Perfect World

Chapter 535: Chapter 535: Shangri-La
 

“Ancestral land?” Shi Ziling and his wife received the news, their emotions fluctuated, and they were very grateful to the people of Stone Village; without their care, how could there be their eldest son now?

In the Central Heavenly Palace, the silhouette of the Willow Deity was hazy, standing at the center, with chaotic mist permeating around it. The three thousand realms floated and sank, and countless deities flickered in and out of sight, worshipping it.

Shi Ziling and his wife were shocked. What kind of scene was this?

Even Qin Hao, who always felt out of place and was unwilling to stay here, was struck dumb for a moment, opening his mouth but unable to speak.

Yue Chan, usually graceful and confident, detached from the mundane world, was also wide-eyed in surprise, her mouth agape with an expression of inconceivable shock.

“Is that the mysterious power behind him?” Yue Chan murmured to herself, her heart shaking. She finally understood why Shi Hao was so “fierce”, able to push his opponents horizontally, daring to stand against the immortal legacies.

“Such a character…” Qin Hao also whispered, his heart wavering.

At that moment, Shi Hao wasn’t in high spirits; both Little Pagoda and the Willow Deity were about to leave, making it hard for him to let go.

A tender green willow branch, adorned with dewdrops and blooming green halos, had an unparalleled vitality. It hissed and pierced through the void, creating a radiant passage.

“Let’s go.” Shi Hao invited his parents to enter the passage to Stone Village.

As for Yue Chan, although her relationship with Shi Hao was complicated, even hostile, she was also brought along. It was impossible to leave her alone in case something unexpected happened.

Of course, if it weren’t for Qin Yining, she would have had to travel in the bronze precious box even if she came along. For this, Yue Chan’s resentment towards the Saintess lessened slightly, finally meeting the mysterious figure behind Little Stone.

This was a passage constructed from characters. After several people stepped into it, it didn’t take long before they reached the end. The scene ahead blurred, and ripples spread.

The next moment, they stepped out, standing on solid ground.

Shi Hao took a deep breath; the scent of vegetation and faint fruit aromas, along with the smell of the earth, rushed towards him, the air very fresh.

“Eh?” Shi Hao was surprised, looking around. The scenery was very familiar. Hadn’t the location of Stone Village changed? How come it still looked the same?

“This area’s Spiritual Energy is rich; I’ve moved a ten-mile radius entirely.” The Willow Deity informed.

Entering this mountain area, the vital essence surged, clearly more suitable for cultivation than before, and more vibrant because there were several spiritual veins beneath this new location.

The lake was still there, with colorful Luan birds appearing among the water plants, their feathers bright, roaming the shore alongside herds of unicorns glowing silver-white, not afraid of humans.

Nearby, other spiritual birds and auspicious animals were also present. A village was nestled here, like a paradise on earth, calming one’s heart instantly.

Shi Hao, often in battles abroad, would have his restlessness instantly cleansed whenever he returned, making him especially relaxed. This place was a sanctuary for his heart.

With a flash of green light, the Willow Deity rooted itself at the village entrance. Hundreds of willow branches hung down, wafting green glows, swirling in the mist, sacred and serene.

“Ah, the Willow Deity is back!” a child shouted loudly, stirring the entire village.

All the houses were built of stone, displaying a primitive appearance, exuding simplicity, and a sense of peace; the villagers all ran out.

However, the fastest was a shabby-looking chicken that rushed to the great willow tree below, then slowly strutted to find a comfortable spot to nest.

“Octadic Treasure Chicken!” Yue Chan’s eyes sparkled, surprised that such a small village housed such Primordial Exotic Birds.

“Ah, Little Hao is back, awooo…” A group of little nippers appeared, some bare-bottomed, having seen Shi Hao and others outside the village.

They howled, like a troop of wild monkeys, scrambling and leaping swiftly towards them, their faces filled with eager smiles, all incredibly joyful.

Shi Hao always brought a lot of “treats” back with him, such as Jiao Peng, Flame Python, white tiger, and various spiritual fruits, making him the most popular among the children in the village.

“Little Hao, you’re finally back!”

Soon, the Clan Leader, Shi Linhu, and others like Shi Dazhuang and Er Meng, other youths of his generation, all appeared with smiles.

When Shi Hao walked closer, he was already covered in children, some sitting on his shoulders, some leaning on his back, and others holding onto his legs and neck.

As a group of slightly older children rushed towards him, he was almost submerged, everyone laughing heartily.

Shi Ziling and his wife, seeing this, felt a warmth; such a village, such simple villagers, their eldest son grew up here, what was there not to be reassured about, it was really wonderful.

“Little Hao, you should stay longer this time, don’t be in a hurry to leave,” Shi Feijiao said.

“Uncle, I will stay for a while this time,” Shi Hao replied with a smile.

“Little Hao also brought a new friend…” monkeys, Shi Dazhuang, and others came forward, punching him playfully. Childhood buddies, the joy of their reunion, completely unreserved.

Qin Hao watched from behind, feeling that Stone Village was extraordinary, shrouded in a Divine Spirit Aura, such a small village, yet with such grandeur.

He believed that the place was protected by unimaginable arrays, superior even to those mountain-guarding arrays of the great schools outside, truly astounding.

“You are… those two people from back then?!” Clan Leader Shi Yunfeng was incredulously surprised, looking at the couple in front of him, while some older villagers also paused, feeling a sense of familiarity.

“Old uncle, thank you!” Shi Ziling and his wife quickly came forward, giving a deep bow to the Clan Leader and others, genuinely grateful. Without these people, how could their eldest son exist now?

“It really is them!” the villagers exclaimed, all crowding around, feeling amazed. After so many years, they were seeing the couple again.

“This is… Little Hao’s biological parents?”

“The family… has reunited?!”

After introductions, the villagers were delighted for Shi Hao, following with joy. This was the most authentic kind of emotion.

Shi Ziling and his wife talked with a group of elderly people about the events of recent years, feeling bursts of happiness, sorrow, laughter, and tears, their emotions complex.

Everyone could understand these feelings, gathering around with endless things to say.

“Is this sister a fairy? She’s so beautiful!” a little girl with her head raised, watching Yue Chan, her cheeks flushed with a full smile.

A group of teenagers, as well as Shi Dazhuang and Er Meng, had already seen Yue Chan and were all extremely astonished; the woman was so stunningly beautiful that they almost turned to stone.

“This girl is really beautiful, almost unbelievably so,” Patriarch Shi Yunfeng said, nodding with a smile, as the villagers’ eyes also turned in her direction.

Yue Chan was graceful and composed. Born an immortal Saintess from an immortal school, she had seen all kinds of scenes and did not act arrogantly or unapproachably upon her arrival. Instead, she wore a warm, radiant smile, different from her usual detached air of the Banished Fairy.

“Little Hao, is it true this time? Are you finally settling down?” Shi Dazhuang asked.

“You’ve always joked with us, talking about bringing back some ‘fatties,’ yet to this day, our kids are running around the mountains, and you haven’t kept your promise,” Er Meng said.

Surrounded by childhood friends, Shi Hao was filled with pride, lifted his chin, and waved his hand, saying, “This time it’s almost settled; she has come back to the village to take care of her pregnancy.”

“What?”

“Haha…”

The whole group burst into laughter, especially the younger boys, who made faces at each other.

A blush appeared on Yue Chan’s face, and although she gritted her teeth secretly, she could only smile cleverly here without saying much.

The locals didn’t neglect Qin Hao either, especially as some children chattered around him.

As the group walked toward the village center, Shi Ziling and his wife marveled at how a small village like this had so many Spiritual Medicines growing alongside the bluestone path, causing the place to be enveloped in spiritual energy.

Especially notable was a silver-shimmering peach tree in the village center. It was only waist-high and fragrant, attracting everyone’s attention whether with its leaves or branches which flowed with silver luminescence.

“A Divine Medicine?” Qin Hao’s expression darkened and brightened, astonished that such a small village possessed a Divine Medicine.

Yue Chan also gasped, studying it closely to confirm it would become a Divine Medicine, although it was just short of that mark, its potency astounding.

Upon entering the village, golden Lightning Dogs, purple Divine Mice, Scarlet-Feathered Cranes, and other small creatures came rushing and leaped onto the shoulders of some children.

“Truly incredible,” Shi Ziling exclaimed, what he saw was completely different from the past.

“Is this where he grew up?” Yue Chan looked at the tranquil village and then at the large willow tree worshiped at the village head, going into a trance.

Little Stone was so “ferocious” outside, but back in the village, he was radiant, making Yue Chan a bit incredulous and feeling the strangeness; the villagers were simple, and the place seemed like a paradise.

She learned about Shi Hao from another side and saw a different aspect of him; he was brilliant and seemed detestable to her outside but showed such a “pure goodness” here.

Suddenly, intense energy fluctuations transmitted from the deep mountains in the distance, with beams shooting into the sky, shaking the earth.

“Very powerful!” Shi Hao exclaimed, as someone was fighting. Such divine power was even stronger than that of a typical Venerable One, quite formidable.

His expression instantly changed, a battle of such high-level experts so close to Stone Village was not good news.

“Don’t worry, it’s our villagers,” Patriarch Shi Yunfeng said with a smile.

Not only Shi Hao was astonished, but Shi Ziling and his wife, Qin Hao, and Yue Chan were also shocked. Were there such high-level experts in the village?!

“Little Hao!”

Three Exotic Birds dive-bombed from the sky, all able to speak, including Pi Xiu Emperor, Little Qing, and Ziyun. They landed and were very affectionate towards Shi Hao.

Shi Hao shouted joyously, embracing them, and asked where Auntie Green Scaled Eagle was.

“Mother is watching the battle and experiencing it, come, we’ll take you to see it,” Ziyun affectionately nudged his body with her head.

A warmth spread through Shi Hao’s heart, feeling as if he was back in his childhood, playing with them, studying the precious bones inside their bodies, practicing cultivation.

“Later I’ll teach you the precious symbols of Divine Birds!” Shi Hao said cheerily, appearing heartfelt and naïve, hugging their necks.

A silvery-white unicorn appeared, regal, with a body wrapped in holy light, having grown wings on both sides, indeed the king among unicorns—Little Bai, who once carried Shi Hao out of the great desolate area.

“You… could you really have the chance to transform into the Primordial Ancients’ foremost mount—a Pegasus?” Shi Hao was astonished.

The creature was proud, holding its head high, its body glowing, its mane as white and silky as satin, walking with ease.

“This is thanks to the Willow Deity,” nasally child said.

Indeed, the bloodline powers of Ziyun, Little Qing, and Pi Xiu Emperor were also astonishingly terrifying, all because of the baptisms from Willow Deity, which unlocked the ancestral heritage and potential left by the Divine Birds. Over time, their bloodlines grew purer and stronger.

“Let’s go, take me to watch the battle, ordinary Venerables are no match for them,” Shi Hao said, jumping onto Little Bai’s back.

Simultaneously, other people also leaped onto the backs of Ziyun, Pi Xiu Emperor, and others, shooting into the sky towards the deep mountains.

“Qingfeng!” From a distance, Shi Hao saw a refined-looking young man, sitting high on a cliff watching the battle intently.

“Little brother!” Qingfeng turned, showing a look of delight.

Shi Hao was also pleased; this time, he planned to take Qingfeng away, seeing that his cultivation had greatly improved and not fallen behind, he was even happier.

“Ah, is it really them?!” Shi Hao’s face lit up with joy and surprise upon seeing the big battle in the mountains.

Yue Chan and Qin Hao also followed and upon seeing those two figures, both felt shocked, their minds reeling slightly as a trace of Divine Fire ignited, monstrously powerful. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com) with your recommendation or monthly ticket. Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)