The great spider from the Demon Spirit Lake arrived, as expected, making its grand entrance at the critical moment. Dark clouds blotted out the sky, shaking the entire imperial capital with its divine might, boundless and unstoppable! Shi Hao had already raised his massive halberd, yet he couldn’t bring it down. Violent surges of divine energy filled every inch of space, and he bore the brunt of it. Below, Shi Ziteng’s face turned pale, then flushed crimson as he witnessed the anomaly in the sky. He knew it was the true form of the Demon Spider—once it struck, even a Marquis-level figure would be shattered without a doubt.
The entire imperial capital fell into silence, all sounds vanishing under an oppressive weight. A colossal spider appeared in the heavens, vaster than mountains, its grotesque form striking terror into all who beheld it. To the people below, this was nothing short of a demon god descending from another realm. Who could possibly stand against such a monstrous ancient spider? Merely its aura alone was enough to crush everything, reducing palaces and towers to dust. Its mountainous body loomed in the sky like a primordial powerhouse reawakening!
Its cold, eerie gaze swept downward, fixing on Shi Hao with a trace of disdain. “A Young Supreme?” it sneered. “You may dominate among youths, but if you die young, you are nothing—your achievements will vanish into emptiness.” Its icy words, combined with its towering form and overwhelming presence, sent shivers through the crowd below, many nearly collapsing in fear.
The Demon Spider’s words were tyrannical, effectively sentencing the young man to death before he could fully mature. The crowd trembled inwardly, lamenting Shi Hao’s fate. This was a prodigy of unparalleled talent, yet his brilliance had drawn calamity upon himself. Many shook their heads in regret.
Shi Ziteng stood up, wiping the blood from his lips, his expression calm. He knew this was the end—even if the Great Demonic God himself arrived, it would be futile against the true form of the primordial Demon Spider.
“Demon Spider,” a serene voice echoed from the direction of the imperial palace, “have you forgotten this is my capital? If you come to offer congratulations and maintain peace, you are welcome. But I do not wish for bloodshed here.”
The crowd shuddered—the Stone Emperor had intervened! If a conflict erupted between beings of such power, the devastation would be unimaginable. One thing was certain: if the Demon Spider chose to unleash its fury, it could devour millions in a single breath.
“Stone Emperor,” the Demon Spider replied, “I merely seek to discipline a human. This youth dared to defy the Demon Spirit Lake and imprison my descendant. Do I not have the right to teach him a lesson?”
Within the capital, the Demon Spider held some restraint. It knew the Stone Clan had fortified the imperial palace over countless generations—its ancient killing formations could slay even a supreme being. Moreover, the Stone Emperor himself was a formidable figure, wielding the resources of an entire nation, tempered by divine flames, his strength unfathomable.
“He is a member of my Stone Clan,” the Stone Emperor’s voice boomed with authority. “If he has erred, I shall deal with him. You need not interfere.”
The major factions were stunned—the Stone Emperor was openly protecting Shi Hao. Did he value the youth’s potential? Shi Hao had opened ten heavenly passages and risen to prominence despite losing his Supreme Bone. His future was unpredictable; perhaps he would ascend to godhood.
The Demon Spider remained silent but descended slightly, one massive leg like a celestial pillar lowering toward the Martial Prince’s mansion.
**BOOM!**
A golden sun suddenly manifested, filling the heavens, blocking the Demon Spider’s path and forcing it to retract its leg.
The Stone Emperor had made his power known!
Below, Shi Hao inwardly groaned. He hadn’t wanted the emperor to intervene—he had hoped the Demon Spider would descend so he could unleash the little pagoda in a decisive strike. But now, the emperor had stepped in, perhaps out of admiration for his talent.
He couldn’t reveal his plan, though. He had to feign gratitude, lest the Demon Spider grow wary. Even with the little pagoda, killing it would be no easy feat.
“I ask that you refrain from violence in my capital,” the Stone Emperor said calmly, his voice carrying the weight of imperial authority.
“Since you, as the ruler of the Stone Kingdom, have spoken, I shall grant you this courtesy,” the Demon Spider conceded.
“Let this matter end here,” the voice from the golden sun declared, causing the Martial Prince’s household to tremble.
In the end, the Demon Spider and the Stone Emperor departed without conflict. The oppressive aura in the sky dissipated, and the people exhaled in relief. The presence of such a pure-blooded ancient creature was terrifying beyond measure.
Whispers spread through the capital—Shi Hao had narrowly escaped disaster. Yet he himself sighed, lamenting a missed opportunity.
Still, he quickly regained his composure. The Stone Emperor’s grand birthday celebration was approaching, and other beings from the ancient divine mountains would likely appear. If they too sought to challenge him, he could “deal with them all at once.”
The capital buzzed with discussion. Shi Hao had stirred up a storm. His identity was exposed, his origins laid bare—the infamous “Little Tyrant” of the past was now the hottest topic.
Shi Ziteng left with his men, and Shi Hao did not pursue. The Stone Emperor’s decree was absolute, and he could not defy it.
Regardless, the emperor had spoken to protect him.
“Truly a Young Supreme,” some murmured. “To battle a Marquis and emerge victorious—Shi Ziteng’s defeat is astonishing.”
“I was nowhere near his level at that age. How did he cultivate to such heights?”
“Shi Ziteng’s loss and the forfeiture of his Dragon Blood Halberd are a disgrace. This outcome was unexpected.”
A mere youth had dismantled the Rain Clan’s mansion, then defeated Shi Ziteng in battle. Shi Hao had become the center of attention in the capital—a rising star whose brilliance would only grow brighter.
But one question lingered in everyone’s minds: **What would happen when the Dual-Pupiled One returned?**
Shi Ziteng had a son—Shi Yi, revered as a divine being. His return would inevitably lead to a cataclysmic clash with Shi Hao.
The thought of Shi Yi sent shivers through the major factions. His innate gifts were beyond comprehension. No one had known he possessed a Supreme Bone—for over a decade, he had concealed it flawlessly.
Now, with the Dual Pupils **and** the Supreme Bone, how far would he ascend? Would the future belong to Shi Yi alone?
“Shi Hao lost his Supreme Bone yet still rose to become a Young Supreme. Can he defy fate once more and stand against the Dual-Pupiled One?”
“Extremely difficult.”
Despite Shi Hao’s potential, most believed the battle would be overwhelmingly tough. Shi Yi’s innate advantages bordered on perfection.
Currently secluded in the Ancient Sage’s Abode, if Shi Yi mastered the Heaven-Mending Art, he might even resolve the flaw of his transplanted Supreme Bone. Would he return? The speculation ran rampant.
Shi Hao left the Martial Prince’s mansion, and none could stop him. As he stepped onto the streets, countless eyes followed, yet none dared act against him—both out of fear for his strength and respect for the Stone Emperor’s protection.
Walking through the city, Shi Hao’s heart gradually settled. He had announced his survival to the world. Would his parents and grandfather hear of it? He yearned for their reunion.
A silver-bell laugh rang out as a young girl emerged from a street corner. “My lady invites you,” she said, her lively eyes sparkling with mischief.
It was the Fox Fairy’s maidservant.
Shi Hao smiled. After the battle, he had nowhere to go—meeting the Fox Fairy sounded perfect.
**Moonview Pavilion**, a renowned establishment in the capital, catered exclusively to cultivators, its owner being a Marquis himself.
In an elegant chamber, the Heavenly Fox Fairy sat alone, sipping wine. Her long, raven hair framed a face of peerless beauty—her forehead smooth and fair, her eyes bright and full of spirit.
The room was simple yet refined, adorned with calligraphy and paintings, the table carved from luminous jade.
Shi Hao greeted her and poured himself a drink. “Is this your spirit body or your true form?” he asked after a sip.
“Guess,” she replied, her lips curving into a smile that could topple kingdoms.
“Spirit body, I’d say.”
“Correct.” She admitted freely.
Shi Hao was intrigued. Whether it was the carefree demoness from the North Sea or this enchanting Fox Fairy before him, both were cunning and extraordinary. He could scarcely imagine how stunning her true form must be.
“Why did you seek me out?” he asked after a moment.
The Fox Fairy wasn’t one for idle meetings.
“Nothing much,” she said, swirling her wine. “Just to protect you.”
“Me? Need protection?”
“If I don’t, that fatty might cause you trouble.”
“Which fatty?”
“The Moon Fairy, of course,” she said with a laugh.
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