What Do You Know?

"Ziling, what are you saying? Old Fifteenth is our brother, our own blood brother. How can we just stand by and watch him come to harm?" Martial King rose directly to his feet.

With a light wave of his hand, a terrifying force surged forth. Shi Ziling's body was uncontrollably lifted from the ground, making him feel like a puppet on strings.

This was the power of a Human Supreme, a Venerable Realm expert. Though it could not be said that they could overturn everything with a wave of their hand, Shi Ziling was at least temporarily incapable of resisting power of this level.

"There are fifteen brothers and sisters among us. Old Fifteenth is the youngest, and his temperament is also the most impulsive. But if he is in danger, we cannot simply watch him face it."

Old Eleventh, the Old Ancestor of the Shi Clan of Martial King Manor, also stood up. He had the best relationship with the Fifteenth Lord of Martial King Manor, Great Demon King, Old Fifteenth, Shi Hao's grandfather, and Shi Ziling's father, Shi Zhongtian.

"Thank you, Eighth Uncle. Thank you, Eleventh Uncle." Shi Ziling bowed respectfully.

"Your Ninth Uncle and Thirteenth Uncle have both gone to guard Yi'er during his training. An Adult Pixiu's combat strength cannot be underestimated. We need to invite several more Venerables before we can be certain of saving Old Fifteenth." Martial King's tone was very cautious.

"Eighth Uncle, could it be that the Stone Kingdom royal family is willing to act?" Shi Ziling asked curiously.

As for Shi Yi's training.

The moment he returned to Martial King Manor, Shi Ziling had already learned from Martial King and Old Eleventh about it. Unlike Qin Yining and Shi Hao, he knew that Shi Yi, who had seemingly vanished, had actually been sent to train at Stone Village, the Shi Clan's First Ancestral Land.

In truth, most people in Martial King Manor believed that Shi Yi had disappeared. Only the second-generation direct descendants of Shi Ziling's generation knew that Shi Yi had been sent away for training. Those of Shi Hao's generation, the grandchildren, knew nothing of Shi Yi's whereabouts.

"The Stone Kingdom royal family is basically impossible. The Stone Country Human Emperor would never agree, nor would he dare openly provoke these Pure-Blooded Lifeforms. Only the Rain Clan, which is on good terms with us, and Demon Spirit Lake behind Yi'er's father will help us."

Martial King shook his head. In today's Wild Domain, although the human race was doing much better than in the days when they had been treated like beasts of burden, they still did not dare openly offend Pure-Blooded Lifeforms.

If Martial King Manor acted, it would only represent Martial King Manor. But if the Stone Kingdom royal family acted, it would represent the entire Stone Kingdom. The Old Ancestors behind those Pure-Blooded Lifeforms might very well massacre the Stone Kingdom.

Over the next few days, through Martial King's efforts, Martial King Manor successfully joined forces with two allies, the Rain Clan and Demon Spirit Lake. Each side sent two Venerables to support Great Demon King Shi Zhongtian.

Martial King Manor sent Martial King and Old Eleventh. The Rain Clan sent Rain King and a clan elder. Demon Spirit Lake sent Shi Ziling's cousin, Shi Ziteng's master, along with one of Demon Spirit Lake's clan elders.

With six Venerables moving together, judging by their strength on paper, rescuing Shi Ziling's father Shi Zhongtian from the jaws of an Adult Pixiu, an Adult Pure-Blooded Ferocious Beast, would not be a problem at all.

Therefore.

Qin Yining did not go with them. Like Shi Yi's mother, she remained behind at Martial King Manor. It was enough for the cousin pair Shi Ziteng and Shi Ziling to go.

It was not because these Venerables thought women would hold them back. Though Shi Yi's mother was ordinary, Qin Yining was anything but. She was a Holy Maiden from Immortality Mountain in the Upper Realm.

It was simply that their purpose this time was not so straightforward. If the opportunity arose, they intended to surround and kill this Adult Pixiu, seizing its precious bone and true blood.

Five days later.

Martial King Manor, rear courtyard.

This was an elegant little courtyard spanning roughly ten mu. At its center stood a two-story building, whose upturned eaves peeked out from among the branches of the spruces.

It gave off the feeling of being deep within the clouds, with no idea where one was. On either side of the little building were exquisite side chambers with decorated windows. The layered eaves and ridgelines made it appear luxurious yet refined.

Before the building lay a semicircular pool of clear green water, more than twenty zhang across. A vast plum grove surrounded the pool, its dark crimson blossoms in full bloom.

As one drew closer, waves of floral fragrance drifted through the air. Lush green grass carpeted the surroundings, with not a trace of withering in sight.

At the center of the vast plum grove stood a pavilion carved from stone.

The pavilion was not large, only three or four meters tall. At its center stood a broad stone table and stone chairs made from warm, lustrous jade.

The stone table resembled a writing desk from a study, with a screen beneath it. A teapot, teacups, and several frequently read books rested atop it.

The jade chair was a full two meters long.

Its backrest was carved with exquisite openwork patterns.

A white pillow lay on the chair, seemingly stuffed with the feathers of rare birds and exotic beasts, carefully woven by master craftsmen. Lying upon it would undoubtedly be one of life's finest pleasures.

Shi Yi's mother lay on her side upon the chair. Even when Qin Yining came before her, she showed no intention of greeting her. Instead, she turned over impatiently, presenting her rounded back to her.

"Yuexian, don't be so upset. I learned from Ziling that Yi'er merely went away for training."

Before Qin Yining could finish consoling her, she was interrupted by Shi Yi's mother, Shi Hao's Aunt, Yu Yuexian.

"What do you know? Yi'er was never very good at enduring hardship from a young age. Saying he always had clothes handed to him and food served to him would not be an exaggeration. Now he has been sent to some bitterly cold place for three years. He must have suffered so many grievances. It hurts my heart just thinking about it. Yi'er was only six then!"

Yu Yuexian, Shi Hao's Aunt, now regretted it. She regretted it deeply. She should never have agreed to let the clan elders send Shi Yi to the First Ancestral Land for training.

Over these years.

She had also come to understand that if Shi Yi truly could not endure hardship, then at worst she would care for him forever. So long as she could remain at Shi Yi's side, she felt she could do anything.

Perhaps it was precisely this unconditional doting that had caused Shi Yi, in that vanished timeline, to become so despicable, only coming to understand after dying once.

Now Shi Yi had changed, but she had not. She was still that mother who spoiled Shi Yi beyond measure, a mother who wished she could give every good thing in the world to her son.

"Hao'er isn't like that too, is he?" Qin Yining asked in a strange tone.

"Him? His resolve is quite firm, and he does not have those flaws. Over the years, he has won the favor of the clan elders, and even the Stone Emperor often summons him to the palace." Yu Yuexian's tone turned sour.

Just as she had said.

During the three years Shi Yi had been away from Martial King Manor, the gradually growing Shi Hao had also begun to reveal his talents bit by bit. Although he had not yet revealed the Supreme Bone within him, he had still earned the affection of several clan elders of Martial King Manor.

Even the Stone Emperor, the distant relative Stone Country Human Emperor, was exceptionally fond of little Shi Hao. The Old Ancestors of Martial King Manor and the Stone Country Human Emperor were also blood brothers, though their bloodlines had long since diverged by more than three generations.

It was like on the Azure Blue Planet, in a civilization called Huaxia, the Han Zhaolie Emperor Liu Bei from the era of the Three Kingdoms. Royal blood also flowed through his veins; the Royalty Descendants of Martial King Manor were much the same.

Martial King Manor and the Stone Kingdom royal family.

From top to bottom, they all bore the surname Shi.

Their ancestors were also one and the same.

"As expected of my Hao'er. He really brings glory to his mother."

The fact that her own son was better than a relative's son gave Qin Yining an inexplicable sense of delight. Perhaps this was that damned yet impossible-to-abandon competitive instinct.

"Hmph, Yi'er possesses Double Pupils and is a sage born of heaven. A few flaws in his temperament are not unacceptable." Yu Yuexian immediately sat upright.

"Yi'er's talent truly is extraordinary, but I believe Hao'er is no weaker than Yi'er." Qin Yining was brimming with confidence.

She did not know where this confidence came from, but she simply felt that Shi Hao would never lose to Shi Yi. Her child would not lose to a relative's child.