People in the Imperial Music Bureau: The Storytelling Demon Child Nezha

Huaiqing's hand holding the sword trembled slightly: As expected... his mother did not die of illness back then.

Silly children. A sinister smile appeared on the face shrouded in the black mist. "Your mother has simply changed her form; she will always be with you..."

boom!

Li Qiye's voice suddenly rang out from all directions: "Your obsession has become a curse; it's time to disperse."

A beam of clear light descended from the sky, and the face in the black mist let out a resentful roar before finally vanishing into nothingness.

At the entrance of the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau).

Wei Yuan gave Li Qiye a deep look: "Sir, you already knew about the late Empress's affair?"

What good is knowing? Li Qiye gazed at the gradually clearing sky, certain obsessions that the person involved must ultimately sever themselves.

He turned and walked toward the storyteller's platform, when suddenly he stumbled. The two characters "Tongbao" on the copper coin that slipped from his sleeve had completely disappeared, leaving only two empty gaps.

The copper coins clattered to the ground, rolling a considerable distance on the bluestone slab. Wei Yuan, quick-witted and agile, caught the staggering Li Qiye: "Sir?!"

Li Qiye waved his hand, and another brand-new copper coin slid out from his sleeve. This copper coin had neither the character "Tongbao" on it nor any blood-red rust. Its smooth, mirror-like surface reflected the sky where the dark clouds had dispersed.

The blank coin... Wei Yuan's pupils contracted slightly. Legend has it that it could bribe those in the underworld...

Li Qiye coughed twice, and lightly ran his fingertip along the edge of the copper coin, causing fine gold dust to fall down.

Just then, the sound of orderly footsteps came from afar.

Yang Yan arrived hastily with a team of night watchmen: "My lord! Urgent report from Yunzhou! Those three hundred priests have all..."

It turned into blood?

Li Qiye interrupted, and seeing Yang Yan's shocked expression, he smiled. The Netherworld Ancestor hated incompetent servants the most.

Wei Yuan suddenly remembered something: the late emperor's three hundred boy scouts...

After 20 years of lying low in Yunzhou, he has now successfully retired.

Li Qiye flicked the blank coin into the air and caught it steadily, but this deal was not yet over.

Imperial Palace, Imperial Study Room.

Huaiqing gently wiped the blood off the sword.

Emperor Yuanjing sat motionless on the dragon throne, still holding the bronze dagger that pierced the black mist in his hand.

Is she... really your mother?

Yes, no.

Huaiqing returned his sword to its sheath. Years ago, when his mother was seriously ill, the Witch God Cult offered a life-extending sorcery, placing her soul in a bronze coffin. However, they didn't mention that this method required 380,000 living souls as a catalyst.

Emperor Yuanjing's hands trembled violently: So, Chuzhou...

boom!

The palace doors were suddenly flung open. An old eunuch, covered in blood, crawled in, clutching a gilded box tightly in his arms: "Your Majesty... this old servant... has found the Empress's..."

The box opened automatically, and a wisp of smoke drifted out, condensing in the air into the blurred figure of the late Empress. This time, there was no black mist swirling around her, and her face was serene and lifelike.

"Take care, Your Majesty." The illusory figure murmured before vanishing into the wind.

Huaiqing bent down and picked up a jade pendant that had fallen out of the box—it was engraved with the date "the thirteenth year of Yongchu, a gift to my beloved wife".

It turns out... the Empress Dowager had already prepared a backup plan...

The backyard of the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau).

Li Qiye was tidying up his folding fan for storytelling. Suddenly, a fragrant breeze wafted over, and Huaiqing, dressed in plain clothes, appeared alone beside the stone table.

Are you not going to tell stories today, sir?

"I'm tired of talking." Li Qiye didn't even look up. "Isn't Your Majesty going to attend to state affairs?"

Not going? What about the copper coin?

The copper coin is blank, signifying that cause and effect have been cleared.

Li Qiye closed his folding fan. With the Netherworld Ancestor having lost one of his avatars, the Witch God Sect would struggle to gain any real power within a century. As for the Gu Clan...

He deliberately dragged out the tone.

Huaiqing understood and took out a glass bottle from his sleeve, inside which was imprisoned the pitch-black Gu King: I have ordered people to destroy the seven altars in the southern border.

Then there's only one last thing left. Li Qiye suddenly became serious and asked His Majesty to personally go to the ruins of the Imperial Ancestral Temple in three days to retrieve something.

What is it?

The late emperor left you... Li Qiye blinked, "Your dowry."

Huaiqing's face immediately turned red.

Before she could react, Li Qiye had already walked towards the storytelling stage with a loud laugh, though his steps were still a little unsteady.

...

The next day, inside the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau), candlelight flickered.

Li Qiye stood on the stage in a white robe, his folding fan suddenly opening 0.4 cm, revealing a vast starry sky on its surface.

Last time, we talked about Shi Hao ascending to the throne of the Stone Emperor. His clear voice echoed in the silent hall. Today, let's talk about how this young human emperor fought alone against the seven supreme beings of the upper realm.

The audience was packed. Wei Yuan sat in a corner, his knuckles tapping the table unconsciously; Yang Yan and Nangong Qianrou sat side by side, their expressions focused; even Song Tingfeng, usually the most carefree, held his breath.

Seven divine rainbows broke through the boundary and arrived!

With a wave of his folding fan, seven dazzling pillars of light appeared in the void. Within each pillar stood a figure, some exuding an air of otherworldly grace, others radiating demonic power, yet all emanating a pressure that made the heavens and earth tremble.

The old leader of the Heaven-Mending Sect, the Vajra Arhat of the Western Sect, the Old Ancestor of the Demon Spirit Lake... With each name Li Qiye uttered, the corresponding pillar of light lit up a bit. Any one of these seven could easily annihilate an entire state in the lower realm with a wave of his hand.

Chapter 114 A Shocking Change: Is Shi Hao Dead?

The scene on the fan changes, revealing Shi Hao standing alone atop the imperial city.

He held a broken sword in his hand, but the nick of the blade gleamed with a chilling light.

Your Majesty the Stone Emperor! The old leader of the Heaven-Mending Sect spoke with a booming voice: Hand over the core of the Desolate Domain, and your Stone Kingdom will be spared!

Shi Hao laughed loudly, his laughter filled with arrogance: You old fool, if you want to fight, then fight!

The first battle was against the Old Ancestor of Demon Spirit Lake.

Li Qiye lightly tapped his folding fan, and demonic energy surged forth in the scene. The old ancestor summoned a pitch-black demonic jar, from which countless vengeful spirits spewed forth.

That was... Nangong Qianrou suddenly clenched her fist.

"A cultivation technique originating from the same source as the blood sacrifice of the Prince of Huai." Wei Yuan said in a low voice, a cold glint in his eyes.

On the stage, Li Qiye continued: Shi Hao only used one sword. The young human emperor in the fan swung his sword down, and wherever the sword light passed, the resentful souls were scattered. This sword was called "Slay Me".

Yang Yan's eyes suddenly reddened: He had severed his own obsession...

The second battle was against the Vajra Arhats of the Western Sect.

A golden Arhat sat cross-legged on a lotus throne, bathed in divine light. Shi Hao, covered in blood, grinned: "Bald monk, your divine light can't illuminate my path!"

He actually tore open his own chest with his bare hands and took out a piece of crystal-clear Dao bone—the Supreme Bone!

I'll use my bones as a sword to shatter your golden body!

The moment the golden light shattered, many of the night watchmen below the stage instinctively stood up. Song Tingfeng wiped his face, only to realize that he had been crying uncontrollably.

After six consecutive battles, Shi Hao was at his limit. Finally, the old leader of the Heaven-Mending Sect sighed, "Why must it be like this? You could have been ranked among the Upper Realms..."

"Shut up!" Shi Hao spat out a mouthful of blood. "We, the sons of Shi Kingdom, would rather die standing!"

He burned his last drop of life essence, and ten grotto-heavens exploded behind him. Within the raging energy, a phantom river could be vaguely seen surging—a projection of the river of time!

He transforms into freedom, he transforms into eternity!

Inside the brothel, you could hear a pin drop. Li Qiye's voice suddenly became ethereal: In that battle, three of the seven supreme beings died and four were injured. Shi Hao's Dao foundation was completely destroyed, yet he managed to preserve the core of the desolate domain.

The image on the fan froze on Shi Hao's figure, leaning on his sword. Before him lay the shattered heavens and earth, while behind him stood the intact capital of the Shi Kingdom.

"And then?" someone asked, choking back tears.

Li Qiye closed his folding fan: Later, the Upper Realm was shaken, and the seven major sects joined forces to suppress the news. And Shi Hao...

He paused for a moment, then embarked on a new journey.

Wei Yuan suddenly stood up, clasped his hands in a deep bow, and said: "Thank you, sir. Today I finally understand what it means to be a human emperor."

All the night watchmen stood up in unison, their armor clashing like thunder.

Li Qiye accepted the gift without hesitation.

Then, Li Qiye lightly stroked the folding fan with his fingertips, and a heartbreaking scene appeared on the fan surface—

Shi Hao dragged his broken body back to the Shi Kingdom's palace, leaving bloodstains on the jade steps with every step he took.

The people flocked to the streets, their eyes filled with tears of reverence and excitement as they gazed at the emperor who had once protected them. "His Majesty the Stone Emperor is back!" "It's our Stone Emperor!" Cheers rose and fell, echoing in every corner of the capital.

Shi Qingfeng was already waiting at the palace gate. The moment he saw Shi Hao, his eyes instantly reddened, and he quickly went to greet him: "Brother!" Shi Hao looked at his younger brother, who had grown into a young man, and a gratified smile appeared on his face: "Qingfeng, you have worked hard all these years." Shi Qingfeng shook his head vigorously: "Brother has given everything for the Shi Kingdom. What I have done is nothing."

Inside the palace, Shi Hao was reunited with his parents. Shi Zhongtian and Qin Yining were heartbroken to see their son's haggard appearance. Qin Yining stepped forward and hugged Shi Hao tightly, sobbing, "Hao'er, you've suffered so much." Shi Hao gently patted his mother's back, "I'm fine, I'm sorry for worrying you, Father and Mother."

"Ah Hao!" Shi Ziling and his wife staggered over. Qin Yining trembled as she stroked her eldest son's withered face, tears falling onto his cracked lips.

"It's alright, Mother." Shi Hao grinned, revealing his bloodied teeth. "Your son... won."

After everyone reminisced, Shi Hao's expression turned solemn. He looked at Shi Qingfeng and slowly said, "Qingfeng, my foundation has been completely destroyed. From now on, you will inherit the throne of the Shi Kingdom."

Upon hearing this, Shi Qingfeng was immediately shocked: "Brother, this is absolutely impossible! You are the Emperor of Shi Kingdom, and Shi Kingdom cannot do without you!"

Shi Hao smiled and shook his head: "In my current state, I can no longer properly protect the Shi Kingdom. But you have grown rapidly over the years and will surely lead the Shi Kingdom to a better future."

Shi Qingfeng's eyes reddened, and he knelt down and kowtowed: "Brother, rest assured, I will live up to your expectations!"

Then, Shi Hao made another astonishing decision. He would extract his Supreme Bone and give it to his younger brother, Qin Hao.

When he announced his decision, everyone was shocked. Qin Yining cried out, "Hao'er, you can't! This Supreme Bone is your lifeblood, how can you..."

Shi Hao, however, said firmly, "Mother, Qin Hao is also my younger brother. He possesses the Supreme Bone and is destined for great things in the future. Besides, I no longer need it."

Qin Hao's eyes were filled with tears. He walked up to Shi Hao and knelt down with a thud: "Brother, this is too precious, I..."

Shi Hao helped him up and laughed, "Silly brother, we're brothers, why are you saying these things?"

No—! Qin Yining fainted on the spot. Shi Ziling's eyes were bloodshot, but Shi Hao stopped him with a look.

Below the stage, Song Tingfeng suddenly covered his mouth. Yang Yan turned his face away, his shoulders trembling slightly.

What's even more heartbreaking is...

In the scene, Shi Hao leaves the imperial city alone. He doesn't alert anyone, only carrying a small tower the size of a palm and a fur ball, quietly leaving the city at dawn.

"Where is he going?" an audience member asked, choking back tears.

A folding fan turns gently, revealing a vast expanse of mountains. The old willow tree in Shicun still sways, and the elderly people under it are drying medicinal herbs.

"Village chief!" Er Meng suddenly pointed to the village entrance. "Isn't that... Xiao Hao?"

The medicine sieve in the old village chief's hand fell to the ground with a thud. The child who used to run barefoot all over the mountain was now walking towards them step by step, leaning on a wooden cane.

Shi Hao!

Xiao Hao is back!

The villagers swarmed forward. Suddenly, Shi Hao knelt down and kowtowed three times: "Grandpa... I'm back..."

The old village chief trembled as he helped him up, but froze when he touched his arm—he couldn't sense the slightest fluctuation of spiritual energy in this body!

"It's good that you're back...it's good that you're back..." The old man pressed his head against his shoulder, and turbid tears seeped into the boy's graying temples.

Sobbing echoed throughout the music and dance hall. Even the usually aloof Nangong Qianrou had tears in her eyes, her nails digging deep into her palms.

"And then?" someone asked, their voice trembling with tears.

Li Qiye's voice was as soft as the wind: Later, one morning, Shi Hao was buried in a grave.

With a loud crash, Song Tingfeng kicked over the table: "Heaven is unjust!"

This shout seemed to ignite emotions, and all the night watchmen roared in unison: "Heaven is unjust!"

Chapter 115 Resurrection, Shi Hao Enters the Upper Realm and Obtains the Thunder Emperor's Treasure Technique