Perfect World

Chapter 475: 475
 

The sunset had not yet fallen, dyeing the heavens a blood-red, desolate beauty. The imperial palace stood towering, solemn, and awe-inspiring, exuding a faint golden glow.

In such a brief span of time, five Venerables had fallen one after another. From their arrival to their demise, it had not been long; the sun had not yet fully set.

The remaining disciples were all petrified, daring not to make a single move. Each one of them felt cold from head to toe. How could they possibly contend against Little Stone? Who could compete with him?

“Clang!”

Shi Hao sheathed his sword, carried the National Guardian Divine Halberd on his back, and turned to leave, walking towards the Central Heavenly Palace without giving them a second glance.

“Did he spare us?” A disciple came to his senses, feeling surprisingly joyful from being ignored, a sentiment unthinkable in normal times.

These people were typically haughty, always surrounded by adoring crowds at the center wherever they went, treated with great respect by their peers. Today, however, they were terrified beyond measure.

“If you want to live, follow me and answer some questions,” Peng Jiu appeared with a group of troops and War Generals, looking sternly at them.

Some became scheming as Little Stone left; could these guards still stop them? If they forcibly broke out, they might escape this disaster.

In an instant, some made up their minds, activated their precious artifacts, and fled towards the sky at high speed. As soon as one person led, others followed, resulting in a dazzling display of auspicious light.

“Hiss!”

The sound of tearing through the sky shattered the heavens, horrifying these individuals. The old imperial bodyguard, expressionless, activated the palace’s Array, and various characters surged into the sky.

In just the blink of an eye, several individuals were swept up, burning in midair, turning into a brilliant firelight like falling meteors.

The remaining dozen were like falling into an ice cellar, standing in place daring not to move, and were taken down, highly compliant.

In this battle, all five Venerables perished, and all disciples were wiped out; not one escaped. With these achievements shocking the world, it was enough to chill the hearts of those with nefarious intentions.

“Charge!”

In front of the Central Imperial Palace, Shi Hao, clad in a golden lion, raised his Battle Sword and loudly commanded. At this dusk, he led a large group of War Generals riding the imperial family’s golden chariot, crushing across the heavens, initiating a purge.

Apart from the five Venerables, there were many from the three sects still in the city, quietly waiting for news. As the golden chariots appeared out of nowhere, thundering, they came forth to surround and annihilate them.

Shi Hao was decisive and ruthless, sweeping away all remaining opponents, whether by killing or capturing, crushing the experts of the three sects.

It was a blood-drenched dusk; Stone Capital was greatly shaken, and various forces fell silent. The New Emperor so vigorously swept away the forces of the three sects, astonishing every Cultivator.

As for the civilians, upon learning of the situation, they were in heated discussions, shouting the emperor’s name. They did not understand the immortal legacies from beyond their domain, only knowing that the New Emperor was unmatched in strength.

This battle shook the world!

News spread, stirring up commotion everywhere.

Inside the imperial palace treasury, Shi Hao paced back and forth, discussing with the Divine Striking Stone how to set up an Array while leisurely selecting treasures, occasionally tossing it a piece of elemental material.

“Big Brother is sagacious and valiant, his heroic spirit is unparalleled, covering all heroes, divinely gifted, revered by all six directions, unmatched in the wastes, unrivaled in the world, first under the heavens…”

The Divine Striking Stone was enthusiastically flattering and assured that the Array it set up had no flaws.

The Little Pagoda became unsettled, having endured many days, and seeing the Divine Striking Stone swallowing the treasures, it eventually couldn’t bear it anymore and conversed with Shi Hao, very incensed, criticizing him for wasting such rare treasures—an utterly shameful squander.

Shi Hao retorted, saying, “It’s better than using it on you, giving you a piece of Divine Material yet you only make a move once. But setting up an Array, we can sweep away an area, no matter how many batches come we can suppress them.”

“The extravagant waste of heavenly materials, how can you use them so freely? If you give them to me, I guarantee I can create an unprecedented killing formation,” Little Pagoda said, expressing dissatisfaction, while also bringing a hint of temptation.

“How about we make a major trade?” Shi Hao looked at it, indicating he could give it all the Divine Materials in the treasury.

“What do you want me to do?” Little Pagoda was naturally very eager.

“How about you become the Guardian Spirit of Stone Country?” Shi Hao suggested. The Guardian Spirit of this era had disappeared during the great calamity and had not reappeared.

Little Pagoda immediately fell silent; it didn’t want to emerge into the world, always wary of certain powers, yet the young man in front of it was gently persuading it, making it somewhat tempted.

“There’s nothing to worry about. Just protect Stone Country on a daily basis, fulfilling the role of the Guardian Spirit. If a great calamity arrives, you can hide. Don’t you want to return to your peak condition?”

Shi Hao promised, not only could it choose any of the Divine Materials in this imperial palace, but once it became the Guardian Spirit, the entire country’s power could be used to find the Divine Materials it needed.

Little Pagoda was considering; it indeed needed an endless supply of Divine Materials to repair itself. However, due to the battle that year, there were various limitations, and it saw the true nature of things, which made it extremely wary.

To the whole world, it was incredibly balanced; to gain something, one must give something in return. This was the deepest understanding of a being of its level; sooner or later, they had to repay that cause and effect.

It was truly tempted. The power of a whole country was astonishing, and even beings from the higher realms wanted to provoke it, seeking assistance from several ancient countries.

Little Pagoda hesitated; if it became the Guardian Spirit, just the Divine Materials in this imperial palace could alleviate its immediate needs, and the earlier set-up Arrays could be dismantled for more treasures, which were accumulations from ancient times!

“What’s a great calamity? You are not without power to contest it, you just don’t want to reveal yourself too early. But if you always remain like this, when can you reconstitute your True Body? If you don’t seize the opportunity, always passively waiting, you will never be able to rise. The great calamity coming can be called an astounding change, but it’s also an opportunity, a time of great contention. You need to actively strive!”

Shi Hao beguiled, endlessly, just short of pointing at Little Pagoda’s nose and scolding.

“Kid, you’re even more agitated than I am. Don’t you think you can’t hold on, having provoked the cultivators of the three sects, and now you want me to block the torrent of the three sects?” Little Pagoda sneered.

“Don’t be insincere; you clearly need Divine Materials, yet you distract me with ‘balance’. Now I’m giving you the chance for an astounding trade, offering you the position of a country’s Guardian Spirit. Speak plainly, dare you accept?” Shi Hao challenged.

“Kid, you’ve had this planned all along, huh? You’ve just been trying to drag me into it, right?” Little Pagoda gave him a sideways glance. Two light spots appeared on its body, resembling eyes, and finally, even a mouth emerged, displaying disdain.

“This is the overarching trend. I’ve seen the rivers of time, unstoppable. To rise through the layers of heaven, one must contend boldly. Sooner or later, I’ll fight my way up to the higher realms!” Shi Hao said.

Little Pagoda wanted to scoff, to tell him he was like an ant shaking a tree, completely ignorant of the vastness of heaven and earth, but it held back. Even a youth dared to speak so boldly, yet it had smoothed its own edges over the years, becoming overly cautious.

“You have no idea what it is that can threaten me. Hey, I am about to unleash my power. I fear nothing in this world. If need be, let the heavens overturn and the earth upheave. Let this realm restart anew!” Little Pagoda seemed provoked, spitting out these fierce words.

“Did you agree?” Shi Hao was surprised.

“Let me be just a guardian spirit for a mere Stone Country? Laughable. If you can break into the higher realms and eventually become the Heavenly Emperor, then I might consider serving as your guardian spirit,” Little Pagoda said.

“Big talk. Once I really enter the higher realms and become the Heavenly Emperor, what need would I have for a guardian spirit? I would already be invincible.” Shi Hao smirked.

“Hey, what do you know? It’s even more dangerous then. Only at that level will you understand,” Little Pagoda scoffed.

Finally, it fell silent, indicating it needed to think it over. Shi Hao’s words had stimulated it; it mentioned returning to Stone Village, and if the Willow Deity was also intending to take action, then it was ready to risk everything.

“Could it get the Willow Deity to take action?” Shi Hao was overjoyed. If he could mobilize it, he would fear nothing and could rise amidst the great currents of the era, ascending to the ninth level of heaven.

For several days, the imperial palace was very quiet.

Of course, outside, the world was in turmoil, the situation across the world drastically changing, creating a noisy disturbance.

Shi Hao momentarily set everything aside, quietly cultivating and studying the Suanni Law, the precious symbol of the primordial ferocious beasts, which was a Divine Power of the Shi Clan known for its unparalleled thunderous attacks.

Then, he emerged from seclusion because Peng Jiu and the War King came to seek an audience.

They expressed their purpose, calling him the emperor of a country, yet he had not taken a queen, which did not fit his status. It was improper for the inner palace to be empty.

Shi Hao was speechless, but then he laughed and shook his head. “You don’t need to worry about it. Having one maid by my side is enough for now.”

The Bronze Block emerged, radiating dawn light, opening a golden path. A woman of ethereal beauty appeared, her features picturesque, her skin white and lustrous, as if she had stepped out of a painting, purely and transcendentally beautiful.

“Yue Chan, serve the tea,” Shi Hao ordered.

War King and Peng Jiu were dumbstruck. Such a woman, of unparalleled beauty, radiant and dreamy, flawless, had appeared out of nowhere.

“Your Majesty, this must not be done.” They quickly realized that this was Fairy Yue Chan from the Heaven Mending Sect— a frightfully high-status identity— and she was actually being kept by his side as a maid? Was the new emperor really using her as such?

This was the first time Fairy Yue Chan was sent out. Her eyes shimmered, her long eyelashes quivered, her expression hesitant but breathtaking, stirring hearts.

She couldn’t possibly follow Shi Hao’s orders willingly as a mere maid, with such a noble identity, she would never compromise or bow her head. Without a word, she stood quietly, like a Divine Lotus, lustrous and exuding a pure aura.

“Your Majesty…” Peng Jiu and the War King tried to advise.

Shi Hao waved his hand and said, “I’ve already subdued two venerables from the Heaven Mending Sect. Using their saintess as a maid, why not?”

Just then, a streak of light appeared. Little Pagoda burst forth from the void into the imperial palace, bringing with it a swath of chaotic mist, immensely mysterious.

“It’s settled; that willow tree has agreed. I can temporarily serve as Stone Country’s guardian spirit.” Its voice transmitted this news and then it disappeared into Shi Hao’s hair.

A shock went through Shi Hao’s heart, and then he burst into great laughter, completely relieved and utterly relaxed.

He smiled at War King and Peng Jiu. “Rest assured, I won’t be too ostentatious for now. Keeping her by my side as a maid won’t let outsiders know.”

He then looked at Fairy Yue Chan, teasingly said, “Yue Chan, I’ve been busy with cultivation and dealing with the three sects these days, I’ve neglected you.”

Fairy Yue Chan’s eyebrows arched delicately, her expression incredulous. Since she had traveled the world, aside from this man before her, no one had ever dared to tease and joke with her in such a way.

“Serve the tea; otherwise, I don’t mind explaining it personally, or we could discuss other things, like the ten ancient tortures,” Shi Hao said with a smile.

Fairy Yue Chan’s beautiful eyebrows jumped; she wanted to retort, but eventually, she shut her bright red lips. Those so-called ten ancient tortures were no trivial matter, especially for women; it was an utter violation and humiliation.

“It’s okay. We can take it slow. Everything can become a habit, like serving tea, like arranging daily affairs…” Shi Hao said nonchalantly.

War King and Peng Jiu exchanged glances, promptly shut their mouths, and then excused themselves.

As soon as they left, someone came to report that an old acquaintance was seeking an audience outside the imperial palace.

The visitor surprised Shi Hao. It was the Sky Fox Fairy, also known as the witch, stepping into the Central Heavenly Palace, slender and bright, with cunning eyes and unparalleled beauty, possessing a mystical aura.

She had been missing for many days, and now she appeared, giggling. “I heard you’ve caught that girl Yue Chan. Why not call her out for a meeting?”

“Nonsense, I’ve never caught her.” Shi Hao denied.

“I’ve felt her presence. She was here in this palace not long ago, but rest assured, letting her come out to meet won’t reveal any information,” the witch laughed seductively, with a hint of malice, eager and desperate to see Fairy Yue Chan at this moment.

Shi Hao thought about it and then released Fairy Yue Chan.

“Wow, beauty, how could you marry without telling your sister? Congratulations, wishing you a harmonious marriage and a quick child,” the witch laughed devilishly, seizing the opportunity to strike at her rival.

However composed Fairy Yue Chan normally was, encountering the witch in such circumstances slightly flustered her. A blush flashed across her immortal façade, but she soon regained her composure.

“Hee hee, sister is so calm. It seems marriage suits you well, unlike sister who sees any difference,” the witch teased, reaching forward to pinch Fairy Yue Chan’s generous bottom, laughing non-stop.

“You…” Fairy Yue Chan changed color, her body tingling as she swiftly stepped back. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to QiDian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)