Willow Deity's Favor! Saving Shi Qingfeng!

"Alright."

Ye Xuan turned to look at the willow tree standing in silent guardianship.

"Master, your disciple intends to take Little Hao out for some training."

The willow branches swayed gently, sending out a calm thought.

"Go ahead. A greenhouse can't raise a true dragon."

"The Great Wilderness is vast—dangerous, yes, but also the finest whetstone for sharpening one's edge."

"If you meet someone you can't defeat..."

"Taking a step back isn't shameful."

"But if anyone bullies the weak..."

The Willow Deity's voice gained a hint of dominance.

"Take this willow branch with you."

A tender green twig detached on its own, transforming into a jade-like ring that landed in Ye Xuan's hand.

It was a sliver of an Immortal King's incarnation.

With this in hand, no one in the Eight Lower Realms could harm them in the slightest.

"Thank you, Master!"

Ye Xuan tucked it away carefully and cupped his hands in salute.

This was a part of the Willow Deity after all—his master really did spoil him too much!

Ye Xuan thought smugly to himself.

"Let's go, Little Dot."

"We'll pack up first."

"Our journey is just beginning."

The next morning.

Under the reluctant gazes of Shi Yunfeng and the entire village.

A massive green Fierce Bird soared up from the clearing at the village entrance.

It was an Azure Sky Roc!

After three months of Ye Xuan's feeding and guidance, this Green Scaled Eagle mount had fully undergone bloodline reversion and evolved into an Azure Sky Roc!

Not only that, but it had also broken through to the Array Forming Realm. Its feathers were cast like green-gold metal, radiating fierce majesty.

Ye Xuan and Little Shi Hao sat on the broad bird's back.

Little Shi Hao carried a huge bundle stuffed with beast milk, dried meat, and snacks.

He leaned over the edge, waving frantically at the villagers below.

"Grandpa Chief! Everyone, take care!"

"I'll be back!"

"I'll bring you tons and tons of gifts!"

Ye Xuan sat cross-legged at the front, watching Stone Village shrink below, his gaze fixed on the distant east.

There lay a sacred ground of cultivation, called the Sky-Mending Pavilion.

That was the first place where the Desolate Heaven Emperor made his name.

"Let's move."

Ye Xuan lightly patted the Azure Sky Roc's neck.

"Target: Sky-Mending Pavilion!"

"Screech—!"

The Azure Sky Roc let out a long cry, its wings shattering the drifting clouds as it turned into a streak of green lightning, vanishing at the edge of the sky.

A brat on the loose.

The Great Wilderness was about to get lively.

High above the nine heavens, the fierce winds howled.

Clouds were brutally torn apart as a colossal creature cast a massive shadow beneath the sky.

It was an Azure Sky Roc, its wings spanning hundreds of meters, feathers like cast green-gold metal, each one gleaming with a cold metallic sheen.

With a light flap of its wings, it stirred up a gale, soaring straight up ninety thousand li.

As a Fierce Bird at the Array Forming Realm, the terrifying pressure it emitted made countless Fierce Beasts in the Great Wilderness below tremble, hiding deep in their caves, afraid to show themselves.

But atop this aerial overlord's back, the scene was completely different.

"Wow! So high!"

Little Shi Hao lay flat against the Azure Sky Roc's neck, half his body hanging out over the edge.

The fierce wind whipped his short black hair backward in a wild mess, but he didn't care at all. His big eyes brimmed with excitement as he pointed at the mountains and rivers below, now shrunk to the size of ants, shouting at the top of his lungs.

"Big brother, look! Doesn't that mountain look just like a giant steamed bun?"

"And that river—doesn't it look like a long worm?"

Ye Xuan sat cross-legged behind him, holding an ancient scroll in his hands—the Primal True Scripture obtained from the Mountain Treasure.

Hearing Little Shi Hao's shouts, he gave a helpless smile and casually sent out a barrier of spiritual energy to shield the little guy from the biting wind.

"Sit steady. Don't fall off."

"No way!"

Little Shi Hao chuckled, then twisted his head to look at the little golden monkey crouched on his shoulder.

"Furball, look—isn't the outside world huge?"

At that moment, Furball sat there with his arms crossed, wearing a haughty, aloof expression.

Even though he'd shrunk to the size of a fist, that didn't stop him from putting on the airs of a Venerable.

Hearing Little Shi Hao's words, Furball curled his lip, a flicker of disdain flashing in his golden eyes.

"Squeak squeak! What a hick. Never seen the world."

He was a Zhu Yan, an ancient Fierce Beast—what sights hadn't he witnessed?

This was just low-altitude flying. Back in the day, when he fought gods in the Nine Heavens above, that was a real spectacle.

Alright, he was actually bluffing. Back then, he was no match for any deity.

Little Shi Hao couldn't understand monkey speech, but he could read expressions.

"Oh? So you dare look down on me, Furball?"

Little Shi Hao's brows shot up, and he grabbed Furball right off his shoulder.

"Squeak squeak squeak!" (How dare you! This Seat is a Venerable!)

Furball struggled frantically, trying to intimidate this brat with the authority of a Venerable.

Too bad his cultivation had been sealed by the Willow Deity. Aside from being a bit thick-skinned and tough, he had less strength than an ordinary monkey.

"Rolling your eyes at me, huh! Playing all deep and mysterious!"

Little Shi Hao pinned Furball down on the bird's back and started smacking his fluffy rear with his chubby little hand.

"Smack! Smack! Smack!"

The crisp sound of slaps echoed in the wind.

"Squeak—!" (Help! A brat is abusing a divine beast!)

Furball shrieked in agony, tears nearly streaming down his face.

He felt so wronged.

A dignified Venerable of the Great Wilderness, reduced to having his butt spanked by a three-year-old human child.

If word got out, how could he ever show his face in the Fierce Beast community again?

Ye Xuan watched the scene without stopping it. In fact, he found it oddly satisfying.

"Alright, enough playing around."

Ye Xuan put away the ancient scroll and fixed his gaze ahead.

"We're almost there."

Up ahead, the land gradually shifted from wild primeval jungle to plains bearing traces of human habitation.

Ancient cities sat nestled among the mountains and rivers, worn and crumbling, yet carrying a weathered sense of history.

That was the second ancestral land of the Stone Kingdom.

The place where Shi Hao's bloodline had once lived.

The Azure Sky Roc slowly descended, finally landing outside a seemingly desolate estate.

"We're here."

Ye Xuan jumped off the bird's back and straightened his robes.

Little Shi Hao followed, hopping down as well, still holding a thoroughly defeated-looking Furball in his hand.

He looked around curiously. Broken walls, overgrown weeds—it looked like no one had tended this place in a long time.

"Big brother, why are we here?"

Little Shi Hao scratched his head, confused.

"There's not even a ghost around. Definitely no good food."

Ye Xuan gazed at the mottled vermilion gate, his expression growing complicated.

"Little Dot."

He crouched down, looking seriously at Shi Hao.

"There's an old man here, and a child."

"That child should have grown up just like you, enjoying his parents' love, carefree and without a worry."

"But for your sake, he's suffered a lot here."

Little Shi Hao was stunned.

For me?

Though young, he was sharp-minded.

Hearing this, Little Shi Hao's heart tightened for no reason.

"Come on, let's go in and take a look."

Ye Xuan took Little Shi Hao's hand and pushed open the heavy door.

"Creak—"

The door swung open, and a musty, decaying smell rushed out.

The courtyard was even more desolate inside.

But from a corner of the yard came the sounds of cursing and the crack of a whip.