The dawn unfolded like golden light cascading from the heavens. Beneath the willow tree at the village’s edge, Shi Hao sat cross-legged, his body radiant and crystalline. He had remained in meditation throughout the entire night, undeterred by fatigue. He had heard many secrets whispered in his mind while his essence flowed like a serene stream, plunging him into a near-trance.
“Time to rise and train!” shouted some children, who had woken up early and of their own accord. They began their morning exercises at the village edge, facing the morning glow.
Shi Hao opened his eyes and, seeing them, was reminded of his own youthful self, prompting a smile to form. He thought back to those days when he, too, would train diligently at dawn.
The children flashed him mischievous glances while practicing, and only Shi Lin Hu’s watchful eye nearby kept them from running over to him.
Calm filled Shi Hao’s heart. He felt such contentment in the simplicity of village life, though he knew those days were gone forever. Now he had his own path to pursue, and it would be difficult for him to remain in Shi Village for long.
In the following days, Shi Hao kept his promise, teaching various divine beast arts to Zi Yun, Da Peng, Xiao Qing, and the others. He hoped to make them stronger, for it was from them that he once learned his first treasures, using those insights to charge forward and achieve his present stature.
A sacrificial altar was erected in the center of the village, glowing with hues of azure and gold. Though clearly crafted from jade, it shimmered like metal. This was the work of the Willow God, using only the finest materials. Etched with care, it exuded a faint aura of primordial chaos, making the very heavens and earth seem transformed with its presence.
Village Chief Shi Yun Feng sighed, knowing that the Willow God was preparing to depart. This act was its final gift to Shi Village.
Though mighty enough to tower over all existence, the Willow God was not without feeling. The time spent in the village had left it with unforgettable memories, hence its preparations.
This altar functioned both as a magical formation to protect the village and as a grand transmission array, enabling travel across distant lands—so long as one knew the coordinates.
This served to reinforce the divine formation already in place!
Of course, access and control of this altar needed to be tightly regulated, lest it lead to calamity should it be misused for unrestricted communication with the outside world.
“Boom!”
A thunderous roar echoed across the mountains. Deep within, Mao Qiu and Shi Hao sparred fiercely. Its golden fur gleamed with divine radiance, shimmering like silken tapestry.
Shi Hao grimaced. Even clad in his Indestructible Golden Body armor, he struggled under the force of the golden monkey’s blows. The divine fire ignited by Mao Qiu’s black iron staff scorched through, rattling Shi Hao’s bones.
“You rascal, you’re going all-out! Don’t blame me for taking it easy on you!” Shi Hao roared, unleashing the Kunpeng Method as he surged forward, his body wreathed in the alternating flow of Yin and Yang energies.
“Come on, come on, come on! I’ll defeat you with just one finger!” Mao Qiu grew to man-height—not towering like a mountain nor as small as a fist—and spoke arrogantly.
The battle between the two sent clouds and dust spiraling into the heavens, shattering stones and tearing through the sky. Had it not been within the ‘Divine Demon Battlefield,’ the mountains would have surely been devastated beyond recognition.
“Marvelous!” Many watched in awe, including Qing Feng and Da Zhuang, whose hearts soared as they witnessed this breathtaking clash.
Yue Chan and Qin Hao were also present, standing atop a cliff, amazed at the sheer talent unfolding before them. They beheld Shi Hao’s raw physical might as he clashed head-on with Zhu Yan in a battle of brute strength.
It should be noted that the physical prowess of these golden divine apes was unparalleled, especially the rare variant with dragon horns. Their bodies were often described as imperishable.
In ancient times, an ape like this had nearly toppled the Western Sect, nearly dethroning its master before claiming leadership for itself.
It took the Western Sect’s own leader, with his Six-Zhang Golden Body(nearly ten-foot golden body), immense effort to barely break free and subdue the monstrous Zhu Yan.
“Roar…”
In the middle of the fray, Shi Hao unleashed the Kunpeng Method with unmatched ferocity. With a skyward howl, he transformed into a divine fiend, exuding boundless strength.
The golden ape leapt skyward, its form momentarily blurred, and then—astoundingly—another Shi Hao appeared in the arena, raving and battling the original.
“Hmph! Impostor! Who do you think you are? Dare you impersonate me!” Mao Qiu mocked.
Shi Hao grinned, his teeth gleaming with brilliance. He envied the 72 Transformations intensely, wishing to learn it at once. He hadn’t expected Zhu Yan to challenge him so fiercely.
He had studied it before, but only partially, as Mao Qiu hadn’t fully recovered at that time, leaving its technique crude and unrefined.
“You little monkey, come here! Let’s see who can defeat whom!” Shi Hao shouted, invoking the true Kunpeng treasure art as he surged forth in a mighty assault.
“Boom!”
The battlefield trembled violently, the Divine Demon Battlefield itself shaking as if on the verge of collapse.
“Body of Ten Thousand Forms!” Zhu Yan cried, soaring high before his body began fracturing, spewing forth countless golden apes that filled the sky, all rushing forth to attack.
Shi Hao laughed heartily, unafraid. Activating his twin divine eyes, he pierced through the illusion to spot Zhu Yan’s true form and launched a counterstrike.
The battle between the two was fierce, a clash of titans that held the onlookers spellbound.
In the end, Shi Hao groaned in pain, his teeth clenched, as the golden ape bellowed incessantly. Only then did the battle draw to a close.
“Hey, Mao Qiu, teach me the 72 Transformations,” Shi Hao said, lying on the ground, worn out but eyes ablaze with passion, watching the nervous monkey.
“Not a chance. That’s a secret passed down only within our bloodline. You’ve already learned fragments of it, and that’s more than enough,” Mao Qiu refused flatly.
“I can offer you supreme treasures in return—just as powerful, if not more. I won’t short-change you,” Shi Hao countered.
“Hmm, I must admit, some of the Kunpeng’s core transformations are rather impressive. They might just meet my standards,” Mao Qiu replied, eyeing Shi Hao warily.
After all, the Kunpeng ranked among the Ten Primordial Beasts, and its arts were hailed as supreme divine techniques capable of paving one’s path to godhood should they master them.
“You’re quite the audacious monkey,” Qin Hao muttered from afar, his eyes gleaming with intrigue. He coveted Shi Hao’s techniques as well, eyeing Zhu Yan’s 72 Transformations.
As for Yue Chan, her gaze sparkled with interest, keenly observing the exchange, hoping to unravel the mysteries for herself.
Unfortunately, both Shi Hao and the golden monkey remained cautious. Such techniques would not be shared. Even though Qin Hao was Shi Hao’s blood brother, the latter remained wary and ignored him, unprepared to trust him just yet.
“If you wish to learn, I shall teach you,” Shi Hao said to Mao Qiu, promising to share fully and generously.
“Hmm, perhaps we needn’t exchange everything—only the core parts,” Zhu Yan replied, scratching its head. Bound by ancestral taboos, it hesitated to break its vows.
“Fine!” Shi Hao nodded in agreement.
Mao Qiu sought only the masculine aspects of the Kunpeng Method, those that aligned with its own style of forceful, unyielding, aggressive techniques. It would be uncomfortable transforming into a mere fish swimming in the water.
Likewise, Shi Hao was not intent on acquiring Zhu Yan’s entire mastery—only the 72 Transformations sufficed.
Zhu Yan also taught him, alongside the 72 Transformations, the complete version of the Three-Headed Six-Armed Spell. Though wondrous, it was not entirely unique, as the Western Sect possessed similar techniques, such as the Thousand-Handed Buddha.
In the following days, Shi Hao immersed himself in cultivating the 72 Transformations, finding immense joy in its intricacies.
This secret art was truly astonishing—by transforming into a certain form, it temporarily granted the characteristics and divine powers of that being. It was an unparalleled wonder!
Of course, it had its limitations; it was not an all-powerful technique. For instance, no matter how hard Shi Hao tried, even if he transformed into a Six-Zhang Golden Body(ten-foot golden body), that alone wouldn’t confer the true divine might of such a being.
“Marvelous!” Shi Hao mused aloud. He had temporarily ceased practicing the True Phoenix Art, an incomplete technique inferior to the 72 Transformations. He yearned to master and perfect it as swiftly as possible.
“Wow, he changed! Uncle Xiao Hao turned into a bone tower!” a group of children shouted in astonishment.
Each day, Shi Hao practiced at the village edge.
Xiao Ta scoffed, annoyed that this brat had begun imitating it.
“Ahh, he changed again! He’s turned into a little red bird!” another child exclaimed, eyes alight with excitement as he rushed to catch it.
In the blink of an eye, Shi Hao transformed once more into a willow tree, vibrant and verdant, rooting itself into the soil, thrilling the children as they clapped their hands in delight.
Suddenly, a woman appeared in a radiant glow, exuding divine elegance. Yet with each step she took, thunderous sounds accompanied her, and in an instant, she stood before Yue Chan.
Startled, Yue Chan beheld a figure exactly like herself staring back.
“Would this be enough to fool the original?” Shi Hao asked.
…
After several days, the moment of departure arrived. Shi Hao could not remain in Shi Village indefinitely; it was time to return to the Shi Kingdom.
“Are you sure you all really wish to come?” Shi Hao asked earnestly. While he initially planned to take only Qing Feng, his childhood companions surrounded him, eager to venture beyond the wilds and explore the outside world.
“I long to command mighty troops and carve a path across ten thousand miles!” Da Zhuang declared.
“I wish to see the red dust world for myself and discover what this colorful universe holds!” Pi Hou said, his voice filled with longing.
“Very well! I shall take you with me. And if ever you grow tired, disillusioned, or weary, I shall return you home!” Shi Hao nodded, resolved to fulfill their wishes.
Now that he possessed the means, he wished to grant them the fullness of the experience.
The village’s altar glowed with divine light as Shi Hao set forth with a group of companions, including Qin Hao and Yue Chan. His parents, however, chose to stay behind to savor their time in the village a while longer.
They emerged at the ancestral altar within the Shi Kingdom palace, stepping forth with serene confidence.
“Is this the outside world—the palace grounds of the Shi royal family?” the youths from Shi Village gasped in awe.
Shi Hao delivered Da Zhuang to the War King, who would teach him the art of command and how to conquer ten thousand miles of battlefield. He entrusted Pi Hou to the Huo Tianwang estate, allowing him to experience life beyond the wilderness. Qing Feng joined Peng Jiu, who would teach him the ways of the arcane.
As for himself, Shi Hao resumed his cultivation, diligently refining his techniques, and striving to enhance his battle prowess.
Half a month passed, and as Shi Hao’s hair swayed, Xiao Ta shuddered and murmured, “It’s about to begin!”
“Boom!”
On that fateful day, the heavens split open, revealing an immense fissure. From it emerged countless figures, terrifying and radiant with electric halos.
Shi Hao was taken aback. Activating his Divine Eyes—even from such a distance—he could clearly see—they appeared to be an entire horde of gods and demons!
“I must cultivate my own Celestial Eye. Always relying on the Divine Eyes is unsustainable,” Shi Hao said, stunned.
But how many could truly master the Celestial Eye? It was a path of immense difficulty!
Above the darkened sky, lightning surged, and the rift widened, revealing more horrifying forms and awe-inspiring omens!
“Is the war for godhood about to commence?” Shi Hao asked.
“They’re assembling. For them to dispatch so many heavenly soldiers, it seems they’re intent on overturning the Huang Domain, disregarding consequences in pursuit of those few treasures,” Xiao Ta murmured.
In a flash of divine light, the Willow God appeared within the Central Palace. At once, Shi Hao felt reassured. With the Willow God present, no matter how dire the situation, he felt no fear.
“This battle is fast approaching. It will end within these few days,” the Willow God whispered softly.
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