Perfect World

Chapter 467: Chapter 467: Proclaim to the World
 

Shi Hao, draped in a golden robe and carrying the National Guardian Divine Halberd on his back and the Divine Spirit Law Sword in his hand, descended like the Heavenly Emperor, his dignity and aura intimidating to the heart!

Although he was but a youth, he inspired awe. Numerous War Generals, endless soldiers, and even the Imperial Titles could not help trembling at the sight of him and felt compelled to kneel.

This was not out of regard for his identity but a trembling from the soul, birthing an inexplicable reverence toward this young emperor, akin to that shown to a Deity.

Shi Hao patrolled the city, personally treading all the main streets, the king’s mansions of the other sealed royalties, and the strongholds currently under attack, all of which shuddered with fear.

On this day, not only did the Yu Clan fall but also other stubborn resisting clans were obliterated by the likes of the War King and the Founding King, old powers that were completely destroyed.

Shi Hao’s patrol effectively served as intimidation. The whole city was shaken, culminating in a major purge.

Soon after, he returned to the imperial palace and the shouts and cries within the city gradually ceased. Peace was restored both internally and externally, and now the imperial city was thoroughly under control.

“The emperor, it’s time to proclaim to the world,” suggested the War King. He was covered in blood, towering and extraordinarily martial, having slain a group of experts during recent conquests.

Shi Hao nodded. Though he had been enthroned, it was confined to the Stone Kingdom’s Imperial Capital and had not yet been announced to the world.

After the great calamity, the world was in chaos, everywhere was in panic, rumors of the Stone Emperor’s fall and the country being without a ruler had already stirred up major upheavals.

It was now necessary to issue an Imperial Decree immediately, proclaiming to the world to stabilize Stone Country swiftly, otherwise, the consequences were unimaginable.

One could imagine, there must be some powerful vassals harboring other ideas, enticed by the three sects, betraying the Stone Country. If even the capital was like this, let alone some vassals who really held actual power.

But no matter what, in the face of righteousness, under the overall situation, most major cities in Stone Country should comply with the Imperial Decree and would not rebel.

“Grant the title to Shi Hao…”

The old emperor’s decree had once been branded in the void, its characters remaining undissipated for a long time, and had been copied down together by powerful Imperial Titles and was now re-engraved on Golden Paper ready to be sent to various places.

Inside the capital’s shrine, the altar was activated and it was now possible to open the transport formation and send sacrifices to various places.

In an instant, the decree was declared to the world, the New Emperor ascended, Little Stone rose, causing a great commotion.

Shi Hao had his own decree, the content of which was simple. It first lauded the old emperor’s cultural and military accomplishments throughout his life and then directly pointed out the treacherous deeds of some Imperial Titles, like the Yu Clan, Su Wang, and King Kun, and finally expressed his determination.

The world was in an uproar, Little Stone ascending and becoming the emperor, sparking a tremendous storm.

There was no doubt this was an earthquake. With the news spreading that the old emperor had vanished in the great calamity and may have fallen, the world had already been unstable.

Everyone knew that a new emperor would swiftly emerge, and while it wasn’t a surprise, Little Stone’s rise still shocked many.

Moreover, his decisiveness and severity surprised everyone.

It was known that the three sects had taken residence in the Stone Capital, gathering countless experts, ready to establish a false emperor, almost controlling the overall situation.

Who would have thought that Little Stone alone would force his way into the imperial city, defeating numerous experts, fighting in the royal palace, cutting down several rebellious Imperial Titles, and suppressing the three sects’ power, turning the tide with his own strength?

Such an event was truly unimaginable, stunning the world!

“Little Stone is divinely powerful, excessively strong, defeating all Cultivators alone, forcing the three sects to retreat from the imperial city, truly incredible!”

“Though there were rumors earlier, and one could speculate that if the old emperor fell, it would surely be a dazzling young supreme like the two Stones to succeed, but it is still somewhat surprising.”

The world discussed, everywhere was restless, in streets and alleys, whether Cultivators or civilians, everyone talked about the new emperor, and the whole Stone Country was incredibly noisy.

Regarding Little Stone’s dominance, people were intimidated. Regardless of anything, his solo entry into the imperial city and full control was enough to prove his strength to contend for the title of emperor.

However, the vassals across the land were also wary of his methods, for they were too harsh. Just after his enthronement, he had directly eradicated nearly ten Imperial Titles, unprecedented in history.

The world was in turmoil, most of Stone Country’s major cities submitted, recognizing the New Emperor, only a few cities remained silent, refusing to comment, and stayed quiet for the time.

Yet, this was Shi Hao’s great gain!

On this day, across various places within Stone Country’s territories, one thin wisp after another of fine essence entered the void, traversing thousands of miles and falling into the Stone Kingdom’s Imperial Capital.

Shi Hao was astonished. He had been meditating, and at that moment opened his eyes in surprise as countless fine True Dragons appeared from the void, converging into a large purple dragon, rushing toward him.

He was overwhelmed by the endless True Dragon essence, on his outside these Celestial Dragons became even more solid, enormously large, vividly vivid, raising their heads to roar, their presence stirring the heavens.

Moreover, the number of Celestial Dragons had markedly increased, now totaling eighty-one, circling around the Central Heavenly Palace, placing Shi Hao right at the center.

The old imperial bodyguard trembled. The old emperor of yesteryears did not have such a spectacle.

His name was Peng Jiu, he was the ninth disciple of the former commander of the giant golden bird and also the strongest disciple, soon to become a Venerable One. However, with the advent of the great calamity, he restrained his steps.

“None of the previous emperors, when they first ascended, could gather so much True Dragon essence. It’s too obvious, if he cultivates now, drawing it into his body for refinement, he could directly ascend to Venerable!” Peng Jiu was astounded, his voice trembling.

“This is the emperor’s rightful place. The New Emperor, before his enthronement, relied on his own fame to shake the wasteland, known throughout the world, and was widely discussed. Now that he’s enthroned, naturally, it triggers a huge stir; this nation’s fortune and public support are profoundly connected,” the War King contemplated and spoke.

Peng Jiu nodded; these were true words.

Little Stone was stunning, and he had already sent shockwaves across the world. Now that he had repelled the cultivators of the three sects, his reputation was even more illustrious, shaking the wasteland and ascending the throne amidst such divine awe. It was impossible not to cause a sensation, impossible not to resonate with many hearts.

As a result, the True Dragon became richer, rapidly gathering around him.

If he wanted to become a Venerable One, now was an exceptional opportunity. As long as he merged with the True Dragon, he would certainly rise swiftly to the next level and truly obtain the position of Human Emperor.

However, Shi Hao would not do so, not to mention that becoming a Venerable One now could potentially expose him to attacks from the higher realms. Most importantly, this was not aligned with his beliefs.

Such cultivation, becoming a Venerable One, might seem powerful, but it was all based on external forces, relying on the vast foundation of the Stone Country. Should there come a day when he lost the Stone Country, leaving this territory, he would be like rootless duckweed.

In the following days, the True Dragon surged, and the Stone Kingdom’s Royal Palace became even more sacred and majestic. A layer of light formed around Shi Hao’s body, turning into a golden sun, stunningly splendid.

Furthermore, some of the True Dragon entered the Human Emperor’s Seal, stored within, making it even more translucent.

“In this Stone Capital, the New Emperor might be able to battle a Venerable One by himself!” Peng Jiu concluded after observing secretly.

However, Shi Hao naturally would not be satisfied with stopping here. He prepared everything in the next two days, burying himself in the treasury, refining a marvelous artifact.

It was a black little figure, only the size of a fist, dark and ancient, named the Undying Golden Body. If it were not damaged, even gods would vie for it.

Yet, even so, it was still a treasure. In the past, when Shi Hao was in a lower realm, he could battle Imperial Titles with it.

Now, sitting in the royal treasury surrounded by various rare treasures including several Divine Materials, he naturally wanted to refine this peculiar battle garment well.

According to the Little Pagoda, this item could continuously advance, boosting his combat power dramatically. If he repaired it now, it could withstand a Venerable One.

Only, this thing was very peculiar. Even with Divine Material, it might not be suitable because the required materials were strange and rare in the world.

As expected, Shi Hao tried many times, refining some Divine Materials onto it, but they did not match.

Shi Hao frowned, searching throughout the palace but couldn’t find what the black figure needed. This left him helpless and utterly frustrated.

“Human Emperor, there’s another batch of materials,” Peng Jiu spoke up at the right time.

“Oh, had you not mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten. Let’s go take a look,” Shi Hao stood up.

This time, in clearing up several Marquis, a confiscation was naturally conducted. Their treasuries were astonishing and now confiscated, all transported to the imperial palace and accumulated in a temple.

“Besides, we have also captured a person, Your Majesty might be interested,” Peng Jiu said.

“Really?” Shi Hao smiled, curious to see who it was.

When a gaunt black shadow was brought up, Shi Hao squinted his eyes, feeling a peculiar sensation as if his body was bleeding internally.

Suddenly, he widened his eyes, shooting out terrifying beams of light as he exclaimed loudly, “It’s you!”

In the past, he had been taken into the underground palace by Shi Yi’s mother, and a gaunt old man ordered to operate on him, bloodily extracting the Supreme Bone and grafting it into Shi Yi’s body.

The cold metal bed, the helpless struggle, the cruelty, the indifferent words, and the chilling blade light felt as though they were right in front of him still.

That day had changed Shi Hao’s life forever.

Years passed and, with the assistance of the Willow Deity, he had relived those moments from the depths of his sea of consciousness, haunting him for life.

Shi Hao recognized him as the man who had wielded the blade that day, the bloody scene still vivid in his memory.

“He was captured from a Yu Clan estate. He was experimenting, grafting the Primordial Treasured Bone onto Ferocious Beasts and Exotic Birds,” reported Peng Jiu.

Shi Hao nodded, his gaze icy as he stared at the man for a long while and said, “Interrogate him thoroughly, then execute him!”

The events of the past had passed, and he did not cling to them. The pain he endured back then had now become the drive for his relentless progress, no longer dwelling on the past.

Later, Shi Hao entered a temple filled with colorful lights and various materials piled up like small mountains. Here, he found a material, a grayish rock, encircled by mist, only as big as a fist.

Of course, it was not so much that he found it as the black little figure sensed it, mutually responding to it.

Breaking open the rock, there was a fingernail-sized piece of a special substance inside, somewhat like resin but not, with astonishing spirituality, emitting a dense mist, almost as if it possessed consciousness.

Shi Hao refined it, quickly merging it with the black little figure, obviously different now. The Undying Golden Body battle garment gained a new vitality, seemingly with a touch of life.

Faintly, he heard the Little Pagoda’s lament, “I just napped for a bit and missed a good thing, unforgivable.”

“What is it that’s just the size of a fingernail? Is it really necessary?” Shi Hao asked curiously.

“Stone of Ten Thousand Laws. To obtain a piece as big as a fingernail cap is already defying the heavens. Once in many tens of thousands of years would one encounter such a piece,” the Little Pagoda released primal chaos mist, seemingly ready to refine the black little figure.

The Stone of Ten Thousand Laws, capable of inscribing ten thousand laws, was a material for refining peerless treasures. It could even be said that any Magic Artifact containing the Stone of Ten Thousand Laws could slowly transform and advance. It was a heaven-defying material, driving gods crazy at the sight.

Shi Hao was secretly delighted. The Undying Golden Body battle garment had likely been repaired somewhat and would definitely bring surprises.

For several days, Shi Hao either searched the treasury or focused on perfecting his magical techniques, enhancing his strength to handle any major storms that could arrive.

Five days later, what was expected finally arrived—the cultivators of the three sects reappeared, entering the imperial city! (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to qidian.com to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)