Yue Chan's Shock and Doubt

In the original story, Shi Yi's battle with Shi Hao had indeed been Shi Hao's most difficult fight.

But as for why it had been so difficult, Chen Yao believed there might have been another easily overlooked factor besides the difference in their actual cultivation realms and resulting comprehension of the Dao. They had fought at the same Spirit Transformation level, but comprehension gained at their actual realms still had an effect. Shi Hao had not reached the peak of Inscription, and his comprehension had advanced further after the battle.

Shi Yi had brought healing. Shi Hao had not.

Although healing was part of Shi Yi's strength, Shi Hao lacked it not because he was incapable, but because he genuinely had never had the opportunity to learn it.

Shi Yi had fought Shi Hao with healing and the Heaven-Mending Art at his disposal. Yet by the time his mana bar was nearly empty, with only enough left for one ultimate move and no room to risk further healing, he was still badly wounded. His right hand had been torn off, his chest punched through, and he had used his Double Pupils to hold together a body that had nearly burst apart. His injuries were no better than those of Shi Hao, who had nearly been cleaved in two.

The most fucking ridiculous part was that Shi Hao had no healing. He had endured everything through his vitality and his body's natural regeneration.

There were two people on the field, one with healing and one without. Both mana bars were nearly empty, and both health bars were in the red. Who had held the upper hand in the preceding fight? That was hardly difficult to judge.

If they could trade wound for wound, why hadn't Shi Yi injured Shi Hao more severely? Had he simply not wanted to?

His body had simply been a little weaker, and in their clash of Precious Techniques, his Double Pupils had failed to defeat the Kunpeng Method.

Even if he had used the supreme profundity of his Double Pupils against Shi Hao at the end, the outcome would merely have been uncertain, with the Kunpeng Method still holding the better odds. Unfortunately, Shi Yi had chosen to hand over the victory by using the Supreme Bone, stripping away all suspense from their contest of understanding and mastery over the ultimate profundities of their Precious Techniques.

Against the present Shi Hao, the gap was even more absurdly vast. With his Dao heart flawed, Shi Yi had focused on the Supreme Bone and his Double Pupils, neglecting to explore his own Dao. He had not transcended enough, and the gap had widened enormously.

Even Aman's current level surpassed that of Shi Hao at this point in the original story, let alone Shi Hao himself.

The people of the Martial King Manor had been dumbfounded after Shi Yi lost to Aman. Then they had watched him suffer an even more crushing defeat, swept away like rotten wood before a storm.

By Shi Hao, who had lost his Supreme Bone.

While Shi Yi's Dao heart crumbled, the people of the Martial King Manor were also experiencing a "collapse of their Dao hearts."

Thus, they only came to their senses when Shi Yi took his own life. Before they could even speak, he was dead.

"Oh? Decisive, at least. What a pity." A surprised voice came from the Stone Emperor's carriage near the Martial King Manor.

"Yi!" Shi Ziteng fell to his knees, his heart and guts torn apart by grief.

"Hahahaha! Did you see that? My Hao is the true Innate Supreme! It was never the bone that was invincible, but the person! Hao is the greatest proof! Even without that bone, he's still invincible!" Shi Zhongtian laughed freely beside them, reaching out to catch his grandson as the boy leaped over and threw himself into his arms.

Before this battle, he had reunited with Shi Hao, who had just emerged from the Kunpeng Nest. Discovering that his grandson's temperament was remarkably compatible with his own, he had doted on him all the more. He had been full of confidence in this battle as well.

The Great Demon God was also delighted to have gained a goddaughter. And both of them had defeated Shi Yi!

Just as everything came to an end and word was about to spread across the world, Yue Chan stepped forward and looked at Chen Yao, who had been sitting leisurely on a railing, idling away since the battle began.

"Wu Gensheng, this is our first meeting. I am the holy maiden of the Heaven Mending Sect." Yue Chan offered a perfunctory bow.

"Miss, Shi Yi had already agreed to join our Heaven Mending Sect, yet he perished here after his Dao heart shattered. That already establishes a karmic connection. Besides, this man has no intention of joining our Heaven Mending Sect. This is a waste of time." Granny Xihua came closer.

"Yue Chan of the Heaven Mending Sect?" Chen Yao glanced at her with a smile, then looked toward the distant Desolate Heaven Emperor.

"Granny, please say less. When we travel outside, we represent the Heaven Mending Sect. Do not be so narrow-minded." Yue Chan gave Granny Xihua a stern look, cutting off anything else she might say, then continued, "Dao Brother Wu Gensheng, do you know anything about the great calamity awaiting the Desolate Region?"

"Isn't it just that bunch of sect masters from your Upper Realm coming down to harvest their fields and hunt for opportunities along the way? What? Are you also going to offer protection for the Stone Kingdom Ancestral Land as a condition for recruiting me into the Heaven Mending Sect?" Chen Yao went straight to the point.

"You truly are no ordinary man, Dao Brother. Since you know, that makes things easier. You should understand that this is not something the Lower Realm can resist. All venerables and deities will become their targets, and the Stone Kingdom Ancestral Land will not be spared. The Heaven Mending Sect can shelter you." Yue Chan did not deny it.

"I thought you'd say something about descendants of criminals, or descendants of sin blood." Chen Yao had no intention of letting Yue Chan control the conversation.

"Since you know you are a descendant of sin blood, you should understand what an immense favor this is. Otherwise, even if you escape the calamity and enter the Upper Realm, without the Heaven Mending Sect's protection, people like you with sin blood will be hounded by everyone." Granny Xihua interjected.

"Enough already. Sin blood? Do you really think what those people from the Immortal Palace, the Feng Clan, and Sword Valley say is true? They've always feared the return of the Seven Kings of the Border Wasteland. So they persecute the seven kings' descendants while using atonement as an excuse not to finish them off. It's enough to make you laugh and cry. And that character for 'sin,' supposedly branded into their bloodline as punishment? Do you actually know what that character means? For that matter, you're merely a servant. How much of the truth could you possibly know? Is it your place to speak?" Chen Yao sneered.

"A bumpkin from the Lower Realm dares to spout such non-" Granny Xihua merely took Wu Gensheng's words as nonsense.

"Granny! Please leave!" Yue Chan looked sternly at Granny Xihua, leaving the old woman utterly astonished. She had no idea why Yue Chan was being so forceful and assertive now.

"You'd better leave quickly, old woman. If you dare keep calling the descendants of the Seven Kings of the Border Wasteland sin blood, watch out-disaster comes out of the mouth. This isn't the Heaven Mending Sect or the Great Wilderness. It's the Void God Realm. They're all listening." Chen Yao glanced at her.

"You filthy descendants of criminals, stop gilding your own-" Before she could finish, Lord Bird appeared like a ghost, seized Granny Xihua's head, and crushed both her head and her body to powder.

"What audacity. The Immortal Palace... Sword Valley... Heh heh." Lord Bird acted as though nothing had happened as he examined the soul fragments. After crushing Granny Xihua, he ignored the tense, vigilant members of the Heaven Mending Sect who had drawn their weapons and vanished in a single step.

"Holy Maiden!" The Heaven Mending Sect members behind her immediately crowded around in an uproar, swords drawn and tensions taut.

"Everyone, stand down!" Yue Chan commanded sharply.

"I told her disaster comes out of the mouth. She just wouldn't listen." Chen Yao regarded the Heaven Mending Sect party before him indifferently.

"Well played, Dao Brother. It seems you know even more than I do. I was rash." Yue Chan could tell that Wu Gensheng had deliberately brought up sin blood to get Granny Xihua killed and intimidate her in the process. That old man just now certainly had an extraordinary background.

"This realm is a resting place for many great figures, and many supreme experts are hidden here. The mere presence of the Kunpeng Nest should have inspired more reverence in you. As for this so-called Lower Realm Prison, how much do you know, Holy Maiden?" Chen Yao asked.

"I only know the rumors that the Lower Eight Regions are a prison for exiled criminals. Clearly, I know less than you, Dao Brother." Yue Chan tried to learn more.

"I'm not telling you." Chen Yao rose and walked away, refusing to discuss it further. "Let's part here. I've already revealed quite a few secrets. I hope you'll know when to advance and when to retreat because of them. Letting the other factions suffer a little would be good, too."

Watching Wu Gensheng's retreating back after her recruitment attempt had failed, Yue Chan's expression became unusually grave.

"Holy Maiden, this man..."

"Send word back to the Upper Realm immediately. Tell our sect's people not to come down. Seal off the news as well, and let the other factions come down to their deaths. Weakening them will benefit the Heaven Mending Sect." Yue Chan continued, "The Stone Kingdom Ancestral Land definitely harbors more than a Heavenly God. There may be an expert lying low there who is no weaker than the Immortal Palace's supreme expert. In our future plans, steer clear of the Stone Kingdom, and even of every nation connected to this so-called sin blood. There must be no mistakes."

"Yes!"

Wu Gensheng had seized control of the conversation and turned the tables on her. The secrets he had revealed offered considerable food for thought. Yue Chan also knew something of the truths concealed behind the scenes. The Heaven Mending Sect had records: some of those with the rumored sin blood had once said their ancestors were guarding the Border Wasteland, and there were also notes from a sect elder who had spoken of fearing the seven kings and not taking things too far. Wu Gensheng's words had been a warning to her.

The Seven Kings of the Border Wasteland really exist. Could someone truly be returning soon? Who was that old man just now? Yue Chan was beset by shock and doubt.