Demon Spirit Lake

But Shi Hao paid them no attention at all, utterly absorbed in the food.

"This guy..." Seeing this, the others could not be bothered with him either. They simply put him out of sight and out of mind.

In no time, more than half the food on the table had gone into Shi Hao's belly. Still unsatisfied, he complained that there was too little and asked the palace maids to keep bringing more.

Yun Xi and the others were mortified. This glutton had eaten enough for over a dozen people all by himself, and it still was not enough.

Yun Ying, however, looked perfectly composed and paid it no mind. Never mind Shi Hao—even the Wolf Pup had eaten quite a lot.

"What kind of group is this?"

Just then, Huo Ling'er walked over. Seeing Shi Hao sitting with the beings from the Primordial Sacred Mountain left her somewhat stunned.

"Junior sister, you're here too! Hurry up and sit down to eat, or there won't be anything left," Shi Hao called out casually.

Huo Ling'er could not help rolling her eyes at his words. Seeing the way Shi Hao ate, she suddenly regretted coming over.

"Princess, please take a seat."

The beings from the Primordial Sacred Mountain had to treat Huo Ling'er with due respect. They could not be so casual with her.

"Thank you." Huo Ling'er nodded to Yun Ying and the others before taking her seat.

After Huo Ling'er sat down, the Wolf Pup returned to her arms and settled down.

But Huo Ling'er immediately noticed a faint, delicate fragrance on the Wolf Pup. It was not hers, and it certainly could not have come from Shi Hao. That meant it had rubbed off on someone else—a woman, at that.

Huo Ling'er discreetly looked around, her gaze lingering on Yun Ying before she withdrew it without betraying anything.

A little later, while the birthday banquet was underway, a group entered from outside. Their auras were powerful; all were beings at the king marquis level.

"They're from Demon Spirit Lake!"

The moment they saw the group, quite a few people recognized where they came from.

Demon Spirit Lake was also one of the Primordial Sacred Mountains, immensely powerful. It had produced Heavenly God experts in ancient times and possessed deep reserves.

Shi Ziteng of the Martial King Manor had taken a master at Demon Spirit Lake to learn its arts, and the branch he belonged to also maintained close ties with it.

Demon Spirit Lake also intended to support Shi Yi in becoming the next Human Emperor of the Stone Kingdom, so that it could bring the kingdom under its control. Its ambitions were great.

"Where is the one who imprisoned my younger clansman? Get out here and die!"

Among the people from Demon Spirit Lake, a Golden-Haired Youth barked coldly, his piercing gaze searching the crowd.

Soon, he fixed his eyes on Shi Hao. "Was it you? A brat with milk still on his breath dares imprison someone from Demon Spirit Lake?"

As he spoke, he also noticed Yun Ying, Huo Ling'er, and the others. The coldness on his face eased a little. Neither Heavenly God Mountain nor the Fire Kingdom was something he could casually offend.

"Hand over my younger clansman, and I can give you a quick death," the Golden-Haired Youth said, staring at Shi Hao without concealing his killing intent.

Shi Hao gave him a sidelong glance. "Who are you? Is something wrong with you? And who's this younger clansman of yours? What nonsense."

"Such arrogance!" the Golden-Haired Youth said, his tone chilling.

Only then did someone beside Shi Hao remind him that he had subdued a Primordial Demon Spider in Green Forest Garden a few days earlier.

"Oh, so you mean that little spider. He's your younger clansman? Then you're a spider too-a big golden spider." Only now did Shi Hao give the Golden-Haired Youth a proper once-over.

Then Shi Hao added, "So what if you're golden? You're still poisonous and inedible. What use are you? Go stand off to the side."

At those words, the Golden-Haired Youth nearly burst a lung with rage. No one had ever dared belittle him like this. Fury surged to the crown of his head.

"That's not quite right. Primordial Golden Spiders embody holiness. Golden radiance suffuses their bodies, and they're not poisonous. They're a variant of demon spiders," someone explained from the shadows.

Shi Hao's eyes instantly lit up at those words, as though a bell had rung in his head, reminding him to get down to business.

"This is the Human Emperor's birthday celebration. No disturbances are permitted here. All disputes must be settled in the Martial Arts Arena."

An old man in gray appeared without a sound. He was the Stone Emperor's Chief Guard, and he issued the reminder to everyone.

"Come on. I've never eaten a spider before. Since you're not poisonous, I'll have to give you a taste." Shi Hao bared a mouthful of white teeth, then headed toward the Martial Arts Arena in the direction the Chief Guard had indicated.

Hearing this, the golden spider could no longer contain his fury. His golden hair stirred in the wind. Without another word, he strode toward the Martial Arts Arena, swearing inwardly to grind Shi Hao's bones to dust and scatter his ashes.

Seeing Shi Hao and the golden spider head toward the Martial Arts Arena, everyone rose and followed to witness the battle.

"Little Ying, aren't you going to watch?"

After getting up, Yun Xi noticed that her younger sister was still sitting there and could not help pausing in surprise.

"No." Yun Ying gently shook her head, looking entirely uninterested.

"All right, then we'll go." Yun Xi said no more. Yun Ying was usually like this, uninterested in many things.

Before long, the outcome was decided. Although Shi Hao's cultivation realm was lower and he had yet to break through to the Inscription Realm, he possessed something like the Indestructible Golden Body, which could raise his realm when fused with him.

At the same realm, the golden spider from Demon Spirit Lake was naturally no match for him and was soon subdued.

Everyone who witnessed the battle was dumbstruck. A pure-blooded being at the king marquis level had been subdued so quickly by a teenage human. It was simply inconceivable.

After subduing the Primordial Golden Spider, Shi Hao even took his golden spider legs and roasted them-in full view of everyone.

"This Bear Child really is savage," Yin Xue said, swallowing.

But this Primordial Golden Spider was a descendant of Demon Spirit Lake's Venerable. His bloodline was even stronger than that of an ordinary Primordial Demon Spider, and he was one of Demon Spirit Lake's most central members.

If the Venerable of Demon Spirit Lake saw one of his favorite descendants treated like this, how could he not fly into a rage?

Sure enough, a furious roar rang out from the sky. "Human, you dare harm my descendant? You're courting death!"

An enormous Primordial Demon Spider appeared, blotting out the sky and radiating terrifying pressure. A glowing spider leg, as vast as a mountain ridge, stabbed down at Shi Hao.

At that moment, however, the Martial Arts Arena shone, and its great formation activated. Great stars revolved one after another with thunderous rumbling. Thousands upon thousands arrayed themselves across the heavens, forming the Star River that blocked the spider leg.

"Shi Clan, what is the meaning of this?" the Venerable of Demon Spirit Lake demanded.

"Big spider, it looks like you can't wait to die. Perfect-I can't wait to send you on your way either. Stone Emperor, please allow me to fight this old bastard!"

Shi Hao wiped his mouth and spoke without the slightest courtesy. Many listeners were left stupefied, wondering whether something had gone wrong with their ears.

"If you wish to fight, fight at the Military Drill Ground!"

A moment later, an immense majesty rose from within the Central Heavenly Palace. Golden divine flames surged forth and swept across the heavens. The Stone Emperor had spoken.