Return Journey

The battle ended. The Heaven Mending Pavilion disciples who had been sent away earlier were all brought back, weeping with joy. Many of them had no family and had already regarded the Heaven Mending Pavilion as their home. Seeing that it still stood firm in the Wild Domain filled them with heartfelt happiness.

"Senior Sacrificial Spirit, did you enjoy yourself this time?" Shi Jue walked over and asked with a smile.

The Sacrificial Spirit was stronger than him and had a good temperament, so Shi Jue naturally did not begrudge calling her Senior. When they were of the same rank, they could address each other as peers.

"Yes. Back when I was near death, I had endured all along, planning to outlast a few Venerables. This time, I truly killed to my heart's content!" the Sacrificial Spirit laughed.

"The Heaven Mending Pavilion will not forget what you have done for us. If you encounter trouble in the future, little friend, I will do what I can to help."

"We'll talk about that when the time comes. Still, thank you for helping me obtain the Mountain Treasure," Shi Jue said.

"It was nothing. That Mountain Treasure is indeed extraordinary, to have been stored separately by the Sky Swallowing Sparrow within one of its Heavenly Passages," the Sacrificial Spirit said blandly, having no interest in the Mountain Treasure.

"Yes. Several great Venerables fought over it in the Great Wilderness back then, and it ultimately fell into the Sky Swallowing Sparrow's hands. But this time, its greed ended up benefiting me with this treasure." Shi Jue smiled.

The Six Paths Reincarnation Heavenly Art, the Grass Character Sword Art, and the Precious Techniques of many Primordial Remnant Species—let alone in the lower realm, even in the Upper Realm, they would draw Supreme-level experts to fight over them.

Most importantly, this Bone Box was part of the Transcendent Chapter of the Primordial True Scripture. It contained a method leading from the human path to the immortal path, allowing one to become a War Immortal amid the mortal world, with strength comparable to a Quasi-Immortal King.

"Haha, it was all fate. The Sky Swallowing Sparrow was fated not to study it. This Treasure Bone dropped from it. If you can use it, then use it. If not, dispose of it as you please." A vine stretched out and handed Shi Jue a jet-black Treasure Bone.

"Thank you. The Sky Swallowing Sparrow's Precious Technique contains the Intent of Devouring. It may come in handy in the future."

After staying at the Heaven Mending Pavilion for several months, Shi Jue and the others planned to return to Stone Village. They had basically finished reading everything in the Scripture Repository.

"Junior Sister, goodbye! Remember to lose some weight when you get back!"

Shi Hao howled and immediately turned to run. Shi Jue and the others exchanged glances and smiled helplessly.

"Pfft!" Huo Ling'er did not get angry this time and could not help covering her mouth as she laughed.

"Brat, just wait and see how I deal with you next time."

This had been the most relaxed period of her life. Although Shi Hao's honey-coated mouth often made her furious, at least she had many friends. In the Fire Nation, even as the Human Emperor's most beloved daughter, all she faced was scheming and intrigue. Her brothers and sisters were all plotting for the throne.

"Damn, it's an Eight Treasures Chicken!" The moment Second Baldy saw the half-meter-tall native chicken, drool began to spill from his mouth. His eyes shone like those of a starving wolf.

"One of the Eight Treasures of antiquity? They say it is an exquisite delicacy that even gods would drool over." Big Red Bird was even more excited, directly taking out a pot and preparing to cook it on the spot.

Shi Jue was somewhat curious. It looked so much like the native chickens from his previous life. There was nothing particularly remarkable about it, aside from its larger size.

That brought to mind the joke about a certain King Tang using Mother's Embrace, only for Shi Hao to send out an Eight Treasures Chicken.

"Take it with us. It belongs to the Rain Clan anyway, so there's no need to leave it behind!" Shi Hao tossed it straight into the Universe Bag.

This was a fine thing. Eating it directly would be a little wasteful. The Spirit Blood in its body was extremely nourishing, only slightly inferior to Sacred Medicine. And if it was a hen, it would lay an egg every half month. Its medicinal potency was comparable to Spiritual Medicine.

"Ah, what a pity there's only one. If we could find another to pair with it, then Stone Village could raise Eight Treasures Chickens everywhere. That would be wonderful." Shi Hao sighed. Even in ancient times, Eight Treasures Chickens had not been plentiful. At present, the only known one was being raised in the Imperial Palace.

A thief never left empty-handed. The group ravaged the Rain Clan's medicinal fields badly, uprooting every precious Spiritual Medicine they found.

The richly rewarded group left, and when the Rain Clan members came to inspect the place, they were utterly dumbfounded, their legs trembling. Never mind the Spiritual Medicine—the Eight Treasures Chicken was something the Rain King valued greatly. They could already foresee the Rain King chopping off their heads.

There was no way to hide it. The elders of Rain King Manor flew into a rage, ordering severe punishment for those responsible and issuing a high-priced wanted notice. Though they knew the bounty would be useless, there was nothing else they could do.

Very soon, the news shook all of Stone Country. People did not know whether to laugh or cry, while also being astonished that Rain King Manor had possessed a second Eight Treasures Chicken. Yet they had failed to keep it, turning the Rain Clan into a laughingstock.

"Three years have passed. We've finally returned to Stone Village. I wonder how everyone is doing." Sitting on Big Red Bird's back, Shi Hao's face was filled with anticipation at returning home.

"Three years is enough time for Da Zhuang's children to be running around already," Shi Jue said with a smile.

"That really is possible. They might be calling me Uncle."

Shi Hao remembered how anxious those uncles and aunts had been for their children to marry and have children. Three years really was enough time for kids to be running around. Fortunately, they had gained quite a lot over the past few years, so they did not need to worry about gifts.

Big Red Bird was extremely fast, and as a Primordial Remnant Species, it made the journey without incident.

"Hahaha, we're back!" The moment he saw Stone Village, even Shi Hao, who had wreaked havoc in Hundred Broken Mountain, had tears welling in his eyes. No matter where he went, Stone Village would always be the Pure Land in his heart, irreplaceable.

"Yes, we're back!" Shi Qingfeng cried tears of excitement.

"We're back!"

Shi Jue had never felt so relaxed in both body and mind. Stone Village was where he had grown up in this world. Its kind villagers gave it a special place in his heart.

"So this is where Brat and Big Black Hand grew up? I wonder if there's anything strange about it." Big Red Bird said curiously.

By now, everyone knew their names. Shi Hao and Shi Jue's reputations had completely spread.

The signs of battle outside made Shi Hao's heart tremble. He feared that someone had attacked Stone Village.

"Don't worry. With Liu Shen here, nothing in the lower realm can threaten Stone Village." Shi Jue reassured him. He did not think much of those marks at all.

Liu Shen was in excellent condition now. She did not need to enter slumber, and her combat power was heaven-defying.

"That's true. I was overthinking it." Shi Hao had panicked for a moment and forgotten that Liu Shen was still here. His worries immediately vanished.

As they neared Stone Village, Shi Hao spotted familiar faces. Overcome with excitement, he leaped directly from Big Red Bird's back and ran toward the village.

"Liu Shen, we're back. We brought something that will interest you!" Shi Jue said with a light laugh.

"Good. I am curious what could possibly interest me. Go meet with your clansmen first."