Perfect World

Chapter 578: Chapter 578: Arrogant and Unrestrained
 

The Stone Capital was indeed majestic, its city walls bearing a metallic luster as characters flickered and shone. It stood grand and towering, a daunting presence upon the earth.

Shi Hao had been standing outside the city for quite a while, faced with a situation that promised certain death. He pondered seriously, fell into a lengthy silence, and at last, entered the city with composure.

Inside, the city bustled as usual, streets teeming with carts and horses, people bustling by, brushing shoulders with one another. On both sides of the streets, shops stood in rows, thriving with business.

The common folk were still unaware of what had transpired in the Flood Region, news only circulating among the Cultivators. Thus, the world of mortals continued to surge and bustle, unaffected by the events.

With tranquility in his heart, Shi Hao journeyed alone to the front of the imperial palace, not bringing along the Divine Striking Stone nor the Emperor Butterfly and instructing them to leave and avoid the impending calamity.

He had also not informed his two greatest supports, Moppy and Little Red, of this perilous venture. The dangers were too great; with the Seven Gods Descending, even these two powerful beings would be marching to their deaths, having only begun igniting divine flames and still early in their cultivation.

Shi Hao had learned that those deities had entered the Stone Country’s forbidden grounds and were seated within the imperial palace.

The morning glow was dazzling, casting a crystalline gleam over Shi Hao’s body. As he approached the inner city, he gazed upon the sprawling palace complex.

“Stone Emperor!” The guards inside the city cried out in shock, their faces turning pale, anxious and terrified, whispering urgently, “Your Majesty, please retreat quickly!”

There had been a drastic change here; those who remained were fiercely loyal, still awaiting an opportunity to strike back. Seeing Shi Hao return at such a time filled them with worry; he was walking right into the enemy’s net.

“There’s no need for concern. I’ve come to meet them,” Shi Hao declared.

At the city gate, the remaining guards were stunned, watching as he strode forward, his figure bathed in a soft golden hue from the morning light, leaving them with mixed emotions.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated on 𝑛𝑜𝘃𝕘𝕠.co

Though young, Shi Hao had over the past six months acted decisively and mercilessly, quelling disorder, sweeping away foes, and protecting the foundations of Stone Country with awe-inspiring might, before triumphantly stepping down, earning their admiration.

Yet now, with deities descending into the world, Shi Hao, despite his exceptional talent and strength, was still outmatched; knowing he faced certain death, yet still willing to take on the burden, garnered their respect.

The Sun had just risen, casting a sacred luminescence over the entire imperial palace, gleaming brightly. The guards made way for him, and Shi Hao walked with purposeful strides, entering the palace directly.

It was clear that a fierce battle had taken place here; parts of the imperial palace were damaged. Despite activating powerful Arrays, they had still been breached.

After all, these were deities. Although the Arrays were strong, without someone of the appropriate realm to control them, they couldn’t unleash their full power, especially when some among the invaders had knowledge of Formations.

“Hmm, you’ve come,” a voice echoed from within the Central Heavenly Palace, casual and indifferent, yet resonating in a way that buzzed in one’s ears.

“Your Majesty, you should not have returned!” At the entrance to the Heavenly Palace, some guards who had not yet retreated, all bloodstained and filled with panic, sent Shi Hao their thoughts.

“You all retreat!” Shi Hao commanded.

These men gripped their weapons with whitening knuckles, staying silent, knowing their presence was futile and could change nothing. Survival was merely due to the entity inside having not yet acted.

Yet, each person was filled with indignation, a heaviness in their hearts. How could such a powerful country fall like this, its imperial grounds breached so easily, occupied and held, treating them as nothing.

As Shi Hao entered the Heavenly Palace, he found many guards lying on the ground, faint whimpers ringing out, blood everywhere.

Previously, the three sects had attacked but had not breached the Central Heavenly Palace; now it had completely fallen and been occupied.

“Are you Shi Hao?” A voice came; it belonged to a skeletal figure, of a pale gold hue all over, devoid of any Yin energy, but rather peaceful.

Behind it, a pair of pristine white wings added to its sacred appearance. Undoubtedly, the being had come from the Netherworld, a deity that had lit the Dark light.

“So young, beyond my expectations,” the skeletal figure spoke, its jaw moving, clicking eerily, using Divine Sense in place of spoken language, “It’s a pity, the Netherlord demands your death.”

Shi Hao said nothing, scanning over this being and focusing on the throne. Anger flared within him, his eyes shooting cold light.

High on the throne sat a deity, dignified, with a foot stepping on a youth below — it was Lan Yu, pale-faced, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

“Let him go!” Shi Hao thundered.

“I’m being gentle; I haven’t taken his life. But since he dared to disrespect me, he is destined to be punished,” the silver-haired man responded, deceptively young-looking, with a faint smile, his foot pressing on Lan Yu’s face.

“Big brother…” Lan Yu revived, his expression changing dramatically as he said, “Don’t come back!”

“Too late, you’re useless now, go stay aside.” The silver-haired man exerted a bit more force under his foot, kicking Lan Yu down the steps, causing him to tumble into the hall, bleeding again from his mouth, but enduring without uttering a sound.

Shi Hao’s pupils were icy as he stared at the silver-haired man, demanding, “Who are you?”

“I hail from Yin Yang Academy, named Yang Li,” he answered calmly, looking down at Shi Hao with an evaluating gaze, clicking his tongue in wonder, “At your age to have such cultivation, you’re even more impressive than I was.”

Shi Hao frowned and reflected upon the events. During the great catastrophe that day, the Yin Yang Daoist was slain by the Willow Deity, and both sections of his tower body were taken back by Little Pagoda. That Daoist must have come from this Yin Yang Academy.

“Our Dean died in the Lower Realm, both sentimentally and rationally, someone should come down to have a look,” Yang Li said indifferently.

On one side of the Heavenly Palace, behind the curtains, there were sounds of movement and chewing. Shi Hao turned around and his eyes widened with rage as he couldn’t help but shout, “Stop!”

His eyes nearly split with anger. There was a Silver Pangolin, its body snow-white and gleaming, tearing and biting into the arm of the War King, devouring his divine blood.

Apart from the War King, there were also Peng Jiu, the Peacock King of Light, and others who had long since passed out, each one of them in a bloody, gruesome state.

Hearing this, the Silver Pangolin raised its head and said, “They won’t die, just losing a bit of blood.” As it spoke, it smacked its lips with relish.

Shi Hao’s eyes were bloodshot with humiliation. What an extreme insult! Watching as the War King, Peng Jiu, and others were at risk of losing their lives, the enemy was so arrogant, brazenly gnawing at their flesh right in front of him!

Yang Li spoke up, “Stop sucking their blood. It would be unfortunate if you killed them; this vast Stone Country still needs these Venerables to hold it down. We can’t step in, so we need some spokespeople. These few are not bad, let them control the country and search for things like the Detachment Chapter and other fortunes.”

“What a bore, only the blood of these Venerables tastes decent. I’ve eaten a few guards and it’s like chewing wax,” said the Silver Pangolin, slowly making its way into the center of the Heavenly Palace.

“What’s your origin?” asked Shi Hao, his eyes streaked with blood.

“I come from the Beast Sea,” replied the pangolin calmly, looking at Shi Hao. “Don’t glare at me; I have no grudge against you. I’ve just followed along to take a look. You seem to taste good.”

Shi Hao was shocked. He knew of the Beast Sea; he had heard of it when he had met with Lan Yu, Hong Huang, Bi Gu, and others at Crane Cry Mountain. The progenitor of the Beast Sea once observed the forms of mundane insects and beasts, and eventually created the True Scripture of a Hundred Beasts, seizing the fortunes of heaven and earth.

The Pangolin eyed Shi Hao’s chest and said, “You have nurtured a Supreme Bone, your blood must taste excellent.”

“Are there only the three of you?” Shi Hao asked expressionlessly.

“One of us is enough to flatten your nation, let alone three Gods. Are you still not satisfied?” Yang Li said with a hint of scornful laughter.

A Golden Skeleton walked with a “clack clack” sound that resonated far through the Heavenly Palace. A strong figure who had ignited divine flames from the Nether Race said, “Your treasure vault is quite impoverished. We opened one and there was almost no material left.”

Clearly, these three mighty beings had rushed here mainly to obtain some Divine Material, not waiting for the others and arriving first.

Unfortunately, most of the materials in Stone Country’s treasury had been used up, and the maintenance of the imperial palace’s Array had consumed a massive amount.

The Golden Skeleton continued, “The arrangement of the Array in this palace is not bad, but it’s a pity there’s no one of the appropriate level to manage it. To us, it’s as if it didn’t exist. Yet, some materials are rare and can be taken away.”

He strolled forward to where the War King, Peng Jiu, and the others lay and said, “The flavor of their souls is not bad, alas, they cannot be devoured.”

As he spoke, his jaw opened wide and with a strong inhale, a soul emerged from each of the bodies of the War King, Peng Jiu, the Peacock King of Light, and others, converging towards his skull.

“Don’t mess around, they are all of great use,” Yang Li said.

“I know, I’m just smelling the scent,” said the figure that had ignited the dark flames, waving his bony arm before blowing out and sending the souls back to their bodies.

Shi Hao was seething with rage, wishing he could strike them dead immediately, but his heart steadied somewhat; these three Deities seemed not to be planning to take the lives of the War King and the others. Instead, they wanted to use them to control Stone Country and serve their purposes.

“You… how did you come back?” the War King, Peng Jiu, and the others awoke, pale-faced and shocked.

“You’ve suffered,” Shi Hao said.

“Big brother…” Light Wind opened his mouth, wanting to say something, his little face as white as snow. He had not submitted and had thus suffered such ordeals.

“Light Wind!” Shi Hao gave him a glance and then turned to the three Gods and said, “If you want to kill me, you could have just done it at Three Lives Mountain. Why involve the innocent like this? As Deities, why stoop to such lows?”

“Why go to Three Lives Mountain?” Yang Li, her hair shiny and silver, sat high on a jeweled throne and looked down from above, saying, “For a mere Formation Arrangement Realm cultivator, is it worth the trip just for you? If we want you dead, it’s just a word away. Just come back and accept your punishment obediently.”

Such tone, such demeanor, showed complete disregard for Shi Hao; they were truly arrogant and domineering!

“Full of yourselves. Your Grandfather Shi Hao is back, I’d like to see how you intend to kill me!” Shi Hao’s whole body shone, a battle garment covering his body, flickering with a dark light.

“Undying Golden Body Battle Clothes?”

“Treasure from the Primeval Times, almost unseen now, and you actually possess one!”

All three Gods were drawn to this, eyes suddenly brightening with intense heat, and they all moved forward a step.

With a “whoosh”, Shi Hao vanished from his spot, instantly appearing in the sky above the imperial palace, looking down below, and said, “False Gods, come forth and meet your demise!”

(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile phone users can read at m.qidian.com.)