Chapter 195: Qin Hao, Seeking to Wash Away Shame, Returns to the Stone Kingdom

Mengchen and the others avoided the other living beings within the Primordial Treasure Realm and arrived at a hilly area.

On the way to this hilly area, Mengchen and Shi Hao exchanged words; both of them were headed to the Huangyu next.

Shi Hao was going to return to the Stone Kingdom, while Mengchen was going to the Butian Sect to seek revenge.

Since their goals were aligned, the two planned to travel together, but before that, they wanted to wait for Liu Shen, the Vajra Pestle, and the Small Tower, who had gone deep into the Primordial Treasure Realm.

Therefore, Mengchen and Shi Hao decided to wait in this hilly area while also planning to cultivate peacefully for a while.

Not long after, the Small Tower appeared; it suddenly tore through space to arrive, shrouded in hazy chaotic Qi and radiating precious light.

However, Liu Shen and the Vajra Pestle did not show themselves for a long time...

"Senior Small Tower, why didn't my Gangzi come back with you?" Mengchen felt a sense of loss; after waiting for a while and still not seeing Gangzi appear, he couldn't help but ask the Small Tower.

What Mengchen asked was also what Shi Hao was thinking; he also very much wanted to know why Liu Shen had not returned with them.

"It went to the deepest part with Liu Shen to pursue a Dao Gate and won't be able to return for a while. Because my strength has not yet recovered, I couldn't continue following them, so I returned early. However, you don't need to worry; they are powerful and will be fine," the Small Tower responded indifferently.

"Oh!" Mengchen nodded as if he understood, feeling empty inside. The Vajra Pestle had been by his side ever since the Xuantian Mijing, and its sudden absence made him miss it very much.

"What happened to you outside? I previously sensed an inexplicable chaotic aura erupting on the periphery," the Small Tower asked Shi Hao.

With a face full of regret, Shi Hao detailed the incident regarding the Sun God Tree he had encountered.

As a result, when the Small Tower finished listening, it immediately felt deep regret, rolling on the ground and wailing incessantly.

Everyone who saw this was shocked...

"Uh... such a powerful chaotic artifact, yet it's wailing here so heartbreakingly without any integrity; isn't this too lacking in self-restraint!" Seeing this, Mengchen immediately whispered in disdain.

But how could his voice escape the perception of an existence like the Small Tower? So, as soon as these words left his mouth, the Small Tower immediately flew right in front of him and said with a threatening tone: "Kid, who are you saying has no integrity? Who is lacking in self-restraint?"

"Uh..." Mengchen was instantly speechless; this hearing was too sharp!

"Forget it, for the sake of me promising the Vajra Pestle to look after you, this seat won't haggle with you," the Small Tower said, deflated, very quickly.

Yet at this moment, Shi Hao was also curling his lips, full of disdain.

"Even you, kid..." the Small Tower was indignant.

"Hahaha..." Shi Hao laughed a few times at this, and then he said to the Small Tower: "Small Tower, where are my parents? Hurry and release them so I can see them."

The Small Tower shone and took action, crystalline radiance scattering, "Aren't they right there?"

Following that, a man, a woman, and a youth—three figures appeared at this spot.

"Father, Mother! Brother!" Shi Hao shouted and rushed over.

"Child!" The man and woman were pleasantly surprised.

Mengchen was astonished upon hearing this; those were actually Shi Hao's parents and brother, but that youth gave him a sense of familiarity.

Through some careful thought, he recalled that this was the genius from Mount Bulao he had encountered back in the Xuantian Mijing, Qin Hao! "Qin Hao is Shi Hao's brother!?" Thinking of this, Mengchen was immediately amazed.

It could be seen that Shi Hao was very happy at this moment, reunited with his parents and feeling the warmth of family affection.

However, Qin Hao stood to the side, saying nothing, appearing quite cold; he just remained silent and did not utter a single word.

Since they were friends, when facing a friend's parents, one should naturally go up and pay respects.

Thus, Mengchen walked forward and, with a sincere smile, greeted Shi Hao's parents: "Uncle, Aunt, hello! My name is Mengchen, and I am a good friend who has experienced life and death together with Shi Hao."

Shi Hao's parents looked at Shi Hao, and after confirming through Shi Hao's gaze, his mother stepped forward and said with an affectionate tone: "Good! Good! Good child, there is no need for so much courtesy."

"It's you! It's actually you!" At this moment, Qin Hao, who had been standing to the side, stubborn and silent, suddenly spoke.

His eyes stared coldly at Mengchen, as if he were about to strike.

Shi Hao's parents and Shi Hao looked at Qin Hao in surprise, and Shi Hao asked in confusion: "Brother! What is wrong with you? Do you know Brother Mengchen?"

"Hmph! Don't call me brother! This person severely injured me back in the Xuantian Mijing; today I will wash away the shame and take it back." Qin Hao pushed aside the concerned Shi Hao, gripped a long spear in his hand, and was already attacking Mengchen.

"Boom..."

Mengchen stood motionless, eleven Cave Heavens radiating brilliance, imprisoning the charging Qin Hao, and whispered: "Brother Qin Hao, back in the Xuantian Mijing, you and I were in a competitive relationship; it should be normal for us to fight each other. Now that I know you are Brother Shi Hao's brother, let's just say we didn't know each other before the fight! Why must you be so hostile?"

"My skills were inferior back then; now I want to have a desperate battle with you!" Qin Hao shouted.

From the conversation, Shi Hao and his parents also understood the general reason; injuring a competitor could only be said to be due to inferior skills.

Furthermore, it was only an injury and didn't cause any irreversible situation; plus, given the current relationship between Mengchen and him (and Hao'er), Shi Hao and his parents felt that there was no need to let the relationship between them develop for the worse.

So Shi Hao walked up and said: "Brother, stop! Older brother is also no match for Brother Mengchen; you should just cultivate well! It won't be too late to spar with Brother Mengchen after your cultivation is successful."

Shi Hao's parents clearly agreed with his words, so they watched quietly from the side, leaving it to the children to handle it themselves.

"Don't call me brother; just because you are no match for him doesn't mean I am not his match." Qin Hao turned his head and scolded Shi Hao.

"Slap..." Shi Hao's father stepped forward and slapped Qin Hao on the face, reprimanding: "You are too outrageous! How can you speak to your older brother like this again and again."

"Father, don't be like this; brother is still young, he will understand when he grows up." Shi Hao tried to persuade him, then asked Qin Hao: "Brother, do you really want to fight Brother Mengchen today!"

"Yes! We must fight." Qin Hao said sternly. "Fine! Older brother will fulfill your wish." Shi Hao said, then he looked at Mengchen and said: "Brother Mengchen, since my brother wants to fight you, please fulfill his wish! But please show mercy later, Brother Mengchen."

"Fine!" Mengchen replied.

After saying this, he withdrew the power of imprisonment. Qin Hao regained his freedom and said to Shi Hao in a huff: "Who wants him to show mercy! Don't you meddle in other people's business."

Subsequently, he looked at Mengchen with fierce eyes and said in a deep voice: "Come and fight!"

"Swish!"

Qin Hao gripped his long spear, and a point of cold light thrust out.

Mengchen stood motionless, raising his hand to channel the Undying Scripture Runes to condense at his fingertips, making his palm radiate dazzling reddish-gold divine light.

"Clang..."

The thrusting spear blade was caught between Mengchen's fingertips, emitting a crisp sound.

Seeing this, Qin Hao was shocked, channeling Divine Power to try and pull back the long spear in his hand, only to find it difficult to break free.

Seeing this, Shi Hao spoke up again to persuade: "Brother! Stop!"

Shi Hao's parents were greatly shocked to see this; this youth was actually able to control Hao'er while standing perfectly still; this strength was truly too astonishing.

"No, we haven't decided the winner yet." Qin Hao shouted, and immediately his Divine Power surged; since he couldn't pull away, he would fight with all his might.

His Divine Power surged violently, his entire body becoming brilliant as he concentrated it at the tip of the long spear in his hands, attempting to forcefully break through the obstruction before him.

With a flick of his finger, Mengchen sent Qin Hao reeling backward, the Divine Power he had surged instantly scattered.

Even so, Qin Hao still refused to admit defeat, once again inciting his Divine Power to attack.

"Sanfo Bashi!"

Mengchen stood firm, his palms pressed together, causing a precious light to emerge that made his skin appear as if it had turned the color of gold; he had thoroughly transformed into a Golden Body battle Buddha, with brilliant divine radiance blooming and an aura of supreme holiness permeating the air.

The next second, his eyes suddenly opened wide, his gaze brilliant and radiant; the charging Qin Hao now appeared full of flaws in his eyes, and with that, he shifted his body slightly, then struck out with a palm, hitting Qin Hao in the chest and sending him flying back several meters.

Out of consideration for Shi Hao, he did not deliver a heavy blow; otherwise, this single palm strike alone would have been enough to take Qin Hao's life.

However, the Qin Hao who had been sent flying flashed forward to attack again, shouting, "Fight again! I don't believe I can't beat you."

The result remained the same; at this moment, in Mengchen's pair of golden pupils, this Qin Hao was full of flaws, and he was once again struck in the chest by a palm and sent flying; this time, he still did not use heavy force.

Afterward, Qin Hao attacked repeatedly, but the result was always being knocked away; yet Mengchen stood there, having almost never taken a single step, merely shifting his body slightly when he struck.

"Enough!" Shi Hao's father stepped out and scolded Qin Hao, "Hao'er, do you still not understand? You are simply no match for him. If it were not for the sake of your brother, you would have already died a thousand times over. Do you intend to continue this nonsense and exhaust your brother's friendship before you are willing to stop?!"

"Hao'er, you are truly too insensible. You keep saying you do not recognize your brother, but if it were not for your brother right now, how would you have the opportunity to be so presumptuous?" Shi Hao's mother also walked forward and lectured Qin Hao.

Rebuked, Qin Hao, though appearing unwilling to admit defeat, put away the long spear in his hands, his heart finally understanding the gap between them.

"Uncle, Aunt, it is no matter. Qin Hao's refusal to admit defeat is actually quite admirable; with this character, he will definitely be able to go much further on the path of cultivation in the future," Mengchen said to the two, retracting his aura upon seeing this.

"Child! Thank you for holding back time and again, sparing my son from physical suffering," Shi Hao's mother said to Mengchen with a smile.

"Brother Mengchen, thank you for your trouble," Shi Hao then said, cupping his hands.

"It is nothing! It is nothing!" Mengchen said with a smile on his face.

Shi Hao nodded to Mengchen to signal his acknowledgment, then stopped speaking and went to his parents' side to comfort and encourage Qin Hao.

A moment later, Shi Hao looked at his parents and younger brother and said, "Father, Mother, Brother! Let us go! It is time to leave this place."

"Mm! Good!" Shi Hao's parents nodded.

Then, Shi Hao looked at Mengchen and called out, "Brother Mengchen, let us set off now! To Huangyu!"

"Good!" Mengchen replied.

After half a month, Mengchen, Shi Hao, and the others arrived in Huangyu.

The destination was not unfamiliar to Mengchen; it was the Imperial Palace of the Stone Kingdom, where he had come before in response to the Stone Emperor's invitation.

"Respectfully welcome His Majesty's return!"

After they appeared, rows of guards in the Imperial Palace knelt on one knee in perfect unison, their voices magnificent and stirring.

"Good! Everyone rise!" Shi Hao stepped forward, facing the crowd of guards, and raised his hands to gesture for them to stand.

As the words fell, the guards all rose, but what followed was the shock of Mengchen, as well as Shi Hao's parents and everyone else.

"Child! You... you actually became the Emperor of the Stone Kingdom!" Shi Hao's parents could hardly believe it.

"I truly did not expect this! Brother Shi Hao, congratulations," Mengchen said as if cupping his hands in salute.

"Entrusted by the Stone Emperor, for the safety of all the people in the country, I had to take on this heavy responsibility!" Shi Hao responded to everyone, as if a weight of ten thousand jin were pressing upon him.

The meaning behind Shi Hao's words was understood by Mengchen and the others, as well as Shi Hao's parents; this sentence represented how great a responsibility it was.

To shoulder the safety of the entire nation's people with one's own body—this great decision truly made Mengchen feel admiration and respect.

(End of chapter)