Chapter 570: Devouring Millions of Living Beings

The great calamity, Hao Tian, stormed into the Spirit World, causing tremors across the realm!

At this moment, countless figures arrived in a rush, converging upon the colossal golden gate. Some were enveloped in divine flames, burning fiercely—these were clearly no ordinary deities!

Moreover, several true young sovereigns also came upon hearing of Hao Tian’s exploits, eager to witness and subdue him.

Unfortunately, they arrived too late; Shi Hao had already departed.

“Let us descend and see for ourselves!” someone proposed.

Suddenly, a green lotus bloomed across the sky, carrying a woman who descended onto the Bronze Swallow Altar. Many gasped in shock—it was Qing Xian, who had come to avenge her elder brother and was the first to take action, stepping directly onto the ancient path leading to the lower realms.

Flight was impossible upon this road; only by walking could one proceed.

Soon after, other divine beings wreathed in flames descended too, transforming into rays of divine light and rushing down the path.

Then, the crowd cried out once more.

“Zhen Gu of the Ling Clan has arrived, wielding a spear forged from concentrated blood, capable of piercing all obstacles!”

A golden figure flashed across the Bronze Swallow Altar and vanished downward in an instant.

“Teng Yi’s True Form has arrived! Gods, this is indeed a great karmic entanglement—he truly intends to confront that great calamity!”

…

That day, the Spirit World trembled, and the Immortal Sky Continent erupted into chaos as mighty beings and prominent figures gathered at the Bronze Swallow Altar, then descended along the ancient path to the lower realms.

Shi Hao’s robe billowed as he descended the endless path from the heavens, much faster than when he ascended. On the opposite colossal mountain, the people of the Illusory Heaven had already retreated.

Those who witnessed the battle today were deeply shaken by the celestial battlefield above. It had been a journey well worth taking.

Many had already surmised the truth—that battle had taken place in the Upper Realm!

Shi Hao walked along the long path, finally returning and stepping through the bronze gate into his own grand realm.

“Quickly, seal it shut!” chirped the Bird Elder, as he pointed his finger. The massive gates, as tall as mountains, began to rumble shut, releasing waves of chaotic mist that swallowed the area.

Shi Hao was surprised and turned to look back.

“Somebody has pursued him down,” said the Elder Wall, his expression grave. “And it’s definitely a ‘big one.’ If it breaks into the Illusory Heaven, the consequences would be catastrophic.”

“Perhaps we should forge a prison battlefield,” suggested the Bird Elder.

“Forget it,” the Elder Wall shook his head. “The Lower Realm is too weak to resist them.”

Shi Hao’s expression turned strange—had these two truly uncovered the veil shrouding their identities? He couldn’t help but ask, “You two… are you the builders of the Illusory Heaven? Are you, in fact, two ancient gods?”

“I don’t remember,” the Bird Elder said, shaking his head. Then with an odd expression, he added, “I feel that my True Form resides in the Upper Realm.”

“What?!” Shi Hao exclaimed, stunned. The origins of these two were completely different from what he had imagined, leaving him baffled.

According to the elders, even their grandfathers’ generation had seen these two wandering within the Origin Land, not a brief period by any means.

In fact, it was possible that they had roamed the Illusory Heaven for far longer than known, simply unnoticed.

If such were the case, their spiritual consciousness must have been separated from the Upper Realm for at least a hundred years, perhaps even far, far longer than imaginable.

“Are you certain?” Shi Hao asked in astonishment. If that were true, their physical bodies had likely long since withered and perished—unless their flesh was imperishable and immortal.

“Sigh, I don’t remember,” the Elder Wall sighed, shaking his head. Separated from their True Forms for countless years, their minds had been clouded by unknown forces for unknown reasons.

“Where is my Divine Bronze Tome?” Shi Hao asked—it was what he truly cared about.

This time, no record tablet appeared. Instead, a rain of radiant light fell from the sky, and many in the crowd gazed in awe and reverence at Shi Hao.

A bronze fragment dropped into his palm.

“Just one? There’s still one missing!” Shi Hao cried out; he needed ten pieces in total, and now he had only nine.

“You have entered the Spirit World, but you haven’t ventured deep enough,” the Bird Elder replied.

Shi Hao frowned. That journey was simply impossible—he would certainly be cut off from behind and trapped if he went deeply enough, his physical body here would wither.

“If my True Form goes to the Upper Realm, wanders there, and then descends through the golden gates, does that count as success?” Shi Hao asked.

“That’s cheating!” the Elder Wall howled.

“You don’t want me to go and die, do you?” Shi Hao scoffed.

Just then, behind them, the bronze gates trembled violently, and faint howls and violent fluctuations emanated from beyond.

“As expected, a ‘big one’ really did chase him down. Fortunately, we sealed the gate in time,” said the Bird Elder, wiping sweat from his brow.

With that, the two of them split the earth before the gate and revealed a small altar about a foot high. It shimmered with light, reflecting strange scenes like a mirror.

“A god has descended!” said the Bird Elder.

Shi Hao looked closely and saw several blazing divine flames and some young experts. He scratched his nose—this was getting out of hand.

No matter how hard they attacked, the bronze gates remained unyielding, indestructible.

Shi Hao returned to reality, his eyes snapping open. This experience had indeed been strange—their spiritual consciousnesses had entered the Spirit World ahead of their physical forms.

“It is time to go,” Shi Hao murmured.

He walked through the palace and entered a quiet garden, where Qing Feng was murmuring to himself, “I wasn’t prepared to become emperor. How could I do it well…?”

Shi Hao sighed, left the garden, knowing Qing Feng was too gentle. He wasn’t willing to force him into anything he did not wish to do. If things did not work out, the responsibility would fall to the War King.

There was no time to delay. Soon, War King, Peng Jiu, and several old monarchs were summoned and informed of Shi Hao’s intentions.

“In fact, I have a candidate in mind,” spoke the Ming King, who had become a Sovereign after obtaining a Minor Nirvana Pill.

“My lord, please speak,” said Shi Hao.

“Hun Tian Hou Shi Heng,” he replied, stating the name of a man.

“Him!” Shi Hao exclaimed in surprise. The first time Shi Hao had come to Stone City, they had stood in the same auction hall—Shi Heng had purchased an ancient divine artifact called the Blood Demon Ruler. Later, they had shared a drink and talked for a long time.

Shi Heng appeared licentious and flirtatious, always surrounded by beauties. In truth, he was a powerful and shrewd figure. Before Shi Hao’s rise, he had been the youngest prince of Stone Country, possessing extraordinary talent.

“He’s truly remarkable. He is wise and mature—undoubtedly a rare talent,” added the War King. “We are all old, while he is still young and in his prime. At such a young age, he’s already a regional prince. It’s only a matter of time before he becomes a Sovereign.”

“He was also once a contender for the throne. If not for your rise, the old emperor had also favored him,” Peng Jiu added.

Shi Hao nodded—he had long known that this youngest prince of the Stone Clan had once been eligible for the imperial succession.

“I will give it serious thought,” Shi Hao said, acknowledging the suggestion. It had essentially already been decided, yet he commanded that no one leak the news.

Over the following days, Shi Hao handled several affairs, then devoted himself to studying the Ten Thousand Spirit Diagram. It was the reason he had delayed his departure—he wished to grasp its profound and intricate meanings before ascending to the Upper Realm.

“Within just a year, I have broken through successive stages and conquered multiple barriers,” he mused. “Now, if I were to consume a Minor Nirvana Pill and ascend to Sovereign, would that speed be too abnormal? It makes me uneasy.”

“I should focus on studying the Ten Thousand Spirit Diagram first. If I can naturally break through using it, then there’s nothing to worry about,” he whispered.

Half a month later, Shi Hao opened his eyes once more, his insight immeasurably enriched. The Ten Thousand Spirit Diagram had revealed the profound mysteries of the true scriptures, opening a new world before him.

“Has anything happened lately?” Shi Hao asked Peng Jiu.

“Some divine guests from the Upper Realm came calling,” Peng Jiu replied.

Lan Yu, Bi Gu, Hong Huang, and Shui Yue had all visited. Unfortunately, Shi Hao had been in seclusion. They had left messages hinting that if Shi Hao joined their sects, they could bring him up to the Upper Realm with them.

Shi Hao shook his head. He had no intention of going with them. For ordinary people, entering the Upper Realm was as difficult as scaling the heavens—but he believed he could find his own way up. He had already learned of a few ancient paths.

Two days later, the ancestral altar within the palace trembled violently. A bone tablet had appeared—an emergency message used only in critical situations, sent from afar.

“Chaos erupts in the Western Borderlands!” Peng Jiu trembled, hurriedly handing the bone tablet to Shi Hao.

Shi Hao read the urgent message and his eyebrows knotted together—it was sent by Hun Tian Hou, who was guarding the Western Borderlands. The report was clear: the Devouring Heaven Sparrow had reappeared, preparing to ignite its divine flame, having already consumed millions of lives!

“That beast was really alive all along—it’s back again!” Shi Hao muttered, clenching his fists. Long ago, this vicious bird had devoured every tribe and clan in the Great Wilderness near Shicun, spanning fifty thousand miles.

Now, it had returned, radiating boundless malevolence, with no restraint.

Shi Hao sprang to his feet, his eyes sharpening with cold intent.

Peng Jiu hastily tried to dissuade him, “Your Majesty, be cautious! The Devouring Heaven Sparrow must have already started igniting its divine flame. Members of this race require a massive intake of spiritual energy and blood sacrifices to ascend. Because their name contains ‘Devour,’ they are willing to expose themselves and recklessly break through to godhood. Now, there are no gods in the Lower Realm. If you go directly, you may become its blood offering.”

“It hasn’t ignited its flame yet—it’s only just beginning to attempt it,” Shi Hao said, looking at the bone tablet.

Peng Jiu shook his head firmly, “It must have already ignited its flame. This vicious bird is cunning and merciless. This race only behaves this ferociously when nearing the ignition of its divine flame, supplementing what it needs.”

War King, Ming King, and others all received the news and hastened into the palace. In the absence of gods in the world, who could match the Devouring Heaven Sparrow now?

“Devouring Heaven Sparrow… it’s time for a reckoning,” whispered Shi Hao.

The Sovereigns looked alarmed, rushing to dissuade him from going personally. They volunteered to take on the danger, fearing that if the divine flame had ignited, Shi Hao would surely die.

“It’s fine. I’ll be back soon,” said Shi Hao. He stepped onto the ancestral altar and reappeared in Shicun.

“Rounded Ball, Xiao Hong, follow me—let’s go slay a god!” Shi Hao called.

“Slay a god?” A group of children ran out, not the least bit frightened, all excited, like a bunch of little rascals, leaping toward him.

Not long after, the ancestral altar in the palace shone with light and Shi Hao reappeared, returning to the Heavenly Central Palace.

“Your Majesty, don’t take such a risk!” War King pleaded again.

Shi Hao noticed a second bone tablet and took it, scanning its contents. His face turned grim—sent again by Hun Tian Hou. The Devouring Heaven Sparrow had struck a second time, devouring another million humans, and was now on the verge of igniting its divine flame.

“It must have already ignited it. Hun Tian Hou doesn’t understand that evil beast. Your Majesty must not go!” Ming King cried out urgently.

“I won’t place myself in a trap. You all guard the palace. This Devouring Heaven Sparrow is my responsibility!” Shi Hao commanded, ordering them not to follow him into the battlefield, but to remain in the capital.

Soon, Shi Hao stepped onto the altar, activated a channel, and vanished in an instant.

The Western Borderlands lay desolate for thousands of miles—utter silence reigned, with no life left.

Shi Hao appeared within a ruined city, long turned to rubble, every citizen annihilated, leaving only traces of blood upon the ground.

As he advanced, he saw more and more bloodshed—no living soul remained. For thousands of miles, all life had been devoured, whether human or other beings.

Without delay, Shi Hao boarded a golden war chariot, speeding toward another great city to meet Hun Tian Hou and learn the full extent of the disaster.

A blaze of golden light, and he arrived at the city.

Panic gripped the city; half its people had already fled in fear of becoming the next target. The streets were in chaos, filled with cries and screams.

Shi Hao found the noble residence of the prince and entered directly.

“Stay there!” someone shouted.

He ignored them and strode forward, calling out, “Hun Tian Hou, come forth!”

Inside one palace hall, a voice responded. Shi Hao followed the sound, instantly appearing within the grand hall.

“Your Majesty has arrived.” Sitting atop the throne at the center of the hall was a man of majestic bearing, his eyes sharp as lightning, gazing down with an air of command—it was indeed Hun Tian Hou.

“Hm?” Shi Hao narrowed his eyes, pupils contracting.

Hun Tian Hou sat upon the throne, looking down, his expression slightly cold.

“What are you doing, Hun Tian Hou?!” Shi Hao demanded.

“Dare not speak so rudely!” an old servant barked, actually reprimanding Shi Hao.

Shi Hao ignored him, staring fixedly at Hun Tian Hou, and said, “It wasn’t the Devouring Heaven Sparrow—it was you!”

“Your Majesty must be tired. Please sit and rest a while,” Hun Tian Hou replied calmly.

Shi Hao said nothing, just gazing at him.

“It was not the Devouring Heaven Sparrow,” Hun Tian Hou said calmly, his teeth bright and white, almost blinding. “It was a god from the Upper Realm who has come for your death! Your Majesty, rest in peace. I will manage the Stone Kingdom well in your place.”

Shi Hao did not berate him—he simply laughed aloud. Yet within, his heart burned with rising fury.

“What are you laughing at?” Hun Tian Hou said coldly.

“I am the Human Emperor, destined to suppress enemies from all directions!” Shi Hao declared, his voice thunderous and sharp like clashing swords. “You—mere Hun Tian Hou—are not even worthy of my notice! Even if gods from the Upper Realm come, I shall slay them all!”