Chapter 96: Gathering of Storms—Reunion at the Sky-Mending Pavilion

The Void God Realm, the Initial Land.

“Is it true? Is he really going to appear? I’m genuinely looking forward to it. I’d love to see him at the Heaven Mending Pavilion or the Deer Chasing Academy—just how extraordinary is he?”

“Better to miss than to meet.”

“Miss? What, like a lover? That little freak of a child—if I ever run into him in those sacred lands, I’ll spank his backside into eighteen pieces!”

“That’s fair. Here, that brat is way too vicious. His combat power is absurdly high, downright terrifying. Since we’re restricted to the Blood Movement Realm, facing him would be a disaster.”

In the Initial Land, the great bluestone continued to flicker, constructing one golden passage after another. Figures emerged one after another, stepping out from within. These people hailed from higher-level cave heavens and blessed lands. Having caught wind of the news about that little rascal, they took it extremely seriously and came specifically to verify it.

“Curse my big mouth! I deserve a slap!” Hammer Uncle smacked himself, full of regret. Hearing about the little rascal today had gotten him too excited, and he’d spoken too loudly, accidentally leaking the news.

Bird Grandpa remained unfazed, utterly unconcerned. “Don’t blame yourself. With that freak’s temperament, he’d never let himself be taken advantage of. He’s full of mischief—I bet he’s already scheming something devious right now.”

Treasure Glyph Grandpa, however, was even more shameless. He set up a sign in the most crowded spot, engraved with bold characters:

*”Want to know the milk child’s whereabouts? Deposit one treasure glyph.”*

“That old fox!” Hammer Uncle’s jaw nearly hit the ground when he saw it. That white-bearded geezer was truly a master of business—no wonder the little freak called him Treasure Glyph Grandpa.

Bird Grandpa couldn’t stay calm either. He snatched a tattered cloth and teamed up with Hammer Uncle to sell fake information, drawing a crowd of onlookers.

“See that? Those two old men and the hammer-wielding brute—they’re all cut from the same cloth as that brat. Freaks and oddballs, the lot of them.”

Those in the know pointed and whispered from a distance, deeply understanding the principle that “birds of a feather flock together,” as this moment perfectly illustrated it.

A group clad in black armor appeared, their bodies gleaming with a cold metallic sheen. They strode out of the golden passage and quickly dispersed, questioning the crowd about the little rascal’s whereabouts.

The onlookers were startled. These people were undoubtedly powerful, their origins anything but simple. A superpower was taking notice—who knew if that was good or bad for the child?

Then, a beast bone emerged, wreathed in purple mist, hovering in the air as it flew forward. Several figures stood atop it, led by a woman in violet robes, her eyes bright, teeth white, her figure tall and graceful—exceedingly beautiful. Behind her followed several powerful figures, their presence as oppressive as towering mountains.

“Is that… a member of some ancient royal family?”

“Shh! Quiet! Don’t speak carelessly. We can’t afford to provoke them.”

Many wore solemn expressions, keeping their distance, unwilling to engage with them for fear of inviting disaster.

The violet-robed woman stepped down from the beast bone, her gaze sweeping the area. Without a word, she tossed a treasure glyph each at the stalls of Treasure Glyph Grandpa, Bird Grandpa, and the others, listening quietly as they relayed their information.

“Immortal Maiden, you must be here for the truth, right?” Treasure Glyph Grandpa put on a serious face. He wouldn’t dare deceive someone like her, admitting outright that he could only confirm the brat would head to the Heaven Mending Pavilion or the Deer Chasing Academy—nothing more.

Bird Grandpa, too, wore a grave expression, refraining from exaggeration. Having lived as long as they had, they knew exactly who not to cross—even the slightest deception was out of the question.

“Those two old foxes—no wonder they’re no good! And that hammer brute is just as bad!”

People pointed and muttered. Yet, they finally confirmed it—that endlessly troublesome, hyperactive child was truly about to reveal himself in the real world. This was no rumor or fabrication.

That day, not only did the Void God Realm stir with waves, but even places like the Stone Kingdom buzzed with discussion. Many major powers were deeply interested in the child who had shattered one of Shi Yi’s records before being forcibly expelled by the Void God Realm itself.

Everyone agreed: though this holy terror was an absolute oddity, his talent was world-shaking, his potential immeasurable. He was worth finding and recruiting to their side.

In the next decade or two, this child might very well shake the realms, becoming a near-invincible existence!

Some of the mightiest kings and marquises took action, dispatching their generals to search.

“Hmm, the War King has made his move. He actually sent out his eight most renowned generals—he’s dead set on finding that child.”

“The Wood King has emerged from seclusion too, sending his grandson with a group of experts. It seems they truly value that child—are they planning to recruit him into their estate?”

Numerous major factions mobilized, their forces heading straight for the Heaven Mending Pavilion and the Deer Chasing Academy. With no better leads, they intended to wait there.

It wasn’t just the Stone Kingdom—neighboring ancient kingdoms also erupted in turmoil, sparking many events.

“Have you heard? The human emperor’s most beloved little princess has left the imperial city. Rumor has it she’s traveling far to study.”

This was shocking news. Many speculated—was this princess, blessed by heaven’s grace, heading to the Heaven Mending Pavilion or the Deer Chasing Academy?

“Eyewitnesses saw the phoenix carriage riding the winds, speeding away into the night—likely toward the Heaven Mending Pavilion. It must be true.”

No place remained peaceful. There were even rumors that several ancient remnant beasts had emerged, inquiring human powerhouses about the brat.

“If the ancient remnant beasts are asking, it must be real. Back then, Shi Yi dueled descendants of some remnant beasts and emerged victorious. Now that someone’s broken his record, it’s only natural they’d take notice.”

While many major powers watched closely—some seeking to recruit, others harboring hostility—the Rain Clan fell into the latter category.

Within a grand estate, towering palaces and treasure pavilions stood in clusters—this was the domain of the Rain Clan.

In one hall, several figures sat in cold silence. After discussion, they deemed it necessary to locate the child and monitor all news about him.

Though they took it seriously, they didn’t believe the little rascal could threaten Shi Yi. Their confidence in their nephew was absolute.

“He may have broken Yi’er’s record, but in actual combat, he’d be far inferior—slain in an instant. After all, Yi’er possesses not just the dual-pupils but many other terrifying trump cards.”

“Feng’er and his sister have already entered the Heaven Mending Pavilion. Have them keep an eye out. If they spot any suspicious targets, strike with full force! Also, send one or two more outstanding juniors.”

“Exactly. That brat, by age, couldn’t have cultivated for long. His realm can’t possibly surpass our clan’s disciples.”

Their words were icy, laced with killing intent. Over the years, their hearts had never been at peace—Shi Ziling, his wife, and their vanished child had become a thorn in their side.

Any genius of similar age would immediately trigger their sensitive nerves.

Years ago, they’d dispatched countless experts to assassinate Shi Ziling, only for all of them to be slaughtered, their blood staining the western borders. That family of three had escaped unscathed.

That same day, the Martial King’s Estate also mobilized. They took it seriously—after all, the child had broken the record of their dual-pupiled prodigy. Yet, none could predict their next move.

“The Martial King has been in life-and-death seclusion for years, never appearing. Who knows if he’s alive or dead? Back then, he was a terror who could contend for the throne against the human emperor.”

“Their lineage is truly fearsome and astonishing. Though the imperial capital teems with talent, the Martial King’s Estate alone—with just Shi Yi—outshines countless heroes. It’s chilling.”

As the vast Void God Realm and endless ancient kingdoms buzzed with discussion, and as the great clans took action, the little rascal and Qing Feng were already on the move again.

Having obtained the exact locations of the Heaven Mending Pavilion and the Deer Chasing Academy from the Void God Realm, they set off toward their destination.

The journey was truly long. By their estimates, it spanned at least hundreds of thousands of miles—perhaps even a million—with endless mountain ranges and colossal cities in between.

For ordinary people, reaching there would be impossible. Countless dangers lurked along the way—primordial beasts roamed the land, monstrous avian species darkened the skies, and the path was fraught with hardship.

Human settlements were like islands in a sea, scattered across the boundless wilderness. Great cities stood like lone peaks amidst the endless forests, separated by desolate lands and countless mountain ranges.

No one would have guessed that two children were traveling alone, without any elder’s protection, traversing endless primordial mountains, passing through countless perilous zones, battling ceaselessly as they advanced through life-and-death struggles.

It was the finest tempering. Along the way, they passed through dozens of great cities, resting briefly before pressing onward toward their goal.

Their pace was far from slow. Having accumulated much experience, they only captured swift-horned beasts or docile spirit birds to ride, ensuring rapid movement.

Months flashed by. They’d covered another six to seven hundred thousand miles, looking like wild children in tattered beast-hide garments, riding terrifying beasts as they sped through the wilderness.

By now, they understood the wilds better than human cities. Sometimes, just a scent or a rustle in the grass told them what fearsome creature was approaching.

Finally, they neared their destination—the legendary ancient sacred land.

The Heaven Mending Pavilion and the Deer Chasing Academy lay in the same direction, not too far apart—though “not too far” was relative to the vast land.

The actual distance between them was ninety thousand miles—enough to terrify most mortals, a staggering figure.

“Big Brother, come with me to the Heaven Mending Pavilion. We’re almost there.”

Qing Feng feared that once they reached their destination, the little rascal would leave.

The two wild children emerged from the dense forest, their clothes in tatters, beast-hide garments shredded by thorns. Alongside them was the pitch-black furball.

“We’ll see,” the little rascal said.

“You have to stay! Otherwise, I’ll leave too!” Qing Feng refused to let go.

“Hey, there are so many people here.”

The little rascal was surprised. They were still far from the Heaven Mending Pavilion, yet already they saw beasts galloping and spirit birds soaring—all carrying riders atop extraordinary mounts.

“Wow, such a powerful spirit beast! Big Brother, look—is that the legendary White Jade Dragon Elephant? Its whole body is crystalline white, covered in glyphs. So majestic!”

“Rumor has it the White Jade Dragon Elephant is the Little Western Heaven’s sacred guardian beast. Never thought we’d see one of its descendants here.”

The little rascal nodded.

Along their journey, they’d traversed the wilds and entered many great cities, gaining much knowledge and broadening their horizons.

The Little Western Heaven was a terrifyingly powerful sect, its heritage ancient, tracing back to primordial times.

“I slaughtered a group of bandits, and they hinted at ties to the Little Western Heaven.”

The little rascal frowned. He didn’t want to provoke this sect prematurely—their influence was immense.

“It really might be them. With their ancient heritage, they shouldn’t need to study at the Heaven Mending Pavilion.”

Qing Feng was puzzled.

“Ignore them.”

The little rascal tugged him toward the roadside.

Suddenly, a terrifying ripple swept through the air as a brilliantly feathered raptor soared overhead, carrying a dozen women.

This time, Qing Feng didn’t exclaim—others on the road gasped instead, unable to resist looking up.

“That’s a Five-Colored Peacock, with the bloodline of an ancient divine king! So powerful and divine!”

“Roar—!”

A thunderous roar shook the mountains and rivers, making the countless valleys tremble. Not far away, a Nine-Headed Lion appeared, its body golden, exhaling mist, radiant light spilling forth—as if displeased by the peacock’s cry.

“Is that… an ancient remnant beast?”

The crowd was horrified.

“That is indeed an ancient remnant beast, belonging to a royal family of some ancient kingdom. Are… are royal descendants coming to the Heaven Mending Pavilion? Astonishing.”

A palace rested atop the Nine-Headed Lion’s back, faint figures visible within—their auras extraordinary. They truly might be royal descendants, escorted here by experts.

The little rascal and Qing Feng exchanged glances. This was astounding—they hadn’t even arrived yet, and already they’d encountered such lofty powers.

As they pressed forward, more and more spirit beasts and auspicious creatures appeared, each terrifyingly powerful, some so strong they made people shudder.

Compared to those riders, the little rascal and Qing Feng looked like two little beggars—pitiful in their ragged beast-hide clothes, without even a single spirit beast to ride.

“Should we go catch another beast?” Qing Feng whispered.

“Forget it. Why are there so many people here?”

The little rascal was puzzled.

“You didn’t know? The Heaven Mending Pavilion’s been buzzing lately. That freak from the Void God Realm is coming, drawing attention from all directions. Many came specifically to see him.”

Qing Feng stifled a laugh beside him.

“You’re the freak!”

The little rascal grumbled inwardly, though he kept it to himself. His face was smudged with dirt, his hair disheveled.

“Is it really that exaggerated?”

“Yes. Many major powers want to find him—some to recruit, others to harm.”

The little rascal frowned but said no more, pulling Qing Feng along.

“Look! A phoenix carriage is flying over! What kind of divine bird is that? A Blue Phoenix?”

Someone exclaimed.

Streaks of light filled the sky as a carriage soared past, drawn by a radiant blue divine bird exuding a powerful aura.

“That’s the Fire Nation’s phoenix carriage. Hah, another formidable figure has arrived.”

Someone sighed.

“Big Brother, are they all here for you?” Qing Feng whispered.

“Doesn’t seem like it.”

The little rascal frowned and shook his head.

Soon, they learned astonishing news—the Heaven Mending Pavilion was opening its Holy Courtyard, said to admit only the most dazzling talents.

Moreover, the little rascal heard another rumor: Shi Yi might be coming.

“This is going to be lively. That troublemaking brat from the Void God Realm is arriving, and the dual-pupiled one is escorting his younger siblings. They might just collide.”

“I heard that too—fresh news. Shi Yi has grand ambitions, intending to visit the Holy Courtyard!”

This revelation naturally caused an uproar.

The dual-pupiled one’s arrival—even his potential enrollment—was explosive news. Whether in the ancient kingdoms or the Void God Realm, it was enough to trigger a storm!