âZiling, what is the meaning of this?â A king level figure spoke, his face clearly discontent. âYour oldest son killed a core disciple of my clan, yet you still dare to yell at us?â
âYou all better get out!â Shi Ziling roared. How could he not know what happened? If not for Shi Haoâs spiritual senses still remaining active and rousing him awake, he would have died in an underhanded manner.
âShi Ziling, donât cross the line. Your eldest son killed a disciple under my clanâs direct line of descent. It is bad enough you arenât punishing him, but you still speak like this. You are going too far!â The old woman who held the green wooden staff said with an overcast face.
âGet lost!â Shi Ziling erupted with rage. His eldest son was already close to dying, yet someone still attacked and injured him. In the end, they even falsely accused him. Rage filled his chest.
A qiang sounded. A golden spear appeared in his hands. Veins appeared on his arms as he gripped it tightly. There was no point in explaining anything else now. He was ready to fight!
âYou⊠even want to use force?â Several expertsâ faces fell.
Two individuals even stepped forward to oppose him with equal harshness!
âDisappear, get out of here!â Qin Yining became angry as well. Her eyebrows stood vertically, and her large eyes were opened wide. She pointed at everyone and shouted, âIf a single hair on Haoâerâs head is harmed, Immortal Mountain can forget about their sect in the lower realm!â
The expressions of these people went cold. Even though they were angry, they all endured it. It was because Qin Yiningâs identity wasnât ordinary, and her bloodline in the higher realms won, so they were in control over everything. Apart from this, there was Qin Hao who had the immortal bone implanted as well, and he was still her child in the end. He was someone who will reach the realm of supreme being in the future!
The house became quiet. Those individuals backed up. The flame within the bronze lamp flickered about, making this room rather dark. Shi Hao went unconscious again. Every time, he could only remain conscious for a moment, and it was getting more and more serious.
Shi Ziling sat beside the bed silently. He felt an extremely great pressure. What were they supposed to do?
âThereâs not much time left. We canât drag it on any longer. Haoâer is becoming weaker and weaker, and his time is running out.â
Shi Zilingâs voice was hoarse and filled with great pain. His eyes carried bloody lines. He suddenly stood up.
âWhat are you going to do? Are you going to gouge out the bone of our other child? He⊠how will he feel? Thereâs even a chance of him dying! Are we to use his life in exchange for his older brotherâs?â Qin Yining asked with tears in her eyes.
âAre we supposed to just watch as Haoâer dies? With every passing minute, he will become much weaker. We have already dragged things on for an entire day!â Shi Ziling felt dejected. He looked outside the window into the misty night. The stars became dim and dark clouds drifted over, making the mood even more downcast.
The candle flame went dim. The face of Shi Hao on the bed was pale. His eyes were closed. His body was becoming weaker and weaker.
Shi Ziling tightened his fists and said, âThat wonât do! Back then, we already turned our backs on him, not staying by his side. He was so young, forced to experience so many bloody events in the Martial Imperial manor alone, becoming so weak he nearly died. Later on, we placed him alone in Stone Village and never did what parents ought to do. We never properly took care of him. During these years, all of his accomplishments were earned through his own hard work. From such a young age, he left Stone Village on his own, fighting against all types of vicious birds and ferocious beasts in the great wastelands, fighting his way to power step by step.â
Shi Ziling took a deep breath and said, âHe looks splendid with power that can shake the world, but exactly how much suffering and difficulties has he experienced during all of this? That was the result he fought for alone. Meanwhile, what did we do? We never took care of him, never completing our mission as parents. We havenât done anything for him!â
Qin Yining weeped. She sat in front of the bed while holding Shi Haoâs hand, gently caressing it. As she watched his vitality become weaker and weaker, she felt as if she was suffocating.â
Their eldest son never hated them. He slaughtered his way into the Qin Clan alone, all for the sake of freeing them, not hesitating at all to fight a bloody battle against Immortal Mountain, one of the most powerful great sects.
Qin Yiningâs voice trembled as she said, âWhat exactly should we do? How miserable is Haoâerâs fate? This time, could it be that thereâs truly no other way but to gouge out the bone of our other child, putting him in danger of death too? How tragic is this?â
âWe already lost Haoâer once. Last time, we didnât properly protect him, didnât carry out our duty as parents. This time, are we supposed to look on helplessly as he departs this world? I will never be able to rest easy for the remainder of my life!â Even more bloody veins appeared in Shi Zilingâs eyes.
âBut what about our other child? How unfair and miserable is this for him?â Qin Yining said.
âWe canât worry about that. If our second son feels inner turmoil then so be it. Rescuing Haoâer is the most important thing, or else heâs going to die immediately!â Shi Ziling had no idea what would end up happening after they did this.
âFather, are you going to gouge out my bone?â The door pushed open. Qin Hao appeared, his face appearing calm. His eyes were deep as he stood there, no longer stepping forward.
Shi Ziling opened his mouth. However, nothing came out.
âThatâs fine. Father, mother, if you two feel that this can save older brother, then come over and take my bone.â Qin Hao said.
âChild, you donât need to overthink things. In our hearts, you and your big brother are both equally important. We would never make you a sacrifice.â Qin Yining said while shedding tears, appearing incomparably pained.
âWasteland region Stone Countryâs War King, Ming King, and Peng King have come to pay a visit. Please open the mountain gate!â
Right at this moment, a great voice rang through the skies, reaching the depths of Immortal Mountain. It was clear that the ones who came were supreme experts, raising up a great commotion.
âReporting, Stone Countryâs people came. There are actually⊠three supreme experts!â Someone reported.
Many of Immortal Mountainâs peopleâs faces changed. This was an era without deities, and even supreme experts were hard to find, yet Stone Country unexpectedly had three supreme experts. This made everyone shiver in fear.
âStone Countryâs kings have arrived. Is this to deal with us?â The old woman who held the green wood staff became gloomy. She felt like this things werenât looking good.
Outside the mountain gate, the Ming King, War King, and Peng Nine stood together, and behind them were many powerful experts as well. They were all king level figures who wore armor that flickered with cold glint. Every single one of them carried a few wooden cases that contained precious medicines.
The so-called Peng King was precisely Peng Nine. This was a title Shi Hao bestowed.
âKings, please come in.â
Eventually, the Qin Clan opened the mountain gate, inviting them in. They presumed that they came for Shi Hao, so it was likely that they werenât here to fight.
However, Immortal Mountainâs people felt alarmed. Three great supreme experts descended, every single of of them carrying diving magical artifacts. This truly exuded an intimidating pressure! If conflict broke out between them, then the results would be unimaginable.
Meanwhile, there wasnât a single ordinary soldier behind them. They were all king level figures. When a group like this showed up, they could definitely wipe out a great sect!
When something happened to Shi Hao, the War King, Peng Nine, and the others mobilized all forces to acquire all types of ancient treatments and asked great sects for holy medicines. They disregarded all costs. As long as they could cure Shi Hao, they were willing to pay any price.
Today, they brought over large amounts of pill medicines and even obtained a stalk of holy medicine. This was to help preserve Shi Haoâs life.
You have to understand that holy medicines were just too rare in this world. Only specific Archaic Divine Mountains and inheritances like Western Sect would have one.
One could well imagine the price Peng Nine and the others had to pay before obtaining just one stalk!
As for other types of spiritual pills, there were too many to count. It had been accumulated into a huge heap, no longer seeming like medicines but instead like pouches of food.
âYour Majesty!â
âEmperor!â
When the old kings saw Shi Haoâs deathly pale face, their voices all trembled and old tears fell. Was this still the world-shaking little Stone?
There were injuries all over his body, cracked like a piece of porcelain that might break apart at any moment. There wasnât the slightest trace of blood in him. When compared to his former heroicness, his dominating valiance, it was just too far.
Back then, Shi Hao entered the imperial palace alone in spite of the dangers to safe Qin Feng and several old kings, letting them live. Then, he continuosly fought alone against deities, ultimately falling to this state.
âYour Majesty, you have to persevere and live!â An old king said.
The room was full of people. They were all kings from Stone Country. However, Shi Haoâs eyes were closed, remaining unconscious.
âBring the bowl over and dissolve this half of a holy pill!â The War King spoke.
Apart from a stalk of holy medicine, they also obtained half a pill. This was a holy grade medicine that possessed divine effectiveness.
There wasnât much time left. Qin Clanâs people sent over a jade bowl that scattered out spiritual essence. Multicolored light flickered about.
The War King poured a bit of spiritual liquid inside to dissolve this holy pill. He had Shi Hao ingest it. This medicine could slow down organ failure and increase his vitality.
âEn, somethingâs not right. This bowl has a bit of spiritual essence stirring chaotically!â The War King was quite knowledgeable towards the medicinal dao, or else he wouldnât be the one to dissolve the holy pill.
He quickly removed the spiritual liquid, fixing it in the void and separating it from that bowl. He frowned and carefully looked at it. Soon after, he suddenly erupted with great fury.
âWho was the one that brought this bowl over? Are you looking to die?â His eyes shot up vertically. Two streaks of divine radiance shot out from his eyes.
Not even a normal supreme expert could see through it. If not for the War King acting extremely carefully and having seen one before, not even he would have noticed anything strange.
âIt looks like a spiritual bowl, but it is actually an ill luck bowl. There are curse patterns carved inside of it. If one continuously uses it, it will bring extremely great harm to the patient!â
When the War King said this, all of Stone Countryâs kings erupted with anger.
âYou, get over here!â Peng Nine reached out a large hand and grabbed the neck of the individual that sent over the bowl with one movement, bringing him over. This individualâs eyes immediately rolled back and went unconscious.
The old kings didnât say much and directly searched his sea of consciousness. However, he was a subordinate and didnât know the true matters. However, they unexpectedly found out another matter.
âWhat, there was someone who tried to assassinate Stone Emperor, and it was His Majesty who personally stopped it?!â The Ming King suddenly stood up and roared in anger.
âQin Clan, do you all want to die? Do you want to be wiped out?!â The War King shouted even more loudly. His voice rang into the distance, making this entire palace shake.
âWho is acting with such insolence? You dare to come to my Immortal Mountain and still act so unbridled?!â A reply sounded from the distance. A group of elders appeared.
âYou harmed my Stone Clanâs emperor, yet you still act so dignified. Are you looking to die?!â A comparatively âyoungerâ king level figure shouted.
âMy clan rescued the little Stone out of good intentions, yet you all havenât repaid us with gratitude, but instead slander. What kind of reasoning is this?â The old woman who held the green wood staff said with a downcast face.
âWhat dog fart rescuing?!â Peng Nine roared and directly took action, âJust from how you arrogantly call my Stone Countryâs Emperor little Stone, I already know what you are thinking inside.â
He formed a Peng claw that was golden and sharp. It was incredibly large and immediately surrounded that area.
âYou dare?!â The old womanâs status was clearly not ordinary. She brandished her green wooden staff, a precious artifact, to defend herself.
âWhy woudnât I dare?!â Peng Nine shouted. The golden Peng claw descended, breaking apart that green wood staff and grabbing her up in one go as if she was a little bird, almost ending her life just like that.
âImpudent!â An enormous wave of pressure surged over. Qin Clanâs supreme expert took action.
âIt is you all who are impudent!â The Ming King took action, blasting him back.
âImmortal Mountain, you all actually dare to injure our Emperor, and not only once. What exactly did you do to my Stone Clanâs emperor? Do you want to be wiped out?!â The War King was even more domineering.
Shi Ziling and his wife guarded Shi Haoâs bed, not stopping them. They were also angry. They never expected these people to continuously play dirty tricks, actually daring to do this kind of stuff.
âTruly unbridled. You dare to threaten to end my Immortal Mountain?â Qin Clanâs supreme expert said in anger.
âSo what if we wipe you all out? Do you think my Stone Country is scared of you all? To harm our clanâs emperor, it wouldnât be a big deal to completely wipe out this place!â The War King roared coldly.
Meanwhile, the Ming King and Peng King stepped up as well. They didnât say anything. Divine magical artifacts appeared behind them, ready to release the most powerful attack at any moment.
Everyone from Immortal Mountain shivered inwardly. These were three great supreme experts, the highest power in the current world! They could completely annihilate a great sect.