A Message Across the Ages

No one could become a king in a single step. Though Xiao Chen had encountered many opportunities, it took him three full civilization cycles to see the light of day again, his strength reaching the Stone King realm.

But he was vastly different from a true Stone King—he possessed a body of living flesh and blood, not cold, dead stone.

This did not mean he had abandoned the Stone Man path to ascend solely as an Upper Ancestral God. In truth, he had condensed a miniature divine city and sealed himself in a stone prison, meditating in stillness for three civilization cycles. The hardships and ordeals he endured were no fewer than those of any Stone King.

Xiao Chen's physical body was in no way inferior to a Stone King's; indeed, it surpassed them. That vibrant, living flesh brimmed with unparalleled vitality.

Only those who had reached the same realm could sense how terrifying his blood truly was—like a mortal standing before the seething magma deep within the earth.

Yes, he was as powerful as a Stone King, yet he had miraculously preserved a body of flesh and blood. Without a doubt, the blood within him was itself a fearsome weapon!

Xiao Chen continuously tore through the barriers between worlds, searching for his path home, and eventually returned to the Nine Provinces.

Three civilization cycles had passed. On the mortal lands, the rise and fall of civilizations ebbed and flowed like the tides—soaring to the heavens and plummeting to the depths, thriving and nearly perishing several times over.

Now, the races were many, with divine and techno-logical civilizations coexisting, but they could not compare to the glories of old.

The stars and moon were dim, the night wind blew gently. Though the mountains and rivers had changed, they were still recognizable.

But the people of yesteryear were long gone. After three civilization cycles, all traces of the past had been erased, washed clean by the grinding mill of time.

Xiao Chen stood atop a skyscraper, gazing into the distance as the city gradually fell silent in the dead of night.

Thousands of miles away, another city of meditation and magic still saw cultivators flying across the sky. Divine civilization and technological civilization intermingled—a strange sensation for him.

In the end, Xiao Chen sighed. The past was gone like the wind. How many old friends could he still meet after this endless span of years?

Three civilization cycles—easy to say, but it was an immeasurable river of time. In those long ages, seas changed to mulberry fields, stars fell, and even whole worlds collapsed, let alone the fate of a few insignificant lives.

With a thought, Xiao Chen arrived at the site of the ancient Primordial Village in Yongzhou. He opened his palm, and a purple jade bracelet materialized, causing the void to twist as a faint, blurry image of the ancient village appeared.

Xiao Chen stepped forward into the ephemeral Ancestral Dragon Village. To his astonishment, three enormous stone cities stood side by side outside the village.

"Three ancient cities, all with life essence—their energy has not dried up."

Xiao Chen nodded. The Black Dragon King, the Red Dragon King, and the Inverse Dragon King had all undergone nirvana and embarked on the path of the Stone King. After three civilization cycles, if they had not perished, they should be emerging soon.

Suddenly, Xiao Chen sensed an unusual aura coming from within the ancient village.

This Primordial Village was extraordinary. Only now, having reached the Stone King realm, did Xiao Chen truly understand why the Ancestral Dragon had chosen this place.

The village was steeped in the aura of primordial antiquity, flowing with a mysterious and mighty force! It seemed to be out of place with the outside world—as if everything else was illusory, and only this village was real.

In a flash, he thought of the Sole True Realm. Could this village have been transplanted from that world?

This was entirely a sudden intuition, a flash of insight.

Only now, at this moment, did Xiao Chen truly realize that the village's origin might surpass imagination.

"Mmmpf... Mmmpf..."

Just then, the sound of a baby smacking its lips came from nearby. A little monk, no more than three or four years old, was sleepwalking in the village, smacking his lips.

Xiao Chen was stunned. This…

Suddenly, he felt the little monk looked familiar. Distant memories surfaced—wasn't this the child of Baldy Number Two and Miao Chi?

No mistake. The little monk wore a long-life lock around his neck, and on it hung a glittering relic—the relic left by Yizhen.

Xiao Chen strode over, picked up the little monk, and shook him gently. But the little bald head, though sleepwalking, was difficult to wake.

Carrying him, Xiao Chen searched the ancient village. Soon, he found two more people: two seven- or eight-year-old girls, looking completely unfazed, tangled together in deep sleep.

Seeing them, Xiao Chen was a bit dizzy. They were the Yellow Emperor's young daughters, Linglong and Tutu! Three civilization cycles had passed, and these two little ones had not changed at all, still looking as young and innocent as ever.

In fact, after such a long age, they could well be called "antique lolis." And the little monk in his arms should also be an ancient monster.

How had they entered the village? Xiao Chen hadn't noticed them last time.

Without waking the three little ones, Xiao Chen directly searched their consciousness. In the end, he learned that during the persecution by the Otherworld, some people had survived and had been saved by Yan Huang.

Because the three were far too young, Yan Huang had sent them into the ancient village through the Heaven-Reaching Death Bridge to sleep here.

From their memories, Xiao Chen was delighted to discover that many more had survived: Chu Xingkuang, Jue Dao, Samo, Yao Yao, Zhao Zhongyang, Xuewu, Meng Shichan, Cang Hai, and others—all saved by Yan Huang.

Unfortunately, the little monk's parents, Bo Shi and Miao Chi, had both died in battle. But they had been buried together as husband and wife, sharing the same fate.

This was unexpected news. Xiao Chen finally learned that not everyone had perished back then. This was a silver lining in the midst of tragedy.

Afterward, Xiao Chen returned home to see his parents, then turned and left the Ancestral Dragon Village. He did not take the three little ones with him. In the coming age of war and turmoil, perhaps sleeping was the best choice for them.

The Sole True Realm—Xiao Chen was no stranger to that name. Three civilization cycles ago, even though he had been sealed inside the Seventh Heavenly Stele, he had still heard the roars of the Otherworld Ancestral Gods.

"If the Primordial Village really is connected to that world… perhaps it will come into play in the near future."

In the Celestial Realm, three civilization cycles had passed. Some Stone Kings had fallen and vanished forever, but many new Stone Kings had been born.

Yes, now the Celestial Realm was teeming with powerhouses. The strongest from all the heavens and myriad worlds had gathered here. All for the Three Sovereigns Mirror, for the Five Emperor Tower, and to witness the grand age of surging clouds. The reclusive experts of every realm had all converged.

Zifeng City in the eastern region of the Celestial Realm was a famous ancient city, immortal through several civilization cycles. Legend said it was a divine city left behind by a Stone King of yore.

As one of the Celestial Realm's rare famous cities, it was not only a place for powerful cultivators to trade, but occasionally Stone Kings themselves would come here to exchange for what they needed. The items they traded at such a level were naturally extraordinary. Each time, it became a grand event.

Thus, many younger cultivators flocked here, hoping to encounter a senior king—if they could receive guidance or be taken as a disciple, it could change their entire fate.

In Zifeng City, the Sunset Tower glittered. Legend had it that a great cultivator of the past had condensed it from the glow of evening clouds. From afar, it looked as if a sunset was suspended there.

This ancient tower, whether on a clear or rainy day, was perpetually shrouded in twilight glow. Many cultivators admired it, and countless visitors came specifically to see it.

Hence, the Sunset Tower's business was thriving. Every day, a great number of cultivators gathered here for various trades—spiritual treasures and divine medicines were all rare and precious. It was one of Zifeng City's major trading hubs.

Xiao Chen had torn through the barriers of the great world and appeared in this region. He had heard many rumors about Zifeng City—that one could trade any item of value, and even exchange for a Stone King's body.

Word had even spread that someone was offering a reward for information on the Three Sovereigns Mirror and the Five Emperor Tower. This made Zifeng City even more attention-grabbing.

Soon, Xiao Chen entered this majestic city and arrived at the Sunset Tower. Indeed, it was wreathed in twilight glow even at night.

The night market was the most lively; the real trading had only just begun. Many treasures were exchanged during this time.

Although the Sunset Tower only had three floors, each floor was obviously an independent space, refined by a great power, and could easily hold tens of thousands of cultivators.

Xiao Chen walked aimlessly through the trading hall. The weapons beneath the Stone King level did not interest him at all.

Soon, a few people caught his eye. A little fat boy with white hair, his eyes full of cunning; one look told you he was no easy mark. A golden-haired youth, smiling brightly but somehow looking lecherous. Another youth with a stern expression and fiery red hair that danced like flames; his true form was a phoenix.

Xiao Chen stared at them. He felt an oddly familiar aura from these three—the techniques they cultivated seemed to originate from old acquaintances of his.

Suddenly, a chilling aura surged forward, enveloping the three.

From the opposite direction came another group, all of impressive bearing. Behind them followed several women, each beautiful and elegant.

"Zixiao Wang's descendant's descendant's descendant…" The white-haired little fat boy was undaunted, addressing them that way, deliberately taking a long breath to make it sound like an insult. "…descendant's descendant, what do you want?"

One of them, a descendant of Zixiao Wang, said coldly: "Fatty Zhuge, last time in the trade you dared to cheat me—this time you're not getting away!"

"Fair trade, all voluntary. What were you doing at the time? You come looking for me afterwards and say it was my fault? You swapped the items yourself!" The white-haired little fat boy retorted confidently.

Xiao Chen's heart stirred. He suddenly remembered what kind of technique this was. Could this little fat boy be a descendant of that old Fatty Zhuge? Apart from the technique's energy, even his appearance and demeanor were similar.

"Fair trade? Fine, then today we'll continue trading. I'll use these three pieces of profound gold true iron to exchange for the Nine Yang Divine Saber in your hand." Zixiao Wang's descendant threw three pieces of black iron onto the trading table.

"Who are you trying to fool? Is that what profound gold true iron looks like? Aren't these just three pieces of scrap?"

The golden-haired youth beside the little fat boy laughed obscenely. "Come, come, I'll give you a thousand pieces of 'profound gold true iron' just like that—buy all the women behind you."

The beautiful women behind changed color, their eyes sweeping over like swords.

"To hell with you!" At that moment, a gaunt man beside Zixiao Wang's descendant spoke through gritted teeth.

The golden-haired youth smiled brilliantly, but it made people want to punch him. "You're Stone Corpse's descendant's descendant's descendant, right? Your junior sister genuinely likes me. What can I do? You're ugly and I'm handsome. Half a month ago, she already married me. Soon, she'll be adding a new member to my Sun clan."

"You're asking for death!" The gaunt youth flew into a rage.

Xiao Chen was taken aback. This golden-haired youth reminded him of Toti from long ago. The techniques were identical, the bloodline the same. He should be a descendant of that unlucky fellow Toti, who was sold many times by Jin Sanyi.

Indeed, the world changes—even their descendants had grown up. After three civilization cycles, if Fatty Zhuge and Toti were still alive, they could have become ancestors and founders of lineages.

"Don't think you can leave this time!" Zixiao Wang's descendant sneered coldly. "Last time, the Golden Holy King Xinren saved you. Who can you count on as your backing this time? Your ancestors? Hmph! If you don't become a Stone King, you're ultimately nothing but dirt."

Only then did the little fat boy change color. "Are you Zixiao's lineage declaring war?"

The golden-haired youth's expression turned serious, and he looked at the beauties behind the opposite group. "The Otherworld!"

"You finally see it." Stone Corpse's descendant laughed coldly. "Squabbles among us younger generation—even if a few hundred die, it doesn't matter. Today we're here to eliminate you. I'm sure your ancestors will have nothing to say."

"Right, there's no Stone King war here. Killing ants like you, no one will say a thing." The group directly surrounded them.

Xiao Chen watched this with interest. It was originally a matter among the younger generation, and he had not intended to interfere. But sensing that Zixiao Palace was not far from here, and that the Otherworld, Zixiao Palace, and Stone Corpse's people had allied, he decided to use this opportunity to send a message.

"Smash!"

At that moment, the white-haired little fat boy's hand involuntarily lifted and slapped forward. Zixiao Wang's descendant and Stone Corpse's junior instantly turned to meat paste, their souls destroyed. The scene was horrifying.

"Aah! That wasn't me!" the little fat boy screamed, but his hand raised up, pressing left and right.

"Puff, puff, puff!"

Another three men on the spot turned into blood mist.

"I really didn't kill them…" The little fat boy looked incredulous, shaking his hand hard.

But the people across from him looked as if they had seen a ghost, backing away.

"Thud!"

Another dull sound, a woman's body split and shattered.

"A beautiful woman! I truly didn't kill you…" the little fat boy cried out in pain.

"Freak! Ghost!" The men and women on the opposite side screamed and fled in all directions.

"I didn't kill anyone…"

"Puff, puff, puff!"

With a pained and innocent look, the little fat boy saw several more women die by his hand.

In the end, only a woman from the Otherworld escaped, while all the rest died unnatural deaths.

The golden-haired youth and the phoenix youth also looked as though they had seen a ghost. "Fatty, did you practice some family heirloom God of Food technique and find a Stone King corpse to eat? Otherwise, how did you suddenly get so strong?"

"Hell if I know! Let's get out of here!"

Hearing this, the other two also changed color and rushed out of the Sunset Tower, fleeing toward the outskirts of Zifeng City.

"Where do you think you're going? Killing people in my Sunset Tower and still trying to escape?" A middle-aged man descended from the sky, blocking their way.

Behind him, a crowd of cultivators gathered to watch the excitement.

"Bang!"

The little fat boy's hand rose again, and the middle-aged man who blocked their path instantly shattered.

"Damn! This Sunset Tower really does belong to Zixiao Palace," the golden-haired youth cursed. Now they couldn't care less about investigating the little fat boy's freakish hand—survival was the priority.

"Hmph, killing my clan's disciples and still trying to run?" An old man flew over from afar.

The many cultivators near the Sunset Tower were shocked. "This is Zixiao Wang's eighteenth generation descendant! Such a powerhouse has been alerted. These three brats are dead for sure."

"Old man, I really didn't kill those people. Do you think I have such divine power?" The little fat boy looked as if he was about to cry. Faced with such a powerful figure, they had no hope of surviving—they were far outmatched.

"Less talk, more dying!" The old man descended, reaching out with five fingers to grab them.

"It really wasn't me…" The little fat boy wailed. As he screamed, his right hand once again lifted uncontrollably and pressed forward.

"Puff!"

To everyone's astonishment, the old man instantly turned into blood mist, his body and soul completely destroyed.

"This little fatty is too terrifying. He keeps saying it wasn't him, but then he kills even Zixiao Wang's eighteenth generation descendant with a single slap."

"I say, he's playing the fool and eating the tiger. This is a real ruthless character. This little fat guy is going to be a legendary powerhouse—no, he already is one, crashingly so."

Ignoring the gossip, the little fat boy and his two companions fled for their lives. But no matter how fast their legs moved, their bodies stayed in the same place—they didn't advance an inch.

"Too arrogant! These three clearly don't intend to escape. Look at their dramatic act—could they be planning to challenge Zixiao Wang's entire clan?"

The onlookers buzzed with discussion.

A purple aura rose from the east. Powerful gales rolled across the horizon, pressing down over Zifeng City.

True experts from Zixiao Palace had arrived! It was well known that Stone Kings occasionally appeared in Zifeng City, so no one dared act recklessly here.

To make such a grand entrance, it had to be a direct descendant of Zixiao Palace, and one favored by Zixiao Wang himself.

"It's him! Zixiao Wang's thirteenth generation descendant! The one they call the Little Zixiao!"

"It's over for the white-haired little fatty this time. He's going to die without a burial place."

Many cultivators murmured.

"How dare you kill my clan's direct descendant here?! No matter who you are, even if you're from the Heaven-Defying Clan, I'll kill you without mercy!"

The purple aura swelled, overwhelming the sky. A tall figure dove down.

"I really didn't kill them…" The little fat boy screamed again.

"Puff!"

Blood sprayed. Once again, something happened that left everyone dumbfounded. Zixiao Wang's thirteenth generation descendant was slapped like a fly by the little fat boy's hand, crushed into a meat patty. His corpse fell, then completely disintegrated.

At that moment, everyone fell silent. This white-haired little fatty was too bizarre. Even such a figure was easily slain, making everyone feel a deep terror.

"Clang, clang!"

A divine bell tolled from within the Sunset Tower, its sound echoing tens of thousands of miles, sending a message to the clan.

"Who dares strike the bell?!" In an instant, strong experts arrived. They quickly understood the situation.

At the same time, the woman from the Otherworld who had fled reached Zixiao Palace and spread the news. Many experts flew over, including Otherworld powerhouses.

"I really didn't kill them…"

Hearing the little fatty's words, everyone tensed up. It had practically become his trademark phrase. Every time he said it, the next thing you knew, he'd slap someone to death.

And sure enough, this time was no exception. The expert in the sky instantly exploded.

"I say, my hand is cursed!" The little fat boy was on the verge of tears. "Stop messing with me! At this rate, no one will be able to save me."

The distant onlookers were all indignant. What a poser! Just as they thought this, nine figures shot over in quick succession, purple mist thick in the air.

"I don't want to kill anyone…"

"Puff… puff…"

With the little fatty's voice, nine figures in the sky shattered. These nine experts were all tenth generation descendants—their status was not ordinary.

But this time, the spectators were no longer shocked; they even felt it was only natural. They had become numb. This little fatty was too freakish!

"Hmph!"

A heavy snort rang out from the sky. A Stone Man appeared. Though not a fully realized Stone King, just possessing a stone body was enough to intimidate the entire city.

"Zixiao Palace's seventh generation powerhouse has arrived!" A true master!

"Wuwu… I don't want to kill anyone. It really wasn't me…"

The Stone Man in the sky ignored all that, diving down with murderous intent.

"Bang!"

But what shook everyone was that the Stone Man split into five pieces and fell. Just like before, he was crushed by a slap from the little fatty.

Body and soul annihilated! This time, the crowd erupted. Who in the world was this fatty? Was he going to wipe out Zixiao Wang's entire lineage here and now?

At this very moment, inside Zixiao Palace, the Otherworld Stone King Lang Ya was speaking with Zixiao Wang. "Someone has sealed off the aura of Zifeng City. Could there be something wrong there? I'll go have a look."

Zixiao Wang frowned. "Something's not right. It seems extraordinary. You go first. I'll follow shortly." He closed his eyes and continued refining a supreme treasure in his hands.

Wolf Fang soared into the sky, flew out of Zixiao Palace, and soon arrived. As he entered, he immediately felt something amiss, but he couldn't put his finger on what it was.

In an instant, he saw the scattered stone fragments of a stone body turning to ash in the wind. His eyes narrowed. "Which friend is here?"

"I'm crying… it has nothing to do with me!" The little fat boy's feet scrambled on the ground, trying to flee, but he couldn't move.

"Then it's you!" Wolf Fang's eyes shot out two cold beams.

"No, it really wasn't me…"

At these words, the expressions of the surrounding crowd turned quite interesting.

"Bang!"

Unexpectedly, this time was no exception. Wolf Fang was sent flying by that chubby palm, his body cracking.

However, Wolf Fang was not completely annihilated. He instantly re-formed his body, spat out a mouthful of blood, and roared: "Who is it?!"