his boundless potential, feared no one in this tier, the news still sent a chill down his spine.
The Fire Crow’s clan resided in the Fire Cavern, a perilous land perpetually engulfed in Infernal Flames, where temperatures reached terrifying extremes. The Lunar Grace Goddess had once visited, plucking a Blazing Spirit Flower—a crucial ingredient for Nirvana Elixirs.
Once one entered the Array King Realm, further breakthroughs became exponentially harder. In a way, Shi Hao and the Lunar Grace Goddess had already traversed a path many would never complete in their lifetimes. Countless cultivators, even after lifelong devotion, would never reach this stage. Such speed of cultivation was akin to that of divine offspring.
In the Array King Realm, relying solely on oneself for breakthroughs was excruciatingly slow. One needed medicinal herbs to temper the body and unlock its latent potential.
The most suitable aid for this realm was the Minor Nirvana Pill, capable of unlocking divine treasures and propelling one into the next major realm.
“She’s so young, yet she’s about to surpass the Array King Realm and rival a Venerable?” The Nine-Headed Lion was stunned, struggling to believe it.
Shi Hao was equally shaken, but after careful thought, he shook his head. “Unlikely. She’s probably just preparing in advance to consolidate her cultivation.”
Now that he had reached this realm, he could hold his own even against the Fairy of the Heaven Mending Sect. He refused to believe she would become a Venerable—that would be too terrifying.
“Brother Shi, you’ve offended the Immortal Mountain and slain a Venerable from the Heaven Mending Sect. The future looks grim,” the Five-Colored Luan Bird said.
Shi Hao nodded. “No matter. Right now, Venerables are in hiding, avoiding the great calamity. Even those from beyond the borders have retreated, not daring to enter the Desolate Domain. The rest won’t find it easy to deal with me.”
With the great calamity approaching, rumors spread that even saints would be as insignificant as grass. Whether it was the Immortal Mountain or the Heaven Mending Sect, the strongest they could send against him now were Array Kings—he wasn’t worried.
He knew the Lunar Grace Goddess lacked confidence; otherwise, she might have already made her move.
In truth, under these circumstances, only the likes of the Great Stone, the Lunar Grace Goddess, and the man wielding the Chaos Divine Disk posed serious threats to him.
As they conversed, everyone sensed the impending upheaval in the Desolate Domain.
“Brother Shi, how did you progress so swiftly? Share your insights with us,” the Fire Crow and others humbly requested.
Shi Hao was generous, sharing his experiences and reflections. Yet he couldn’t help but sigh—breaking through after reaching this realm was exceedingly difficult.
In truth, those who entered this realm were all extraordinary, peerless talents. But how many could advance further, ascending to greater heights?
Often, one would toil for a lifetime, only to remain stagnant here. Otherwise, why would each kingdom have numerous Kings, yet only a single Human Emperor?
Apart from the creatures of the ancient divine mountains, reaching the Venerable Realm was nearly impossible.
“The ancient divine mountains preserve the world’s purest essence and cultivate rare spiritual herbs, allowing them to refine the finest Minor Nirvana Pills. That’s why they produce Venerables generation after generation.”
“Indeed! Some even possess sacred medicines of immeasurable value!”
They all lamented—ordinary inheritances couldn’t compare.
Shi Hao knew he would eventually surpass the Array King Realm. He had that confidence, but he suspected it would take a long time.
“Brother Shi, you’re not even fifteen yet and already stand at the peak of the Array King Realm. There’s no need to worry—you have plenty of opportunities.”
At his age, reaching such heights was unprecedented, surpassing many ancient sages. They found it unreasonable that he still considered his progress slow.
“My enemies are formidable. Only by breaking through to higher realms can I make the Immortal Mountain and the Heaven Mending Sect wary,” Shi Hao said.
The others fell silent. Their aspirations were indeed worlds apart.
“My grandfather has also come. Brother Shi, you could discuss the Dao with them,” the Nine-Headed Lion suggested, believing Shi Hao’s cultivation now placed him on equal footing with the Desolate Domain’s strongest.
Shi Hao’s heart stirred, and he didn’t refuse. The Nine-Headed Lion’s lineage had interacted with deities in ancient times, possessing profound knowledge. He sought to borrow their wisdom.
They entered a quieter courtyard where seven or eight elders sat discussing the Dao amidst ancient vines and meditation cushions, exuding an air of profound serenity.
When Shi Hao was introduced, the elders were visibly moved. None dared act superior, all rising to their feet—they knew who he was and understood that, should he survive, he would one day stand unrivaled.
“Greetings, esteemed seniors!” Shi Hao bowed.
No matter how powerful he was, he respected these friendly veteran Kings. In truth, they were all peak Array Kings, some perhaps on the verge of becoming Venerables.
“Young friend, please sit. No need for formalities,” said a black-robed Daoist—the Fire Crow’s grandfather, as introductions revealed.
These beings shared close ties, particularly with an old prince of the Fire Nation, hence their presence in this secluded courtyard.
With the world on the brink of chaos, they were deeply concerned, discussing not only the Dao but also the Desolate Domain’s fate.
Shi Hao sat calmly, unpretentious. He had the right to sit as an equal—indeed, in terms of combat prowess, few could rival him.
“Young friend, your talent is unparalleled in history. To reach such heights at your age is truly astonishing,” a golden-robed elder remarked.
Shi Hao recognized him as the Nine Spirits King, the Nine-Headed Lion’s grandfather—a terrifyingly powerful King, one foot already in the next major realm.
“I’ve come to seek your guidance on cultivation matters,” Shi Hao said bluntly. With such figures, honesty was best.
The Willow Deity had spoken of the “grand momentum” of cultivation but rarely touched on specifics of individual realms. Learning from these veteran Kings was invaluable.
The Fire Nation’s old prince, nearing two hundred years with long white eyebrows, seemed surprised when Shi Hao asked about rapid breakthroughs. “With your talent, your speed is already astounding.”
Shi Hao knew the Fire Clan was aware of his visit to their ancestral land and didn’t hide it. “Had I not entered your sacred grounds, I might not have advanced so swiftly.”
He sighed inwardly. Why was the Stone Clan’s ancestral land comparatively lacking?
The Fire prince spoke. “The Stone Clan’s heritage is even more astonishing. Should you obtain it, you could surpass the Array King Realm in the shortest time.”
“What heritage does the Stone Clan possess?” Shi Hao was startled. He hailed from there—had he missed something? His heart stirred as he earnestly sought answers.
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