Chapter 704: Who Are You?

At this moment, countless thoughts flashed through her mind, and her heart trembled as she murmured to herself, “A heaven-defying warrior… So there truly are people with such similar auras, both so extraordinary.”

This scene before her eyes involuntarily reminded Yun Xi of that youth from the lower realm. The two bore an uncanny resemblance—both capable of plucking enemy heads from chaotic battlefields as easily as picking fruit from a bag, truly embodying the essence of a heaven-defying prodigy.

Back then, Shi Hao had once stood atop the Dao Platform before the Kun Peng’s nest in the North Sea, commanding the winds and clouds, battling countless powerhouses from all directions, unstoppable and unmatched.

Both were at the Transformation Spirit Realm, yet even Venerables fell before them without exception!

And now, this youth before her carried the same aura—boldly slaying a deity on the spot, dazzling beyond measure, exuding an invincible grandeur, his divine might awe-inspiring.

“Let’s go!”

Shi Hao swooped down, gripping the young genius of the War Clan, and rushed toward Yun Xi, swiftly carrying her away into the distance.

In the sky, the Fire Cloud Sparrow was stunned with disbelief. This youth had slain their leader and even killed that expert from the War Clan—absolutely terrifying in strength. So why was he fleeing now?

As for the other fierce birds, they were all paralyzed with fear. The youth’s earlier display had been nothing short of horrifying—like a demon incarnate, cutting down powerful Golden Crows in the blink of an eye.

Moreover, he had casually slaughtered several other fierce birds along the way, leaving them utterly terrified.

“After them!”

The Fire Cloud Sparrow and other divine birds were no ordinary foes. In an instant, they realized their opponent dared not linger in battle—he must have known he was outmatched.

Soon, they figured it out: this youth had formidable techniques, but they couldn’t be sustained for long. Now that he could no longer wreak havoc, it was the perfect opportunity to eliminate him.

“I don’t mind killing a few more. Those who stand in my way shall die,” Shi Hao declared.

His words carried extraordinary intimidation. Some of the fierce birds halted mid-flight, not daring to dive toward him.

However, the Fire Cloud Sparrow and others were undeterred, continuing their relentless pursuit.

Shi Hao sealed the young genius of the War Clan and tossed him into his cauldron. As he fled, he also collected the corpse of the Golden Crow that had blocked his path.

To him, this was not just a delicacy—it was a treasure of flesh and blood!

“You…!” The members of the Hundred Birds Mercenary Corps were furious. Their Golden Crow leader had been slain, and now his corpse had been stolen. This was an unbearable humiliation.

“Whoosh!”

The next moment, they froze in shock. Shi Hao, pulling Yun Xi along, activated the divine ability of “Shrinking the Earth to an Inch.” After dashing a short distance, they plunged into the earth, vanishing deep into the soil.

The flock of fierce birds beat their wings, launching their most ferocious assault. They bombarded the ancient battlefield’s surface, spewing runes from their beaks, while some even slashed at the earth with their divine wings, tearing it apart.

But it was all in vain. Though they ravaged the soil, they found no trace of Shi Hao.

“Shrinking the Earth to an Inch” was a supreme human ability, renowned as the pinnacle of speed in the world. Mastery of it allowed one to traverse heaven and earth freely. At its peak, one could even journey between the sun and moon, roaming the cosmos.

Some said it could ascend to the Ninth Heaven or descend to the Netherworld, crossing between different realms at will.

Naturally, such a divine technique could also be used for earth traversal—what mortals called “earth escape.” Shi Hao had only recently mastered this aspect, hence his use of it now.

The Hundred Birds Mercenary Corps seethed with rage, but there was nothing they could do. Shi Hao and the Heavenly Maiden had vanished underground, and as flying creatures, they were ill-suited for pursuit beneath the earth.

“Next time, bring earth-traveling treasures!” the Fire Cloud Sparrow growled bitterly. The losses this time were too great—how would they explain this to their leader?

Much later, Shi Hao and Yun Xi finally emerged from the earth, accompanied by a haze of yellow soil as they returned to the surface.

“The Bloody Plains are sealed and restricted—even the underground is affected,” Yun Xi murmured with a frown. They had only traversed eight hundred miles before feeling the strain.

This ancient battlefield spanned fifty thousand miles in radius. They pressed onward, deeper into its heart.

Their goal now wasn’t to reach Heavenly Province but to buy time, waiting for reinforcements. Once the Heavenly Clan’s ancient ancestor—the one who had once forged the glory of the Ancient Times era—awakened, everything would change.

That old Heavenly Being had once dominated three thousand provinces, his might shaking the Upper Realm!

This ancient battlefield teemed with ghosts and specters, requiring constant vigilance.

Especially in the deeper regions, where numerous demonic spirits lurked, danger was ever-present. Shi Hao and his companion avoided several perilous zones, steering clear of encounters with True Gods, proceeding with caution.

At the foot of a stone mountain, they paused and stopped.

“Let’s rest here.”

The place was barren, devoid of grass, and eerily silent.

Under normal circumstances, fleeing for one’s life would be a nerve-wracking ordeal. But with Shi Hao around, it was anything but dull.

His energy was boundless, his curiosity about the ancient battlefield insatiable. And now, in high spirits, he busied himself with the Golden Crow—plucking feathers, gutting, and cleaning it with practiced ease.

Yun Xi watched in silent exasperation. How could this guy be so nonchalant? Pursued to this point, with True Gods potentially closing in at any moment, and here he was, thinking about food.

“Good thing I brought plenty of spirit spring water and all kinds of seasonings. Preparedness averts peril,” Shi Hao muttered to himself, thoroughly pleased.

Soon, the Golden Crow was prepped and ready. He skewered it, roasting it over his own Dao flames, then brought out his bone cauldron to prepare a rich broth.

“You…!”

When the young genius of the War Clan was released and saw this scene, he nearly fainted from terror. What kind of madness was this?

A divine-level Golden Crow, roasted to a golden crisp, dripping fragrant oils that sizzled in the flames.

How could the War Clan’s young genius not be stunned?

Then, his hair stood on end. This guy was beyond savage—slaying his foes was one thing, but eating them?!

“Speak. How many experts have you mobilized this time? How many Heavenly Gods have you summoned? How many True Gods? And which other mercenary groups are involved?” Shi Hao grilled the Golden Crow while casually interrogating, hoping to extract valuable intel.

“I… don’t know,” the Heavenly Clan youth stammered.

“Playing tough, huh? Should I roast you next?” Shi Hao sneered, his gaze sweeping over the youth like an invisible pressure. Yet his hands never stopped working.

He sprinkled seasonings over the Golden Crow, then produced a jar of honey, glazing the golden wings with swift, almost artistic motions.

The War Clan youth shuddered, gaping in disbelief. Who carried stuff like this around? He’d never heard of any cultivator being so… eccentric.

But more than that, he was terrified. What if this guy decided to roast him too? The thought sent chills down his spine.

“I truly don’t know. The elders made the decisions, and I’m just a junior with decent talent. How would I be privy to such matters? I followed an uncle here for training.”

He spoke cautiously, his face pale, desperate not to provoke this demon before him.

Gone was the arrogance of before. Now, fear gripped his heart. Even his uncle had been effortlessly slain—how could he hope to stand a chance?

“Then you’re useless. If you know nothing, I might as well kill you,” Shi Hao mused aloud.

“No!” The War Clan youth trembled, struggling futilely against his seals.

“Who are the top talents among the War Clan’s younger generation?” Shi Hao asked. He doubted this so-called “genius” represented the clan’s true elites.

“My clan has three War Kings in the younger generation. Any one of them could become a legend—their strength is beyond measure.”

Shi Hao nodded. That made sense. The War Clan, once an Imperial Clan, would surely have true prodigies. This guy was far from their level.

“War Kings, huh? Quite the title. Why not call them War Emperors?” Shi Hao teased.

“Well… there are rumors that such a title might exist,” the youth admitted hesitantly, paling further.

“What?” Shi Hao was startled. An offhand question had yielded unexpected intel.

“I don’t know if it’s true, but there’s talk in the clan that someone in this generation may have earned the title of ‘War Emperor.'”

The implications were obvious.

Shi Hao pressed for details.

In the War Clan, only the most exceptional talents—those surpassing all predecessors—could earn the title of War Emperor.

Throughout history, only a handful in the War Clan had ever held that title. They could be counted on one hand—exceedingly rare.

Most of those few had emerged during the Ancient Times era, the very figures who had forged the clan’s unparalleled glory, earning it the revered name—War Emperor Clan.

And now, in this era, another War Emperor had appeared?!

Shi Hao glanced back at Yun Xi, noticing her distracted gaze. She wasn’t paying attention to his interrogation but was instead staring fixedly at the roasting Golden Crow, lost in thought.

He grinned. “People always scold me for loving food. Finally, I’ve met a kindred spirit!”

Delighted to find someone who understood him, his laughter was bright and infectious. He tore off a honey-glazed wing and offered it to Yun Xi.

Yun Xi’s violet hair shimmered, her gem-like eyes radiant with spirit. Her delicate nose and rosy lips framed a beauty that could steal breaths.

Hearing Shi Hao’s words, she nearly facepalmed. She was no kindred spirit—she’d never had such quirks. Cultivators didn’t indulge like this.

Her distraction stemmed from memories of the past—of a youth who’d once entered Hundred Shattered Mountains carrying a massive bundle filled with pots, pans, and seasonings, becoming the butt of jokes.

Later, it became clear: that guy was a glutton, eating everything from flying beasts to running game, even the Primordial Chaos Water… and occasionally, human ears.

Yun Xi had often wondered—when that guy wrestled her down and bit her snow-white earlobe, had he been treating it as a delicacy?

Snapping back to reality, she accepted the golden wing, watching as it shimmered with radiant essence. The scene felt eerily familiar.

Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, her luminous eyes studied the youth before her. Why did he share this habit—this love for food, this habit of carrying seasonings? He was so like that person!

Both radiated confidence, both fearless in battle, both carrying that indescribable aura of “invincibility.”

Too similar.

Yun Xi’s heart trembled. Could it be… the same person? She couldn’t believe it. That person should have perished in the wastelands of the lower realm.

Yet, doubt gnawed at her. Unable to resist, she reached out, her jade-like fingers brushing through Shi Hao’s dark hair.

Then, in a bold move, she pinched his ear—lightly tugging it.

“Who are you?” she whispered, her voice soft yet magnetic, her gaze piercing as if trying to see into his soul.