Chapter Forty-Three: The Annihilation of the Rain Clan, Shi Yi Appears

The figure shrouded in radiant light within the void exuded an infinite majesty, as if capable of suppressing the ages and collapsing the heavens themselves. It was none other than the Lord of the Martial King’s Manor, who in his youth, had once vied with the Human Emperor for the imperial throne, unmatched in his era.

“Fifteen, I am pleased you all could return today,” the Martial King said calmly, gazing at Shi Zhongtian, who had already ceased fighting.

“But I am deeply disappointed and furious,” Shi Zhongtian replied with equal composure.

“What happened back then occurred so suddenly. By the time I learned of it, it was already done. Could I, after losing a natural-born supreme in the Martial King’s Manor, then execute a natural-born prodigy?” the Martial King replied coldly.

“According to the rules of the manor, kin who kill kin must die without mercy. You know well the Martial King’s Manor is gravely ill and must be cured,” Shi Zhongtian’s words were chilling.

The Martial King fell silent for a long time before finally speaking: “The Martial King’s Manor cannot lose another divine double-pupil. If, as Martial King, I ask you to forgive Shi Yi’s line, would you agree?”

“No,” Shi Zhongtian said firmly, without hesitation.

Having reunited with his family and seeing his grandson Shi Hao gain a tremendous opportunity, Shi Zhongtian had once considered only killing Shi Yi and sparing the rest. But hearing the partiality in the Martial King’s words, fury surged in his heart; he was utterly disillusioned with the Manor.

“Fifteen, if these people are slain, the manor will be left desolate. Can you bear that?” the Martial King sighed.

“The great tree is already rotten; only by cutting out the decay completely can it flourish anew!” Shi Zhongtian insisted.

Just as anger began to rise in the Martial King’s heart, a voice sounded in his ear. The Martial King’s expression shifted as he looked toward Qin Hao, who was in Qin Yining’s arms, and then at Shi Hao, standing nearby, a trace of bitterness in his heart.

It was the Great Elder, who had quietly informed the Martial King of the situation between the two brothers, hoping the Martial King would not make a wrong judgment.

The members of Shi Zitong’s line, who had just breathed a sigh of relief at the Martial King’s reappearance after his long seclusion, suddenly sensed unease as the Martial King fell silent in contemplation.

The Martial King closed his eyes for a moment, and after a long pause, made his decision. Suddenly, his eyes opened, shining with a strange light, and his voice turned icy: “Are you really going to force my hand?”

Seeing the Martial King make his choice, the Great Elder stood up helplessly, joining the other elders at the Martial King’s side—for he was, after all, the true master of the manor, even if his choice was wrong.

Seeing that the Martial King still chose to favor Shi Yi’s line, Uncle Fifteen sighed and said, “You have grown muddled with age. I hope you won’t regret your decision.”

With that, he turned and left the field, saying to Shi Hao, “I cannot act against the Martial King’s Manor. What happens next, I leave to you.” He did not, as in the original course of events, battle the Martial King. Even though it would be easy for him now to slaughter the manor, he simply could not bring himself to do it—this place had once been his home.

When Uncle Fifteen spoke those words, fury erupted from the Martial King, the radiance around him dissipating to reveal the figure of a man in his early forties, far younger and more vigorous than his actual age, his vitality preserved by mystical arts. He stood in his prime, not yet withered.

“What did you say?” The Martial King’s gaze was cold as he looked at Uncle Fifteen, who was walking away.

Shi Hao stepped forward and said coolly, “My grandfather said you have grown muddled with age. If you do not wish to sit in that seat any longer, step down.”

Originally, Shi Hao had only wished to see his master, but with his master absent, he could no longer delay. He prepared to execute Shi Yi’s line directly. If the Martial King and the others tried to stop him, he would show no mercy; murderous intent surged within him.

Hearing Shi Hao’s words, the Martial King was enraged, his voice icy: “Your entire line will be captured and imprisoned in the clan’s dungeons for a hundred years’ repentance. As for those women...” His cold gaze swept over Huo Ling’er, Jin Ling, and the others. “Since they dared to come and cause trouble in the manor with you, their crime is unpardonable! Kill them!”

Struck by the Martial King’s tyrannical words, Shi Hao laughed in fury, no longer able to restrain his killing intent. Instantly, a deadly silence fell across heaven and earth; countless beings shivered under the weight of his wrath.

Seeing Shi Hao truly enraged, Shi Zhongtian and his son sighed inwardly, lamenting both the Martial King’s folly and the impending downfall of the manor—a flood of conflicting emotions.

“Aunt Jin, release them,” Shi Hao turned and said to Jin Ling. Ignoring the Martial King’s arrogance, Jin Ling nodded gently to Shi Hao and waved her sleeve. In an instant, hundreds of people appeared out of thin air.

Witnessing this, the Martial King’s household was visibly shaken, including the Martial King himself. None had ever seen such a divine ability, and unease arose in their hearts. The Great Elder recalled Shi Zhongtian’s words and sighed—feeling that the manor was about to suffer a great catastrophe.

“They’re from the Rain Clan!” someone cried, recognizing the newcomers.

Before coming to the Martial King’s Manor, Shi Hao and his companions had asked the Willow God to send them to the ancestral land of the Rain Clan, where they captured its remaining members—intending to settle the old score of Shi Hao’s persecution once and for all.

Now, before their eyes, the Rain Clan’s hundreds lay unconscious on the ground, including their chieftain. A paper talisman, torn to shreds, lay scattered over the Rain Clan chief, the fragments still flickering with light and chilling to behold. The Martial King’s pupils contracted: the Rain Clan’s sacred treasure, the Divine Decree.

Legend held the Rain Clan’s Divine Decree was left by a true deity—its power incalculable. Yet today, it had been torn to dust. The Martial King’s heart grew heavy.

Shi Hao spoke coldly: “Years ago, my father was driven from the manor by you all, and the Rain Clan hunted him relentlessly, persecuting Shi Hao in the second ancestral land for years. Today, the debt is settled. The Rain Clan shall be exterminated to atone for their crimes!”

Without waiting for a response, the Ape Demon beside him grinned menacingly, its beastly paw swelling to the size of a small hill, slamming down upon the Rain Clan with a thunderous crash.

With a deafening roar, the Rain Clan—once renowned in the Great Wilderness—was reduced to dust. Thus, the Rain Clan was utterly annihilated.

A collective gasp swept through the assembly, shock and dread in their eyes as they looked at Shi Hao—so ruthless!

The Martial King felt a trace of regret. Though the Rain Clan was weaker than the Martial King’s Manor, it was still a powerful clan, now exterminated so easily. It was clear Shi Hao’s side was not to be underestimated; the Martial King now doubted whether his decision had been right.

Shi Zitong was seething with rage, for the Rain Clan was his in-law. That they had been destroyed filled him with fury.

Just as the two sides were about to erupt into battle, an angry young voice sounded from the sky: “Grandfather...!”

Everyone looked up to see a colossal spider’s shadow blotting out the heavens, before which stood two figures: an old man and a youth whose double-pupiled eyes radiated mysterious runes. They stood glaring angrily at the scene below—it was Shi Yi and the Spider Sovereign from the Spirit Lake.

Shi Yi had been cultivating with his master at Spirit Lake, but plagued by unease, he had asked the Spider Sovereign to let him return home. Seeing his disciple’s slow progress, the Spider Sovereign agreed and personally escorted him back, only to arrive at the Martial King’s Manor in time to witness the Rain Clan’s extermination. The proud Shi Yi was furious.

Seeing the Spider Sovereign arrive with Shi Yi, the Martial King felt somewhat reassured. The Spider Sovereign had reached the Divine Fire realm and was now a mighty being; with him as an ally, the Martial King was confident—even if the other side had powerful figures, he believed he and the Spider Sovereign together would prevail. Instantly, his power surged, runes swirling about him, and myriad fierce beasts—gluttonous fiends and auspicious beasts—manifested in vision, circling him, ready to strike at any moment.

“Ah, so everyone is finally here?” A soft sigh drifted across heaven and earth.

“Master!” Shi Hao cried out in joy, tears streaming down his face.