"Am I suffering?" Shi Yi muttered to himself.
He didn't feel particularly burdened—just inconvenienced. But if Yu Zimo insisted on framing it as a sacrifice, he'd let her. After all, this world didn't enforce monogamy.
"What's a little sacrifice? As a direct descendant of the Martial King's Manor, no matter how tough or bitter, I won't give up easily. Cousin Zimo, rest assured, I won't act rashly."
With that, Shi Yi stood, turning his back slowly.
"With great power comes great responsibility."
Tossing out those eight words with a flourish, he strode away without looking back.
The Stone Emperor? So what!
I have Liu Shen.
"He's really grown up. Back then, he couldn't handle the slightest hardship—had to be coaxed through medicinal baths. Who'd have thought a few years training in the Great Wilderness would make him so mature?"
Yu Zimo watched Shi Yi's departing figure, suddenly finding it towering, exuding a reassuring dependability.
Outside the room, Qin Yining and Yuyue Xian stood side by side, their faces etched with unspoken worry as they watched Shi Yi leave. Yet they could only let him face the Stone Emperor alone.
"I've met the Sixteenth Princess. She's refined, decent-looking, gentle, and kind. I just wonder about the Fire Kingdom princess—will she be too much of a compromise for Yi'er?" Yuyue Xian whispered.
"I saw her once. She's not bad-looking either, but her temper's fiery, not nearly as gentle as the Sixteenth Princess," Qin Yining replied softly.
___
Stone Kingdom, Central Capital, Imperial Palace
The Stone Kingdom's palace was majestic, its walls soaring hundreds of meters high.
Golden and resplendent, it radiated splendor.
The polished white jade floor gleamed with a warm luster, and from afar, the palace seemed veiled in delicate mist.
Outside, rows of silver-armored guards stood vigil, their eyes brimming with a killing intent incomprehensible to outsiders.
Clearly, these guards were battle-hardened, forged in constant combat with humans and beasts alike—not mere decorative figures.
Shi Yi walked with hands clasped behind his back, striding confidently through the ranks of silver-clad guards, utterly unaffected by their murderous aura.
He was no stranger to intimidation.
A man forged in the Great Wilderness, he'd slaughtered his way through the Void God Realm. This level of killing intent was a gentle breeze to him.
Ahead lay a straight path, leading to a vast plaza. Beyond it, steps of white jade ascended.
At the plaza's center, atop a massive sacrificial platform, a towering pillar bore vivid dragon carvings.
Shi Yi's steps never faltered. He crossed the path, passed through the plaza's sacrificial altar, and, braving immense pressure, reached his destination.
A majestic yet opulent palace loomed, its sandalwood beams carved with phoenixes poised to soar, its azure jade walls radiating the domineering aura of a white tiger.
Creak.
Before Shi Yi could approach, the palace doors swung open, unleashing a tidal wave of imperial majesty. Most would have buckled under it.
Shi Yi stood tall, unshaken. His eyes flickered, closing briefly before opening.
A hundred-meter Double Pupil materialized in the void, its massive iris gazing down like an ant at the nebulous, sun-like figure within the palace.
After a tense dozen seconds, a middle-aged man in a nine-dragon imperial robe emerged. His face was ruddy, his voice hearty. "Well done, Shi Yi. It seems entrusting Little Sixteen to you is indeed a fine choice."
This was unmistakably the Stone Emperor.
"Your humble servant Shi Yi greets Your Majesty."
Shi Yi's tone was neither servile nor arrogant—just even-keeled. Though the Stone Emperor outclassed him in cultivation, Shi Yi didn't feel inferior.
Back in the Heavenly Passage Realm, with all his cards played, he'd matched an adult Pixiu, even driving it off.
Now, having broken through to the Spirit Transformation Realm, his strength had doubled. Even if the Stone Emperor surpassed an adult Pixiu in power, Shi Yi was confident he could hold his own.
"Human prodigy, primal supreme, your battle in the Void God Realm brought glory to our race. Shi Yi, you're remarkable—truly remarkable. The Stone Kingdom needs talents like you."
The Stone Emperor's admiration grew the more he looked at Shi Yi. Confident, powerful—given time, even he would only see Shi Yi's back. Worthy of the Heavy-Pupiled sage's reputation.
"Your Majesty flatters me," Shi Yi replied.
"No need to be so tense. Though the Martial King has fallen, as a direct descendant, you're eligible to inherit his title. But I had a feeling, lad, you're already worthy of being a king."
As he spoke, the Stone Emperor dispersed his sun-like, terrifying vitality, adopting the demeanor of a friendly neighbor—albeit one clad in a nine-dragon robe, still exuding untouchable nobility.
"Your Majesty, only the Formation Arrangement Realm qualifies for kingship. I'm merely… Spirit Transformation," Shi Yi said hesitantly.
"What's the issue? You were invincible in the Heavenly Passage Realm, and now in the Spirit Transformation Realm, you surely outshine your peers. You're fully qualified to be a king."
The Stone Emperor clapped Shi Yi's shoulder, his praise practically written on his face.
"Your Majesty, let's stick to tradition—kingship at Formation Arrangement," Shi Yi urged.
Most would leap at the chance to be a king, but Shi Yi genuinely disliked drawing attention. Being crowned prematurely, before reaching the proper realm, would only invite trouble.
What trouble? Challengers, unwilling to accept his title, would come knocking. He'd slap them down, only for their elders to step in. Better to avoid the hassle altogether.
"Fine, if you're reluctant, so be it. Since you're here, chat with me a bit."
Seeing Shi Yi's resolve, the Stone Emperor didn't press further. He couldn't force a title on someone uninterested, but he could at least enjoy some conversation.
"What would Your Majesty like to discuss?" Shi Yi asked.
"Let's talk about your brother… Wait, didn't I summon him too?"
Mid-sentence, the Stone Emperor paused, realizing Shi Hao hadn't come. Had that troublemaker gone off to wreak havoc somewhere?
In the Stone Emperor's memory, Shi Hao had been a mischievous bear of a child, stirring up chaos in the capital. If not for his Martial King's Manor lineage, he'd have been strung up long ago.
"Little Brother's gone to train!" Shi Yi answered.
He knew that during his absence from the Stone Kingdom, Shi Hao and the Stone Emperor had been on good terms, with Shi Hao among the emperor's favored juniors.
But after the manor's elders perished at the jaws of Ya Zi and Bi'an, their interactions had dwindled.
"Training? Good! Training's good! A fledgling must learn to fly…"
The Stone Emperor seemed to recall something, trailing off as if hesitant to say more.
Noticing this, Shi Yi spoke up. "Your Majesty, if it's not too much trouble, I'd appreciate it if you could arrange for some people to discreetly watch over my brother. I need to stay at the Martial King's Manor to care for my mother and can't leave in the near term."
He understood that making reasonable requests could strengthen ties. Having just declined early kingship, asking for a small favor now was perfectly timed.
"Not a problem. That brother of yours is a magnet for trouble—a real bear of a kid. He definitely needs someone keeping an eye on him," the Stone Emperor agreed readily.
_
If you want to support me and read advanced 100+ chapters and also other stories: patreon.com/Caluem