69novels Page 129
Page 129
There was awe, curiosity, disbelief, and even a hint of...admiration that she herself was unwilling to admit?
This guy... although sometimes he's bad, annoying, like a little hooligan.
But... he's really strong! So dazzling!
Like the brightest star in the night! It's impossible to look away!
Unbeknownst to her, Yunxi's gaze toward Shi Hao subtly changed.
No longer as resistant and wary as before, but instead with a hint of... a gentleness and inexplicable curiosity that Junyang herself couldn't quite explain?
Meanwhile, Huo Ling'er, who had been watching the battle from a distance, finally felt relieved after seeing Shi Hao kill the Golden-Winged Roc Venerable with a single halberd strike.
"Phew...that's great! The bad boy is alright!" She breathed a long sigh of relief, patted her chest which had been heaving with tension, and a relieved smile appeared on her face.
However, when she saw Yun Xi looking at Shi Hao with an extremely complicated gaze not far away, and even had a faint blush on her pretty face, Huo Ling'er's alarm bells instantly went off again!
She recalled Shi Hao's words at Qinglin Garden, "You seem quite sturdy," and then she remembered Er Tu Zi's nonsensical "engagement" ramblings earlier...
"Hmph!" Huo Ling'er pouted and couldn't help but mutter to herself, "That scoundrel! What a womanizer! We just got engaged, and he's already off flirting with other girls! Just wait till I get back, I'll teach him a lesson!"
..................
Her eyes turned somewhat "dangerous" again, and she secretly decided that once she returned to Stone Village, she would definitely "interrogate" this dishonest fellow properly!
……
A storm stirred up by the Golden-Winged Roc clan came to a dramatic end in a way that no one could have predicted.
Shi Hao's fierce power in slaying the Venerable with a single halberd completely shocked the entire Heavenly God Mountain!
No one dared to show him the slightest disrespect or provocation anymore!
The atmosphere at Tian Shen Mountain thus became somewhat subtle.
Although Yun Canghai still harbored deep fear of Shi Hao, he realized that befriending this future supreme being was far wiser than making an enemy of him!
Therefore, his attitude towards Shi Hao became even more polite and respectful.
Not only did he voluntarily hand over all the divine materials needed to repair the Primordial Magic Array to Er Tu Zi without reservation, but he also opened up parts of the forbidden area and scripture pavilion of Tian Shen Mountain for Shi Hao and Huo Ling'er to visit and consult.
Of course, he still kept the most crucial secret to himself.
After obtaining enough divine materials, Er Tu Zi Kong Qiu Ji finally began his "real job"—repairing the broken ancient teleportation array!
Although this guy seems extremely unreliable on a normal day, his mastery of formations is truly unparalleled!
It could be seen transforming into human form at times, holding a formation diagram and carefully deducing its workings; at other times, it would revert to its true peacock form, spitting out five-colored divine light, melting divine materials, and inscribing runes...
The entire process was smooth and fluid, filled with indescribable Taoist charm and mystery!
Shi Hao and the array masters of the Celestial Race, who were watching from the side, were all amazed and benefited greatly.
In the meantime while the magic array was being repaired, a "joyful event" that Er Tuzi had been waiting for for endless years finally arrived quietly.
Yun Menglan, a remarkable woman of the Celestial Race, once deeply in love with Kong Qiuji, but was forcibly separated by her family, and ultimately became heartbroken and secluded herself to nurture her emotions.
Finally, with the secret help of the Willow Goddess, they were released from the sealed palace.
On this day, the Stone Forest was quiet and peaceful, filled with birdsong and the fragrance of flowers.
Kong Qiuji regained his heroic and extraordinary appearance from his youth. Although he still had a bit of a roguish air about him, his eyes were filled with an unprecedented tenderness and affection.
He stood there quietly, looking at the woman opposite him, Yun Menglan, who was dressed in an elegant long dress, with a dignified and beautiful face and a hint of vicissitude and relief between her brows.
The two looked at each other without saying a word, yet their eyes seemed to hold a thousand unspoken words.
"I..." Kong Qiuji opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't know where to start.
Seeing his unusually awkward expression, Yun Menglan burst out laughing. Her laughter was like ice melting away, carrying a beauty that had been washed away without any trace of artifice.
"Fool." She reached out and gently stroked his handsome yet weathered face, her voice as gentle as water, "I've waited for you for so many years... and finally you're back."
"Menglan..." Kong Qiuji could no longer suppress his excitement and guilt, and pulled her into a tight embrace!
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! It was all my fault back then! I shouldn't have..."
"Shh..." Yun Menglan reached out her finger and gently pressed it against his lips, shook her head, her eyes glistening with tears, yet filled with a happy smile, "It's all in the past."
"As long as you're still here, that's enough."
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the stone forest, dappling the figures of the two people tightly embracing.
In the distance, Shi Hao and Huo Ling'er watched this scene quietly, and a knowing smile appeared on their faces.
True love prevails in the end; what a beautiful mountain.
Chapter 96: Shi Hao and Liu Shen Accompany Each Other! Yun Xi Takes the Initiative! Alchemy Master!
Having resolved Er Tuzi's "life-long matter," Shi Hao felt exceptionally relieved.
He stayed at Tian Shen Mountain for a few more days, observing Er Tu Zi repair the magic array and learning about the principles of array formations. At the same time, he took the opportunity to have a deeper exchange and seek advice from Liu Shen.
This time, Liu Shen seemed to have recovered quite a bit from her injuries and was in an exceptionally good mood. Unlike before, she was not as sparing with her words and patiently answered many of Shi Hao's questions about cultivation, laws, and even secrets of the upper realm.
Although Liu Shen still didn't explicitly state many things, or only touched upon them briefly, His insightful guidance and profound understanding of the origin of the Great Dao still enlightened Shi Hao, and he benefited immensely!
It was as if a brand new door leading to a higher realm had been pushed open before his eyes!
"The path of cultivation is long and endless." Liu Shen looked at the disciple in front of him who was full of infinite potential, and his tone was tinged with a hint of emotion. "The higher the realm, the wider one's vision, and the more one can feel one's own insignificance and the vastness of heaven and earth."
"Even the mighty Immortal Kings, hailed as immortal and indestructible beings, how many can truly transcend the cycle of eras and remain solely aligned with the Great Dao?"
His voice carried an indescribable sense of loneliness and vicissitude, as if he were reminiscing about some departed friends, or seeing his own lonely future.
"Alone by the path of the gods..." Upon hearing these four words, Shi Hao's heart trembled slightly.
He could sense the indescribable loneliness and desolation in Liu Shen's words.
Yes, when one's cultivation reaches its peak, standing atop the ages, overlooking the rise and fall of eras, only to find that there is no longer a single old friend by one's side to walk alongside, to share joys and sorrows...
Perhaps the most terrifying thing is the loneliness of being at the top.
Looking at the willow tree in front of him, bathed in divine light yet seemingly bearing eternal loneliness, Shi Hao suddenly felt a strong impulse surge in his heart!
He raised his head, and his once calm eyes now burned with an unprecedented determination and fervor!
"Three eight seven," he said, looking at Liu Shen, in an extremely serious and solemn tone, clearly enunciating each word:
"Willow God!"
"I will definitely catch up with you!"
"In the future! Wherever you go! Whatever you face!"
"I will stand shoulder to shoulder with you!"
"I will never leave you alone!"
The boy's voice was resolute and unwavering, like the most resounding vow, echoing through the silent stone forest.
The thousands of green branches of the willow tree trembled slightly the moment they heard Shi Hao's words!
An indescribable, extremely subtle, yet undeniably real, strange fluctuation instantly rippled out from the depths of His calm and unwavering will...
Although it was so fast it seemed like an illusion, Shi Hao clearly captured it!
Was it surprise? Relief? Or a warmth that even He Himself hadn't noticed?
Liu Shen fell silent.
After a long while, He sent a gentle message again, with a faint smile, like an elder looking at a younger generation:
"Silly boy."
"Let's talk about it when you actually get to that point."
He didn't say anything more, but Shi Hao could sense that Liu Shen's state of mind seemed to have undergone a subtle change because of what he had just said.
That's enough!
Shi Hao grinned, revealing an incredibly bright smile!
...
Shi Hao's fierce power in slaying the Venerable One with a single halberd was like the deepest brand, etched into the souls of all living beings on the Primordial Divine Mountain.
Since that day, no foolish creature has dared to provoke or test this teenage demon king who possesses incredible fighting power.
Even Elder Yun Jinhai, who had previously harbored hostility towards Shi Hao and even tried to push for a marriage alliance, now kept his tail between his legs, hiding in his cave and not daring to show himself, for fear that the evil star would come knocking on his door to settle scores.
The entire Tian Shen Mountain was plunged into an eerie calm because of Shi Hao's presence.
Shi Hao himself seemed not to regard killing a Venerable as something earth-shattering.
After intimidating everyone, he acted as if nothing had happened and began his life as a "guest" at Tianshen Mountain.
After witnessing firsthand Shi Hao's terrifying strength and the tip of the iceberg of the seemingly forbidden being behind him, Yun Canghai, the Venerable of the Celestial Race, underwent a complete 180-degree change in his attitude towards Shi Hao.
He not only dared not show the slightest contempt, but instead treated Shi Hao as a true VIP, granting almost every request.
Not only did they open most of the Celestial Race's scripture pavilions and cultivation holy sites for Shi Hao and Huo Ling'er to consult and use, but they also mobilized the entire race's strength to fully cooperate with Er Tu Zi Kong Qiu Ji in repairing the dilapidated ancient teleportation array.
With an ample supply of divine materials and the personal involvement of the Grandmaster of Array Formation, Er Tu Zi, the restoration work proceeded exceptionally smoothly.
Although Er Tuzi usually seems extremely unreliable, he has shown amazing focus and talent when it comes to repairing the formation.
Sometimes he would transform into human form, holding an array diagram, his brows furrowed as he carefully deduced the formation; at other times he would revert to his true peacock form, spitting out five-colored divine light, refining divine materials, and inscribing runes, his movements fluid and graceful, filled with indescribable Daoist charm.
Shi Hao, observing from the side, also benefited greatly, gaining a deeper understanding of formations.
While repairing the magic array, Shi Hao was not idle.
He first took an opportunity to return the divine arm guards he had previously taken to Yunxi.
"Here, take it back." Shi Hao handed the arm guard, which emitted a faint divine glow, to Yun Xi in a casual tone.
Yunxi stared at the arm guard she had found, slightly taken aback. Then, her pretty face flushed slightly, and she took it somewhat awkwardly, whispering, "Th...thank you."
She originally thought that, given this guy's shameless nature, she probably wouldn't be able to get the arm guard back.
"You're welcome." Shi Hao waved his hand, then seemed to remember something, his gaze fell on the small, exquisite crescent-shaped jade pendant on Yun Xi's ear that emitted a purple halo, and a mischievous smile appeared on his face, "However... this Lingxi pendant is our token of love, so I'll keep it for you for now."
"You...!" Upon hearing the words "token of love," Yunxi's pretty face instantly flushed crimson, like a ripe apple. She glared at Shi Hao, both embarrassed and angry. "Who...who has a token of love with you?! Give it back to me!"
She reached out to grab it.
Shi Hao chuckled and easily dodged, then said shamelessly, "I won't give it back! This is proof of our fate! Besides, you're my wife, so your things are mine too."