heaven money

"Wow, the leader of the ferocious birds and beasts has appeared! It's a ferocious bird! What terrifying energy!" People exclaimed in surprise.

This beast tide was led by this powerful ferocious bird. It let out a roar, and all kinds of ferocious beasts on the ground immediately began to charge. Afraid of its power, none dared to disobey.

"Qiang!"

In the city, on the earthen hill, the sacrificial spirit once again bloomed with crimson light, the red flower blossomed, and a bolt of crimson lightning shot up, slashing across the sky with unparalleled sharpness.

"Puff", "puff"...

The first few beasts charging at the front immediately fell, struck by the crimson flying sword. Their foreheads were all shattered, and bright red blood flowed out, causing fear and chaos.

It is clearly a plant, yet it can unleash such a domineering crimson sword. This sword-shaped flower stamen can be called an astonishing weapon, indestructible, and all the attacks of ferocious beasts and strange birds have slowed down.

With such a sacred spirit guarding the city, it can withstand thousands of troops. Ordinary beast tides can hardly shake the foundation of Chongyun City, making it as solid as a rock.

In the sky, the enormous, ferocious bird, fifty or sixty meters long, cried out, its dark light flashing and mysterious ripples emanating from its body. With a swift movement, it unleashed a torrent of fire upon the plant. It had taken matters into its own hands; otherwise, the beast tide would have collapsed.

The crimson sword flew back, the dark green plants trembled and glowed, and a green mist rose up, rushing into the sky, blocking the large area of ​​fire and making a "hissing" sound. Soon the fire subsided.

The black, ferocious bird in the sky had a pair of bright silver eyes. It shot out beams of light, like giant silver arrows, each over ten meters long, with a clanging sound, as it rushed towards the sky.

"Pop," "Pop"...

The plant in the city, with its dark green leaves trembling, bloomed three millstone-sized flowers at the same time, bursting forth with red, white, and purple light, creating rolling light mist and a dazzling auspicious glow, radiating an astonishing wave.

A crimson light flashed, and the sword's cry resounded. The first crimson sword shot up, soaring into the sky and leaving a trail of brilliant red light, like the sunset. Then, a flash of pure white light appeared, and a white jade sword shot into the heavens. Afterward, purple mist rose and billowed upward, and a purple sword rang out.

The three flying swords shot up from the ground together, like comets streaking across the sky, waving long tails that illuminated the entire sky. Their light was astonishing, penetrating the heavens and the earth!
In the sky, the ferocious bird circled like a dark cloud, its menacing presence terrifying. Beams of silver light shot out from its silver pupils, only to be annihilated one after another.

The three swords clashed with a deafening clang, their sword sounds shaking the heavens. Runes spread out, finally scattering the remaining flames, and slashed right up to the ferocious bird.

The ferocious birds flapped their wings, fighting back fiercely, where brilliant runes erupted as they clashed intensely.

With a series of clanging sounds, and finally with a "thud," the enormous ferocious bird was cleaved in two, and a shower of blood rained down from the sky. The giant bird was decapitated and fell to the ground.

The beast tide immediately collapsed; its leader was killed, and the beasts scattered and fled towards the distant mountains.

"kill!"

The city gates swung open, and a group of powerful warriors rushed out, chasing after them relentlessly. Clusters of arrows were launched into the sky at a 45-degree angle, then fell upon the ferocious birds and beasts, instantly splattering blood and leaving behind one corpse after another.

In the distance, Little Dot witnessed the battle just now, and his heart was quite unsettled. The sacrificial spirits were truly bizarre and varied, including all kinds of species, and without exception, they were all extremely powerful.

It's just a plant, yet it has three flowers the size of millstones, which have even developed into stamens and swords—truly astonishing.

This battle deeply affected him. Little Shi Hao murmured, "Runes can actually be used like this, to generate a powerful weapon within the body and launch an attack that is indestructible."

He pondered whether he should follow suit and also forge a powerful weapon using runes.

In the city, the slightly overweight middle-aged man, after witnessing the battle, muttered to himself, "This sacrificial spirit is truly extraordinary; it has actually grown several flying swords. Its future achievements are limitless."

All three swords were rare and priceless treasures, tempting him. However, he also knew that even if the Rain Clan was powerful, there were some things he could not touch.

"Oh, by the way, is there any news from that dilapidated manor?" the middle-aged man asked a steward beside him after he came to his senses.

"No, that couple has never returned since they left," the steward replied. He was in his forties and had spent most of his life in the Western Frontier. He usually held considerable power, but now he was bowing and scraping, just like before.

“Shi Ziling is a terrifying person. The clan is worried about him and doesn’t want him to reappear. Be careful and report any news immediately.” A fierce look appeared on the middle-aged man’s face.

"Yes, I will report immediately if there is any disturbance." The steward looked extremely loyal. He had had enough of this wilderness and was eager to make a name for himself and return to the capital.

"By the way, is that child still alive?" a pale-faced, slightly overweight middle-aged man asked casually.

The steward hurriedly replied, "He is very weak and won't live much longer."

The middle-aged man grunted in response, neither confirming nor denying.

The steward's face turned pale, and he added, "Those old monsters have all passed away one after another, and the last one left won't live for more than a few days. That little bastard probably won't live much longer either."

"Don't mess around. No matter how dilapidated that place is, it has special significance. If you really cause trouble... hey!" the middle-aged man warned.

"Don't worry, sir. This child may accidentally fall into a well, fall down a mountain, or be attacked by a bird of prey and die in the future. It will be an accident, without leaving any trace or flaw."

"Don't be so clever!" The middle-aged man glared at him fiercely.

"Yes!" The steward hurriedly bowed, not daring to offer any objection.

Shi Yuntao appeared near the two, but neither of them noticed him. He watched as the two plotted against the young man in the second ancestral land of the Shi clan, a hint of coldness in his eyes.

Then, he glanced at the Rain King's Mansion and the Martial King's Mansion, far away in the capital of the Stone Kingdom, a cold smile appearing on his lips, and whispered:
"I hope that after today, the Stone Emperor will also turn a blind eye to what the Rain Clan has done, so that I will no longer need to show them any mercy!"

Then, Shi Yuntao disappeared into the void, watching Shi Hao walk towards the city.

After the middle-aged man left to rest, the manager immediately straightened up, sat in his chair, put on a stern face, and exuded a strong and authoritative aura. He said, "Someone come here!"

Outside Chongyun City, the merchants who had gone to the primitive tribes to buy animal hides and spiritual herbs emerged from the dense forest and returned one after another, heading towards the city gate.

The little guy watched from a distance for a while, then quickly rode his unicorn away. He didn't enter the city, fearing something might happen, because there were people checking people at the city gate.

The unicorn sped along, intending to bypass this area and head towards the Stone Clan's second ancestral land. The mountains were towering and the terrain treacherous; this detour added over a thousand miles to the journey. First, she encountered cliffs blocking her path, then vast stretches of swamp.

However, having already traversed 300,000 li, he didn't mind taking a detour of a thousand li, and finally successfully entered the territory of the Stone Kingdom, heading towards that dilapidated ancestral land.

At noon, we finally arrived at our destination. The sun was blazing and the sunlight was abundant, but the dilapidated village looked gloomy and many buildings were on the verge of collapse.

The little guy didn't approach immediately. He released the unicorn from a distance, letting it run into the forest on its own, while he cautiously observed the situation with only the fur ball by his side. He had to be careful; the Stone Clan was too large. If someone was waiting here for him to walk into their trap, it would be extremely dangerous, with no chance of survival.

For several days in a row, Xiao Shihao did not make any rash moves, but lingered in the nearby area and discovered a lot of things.

Surrounded by four villages and a town, it stands out in the vast and sparsely populated western Xinjiang region. Usually, one has to traverse mountains and valleys to find a single village.

These villages were originally formed primarily to support this dilapidated ancestral land, eventually resulting in this kind of settlement.

This is a place of exile, but ordinary people cannot enter. Only those of high status in the Stone Clan who have committed serious offenses are exiled here.

"Sigh, it's getting more and more lifeless. Several old monsters have died one after another. What will happen to that poor little thing left? What a tragedy." An old man drove a beast-drawn cart away from the dilapidated village. He had brought fruit, game, and other food.

Although there were some servants in the village, the place still seemed very deserted, like an abandoned land, desolate and barren.

"Grandpa Hai, you must bring Big Black next time, so it can play with me for a while." In the dilapidated village, a thin child sat on the stone steps, waving his hand vigorously, coughing as he spoke, his little face as white as snow.

“Alright, once Dahei gives birth to that litter of tiger cubs, I’ll bring them over immediately so they can keep you company.” The old man, driving the animal cart away, shook his head and murmured, “What a pitiful child. No relatives, no playmates, spending his days guarding this cemetery-like old village. His childhood has been so bleak.”

Only after the old man had driven his animal-drawn cart far away did the child reluctantly stand up, his leg slightly limping, and slowly make his way back into the village, leaning against the wall.

In the distance, the little one stood in the woods, staring blankly at everything, almost in tears, and muttered to himself, "Is that another me? He's here in my place, lonely and unhappy, so weak, even lame. Was he hurt by someone?"

The little one touched the talisman in his arms that was neither gold nor stone, and whispered, "I will send you to the Heaven-Mending Pavilion. No matter how far away, I will go with you."

"Young master, the last ancestor is about to pass away. He doesn't have many days left to live. Your days are going to be tough from now on," said a servant at the gatehouse, sitting there blatantly, showing no respect whatsoever and with a hint of mockery.

"You're talking nonsense! Great-grandfather won't die!" The pale-faced child retorted loudly, tears welling in his eyes, while coughing repeatedly.

"Then we'll just have to wait and see," the servant said dismissively.

Another servant said, "I heard that the young master is not the offspring of that Shi Ziling. His true identity is actually a blood relative of that dying old monster, and he is just impersonating him here."

"It's possible. If they really are descendants of Shi Ziling, they will suffer even more misfortunes." The servant, who sat there ostentatiously, nodded. He hadn't stood up from the moment he saw the young master, showing a lack of respect.

In the distant woods, the little boy watched all this unfold, clenching his fists. He had learned roughly what he had learned in the past few days: in this dilapidated manor, which was like a cage, some of the servants had already been bribed by outsiders and were now betraying the family. After the passing of several ancestors, they had become somewhat unscrupulous.

Inside the gatehouse, two servants sat there swaggering, showing no respect for their so-called young master. They were nonchalant and gloating about the old ancestor's impending death.

"You're not allowed to talk nonsense!" The child, pale-faced and weak, had tears welling in his eyes, a mixture of sadness and despair in his expression.

He was truly terrified of losing his only remaining relative, his great-grandfather; he couldn't bear to sever that bond with him. And these servants were so despicable—how was he supposed to live from now on?

"Young Master, living like this, so sickly, is actually quite painful. I think that after you see the old man off, you'll also... well, you know." One of the gatekeepers chuckled dryly, not saying it aloud, as it was too blatant.

"Alright, enough said. It's only a matter of time. Judging from his appearance, he won't live long. He's bound to die young," another servant whispered, with a sneer.

"You are wicked, I will never forgive you!" The child, with tears in his eyes, leaned against the wall and limped inside.

He was very lonely, walking through the vast manor. He had no relatives or playmates, only desolate and dilapidated buildings. When the wind blew, some old windows creaked.

The child walked further in until he reached a fairly spacious courtyard. He pushed open a maple door whose paint had long since peeled off and softly called out, "Great-Grandpa."

On that old bed lay an elderly man with white hair, his face as pale as paper, his breath faint, and his eyes dim, having lost the brilliance of his former glory.

"Child... if I die, the only thing I can't let go of is you." The old man struggled to raise his arm and reach forward, his hands trembling as he finally touched the child's hand after several attempts.

"Grandpa, you won't die," the child cried.

"Child...don't cry." The old man stroked his pale face with his rough hands, tears welling up in his cloudy old eyes, showing his deep reluctance.

"Great-grandfather!" the child cried, feeling helpless. He lay by the bedside, gripping the old man's hand tightly and refusing to let go.

The old man held his small hand in his rough, large hand, looking him over with affection, but his eyes were dim. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but his chest heaved and he could not speak.

"Grandpa, you can't leave me behind! What will I do all by myself?" The child asked sadly, shaking the old man's arm.

In recent years, several old men have passed away one after another, leaving him heartbroken. Only one old man, his closest relative, is left, and now he is about to die, filling him with fear.

"Child..." The old man opened his mouth, but all his words turned into these two words. He could not say anything more. His eyes were lifeless, and he could only breathe heavily.

Outside the gate, the little boy's big eyes were bloodshot. He had silently sneaked into the manor and, after observing for several days, was certain that there were no experts there, he came here.

He pushed open the door and came in, wiping away his tears. Looking at the old man on the bed, he choked out, "Great-grandfather."

“Oh, you…” The pale-faced child was startled.

The old man on the bed was puzzled. In his final moments, he saw a child he had never seen before, who addressed him in such a way. He looked at him in bewilderment.

A once powerful figure, he could not withstand the passage of time and ended up in a desolate old age.

"Great-Grandpa, I'm that child from back then! I've come to see you!" The little boy choked up, having witnessed the events of that year through the Willow God. He knew that the elderly people who had been exiled here had treated their family very well, and the child beside him was someone they had brought out to take his place. (End of Chapter)