Shi Qingfeng

On the banks of the Taiyin River.

Seeing Furball voluntarily feed its precious blood to the ice-cold, shivering Little White, and witnessing the miraculous sight of Little White gradually recovering under the blood's effects, Shi Hao forcibly carried Furball over to Huo Ling'er, who had fainted from the cold, and had it share some precious blood with her as well.

"Why isn't the chubby girl awake yet?"

Before Tang Wulin could explain, the anxious Shi Hao shared some of his own power with Huo Ling'er to treat her frostbite.

Not long after, Huo Ling'er slowly opened her heavy eyes. But when she saw Shi Hao right in front of her, she discovered that he had... placed both hands on her chest!

"You bastard!" Ashamed and furious, Huo Ling'er slapped Shi Hao flying. In a fit of embarrassment and rage, she turned and stormed away.

Shi Hao clutched his aching face, utterly baffled. "Why is she angry again?"

Tang Wulin did not know whether to laugh or cry. "Because you touched a sensitive spot. Furball's essence blood was enough to heal her injuries. She only needed some time before she would wake up."

Shi Hao scratched his head. "Is that so? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Tang Wulin said helplessly, "You moved too quickly. I didn't even have time to speak."

Shi Hao explained, "I was just too eager to save her."

"You've probably been hungry for quite a while. Eat something first."

With that, Tang Wulin took out a large, plump slab of Spotted Silver Tiger meat from his storage bracelet and skillfully lit the firewood he had gathered the night before. Before long, the tiger meat began to sizzle as its juices burst forth, releasing an intoxicating aroma.

"As expected of my good brother, you really thought of everything. Mm—your cooking skills aren't bad either. You preserved the meat's fresh flavor." Shi Hao wolfed down the roasted meat with great relish, praising Tang Wulin from time to time.

Tang Wulin smiled. "Huo Yuhao taught me this technique. If you like it, I can have Brother Yuhao cook next time. I've been craving his cooking too."

Shi Hao nodded eagerly. "Sure, sure! I'm already looking forward to it."

After the two had finished resting, they continued toward the Second Ancestral Land. Along the way, they unexpectedly encountered a test of strength from the Heaven-Mending Pavilion's admissions staff, led by Xia Youyu. In the end, they each received a talisman plaque—a special admission token that exempted them from the entrance examination.

Within the Stone Kingdom lay the Stone Clan's Second Ancestral Land.

The vegetation here was barren and decayed, making the place look like abandoned land. Outside the gates, Shi Hao and Tang Wulin saw two servants inside the estate mocking their young master.

The young master had clearly injured his legs. He walked with difficulty, and his entire body appeared frail and sickly because of it.

"He's the one suffering here in my place." Shi Hao felt pity well up within him. "I must protect him and make sure he is never bullied by evil people again."

Just as the two servants were about to kick the young master to the ground, Shi Hao secretly used a precious technique to drive them back, frightening the servants into fleeing in panic.

Tang Wulin was deeply moved by the scene before him, because it reminded him of what Brother Yuhao had experienced as a child.

Shi Hao and Tang Wulin secretly followed the young master all the way to a small, dilapidated house. When they saw a frail old man lying on the bed inside, Shi Hao rushed over at once.

"Great-Grandfather, I'm back. I'm that child from back then."

"It's really you? Then your injuries..." the old man asked urgently, panting heavily.

"My injuries healed long ago. With a single swing of one arm, I now possess one hundred and eight thousand jin of divine strength," Shi Hao answered truthfully.

Seeing that the old man was as weak as a guttering candle in the wind, Tang Wulin walked in from outside and immediately took out a pill, handing it to him.

"This is a Spirit-Recovery Pill refined by Brother Yuhao using immortal herbs and sacred medicines. It can prolong life, heal injuries, and preserve vitality."

The old man quickly waved his hands in refusal. "How could I possibly accept such a great kindness?"

Tang Wulin said gently, "You suffered hardships you never should have suffered in Shi Hao's place. You deserve the reward you are due."

Shi Hao was deeply moved as well. Tang Wulin and Huo Yuhao had helped him so much that, in his heart, the two now held a place equal to his own blood brothers—people to whom he could entrust his sincere heart and support in turn.

"Wulin is right. Great-Grandfather, hurry and accept it. Only then will you have the strength to return to Stone Village with us and leave this troublesome place for good," Shi Hao added.

The old man stopped refusing and swallowed the pill. Supported by the young master, who had remained by his side all along, he successfully rose to his feet.

"Oh, right. I still don't know your name." Shi Hao looked curiously at the boy before him.

"Shi Qingfeng. I chose the name myself. It means that I want to be as free as the wind." After thinking for a long time, the boy finally answered slowly.

While waiting for Shi Qingfeng to decide what name to choose, Shi Hao learned from Great-Grandfather where his parents had gone—the Primordial Divine Mountain. They had gone there to seek sacred medicine that could restore him.

Shi Qingfeng asked doubtfully, "Big Brother, how are we going to get to Stone Village?"

There was no rush to find his parents. First, he should return to Stone Village and let everyone know he was safe. Then he would send Shi Qingfeng to the Heaven-Mending Pavilion, allowing him to cultivate, grow stronger, and never be bullied again. After that, he could go to the Primordial Divine Mountain to find his parents.

After sorting through these thoughts, Shi Hao looked at Tang Wulin, Shi Qingfeng, and Great-Grandfather. He scratched his head awkwardly. "I only have one unicorn. It really doesn't seem like enough for the four of us. How about we go tame a fierce beast right now?"

Tang Wulin suggested, "I can go alone. You should stay here and help Qingfeng treat his leg injury first. After Qingfeng recuperates for a few days, we can set off for Stone Village together."

Shi Hao nodded. "All right, let's do that."

In the end, Tang Wulin tamed an extremely swift Golden Cheetah in the wilderness and brought it back. Meanwhile, Shi Hao mixed Furball's precious blood with various precious medicines into a medicinal liquid, dripped it onto Shi Qingfeng's leg wounds, and successfully cured his leg ailment.

During the days Shi Qingfeng was recuperating, the Rain Clan, the faction from Shi Yi's maternal family, sent additional men and servants to the Second Ancestral Land as usual, intending to continue bullying Shi Qingfeng.

As expected, Shi Hao beat every last one of them to the ground, leaving them crying out in misery and wishing they were dead.

"Dare to oppose our Rain Clan? You'll pay for this!" After spitting out his threat, an unnamed Rain Clan steward immediately fled in panic, clutching his head.

Shi Hao snorted coldly. "Rain Clan, sooner or later, I'll settle this score with all of you."

A few days later, Shi Hao and Great-Grandfather rode on the unicorn's back, while Tang Wulin and Shi Qingfeng rode on the Golden Cheetah's back. Furball lay on Shi Hao's shoulder as the four people and three beasts headed straight into the Great Wilderness, making for Stone Village.

However, during the half month they spent traveling back to the village, a major event took place in Stone Village.