"Little One, what brings you here?"
It was Shi Hao.
He had originally been the child the Willow Deity cared for most in Stone Village.
Of course, that had something to do with Little One's astonishing aptitude for cultivation.
Before he was even ten, he had already approached mastery of the blood moving realm.
He was undoubtedly a promising seedling for cultivation.
But when this child's potential was compared with Shi Xiu's...
The latter seemed to command more of the Willow Deity's attention.
"Hmph! Lord Sacrificial Spirit is whispering secrets with Brother Shi Xiu behind my back!"
So the little brat was jealous.
Shi Hao had never enjoyed such treatment.
But how could this innocent little rascal...
Possibly understand those matters between men and women?
Could someone propose becoming Dao Companions in front of everyone?
"You really are a child. Spend more time with your Brother Shi Xiu from now on. It'll do you good!"
The Willow Deity meant every word.
After confirming that Shi Xiu possessed the heavenly Dao treasure body, this Sacrificial Spirit...
Could almost make out the path his future would take.
Countless holy maidens and empresses would surely surround this boy in the future.
If Little One stayed beside him, even picking up what slipped through the cracks would bring him endless benefits!
After hearing the Willow Deity's words...
Little One, Shi Hao, nodded with only a vague understanding.
"I already like playing with Brother Shi Xiu!"
Elsewhere.
Shi Xiu had entered an area frequented by low-level ferocious beasts.
The beasts here were mostly in the blood moving realm.
Only now did Shi Xiu realize how formidable the technique the Willow Deity had given him was.
The Taotie was a Primordial Ferocious Beast.
Not only was it ferocious, it could devour all things!
Swallowing them alive and stripping them raw.
During battle, he could devour the blood essence and strength of the ferocious beast before him.
With this Precious Technique, Shi Xiu grew fiercer the longer he fought.
His opponents, however, experienced the exact opposite.
Take the Golden Giant Crocodile before him, for example.
Who knew where this fellow had sprung out from?
He was nearly ten meters long.
Even his teeth were golden.
Shi Xiu had been forced to fight without preparation, but the Taotie Art activated directly, like a passive skill.
Bang!
In their first clash, Shi Xiu's fist struck the crocodile's head.
Although it only made his opponent sway slightly...
A stream of blood energy soon appeared, visibly swirling through the air.
With the speed of thunder that left no time to cover one's ears, it gathered around Shi Xiu's fist.
It passed through flesh and bone, rapidly spreading its power throughout his limbs and body.
His entire spirit surged with renewed vigor.
The Golden Giant Crocodile opposite him, however, shuddered all over, fear showing in his eyes.
He actually turned around to flee!
"Where do you think you're running?"
At the sight...
How could Shi Xiu let this prey escape?
Without a second thought, he pounced straight at him.
Pinning down the giant crocodile's head, he hammered away with alternating fists!
What Shi Xiu did not know was...
As he kept swinging his fists, the blood energy within his body truly was growing denser.
The strength of his punches instantly surpassed fifty thousand jin.
Then came fifty-five thousand jin, sixty thousand jin, seventy thousand jin...
Until the crocodile could no longer move.
Grrr, grrr!
His stomach was hungry.
As luck would have it, the flesh and blood of this Primordial Ferocious Beast were also highly nourishing.
He simply had no seasonings with him.
Nor any pots, bowls, ladles, or pans.
He could only make do with what was available and barbecue it!
Just then, a fragrant scent drifted toward him.
It seemed to be coming from overhead!
What?
He abruptly raised his head.
A Green-Robed Woman descended from the sky.
Beautiful. Truly beautiful.
Even more beautiful than the women in murals.
That figure, that skin, those legs.
Tsk, tsk, tsk. Flawless!
Her tall, graceful figure boasted proud, full breasts, while the waist beneath her sash was slender enough to encircle with one hand.
Her waist-length black hair flowed like a rainbow, her skin was white as jade, and her exquisite features held not a single flaw.
Beyond that, she carried an air of cold authority, as though she had spent years in a lofty position.
It stirred an irresistible urge in a man to conquer her.
Captivating inside and out, she was precisely the stunning beauty men dreamed of!
"Hehe, silly boy, have you never seen a beautiful woman before?"
This was the Ruthless Great Emperor.
To be precise, she was A Will of the Ruthless Great Emperor.
The reason this will was here...
Was Shi Xiu's heavenly Dao treasure body.
"Oh, miss, you are..."
"Hehe, I was passing through your fine land, and I'm hungry!"
Seeing Shi Xiu practically drooling before her...
The Ruthless Great Emperor immediately changed the subject.
She pointed at the golden crocodile.
He was probably some Branch of the Primordial Remnant Species.
Although his bloodline had become very diluted...
His flesh was delicious.
This boy was certainly lucky to have encountered such a rare creature!
"Please wait a moment, miss. I can't finish this crocodile anyway, so why don't we..."
"Why don't you let me do the cooking?"
The Ruthless Great Emperor made herself right at home.
As though performing a magic trick, she actually produced a large pot.
Along with seasonings and an assortment of bowls, ladles, and pans.
Was she planning to show off her cooking skills in front of him?
Soon, a rich aroma spread throughout the forest.
Strangely enough...
Every ferocious beast within ten li fled in terror after catching that scent.
It was as though they had received some sort of warning.
Forbidding them from coming over to play third wheel.
"That smells wonderful! Miss, your cooking really is..."
He truly had not expected such a beautiful woman to be able to cook as well.
She was also dressed in very expensive, luxurious clothes.
Why would a woman like her appear in the Great Wilderness?
"What do you think? Would you like to become my Dao Companion?"
"Pfft!"
Did she have to be so direct?
Upon hearing her say that...
He understood at once.
Putting it together with what the system and the Willow Deity had said earlier...
This beauty had most likely come for his heavenly Dao treasure body too.
But just as Shi Xiu found himself at a loss for words...
A cheerful voice suddenly rang out from the distant bushes.
"Aha! That smells so good! Brother Shi Xiu is eating all by himself here without inviting Little One!"
It was that brat Shi Hao.
He could have come earlier or later, but he had to show up at this exact moment.
Then he lunged straight toward the crocodile soup.
Without even greeting the Ruthless Great Emperor...
He picked up a pair of chopsticks and began fishing meat out of the pot.
This little rascal really was carefree.
"How did you get here, brat?"
"Lord Willow Deity told me to follow Brother Shi Xiu more often. Lord Sacrificial Spirit was right! If I stick with you, I get meat to eat!"
Had this little rascal misunderstood?
Still, with a child now present...
The Ruthless Great Emperor's plans were disrupted.
She had intended to continue discussing becoming Dao Companions.
But that hardly seemed suitable in front of someone's half-grown child!
Moreover, Shi Hao's words reminded the Ruthless Great Emperor of something.
"On my way here, I sensed a powerful spiritual energy in this wasteland. Could it be..."
So the Ruthless Great Emperor had sensed the Willow Deity.
She truly lived up to her reputation as an invincible existence in the Upper Realm.
"Big Sister, are you Brother Shi Xiu's fat girl? Did you make this fish soup? It's delicious!"
Only after stuffing his mouth full of chunks of meat...
Did Shi Hao remember to greet the Ruthless Great Emperor.
Looking at this amusing child...
The Ruthless Great Emperor could not help smiling.
"Yes, I'm your Brother Shi Xiu's future wife. I was just planning to go back to the village with him today and meet the village chief."
"Haha, Big Sister, don't you know? In Stone Village, the rule is that fat girls have to be carried back!"
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