Barging In

The setting sun was round, bright red like blood.

On the long street, the teenager ran frantically, charging toward Stone Country's imperial palace alone. He moved like a flood dragon as he tore through the air, making rumbling sounds.

"He's back!" Someone said softly. His face was flushed red, and his fists were tightly clenched. There was great hatred, as well as fear.

"Shi Hao has returned. What kind of storm is he going to stir up? Who in Stone Country will inherit the throne?" There were also people who were shocked as they looked toward the long street.

Shi Hao's return drew the attention of many cultivators. In fact, the news of the brief battle at Misty Rain Tower quickly spread. As long as someone like him appeared, it was impossible not to draw attention!

There were enemies from the Rain Clan, as well as other powerful princes. At this moment, the atmosphere in Stone Capital became tense. Everyone had a premonition that there would be another uproar!

In the direction of the imperial palace, draconic energy surged, as if an emperor had appeared. A True Dragon circled about, startling everyone from the imperial family.

Whoosh!

An expanse of purple rain scattered down, making whooshing sounds. Purple energy curled about, carrying a mountainous might, surrounding Shi Hao.

Shi Hao pointed out with his hand, and the purple rain of light that filled the sky exploded. It rushed into the sky, unable to stop his footsteps.

"My friend, please wait!" A middle-aged Daoist priest appeared. It was precisely he who took action, blocking Shi Hao's path.

Shi Hao's expression was indifferent. Now that the imperial palace underwent a change, this person blocked his path, and that intention was punishable by death. It was clear that he didn't want Shi Hao to enter that sensitive place at this crucial moment.

"Get lost!" Those two words had endless killing intent. Even though Shi Hao was still a teenager, his imposing manner gave others a sense of oppression.

"Little friend, please calm down. Why do you have to be so aggressive? Sit down, and let me tell you a few things." He sat in the void, his appearance dignified as he began to chant scriptures.

Whoosh!

Above his head, a purple book appeared, flipping on its own. Streaks of flowing light flashed across the pages, sparkling and brilliant with the aura of the Great Path.

Shi Hao felt that the imperial palace's draconic energy was related to him. Ever since he entered the city, it began to appear. The Stone Emperor had incredible methods and was suspected to have ignited a divine flame. Perhaps he had left behind something for Shi Hao.

Now that he was purposely stopped, he naturally became angry. Even though he was delicate and handsome with the temperament of an exiled immortal, when his killing intent was released, he immediately became a killing god.

"Little friend, please calm down. I wish to discuss something with you," the Daoist priest spoke. Purple light flickered in his eyes, and a single horn appeared on his forehead. It echoed with the book.

"Are you working for the Heaven Mending Sect, the Immortal Mountain, or the Western Paradise Sect?" Shi Hao's fingers were like swords. He didn't waste any time and took action as he spoke.

Clang!

Thick sword energy rushed into the sky, sparkling, penetrating, and oppressive. This was one of his most powerful precious techniques, which was the sword intent of a stalk of grass he comprehended from the beast skin scroll.

A stalk of grass could hack down the sun, moon, and stars!

This was the strength described on the beast skin scroll, as well as Shi Hao's goal. With a raise of his hand, he could hack down great stars from the cosmos. That was the true boldness!

Huh?

The Daoist priest's expression changed. His origins were extraordinary, far surpassing his peers. Otherwise, how could he be a protector of the sect's glory? He felt a cold killing intent. That sword energy was too terrifying. Not only did it press down on his physical body, but it also suppressed his soul.

Above his head, the book flipped with boundless purple energy. Large amounts of symbols surged, forming an enormous formation, suppressing Shi Hao.

Clang!

Sword cries shook the heavens. Shi Hao's sword energy immediately blasted apart an expanse of symbols. However, the book was extraordinary. If flipped quickly, the formation symbols became more than ten times denser.

Boom!

Finally, the great formation was completed, locking Shi Hao within. Meanwhile, the Daoist priest sat there with his legs crossed. The horn between his brows shone, resonating with the book.

"Fellow Daoist, why aren't you sitting down?" The Daoist priest spoke and activated the book. Majestic purple energy pervaded the air and pressed forward, about to crush Shi Hao to the ground.

Hazy purple energy flowed about as if it were an ocean.

In the distance, king-level figures were alarmed. The power was so impressive, and the magical artifact was even more astonishing.

"Don't be so rude. Do you think the Wasteland Heavenly Lord Manor has no one?" A group of old cultivators led people over. They were Grandpa Fifteen's old brothers. When they heard that Shi Hao had appeared, they quickly provided support.

They also had a premonition that the irregular scenes in the imperial palace might be related to Shi Hao and his future.

With a ruble, a green spear flew over, releasing precious light. However, as soon as it approached, it broke apart inch by inch, dissolved by the purple energy.

"How powerful! Now break!" Another person took action, producing a bronze imprint. It quickly enlarged, becoming like a small mountain. This was a king-level magical treasure.

What was shocking was that as soon as that bronze imprint descended, falling into the formation, it was swept by the purple book, releasing a streak of brilliance and a crisp crack sound.

In the end, with a boom, the king-level magical artifact shattered, erupting with a sphere of light and turning into fine powder.

Everyone on the long street was alarmed. This book was even more formidable than they had imagined and was actually able to quickly disintegrate king-level magical treasures. One could see just how much pressure Shi Hao was under.

"Uncles, please back off. There is no need for you all to take action," Shi Hao spoke.

When Shi Hao first saw this priest, he didn't look down on the latter because with Shi Hao's current reputation, how could normal people dare take action? Those who dared to do so had to have some talent.

Inside the formation, Shi Hao felt a type of pressure that originated from the book. This thing was no small matter. The Daoist priest alone wouldn't be able to stop Shi Hao at all.

"Open!"

Shi Hao shouted. His entire body shone, every inch of his body flowing with sword energy. It was an extremely terrifying scene.

His pores opened, and he released sword energy. He was like a blazing sun as he rose from the ground and charged toward that book.

"What kind of precious technique is this?" Everyone was completely astonished.

Shi Hao's entire body flowed with sword energy, releasing divine light. The sword radiance all aimed at that precious book.

Amidst the clanging sounds, he pressed forward. The sword energy was like a rainbow as it struck the book, sending it flying.

The Daoist priest was shocked. The book was out of control and was about to leave him. His expression immediately changed.

"Freeze!" He bit the tip of his tongue and spat out a mouthful of essence blood. He activated the purple book, making it descend again to suppress Shi Hao.

Divine light burned, and purple energy surged. This book suddenly became stronger, and the pressure increased tenfold. Even someone as powerful as Shi Hao was blasted down. His flesh was so powerful, yet he almost exploded.

"Mountain Deity Scripture!" Someone cried out in alarm.

"Outside the Heaven Mending Sect, there was a mountain deity that achieved the ultimate goal. It left behind its nascent clothes, which turned into a book. It was actually brought here to the wasteland region." The people of the outer regions understood the truth and were all shocked.

There was a purple mountain outside the Heaven Mending Sect that was nourished by the spiritual essence there year-round. In the end, it developed intelligence and listened to the sect's scriptures outside the Heaven Mending Sect. It slowly cultivated a great divine ability.

In the end, it became a mountain deity, and the nascent clothes turned into a precious book, which was then passed down.

The mountain deity left. In the end, he established a sect hundreds of thousands of miles away and took in a group of Daoist priests as his disciples. He didn't join the Heaven Mending Sect, but he still respected this sect quite a bit.

"Although he's not from the Heaven Mending Sect, he's someone who protects the sect." Everyone knew the identity of the Daoist priest.

"Something's not right. It's just an imitation of the Mountain Deity's book, not the genuine magical artifact. Wait. There's a portion of divine energy inside." Someone saw through the truth.

The more this was the case, the more shocked everyone became. Just how powerful was Shi Hao? He could actually stop such a book.

Whoosh.

A streak of dark light was released. Shi Hao held the broken sword in his hand and activated his sword intent. With that, his power multiplied, sending the purple book flying.

Whoosh!

His left hand swept across the air. The Daoist priest's head tumbled down, and blood splashed high into the air.

Everyone was stupefied. That was a king-level figure, yet he was killed just like that. For Shi Hao, it didn't seem to take much effort at all. What he feared was only that book.

Scarlet multicolored light surged. After the Daoist priest was killed, all of his essence blood rose into the air and entered the book. It didn't retreat and actually emitted wisps of divine aura.

"Oh no!" The Wasteland Heavenly Lord Manor's people were all alarmed. This was an imitation that possessed divine might after being blessed by a divine magical artifact. Perhaps it could display true divine might.

Shi Hao was fearless. Since he dared to come to the capital, how could he not make preparations?!

However, before he could take action, a wave of draconic energy suddenly appeared from the direction of the imperial palace. It quickly pounced over, and with a thump, the book was turned into powder.

"The book that was blessed by a divine magical artifact is shattered. There really was something formidable left behind in the imperial palace after all!" Many people were alarmed, and at the same time, their eyes burned with passion.

In the distance, Fairy Yue Chan spoke, "You all can see that he has already achieved greatness. After the supreme experts disappeared without a trace, not many people in this world could suppress him."

At her side, the youngsters who came from different great regions and were known as geniuses all had serious expressions as they nodded.

Shi Hao seemed to have sensed something. He turned around, looked in their direction, and said, "I need a servant girl by my side, so it'll be you."

Everyone was stupefied. Was he talking to Fairy Yue Chan? He was so bold. How many people in this world dared to blaspheme against Heaven Mending Sect's exceptional fairy? He actually wanted to take her in as a maid.

Even Fairy Yue Chan was stunned. Then, she smiled coldly and said, "Can you do it?"

"You'll know in the future." Shi Hao spoke, turning around to leave.

They both knew that from this day forth, it would be difficult for them to reconcile, that there would be no time to raise their cups. When they met again, there would only be a battle of life and death, unless one side was defeated or captured.

Along the way, Shi Hao encountered four more attacks, all of them from extremely powerful noble kings. They held strange magical artifacts in their hands, blocking his path.

It was unknown what kind of force they belonged to, but in the end, they were all killed. Shi Hao took action coldly, throwing their heads onto the ground, making all of the cultivators keep quiet out of fear.

The imperial palace was right in front of their eyes. It was extremely grand, and within it, there was a True Dragon-shaped cloud that danced about. It carried a terrifying pressure, making everyone tremble with fear.

"Halt!" Someone on the city wall shouted. The imperial palace's restricted area was not to be trespassed.

"I heard that His Majesty left behind an edict. Once Shi Hao appears, he'll immediately enter the palace. Why are you all stopping him?!" The Wasteland Heavenly Lord Manor's elders shouted.

"What edict? I've never heard of it before!" A general on the city wall said gloomily. He ordered everyone to draw their bows. Those were magical arrows that were specially refined to deal with those with profound cultivation levels.

At the same time, symbols lit up on the city walls. That was the activation of a great formation to suppress and kill Shi Hao!

"The great formation was damaged. It was broken through in the calamity." Shi Hao's eyes flickered. Despite this being the case, he still felt tremendous pressure.

The Wasteland Heavenly Lord Manor's people were all angry. They had indeed heard of that edict, but it seemed to have been held back by some people.

"Back off! His Majesty's edict is here!" Suddenly, an old guard ascended the city wall and announced in front of everyone.

That war general's eyes were cold. He was about to take action, but as if he heard a call, he turned around and left, bringing everyone into the depths of the imperial palace.

The gates were opened, and Shi Hao walked in with large steps. Since he came today, he had no intention of settling things peacefully. At worst, he would just fight until blood flowed like rivers. He definitely couldn't allow Stone Country's foundation to fall, and he couldn't allow it to be controlled by the great sects of the outer regions.