Fifteenth Master entered, but outside the city gate, there was a commotion. The guards had failed in their duty; earlier, that old man had merely glanced at them, and they became flustered and dared not question him.
“What’s going on?” The disturbance at the city gate attracted the attention of the city’s war generals. A group of armored soldiers, their spears gleaming with cold light, rushed out from a main street, just in time to confront Fifteenth Master.
Everyone was alarmed. This old man was too powerful; his aura and the boiling vitality within him were like a blazing furnace capable of melting everything.
“He arrived riding a dragon-scaled sparrow, a bird king of incredible strength,” someone from the city gate rushed forward and whispered to a war general, reporting earnestly.
In an instant, the leader urgently summoned several figures from afar, who transformed into divine rainbows and rushed over, all of them the strongest generals, blocking the intersection.
The pale-faced officer at the city gate got up from the ground, wiped his cold sweat, but his body still trembled slightly, whispering, “My Rain Tribe is in trouble.”
He quickly left and vanished in the blink of an eye.
“May I ask who this esteemed elder is?” On the main street, a war general clasped his fists, his expression grave. Such a powerful expert had arrived in the capital, and they could not afford to be careless.
“Not bad, your reaction isn’t slow, but still insufficient,” said Fifteenth Master.
“Who exactly are you?” One of the war generals asked with uncertainty. He felt the old man seemed familiar. Though this tall and imposing elder had only one arm, he exuded an aura as overwhelming as a mountain.
“You look familiar. You must be Little Six from the War King’s Mansion, right? I remember you as a child, you used to get into mischief under my watch. Look how grown you are now,” Fifteenth Master said with a smile.
The war generals of the capital had very high status. Who would dare to mock them? They were future nobility of the Stone Kingdom. Although some were young, they were still impressive.
Little Six from the War King’s Mansion was indeed not a child anymore; he was almost thirty. Hearing this, his face immediately turned red. Who was this old man to dare mock him so?
Nearby, his colleagues and elite soldiers all twitched their lips. Who was this person who dared to casually tease a powerful general?
Some wanted to laugh, but couldn’t. Facing this elder felt like confronting a prehistoric giant dragon, their souls trembling.
“You are Fifteenth Master?” Little Six suddenly exclaimed.
“That’s right, I’m back,” Fifteenth Master said with a hearty laugh, patting his shoulder so hard that Little Six nearly toppled over, his legs almost sinking into the stone pavement.
Then, Fifteenth Master’s sleeves fluttered as he left, shrinking the distance with each step, vanishing from the main street.
“Fifteenth Master!” After the initial shock, Little Six sprinted, trying to catch up.
“He is the Fifteenth of the War King’s Mansion, who was once known as the Great Demon God.”
“Heavens, this person is the peerless archery master Fifteenth Master!”
The place erupted. Everyone changed color, unable to believe it. This was too terrifying; wasn’t he supposed to have perished after a fierce battle with a grown Pixiu?
Everyone felt their scalps tingling. This was a strong warrior who dared to battle beings residing in the ancient divine mountains. His bravery was unmatched, and he had once shaken the capital.
If talking about legends of the years, one must mention the mighty Fifteenth Master. He had made many legends with his remarkable prowess.
Compared to those ancestors, he was still relatively “young,” just in his fifties or sixties. However, thirteen years ago, he had already been revered as the Great Demon God.
“Quick, report immediately!” The powerful figures present all sent people back to their families to inform them of the news.
One war general, with a pale face, had just arrived. He hadn’t met Fifteenth Master earlier, but felt even more terrified.
He was from the War King’s Mansion. He knew the situation well. This time, Fifteenth Master had returned, and he would not rest until he turned the capital upside down. He was an invincible Fifteenth Master with a fiery temperament, and he would never tolerate anyone taking away his grandson's Supreme Bone.
Aside from him, a war general from the Rain Tribe also had a pale face. Not only did he send people to deliver the news, but he also used the small altar to quickly transmit the message.
The main street was surging with hidden currents. Some people knew the Great Demon God had returned and suppressed the news, not wanting it to leak immediately.
In the end, Little Six could not catch up with Fifteenth Master. The latter was too fast, his sleeves fluttering, and he vanished in an instant. The two were not even on the same level.
Fifteenth Master was quite emotional. He had been gone for thirteen years, and the capital had become more prosperous. The streets were bustling with people, and the noise of vendors was unending.
Everywhere in the city, the streets were crowded, shops lined up, and the clamor was deafening. For an old man who had been trapped in a dire situation for over a decade, such a lively city was incredibly appealing.
He laughed heartily, feeling immensely pleased, and continued to stroll until he reached a magnificent mansion on a bustling street. Only then did he stop.
The mansion was expansive, with a vermilion gate adorned with auspicious beasts holding copper rings. Flanking the gate were two stone sculptures of divine beasts, and the ground was paved with white marble. It was clearly a noble residence.
Above the gate, there was a plaque with three large characters: War King’s Mansion.
The title of “War King” indicated his bravery and strength, his status exceptional.
“Who goes there? Stop!” Someone in front of the gate shouted, seeing the old man in tattered clothes and shattered armor, with only one arm remaining. They immediately tried to stop him.
Fifteenth Master glanced sideways. Being stopped from returning home, and with such an attitude, he found it displeasing.
“Young man, speak politely,” he said as he approached.
The people in front could not bear it. Fifteenth Master’s naturally overwhelming aura was unbearable even for strong warriors, making them feel as if their bodies were about to collapse.
“Stop right there. The War King’s Mansion is not a place you can trespass,” the soldiers at the gate trembled and retreated.
“I am returning to my own home. How is that considered trespassing?” Fifteenth Master said calmly.
“Returning to your own home? Who are you?” The people were shaken. The aura from the old man was so powerful that it felt like a sun burning within his body, scorching everyone.
“My name is Shi Zhongtian,” Fifteenth Master introduced himself with a light sigh. After being trapped for more than ten years, no one recognized him upon his return. Where had the old gatekeepers gone? Everything had changed.
“Shi Zhongtian? Never heard of him,” one person said, exchanging opinions with his companions.
“Seems a bit familiar,” another said quietly, showing a thoughtful expression.
“Fifteenth Master, the Fifteenth Master from back then. It seems he was called Shi Zhongtian,” finally, someone shivered and uttered these words, followed by a tremor.
“What?” Everyone was stunned. The one once known as the Great Demon God had returned. How was that possible? Wasn’t he killed in battle? Everyone knew who Fifteenth Master was; who didn’t?
These people were dumbfounded. Wasn’t he supposed to have perished fighting a being from the divine mountain? Such an invincible figure had reappeared?
They involuntarily shivered, looking at his tattered armor and the terrifying large bow behind him. They retreated, believing it to be true.
Such an aura, such unmatched confidence—who else could it be? It must be Fifteenth Master from years ago. The group trembled with fear.
“Who has returned? Who has returned?”
With a loud crash, the massive iron gate was pushed open, and an old man walked out. His hair and beard were all white. He looked at Fifteenth Master with a moment of surprise, then rubbed his eyes in disbelief, and finally rushed over in shock.
“Old Fifteenth, is it really you?” He was extremely excited and grabbed Fifteenth Master’s only arm.
“Haha, it’s me. Seventh Brother, after all these years, you’re even more affectionate. You’re no longer resentful towards me?” Fifteenth Master laughed heartily and teased.
“How could that be? We’re brothers; why would I say such things? Oh my god, am I dreaming? Old Fifteenth, you’re really still alive! Come inside quickly and surprise the clan.” The old man laughed joyfully.
After they entered, a team of stern-faced guards immediately emerged and stationed themselves outside the mansion, firmly closing the gate, signaling to the outside world that the War King’s Mansion was not receiving visitors today.
At the same time, in the deepest part of the War King’s Mansion, a small altar lit up, and letter after letter vanished.
In the inner sanctum of the mansion, a golden-lighted elder was restrained and immediately fumed, “Shi Li, Shi Yuan, what are you trying to do?”
“Fourth Brother, please calm down and rest here for a moment. Don’t go out.”
“Why are you treating me like this? Let me guess, is Ziling back? No, that’s not it. Are you afraid I might say something I shouldn’t? Or is there someone even more powerful who has come?”
The Shi Mansion was indeed grand, with many halls resembling a vast heavenly palace situated in the mortal realm. The clan was numerous and prosperous.
As Fifteenth Master strolled through the mansion, he felt a pang of nostalgia. After more than a decade apart, he had not enjoyed the pleasure of seeing his grandchildren. The children must have grown up by now; he wondered what they were like when they were young.
However, he was still very happy to be back home and able to reunite with his family.
“Seventh Brother, where are you taking me? I want to go to my own residence. Why are you bringing me to the main hall?” Fifteenth Master inquired.
“Old Fifteenth, you’ve been gone for over a decade. Everyone thought you were no longer in this world. Now that you’ve returned, we must gather everyone to see you,” said Seventh Brother.
Many servants were busy, quickly delivering messages to various courtyards. The entire Shi Mansion was in an uproar, bustling with activity, as if everyone had been alerted.
“Old Fifteenth, you’re still alive! We’ve missed you so much!” A crowd appeared, some in tears, some with emotions, and others laughing heartily.
Fifteenth Master also felt emotional. After many years apart, these people had aged. They had once feared him, and weren’t particularly close. Now they had all gathered, but he wondered why his closest friends, such as the Fourth Uncle and other brothers, were not present.
Then, some of the clan elders arrived, including Shi Li.
If Shi Hao were present, he would definitely have a cold reaction. Among those who besieged his father back then, Shi Li was a key player who protected Shi Yi and his mother, and he ranked ninth among the clan elders, wielding significant power.
“Zhongtian, it’s truly a surprise that you’ve returned alive. Our clan’s war god is back; the mansion will celebrate for a month! Hahaha!” Shi Li laughed heartily.
He was a generation above Fifteenth Master and was a truly powerful elder.
Fifteenth Master also laughed, but felt a bit puzzled as to why the people he was closest to had not come, such as the Fourth Uncle, who was like a golden lion among the clan elders, and other brothers.
“Uncle Fifteenth!”
“Grandfather!”
“Great-grandfather!”
A large group of people entered the hall, bowing and calling out. There were middle-aged individuals and children, creating a lively scene as they greeted him.
Fifteenth Master looked around and found that he did not recognize most of the children. After more than a decade, the mansion had grown in population, and some of the children were quite talented.
“Old Fifteenth, you’re truly impressive. You’ve survived a great calamity. It’s good that you’re back,” some older people appeared, all of high status. One of them, wearing a gray robe with glowing eyes, had a powerful aura.
His name was Shi Yuan, ranked fifth among the clan elders. He had fought against Shi Ziling in that battle years ago, protecting Shi Yi and his mother, and had been severely injured.
He also had another identity: he was Shi Yi’s great-grandfather, having a close blood relationship with Shi Yi.
If Shi Hao were here, he would recognize Shi Yuan as the one who came to the underground palace, witnessed Shi Yi’s mother and the dark figure extracting the Supreme Bone, and then fought fiercely with Shi Ziling. Shi Yuan’s actions and opinions had influenced the clan’s decisions.
“Fifth Uncle, you’re looking more and more youthful,” Fifteenth Master said, noting that he was a generation younger.
Shi Yuan glanced at Fifteenth Master’s empty sleeve, knowing he had lost an arm, and sighed, “Zhongtian, alas, how did you lose your arm? But it’s good that you’re alive.”
He then looked at the large bow behind Fifteenth Master, and a flicker of light appeared in his eyes, unseen by others.
With only one arm left, could the divine archery still be unparalleled? Shi Yuan pondered and felt somewhat relieved.
“Fifth Uncle, you have a good descendant. Yi’er is a rare talent, comparable to the ancient sages and gods. After ten years, he must have shaken the Stone Kingdom,” Fifteenth Master said, deeply impressed by Shi Yi. His future achievements were beyond imagination.
“Yi’er is very impressive. Not only is he unmatched in the Stone Kingdom, but also in the wasteland. Calling him the Young Supreme is not an exaggeration,” Shi Li said.
The people in the hall began discussing, nodding in agreement, and praise for Shi Yi was heard.
“Haha, my Hao’er is also quite remarkable. I always felt this little guy was exceptional. Although I didn’t have the chance to thoroughly explore his potential, how could my descendant be lacking?” Fifteenth Master was very confident.
At the time of his departure, Shi Hao’s Supreme Bone had not fully manifested. He was unaware of this as Shi Ziling and his wife had only realized it when they left. Thus, the old man did not know.
However, as the so-called Great Demon God, even if Little Shi Hao had not yet exhibited such an aura, he sensed his grandson was extraordinary. That’s why he sought the purest bloodline from ancient times to prepare the best ritual for his grandson.
Despite being known as the Great Demon God and the unparalleled archer, Fifteenth Master was extremely kind and affectionate towards his clan and family. For his grandson, he had traveled far and entered the battlefield of the hundred clans, filled with love.
When Fifteenth Master spoke, many laughed, but a closer look revealed a hint of awkwardness.
“Hao’er is also impressive, truly astonishing. Second only to Yi’er, he is a rare talent,” Shi Li said with a smile.
Some clan elders and others spoke up, agreeing and praising Shi Hao’s exceptional qualities.
However, Fifteenth Master’s expression changed, and he said in a deep voice, “Although I don’t know what’s inside Hao’er, I understand it’s definitely not ordinary. He is second only to Yi’er.”
Everyone was startled. Whether of higher or lower status than him, they broke out in cold sweat. This was indeed the Great Demon God. Even before the Supreme Bone manifested, he had sensed it.
“Where are Ziling and his wife? Why haven’t they come to see me?” Fifteenth Master asked calmly.
“They are not in the mansion. They have gone to the Western Frontier and will return in a while,” Shi Li said with a smile, though he felt a chill in his heart despite being a generation older than Fifteenth Master.
Who was Fifteenth Master? He was once known as the Great Demon God. His eyes grew cold as he swept over everyone, then suddenly, with a thunderous roar, he shouted, “Where is my Hao’er?”
The roar was like a divine thunderbolt falling from the ninth heaven. The entire hall trembled and shook. Shi Li, who was directly facing him, felt as though he had been struck by lightning. His mind went blank, and with a cracking sound, the chair he was sitting on was crushed. He fell to the ground, his face pale and his body trembling uncontrollably.
The Great Demon God has returned. Please support with monthly tickets and recommendations.
No comments:
Post a Comment