Shi Hao did not reveal his true appearance, for the Stone Nation’s imperial capital was currently embroiled in turmoil. A month had passed since the fifteenth elder’s rampage through the city, and he had no idea what had transpired during that time—caution was paramount. Especially since he had once unleashed his might overseas, slaying the spiritual avatars of several Venerable Ones. This was no small matter; if it were truly accounted for, it would spell catastrophic disaster. If those individuals learned of his presence, they would undoubtedly descend upon him to suppress and execute him! The only silver lining was that the battle overseas had left all parties severely weakened, with the Venerable Ones now in seclusion and unlikely to emerge anytime soon.
The ancient city walls, forged like metal, bore a cold, gleaming luster, resembling a colossal fortress left behind from the era of gods and demons. Towering and majestic, standing before them made one acutely aware of their own insignificance. The gatehouse loomed higher than a mountain, imposing and grand, like a frigid primordial beast crouching low, gazing down upon those who entered and exited.
Shi Hao stood beneath the city, beholding this ancient metropolis that had stood upon the land since time immemorial. He could almost envision the turbulent years of its founding and the glories of its past. Time flowed like a river, and the towering walls bore countless scars of age, yet they remained unyielding. Barring unforeseen calamity, they would continue to stand until the day this empire crumbled.
The flow of people in and out was ceaseless—carriages drawn by fierce beasts galloped past, some from noble estates, others belonging to wealthy merchants delivering goods. The city was densely populated, with an unending stream of travelers entering and departing daily, like an unbroken current.
Though Shi Hao had been born here, he knew nothing of this place, having been less than a year old when he left and never having wandered its streets. With a heart full of complex emotions, he stepped into the grand city—a land of splendor, gathering the finest talents of the Stone Nation, said to concentrate the essence of all directions.
The city was incomparably prosperous. The moment he entered, an overwhelming tide of noise and bustle greeted him—carriages and crowds filled the broad streets, shops lining the roadsides teemed with customers, their business booming. Beast hides, precious bones, ancient herbs, and weapons were everywhere. In some grand structures shimmering with glyphs, ferocious beasts roared from within iron cages—these were all commodities for sale. Clearly, these merchants had deep and extraordinary backgrounds, daring to traffic in such formidable creatures.
Shi Hao moved deeper into the city, carried along by the crowd. This was the most magnificent city he had ever seen. Having grown up in the mountains and only passing through a few large towns on his travels, he had never before set foot in a nation’s capital. None could compare to the Stone Nation’s imperial city.
As he ventured further, the crowds thinned, and the noise lessened, though the liveliness remained.
“Fox maidens! Our establishment has just acquired several fox maidens—each one stunningly beautiful, top-tier beauties, true enchantresses who could charm a man to death! Don’t miss out!”
The voice came from a palatial complex of buildings, opulent and towering, situated beside the main street. A garishly dressed woman loudly advertised her wares, drawing a crowd—mostly men—peering eagerly into the hall, hoping to catch a glimpse of these legendary fox spirits.
Intrigued, Shi Hao approached. Capturing fox spirits? This merchant’s power must be immense. It piqued his curiosity.
“These are fox maidens, not true fox spirits. Though fair, they cannot compare to the peerless beauty of a genuine fox spirit,” someone remarked knowingly.
“What’s the difference?” Shi Hao asked.
“Fox maidens have only a trace of fox lineage, nearly diluted to nothing, with faint fox-like traits. A true fox spirit, however, is a powerful beast that has taken human form—exceedingly rare and breathtakingly beautiful,” a young man with heavy dark circles under his eyes—clearly a libertine—explained loftily.
Suddenly, the crowd noticed Shi Hao, eyeing his youthful appearance with curiosity.
“Young master, which noble house do you hail from? See any fox maiden you fancy? Just say the word, and I’ll have her delivered to your estate,” the garish woman simpered.
Shi Hao peered inside. Several fox maidens stood there, their skin snow-white, features delicate and alluring, with sparkling eyes and a pair of snowy fox ears—an exotic charm.
“How extravagant and decadent,” Shi Hao muttered. Was this the life of the capital’s young nobles—buying beauties on a whim?
The woman’s sharp ears caught his words. She shot him a sidelong glance. “If you’re not buying, why bother coming? But then again, perhaps you’re not quite grown yet?” She giggled, even reaching out to grope him below.
The little terror, who had faced down Venerable Ones in battle, was utterly flustered, fleeing in disarray.
“Ha ha ha!” The crowd roared with laughter.
The flirtatious madam called after him, “My mistake! You’re all grown up!”
Shi Hao, who had already run off, suddenly turned back. Under the crowd’s bewildered gazes, he declared with utmost seriousness, “I never admit defeat. Where I fall, I rise again.”
Then, he pinched the madam’s soft cheeks, tugging and kneading them.
“You little brat, daring to tease me?!”
*Thud!*
He flicked her forehead with a finger, sending her reeling, eyes rolling back as she nearly fainted. Shi Hao strode away, proclaiming, “Only I get to tease others.”
“Damn you!” the madam shrieked as the crowd erupted in laughter.
But soon, her expression shifted. She hurried into the ancient complex, having heard a summons.
Within a grand hall stood a woman of eighteen or nineteen, her beauty otherworldly—the kind rarely seen even in an ancient kingdom. Behind her swayed several snow-white fox tails, crystalline and lustrous. Any powerful figure present would have gasped—this was a descendant of the mighty Nine-Tailed Fox lineage!
“Keep an eye on that boy. He may be one of the future overlords of the Barren Lands!” the fox spirit said, her enchanting eyes now deadly serious.
“What?!” the madam gasped.
The fox spirit, clad in white robes that accentuated her ivory skin and alluring curves, stared at a jade tablet in her hand. “The Divine Tablet lit up when he appeared.”
The madam paled, then bowed and retreated. She knew what the fox maiden represented—a terrifying force preparing for the chaos to come, selecting future rulers in advance.
“The Barren Lands are not so barren after all. There are still prodigies here,” the white-clad maiden murmured, her jade-like arms gleaming, her gaze intoxicating.
“That other faction has already paid respects to the Stone Nation’s Human Emperor. It’s time we sent an envoy as well. Though the Barren Lands will soon descend into chaos, this is still a kingdom.”
Had anyone heard her words, they would have been stunned.
Unbeknownst to Shi Hao, the moment he entered the city, he had been detected by an unfathomably powerful faction—a mysterious fox spirit had sensed his astonishing potential through the jade tablet.
After walking some distance, the crystalline little pagoda nestled in his hair trembled, whispering to him, “Back in that building complex, there was a Divine Jade Tablet.”
The little terror’s heart jolted. The pagoda had told him that if he gathered four such tablets, it would grant him another opportunity for its use.
He was astonished. The little pagoda, as flawless as mutton-fat jade, only coveted transcendent treasures. Who would have thought such a relic lay hidden in that place?
Moreover, through the pagoda, he learned that the Divine Tablet had sensed him, revealing his extraordinary potential—such was its mystical function.
In the end, Shi Hao employed an ancient bone scripture from the *Primordial True Record*, circulating it through his body. This was a true method to erase one’s aura, ensuring no leakage of essence, energy, or spirit.
Only recently, with his cultivation advancing, had he fully comprehended this ancient technique and its uses. Previously, he had mistaken it for an orthodox scripture.
The *Primordial True Record* contained many bone scriptures for cultivation, some esoteric in nature. Once deciphered, like this one, they revealed unique applications—though none contained mighty precious techniques.
Shi Hao swiftly vanished, his heart pounding. He had barely set foot in the capital and already been discovered. He would have to be exceptionally cautious.
The capital was truly bustling. As he wandered, he passed countless spirit herb halls displaying dozens of rare medicinal treasures, each unique. Further on, he saw armories filled with powerful weapons radiating brilliant light.
Without actively probing, Shi Hao gleaned much from the chatter around him—tidbits of the recent upheavals in the Stone Nation’s capital.
“Beings from the Primordial Divine Mountains—so powerful! I hear some are coming to the capital!”
“Hush! Don’t speak carelessly of such things.”
“I’m not talking about the big ones—just the smaller ones.”
Along the way, Shi Hao gathered much news. The Human Emperor’s grand birthday approached, and beings from the Primordial Divine Mountains might attend.
This was an auspicious occasion. Princes and princesses studying or training abroad would return, as would the heirs of noble houses, all coming to offer blessings.
Rumor had it that some had even studied under the Primordial Divine Mountains and would now return.
This time, the Stone Nation’s capital would become a gathering of legends, with all its elites converging in one place.
“All the geniuses are returning. There’s bound to be drama, especially among the rival nobles. The capital won’t lack for clashes of talent.”
“Pity Shi Yi isn’t here. With his dual-pupils, few could rival him!”
“Not necessarily. The Stone Nation has many prodigies. Some have trained abroad, even under the Primordial Divine Mountains, never having returned. Who knows how strong they are? Moreover, for the Human Emperor’s first grand birthday, other ancient nations will send envoys—undoubtedly including their own geniuses. There will be fierce competition, great duels!”
“I’ve heard that spatial rifts have appeared at the ruins of the Sky-Suppressing Sect—Shi Yi will likely emerge soon!”
Shi Hao’s heart stirred. Truly, these were turbulent times. His arrival in the capital would inevitably plunge him into the heart of great storms.
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