Upon the low hill, the earthen grave was not large. Children wept and cried, scattering clusters of pure white wildflowers into the air, carried by the wind, blindingly bright, like tears drifting with the breeze.
All villagers had come, standing solemnly before the grave. This was a farewell of death, a final separation never to meet again. They recalled the little toddler, the cheerful and optimistic youth, and their eyes blurred with tears.
Wailing arose, heart-wrenching and soul-piercing, startling flocks of birds from nearby woods.
“My child, why have you gone like this?” Elder Shi Yun Feng wept bitterly. Shi Hao had been raised by him, and now he, a man with white hair, was forced to bury one with black strands.
All wept for Shi Hao. As a child, he had neither parents nor guardians, like a little orphan. Though cared for by villagers, he had always been somewhat lonely.
He had a particular fondness for beast milk, perhaps because of a lack of security and the warmth of familial love.
Later, he ventured from the Great Wilderness and rose to prominence in the world. What trials had he faced then? What near-death challenges had he survived? Villagers didn’t know, but they understood there had been many. He had suffered greatly, alone.
In the end, he became the Human Emperor, one of the most powerful rulers in existence, a notion villagers could scarcely believe.
“My child, you came this way, fighting ceaselessly with such hardship, finally reigning supreme by your own might, only to reach the end of your life so soon.”
The villagers mourned deeply, lamenting the tragic fate of this youth. Shi Hao had fought his way forward, rising by his own efforts, only to meet his death so prematurely—a true tragedy of youth.
News reached the Stone Kingdom’s upper ranks. Several ancient kings trembled, overcome by grief. The entire palace was shaken, draped in white mourning silks, echoing with cries of mourning.
“What, the Stone Emperor has passed away?”
The news spread outward, sending tremors through all factions.
Though many had anticipated this result, the confirmation still created an enormous uproar, shaking the entire world.
Little Shi had ultimately perished, without miracle or salvation. His life force dimmed and broke, reaching the end of his path.
“What a pity, indeed!”
Shi Hao’s death was too tragic. At a young age, he had already stood at the peak of the Wilderness Domain. Given more time, no one could predict how high he might have risen.
“Heaven envies talent. His death is not only a loss to the Stone Kingdom but to the entire Lower Realm, for he would have carved an indelible mark upon the world.”
“What a shame! A legend faded, that might have soared to the ninth heaven.”
The news spread far and wide, like a hurricane, soon shaking the entire world, sparking a massive upheaval.
Undoubtedly, Little Shi’s death couldn’t have passed quietly; it provoked a tremendous storm. Discussions erupted everywhere, with immense impact.
The Stone Kingdom placed an empty coffin for mourning. Leaders of all sects responded with tributes. Countless people arrived.
“Stone Emperor, a peerless hero. Still young, he could battle gods themselves…” Some sect leaders murmured in awe.
“Alas, we never lived to see him ascend nor witness his rivalry with the first generations of the Upper Realm. His glory faded in the Lower Realm—what a regret.”
“Fire Emperor has arrived!” someone cried out.
“Wood Emperor has arrived!” Another report followed.
…
This astonished many, for emperors rarely ever visited foreign capitals, yet in this funeral, such figures appeared, and not just one.
Later, people discovered that rulers of some of the great powers from the Eight Realms had also arrived.
“Venerable Azure-Jawed Arrives!”
“Silver Emperor of the Sea arrives!”
“Venerable Azure-Vine arrives!”
…
The crowd stood in awe and trepidation. Though several major calamities had occurred, the realm still harbored many who survived, and this day witnessed the appearance of over a dozen venerables from different great regions.
“This young friend was truly extraordinary, yet departed too soon. We can only sigh in regret. Alas, I wished I could have seen further into the path he would walk.” Another old man arrived at Shi City.
Xiao Tian, Nine-Headed Lion, Xia You Yu, and others were all astonished. They recognized him as the man from the Southern Yun God Mountain, a former deity whose name carried “Yun,” though he had since fallen from divinity.
On this day, many arrived, all masters of great might, inspiring astonishment.
Though a multitude came, not a single disturbance took place. Not only did the mourning visitors show respect, but even the Stone Kingdom’s several venerables standing silently in place were enough to deter any mischief.
The crowd stood in awe. Without noticing, the Stone Kingdom had already risen to dominate a realm, towering above all others. For most sects, merely possessing one venerable was already a miracle.
Indeed, the vast majority had great respect for Little Shi and wouldn’t dare to behave disrespectfully. Only a few factions needed reminding through quiet warnings.
As the national mourning period in Shi City ended and calm returned gradually after many days, discussions continued across distant lands, filled with sorrow for Shi Hao’s untimely death.
In the Upper Realm, where spiritual energy flowed thick, a divine garden flourished, its lush vegetation concealing black Mo Kuiplants emitting ominous glows. Not just a couple, but a whole field of them.
“Have the beings from the Lower Realm truly perished?”
Nearby, from a colossal mountain, a powerful voice rang from within a grand palace, shaking the entire divine garden with reverberating echoes as multicolored mist surged wildly.
Elsewhere in the Upper Realm, a realm choked with deathly energy, thick black mist spreading, a voice emerged from a land of the dead—just two words spoken chillingly: “Worthless!”
Then a tremendous disturbance erupted, as if a colossal entity turned over. The Land of the Dead had paid a great price, losing the sacred bones of the Void Beast, only for it all to be in vain.
In a peaceful land, where celestial mist veiled clusters of heavenly palaces, a powerful being seated in the central sacred palace spoke with chilling coldness, “How many years has it been since my heavenly kingdom last tasted defeat?”
In the Academy of Fate, an immense domain where countless young elites pursued cultivation, voices murmured.
“Big news—shocking news! The Land of the Dead, Mo KuiGarden, Heavenly Kingdom, and others allied together and plotted against the Lower Realm. Yet every being they sent has died.”
“They say one youth was behind it all, slaying every invader single-handedly.”
“Have these factions grown so rotten? This is an absolute shame! But what kind of youth could he be to slay a group of beings who had kindled divine flames? Truly no ordinary figure.”
At the Garden of Life, several women resembling goddesses of vitality had laughed at first, but soon turned serious, also discussing the incident.
“Incredible! That boy was only fifteen or sixteen, yet so strong—slaying six or seven false gods. Truly amazing.”
“Pity we can no longer descend to the Lower Realm. Otherwise, transporting him here to join our Garden of Life would be ideal.”
“Were we to do that, those few major factions might harbor resentment, even striking from the shadows.”
“Why fear them? This isn’t their domain alone. The Upper Realm teems with powerful beings who would deter them.”
The Nine Heavens Divine Academy, situated in the celestial dome, vast and majestic, was also buzzing with discussion among its many young cultivators.
“Latest news: That youth was slain in battle. A pity indeed. Though he used external help, wielding such methods is impressive.”
“Even in the Upper Realm, where the firstborn rise and prodigies abound, should he have ascended, he would surely have flourished with brilliance. Too soon did he fall.”
“Communication with the Lower Realm grows harder. I suspect the two realms will sever entirely soon.”
…
The battle in the Lower Realm had far-reaching consequences. Even among the academies and ancient sects in the Upper Realm, hushed discussions arose in small circles.
Indeed, inter-realm communication had grown increasingly difficult. Descending was now impossible altogether, and ascending from the Lower Realm, though routes and secret techniques existed, had also grown exponentially harder.
In the Lower Realm, discussions also abounded.
“We should return. In the end, we never found those great paths of fate.”
“Indeed, we must leave soon, or else the Celestial Path will close entirely, and we’ll never return.”
The Upper Realm’s noble ladies and extraordinary talents were deliberating their departure.
Defying Heaven’s Will had profound consequences, tightening the Celestial Laws, severing all connections between the realms. Even ascending from a lower world via ancient pathways had grown more difficult.
In ancient times, such ascent was permitted if one followed those few Celestial Roads.
As for descending from the upper, higher realm, such passage had always been restricted, and now it was completely cut off.
“I heard a secret—the bones of Shi Hao were given away and did not perish with him.” A noble lady whispered softly.
“What?” Others were astonished.
Though utmost secrecy surrounded this information, after some time, it quietly spread in hushed circles, leaving many stunned.
“The Qin Hao of the Immortal Mountain… he successfully transplanted the Supreme Bone?” Bi Gu was shocked.
“Yes, entirely successful, with no adverse reactions. His blood energy is abundant, and his physical might terrifyingly powerful!” Hong Feng affirmed confidently.
“Too incredible! That must have happened about three months ago. Only now does the news emerge.” Shui Yue murmured softly.
“One person possessing two ultimate bone treasures—this is defying the heavens!” Xuan Ming exclaimed in awe, nearly disbelieving.
“Having two authentic bones, just how powerful could he become? Within the Upper Realm’s generation, he might very well be invincible, ranking in the top ten!” Even the gentle Lan Yu sighed.
They all nodded. Indeed, this era had produced several extraordinary figures in the Upper Realm, each with unimaginable great fortunes. For example, the young master of the Immortal Hall was simply an insurmountable mountain for his peers.
Furthermore, it was rumored that the Upper Realm concealed more mysterious prodigies, even surpassing the Immortal Hall’s genius. For his generation, their strength was unfathomable—terrifyingly so.
Above all, the Upper Realm was vast. Who could even fathom how many hidden geniuses still remained?
“I had once favored Shi Hao, but now it seems his younger brother is even stronger, possessing two Supreme Bones. His future is boundless!”
They discussed.
“Let’s go see him. Perhaps we might accompany him back to the Upper Realm. I suspect neither of them can stay here for long, or else the Celestial Path will sever.”
“Let’s go!”
The success of Qin Hao’s bone transplantation quietly spread, shaking Four Directions. What kind of figure could he become? This would surely defy destiny in the future.
The noble ladies and gifted youths of the Upper Realm all visited the Immortal Mountain, and the cheerful interactions between them indirectly confirmed the truth of the news, causing quite a stir.
“Our palace is quiet now. Many had once sought to win Stone Emperor’s favor.” Ming Wang spoke softly. Since Shi Hao’s demise, the noble ladies and gifted youths had only come once and never again.
“This is natural. The Emperor has perished, and Qin Hao is destined to rise. Possessing two Supreme Bones, he will command respect even in the Upper Realm, making him worth courting.” Peng Jiu sighed.
In Shi Village, the villagers continued with life, but sadness returned whenever they thought of Shi Hao.
Three months had passed. Around Shi Hao’s earthen grave, the vegetation had grown tall. Just days ago, villagers had come to burn a great deal of mourning paper there—it had been exactly one hundred days.
“This low hill seems to have more spiritual energy now. Could it be because Xiao Hao is buried here?” Shi Lin Hu was astonished and uncertain.
“How I wish this child could come back to life!” Shi Fei Jiao sighed deeply.
During these days, villagers came often. Eventually, they shook their heads and descended the hill, leaving.
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