Shi Ziteng

After hearing the Demon Spirit Lake expert's appraisal of Shi Yi, the three let out long sighs of relief.

They were certain that the sound of drooling they had just heard was real. Fortunately, the other party had entertained no terrifying intentions.

Just then, a figure emerged from the ancient buildings. He was a humanoid being, unhurried and utterly composed.

He was slender, his steady steps following a distinct rhythm, ethereal and elusive. Unless one paid particular attention, it was impossible to sense his presence, as though he had become one with heaven and earth.

Seeing the newcomer's face, Shi Yuan could not help showing his excitement.

The man was none other than his pride and joy, his own grandson, Shi Ziteng.

For a human to become a disciple of Demon Spirit Lake on the Primordial Divine Mountain was proof enough of how extraordinary Shi Ziteng's talent was.

Since joining the divine mountain, he had not returned to the Martial King Manor for several years, devoting himself to further cultivation at Demon Spirit Lake.

Even when the bone-extraction incident rocked the Martial King Manor and Shi Ziteng's Dao companion died in that battle, he had not appeared.

Only now, when Shi Yi arrived to enter Demon Spirit Lake, did he come forward to welcome him.

"Zi Teng, you have an extraordinary son. He is certain to achieve great things in the future," the aged voice rang out once more from the depths of Demon Spirit Lake, offering this praise.

Shi Ziteng replied with a smile, "Patriarch, you flatter him. My son is young and ignorant. If he gives any offense, please forgive him."

"Haha, I only fear he won't give offense. The Primordial Divine Mountain does not accept mediocrities."

As they spoke, Shi Ziteng had already reached the others.

He was tall and slender, with exceptionally fair skin. His jade-like face gleamed with a crystalline luster, his eyes were as deep as the starry sky, and his thick black hair fell smoothly over his chest and back. There was something distinctive about his bearing. He was no creature destined to remain in a shallow pond; a single glance left a lasting impression that was difficult to forget.

Shi Ziteng looked at the young Shi Yi. This was his first time seeing his own son. Before Shi Yi was born, he had returned to Demon Spirit Lake to enter secluded cultivation. That single period of seclusion had lasted years. In the blink of an eye, his son had grown to five years old and entered the Blood Moving Realm.

It filled his heart with countless emotions.

"Yi'er."

He called out to him. Though this was their first meeting, the feeling that blood was thicker than water was powerful.

"Shi Yi pays his respects to Father."

Shi Yi bowed respectfully.

At those words, a smile appeared on Shi Ziteng's face. His gaze was profound as he examined Shi Yi's Double Pupils, the rune-covered Supreme Bone within his chest, and his progress in the Blood Moving Realm. He could not help saying, "Excellent."

For a five-year-old child to have achieved so much, he had already far surpassed Shi Ziteng at that age.

Next, Shi Ziteng spoke with his grandfather Shi Yuan and the two elders from the Martial King Manor. He briefly described his cultivation at Demon Spirit Lake, then asked about Shi Ziling's rampage through the Martial King Manor.

Afterward, he told the three, "Grandfather, honored elders, you can rest assured with Yi'er in my care. Demon Spirit Lake does not allow outsiders to enter. Even my relatives are no exception, so please return home.

Once Yi'er finishes his studies, he will leave and return to the Martial King Manor on his own. Our clansmen need not worry too much."

Shi Yuan and the two elders exchanged glances and each nodded.

"With Zi Teng here, we naturally have no concerns about Yi'er's safety."

With that, they said their farewells. The three turned and departed, vanishing beyond the horizon at tremendous speed.

After watching his elders leave, Shi Ziteng turned and called for Shi Yi to follow him into Demon Spirit Lake to meet its supreme expert.

Under Shi Ziteng's guidance, Shi Yi finally set foot on the soil of the Primordial Divine Mountain.

From afar, the ancient buildings had looked grand and magnificent. Up close, that impression grew even stronger. The towering stone gates and majestic halls bore traces of passing ages everywhere, ancient and weathered. Entering this place was like stepping into the ruins of history.

Along the way, enormous spiders of every color could be seen everywhere. The golden spiders were the most eye-catching of all.

Legend held that the ancestor of Demon Spirit Lake's lineage had been a Golden Spider of immense power who eventually became a Heavenly God. This was the origin of their claim to be descendants of a Heavenly God.

Every golden spiderling possessed exceptional gifts. The purer the gold on its body, the purer the bloodline within it.

However, whether one could become a supreme expert was not determined by bloodline purity. Though it had some influence, it was not absolute.

For instance, the being who had just spoken with Shi Yi and Shi Ziteng was not a golden spider, but possessed another bloodline-that of an Azure Demon Black-Eyed Spider. Compared with the pure-blooded golden spiders of his generation, his starting point had not been particularly high. Yet this Azure Demon Black-Eyed Spider had cultivated and evolved tirelessly, weathering countless dangers and hardships until he finally reached the Venerable Realm.

The spiders of Demon Spirit Lake were very curious about the newcomer, Shi Yi, and emerged from their halls to watch. Thick spider legs stood upright, supporting enormous bodies covered in clearly visible hairs like steel needles. Eyes stared fixedly at father and son. Every spider had several pairs of eyes, making them look sinister and terrifying.

An ordinary cultivator walking beneath the predatory stares of so many terrifying spiders would have been unable to remain calm. Merely keeping their calves from trembling would have been an accomplishment.

Yet father and son were each calmer than the other. There was little need to speak of Shi Ziteng; he had cultivated at Demon Spirit Lake for many years. Every spider knew of him, a young human highly valued by their clan's experts. Shi Yi, however, was truly unusual. It was difficult to imagine a five-year-old human child weaving calmly among the spiders of Demon Spirit Lake without so much as blinking, treating them as though they did not exist.

Moreover, Shi Yi's eyes shone brilliantly, and his bearing was extraordinary. A sacred halo enveloped him, as though a young deity had descended into the human realm to walk among mortals.

Many spiders realized that this human child might be even more extraordinary than his father, with limitless future prospects.

"Are those the Double Pupils? Just like the legends say-two pupils in each eye." A group of young spiders gathered together and discussed Shi Yi's eyes.

"What frightening eyes. Just meeting his gaze makes me feel as though he can see through my entire body," said a young spider covered in golden spots.

The other spiderlings also spoke up, every one of them wary of those eyes.

As far back as ancient times, those with Double Pupils had fought their way to illustrious renown. The ancient texts left behind by Demon Spirit Lake's ancestors contained detailed records of every aspect of this innate gift.

However, some spiderlings remained composed and did not lose their poise. They were all spiders with relatively pure bloodlines and astonishing talent.