"My Grandfather is Still Alive"
Shi Hao was stunned and then shouted out, his emotions a mix of sadness, joy, and surprise, his heart rising and falling before being filled with overwhelming happiness.
He was truly astonished. During the battle years ago, his grandfather had been hunted by an adult Pixiu and had completely disappeared, leading everyone to believe he was dead.
Otherwise, why hadn't he shown up for so many years?
If he were still alive, he would have returned long ago, especially after Shi Hao's Supreme Bone was extracted and Shi Ziling was forced to flee. If the old man were alive, he would not have tolerated it.
"Where is my grandfather?" Shi Hao asked once he calmed down a little.
"In the Imperial Capital of the Shi Kingdom," replied the Willow Deity.
"I want to go, I want to see Grandpa," Shi Hao shouted. After so many years, he had never seen his blood relatives, and he missed them dearly.
He knew that his grandfather's disappearance, and presumed death, was entirely due to the search for pure blood for him. Entering the battlefield of the Hundred Clans and offending the Pixiu clan had led to the blood calamity.
"Don't rush," said Shi Linhu and others, comforting him.
It took a long time for Shi Hao to calm down. The unexpected news made him extremely excited, his mind filled with various images and anticipation of the reunion.
After two years away, the villagers were overjoyed to see him return. A large crowd gathered around him. Besides Pi Hou and Er Meng, who patted him on the shoulder, there were also little ones, only one or two years old, tugging at his pants and looking up at him with curiosity.
Er Meng, Hu Zi, Pi Hou, and others were all married and had children. Even the snotty-nosed kid was soon to prepare for marriage.
"Uncle, Uncle, we want to eat good things," several little ones with big, bright eyes all looked up at him expectantly.
"Haha, everyone knows you love to eat, and they all hoped you would come back," the snotty-nosed kid laughed.
To the little ones in the village, who had heard so many stories of their only uncle who ventured outside and returned with many delicious foods, he was considered a provider of good food.
"Really cute," Shi Hao said with a smile, pinching the faces of these little ones. They were both boys and girls, all white and tender, with adorable expressions.
With a splash, Shi Hao summoned a sea beast, causing the children to scream with excitement. They were not afraid at all, and a few of the toddlers even tried to climb up, prompting the adults to quickly stop them.
"Today we'll have a seafood feast," Shi Hao said with a smile.
He took out a pile of seafood, including giant turtles, silver sharks, sea centipedes, and various magical octopuses. There were so many types, they couldn't even be counted, all strange and exotic.
The villagers exclaimed in surprise. Having lived in the Great Wasteland, they had never seen such things before. They were astonished, poking and touching them, and marveling at their oddities.
The village had changed significantly. The dozens of spirit herbs had all thrived, and in the center of the village stood a quasi-Saint-grade silver peach tree, emitting auspicious light.
The entire village was enveloped in spiritual energy. It was noticeable, and the villagers appeared healthier and more robust. Though two years had passed, they seemed even stronger, with more vitality.
In the village, a country chicken leisurely strolled by, casting a sidelong glance at Shi Hao before continuing on its way with great composure.
It was the Eight-Treasure Chicken, which had become a member of the village over the past two years and was particularly cherished by the villagers.
Every half month, it laid an egg, which had the same effect as spirit herbs. To the villagers, they wouldn’t trade this chicken for a mountain of gold.
The villagers were very happy to see Shi Hao return. Especially the aunts and older women, who looked at the mountain of ingredients and smiled, ready to showcase their culinary skills.
"Where are Da Hong and Er Tuzi?" Shi Hao asked suspiciously, also noticing the absence of Zi Yun and the others.
"They went into the mountains. Recently, they have been elusive, returning only occasionally. They might be exploring the Supreme Divine Vault," Er Meng said.
Shi Hao felt relieved. Aunt Qing Lin Ying had apparently started exploring more than two years ago, and now with the addition of Da Hong Bird and others, the team had become much stronger.
In the distance, the lake was clear and bright, with golden fish occasionally leaping from the water. Little Phoenix birds wandered along the shore, basking in the serenity.
Further away, dozens of unicorns shimmered with silver light, galloping swiftly. Among them was a particularly large and majestic unicorn, resembling a heavenly horse with its silvery sheen and incredible speed.
In the blink of an eye, it reached Shi Hao, rubbing its large head against his body to show affection.
Little Bai had now become a fierce beast, much stronger than before. According to the villagers, it now not only ate grass and wild fruits but had also started eating meat, and it preyed on very powerful ferocious beasts.
Shi Hao’s return was a day filled with joy and laughter. The villagers were extremely happy and soon, the village was bustling with activity, smoke rising as various seafood dishes were prepared.
After more than two years, the group of friends had all grown up, and even Qing Feng had matured significantly, no longer as naive as before.
"Little Brother, take me with you when you leave next time," he hoped, wanting to venture into the world together.
"I’ll consider it," Shi Hao said. He wasn’t sure how his grandfather was now and wanted to understand the situation before making a decision.
Finally, after calming down and finishing his conversation with the villagers, Shi Hao returned to the village head and asked the Willow Deity for detailed information.
The Willow Deity's words were brief and straightforward, as always, summarizing the recent events that had been learned through the Void God Realm.
"What? Grandpa caused a commotion in the Martial King’s mansion and shot through the Rain King’s body with an arrow?" Shi Hao was shocked, stunned, and then his eyes reddened with tears.
He knew that his grandfather must have been enraged upon learning of his past suffering, going berserk, and that this must have been the source of his fury. He could imagine the kind of sorrowful state his grandfather must have been in.
His grandfather’s actions were meant to seek justice for him, to vent the frustration he had endured. Shi Hao had suffered grievances for over a decade since his Supreme Bone was taken, and only now, with the emergence of the Great Demon God, was there a turning point and change.
"Grandpa, you are truly powerful."
When Shi Hao heard about his grandfather slaying the Ancient Blue Demon Black-Eyed Spider, he was even more amazed. His grandfather was so strong, sweeping and crushing everything upon his return.
That night, Shi Hao celebrated with the villagers, drinking and feasting around the bonfire, filled with laughter. The village head was bustling with activity.
Because the next day, he would set off on his journey.
"Willow Deity, I haven’t used this willow branch," he said, taking out a green, fresh branch, intending to return it. Even after more than two years, the willow branch remained fresh and juicy.
"Keep it with you," said the Willow Deity.
In the deep of night, Shi Hao told the Willow Deity about the Kunpeng treasure art he had obtained. The entire tree body was glowing intermittently throughout the night.
A strong life force pervaded the air, clearly indicating that the Willow Deity was deeply enlightened and had gained a great deal.
In the morning, the distant peaks were shrouded in mist, creating a hazy scene, while Shi Village was bright and radiant, and the Willow Deity was vibrant, always emitting a harmonious aura.
As the sun rose, Shi Hao prepared to set out on the right path, leaving Shi Village. Many were reluctant to part with him, as he had just returned and was about to leave again.
However, they could not stop him, as Shi Hao was going to see his grandfather and fulfill the dream of family reunion. This was a joyous occasion, and no one would discourage him; everyone was happy for him.
"Willow Deity, I want to reach the Imperial Capital of the Shi Kingdom quickly."
Shi Hao said he wanted the Willow Deity’s help to open a path for him. He didn’t want to delay even a moment and hoped to arrive at the capital city swiftly.
The Willow Deity agreed, selecting a coordinate that was not the exact Imperial Capital of the Shi Kingdom because arriving there suddenly would attract too much attention. However, it was not too far away.
Finally, Shi Hao set off again. He had just returned and stayed only one night before having to part ways again.
This time, he did not bring Qing Feng with him and did not wait for Da Hong Bird and others. He set out alone because he felt that the Imperial Capital of the Shi Kingdom was not a safe place; there were too many unpredictable dangers.
A radiant passage opened, and Shi Hao rushed in, turning back to wave vigorously before he quickly ran and vanished in the blink of an eye.
The light gate closed. What happened on the other side could not be completely predicted, even by the Willow Deity. It only constructed the passage and did not monitor everything within millions of miles.
This time, Shi Hao did not even bring his furball. He ran alone through the radiant passage, experiencing a sense of temporal chaos and spatial disorder, as if traversing through history.
Boom!
Suddenly, as he passed through a certain region, he felt immense pressure. The passage seemed unstable, as if it were about to explode, shaking violently.
At the same time, he saw a gigantic spider, entirely green with pitch-black pupils, and fearsome beyond measure. It was as large as a mountain and was engaged in a fierce battle with a luminous creature.
"What is this?" he was astonished. Through the passage, it seemed he could see the scenes outside.
To be precise, a fierce battle was occurring outside, so powerful that the projection was cast into the passage. This was very dangerous.
Because such a powerful being would at least be a Venerable, and it was right outside the passage. If it were not for the Willow Deity's construction, the passage would have definitely shattered.
"A mountain-sized demon spider fighting a glowing being," Shi Hao was extremely shocked. It was like a divine battle; even though it was just a fleeting glance, the impression was profound.
"Imperial Capital of the Shi Kingdom, huh," sneered the mountain-sized spider outside the passage, its malice palpable.
Shi Hao was immediately alarmed. The spider was an Ancient Demon Spider, and the mention of the Imperial Capital of the Shi Kingdom made his heart tremble.
Fortunately, the Willow Deity's abilities were extraordinary. The passage it constructed, though passing through the battlefield of those two supreme holy beings, remained undamaged and allowed him to pass through.
Eventually, Shi Hao emerged in a mountain range, stepping out from the passage and quickly heading toward the outside of the mountains.
After some inquiries, he learned that this place was not far from the Imperial Capital of the Shi Kingdom, only a few hundred miles away. With his speed, it was nothing significant.
Shi Hao set off, relying on his own legs to reach the legendary great city without using any treasure.
Finally, he saw it—the magnificent city walls were enormous, situated in the distance, majestic and imposing. The city walls were like a mountain range, towering and grand.
"I’m back again," Shi Hao whispered.
He was born in this city but had left for distant lands at a young age, not returning for over a decade. He knew very little about this place, and his feelings were complex.
Over the years, he had thought about returning, but felt his strength was insufficient to come to the Imperial Capital of the Shi Kingdom. According to his plans, he would not set foot here for several more years.
Unexpectedly, he had arrived ahead of schedule.
Shi Hao's emotions were complex as he took long strides toward the grand city.
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