Chapter 290: Shi Hao: "Brother, you're causing trouble again without me."
Whether these captured enemies were used to "sacrifice to the flag" or not was truly unimportant. Such formalities meant little.
What was important was the opportunity they represented. Shi Jian found himself feeling a bit envious as he stared at the remaining Crippled Immortals.
[Inorin's Note: "Crippled Immortals" (Cán Xiān) are powerful beings from the Immortal Ancient Era who survived, but are incomplete or heavily injured, often sealed or in deep slumber. They are still immensely powerful, far beyond the Supreme Realm.]
Their bodies contained fragmented laws and an essence of immortality, however flawed. They were walking treasure troves of cultivation insights.
He assessed his own power. With his current strength, even if he activated the Dominator Domain and unleashed the Hell Suppressing Furnace, he couldn't truly refine a Crippled Immortal. Their damaged immortal essence was still too profound.
But that was only for now. Shi Jian was confident this would change, and soon.
The true invasion from the Border Desolation was looming. When that calamity truly descended, Shi Jian was certain he would have, at minimum, broken through to the Supreme Realm.
[Inorin's Note: The "Supreme Realm" (Zhìzūn Jìng) is the peak of the Human Dao cultivation path, just before stepping into the realm of True Immortals.]
At that time, refining these Crippled Immortals would be not only possible but necessary.
He envisioned using them as the ultimate whetstones to hone his own Dao. He would personally take action and suppress them one by one...
This had been Shi Jian's initial, long-term plan.
Everything had accelerated because of the chat group. If it weren't for the Great Bloodline Art, one of the Three Thousand Great Daos uploaded by Fang Han, Shi Jian would have had no method to contact his ancestor across realms and time.
[Inorin's Note: The "Three Thousand Great Daos" is a core cultivation concept from Eternal Life (Fang Han's world), representing the fundamental laws of the universe. The Great Bloodline Art is one of these Daos.]
His original plan was much slower. He would have fought his way to Emperor Pass, accumulated strength patiently, and waited to break through to the Supreme Realm. Only then would he have been strong enough to launch the Great Reckoning against forces like Immortal Palace.
He had even planned to eventually bring members from the chat group, like Xiao Yan or Luo Feng, to come "farm" the Crippled Immortal instance together.
But the Great Bloodline Art changed everything. It allowed him to summon Immortal King Shi directly.
And since his ancestor, the Immortal King, had single-handedly cleared this "instance" for him, wasn't it perfectly reasonable for him, as the one who initiated it, to ask for some of the spoils?
Immortal King Shi regarded his descendant with a hint of puzzlement. He didn't fully grasp the meaning behind "refining" or "whetstones" in this context, as these beings were ants to him.
But, he recognized the sharp, confident light in Shi Jian's eyes. This descendant was not simple. He clearly had his own profound plans.
The King nodded, his voice echoing with ancient authority. "Then we shall leave some to serve as a warning. Sacrificing them to the flag is a fitting end."
With a wave of his hand, he specifically spared the lives of the Crippled Immortals who hailed from Immortal Palace and Sword Valley. Their execution would be a lesson for later.
"Ancestor, please also leave a few of the other captured cultivators, those with lower Realms. They can serve as a tangible goal for our clansmen!" Shi Jian quickly added.
He explained his reasoning. "After the resonance from the Great Bloodline Art, the talents of the Shi clan members have undergone earth-shattering changes. Their potential is now immense."
"However, talent without tempering is useless. A sharp blade must be ground."
"For the Shi clan to truly rise and produce strong warriors, they need more than just resources. They need real combat, real pressure. They need whetstones."
"Leaving some of these enemies alive, imprisoned, allows them to serve as that whetstone. It will be the most suitable way to forge our clan's future generations."
Hearing this detailed explanation, Immortal King Shi finally understood. His descendant wasn't just talking about sacrificing to a flag; he was planning the long-term training regimen for the entire clan.
A flicker of approval, perhaps even amusement, passed through the ancient King's eyes. This junior of his was truly audacious.
He actually wanted to use Crippled Immortals as whetstones for juniors? What kind of monster was he planning to raise?
Immortal King Shi said nothing more. He simply turned his gaze back to the remaining captives still kneeling in terror on the vast plaza of Emperor Pass.
His will descended. No grand attacks were needed. The people on the field simply... ceased to be. One after another, their life force extinguished, their bodies turning to dust, their primordial spirits dissolving into nothingness.
The air was filled with a silent, profound dread. In moments, less than one-tenth of the captured enemies remained. These were the ones Shi Jian had asked to be spared.
With another casual wave of his hand, Immortal King Shi bound them in unbreakable immortal chains and transported them directly into the deepest dungeons beneath the Original Imperial City.
With the traitors and enemies dealt with, the King's attention turned to the entire Nine Heavens and Ten Lands.
His cold, majestic voice rang out, not just within Emperor Pass, but across the boundless realms, echoing in the minds of every creature.
"From this day forth, the factions known as Immortal Palace, Sword Valley, and all others who colluded with them are removed. Their names are erased from history."
His voice paused, gathering power, before thundering with absolute authority.
"The Seven Kings fought and bled for the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands! Their descendants are heroes, not sinners! From this moment, anyone who dares to utter the words 'Guilty Blood' again... will be executed without mercy!"
[Inorin's Note: "Guilty Blood" (Zuì Xuè) was a malicious term used by factions like Immortal Palace to slander the descendants of the Seven Kings who had fought to protect the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, falsely accusing them of being traitors.]
This decree resounded throughout the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands.
In an instant, the curse that had weighed upon the Shi clan, the Fire clan, and the other descendants for countless ages was shattered.
In the Fire Nation, the Fire Emperor trembled, tears streaming down his face as he knelt, kowtowing towards the distant Emperor Pass. Across the realms, members of these 'Guilty Blood' lineages felt an unbearable weight lift from their souls.
They wept openly in the streets, kneeling and shouting the name of Immortal King Shi, their voices raw with generations of suppressed grief and sudden, explosive joy. They were vindicated.
With a single thought, Immortal King Shi exerted his boundless power. Space warped, and representatives and core descendants of the other Six Kings were instantly teleported from their respective lands directly to the Original Imperial City.
They appeared in a flash, bewildered and awed, finding themselves in the presence of a living Immortal King.
He looked upon them, his gaze softening almost imperceptibly. "This King and your ancestors fought together on this very wall. The Seven Kings were as one body. Their blood was spilled defending the Original Imperial City."
"Now, only this King remains of the original seven. But there is no distinction between us. This King is the King of the Shi clan, and I am also your King!"
"From this day forward, this King will protect you all!"
As he spoke these words, the sky above the Original Imperial City tore open, revealing not the void, but a shower of brilliant light and shimmering rain.
This was not ordinary light; it was the essence of an Immortal King's blessing.
The light and rain sprinkled down, shining on the descendants of all Seven Kings.
In an instant, old wounds vanished. Hidden illnesses and cultivation-related ailments faded away. Their spiritual roots, long suppressed by the 'Guilty Blood' curse, erupted with brilliant spiritual light. Their very souls felt cleansed and elevated.
Of course, the effect of this general blessing was not as heaven-defying as the direct Great Bloodline Art resonance, which was exclusive to the Shi clan.
But for the other clans, the benefits were still immeasurable. It was a complete purification and enhancement of their lineage.
Due to the specific nature of the Great Bloodline Art, the other six clans could not enjoy its direct benefits.
However, Immortal King Shi was a man of his word. He would not treat the descendants of his old comrades unfairly. In terms of cultivation resources, techniques, and future protection, they would all be treated as his own.
After settling the affairs of these races and establishing a new order, Immortal King Shi had no desire to waste more words on the trembling representatives from other factions at Emperor Pass.
He gave a final nod to Shi Jian and vanished, returning to the deepest chambers of the Original Imperial City to continue his secluded cultivation.
The "Medicinal Pill" Shi Jian had given him—an item from the chat group's system—was profoundly mysterious.
He had only initially refined a fraction of its power. This was enough to suppress the darkest parts of his ancient injuries, allowing him to barely recover his full Immortal King battle strength for a short time.
To fully heal the Dao wounds that had plagued him for an entire era, it still required much more time.
Before entering deep seclusion, he did one last thing. He handed over the primary control token and management rights for the Original Imperial City to Shi Jian.
This was a monumental transfer of power.
Shi Jian was not just his most promising junior...
He was also the current Stone Emperor (Shi Huang) of the Shi clan in the lower realm. It was only fitting.
Although Shi Jian now held the title of Stone Emperor and acting commander of the Original Imperial City, he had no intention of being a hands-on manager.
Paperwork? Logistics? Diplomatic greetings? He found it all incredibly dull.
He immediately summoned the elders of the Original Imperial City and, with a perfectly straight face, "delegated" all miscellaneous matters to them, citing his need to focus on "critical cultivation."
The elders were left blinking, holding stacks of duties, but they couldn't refute him.
Thankfully, the Original Imperial City was far from weak. Besides the supreme Immortal King Shi, there was another guardian.
A True Immortal.
[Inorin's Note: A "True Immortal" (Zhēn Xiān) is a being who has surpassed the Human Dao and achieved true immortality and immense power, ranking just below an Immortal King.]
This was the same old man who had first spoken to Shi Jian through the ancient passage, the one whose voice was filled with decay.
Down in the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, the bloodlines of the descendants of the Seven Kings, like the Shi clan and Fire clan, were still distinct.
But here, among the long-suffering inhabitants of the Original Imperial City, the bloodlines were almost indistinguishable.
They had held out in this isolated, besieged city for countless generations.
Their bloodlines had long since merged and fused. They were all one people, one family, bound by shared sacrifice.
They were Shi, and Fire, and all the other clans.
The old True Immortal elder was the same. He carried the blood of all Seven Kings.
After receiving the feedback from Immortal King Shi's Great Bloodline Art resonance, a vibrant, new power surged within the old True Immortal.
He, who had been on the verge of dying from decay, felt his life force replenish. His hunched back straightened, and the light in his eyes burned brightly once more.
Many of the other elders experienced the same miracle.
Quite a few clansmen at the Supreme Realm, who had been withered and aged, felt as if they had lived a second life. Their combat power was restored, and perhaps they could even advance further.
With the return of an Immortal King and the revitalization of these ancient warriors, the power of the Original Imperial City was now unimaginably strong.
In the immediate aftermath of Immortal King Shi's bloody massacre, the entirety of Emperor Pass was shrouded in terror. The stench of fear was palpable.
However, life had to go on. The invasion from the other side was still a threat.
After the initial terror subsided, the remaining forces—those who hadn't been purged—quickly realized the new reality. An Immortal King was in charge.
They wasted no time and began sending emissaries to make contact with the Original Imperial City, their attitudes full of respect and apprehension.
No matter what, Immortal King Shi was a living, breathing Immortal King. An invincible guardian!
Furthermore, rumors began to spread about the young Stone Emperor, Shi Jian, and his own guardian... the mysterious and equally powerful Liu Shen.
[Inorin's Note: "Liu Shen" (Willow Deity) is an ancient and immensely powerful being, a guardian of Shi Hao's home village, who is also at the Immortal King level.]
That meant Emperor Pass was now backed by two Immortal Kings.
Just because Immortal Palace and Sword Valley were wiped out for their treachery, it didn't mean everyone else should run. On the contrary, this was the thickest "thigh" in all the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands. They had to cling to it!
Within just a few days, Emperor Pass resumed its normal operations, though now with a new, solemn efficiency.
The line of forces coming to pay respects, offer tribute, and pledge allegiance to the Original Imperial City was endless.
It was almost as if the bloody purge that had killed countless powerful cultivators had never happened. The great powers were masters of forgetting... when it was convenient.
Shi Jian, of course, couldn't be bothered with any of this. All these diplomatic forces were naturally handled by the newly revitalized elders, led by the True Immortal old man.
The Original Imperial City did not close itself off. It was, after all, the first line of defense.
After Immortal King Shi cleared out the most prominent cancerous elements, the remaining forces at Emperor Pass were, by and large, still loyal.
They had been fighting and dying here for generations.
Shi Jian and Immortal King Shi were not indiscriminate butchers. They didn't wipe out everyone with one sweep. They removed the rot, leaving the foundation intact.
A few more days passed in relative peace.
Then, a young man, dusty from travel but with eyes as bright as stars, arrived at the gates of Emperor Pass.
He announced his identity: "Shi Hao, from the Shi Clan."
The name was immediately flagged, and he was escorted with the utmost respect directly into the Original Imperial City.
The two brothers finally met face-to-face inside the ancient city.
Shi Hao's expression was one of profound, theatrical resentment. He stared straight at Shi Jian, his arms crossed.
"Brother…" he said, drawing the word out. "You did it again. You caused all this trouble, and you didn't take me with you!"
"Before I joined the chat group," Shi Hao continued, poking Shi Jian in the chest, "you were always running off and causing trouble without me."
"Now, I'm in the chat group! I'm supposed to be in the loop!"
"And what happens? You're still causing trouble without me! Did I join this group for nothing? I missed the biggest event in the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands!"
Shi Hao truly never expected it. He was happily making his way to Emperor Pass, training and exploring along the route, thinking he'd meet his brother for the next big adventure.
Instead, while he was still hundreds of thousands of li away, Shi Jian suddenly summoned their Immortal King ancestor and overturned the entire power structure of Emperor Pass.
The key point, the absolute injustice of it all, was that he wasn't invited!
"Ahem... cough, cough..." Shi Jian's expression was a bit unnatural. He rubbed his nose, avoiding eye contact.
"Now, Hao, let's be fair. Didn't I ask you for a few drops of your blood essence?"
"That means you made a contribution! Summoning our ancestor, Immortal King Shi, was a team effort! Your blood played a vital part!" Shi Jian said, trying to sound as sincere as possible.
Shi Hao's expression became even more resentful, his eyes narrowing.
"A contribution? You call that a contribution? I thought you were just doing a small bloodline ritual!"
"The chat group has a teleportation function, brother!" Shi Hao nearly shouted. "You could have sent me a message! 'Hey, Hao, about to summon an Immortal King and purge Emperor Pass, want in?' I would have been here in one second!"
But no. When Shi Jian had asked him for the blood essence, he only vaguely said he wanted to try and contact their ancestor using the Great Bloodline Art.
Shi Hao thought it was just a casual attempt, maybe to get some guidance or a blessing.
Who could have possibly known that "contacting" their ancestor meant physically pulling the entire Original Imperial City and the Immortal King himself into Emperor Pass?
By the time Shi Hao heard the Immortal King's decree echo across the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, he realized what had happened.
At that point, all the fighting was over. The purge was complete. There was no point in teleporting over. The show was finished.
So, Shi Hao simply sighed, pocketed his frustration, and continued his journey, treating it as part of his training.
But now, looking at the monumentally guilty and sheepish expression on Shi Jian's face, Shi Hao had a very, very strong impulse to punch him.
"Next time," Shi Hao declared, "I don't care if you're just going to the bathroom. You send me a message. Understood?"
Shi Jian quickly nodded. "Absolutely. Next time. I promise."
He would definitely... consider it.
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