Second Ancestral Land

Chapter 26: The Second Ancestral Land

"Boom!"

As the golden elixir entered his body, divine radiance roared. The old man's withered frame became like a miniature sun, continuously shedding scorching, brilliant light, with golden divine brilliance flowing wantonly.

The injuries that had clung to him like maggots for so long rapidly healed, and his body, which had long been on the verge of decay, felt as if it had been injected with a spring of fresh water, overflowing with vitality once more.

"This... this is the supreme treasure elixir of our clan. People from the Imperial Capital have come, haven't they? Did the Human Emperor issue a decree to pardon my crimes and summon me back? Is that it?"

His breath rising sharply, the old man's face flushed red as he instinctively gripped the newcomer's hand, refusing to let go.

The Stone Kingdom's imperial family possessed five supreme ancient formulas; one of them was this peerless elixir capable of reviving the dead and regrowing flesh and bone—a substance of immense rarity.

In his youth, Shi Jian'an had been awarded one such pill by the Human Emperor for his distinguished military service, and thus he had a deep impression of it; it was something only the imperial family could hold.

"It is indeed our clan's supreme treasure elixir, but I am not from the Imperial Capital. Great-Granduncle, our clan consists of more than just the Stone Kingdom branch in the outside world."

Shi Hao helped the struggling old man up and said with a smile.

"The outside world? The Stone Kingdom branch? Could it be that you are..."

A flush of abnormal redness suddenly surged onto the old man's face, and he coughed up a large mouthful of black, congealed blood, yet his aura climbed to its absolute peak.

The late Inscription Realm—no wonder this old gentleman could be enfeoffed as a Heavenly Marquis.

"I come from the Ancestral Land, the true Ancestral Land."

Shi Hao patted the old man's back and added, "By seniority, I should call you Eighth Granduncle. We met six years ago."

"You are that child from back then? You are the child of Third Brother's family, aren't you?"

The rosy-cheeked old man scrutinized Little Shi for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Indeed, your brows bear a striking resemblance to Ziling. You are truly the son of Ziling and his wife."

"Good child, I knew you wouldn't die so easily. I knew it."

"Right, since you survived, it means Ziling and his wife successfully found the legendary First Ancestral Land. Are they also in the Ancestral Land now?"

The old man paced the room in excitement, then suddenly whirled around.

"After my father and mother sent me to the Ancestral Land, they left to find true holy medicine to extend my life. They have not returned to this day; I fear they are no longer in the Desolate Region."

"However, while I do not know their exact whereabouts, their lives are not in danger."

Shi Hao shook his head and said.

"No matter. As long as they are still alive, there will always be a chance to find them."

The fully recovered old man was clearly in an excellent mood. He sat squarely on the bed and said kindly, "Tell me, little one, why have you come to visit this manor?"

"Grandfather Clan Leader heard that our branch of the kin was suffering greatly in the Second Ancestral Land, so he ordered me to come and bring you all back to the Ancestral Land to live in comfort."

"Furthermore, your great-grandson has endured humiliation for many years as my substitute. Shi Hao truly feels guilty about this; it is time to put an end to this wrong."

Shi Hao said.

"As my great-grandson, this is what Qingfeng should do. Since the vast Stone Kingdom cannot accommodate the two of us, we shall simply leave."

The old man gestured heroically with his large hand, then paused, his gaze turning icy. "However, before we leave, I intend to thoroughly cleanse this place of its demons and monsters."

"That is only right. When the master is not like a master and the servant is not like a servant, it is truly absurd."

Shi Hao nodded gently; it was best for the old man, as the head of the household, to handle this himself.

In the somewhat dilapidated courtyard, twenty or so servants arrived one after another.

"I heard that old fossil hasn't kicked the bucket yet; why is he summoning all the servants here? Heh, he really has energy to spare. Don't tell me he's planning to give his final instructions?"

"The sooner he dies, the better. Then we can act freely, take some valuables for our future, and get out of here. I've wanted to quit for a long time."

"But there's still that little wretch who's neither dead nor alive. Heh heh, that lord in Chongyun City has already given the word..."

The various sturdy servants gathered in small groups, their postures extremely lazy.

"Oh? I hear some people are hoping for my death?"

Just as their words were becoming increasingly unbridled, a cold laugh like a muffled thunderclap suddenly emanated from the inner chamber, causing everyone to tremble in unison.

They saw the burly old man walking into the hall with his hands behind his back, moving with the stride of a dragon and the grace of a tiger. There was a faint sound of wind and thunder whistling around him, followed by two boys of seven or eight years of age.

"He... how is he recovered..."

"It's over! Everything is over! He is a true prince of the ancient kingdom!"

The expressions of the servants changed simultaneously. Some of the weaker ones had legs turn to jelly, already preparing to kneel and beg for mercy.

"I hear that during the days I was bedridden, the Rain Clan stretched their hands into this manor, bought you all off, and were just waiting for me to breathe my last so you could kill your little master and send him to Chongyun City to claim credit."

The old man sat on a tiger-skin chair, his gaze sweeping over them like lightning.

"Old... Old Master..."

Scanned by those icy, tiger-like eyes, the servants trembled as if struck by some secret technique, instantly collapsing to their knees in a heap.

"Answer me! Is this true!"

A thunderous roar suddenly exploded in the courtyard, shaking those without cultivation until they were dizzy, with blood flowing from their noses and mouths.

"Old Master, we were wrong, please spare us, we were just momentarily blinded by greed..."

The servants, their wits long since stolen away, dared not quibble any further. They kowtowed frantically to plead for mercy, spilling their crimes like beans and even turning on each other.

"Very well. You have enjoyed the grace of our Stone Kingdom's imperial family for generations, yet for the sake of petty gains, you allowed yourselves to be bought by an outsider prince and turned against your masters. By the laws of the Stone Kingdom, you are all to be executed!"

The old man slammed his palm against the table. Ignoring their pleas, he threw a punch, and Bone Text intertwined to manifest the roaring phantom of a ferocious flood dragon that descended upon them.

Amidst earth-shattering screams, the phantom swallowed all twenty-some servants in a single gulp.

To the old man's left, the frail, limping child gritted his teeth, his face flushed red as he watched the scene, his small fists clenched tight.

"Good child, remember, your name from now on is Qingfeng, Shi Qingfeng. You no longer need to be called Shi Hao."

The old man pulled the limping child into his arms and pointed toward Little Shi. "The name Shi Hao is already taken by someone else. Look, this is your brother Shi Hao. Go on, call him brother."

"Shi... Brother Shi Hao."

The limping child's lips trembled as he weakly uttered the title.

Shi Hao—was this the Shi Hao his great-grandfather had mentioned to him before?

Hao meant the vast sky.

Indeed, compared to himself, this big brother was far more suited to that name.

"Qingfeng, right? From this day forward, we are a family. You are my, Shi Hao's, own younger brother."

Shi Hao reached out and stroked the timid child's head, his movements incredibly gentle.

"Mm, okay."

Shi Qingfeng blinked his eyes, nodding as if he understood, yet not quite grasping the full meaning.

"Haha, let us go. It is time to depart."

Seeing this, the old man laughed heartily, scooping up his two great-grandsons and stepping directly into the air.

"Whoosh!"

A plume of Vermilion Bird Heavenly Fire descended, instantly expanding to engulf the entire courtyard and spreading like madness toward the rest of the estate.