Chapter 793: Reunion

Shi Hao departed from a colossal city, utilizing a massive teleportation array capable of spanning dozens of provinces.

Otherwise, relying solely on flight, who knows how many years it would take!

A single province, from one end to the other, spans at least tens of millions of miles—some even hundreds of millions. It was an astronomical distance, vast beyond measure.

And that was just for one province, let alone dozens or even hundreds.

Demon Province, since ancient times, had been a land of chaos and bloodshed, where great battles erupted periodically. It was a place steeped in sin and carnage.

The infamous Demon Sunflower Garden, renowned across the Upper Realm as a gathering place for plant-based powerhouses, was located here, adjacent to Celestial Province and directly opposing the Celestial Clan.

Shi Hao had come to Demon Province not to provoke these major factions—even if his feud with the two great sects was irreconcilable, now was not the time to confront them.

He was here to visit his grandfather. They had been separated for some time, and with the Great War of Three Thousand Provinces approaching, he wanted to bid farewell.

This was a desolate wasteland, sparsely populated and barren, with a cluster of volcanoes at its heart.

The Great Demonic God had secluded himself here. When they had last parted, the Fifteenth Grandfather, having absorbed the True Blood of a Demon Sovereign on Demon Island, was plagued by Yin energy and found comfort only by immersing himself in volcanic lava.

The volcanoes stretched endlessly, devoid of vegetation, their craters spewing flames, some even oozing molten lava—a sight both terrifying and awe-inspiring.

“Grandfather!”

Without surprise, after careful searching, Shi Hao found his grandfather within one of the volcanic craters.

The Fifteenth Grandfather sat cross-legged in the lava, his gray hair streaked with black, deep in meditation. Hearing the call, he awoke, overjoyed.

“My child!” He stepped out, donning a gray robe, and hurried forward, his face alight with happiness.

Isolated from the world, he knew nothing of Shi Hao’s recent trials. Yet their swift reunion filled him with warmth and excitement—blood ties were unbreakable.

“Grandfather, your complexion has improved! Your white hair is nearly black again. Next time we meet, will you be a young man?” Shi Hao teased, laughing.

“Hahaha…” The Fifteenth Grandfather was in high spirits. The Yin energy within him was nearly purged, and he stretched out his arms for his grandson to see.

“Ah! They’ve regrown! That’s wonderful!” Shi Hao was ecstatic—his grandfather’s severed arms had finally regenerated, leaving him no longer crippled.

At the Supreme Being Realm, limb regeneration was possible, though it required considerable time.

“Child, you’ve returned so soon. What have you encountered out there?” the Fifteenth Grandfather asked.

“Nothing troublesome. I’ve eaten well, slept soundly, and stumbled upon many great opportunities,” Shi Hao replied, avoiding mention of the hardships to spare his grandfather worry.

“You little rascal, trying to hide things from me. I can tell you’re sugarcoating it. Speak plainly—I’m family,” the Fifteenth Grandfather said, his piercing gaze seeing through the deception.

When Shi Hao confessed his recent ordeals, the old man grew furious. “The Celestial Clan has gone too far!”

Yet he was also relieved—his grandson had gained a formidable master.

The two talked late into the night. Shi Hao revealed he would soon participate in the Great War of Three Thousand Provinces and might be gone for years.

“Hao’er, you must be careful. Forget rankings—just survive!” The Fifteenth Grandfather gripped his hand, his voice firm, though tears nearly fell as he turned away.

Shi Hao’s nose stung as he embraced his grandfather. “Don’t worry, Grandfather. I’ll return alive—no one can take me!”

If not for himself, then for his grandfather, he would survive.

“Take this.” The Fifteenth Grandfather handed him the *Primordial True Interpretation: Myriad Spirits Diagram*, a palm-sized luminous bone carving he had studied extensively, believing it might prove invaluable.

Shi Hao accepted it. Back in the Western Tomb Beast Mountain of the Desolate Region, this diagram had once revealed its extraordinary nature.

“Grandfather, this is the Destiny Stone.” He offered it to the old man.

“If only it could fuse again, it could elevate you further. What a waste,” the Fifteenth Grandfather declined.

Once a Destiny Stone chose its master, even if extracted, it could no longer facilitate perfect evolution in another.

*Crack!*

Shi Hao split the stone in half with his Void Halberd and pressed a piece into his grandfather’s hand. “Even if it can’t fuse, grinding it into powder rivals divine medicine!”

As parting loomed, the two lingered, reluctant to separate.

“Oh, Hao’er, there might be an ancient flame here—the reason behind these endless volcanoes,” the Fifteenth Grandfather mentioned, hoping his grandson would stay and claim it to strengthen himself.

“No need. I have other methods.” Shi Hao shook his head and shared the Ancient Sacrificial Language taught by Qi Daolin, suggesting his grandfather might yet claim the flame.

Finally, the moment of farewell arrived, and both shed tears.

This parting might last years, decades—or forever.

The Great War of Three Thousand Provinces was perilous, especially for those vying for the ultimate prize. Blood would be spilled.

Shi Hao departed cautiously, traversing Demon Province before teleporting to Five Elements Province.

“I wonder if the Divine Striking Stone and the Imperial Butterfly are still waiting.” They had agreed to meet at a certain place, but after so long, were they still there?

Ancient trees lined the cobbled path of a small town. Shi Hao paused briefly before flying toward a nearby mountain range, landing on a low hill.

*Whoosh!*

A streak of divine light shot toward his forehead at blinding speed.

Startled, he dodged, but the projectile pursued relentlessly.

*Clang!*

“This mountain is mine, these trees I planted! To pass, pay the toll!” the divine light screeched.

Unfazed, Shi Hao retrieved his alchemy furnace, unsealed it, and attempted to capture the light.

“You villain! Trying to curse me with the Immortal Tomb’s malice?” It was the Divine Striking Stone, landing before him with a huff.

Soon, the Imperial Butterfly appeared, a golden streak alighting on Shi Hao’s hair.

Overjoyed, Shi Hao realized they had waited faithfully, sparing him a search.

“Brat, you vanished for so long! Heard you had a bloody romantic escapade with some girl, then got kidnapped as a son-in-law and nearly executed?” the Divine Striking Stone cackled, its tone infuriating.

“Scoundrel! First words out of your mouth, and you mock me?” Shi Hao seized it, his grip tightening.

“Ow! Let go, you brute! Since when are your hands so hard?!” it yelped—though exaggerating, as its indestructible nature made it nearly unbreakable.

“You’re outrageous! Leaving us to wait while you stirred up trouble—so many exciting events, and you didn’t take us!” the stone complained, then shamelessly demanded compensation.

Shi Hao smacked it aside. “Don’t change the subject. You’re deflecting—what trouble did you cause? Where’s Silver?”

“Silver” referred to the slumbering Silver Phoenix. By now, Shi Hao was certain—it was that silver-haired woman.

During the Yuan Heaven Secret Realm’s opening, rules barred him from bringing others, so he had entrusted her to the Divine Striking Stone.

“That dumb bird? I chased her off,” the stone boasted.

“Liar!” Shi Hao saw through the bluff and turned to the Imperial Butterfly for the truth.

The butterfly relayed via divine sense: The Silver Phoenix had awakened, transformed into a stunning silver-haired woman, thrashed the Divine Striking Stone across thousands of miles, then departed.

“You said *you* chased *her* off?” Shi Hao arched a brow.

“Damn that bird! A phoenix descendant, nearly ancestral, reborn in divine flames—stronger than ever! And you—laughing? You butchered her feathers, left her looking like a plucked pigeon, and she took it all out on me! That phoenix fire was unbearable! I—ugh, so unlucky!”

The stone ranted, hopping in frustration. Humiliated and battered, it had barely escaped capture.

Back then, Shi Hao had “trimmed” the Silver Phoenix’s radiant feathers to avoid recognition, nearly sending her into hysterics. Upon awakening, her fury was inevitable.

“She was under your watch. Who else would she vent on?” Shi Hao smirked, unsympathetic.

“You brat! *You* messed with her, yet *I* paid the price!” the stone roared, lunging.

Then its eyes bulged, drooling at the multicolored, radiant stone in Shi Hao’s hand—a sight so divine it painted the sky in hues.

“This is…” It gulped.

“The Destiny Stone,” Shi Hao said casually, tossing it lightly.

“Gimme!” It pounced, teeth bared.

Shi Hao sidestepped.

“Big Bro! For my loyalty, my life-risking devotion—you *have* to give it to me!” The stone oozed sycophancy.

“That Silver Phoenix harassing me? Deserved! Next time, I’ll handle her again!”

“No! A beauty so devastatingly stunning, so aloof—*you* deal with her. I’ll take the heat!”

“Speaking of, you trimmed her silver feathers—such intimacy! I’ll spread the word far and wide, forcing her to marry you!”

“Enough nonsense! Stop courting trouble!” Shi Hao glared. The stone was equal parts flattery and threat.

He had already split the Destiny Stone—half for his grandfather, half for the stone.

“Big Bro, you’re the best! If I weren’t male, I’d marry you!” It swallowed the stone shamelessly.

Instantly, it radiated shifting hues—crimson, violet, jade—a spectacle of sacred transformation.

“You can fuse with it?” Shi Hao was stunned.

“Of course! It’s a stone, I’m a stone—fusion’s inevitable. ‘Choosing a master’ only applies to lesser beings!” the stone crowed.

Shi Hao’s heart raced. Was this possible?

“Heh, soon I’ll ascend, evolve perfectly, become the ultimate stone! Start buttering me up—I’ll protect you!” It gloated post-meal.

“Ungrateful wretch!” Shi Hao scowled.

“I took the heat for you! That silver-haired witch chased me for miles, nearly dismantled me! I earned this!” It declared grandly, “Henceforth, I am the *Stone of Destiny*!”

Then its gaze locked onto another stone in Shi Hao’s hand—plain yet exuding profound Dao charm.

“This… what is it?” it trembled.

“The Chaos Stone,” Shi Hao said airily.

“Big Bro! My *real* Big Bro! Give it to me! You must!” It lunged, sprouting stony arms to cling to Shi Hao’s leg, drooling copiously.

Shi Hao ignored it.

“With this, I’ll be the ultimate stone! Leave everything to me!” It promised extravagantly.

Shi Hao weighed the fragment—more lay in his spatial artifact.

“Whatever you ask, I’ll deliver!”

It nearly groveled, clinging desperately.

“Big Bro… I can warm your bed!” it blurted.

“Get lost!” Shi Hao kicked it off, shuddering.

“Er—I meant, I’ll *catch* a bed-warmer! That icy silver-haired beauty? I’ll nab her for you!” It thumped its chest, vowing to abduct sect holy maidens post-fusion.

“Where’s your dignity?” Shi Hao deadpanned.

“For the Chaos Stone, I’d do anything!” it declared shamelessly.

“Take it, shut up.” Shi Hao tossed a dozen chunks, stunning the stone into ecstatic yelps.

“Big Bro! Just wait till I show you!” It ceased its ingratitude, sensing more stones might remain.

To the Imperial Butterfly, Shi Hao said, “No gift this time, but in the ‘Ancient Immortal Domain,’ there’s Divine Fruit and treasures aplenty—enough to fuel your evolution.”

Next, they headed to Demon Island. For the Great War, every sect’s disciples would bring deadly trump cards—preparation was vital.

This time, braving the Celestial River, Shi Hao endured days of torment, harvesting its waters and Immortal Tomb soil.

Thankfully, mastering the Thunder Emperor’s Technique and understanding the curses sped the process—unlike last time’s fortnight ordeal.

“Time to go. The tournament nears,” Shi Hao said.

“Where to?” the stone asked.

“Sin Province.” Rumor held it was a gathering place for beings from the Lower Realm, where clans like the Fire Clan had roots—perhaps Fire Spirit was there.

The name “Sin Province” rankled Shi Hao. He aimed to rise there, carving a path to glory, dominating the era’s pinnacle.

“The Great War of Three Thousand Provinces—here we come! So-called geniuses, ancient sealed freaks—we’ll topple them all!” the Divine Striking Stone bellowed.