Asura Emperor Venerable-Chapter 1531: Stone Essence

So persistent again.

Shi Hao couldn’t help but complain inwardly. Other Immortal Kings chasing him might at least have some reasons, but why you?

I haven’t killed your descendants or disciples, nor have I stolen any treasure you were guarding, so why are you chasing me?

Are you just too bored?

Yeah, in this wretched place, even an Immortal King would get bored. Is it that the moment a living creature appears, it gets so excited it can’t stop?

We could play around, but don’t just think about killing from the start, okay?

Boom!

Another stomp came over. This stone figure seemed to enjoy stepping on people, which made Shi Hao even more frustrated, wishing he had some world-shattering power to pulverize this guy with one punch.

Bah, you’re just a low-grade Immortal King, what’s there to boast about?

However, even the Heaven and Earth Wheel couldn’t deal with this guy. Shi Hao didn’t want to waste more time; he kept running, running, and running, looking for some kind of environment to shake this guy off.

But this place was too barren; despite searching for so long, Shi Hao still hadn’t found any useful environment and could only keep running.

Boom!

A loud thud suddenly sounded behind him.

Through his Little Star Universe, Shi Hao saw the ground behind him suddenly split open, and another stone figure appeared, but instead of attacking him, it slapped the original stone figure from behind.

Huh, fighting among themselves?

The stone figure behind didn’t intend to fight at all; it quickly came to a halt and turned to flee.

At this moment, the second stone figure revealed its full form, standing three hundred feet tall, with an even more astonishing aura.

A mid-grade Immortal King, probably five-star level.

It took off chasing, incredibly fast.

It was evidently lying in ambush to catch the first stone figure, and it timed its strike just right. Though the first stone figure had stopped abruptly and started to flee, it was too hasty and needed a buffer period, which the second stone figure captured in this instant. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Bang, bang, bang, the second stone figure erupted with impressive speed, and in just a few strides, it caught up with the first stone figure and opened its mouth to bite at it.

This opening was so huge, it seemed as if the sky itself had been torn open into a large mouth.

The first stone figure, knowing it couldn’t escape, quickly mustered its strength to counterattack.

This was a desperate counterattack, and in its massive eruption, its two legs and an arm detached from its body.

However, its last arm burst with powerful force, striking its opponent.

Yet, as the second stone figure closed its mouth, the first stone figure disappeared.

It was devoured alive.

The second stone figure stood motionless, but its belly was heaving, as if the first stone figure was still struggling inside it. But after a short while, the struggle subsided, and the body of the second stone figure visibly expanded, reaching a height of three hundred and fifty feet.

Its aura evidently grew stronger by a notch, though it hadn’t yet stepped into six-star territory, it was not far off.

Wow, no wonder these two stone figures were fighting internally; devouring each other was their way of enhancing themselves!

Shi Hao never stopped but still caught this scene from afar.

He grimaced. This place was truly bizarre, that Immortal Kings could enhance their realm in such a manner.

The second stone figure also looked towards Shi Hao, but it had no intention of chasing him. It immediately retracted its gaze and burrowed back underground, seemingly waiting for prey to appear again.

The ground restored its peace.

Shi Hao also came to a stop. He shook his head and muttered to himself, "Sigh, Old Stone, you chased me like that, and now you regret it, don’t you?"

While speaking, he looked around at his surroundings.

Previously being chased by the stone figure, he hadn’t had a good chance to observe.

This place should still be the territory of the stone figures, and such beings seemed to enhance themselves by devouring each other, so if there were any Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures here, they likely wouldn’t take much interest—Heaven grants them the ability to enhance themselves by devouring each other but surely takes away other means of enhancement; otherwise, it would be too favorable for them.

Shi Hao continued to move forward, unfolding his Little Star Universe, carefully searching.

However, the underground space remained a blind spot,

blocking off the Little Star Universe, preventing him from sensing it.

After another day’s journey, a small mound appeared ahead with a cave below it.

Huh?

Shi Hao hesitated, pondering whether to venture in and explore.

"Come on, what are you afraid of? Grandpa will have your back," the Purple Gold Rat boasted shamelessly.

"Oh yeah, how are you going to have my back?" Shi Hao scoffed.

"Grandpa is behind you, cheering you on," the Purple Gold Rat laughed.

Alright, knew you wouldn’t say anything good.

Shi Hao shook his head, ignoring the guy.

"Seriously, Little Stone, trust Grandpa’s instincts, there’s something good here!" The Purple Gold Rat said again, emphasizing its point.

"Why?" Shi Hao asked.

"Look, this little mound suddenly appeared here, isn’t it special?" The Purple Gold Rat explained.

This counts as a reason?

Shi Hao chuckled, but the Purple Gold Rat had never been wrong about treasure hunting, so it must have noticed something, just didn’t want to say.

Alright.

Shi Hao walked toward the cave. It wasn’t large, just half a person’s height, so Shi Hao shrank his form, allowing him to enter without stooping.

This cave was straightforward, without any branching paths.

Soon enough, Shi Hao reached the bottom.

"Huh, what’s this?" He saw a transparent crystal stone, about the size of a palm, emitting a faint life aura.

"This is the essence of those stone figures," the Purple Gold Rat explained, "but this stone essence hasn’t fully matured, so it’s just a stone. Once it’s soaked up enough of heaven and earth’s nourishment, it will absorb the Stone Elementals here, forming its body... to chase you."

Shi Hao rolled his eyes; he’d only been chased once, was it necessary to mock him so?

Stupid rat, don’t get carried away.

"You sure know a lot," Shi Hao eyed the rat, "Didn’t you say you lost your memory in the Forbidden Land?"

The Purple Gold Rat squeaked, "Seeing this stone, the gates of Grandpa’s memory suddenly opened, flooding back in."

Hmm, you keep pretending.

"Is this beneficial to us?" Shi Hao pointed to the transparent crystal stone and asked.

"Of course," the Purple Gold Rat nodded, "otherwise, would Grandpa let you come in? Eating it can greatly enhance your cultivation."

Shi Hao nodded. After being chased by the stone figures for so long, he finally had some payback.

Wait a minute, this rat had mentioned that although the inner area of the Forbidden Land had fewer Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, the quality of each was greatly enhanced.

So, just how valuable would this Stone Essence... be?