Chapter 804: Chapter 804: Affection Without Impurities

The bell chimes clear and far-reaching, spreading through mountains and rivers!

Those were ripples, one after another, transformed by the Bell Wave, lingering and ringing, imbued with the power of time, accumulating the ancient brilliance.

Listening to that melodious bell sound, looking at Huo Ling’er in her coarse hemp clothes with tear stains, Shi Hao’s emotions also surged intensely, and he reached out to wipe away her tears.

Huo Ling’er’s eyes were bleary with tears, mixed with a smile and a tinge of sadness. To meet an old friend today felt like a fleeting dream, yet they had to part again right after their reunion.

The bell has tolled, and mountains and rivers have been shaken. This is the bell sound marking the beginning of the meeting of Hundred Rivers Converge to the Sea and the clash of geniuses. She knew that at this moment, the entire Three Thousand States must have been shaken.

“You will come back, won’t you?” Huo Ling’er asked softly, tears continuously streaming down her jade-like face, her eyes’ luster drowned in mist.

“Come back, I definitely will!” Shi Hao declared. They had just reunited, yet the battle bell had sounded, reminding all those aspiring to the Immortal Ancient path that the great war had begun.

“Why do you have to leave again?” Little Wolf complained, looking up, glancing at Huo Ling’er, then at Shi Hao, before biting onto Shi Hao’s trouser leg and saying, “Don’t go, Ling’er hasn’t been happy these past few years, always hoping you were alive.”

Warmth filled Shi Hao’s heart, but his nose also began to sting, looking at the once lively and passionate girl who now had become so tranquil, changed so much.

Huo Ling’er bowed her head, stroked Little Wolf’s head, and said, “Little Wolf, what nonsense are you talking about? Geniuses from all over the Three Thousand States are gathering; the reason is significant. This last chance of the era matters immensely, and Shi Hao must go.”

As she lowered her head, as she gently spoke to Little Wolf, crystal-clear drops unmistakably fell to her lapel, hitting the ground, her voice trembling slightly.

There was reluctance in her heart. Will they be able to meet again after this departure? Who could be sure? From now on, they might be separated for a long time, and time could change many things.

Shi Hao opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but… how could he begin, as he indeed desired to join the battle.

“You must be careful. No struggle for supremacy, no creation of fortune, compares to living life with ease. Don’t take reckless risks; protect yourself.” Huo Ling’er stopped him from speaking, saying so.

Shi Hao nodded silently, touched by her simple words, his nose and eyes growing sorer.

He stared blankly at Huo Ling’er, then towards the Yellow Earth Tomb, finding himself at a loss for words.

There was a woman, who stood alone in profound sorrow, silently waiting, gazing from afar.

So true, without a hint of selfish intent, so pure, devoid of impurities, like crystal-clear seawater, like transparent crystal, like warm jade, this was a simple kind of preciousness.

Shi Hao felt a string of his heart lightly trembling, a sensation different from the past, beyond being moved, it was the reluctance of parting and an indescribable flavor.

He used to be boisterous and wild, always shouting about shouldering a few of the most beautiful fatties back to Stone Village.

This fierce nature was more influenced by the uncles in Stone Village.

He had fought the “fatties”, planning to shoulder them back to Stone Village, and had intimately interacted with Fairies and pearls of imperial families, but never had any shaken his heart like this.

He did not know what the future held, but right now, he truly cared, this feeling making him feel ethereal.

Perhaps it was this pure waiting without impurities, the unadulterated reminiscing, and the silent caring, so selflessly flawless, that seemed most beautiful and moved him deeply.

Shi Hao was moved, body and soul, different from the past, not the attraction of looks, not the ploys of human desire, but a mere pure affection.

“How many fatties did you carry back to Stone Village?” Huo Ling’er looked up, wiped away the tears from her eyes, suddenly asking with a smile.

“One, two, three…” Shi Hao counted on his fingers as if seriously tallying them up.

“So many?!” Huo Ling’er playfully twisted his ear, her demeanor, though still teary, now carried a hint of her past vivacity and spirited charm.

“But in the end, they all ran away, still have to catch them.” Shi Hao said, laughing heartily.

“Heartless.” Little Wolf discontented, even barked a few times and vigorously tugged his trouser leg, surprising Shi Hao. Was this a wolf or a mastiff?

“You… just being alive is good.” Huo Ling’er whispered, their reunion here made her feel as if the world had brightened.

The Fire Mulberry Tree radiated a red glow, casting this place in a harmonious and peaceful light, giving a warm and comforting feeling.

Huo Ling’er’s smile, so pure, lit up with tears. Shi Hao was affected by looking at her, those big eyes full of Spiritual Energy, albeit blurred by mist since the beginning.

Shi Hao involuntarily opened his arms, giving Huo Ling’er a firm hug and whispered in her ear, “Thank you!”

Huo Ling’er did not speak. It was very peaceful here, beside them a Yellow Earth Tomb burying a youth’s battle attire, underfoot a grey Little Wolf, the two standing together, this place was tranquil.

This place was peaceful, so quiet that even the munching sound of fire silkworms biting mulberry leaves could be heard.

“Dong…”

The large bell sounded again, vibrating through mountains and rivers.

Clearly, at this moment, all the young Supremes of the Upper Realm’s Three Thousand States who aspired for unrivaled paths and sought to reach the pinnacle of glory had all looked up, their battle blood boiling!

“You should go.” Huo Ling’er whispered.

This tranquility was interrupted, Shi Hao was ultimately going to leave.

“No hurry, this is just the selection for those entering Immortal Ancient, there’s still time.” Shi Hao said, as he looked into those eyes, he felt that reluctance, that worry, that fear of loss.

Indeed, Huo Ling’er was very worried; she feared that once Shi Hao left, he might never be able to return.

In the ancient battle of geniuses across the Three Thousand States, who could say for certain that they would stand unsurpassed and emerge victorious?

Over the long years, too many strong contenders have been buried, some once hailed as the “foremost among men,” yet they still unfortunately fell.

Even among those ancient oddities who had once won the crown, including the Three-Crowned Kings and even the Four-Crowned Kings, upon their rebirth, they encountered formidable opponents and ultimately passed away.

Now, those who remain, those who are alive, those who have not emerged for many ages from their frozen crypts, are relatively few in number but they are the most peak beings, the most powerful!

Such oddities are absolutely the strongest and most stunning array of individuals since ancient times.

Shi Hao didn’t rush to leave. He stayed with Huo Ling’er and cleared a garden in front of the thatched cottage, planting two small Fire Mulberry Trees, and gathered a bunch of bright flowers to plant beneath the trees.

“When you return from the battle, it may have been many years, by then these two trees should be lush and verdant, and this garden filled with brilliant flowers and plants,” said Huo Ling’er.

This parting would likely last for many years; according to the conjectures of ancient supreme beings, entering the Immortal Ancient, one would need at least a year or two, or at most, hundreds or even thousands of years to return.

And this time, it is the last blooming of the Immortal Flower, the final opening of the “Immortal Ancient”; it could be different, and nobody can predict how.

“I hope everything goes well for you, and when you return, to see you with the same brilliant smile,” Shi Hao said.

He felt somewhat melancholic, having just reunited, only to immediately set off on another journey, with a slight fear in his heart.

Not for himself.

He simply hoped that when he returned, he would still be able to see Huo Ling’er; the most formidable thing in the world is the transformation of seas into mulberry fields, the greatest fear is that everything changes.

“As long as you are well,” Huo Ling’er looked at him.

“Don’t worry, I will stride forward triumphantly, ascending to the ultimate peak, to step onto the most brilliant summit of this era, and when I come to see you, truly detaching.”

Shi Hao was spirited, looking up at the high sky, his ambition as a youth was to reach the highest pinnacle of the divine dao, to fear no immortality, to stand proudly above the heavens and the earth, to see through all in this world.

“Willow Deity, I will catch up to your footsteps, to your world.” He clenched his fist, then turned back to look at Huo Ling’er, saying, “Wait for me to return, I’ll show you the splendor of the world.”

His youthfulness was vibrant, his gaze fiery, longing for the high heavens, to reign supreme among his peers, to become the strongest one.

“As time changes, the world dazzles, but much of it will eventually become illusory, as long as you are alive and come back, that’s what matters.” Huo Ling’er said with laughter tinged with a hint of sadness.

Shi Hao looked towards the ninth level of heaven, longing for the utmost path of strength, nodding his head, but with a firm tone, saying, “Okay!”

“After you come to the higher realms…” Shi Hao asked her.

The once princess of a nation, why is she now in coarse linen, personally washing clothes by the river? This made his heart slightly sour, what exactly had happened in these years?

“This is, after all, no longer the Lower Realm,” Huo Ling’er said.

A princess from the Lower Realm, upon coming to the higher realms, cannot possibly remain the center of attention, worshipped by everyone in the face of Celestial Gods and various experts.

It’s equivalent to starting from scratch, cutting off the glory of the past.

However, she and her father were indeed direct descendants of the Fire Nation’s imperial family in the higher realms, and they established an extraordinary situation in the Lower Realm, thus initially they were treated generously, and were granted estates and the like of the imperial family.

But as hundreds of Spiritual Medicines were transplanted, and began to transform, some into Divine Medicine, troubles arose.

With a dozen or so Divine Medicines growing together, who could remain indifferent? It was enough to stir envy in schools, entice covetous thoughts, and many set their sights on them.

The Fire Nation’s emperor was very decisive, a wise man; he immediately offered up the Divine Medicine, returning the estate to the higher realms’ Fire Nation, and then left with Huo Ling’er.

In the end, the father and daughter arrived here and began to live a simple and unadorned life.

“I have had all the glory and wealth in the world, I have experienced it all, this kind of simple and true living, I think it’s very good, very fulfilling,” said Huo Ling’er.

Shi Hao nodded, having experienced luxury, one can understand the simple truth of the mortal world, the most important thing is the state of mind.

“What about the Fire Nation’s emperor?” he asked.

“Father has gone traveling, it has been over a year since he came back,” Huo Ling’er showed a worried expression, then looked at Shi Hao, saying, “You… must come back.”

“The Fire Nation’s emperor is a man of great wisdom, there will be no trouble, he will return,” Shi Hao reassured, and then he made a solemn promise – he would definitely ascend to splendid glory, and he would come back.

He left behind the Liquid Thunder, after all, he had to set out on his journey.

“Goodbye, until we meet again!” Shi Hao turned around and strode away.

Until he was far away, when he looked back, he could still see a figure standing at the edge of the Fire Mulberry Forest, waving, with tears blurring her eyes.

“How many years will this departure take? A hundred years of ups and downs, or a thousand years…” Shi Hao did not know, his eyes also carried warm moisture, ultimately failing to hold back, sliding from his eyes.

“Take care, I will come back!” Shi Hao shouted loudly, and then he soared to the sky, disappearing at the edge of heaven and earth.

Emotional drama really isn’t my strongest area, this time I tried a light-handed portrayal, I wonder how it is. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to wuxiaworld.site to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly passes, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.wuxiaworld.site to read.)