Chapter Thirty-Six: Family Reunion, Shi Hao Returns

Seeing the joy on the little one’s face, Jin Ling smiled with indulgent affection.

“Aunt Jin! Aunt Jin! How did you do it? Little Monkey can talk now!” The little one let go of the ape demon, turned, and hugged Jin Ling, asking happily.

Hearing himself called “Little Monkey,” the ape demon felt an urge to cough blood. As one of the limited peak powers in the Great Wilderness, being addressed in such a way was almost unbearable. Yet, this was the master he had chosen, and even if he suffered inwardly, he could only swallow it.

Gently stroking the little one’s head, Jin Ling said softly, “I used my own essence blood to help him break through the constraints of his bloodline. Now he can speak, and until you reach the pinnacle of this world, he won’t hold you back. He will grow alongside you, and in time, become your close companion. When he reaches his limit, you may ask your master to help him break through again.”

Jin Ling’s true form was a Seven-Clawed Golden Dragon. Even in the Honghuang, her aptitude and bloodline ranked among the foremost. In this Medium World, she surpassed all so-called top bloodlines, and in the Eight Wildernesses of the lower realm, she was a legendary existence.

Though she was currently at the Taiyi Golden Immortal level, equivalent to a True Immortal in this world, not only was she unrivaled in the Eight Wildernesses, but even in the Upper Realm’s Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, she would stand among the elite. Once she broke through to the Da Luo Golden Immortal realm, she could contend with the top beings of this world.

One could imagine how terrifying a single drop of her essence blood was.

“Oh! Thank you, Aunt Jin!” Hearing Jin Ling’s explanation, the little one was overjoyed, thanked her on behalf of the ape demon, and then turned to Fire Ling’er with pride, saying, “Big Sister, do you regret it now? Little Monkey is not only cute, but also powerful! He’s mine now!”

Fire Ling’er, who had been watching everything unfold, was stunned. Even as the princess of the Fire Nation, she had never seen—no, never even heard of—a Beast King who could speak before taking human form, much less one whose bloodline could be changed.

A single drop of essence blood! With just one drop from the beautiful woman before her, a Beast King could speak and have his bloodline altered. Was this a dream? It was clear that the woman whom the little one called Aunt Jin was of an unimaginable realm! And what of the little one’s master—was he a god? Or a primordial deity above gods?

Fire Ling’er was lost in confusion, not even hearing what the little one said, and silently resolved that she must meet the mysterious master of the little one.

Seeing Fire Ling’er not respond to her question, the little one didn’t mind, and turned to Jin Ling, asking, “Aunt Jin, did Master send you to protect me?” The tender voice was full of anticipation.

Jin Ling, who also had children, understood that the little one wanted confirmation from her—hoping his master cared for him. She pulled him into a hug, laughing softly, “Of course, it was the master who sent me to protect you, little one. Otherwise, how could Aunt Jin act on her own?”

Hearing Aunt Jin’s definite reply, the little one broke free from her arms and strutted up to Fire Ling’er, boasting, “See, Big Sister? Didn’t I say Master loves me most? Hehe!”

Looking at the proud little one, Fire Ling’er’s eyes twinkled mischievously. She smiled, “I haven’t met your master yet, so how could I know if he’s as amazing as you say, or if he really cares about you?”

Hearing her words, the little one, who was about to argue, suddenly rolled his eyes and responded innocently, “That’s easy! When I return, you can come with me to Stone Village and meet Master yourself!”

Fire Ling’er suppressed her excitement and feigned indifference, “Alright, I’ll go with you then.”

The two children exchanged sly smiles, each thinking they had fooled the other, and fell silent.

Seeing the pair so pleased with themselves, Jin Ling barely held back her laughter and said to the little one, “The master instructed me not to intervene unless it’s a matter of life and death. From now on, everything depends on you. I’ll take the ape demon away for now. When you’ve completed your master’s task, he’ll rejoin you.” With that, her figure vanished before the two, taking the ape demon with her.

The little one didn’t mind, knowing Aunt Jin wouldn’t be far. He turned to Fire Ling’er, “Big Sister, I’m going to travel the Great Wilderness next. Will you come with me?”

Fire Ling’er wouldn’t leave—she had decided to follow the little one until she met his master, and, if possible, to become his disciple. So she asked, “Where are you going next?”

Hearing her question, the little one’s mood dimmed. “I need to see someone. I don’t know if he’s still alive… I owe him too much…”

In the desolate wilderness, two figures gradually faded into the sunset, their voices drifting faintly into the distance.

“Big Sister, what’s your name?”

“My name is Fire Ling’er. What about you, little brother?”

“I’m Shi Hao. Master calls me Little One. Hehe! Ling’er, will you always stay with me?”

“That depends on whether you listen to me! Haha!”

“Master says I’m very obedient.”

“Then I’ll always be with you…”

………………

Stone Village. This day, Chen Xing stood atop a small hill with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance, knowing his beloved disciple was about to return.

He sighed, marveling at how fast time had passed—three years had gone by. He had originally told the little one to cross the Great Wilderness, then return.

He never expected that, to save another child suffering on his behalf, the little one would traverse tens of thousands of miles, bringing along the one he’d named Shi Hao and Fire Ling’er, and storm into the Rain Clan, wreaking havoc and forcing their deepest reserves to emerge. Knowing he couldn’t match them, the little one had begged Jin Ling to intervene. She wiped out the Rain Clan’s elite, leaving the great clan nearly extinct in the Eight Wildernesses. If not for the little one’s wish to settle things himself in the future, the Rain Clan would have ceased to exist.

Before leaving, the little one declared boldly that in three years, he would storm the Martial King’s Mansion and avenge the bone-digging enmity.

Chen Xing smiled helplessly, turned, and walked down the hill to Stone Village. At that moment, a young couple approached, the woman holding a boy just over a year old. They bowed to Chen Xing and asked, “Elder, when will our son return?”

Chen Xing glanced at them, replied calmly, “Soon. He’ll be back within a few days.” With that, he left, but before departing, he looked at the child in the woman’s arms and sneered inwardly: Born supreme? Ha!

These two were Shi Hao’s parents, Shi Ziling and Qin Yining. The boy in Qin Yining’s arms was their second son, Qin Hao.

Years ago, to find spirit herbs for Shi Hao, they entered the Immortal Mountain and were trapped for many years. During that time, Qin Yining became pregnant again and gave birth to a son—the boy now in her arms.

What they didn’t expect was that their second son also possessed a supreme bone, born supreme. Overjoyed, they devoted all their tenderness to him, gradually forgetting the little one in Stone Village who struggled between life and death…

They thought that after so many years, the little one had died. They named their second son Qin Hao as a mark of remembrance. Unexpectedly, one day, a towering figure appeared on Immortal Mountain. The mountain nearly crumbled under the ancient, awe-inspiring aura. All living things in the mountain prostrated themselves, as if kneeling before a returning ancient supreme. The couple was among them.

They thought Immortal Mountain was doomed, but the figure merely used a giant hand to pick up Shi Ziling’s family and disappeared.

When they later learned that their eldest son was alive and had apprenticed himself to Chen Xing, whose cultivation was unfathomable, and that the figure on Immortal Mountain was merely one of his incarnations, they were ecstatic and repeatedly thanked Chen Xing for saving them.

A few days later, Chen Xing brought Shi Hao’s grandfather, Shi Zhongtian, back, and the family was reunited.

Father and son reminisced about the past. Shi Zhongtian, known as the Great Demon King, was still furious. Though both had caused havoc, they hadn’t yet avenged the injustice suffered by Shi Hao, which left Shi Zhongtian deeply disappointed in the clan.

After recognizing Chen Xing’s abilities, Shi Ziling and Qin Yining developed their own intentions—hoping to have their second son, Qin Hao, become Chen Xing’s disciple.

They believed their second son, born with a supreme bone, was boundlessly gifted—far surpassing the now bone-less Shi Hao—and assumed Chen Xing would accept Qin Hao. To their surprise, Chen Xing refused outright, leaving no room for negotiation, and remained distant toward them.

Helpless, they dared not insist, and thought perhaps when Shi Hao returned, he could plead with Chen Xing on their behalf, hoping for a change.

It wasn’t that Chen Xing disliked them, but remembering their unfairness toward Shi Hao, especially when he was gravely injured and near death, and their wish for him to give his newly grown second supreme bone to Qin Hao, Chen Xing was furious. If not for wanting Shi Hao to experience parental care, he would never have rescued them.

Now, Shi Hao’s fate had been altered, and after practicing the techniques Chen Xing provided, there would be no more supreme bones appearing. Their family had already reunited, and such things would not happen again.

Still, the couple’s wish to make their youngest son his disciple made Chen Xing sneer. Did they think anyone could be his disciple? In the future, if Qin Hao could learn the Nine-Transform Mystical Arts that Pi Hou and the others practiced, it would be a great blessing. Supreme bone? Was Chen Xing so eager for that?

One day, the Great Demon King Shi Zhongtian was pestering Liu Shen for cultivation advice, while Shi Ziling and Qin Yining instructed Qin Hao in foundational training. The village was peaceful. Suddenly, a childish shout echoed from afar: “Master, Liu Shen, Grandpa Patriarch—I’m back!”

Upon hearing this shout, Shi Zhongtian, Shi Ziling, and Qin Yining all trembled and stood up instantly. Shi Ziling and Qin Yining were so excited they shook uncontrollably, knowing their son had returned, yet for a moment dared not face him.

Nearby, Liu Shen smiled slightly, and Chen Xing, who had been asleep, opened his eyes, a look of indulgent affection appearing on his face.