Shi Zi Ling and his wife departed, their hearts burning with anxiety, fearing that Qin Hao might not withstand the implantation of the immortal bone and could perish. They cherished both sons dearly.
“Father, Mother, you may go. If I ever leave this realm, I shall bid you farewell,” Shi Hao said.
He understood their hearts and urged them to take care of Qin Hao.
“Child, we shall also ascend to the Upper Realm and never be separated again. We shall reunite as one family!” Shi Zi Ling declared.
Yet, they were destined not to ascend together, for Shi Hao had overturned Immortality Mountain, causing a tremendous uproar. His clansmen harbored intense hostility against him.
“Once we reach the Upper Realm, we shall leave the Qin Clan to reunite with you,” Qin Yi Ning said.
“Mother, there is no need,” Shi Hao shook his head in refusal.
In the end, the couple departed for the Xuan Domain.
Within the Central Celestial Palace, Shi Hao silently pondered. Before leaving, he still had affairs to settle, ensuring that all would be secure in his absence and that Stone Country would be powerful enough to endure.
“I shall refine pills,” Shi Hao declared.
Stone Clan had founded its nation and grown strong, thanks to several ancient pill formulas capable of enhancing a cultivator’s power and aiding breakthroughs for those with exceptional talent.
After he left, Stone Country must retain top-tier battle power to protect all it had built; otherwise, chaos could erupt.
Peng Jiu spoke, saying, “Your Majesty, we do not have many spirit herbs left.”
In past turmoil, when Stone Country suffered rebellion, several kings had invaded the imperial palace, and even the royal princes and princesses had taken much from the treasure vaults. Fortunately, the inner vaults remained untouched. As for the spirit herb gardens, they had been severely plundered, nearly emptied.
“No problem. Have not many former rebels lately shown signs of repentance? Let them supply us with some herbs,” Shi Hao said coldly.
“Very well, I shall oversee the collection,” Peng Jiu replied. He now possessed formidable strength, having already reached the rank of Venerable before the great calamity, and had since advanced even further.
Several days later, spirit herbs flowed continuously into the imperial palace. The medicinal gardens were filled with a fragrant aroma, blooming in brilliant hues, radiantly gleaming.
It was indeed a breathtaking sight, with layers of thin, luminous mist flowing like waves—a manifestation of spiritual vitality, the essence of the medicinal herbs circulating vibrantly.
“How fragrant it is!” Qing Feng arrived and began cultivating there, sitting cross-legged.
Shi Hao strolled through the garden, gazing at the herbs beneath his feet. He sighed deeply, contemplating how immense the available resources were at his present height.
In the past, he had crossed mountains and rivers to seek out just a few herbs, fighting bitterly in Bai Duan Mountains.
Now, as Emperor of Stone, a single command had gathered all necessary herbs within days. The contrast was staggering.
A silver cauldron was brought forth from the treasure vault, glowing with ancient brilliance. Though ageless in appearance, it showed no sign of dust or decay, as if newly forged.
When the lid was lifted, even before refining any pills, waves of fragrance surged forth, as though a batch of immortal pills had already been completed.
This was undoubtedly a treasure cauldron, imbued over years of refining with immense medicinal properties. Moreover, it was a divine artifact crafted by a god.
Peng Jiu explained that it was a sacred object used exclusively for pill refinement within Stone Palace, an heirloom with ancient origins that had existed since antiquity.
Shi Hao nodded. This medicinal cauldron was truly extraordinary, a genuine divine treasure. Using it could greatly enhance pill refinement success rates, its walls saturated with medicinal essence.
He tapped it lightly. A crisp, resonant note echoed forth, pure and melodious.
“How does it compare to the black cauldron back in our village?” Qing Feng asked curiously.
“That cauldron is mysterious. I could never determine its rank,” Shi Hao shook his head. The Stone Clan’s earliest pill formulas had originated from that cauldron, and he had studied it after gaining strength, without discerning its full secrets.
“We still lack a few rare herbs,” Shi Hao sighed softly.
He intended to brew the Small Nirvana Pill, capable of enabling Kings to break through to Venerable status. It required over a hundred spirit herbs fused within a single batch to succeed.
Yet some herbs were so rare that even ruling an entire nation couldn’t guarantee their acquisition.
Shi Hao possessed a few rare herbs—Golden Grass, Flowing Golden Time, Purple Star Orchid—obtained from the Herbal Capital, but a few remained missing.
“The Yellow Spring Bamboo remains elusive. I have heard it appeared in the Western Tombs, though I saw nothing of it last time,” Shi Hao frowned. He had no desire to return there; the place was too strange, concealing great secrets.
Upon the altar of the Western Tomb World floated a blood-stained, undecaying eyeball, chilling to behold.
Additionally, the crystal skull and golden skeletal hand resting there were also peculiar, clearly not belonging to the same individual—deeply eerie.
Seated beside the herb garden, inhaling its refreshing fragrance, Shi Hao gazed at each crystal-clear herb, reluctant to harvest them.
Eventually, he kindled his Daoist flame to gently nourish the silver cauldron, beginning the refinement.
He harvested only parts of the flowers and leaves, ensuring the roots remained unharmed for regrowth.
As the silver cauldron radiated light, infused with spirit springs, herb after herb was cast inside. Runes shimmered upon its walls, exuding swirling mists like immortal qi.
“Truly wondrous!” Qing Feng marveled.
Shi Hao guided the refinement while instructing Qing Feng on the pill formula and the proper techniques—how to precisely temper the herbs, how to control the fire.
He did not enter the cauldron himself, for deeper study of the formula allowed direct synthesis of the pill without entering the vessel.
Throughout the process, Shi Hao found himself distracted, vigilantly watching the royal butterfly—the gluttonous creature was practically drooling to devour the entire garden.
Though several rare herbs were missing, the garden contained a few other rare variants that could compensate, leading Shi Hao to believe success was possible.
“This herb is strange. Its leaves resemble turtles, black and gleaming—fittingly named Turtle-Leaf Orchid,” Qing Feng gained much knowledge.
Fragrant vapors swirled within the cauldron, luminous and hazy, when suddenly a golden miniature figure appeared, sitting cross-legged and chanting scriptures.
“What is this?” Shi Hao was startled.
“This cauldron has developed sentience. The essence of the herbs has formed a phantom spirit. Countless cultivators have chanted sutras here throughout history, allowing the cauldron to become spiritually awakened,” Peng Jiu explained.
Herb after precious herb was cast into the cauldron. Among them was a crimson ancient vine particularly valuable, surpassing ordinary spirit herbs, even showing signs of evolution into a Sacred Herb.
Blood Phoenix Vine, a rarity throughout heaven and earth, with scarcely three or five found in this Lower Realm, and even fewer having attained this level.
It gleamed red and translucent, barely more than a meter long, resembling a blood phoenix spreading its wings, its leaves and vines radiating resplendent auras.
This was a treasure herb guarded by Peng Jiu, now among the most precious within the palace, with potential to become a Sacred Herb.
Shi Hao severed a section and cast it into the cauldron. With a thunderous roar, crimson radiance filled the sky, turning the heavens red as a blood phoenix danced through the air, an awe-inspiring spectacle.
“Clang!”
He sealed the lid and began refining with his Daoist flame.
One day later, resonant clangs issued from the cauldron. Lifting the lid slightly, brilliant golden light burst forth, three golden pills rolling about, colliding with the walls as though alive, crystal-clear and luminous.
“A success!” Shi Hao rejoiced, swiftly retrieving three jade jars and sealing the pills within.
The Small Nirvana Pills were successfully refined and stored. Yet fragrant vapors still lingered, the fragrance of herbs undiminished.
Calm returned, and Shi Hao refined another batch. The next day, another three golden pills emerged, glowing with auspicious radiance, bursting with brilliance as they collided within the cauldron.
Thus concluded the refinement session. No more herbs could be harvested without endangering the roots.
“Pity the Divine Tree—Five Elements Tree—remains weak. Otherwise, I could have harvested several leaves,” Shi Hao murmured, referring to the Sacred Herb brought back from Immortality Mountain.
Yet he remained satisfied, having obtained six golden pills in total. He reserved one and gave one to Qing Feng, leaving four more to produce several Venerables for Stone Country.
“If only I could refine another batch to gift to my loved ones,” Shi Hao mused.
He summoned the War King to guard him during cultivation. Several days later, the mighty King had smoothly ascended to Venerable status.
“Do not worry. Qing Feng shall remain under my protection. He shall ascend the Human Emperor throne without mishap,” the War King declared. Having gained the longevity granted by Venerable status, he could now command respect until Qing Feng matured.
Peng Jiu nodded in agreement, already firmly rooted in this realm.
Shi Hao entrusted the remaining three Small Nirvana Pills to them, enough to produce three more Venerables. The choice of recipients would need careful consideration.
Yet worthy candidates were not lacking. During the fall of the palace, several old princes had stood fiercely by Shi Hao, fighting for both him and Stone Country. Now they could be empowered.
Shi Hao himself did not consume the Small Nirvana Pill immediately, for he had been immersed in studying the Ten Thousand Beasts Chart, deeply contemplating its mysteries. He wished to gain further understanding before taking the pill, enhancing its effects.
Later, he journeyed to the Fire Kingdom, sighing at the sight. The once-magnificent capital had become ruins, while a new city had been built elsewhere.
The Fire Kingdom still struggled with internal conflict, its throne contested through battle.
Shi Hao refrained from involvement or interference. The Fire Emperor, along with many others, had already ascended to the Upper Realm. Those left vying for the throne bore no connection to the Fire Spiritess.
“Swallow-Heaven Sparrow, Qiong Qi, are you still alive?” Riding an ancient battle chariot, Shi Hao soared across the sky, rumbling like thunder through the vast wastelands.
These days, he had been dispatching scouts, seeking to confirm whether the fierce bird and malevolent beast had survived.
Years ago, when the Mountain Treasure emerged, four mighty beings clashed. The Swallow-Heaven Sparrow and Qiong Qi had been ferocious, slaughtering across ten thousand li, consuming all life within that vast region.
Shi Hao yearned to find those two Evil Spirit and slay them.
He also recalled the twin sisters, who, as children, had playfully debated with him over which beast’s milk tasted best. Tragically, after the massacre, they had vanished, and their fate remained unknown.
Furthermore, the Swallow-Heaven Sparrow and Qiong Qi were also primary perpetrators behind the Ruin Sect’s destruction, wreaking havoc with terrifying force.
“What of that Pixiu? Could it also be dead?”
He also sought a Pixiu that had devoured an arm of his grandfather, the Great Devil God. Shi Hao wished to avenge his grandfather.
He searched the entire Wild Domain, even dispatching scouts, but found no trace.
“Eventually, I must depart…” Shi Hao murmured softly.
After some contemplation, he decided to visit a place rumored to hold a great opportunity—whether it could be obtained remained uncertain.
In the next moment, Shi Hao entered the Virtual Spirit Realm. With a single punch, the heavens trembled, space twisted and threatened to rupture—a display of power transcending the extreme, drawing out the “Domain Keeper.”
“What is your intent?” the Keeper, a manifestation of celestial law, spoke coldly.
“I possess eight bronze fragments. Only two more remain to unlock a supreme treasure technique. I wish to know what records I must surpass to obtain the last two,” Shi Hao asked.
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