Chapter 648: The Cautionary Tale

The elder of the Fire Demon Palace grabbed this person, his voice filled with fury and menace.

“Senior, you sent us a Devil King! He nearly wiped out all of our people,” the venerated elder lamented bitterly. It was too tragic—just one man had defeated them all.

“That’s impossible! I only sent you weaklings. None of them were strong enough to oppose you. Why did such a catastrophe occur?!” the elder from the Fire Demon Palace could not believe it.

“It’s true. He is a young powerhouse, seemingly not even twenty years old. He slaughtered our people one by one, and the ground was stained red with blood,” another venerated elder added, his eyes bloodshot from grief. He had brought along his own nephews to gain experience, only for them all to be killed.

Even within the Fire Demon Palace, not everyone could obtain a Beast Fang Life Talisman. These items were extremely rare; each sect only received about ten of them.

A ripple spread, glyphs shimmered upon the altar, and a woman appeared, her hair disheveled, clearly terrified, her face pale like a corpse.

The last venerated elder of the Fire Demon Palace who had possessed a Life Talisman had also been slain and returned. At this moment, the crowd gathered near the secret realm’s exit watched in horror, stunned into silence.

“Senior, it’s too tragic. Everyone else is dead,” the woman wept, her eldest son, whom she had protected and brought along, also slain.

Those who received the Life Talismans were not only supremely gifted but also held high status within the Fire Demon Palace, being direct descendants of the most revered elders. Now, their fate was this pitiful.

The elder’s face turned ashen. Not long ago, his eyes had still gleamed with cruelty and satisfaction, believing he had sent a group of weaklings, easing pressure on his own clan. Yet the result was this disaster.

“What about Chi Lingkong and the other three?” he asked, unwilling to accept it.

“They are trapped inside a colossal golden palace and cannot escape,” a venerated elder replied.

“This time, our clan gained nothing but suffered heavy losses. Only we returned; all the disciples were wiped out!” another venerated elder’s face darkened.

“It’s over!” the elder guarding the gate felt the world spinning. Those were young geniuses, so many lost in an instant. And what had he done?

He dared not imagine the punishment he would face upon returning to the clan. The consequences were too severe. Only a few venerables had returned. What about the younger generation, the rising talents? It was as if an entire generation had been wiped out.

Beside him, elders from the other great sects exchanged complex glances, secretly relieved.

Not long ago, they had been resentful, competing with the Fire Demon Palace for those weaklings. Yet this calamity had soon followed, leaving them shaken.

Thankfully, the Fire Demon Palace had acted swiftly and snatched up the “weaklings”!

“He was just one man. How could he face both the elders and youths of our clan and sweep them all away? He must be too strong,” the elder muttered, dazed.

“He might be… a Firstborn,” a venerated elder whispered.

“What?! A Firstborn?!” the elder exploded in rage, then fell into deep despair. This was a grave mistake.

The elders from the other sects also gasped in shock. A Firstborn, mistaken for a weakling and sent into their domain—like sending a lion among sheep.

They trembled inwardly. A Firstborn was a rarity even across entire provinces. The Fire Demon Palace had been too unlucky—trying to gain an advantage, only to provoke a young Devil King!

Clearly, the Chi Yu Crane Clan had become the laughingstock, destined to be mocked and ridiculed for generations to come.

“What happened?”

Outside the entrance, an endless sea of cultivators gathered—those who had not entered the secret realm, waiting for the outcome without dispersing.

Indeed, there were countless cultivators here, and the news would soon spread far and wide. The Fire Demon Palace was destined to become a cautionary tale.

Inside the Yuan Heaven Secret Realm, Shi Hao struck with fists of divine fury, obliterating all who opposed him. Even Venerated Elders who blocked his path were blown apart, their blood raining down. Nearly the entire Fire Demon Palace group was slain.

At this moment, his performance was truly like a Devil King—invincible and merciless!

He had no mercy. Not long ago, he had witnessed how cold-blooded these people were, forcing countless outsiders to their deaths, wielding massive bows and killing at will.

At the foot of the towering Golden Mountain, the four remaining experts watched, their faces first paling, then darkening with fury. Their bodies trembled with rage. This was a catastrophe beyond imagination.

Chi Lingkong nearly self-destructed, using his Life Talisman to protect himself and return to the altar, planning to return and rescue the others.

However, after calculating the time, he realized it was impossible. It would only waste another precious Beast Fang Talisman, and he was furious beyond words, yet helpless.

Before Shi Hao remained only one last person—a young man of eerie beauty, with a delicate and effeminate charm. This was Chi Feng.

He kept retreating, his heart gripped by terror. Who was this man? Killing their Fire Demon Palace members like cutting vegetables—so swift and terrifying.

“Please… don’t come any closer!” His legs trembled, nearly buckling beneath him. He did not possess a Life Talisman, and there was no way to escape.

“You were the one who enjoyed deciding others’ fates. Now it’s your turn,” Shi Hao said calmly, having slain many experts, yet his clothes remained unstained, his aura as pure as a celestial being.

“Uncle, save me!” Chi Feng cried out, turning to look toward the Golden Mountain.

“Stop!” Chi Lingkong could no longer remain calm, his voice filled with fury.

“Do you think I’ll stop just because you say so?” Shi Hao sneered, glancing at this god-ranked expert who had not long ago commanded the crowd and oppressed others, filled with disdain.

Inside the Golden Palace, many cultivators had been forced inside, but seeing this scene, they felt an indescribable joy, though none dared to show it.

Chi Feng gritted his teeth, his face pale, a stark contrast to his arrogant demeanor moments ago. His body radiated light, and in an instant, transformed into a brilliantly red Chi Yu Crane.

Scarlet light scattered, and mist swirled as he turned and flew toward the valley exit. The barrier had already been broken, and he soared into the sky.

Shi Hao picked up a massive bow from the ground, his expression indifferent. In an instant, he drew the bowstring taut and released. With a sharp whistle, divine light split the heavens, and an arrow shot forth!

A crane’s cry echoed through the sky, followed by a rain of blood.

The red-feathered crane struggled midair, its aura weakening rapidly as the arrow pierced its body, severing its vitality completely.

“Peng!”

The Chi Yu Crane crashed to the ground, raising a cloud of dust and bleeding out.

“Fiend!” Chi Lingkong roared, his eyes blood-red, his temples nearly bursting. Though he called Chi Feng his nephew, in truth, Chi Feng was his own nephew, and now he had been killed before his very eyes.

He could no longer hold back and was about to self-destruct, returning to the altar to hunt down Shi Hao once more.

“Control your anger. Let him have his moment. Once we comprehend the supreme inheritance here, we will deal with him,” the other three experts urged.

In truth, they too clenched their teeth in fury. After all, these were all experts of the Chi Yu Crane Clan, and now they were completely wiped out.

Shi Hao felt no regret or guilt. They had forced him into this corner—how could he not resist? Still, leaving the Yuan Heaven Secret Realm might bring some trouble.

However, he possessed the Seventy-Two Transformations, able to change his appearance, perhaps allowing him to escape safely.

“Quite the fortune indeed,” he said, gazing at the bone cauldron before him.

Its bone was a purple-gold hue, smooth as jade. Inside the cauldron were piled countless medicinal herbs, each ancient in age, all rare treasures.

The Fire Demon Palace had harvested dozens themselves, then forced other cultivators to risk their lives entering the herb fields protected by residual arrays, gaining dozens more. Now, the total number of medicinal herbs was over a hundred.

“Hmm, I can follow the clan’s pill formula, ignite the furnace, and further solidify my cultivation,” Shi Hao murmured to himself, planning to reshape his body.

The lower world’s Dao was incomplete, its laws imperfect. Although he had already filled the gaps after entering the Upper Realm, he still wished to re-cultivate several stages, perhaps achieving even greater strength.

Now, with so many medicinal herbs piled into the cauldron, the time was ripe.

However, this place was not safe. Though the four experts were trapped, they could return to the altar at any moment and strike back here, causing trouble.

Shi Hao paused, picked up the fallen Chi Yu Crane, and began plucking its feathers, preparing a feast.

“Hmm, this is a pure-blood Chi Yu Crane, with strong medicinal properties—excellent for nourishment. The pill formula also calls for it. No matter, I’ll eat first.”

Shi Hao whispered softly, keeping an eye on the Golden Mountain while preparing his meal.

Soon, the aroma spread. He lit a fire and roasted the crane wings, golden and glistening, their translucent flesh shimmering with radiant light, enough to make anyone’s mouth water.

Meanwhile, the cauldron released a rich fragrance as it stewed the crane meat, with two medicinal herbs floating inside, creating a fragrant broth that made mouths water.

Across the way, Chi Lingkong was furious, wishing to strike Shi Hao dead with a single slap. His eyebrows bristled, and he roared, desperate to rush over and kill him.

“Don’t stop me! I’m going back to slay him!”

“Brother Lingkong, don’t do this,” the other three elders also seethed with hatred, wanting to act but knowing the Life Talismans were too precious to waste. They restrained him forcibly.

“You know hatred and pain too, huh?” Shi Hao glanced at him.

When he first entered, a cultivator had merely picked one herb and was shot dead on the spot. The Fire Demon Palace had acted with arrogance, driving others to their deaths without a care.

“Fiend, pray you never fall into my hands, or I’ll make you wish you were dead!” Chi Lingkong was nearly mad.

Shi Hao ignored him and began feasting.

“So fragrant!”

The golden, glistening crane wing in his hand shimmered with radiant light. Biting into it, the tender flesh melted in his mouth, its flavor so exquisite that he marveled aloud, his mouth dripping with oil.

“Pity Grandpa isn’t here, and there’s no wine. That would have made it even better.”

The broth inside the cauldron shimmered with radiant light, already ready. Shi Hao took a sip, nearly melting his tongue. It was an ultimate treasure soup, and he couldn’t help but praise it loudly.

His pores opened wide, releasing auspicious light, feeling refreshed as if his body had been cleansed. Impurities were expelled, and his bones cracked like popping beans.

“There is no greater delicacy in the world!”

Inside the mountain’s belly, within the colossal Golden Palace.

Chi Lingkong and the others sat cross-legged, unable to hear the Dao’s voice or comprehend the great path. Hearing Shi Hao’s praise, they nearly suffered a spiritual backlash from rage.

How could they focus on cultivation now? They were about to be driven mad!