Leaving

At first, many people had come just to watch the spectacle. None of them believed Shi Yi's record could be broken. Now their mouths were all shaped like an "O," and they could hardly believe what they were seeing.

This was far too astonishing. Such a young child had already achieved this much. How great would his accomplishments be in the future?!

The crowd's feelings were complicated. The elderly, who had little time left, were mostly delighted. A child with such heaven-gifted talent filled them with joy, as if they themselves had suddenly grown many years younger.

Some of the young geniuses, especially those who had been watching coldly just moments ago, had gone pale. They had once challenged Shi Yi and suffered crushing defeats. Now a child this small had accomplished what they had failed to do back then, and their feelings were hard to put into words.

Runes shimmered, and a Five-Colored Luan Bird soared into the sky, wrapped in radiant clouds. Its colors were dazzling as it flew toward the taller of the Twin Mountains.

"It's the Female War God from Deer-Hunting Academy!"

"Word has it that this woman is incredibly powerful and terrifying. Otherwise, she wouldn't have earned a title like that."

The Five-Colored Luan Bird pierced the clouds and came closer. The Female War God was completely covered in golden armor, yet it could not hide her striking figure. Her chest was full, her waist slender as a willow, and her legs straight and long. Golden light blazed all around her, giving her a beauty all her own.

Although she wore a golden helmet, most of her face was visible. Her features were picturesque, her skin fair and crystalline. She was a rare beauty, with an air unlike anyone else's.

She looked at Little One. When she spoke, her pearly white teeth glinted. "I'd like to invite you to join Zhulu Academy."

Everyone was astonished. The Female War God of Deer-Hunting Academy really was direct; she had made her invitation as soon as she arrived. But it was only natural. They wanted to gather all the heroes under their banner—otherwise, how could they be so powerful and stand so far above the rest?

A beast hide fluttered, runes glimmered, and it shot high into the sky. A group of women in white stood upon it, each beautiful and otherworldly, like a gathering of fairies.

"Little brother, we'd like to invite you to join Heaven Mending Pavilion."

The crowd was envious. Two great Pure Lands were competing for one child. Surely, once he joined, they would treat him like the greatest of treasures and train him to become a guardian or successor. "My young friend, take your time deciding. If you want to cultivate, you don't necessarily have to join those places. Some ancient clans might suit you better." Just then, an old man with white hair and the face of a child spoke. Seated cross-legged on a strange stone, he flew into the sky.

"Hmm, young friend, could we speak privately?" someone else asked.

In that instant alone, more than ten groups had held out invitations to Little One.

These were all top-tier powers. The ordinary great clans hadn't even spoken up, knowing they couldn't compete with Deer-Hunting Academy, Heaven Mending Pavilion, or the ancient aristocratic families.

Little One came back to himself, scratched his head, and smiled shyly. He looked nervous and ill at ease.

Many people thought the child was simple and honest, though some reserved judgment. The four great clans that had been extorted were especially skeptical. They cursed him in their hearts: Keep pretending! If you were really so innocent and shy, you wouldn't have set your sights on the Void God Realm's passage! If you were really so bashful, how could you have extorted us? Damn it!

"Thank you, all you big sisters and uncles. I don't know how to choose yet. Let me think about it," Little One replied. He didn't want to choose one and offend all the others.

"Very well!"

These people were straightforward enough. Some came from ancient Pure Lands, others from old aristocratic families. They didn't pester him, knowing it would be pointless, and withdrew one after another.

Afterward, Little One's gaze grew distant and unfocused again. He stared at the horizon, lost in thought, as if distracted.

"Hey, child, what are you thinking about?" Grandpa Essence Jade called loudly, thinking he looked gloomy and might have remembered something unhappy.

"Ah." Little One sighed. "I forgot something."

"What?" Lord Bird asked. The others were just as puzzled.

"I forgot to bet with you all! Before I broke the record, I should've bet on myself. I forgot!" Little One turned back from his distant stare and shouted indignantly.

"Pah!" Everyone wanted to smack him with a shoehorn. Look at that gloomy stare and glum expression—they'd thought something was wrong, but it was just this stupid little matter. So he was upset because he hadn't managed to fleece anyone?!

A moment ago, everyone had thought he had such an air about him. Though he was tiny, he'd gazed at the horizon with an extraordinary presence. Now... his whole image had crumbled. This Skinny Kid had only been regretting that he hadn't managed to fleece anyone!

With a whoosh, Little One jumped straight down from the mountain peak. A crowd of people scattered in alarm, fleeing as fast as they could. They'd learned their lesson and didn't want to be blasted away by him.

"Boom!"

Adamantine Rock shattered, leaving a huge crater in the ground. The bizarre child walked out unharmed, brushed the dust off himself, and headed straight back the way he'd come.

"Cough, cough..." Many people were struck by the flying rubble and dust, and broke into coughing fits.

The news that Little One had broken Shi Yi's record spread at an astonishing speed. First, the Record Stele displayed the announcement, causing a huge uproar in the Void God Realm. Then the news reached Stone Kingdom and elsewhere, where the great sects and noble estates discussed it fervently.

The news swept through the cultivators like a storm. Everyone learned that a very young child was on the rise, blessed with heaven-gifted talent.

"Three records in one day! That last one, especially, showed his peerless explosive power. He's even a cut above Shi Yi—a godlike record!"

"Find him at all costs! Learn where he came from and who he is. Better yet, bring him to the imperial capital!"

At that moment, the ancient kingdom was shaken. Every major power issued orders. This was an extraordinary youth who might be able to stand against Shi Yi, and he was certainly worth making the greatest possible effort to win over.

"Investigate! We must find out everything about him. Don't overlook him or let him slip away!" At the same time, members of a powerful lineage like the Rain Clan were displeased and wanted to investigate Little One's identity.

Shi Yi's legend had been shattered. It was only one record, but it had stirred up a tremendous commotion. Everyone was talking about it, both in the Void God Realm and throughout the ancient kingdom.

"Hmm, it won't be easy to find out this child's background. Let's keep an eye on what he does in the Void God Realm first."

Many people wanted to know what Little One was doing after breaking Shi Yi's myth of an invincible golden body. As a result, plenty of people who hadn't come to watch earlier showed up, and the Initial Ground was packed.

"Huh? Why's he crouching on that big blue-gray rock again? What's he planning?" People were baffled.

"Dong!"

The rock shook, and then a curtain of light covered it, hiding the area.

"He... can't be trying to damage the Void God Realm's passage again, can he?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, the stone stele appeared, displaying a line of text: Shattered the Initial Ground passage...

"Pah!"

"Infuriating to both men and gods!"

"He really did it again, and in even less time!"

The crowd gaped in astonishment, then burst into an uproar.

"Is this a joke? He got another Treasure Bone!"

The news caused a commotion everywhere. This Skinny Kid was too bizarre. To get a Treasure Bone, he'd broken another record and shattered another golden passage.

"Unforgivable! It's enough to enrage both the living and the dead!"

"What a freak. That child needs a good beating."

Everyone in the various cave-heavens and blessed lands was furious. How could this be allowed? And the Void God Realm was just as ridiculous—it had actually rewarded him with another Treasure Bone. How could anyone not be enraged?

"Who'll go to the Initial Ground and beat him up? I can't take it anymore."

"In that cursed place, there probably aren't many who can go toe-to-toe with that Skinny Kid. If you go, you'll just be asking for trouble."

"Damn it... He broke another record! Look, he actually... shattered the Initial Ground passage for the third time!"

The crowd went completely wild. This child was too much. Was he going to keep at it forever, all for the sake of Treasure Bones?

"Huh? Wait, he didn't get a Treasure Bone this time. The heavens have finally opened their eyes! Hahaha, the Void God Realm actually warned him and listed him as unwelcome!"

"Hahaha... What a freakish child!"

People everywhere roared with laughter. At last, heaven's judgment had been fair.

Little One was frustrated. He'd meant to get a third Treasure Bone, and was even planning to put together a divine formation of his own. He hadn't expected such a stern warning. A dark cloud appeared over his head, gathering without dispersing, impossible to drive away.

He muttered under his breath, "Why are you warning me? No one said I couldn't attack the Void God Realm's passage. If there'd been a clear rule against it, I wouldn't have broken it."

"Heh heh..."

"Hahaha..."

Everyone burst out laughing. For some reason, seeing this bizarre child get thwarted, with a dark cloud hanging over his head, made them feel wonderfully satisfied. They were especially delighted.

Only Little One remained downcast, wandering around the Initial Ground. "Find me ten Beast Kings. I'll break another of the Double Pupil's records."

His words caused an immediate uproar. As expected, there was no way to judge this bizarre child by ordinary standards. He was stirring things up again.

Before long, some people really did go looking for Beast Kings, wanting to see just how strong he was.

"Huh? What's he doing?"

People saw Little One standing in front of the stele, feeling around and touching the Treasure Bone on it.

"Pah! That Skinny Kid's gone mad. Don't tell me he's set his sights on the Record Stele?"

Many people had a bad feeling about this, and their gazes grew strange.

"Boom!"

A deafening crash rang out, confirming their suspicions.

"Great ancestors, why can't you just settle down? You've even set your sights on the Record Stele?" Grandpa Essence Jade and the others clicked their tongues, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

The others were dumbstruck. This child was too bizarre. He really dared to do it!

Before long, the light curtain covering the stele receded, revealing Little One's true form and the shattered stele.

"Ah, he really did smash it!"

Specks of light drifted down, and a new stele appeared. A new record was inscribed on it: Shattered the Initial Ground Record Stele. Severe warning: You will be expelled from the Void God Realm for two years.

At the same time, the same inscription appeared everywhere. Everyone who saw it was dumbfounded!

Only Little One was furious. The dark cloud over his head had grown even denser, almost burying him.

"Hahahaha..."

After a brief silence, the Void God Realm erupted. Countless people were laughing.

"This has to be a first, right? They actually expelled him from the Void God Realm!" People were speechless. This sort of thing had really happened.

"Hahaha... This is hilarious!" Many people laughed uproariously.

Little One's figure was fading. The dark cloud enveloped him, forcing his body to blur until he was about to disappear.

"Why? I didn't do anything wrong! The stele never said I couldn't attack it!" he shouted indignantly.

"Child, two years will pass in the blink of an eye. We'll wait for you to come back. In the meantime, you're destined to become a legend in the Void God Realm, one no one can replace. Heh heh!" No one could tell whether the crowd was gloating or sincerely seeing him off.

Two years was neither long nor short. A lot could happen.

Dark clouds pressed down from above and black mist enveloped him. Little One resisted with all his might, but in the end, he couldn't hold out. His body grew increasingly indistinct as he shouted in frustration.

For some reason, seeing this Troublemaker Kid about to be expelled made everyone feel remarkably unsympathetic. Many laughed until the corners of their mouths twitched.

"Heh heh..."

"Hahaha..."

"I'll be back!" Little One left those childish words behind, full of reluctance, regret, and anger.

"We'll be waiting!" Grandpa Essence Jade narrowed his eyes and called back loudly, stroking his white beard.

"Go, and come back soon. Don't be so greedy next time." Uncle Hammer laughed heartily, waving a broken hammer as he bid him farewell.

"Alas, poor child. He's actually been expelled from the Void God Realm. That must be a record too, right? It's probably never happened before." Lord Bird sighed. That child was truly unbelievable—an absolute oddball. He'd dare do anything to get a Treasure Bone.

"Whoosh, whoosh..." Little One was angry. He'd actually been expelled. Struggling was useless; the black mist pressing down on him forced him out of the Initial Ground.

An immense stretch of ruins appeared before his eyes. Broken walls and crumbling remains exuded the air of an ancient, desolate past. Rubble covered the ground, telling the story of a once-glorious era.

One Primordial Demon Mountain after another rose in the distance, wrapped in chaotic mist. They shook the heart, as if he had arrived before the world was created.

This, too, was the Void God Realm, constructed by the gods from spiritual power. Yet it transcended the Initial Ground and the many cave-heavens and blessed lands, existing beyond their bounds.

In the distance, a towering willow tree had taken root among the ruins. Five tender branches swayed in the wind, absorbing the mist and refining chaotic energy, as green light shimmered around them.

"Willow Deity." Little One called softly. Frustrated, with unhappiness written across his small face, he shuffled over step by step.

Willow Deity emerged from a special state of cultivation, looking surprised. "Why are you back? With your talent, even if you stayed another half month, your physical body in the outside world would be fine."

"I got kicked out." Little One ground his bright, crystalline little canine teeth in frustration. "I'm not giving up. Is there a way to fight my way back in?"

"Who kicked you out? Did you meet an opponent and lose, and get beaten out by someone?" Willow Deity asked. Its voice was gentle, bringing a sense of tranquility and peace.

"The Void God Realm expelled me. It won't let me stay inside anymore." Little One drooped his head and kicked a piece of rubble into the air.

"Hmm?" Willow Deity looked surprised. Even its usual calm seemed to waver as it asked, "What happened? Why would the Void God Realm send you away?"

"I... cracked a rock, then accidentally smashed a stele and dug a few bones out of it. Then I got a warning, and a dark cloud appeared over my head," Little One replied.

"Something else must have happened. Tell me exactly what. If you were bullied or treated unfairly, you can go back." Willow Deity said.

"Oh, that rock was the passage to the Void God Realm, and the stele was the Record Stele..." Little One briefly explained what had happened.

Willow Deity: "..."

For a long while, the willow tree said nothing. Its charred trunk absorbed the chaotic mist, and its five tender branches drew in the essence of the void. It seemed to have turned to stone.

"Willow Deity, say something! Can't I reason with it and go back? I'm not giving up!" Little One asked softly, his eyes full of hope.

"No!" The willow tree replied bluntly and decisively, rejecting him outright.

"Why?" Little One asked, feeling guilty.

Willow Deity sighed. "You really... could you possibly have gone any further? If I were in its place, I wouldn't have expelled you."

"I knew Willow Deity was the best. Sigh, too bad you aren't that heartless Void God Realm."

"If it were me, I'd have thrown you straight into the Black Beast Prison," Willow Deity said.

Little One was stunned, then scratched his head. He tried to defend himself in a small voice: "The Void God Realm is so big, with so many steles. One little stele doesn't matter. Besides, it never said people weren't allowed to smash them."

"Come back in two years." Willow Deity delivered its final verdict, decisively and firmly putting an end to the idea.

"By the way, where's Brother Lin? I don't think I've seen him since I came out," Little One asked Willow Deity.

Just as he spoke, a flash of golden light appeared, and Shi Lin emerged.

"Brother Lin, what took you so long to come out?"

"Oh, there were too many people earlier, so I came out late."

"Oh, we're leaving."

"Mm-hmm."

"I'll be back again!" Little One ran to the edge of the ruins and shouted at a large blue-gray rock. It marked a passage that led back to the Initial Ground.

"Huh? Did I really hear that child shouting? Is that possible? He's been expelled. Could he really have such divine powers?" A group of people in the Initial Ground looked at one another in bewilderment.

In the ruins, green light flowed like water. Willow Deity glowed all over, then suddenly unleashed a tremendous surge of power. Its five tender branches expanded, growing to a length beyond measure, and shot upward, piercing the firmament.

"Rumble!"

Space trembled, and a portal appeared, thick with mist and roiling with auspicious energy. It swept Little One into the sky and carried him through the portal.

In Stone Village, Willow Deity's true form glowed, showering the whole village with endless divine radiance. Then a vast will descended into the tree.

Beneath it, a pretty child sat cross-legged. His little face was as white as jade, his eyelashes long. Suddenly, he opened his wide eyes and quickly stood up.

Beside him was a handsome youth with light shining in his eyes. He, too, opened his eyes and immediately rose to his feet.

"The children are awake. How do you feel?"

"You both lay there without moving, as if your spirits were gone. We thought something had happened to you. Surely your souls hadn't left your bodies?"

A crowd of villagers gathered around, worried and tense.

"We're fine. Willow Deity was looking after us, so there was no danger. I went to a place called the Void God Realm," Little One said as he stood up, telling them he'd merely journeyed through the spirit world.

"Ah, I should've guessed—it must have been the Void God Realm! I've never been there myself, though," the clan chief exclaimed.

"Wow, a journey through the spirit world! What was it like? What sort of place is the Void God Realm?" Qingfeng asked curiously. All the children crowded around, chattering and urging him to tell them everything.

Little One told them what had happened, holding nothing back. Everyone listened in stunned silence, completely dumbfounded. A moment later, they burst out laughing.

"I say, child, you really know how to stir things up. You weren't unjustly expelled at all."

Everyone laughed, except Little One, who kept his little face dark and remained indignant.

"We want to go there and cultivate too!" a group of children cried, longing for it.

After leaving the Void God Realm, everything returned to normal.

At nightfall, Shi Lin sat cross-legged on a stone, thinking of what he had seen in the Void God Realm.

While Little One was breaking Shi Yi's record, Shi Lin stood on a mountain and spotted the girl in green sitting on a beast bone.

"It's her!" Shi Lin's pupils widened slightly.

The girl in green was Lin Jiuge. A woman in red stood beside her.

Lin Jiuge seemed to sense something and glanced in Shi Lin's direction.

Shi Lin and Lin Jiuge met each other's gaze.

"He's here too!" Lin Jiuge murmured.

The distance between them kept them apart, and Shi Lin was much calmer this time, though he still felt somewhat excited.

Shi Lin gazed at her with deep affection. If a heavenly river flowed between them, they would be like a second Cowherd and Weaver Girl.

He put the memory aside and began meditating again.

Little One resumed his cultivation. Every day, he ventured into the deep mountains, braved the Great Wilderness, and battled all kinds of ferocious beasts.

But whenever night fell and all was quiet, as he sat alone with the Original True Interpretation, trying to comprehend it, he found it hard to calm his mind. He kept thinking about what had happened not long ago.

This journey of the spirit had shown him the world beyond. His heart yearned for it. So many powerful experts were locked in battle; countless sects, Pure Lands, and ancient kingdoms ruled by kings and nobles were vying for supremacy. He longed to join them.

At last, he told the clan chief about these thoughts. The old man fell silent, then nodded after a long while. "Child, it's time for you to spread your wings and soar. Stone Village is too small now; it can no longer hold you."

When the villagers heard, they all came running. They understood Little One's decision, but found it hard to bear the thought of his leaving.

They had watched him learn to walk and babble his first words, and then grow into such an extraordinary child. Now he was about to leave. All the aunties and grandmothers began to cry.

Even the grown men fell silent. The child had finally grown up. Little Stone Village could no longer contain Shi Hao; he needed a much wider sky in which to spread his wings and soar.

"Little One, why don't we go with you?" Er Meng, Pi Hou, and the others came over, eager to see the world beyond as well.

"No. Your cultivation isn't strong enough to leave this Great Wilderness. You're still far from ready. Stay here and cultivate properly!"

"That's right. Er Meng, Pi Hou, you're both twelve or thirteen now. It's time to get married. Leave behind a whole brood of children before you go."

Their fathers and the clan elders all objected. They even brought up marriage, making the boys blush with embarrassment.

"I'll go with Big Brother," Qingfeng said.

No one objected, since Little One was going to take him to the Heaven Mending Pavilion.

Shi Lin also tugged Little One aside, saying the world outside was more fun. Shi Lin agreed; he had been thinking of going out too.

"Good. We'll set out tomorrow and cultivate as we go, making our way forward little by little." Little One nodded. At last, he went to say goodbye to the Willow Deity and ask what it thought.

"Go, and be careful on the road. But you should return before you turn twelve," the Willow Deity advised.

Little One looked puzzled and asked why.

"To receive your baptism in Stone Village," the Willow Deity explained.

Children from great tribes, descendants of kings and nobles, and disciples of Pure Lands all underwent several baptisms at the ages of five, ten, and fifteen. They tempered their bodies and cleansed their internal organs with the true blood of ferocious beasts and rare, precious medicines, for this affected their future achievements.

Before Little One turned five, he had been sealed inside a cauldron and tempered with the precious blood of the Primordial Remnant Suanni, laying a solid foundation.

"Your roots are excellent. It would be fine to undergo your second baptism a year or two early or late, but you mustn't miss it altogether. Remember to come back," the Willow Deity urged.

Little One nodded seriously to show he would remember. He was grateful. The Willow Deity seemed to place great importance on this baptism, and he wondered what kind it would have him undergo.

At last, the day of departure came, and the entire village came to see them off. Little White, the Unicorn, gleamed all over, its silver-white hide shining as if cast from refined gold. Runes swirled around its horn. It was nearly a ferocious beast now, and had become the leader of the herd of fine steeds.

The Unicorns and the people of Stone Village had long since grown familiar with one another; they had practically accepted the villagers as their own.

"Little White, I can't take you with me this time. We're going too far, and there will be many dangers." Little One patted its lowered, enormous head.

Bird cries rang out as Ziyun, Dapeng, and Xiao Qing descended. Each was several meters long, growing ever more wondrous and powerful, runes flowing all over their bodies.

Ziyun was especially striking. Its purple feathers seemed to trail immortal energy, while mysterious runes shimmered across its body.

In another year or two, they would surely have fully matured and dominated the nearby mountains. By then, not only would Stone Village be as secure as an iron fortress, but the villagers would also face no danger when they went out to hunt.

"Ziyun, you can't come along either. The road is too long, and it's truly dangerous." Little One soothed them, asking them to stay behind and protect Stone Village.

The three strange birds kept rubbing their heads against his body, showing their affection and displeasure, but there was nothing they could do.

In the end, only the golden Furball hopped onto his shoulder. It was only the size of a fist, making it a small target, and easy to bring along wherever he went.

Before they left, the clan chief took out a stone box and opened it solemnly. He removed a Crimson Feather and said, "Child, take this with you."

It had been left behind by the Little Red Bird long ago. The Willow Deity had healed its injuries, and, with no way to repay the favor, it had left behind one of its divine feathers as a token. To certain great clans, it might serve as a powerful deterrent.

"Child, take care out there!" Shi Linhu embraced Shi Lin, the corners of his eyes reddening.

"Dad, don't worry!" Tears slid down Shi Lin's face.

Though he had been reincarnated, Shi Linhu was still his father in this world. Their blood ran thicker than water; he could never forget that.

At last, Little One, Shi Lin, and Qingfeng set out. The villagers escorted them several miles down the road. Many wept, afraid the two children might come to harm—they were still so young. They weren't worried about Shi Lin, though.