The imperial capital of Stone Country still stood in majestic splendor, its towering walls stretching like a magnificent mountain ridge. “The Divine Array was activated but shattered,” murmured Shi Hao as he stood before the city gates, gazing silently for a long time. The walls seemed forged from black metal, gleaming with cold brilliance, clearly the manifestation of ancient glyphs’ power. Yet, they were marred by past devastation, leaving behind only faint traces of their former glory. The gates stood wide open, bustling with endless streams of beings, their shoulders brushing as they moved, the city still lively and prosperous.
Returning once more, Shi Hao felt a different sensation. In his youth, he had arrived eagerly, seeking his grandfather, only to ignite fierce battles here against the Yu Clan and the Martial Prince’s Mansion, gaining fame throughout Stone City. Now, the city simmered with hidden turmoil—Stone Emperor had vanished, and unseen dangers lurked within. Influences from distant sects had begun to encroach; this return might prove far more perilous. The Upper Realms remained merciless, scorning all beneath, with life and death dictated by a mere whim. Among the Lower Realms, those aligned with these high powers stirred like ravenous beasts.
Shi Hao strode forward without pause, his aim clear—the Imperial Palace. Where had the Emperor gone? What traces had he left behind? He dared to enter the city with great confidence; in an era when even Holy Lords quaked and even Deities could fall, he had ascended to stand among the mightiest beings in existence. Yet, dangers still lingered. Who from the Upper Realms might be lurking? And which figures had the foreign sects sent here?
Before coming to Stone Capital, Shi Hao had defied the curse of a small tower to awaken it and consult its wisdom—he knew the stakes were life or death. The one certainty was that the current moment was a temporary gap, a window with the least danger. The Great Cataclysm had just receded, the cosmic gate sealed, and the hidden agents from distant sects who sought his annihilation could not yet act.
The streets teemed with people, flowing inward like a river. Rows of shops lined the avenues, voices hawking goods unceasing. The bustling mortal world surged toward him. “The Emperor’s disappearance is still only whispered among cultivators; the common folk remain unaware,” Shi Hao murmured. Otherwise, the capital would be cloaked in tension and bloodlust.
He walked calmly. In moments, he had covered dozens of li. Though the crowds teemed with both mortals and cultivators, no one took notice. At his level of power, if he chose not to be seen, even face to face, none would recognize him.
Suddenly, the world fell silent. The entire street seemed severed from reality, hushed and profound. People unconsciously parted to either side, revealing a vast emptiness. The passersby remained oblivious, as if they could not perceive what had occurred.
Shi Hao halted. Before him stood a woman—serene and pure, still and radiant, her very presence illuminated with wisdom. She stood tall, elegant, like a divine lotus in full bloom, emitting a sacred aura amid the mundane world.
Lunar Grace Goddess had arrived, and astonishingly swiftly. No sooner had Shi Hao stepped into the city than she appeared, standing by the road, regarding him calmly.
For a moment, neither spoke. This stretch of street became eerily empty, the passersby instinctively diverting their paths as if drawn by an unseen force, unaware of what transpired. Eventually, only the two remained, facing each other in silence.
“Why must it be this way?” Lunar Grace finally broke the stillness, her voice rich with a magnetic allure that stirred the heart. Her beauty transcended the mortal, as if she belonged not to this world. Her luminescent skin glowed, her snow-white robes fluttering like wings, exuding ethereal grace and divine radiance, like a celestial being on the verge of ascension.
“You think I will fall? Not necessarily!” Shi Hao replied firmly. His features were refined, and after surviving the Great Cataclysm, he had transformed, exuding a more otherworldly aura, a fallen immortal gracing the mortal realm, encircled in holy light, his robes billowing with elegance.
To an onlooker, they would appear as a divine pair—untouched by the mundane, like celestial lovers descended.
“Can you alone withstand the weight of this great era?” Lunar Grace asked softly, her lips parting like blooming flowers, her eyes like clear water, her flowing black hair radiant. Such unparalleled beauty was rarely seen in this world.
Shi Hao silently acknowledged that few could rival Lunar Grace’s perfection in appearance, perhaps only the Sorceress or that ancient woman in gray robes.
“You misunderstand. It should be me asking—do you truly wish to oppose this entire world and make enemies of all heaven?” Shi Hao said gravely, the aura of a fallen immortal flaring as divine might surged.
“This Great Era, or rather, this great momentum—you still do not understand it, do you?” Lunar Grace said gently, her beauty becoming ever more untouchable. Her pale skin and radiant face outshone even the most delicate blossoms.
Shi Hao remained silent, but his gaze grew piercing, like twin thunderbolts, striking the woman before him. The very air vibrated with a low rumble, and the void trembled with crackling energy.
“Shi Brother, what a formidable power you possess. With your talent, if you only follow the current, the heavens would lie wide open before you, free to soar upon boundless winds,” Lunar Grace offered with a gentle smile.
“I have no desire to serve another. If you seek to persuade me to join the Heavensent Sect and ascend through the Celestial Gates, then there is no need,” Shi Hao replied coldly.
The street remained silent, while crowds bustled in the far distance. Yet here, not a single soul remained besides them. They stood motionless, neither yielding ground.
Shi Hao knew that of all in this world, Lunar Grace was among the few who might pose a true threat to him. She had shown no fear of Shi Yi in the past—how could he believe she would fear him now? Such was the prodigious talent of this woman. Should battle erupt, the outcome would be uncertain.
Seemingly delicate, yet peerless in strength, she stood unmatched across entire realms, her brilliance untouchable in this generation.
“You and I are no strangers. Might we discuss further?” Lunar Grace suggested, brushing a strand of hair from her brow, her presence serene and sacred.
Unfazed, Shi Hao simply nodded.
Suddenly, the street roared back to life, voices rising in confusion as people wondered why a large space had opened here, all instinctively walking around it. Soon, the street was once again crowded with bodies.
Side by side, Shi Hao and Lunar Grace walked together. Both bore an otherworldly air, seemingly destined companions. The man transcendent, the woman ethereal, even dust and grime yielded before them, sparing their robes from so much as a speck.
“Wait—could that be Shi Xiao? He—has he returned?!” Few cultivators in Stone Capital did not know Shi Hao. His past deeds had shaken the city deeply. Though the Great Cataclysm still rippled across the land, his sudden reappearance would naturally send ripples across the cultivation world. Many cultivators exchanged uneasy glances, sensing that this moment was too delicate—Shi Hao’s return could spark unforeseen consequences.
At the Misty Rain Pavilion—a renowned ancient tower perched beside a sacred spring—the air shimmered with mist and rain, defying natural laws. Wisps of colored vapor swirled around the structure, lending it an aura of divine majesty, as if a celestial palace had descended to the mortal world.
They ascended the tower, choosing a quiet chamber. As the window opened, waves of pure spiritual energy surged inward, calming the senses.
“Excellent. Drinking this water regularly would extend life and enhance cultivation. True to its name, this is indeed a source of sacred springs,” a nearby patron praised.
Few cultivators could indulge in such tranquility after the recent Great Cataclysm, but they were an exception. Seated across from each other, separated by a sandalwood table, the air between them shimmered with a fragrance between orchid and musk, mingled with the essence of Dao itself. Shi Hao marveled—she had gained great benefits from the Great Cataclysm. Just as he, if he did not suppress his aura, his very body would exude a sacred fragrance, a mark of having neared the Dao.
Lunar Grace extended her jade-like fingers, weaving a hazy illumination that enveloped the chamber, cutting it off from the outside world.
“Do you truly understand the Great Cataclysm?” she asked gently.
Shi Hao shook his head. Though he knew fragments, neither Willow God nor the small tower had elaborated. But he suspected the Heavensent Sect knew more—how could a sect so ancient and enduring be unrelated to the Upper Realms?
“Then follow the current. This is an opportunity,” Lunar Grace advised.
Shi Hao sat in contemplative silence.
A slight smile curved her lips. “You’re considering an attack? But I can assure you, you’d fail. Worse—you’d alert all in an instant.”
Shi Hao remained motionless, weighing the words before abstaining.
“Why must it be so? In time, you’ll see—your defiance will be in vain,” Lunar Grace said, gazing outward through the radiant mist. “The Upper Realms capture or slay those above the Holy Lord level, while leaving the mortals unharmed—not out of mercy, but because they are mere seeds awaiting growth. How do you see the beings of this world?”
“You mean… the Field Theory is real?” Shi Hao whispered, a surge of anger rising in his heart. If true, how cruel a design it was.
“Not entirely. The capture of powerful cultivators is but a minor cause of the Great Cataclysm—a side effect, not the true reason,” Lunar Grace explained, her eyes flashing with brilliance.
Shi Hao frowned. “What could possibly justify such contempt for the beings of this world? How heartless!”
“Want to truly understand? Then surpass this realm entirely. Only then will all be clear,” Lunar Grace replied, continuing her soft persuasion. A beauty beyond compare was rare to find.
Shi Hao sighed. He knew the stakes were immense. What was it within this world that compelled the Upper Realms to act so brazenly? Did they expect him to control Stone Country, obey their commands, and lead its people beyond? Both were perceptive minds; many things needn’t be spoken to know their intent.
“Haven’t you seen the momentum even yet?” Lunar Grace asked gently, her presence ever more refined.
At last, she added, “Let me share a secret—what do you think of the Wilderness Domain? And of the others?”
“Some resemble the Primordial Age, some brim with heroes and wondrous lands, and others have become lifeless deserts,” Shi Hao mused, brow furrowed.
“Do you think these eight domains large enough?” Lunar Grace asked.
“Boundless, vast beyond measure. Aligned with the stars of the myriad heavens, in sheer size, I suspect they may pale not against the Upper Realms,” Shi Hao said, pointing upward toward the Nine Heavens.
Lunar Grace sighed softly, then smiled—an expression so radiant, so peerless, that even Shi Hao almost faltered. Her divine beauty sent tremors through one’s soul, sacred and awe-inspiring.
“Then let me reveal the truth. Let me tell you the true nature of these eight domains.”
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