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"You... young friend, who are you? Why are you helping this old man? This Rain King... is the lord of the Rain Clan. If you kill him, you may face great calamity!"

Looking at the handsome young man before him, Shi Zhongtian felt a surge of emotions.

There was a sense of familiarity about the other person that made his blood surge.

This sense of familiarity reminded him of his grandson, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.

But the face of the boy in front of him was so different from the wrinkled little face he remembered from when he was an infant.

Shi Hao did not answer Shi Zhongtian immediately. Instead, he strode forward, stopped in front of Shi Zhongtian, and then knelt down heavily with a "thump," bowing deeply to Shi Zhongtian.

"Grandpa, your unfilial grandson... Shi Hao, is back!!"

His voice was somewhat choked up, yet it was like thunder from the heavens, exploding directly above the silent Prince Wu's mansion.

Everyone was stunned.

Including Shi Zhongtian.

"Hao...Hao'er? You're Hao'er? My Hao'er?"

Shi Zhongtian's body swayed violently, and he almost lost his balance.

He took a sudden step forward, stretched out his trembling hands, cupped Shi Hao's cheeks, and stared intently into those eyes that resembled his own.

The intense resonance deep within his bloodline, the sense of closeness etched into his soul, and the heartfelt "Grandpa" finally convinced him that the incredibly powerful young man before him was indeed his beloved grandson, Shi Hao, whom he had been longing for day and night!

"It's me, Grandpa. Your unfilial grandson has worried you. Your grandson... is still alive!"

Shi Hao looked up, tears streaming down his face, yet his face wore the brightest smile.

"Hahaha! Good! Good! Good! Heaven have mercy, my Hao'er is still alive, and not only alive, but also so handsome and capable! Hahaha!"

Shi Zhongtian burst into tears and then let out a hearty laugh.

He pulled Shi Hao up from the ground and hugged him tightly, his rough hands patting Shi Hao's back forcefully, as if to confirm that this was not a dream.

The grandfather and grandson embraced tightly, their joy at being reunited after such a ordeal touching many people present.

They were all members of the Stone Clan. They had witnessed Shi Hao being persecuted by Shi Yi and his mother, and they felt terrible about it.

But at that time, circumstances were beyond our control!
Faced with Shi Yi's dominant position in the clan, they were too insignificant to speak up for Shi Hao.

"--boom!"

Just then, King Wu, who was standing at the edge of the square, suddenly sprang up and fled frantically towards the outside of King Wu's mansion at an astonishing speed!
"Want to go?"

Although Shi Hao was recognizing Shi Zhongtian, his divine sense had already enveloped the entire area.

He didn't move, but casually stretched out his hand in the direction King Wu fled, his five fingers loosely clenched.

“——Buzz!”

Space seemed to freeze instantly!

An invisible, terrifying field descended, and the Martial King, who was flying away at high speed, felt the space around him suddenly become as heavy as an iron plate.

An irresistible suction force came from behind, abruptly stopping his forward momentum and pulling him back! "No~! Spare me! Nephew Shi Hao, spare me!"

King Wu was terrified and struggled desperately, but he was like a flying insect caught in a spider's web, powerless to resist. He was instantly pulled back to Shi Hao and fell to the ground with a thud, looking utterly pathetic.

Shi Hao lowered his head, his icy gaze like two sharp swords piercing the Martial King who was slumped on the ground.

"King Wu, is it? I want to ask you, where were you when Shi Yi and his mother dug out my supreme bone, cut off my life force, and tried to kill me? In the entire King Wu's mansion, was there anyone who spoke a word of justice for me, this infant in swaddling clothes? Did anyone uphold justice even once?"

King Wu trembled, his lips quivering. He dared not look Shi Hao in the eye and stammered, "The matter... back then was too complicated... It involved geniuses within the clan... Moreover, Shi Yi's mother came from the Rain Clan, which was powerful and supported by the Demon Spirit Lake. There was a true Venerable in the Demon Spirit Lake, whose power shook the desolate region... Even His Majesty the Emperor of the Stone Kingdom had to show him respect. My King Wu's Mansion was forced by pressure to do this in order to protect the clan!"

Shi Hao snorted coldly: "Your reason is not sufficient..."

Seeing that pleading for mercy was useless, King Wu immediately threatened, his voice laced with bravado but his heart pounding with fear: "Shi Hao, although your strength has greatly increased, you should know that there are always higher powers. The Rain King is dead, and the Rain Clan will never let this go. The Demon Spirit Lake is an existence you cannot afford to offend. Today, you killed the Rain King and injured an elder of my King Wu's Mansion, which has already caused a great disaster. Why don't we each take a step back and wipe the slate clean? I can overlook your disturbance at the King Wu's Mansion, but you must personally go to the Rain Clan... no, to the capital to apologize to His Majesty the Emperor for the death of the Rain King. Perhaps there is still room for negotiation then. Otherwise, when Shi Yi returns, he will certainly not let you off the hook!"

Shi Yi?

Upon hearing that name, the killing intent in Shi Hao's eyes surged several times over: "Even if he doesn't come looking for me, I will go looking for him. The hatred of having my bones taken is irreconcilable!"

After saying that, he stepped forward, his five fingers like hooks, and with lightning speed, he grabbed the King of Wu's neck and lifted him up like a chicken: "As for you... you will also pay the price for protecting him back then."

"Wait a minute."

Just as Shi Hao exerted his five fingers to end the Martial King's life, a peaceful yet majestic voice suddenly came down from the heavens.

Immediately afterwards, the sky above the Wu King's Mansion changed dramatically, and a dazzling golden beam of light pierced through the clouds and descended with a roar!
Within the pillar of light, a middle-aged man wearing a flat-topped crown and a nine-dragon robe, with a dignified face, slowly emerged.

The other party exuded an aura of supreme imperial power, as if he ruled over mountains and rivers and dominated all people. His oppressive aura far surpassed that of ordinary Venerables. He was none other than the current Human Emperor of the Stone Kingdom!
The Human Emperor did not descend completely to the ground, but hovered in mid-air. His gaze swept over the dilapidated Martial King's Mansion, finally landing on Shi Hao. A hint of astonishment and complexity flashed in his eyes.

"Shi Hao, I know you have returned, and I also know the injustice in your heart."

"Shi Yi taking your Supreme Bone was indeed his mother's fault, and also the responsibility of the Wu Prince's Mansion for its negligence and injustice. I am already aware of this matter."

The Stone Emperor spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears, carrying a convincing power: "However, Shi Yi is exceptionally talented, with unparalleled double pupils. He has now been taken as a disciple by the Venerable of Demon Spirit Lake, and is also the 'Peerless Marquis' of the Stone Kingdom, personally bestowed by me. He represents the face and future of the younger generation of my Stone Kingdom. Your grudge against him is a personal feud, but also a contest between geniuses."

As the Stone Emperor spoke, he swept his calm gaze over the crowd below and continued, "With the death of the Rain King, the Rain Clan will not let this go. The Martial King's Mansion is one of the pillars of our Stone Kingdom. Today you have already killed the Rain King. If you kill the Martial King as well, you will completely sever ties with the Rain Clan, the Martial King's Mansion, and even the Demon Spirit Lake behind them. At that time, not only you personally, but the entire capital of the Stone Kingdom, and even the human race of the Stone Kingdom, will be caught in the storm."

At this point, the Stone Emperor's gaze fell on Shi Hao again: "Shi Hao, I have seen your talent with my own eyes today, and it is by no means inferior to Shi Yi. Your battle with him is inevitable and is also destiny. However, this place is the capital of the Stone Kingdom, the land where the human race under my rule has multiplied. The human race is already weak in the eight regions of the lower realm, surrounded by powerful enemies. Internal strife and attrition are not the actions of a wise man."

"My intention is that you may challenge Shi Yi to a duel, a fair fight in front of a great audience, to settle your grievances. The winner will win everything, and the loser will have nothing to say."

"I can personally witness this battle. As for the Wu King's Mansion... Wu King has neglected his duties and condoned the crimes. He may be spared the death penalty, but he cannot escape punishment. I will strip him of his throne, select a virtuous and capable person to reorganize the Wu King's Mansion, and give you and the world an explanation. I will also intervene in the matter of the Rain Clan."

"How about it? Can you give me, and the hundreds of millions of my compatriots in the Kingdom of Shi, a way to resolve this matter with dignity?"

The Human Emperor's proposal acknowledged Shi Hao's injustice and strength, pointed out Shi Yi's background and the complex forces involved, and, from the perspective of the overall situation of the human race, offered a seemingly compromised but actually politically charged solution.

He defined the conflict between Shi Hao and Shi Yi as a "personal feud" and a "battle of geniuses," and promised to personally witness a fair duel while also handling the affairs of King Wu and the Yu Clan.

This would not only preserve the dignity of the Shi Kingdom and the stability of the human race, but also provide Shi Hao with a way out and a formal stage for revenge.

All eyes were now focused on Shi Hao.

They were eager to know whether Shi Hao would ultimately accept Shi Huang's proposal!
...(End of chapter)