The heavens wept; something terrible had occurred. Crimson blood poured from the void, a foreboding omen that many had perished—an ominous and dreadful blood calamity had befallen.
“So tragic… so many lives… boundless in number, at minimum tens of millions, possibly even hundreds of millions… sacrificed alive like this?!”
“How could one bear to do such a thing! Are they even human anymore, committing such atrocities!”
The entire world seethed with indignation, all living beings burning with fury, yet filled with a sense of futility and dread.
The world trembled in shock, and voices murmured throughout the lands.
Especially dreadful was the descent of the Void Beasts and the opening of a path into the lower realm. This was particularly chilling, stirring profound anxiety and a great fear deep within the soul.
Soon, a piece of news was confirmed—genuine deities had descended to the world!
“It’s true then… they truly came down. How merciless! To cross realms, they turned tens of millions, perhaps hundreds of millions of people, into sacrifices and harvested their souls. What a bloody crime!”
The great sects and ancient kingdoms were the most unsettled, for this event would reshape everything. In such times, the descent of gods would change the balance of power on earth entirely!
At Sansheng Mountain, in front of a thatched cottage,
Shi Hao received the news in silence. No wonder he had felt uneasy for so long. Such a catastrophe had occurred, and the worst had finally come.
“Innumerable lives have vanished; many great tribes turned to wastelands, entire major clans wiped out, and small countries fallen into silence. How many lives were lost?” he mused aloud.
His brow tightened with a visible blue vein, his fists clenched so tightly he wished to crush all those invaders who dared cross realms with a single punch.
He understood—it was blood sacrifice, as recorded in the Bone Scripture, the cruellest of all. All lives were sacrificed, offending the heavens and causing terrifying omens.
“Lord War King and Lord Peng Jiu, among others, have requested that you retreat and exercise patience,” the messenger explained.
Divine beings with godly flames have descended—not just one. Who could possibly oppose them? In this godless era, anyone who dares to challenge them would be signing their own death warrant. Though bitter, they must endure.
“I understand. You may return,” Shi Hao nodded.
He had no wish to retreat, for those descending surely sought him out. If they could not find him, some dreadful misfortune might befall others—misfortunes he could never forgive himself for.
The captain of the guard turned pale. He opened his mouth to speak but did not know what to say. Facing the abdicating monarch, he was filled with deep reverence.
“Let it come my way instead. They’ll have to go through me first,” Shi Hao waved him away. Some choices were unavoidable. He would not flee, even if it meant possible death.
Gentle winds blew; the grass and trees were fresh and fragrant. Shi Hao stood on the mountain alone, gazing at the distant skies. The beautiful hills were veiled in mist and glowing with colored clouds, resembling a paradise. But peace was not meant for the world—it would soon be drenched in blood, and a great storm was on the horizon.
“Hao Er!”
A voice, quivering with emotion, called out to him. Qin Yi Ning and Shi Zi Ling had arrived. They learned the news and came at once, fearing for their son’s safety after he crossed into the upper world.
“Father, mother!”
A smile lit Shi Hao’s face. Seeing them brought warmth and eased his heart, a burden lifted from his soul. Even if something were to happen, he would have no regrets.
“Quickly leave, you mustn’t stay here!” Qin Yi Ning urged, gripping Shi Hao tightly.
Shi Hao shook his head, breaking free of her grasp. “Mother, I cannot leave.”
Qin Yi Ning became frantic. She knew what her eldest son had done—defying the Upper World. In this impending storm, he would surely be targeted.
How could a mother not be anxious? She came in haste to take him away, to hide him, refusing to watch him simply wait for death.
He comforted them, assuring them he would be safe, and would not act recklessly, without care for the consequences.
“Hao Er, don’t be like this. We already lost you once. Now, after we have finally reunited as a family, we cannot afford another loss. We… cannot endure it.”
Even Shi Zi Ling’s voice trembled as he pleaded with Shi Hao to accompany them.
Their anxiety and fear overwhelmed them. They clutched tightly at his arms, unwilling to let go, determined to take him with them.
“Father, mother, don’t worry. How could I possibly die? I am going to live, carefully and well. I haven’t even tasted Dragon flesh or Phoenix meat yet, let alone visited the Upper World. I cannot leave you behind. I will live long, forever alongside the world!” Shi Hao said with feigned ease, a smile upon his lips.
“Oh, you child!” Although deeply worried, his parents couldn’t help but feel a bit of relief at his words.
With a thousand words and ten thousand reasons, they insisted he leave with them, fearing they might lose their eldest son again—it was a pain they could not endure twice.
“Rest assured, I will flee at the first opportunity, never seeking certain death,” Shi Hao comforted them with a promise. Then, to change the topic, he asked about Qin Hao’s condition.
“Though there was some danger, he succeeded.”
“He succeeded?!” Shi Hao exclaimed in surprise.
That was why Shi Zi Ling and Qin Yi Ning had been absent for so long. They had been stationed at the Immortality Mountain anxiously watching over Qin Hao as he slumbered after the transplantation of the Supreme Bone.
Thankfully, all had gone well in the end. Qin Hao was now awakened, and all signs were promising.
Whether in the Upper World’s Immortality Mountain or its earthly lineage, all had remained quiet and withdrawn, sealing off the mountain gates from all worldly affairs, focused solely on this task.
Everything had been meticulously prepared. The bone, long projected through the veil, had remained hovering above a sacred life pool for eons and was finally implanted into Qin Hao’s body.
“How is my younger brother recovering?” Shi Hao was deeply concerned, for the process carried immense risks.
“His vitality is powerful; he has begun producing his own refined energy. Most importantly, he consumed a Divine Elixir from the Upper World,” explained Shi Zi Ling.
A Divine Elixir, crafted from sacred divine herbs, blended with hundreds of rare earthly herbs, divine insects, and minerals. Such a pill was exceedingly rare and precious. A single one could restore teeth, regenerate bones, and rejuvenate the flesh—a true transformation of body and soul.
Shi Hao nodded with relief. With such an elixir, his brother would recover quickly, becoming even stronger.
In truth, Shi Hao was also intrigued—how powerful could that bone be? It had remained alive while resting upon an ancient altar for countless millennia, never withering. Such vitality was terrifying, and it was no wonder it was considered an Immortal Bone.
Having seen his parents, he felt a great weight lifted. He longed to return and visit Stone Village once more, but he held back his desire. He feared bringing misfortune upon that place.
Stone Village was the sanctuary of his soul, a haven of peace—a paradisiacal refuge. He could not bear the thought of any harm befalling it, just as he could not bear any harm to his parents.
“I wish I could return just one more time,” he whispered softly, though he dared not voice it aloud for fear of troubling those beside him.
He knew the trials that awaited him were countless. Would he emerge unscathed? Why did unease gnaw at his heart, burdened with a dreadful omen?
Later, Shi Hao wandered through a small town, leading a group of ragged children through its alleys, buying snacks for them all. The children’s faces lit with joy and delight, their mouths, cheeks, and clothes smeared with food remnants.
Shi Zi Ling and Qin Yi Ning followed behind, feeling pained in their hearts. They understood—this was their eldest son’s inner world of memories, of longing. Unable to return to Stone Village, he relived a piece of the past here.
The couple recalled the past, guilt weighing upon them. They felt they had failed Shi Hao. More than ever, they wished to take him away and prevent any further tragedy.
Two small children sat perched on his shoulders, barely past infancy, stammering in speech, both laughing joyfully. Their tiny faces radiated innocence. Despite their tattered clothes, their smiles shone as brightly as Shi Hao’s.
“Such a child… our Hao Er…” murmured the couple behind them.
Suddenly, a paper crane fluttered down, glowing with a faint halo, landing in Shi Hao’s palm. The startled children looked on with wide eyes.
Shi Hao’s expression grew heavy. This crane had been left in the Stone Kingdom’s palace—if they could not find him at Sansheng Mountain, releasing it nearby would deliver news to him directly.
He unfolded the message and read its contents.
“Big Brother, are you leaving?” A young boy on his shoulder asked with sparkling eyes full of sorrow.
“I must go now, but I’ll come back to visit you one day,” Shi Hao replied with a smile.
On his other shoulder, the little girl pouted, eyes glistening with tears. “Big Brother, you’re really leaving? When will we see you again?”
“Fate willing, we shall meet again.” Shi Hao gently set them down, then hurried away swiftly.
Shi Zi Ling and Qin Yi Ning followed close behind, leaving the town as well.
“Father, mother, do not worry. I will hide for now, but I cannot go with you to Immortality Mountain. We shall meet again once things calm down…” Shi Hao spoke many words.
At that moment, he felt reluctant, with a thousand things left unsaid. Struggling to suppress the urge to stay, with a bittersweet pang in his heart, he turned and left without looking back.
“Hao Er!” His parents cried after him.
In an instant, Shi Hao vanished, leaving Sansheng Mountain behind as a streak of light, rushing forward without hesitation or regret.
He had learned of the grim truth—the Seven Deities had descended, coming with great might. How could he possibly oppose them?
Not long ago, Mao Qiu and Xiao Hong together managed to kill one using the nation’s sacred artifact. Now seven deities from the Upper World were coming—it was an impossible battle!
Just moments ago, he received the confirmed news that several deities had descended in the Stone Kingdom’s capital, demanding his immediate return, or they would slaughter everyone there.
Shi Hao clenched his fists. He had secluded himself at Sansheng Mountain to face this alone, severing all ties, bearing the burden by himself.
Yet those gods, arrogant and unyielding, made no move to come to him. Instead, they declared openly: they would not go to him—they wanted him to come to them. If he delayed, they would unleash their wrath upon the Stone Kingdom. Their audacity was insufferable, demanding he walk directly into his execution!
“What an unbearable tyranny!” Shi Hao muttered.
Thinking again of the blood-soaked calamity they caused in their descent across realms, using innumerable lives as sacrifices, Shi Hao trembled with fury. He longed to slaughter them all.
Yet seven divine beings descended, towering over the mortal world. Who could possibly oppose them? No matter how he saw it, this was a death trap—inescapable and certain.
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