NOVEL WEB Chapter 176: Sin State
Shi Jian was in a great mood after tricking Luo Feng. He then closed the chat group, took Shi Hao, and left Demon Island.
"Big Brother, where are we going?" Shi Hao asked curiously as he followed Shi Jian.
"Sin State!" Shi Jian replied. That was the gathering place for beings from the Lower Realm, where various races had their power bases.
Upon hearing this name, Shi Hao felt indignant. He knew the full story and couldn't stand such a name being placed upon the descendants of the Seven Kings of the Desolate Border. The two of them were to rise in this state, carve out a clear and bright universe, reflect the glory of the Great Era, and ascend to the Peak.
After several days, the two used several super-large teleportation arrays, overcoming many difficulties, and crossed hundreds of states to arrive at the land of Sin State. Sin State stretched 230 million miles from east to west and 80 million miles from north to south. In the Upper Realm, it could only be considered a mid-to-lower rank state.
Shi Jian and Shi Hao, along with a group of travelers, emerged from the teleportation altar and surveyed their surroundings. To understand a land, one could glean clues from a city. The Spiritual Qi here was thin, and the city, built mainly from gray-brown giant stones, appeared very primitive.
The ground trembled. Elephant-headed people walked by, their massive bodies shaking the street. These were slaves being escorted after being purchased. In mid-air, strong winds raged. Dozens of demonic bats flew across, carrying people like pterosaurs. Shi Hao and Shi Jian saw such a scene as soon as they came out.
The cities here had a primitive and backward aura. The Spiritual Qi was severely lacking, making it unsuitable for long-term residence or for cultivation. Living in such a place, the people here had little chance of rising. Their cultivation would lag far behind people from other states.
"Those people regard this as Sin State, seeing it as a cursed land," Shi Jian said with a sneer. "It's no wonder the environment here is bad. People who came up from the Lower Realm's prison, as well as some powerful prisoners, were all exiled here. All descendants of the Seven Kings of the Desolate Border were exiled here."
"Then they even jointly cast a curse here, fearing that someone among the descendants of the Seven Kings of the Desolate Border might rise." Shi Jian's words were filled with killing intent.
Those few True Immortal Realm cowards thought that by hiding, Liu Shen wouldn't find them. In fact, Liu Shen could find their traces and kill them with a single thought. However, Shi Jian and the others' revenge, they naturally had to exact it themselves.
Moreover, Shi Jian and the others also needed whetstones. This was also the reason why Liu Shen didn't sweep away all future troubles at once. A jade unpolished is not a vessel. Liu Shen only protected their Dao, acting personally only when they encountered truly insurmountable powerhouses.
At other times, she basically ignored Shi Jian and the others. How can one see a rainbow without experiencing wind and rain? Liu Shen only killed some Sect Masters from forces like Sword Valley and the Demonic Dragon Dao Sect to show her power.
As for these forces themselves and the few remaining Immortals hiding behind them, Liu Shen did not act. These forces were the wind and rain left for Shi Jian and Shi Hao.
Shi Hao naturally understood this principle. He clenched his fists. "I will sooner or later destroy all these so-called Immortal Great Sects."
Shi Jian nodded, then led him into Sin State. These lands were too desolate. Spiritual Qi was withered. Especially after the ancient war, it became even more desolate. There were hardly any powerhouses.
After careful investigation, the two obtained a piece of information. Their Shi Clan once established an ancient kingdom here. It was very powerful and had once flourished, producing some extraordinary figures. However, a hand descended from the sky and wiped out this ancient kingdom.
This was clearly the work of a remaining Immortal. Shi Jian already knew about this, so his emotions didn't fluctuate much. But Shi Hao heard about this for the first time, and his heart was filled with boundless anger. An ancient kingdom was thus mercilessly wiped out. It was too cruel and ruthless, not to mention that this ancient kingdom was of his own clan.
Those forces not only slandered the descendants of the Seven Kings of the Desolate Border; they also suppressed them repeatedly. Once they saw any signs of prosperity, they would immediately destroy them. Their methods were cruel. Since coming to Sin State, the anger in Shi Hao's heart had not subsided.
The two arrived at the ancient kingdom's ruins. It was barren, with not a blade of grass growing. There was rubble everywhere, and various broken walls and remnants. It was hard to imagine that this was once the capital of a nation.
The two lingered here and found some surviving descendants of the Shi Kingdom. Those living here were all old, weak, sick, disabled, and ordinary youths. They were all Mortals and didn't even have the cultivation of the Blood Moving Realm. They had long forgotten how to cultivate.
"The ancient kingdom here once discovered some truths, which is why it met with utter destruction," Shi Jian said, looking at the ancient kingdom's ruins and the remaining descendants of the Shi Clan, his eyes filled with killing intent. The ancient kingdom here was destroyed not just because the Shi Clan developed. Although the Shi Clan was somewhat prosperous at the time, in the eyes of those people, they were no different from ants.
The main reason for the ancient kingdom's destruction was that the Shi Clan's ancestors had insight into some truths. They knew about the tricks played by those remaining Immortals. They knew that their ancestors were still writing glory with blood and bone, still fighting on the front lines. They wanted to clear their names. They wanted to let the world know the truth. That's why they were destroyed.
As Shi Hao listened, it was as if a raging fire burned in his chest. Shi Jian took him to the ancient kingdom's ruins once again. A weathered giant stone with mottled Bloodlines stood there.
"Since we are here... let's rebuild the Shi Kingdom and tell the world that we are not sinners. The blood flowing in our veins is not impure; it is glory! It records past merits!" Shi Jian's voice echoed in Shi Hao's ears.
Then Shi Jian placed a hand on the stone tablet. He activated his Qi and Blood, and in an instant, the blood in his body boiled like thunder, like a great river flowing. An ancient and mysterious symbol appeared between Shi Jian's eyebrows, dazzling brightly. Various patterns formed a symbol, like a rotating galaxy. The light surged, directly rushing into the sky, shattering the clouds.
"Oh my goodness, what is that!" A beam of light pierced into the sky, illuminating the entire area. It was enchanting and mysterious.
"Sin blood condensing, actually able to collapse clouds..." The phenomenon instantly shook the surroundings, and many Great Sects nearby immediately noticed and cried out in surprise. "How can there be such a powerful sin blood rune? A beam of light piercing the sky?" someone exclaimed.
People from some major forces had flickering eyes. Looking at this familiar phenomenon of sin blood rushing to the clouds, they naturally knew who caused it. Unrestrained! Shi Jian! Some forces vaguely knew the truth of the matter. Normally, they naturally wouldn't dare to speak.
But just before, Liu Shen had displayed great Divine Might and even stood up for the descendants of sin blood. The significance of this was self-evident. Even a fool would know that there must be other hidden reasons behind these matters. Now, looking at this situation, it should be Shi Jian, who caused unrest throughout the Three Thousand States, who had arrived at Sin State.
Was he preparing to clear the Shi Clan's name? Countless people speculated in their hearts. A character was reflected in the sky, but it was not the "Sin" character that people had seen before. Instead, it was the character "Shi." The ancient character shone with brilliant light in the sky, like a sun.
"Grandpa, didn't they say that the sin blood condenses into the character 'Sin'? This character isn't it!"
"This character has never been 'Sin'; it represents a kind of glory. It was just distorted into 'Sin'... Now, its original meaning has returned..." The conversation between a grandfather and grandson echoed across the horizon. Countless people were shocked and discussed, but they all dared not approach, fearing to bring trouble upon themselves.
Some surviving members of the Shi Clan saw this phenomenon, and their eyes instantly filled with turbid tears. Then they knelt towards the former site of the ancient kingdom, crying with emotion.
"Is this a descendant of my Shi Clan? A Prodigy who shines through ancient times and shakes the world? Can he wash away the shame of my clan?"
"Has a Genius from my Shi Clan's Lower Realm arrived here?" Their voices carried sorrow and worry. "Child, leave here quickly... It's not safe here!" they murmured. One who could trigger such a phenomenon was definitely a Genius among the Shi Clan, but also a target for those Great Sects to hunt. In the past, among the Shi Clan, and also the Fire Clan, there had also been Geniuses born, but they would soon be killed by the powerhouses of those Great Sects. This was their sorrow: they were powerless to protect their descendants' growth.
After seeing what Shi Jian did, Shi Hao didn't hesitate at all and stepped forward. Then he placed his hand on the stone tablet, activating his Qi and Blood. His Qi and Blood surged, and terrifying Divine Light once again shot straight into the nine heavens. Another "Shi" character condensed in the Void Realm, shining with Divine Light.
"Another great Sin Blood fiend... and it's a sin blood condensation that illuminates the myriad heavens..." People were astonished. Some great fiends in the past could only manifest a single pattern. Now, Shi Jian and Shi Hao were able to manifest complete characters. Two such terrifying descendants of sin blood. The key was that with Liu Shen's protection, no one dared to lay a hand on them. If they were to grow up, countless people fell silent.
"We are not people of sin blood. Our ancestors are still fighting there, sealing off heaven and earth, cutting off their own retreat..." A desolate voice, as if coming from a severed world, echoed. This voice was roaring, shouting. It carried glory, and even a tragic grandeur.
Shi Hao and Shi Jian both heard this voice. The Bloodline in their bodies resonated with the sound. A spirit infected them. "Is this the truth Big Brother has always talked about?" Shi Hao's eyes were already filled with tears. He could feel his emotions resonating. His ancestors were not sinners but had created a certain glory and were still fighting on the front lines to this day.
Shi Hao's emotions fluctuated, which gave him an epiphany. His Cultivation advanced further, and he was about to break through. He was close to being promoted to Venerable Great Perfection. Shi Jian also felt touched, but he had known the truth for a long time, so his emotions didn't fluctuate very severely. However, he was also close to breaking through to the Venerable Realm. Shi Jian wanted to engrave the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation and then take this opportunity to break through in one fell swoop.
"This is not sin; it is glory and brilliance. It is the imprint of past glory!" Shi Jian's voice was strong and resonant, spreading from the ancient kingdom's ruins to the surroundings. "It condenses the blood and fire of the past, and in another world, this symbol represents the most dazzling glory and merit!" This was a declaration and also an announcement to the world.
Shi Jian had not reached the point where a single voice could spread throughout the entire world, but his voice could travel very, very far, allowing many people to hear it. Shi Hao's voice followed closely after his: "Those who call us descendants of sin blood, whoever wants to condemn me, whoever wants to judge, come at me!"
This was a challenge, unafraid of the order set by those Great Sects. They wanted to clear the injustice of the sin blood descendants. If it were peacetime, feeling this terrifying phenomenon and hearing such words, Heavenly Gods, or even Sect Master-Rank figures, would probably descend immediately to kill Shi Hao and Shi Jian. But now, no one dared to move.
Because they all knew who stood behind this great sin blood fiend. That was an untouchable taboo. People of high Realms, not a single one dared to act rashly. The forces behind them also dared not let them move. Once they moved, what awaited them was Liu Shen destroying their entire Dao tradition.
Under these circumstances, to destroy the great sin blood fiend, the only way was to send people from the Venerable Realm to contend with him and then cut him down. Or even powerhouses of the Divine Fire or True God Realm. The Sacred Sacrifice Realm could even be mobilized if necessary. However, the various forces also didn't know where Liu Shen's tolerance limit was. They could only frantically try to improve the strength of the monstrous talents within their own forces, hoping that they could cut down Shi Jian and Shi Hao.