Perfect World

Chapter 538: Chapter 538: The 72 Transformations
 

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Early in the morning, the sunlight spilled down, golden and splendid.

Beneath the willow tree at the head of the village, Shi Hao sat cross-legged, his body crystal clear. He had sat through the night without tiring, listening to many secrets. His vital energy circulated as if he were in a meditative trance.

“Time to get up and train.” Some children ran out, waking up early and very self-disciplined, beginning their exercises facing the dawn’s glow at the head of the village.

Shi Hao opened his eyes and smiled upon seeing them, reminded of his own childhood. In those years, they also practiced diligently in the early morning.

As the children practiced, they made faces at him. If Shi Linhu hadn’t been supervising them, they would have run over to him long ago.

Shi Hao’s heart was peaceful. This simple and plain life was wonderful, but it was an era gone by. He had grown up and had his path to follow, making it difficult to stay in Stone Village often.

Over the next few days, Shi Hao kept his promise, teaching Ziyun, the Pi Xiu Emperor, Little Qing, and the others various Divine Birds techniques, hoping they would grow stronger.

His first precious symbols had been obtained from them, and it was with these as a foundation that he was able to forge ahead and achieve his current accomplishments.

A sacrificial altar was completed in the middle of the village, flickering with cyan-golden luster, seemingly made of jade yet resembling metal. This was the work of the Willow Deity, using only the finest materials, carefully engraving it with what vaguely emitted chaotic mist. Once this altar appeared, the land itself seemed different.

Patriarch Shi Yunfeng sighed. The Willow Deity was finally leaving, preparing these last few things for Stone Village.

As mighty as the Willow Deity was, able to look down on all life, it wasn’t heartless. It had lived in the village for some time, leaving memorable imprints, hence the arrangements.

This altar was also an Array, capable of further protecting Stone Village and serving as a massive transport formation, allowing travel to different places as long as one knew the coordinates.

This was a reinforcement of the Divine Array previously laid out!

Of course, the control and mastery of this technique had to be extremely strict; otherwise, indiscriminate communication with the outside world could invite disaster.

“Boom!”

The sound was earth-shattering, coming from deep within the mountain range, where the hairy ball was sparring with Shi Hao, its golden fur gleaming, shining with a divine brilliance reminiscent of satin.

Shi Hao gritted his teeth and grimaced. Even wearing the Undying Golden Body Battle Clothes, he found it hard to withstand the assault. The Divine Fire ignited by the hairy ball swept over him through that black iron rod, rattling his bones relentlessly.

“You damn monkey, you’re using your real strength. Don’t blame me for bullying you!” Shi Hao shouted, using Kun Peng’s technique and charging forward as Yin and Yang Dual Qi circulated, overpoweringly strong.

“Come, come, come, I’ll extinguish you with a single finger!” The hairy ball grew to be over a man’s height, insolently declaring its prowess.

The confrontation between the two kicked up dust and caused stones to crumble. If it weren’t for taking place in the “Divine Demon Battlefield,” the mountain range would have been utterly destroyed.

“Great!” Many watched the battle, including Shi Dazhuang and the others, all of whom were excited and cheered at the sight of a splendid and grand duel.

Fairy Yue Chan and Qin Hao were also present, standing atop a cliff, their expressions colored with awe, witnessing what it meant to be extraordinarily gifted. Shi Hao, relying on his body, engaged in a fierce battle with Zhuyan.

It was well known that the golden Divine Ape had an extremely strong body, particularly the variant with Dragon Horns—almost unimaginably so, dubbed the immortal body.

In the past, such a Divine Ape waged war against the Western Sect, nearly toppling that precious pagoda and almost taking the position of Sect Hierarch for itself.

It was also that battle which prompted the Hierarch of the Western Sect to intervene. The Sixteen-foot Golden Body was nearly broken before the Zhuyan was finally suppressed.

“Roar…” In the midst of the battle, Shi Hao attacked with Kun Peng’s technique, superbly sharp, roaring to the skies as he transformed into a Divine Demon, immensely powerful.

The Divine Ape leapt up, its form blurring, and then to everyone’s astonishment, another Shi Hao appeared in the field, raging and battling with the other Shi Hao.

“Hey, boy, who are you to impersonate me?” the hairy ball roared.

Shi Hao bared his teeth, dazzling white, envious beyond measure of the seventy-two transformations. He had not expected Zhuyan to provoke him like this.

Although he had learned a bit of it before, it was very incomplete; at that time, the hairy ball had not fully recovered, and the precious symbol was rough.

“You stinking monkey, come, come, come, let’s see how I’ll capture you!” Shi Hao yelled, evolving Yin and Yang, employing the true essence of Kun Peng’s treasure, and fiercely attacking forward.

“Boom!”

The ground trembled violently, rumbling as if the Divine Demon Battlefield itself might be pierced, quaking ceaselessly.

“Transform into thousands!” Zhuyan shouted, leaping high, his body starting to split forms. A multitude of Divine Apes burst forth from his body, instantly crowding the skies, charging forward together.

Shi Hao laughed heartily; to him, this was futile, for he had activated the Dual Pupils, piercing through illusions to find the true body and instantly lunging to attack.

In this battle, both were heroic and brimming with masculine energy, fighting relentlessly as the spectators watched, dazzled by the display.

In the end, Shi Hao grinned through gritted teeth, and the golden Divine Ape also howled incessantly until the battle finally came to a close.

“Hairy ball, teach me the seventy-two transformations,” Shi Hao lay on the ground, tired but with a fiery gaze, making the monkey’s hair stand on end.

“I won’t teach you, it’s a sacred secret not to be passed on. The fact that you learned some by stealth before is enough,” the hairy ball refused outright.

“I can trade you a supreme treasure for it, only stronger, not weaker, you won’t lose out,” Shi Hao offered.

“Hmm, I think some of the core transformations in your Kun Peng treasure are not bad, barely catching my eye,” the hairy ball said, its gaze flickering.

One should know that Kun Peng was among the Primeval Ten Fierce, its techniques unmatched. If mastered fully, one would be close to invincibility.

“This monkey is really asking for the moon,” Qin Hao muttered from a distance, his eyes gleaming with envy for Shi Hao’s technique and also coveting Zhuyan’s seventy-two transformations.

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There was no need to mention Fairy Yue Chan, her beautiful eyes shone with a special light as she watched intently, wanting to peer into all the secrets.

Unfortunately, Shi Hao and the monkeys were very cautious. This technique was something they would never divulge, even to Qin Hao, who was Little Stone’s own younger brother, because they still did not fully trust him.

“If you want to learn, I will teach you,” Shi Hao said to the hairy ball, quite righteously, holding nothing back.

“Umm, we don’t need to exchange everything. Just what we need will suffice,” Zhuyan said, scratching its ears and cheeks, speaking in such a way due to ancestral teachings, not wanting to break its vows.

“Okay!” Shi Hao nodded.

What the hairy ball needed was the masculine part of the giant Peng bird’s technique, which matched its path. It followed a route of grand openings and closures, extreme vigor, and a domineering style. If it had to turn into a fish and sway with the water, that would be very uncomfortable.

Similarly, Shi Hao was not set on acquiring the complete Divine Skills of the Zhuyan Clan. He only needed the seventy-two transformations.

Of course, Zhuyan also taught him the complete version of the three heads and six arms technique. This technique was astounding but not unique, as the Western Sect also had a similar precious symbol of a Buddha with a thousand arms.

In the following days, Shi Hao immersed himself in his practice, finding it quite wonderful as he delved into the seventy-two transformations.

This secret technique was extraordinary. With whatever one transformed into, one could temporarily possess the other’s characteristics and divine powers—it was truly dazzling!

Naturally, there were limitations. It couldn’t be omnipotent. For instance, no matter how Shi Hao used it now, even if he transformed into a sixteen-foot Golden Body, he would not possess that kind of might.

“Really not bad!” Shi Hao muttered to himself. These days, he had temporarily stopped practicing the True Phoenix Art. That was an incomplete method, less useful than the seventy-two transformations, which he wanted to master as quickly as possible.

“Eh, it’s changed, Uncle Hao has turned into a bone pagoda,” a group of children shouted, thoroughly amazed.

Every day Shi Hao would practice at the entrance to the village.

Little Pagoda pouted, this brat was actually imitating it.

“Ah, it’s changed again, turned into a Little Red Bird!” one kid said with fiery eyes, running over to try to catch it.

With a swoosh, Shi Hao changed again, this time into a willow tree, glimmering green as it rooted into the ground, exciting the group of children who clapped continuously.

A flash of rosy light, and suddenly there was a woman in the field, stunningly beautiful. But as she moved, a gust of wind accompanied her, bringing her instantly before Yue Chan.

Fairy Yue Chan was astounded; a beauty who looked exactly like her was now looking at her eye to eye.

“Can this deceive the main body?” Shi Hao asked.

…

Several days later, the time came for him to leave. Shi Hao could not stay in Stone Village indefinitely; he had to return to Stone Country.

“Dazhuang, monkeys, Shi Dazhuang, do you really want to go?” Shi Hao asked seriously. Initially, he had only planned to take Light Wind, but then his childhood friends gathered around, wishing to leave the great desolate area and to see the outside world.

“I want to experience the grandeur of traveling a hundred thousand miles with my armor clashing and banners flying!” Dazhuang said.

“I want to witness the colorful world of mortal life and see what it’s really like!” the monkey aspired.

“Alright, I’ll take you. When you’re tired, sick of it, or weary, I’ll bring you back!” Shi Hao nodded, wanting to fulfill their wishes.

He now had the capability and also wanted to provide them with as many experiences as possible.

The village’s sacrificial altar lit up, and Shi Hao set off with a group of people, including Qin Hao and Fairy Yue Chan, while his parents stayed behind, wanting to live there for a while.

They appeared on the Ancestral Sacrificial Altar of the Stone Kingdom’s Royal Palace and walked out at ease.

“Is this the outside world, the palace and gardens of the Stone Kingdom’s imperial family?” The youths from Stone Village all showed astonished expressions.

Shi Hao sent Dazhuang off to the War King to learn how to lead troops and how to traverse a hundred thousand miles, sent the monkey to the Wasteland King’s mansion to have someone show him the mortal world, and entrusted Light Wind to Peng Jiu to learn laws…

Shi Hao himself then began practicing, seriously studying precious symbols to boost his combat power!

Half a month in a flash, and within his hair strands, Little Pagoda vibrated, saying, “It’s coming!”

“Dong!”

That day, the heavens cracked open, revealing a colossal rift with endless figures appearing, each wrapped in lightning, terrifying beyond measure.

Shi Hao was astonished; he used his Dual Pupils, able to see clearly no matter how far the distance, and it seemed like there was a swarm of Divine Demons!

“I need to cultivate my own Heavenly Eye. It’s not a solution to always rely on the Dual Pupils,” Shi Hao muttered to himself amidst the shock.

However, how many people could develop the Heavenly Eye? It was too difficult!

The gray heavens blazed with lightning, the crack widening, and various frightening figures emerged, causing alarming anomalies.

“Is the battle to seal divinity about to begin?” Shi Hao asked.

“They are brewing it, actually sending out so many Heavenly Soldiers. They want to turn over the wasteland regardless of the consequences, desiring those few things,” Little Pagoda spoke to itself.

A flash of divine light, and the Willow Deity arrived, appearing within the Central Heavenly Palace. Shi Hao instantly breathed a sigh of relief. With the Willow Deity present, no matter how dreadful the situation, he felt nothing to fear.

“This battle is upon us, within the next few days. Everything will come to an end,” the Willow Deity said softly. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes, monthly tickets, and your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)