Elder Shi Po’s body froze in place.

A longsword pierced through his back.

The sword’s tip was aimed right at his heart, and Yu Shaoqing was standing behind him, both hands gripping the sword, his body leaning slightly forward with his right leg stepped half a step ahead.

His long black hair floated without wind.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment.

This sword pierced not only Elder Shi Po’s heart, but also the heart of the flaming giant behind him.

“You…” Elder Shi Po turned his head with difficulty.

He had just spoken one word before his body fell heavily to the ground.

“Elder Shi Po!” someone from the Stone Race cried out in grief.

“Let’s fight them to the death!”

“Yes, fight! If this continues, our Stone Race will be finished sooner or later. What’s the difference between us and the livestock they raise? One killed every day!”

Some could no longer bear the collapse, clutching their heads and crying.

Every battle, every spark of hope, was crushed again and again.

“Everyone go back,” Shi Shaoshuo looked at his clansmen, closed his eyes in silence for a long moment, then finally took a deep breath and spoke.

“Patriarch, we can’t retreat anymore. Let’s kill them,” someone began shouting.

“I said go back, didn’t you hear me?” Shi Shaoshuo roared with a voice tinged with hysteria.

His gaze turned fierce and murderous.

The Stone Race members instantly fell silent and began walking back toward Sacred Stone Mountain one by one.

“Brother Shaoshuo, you can reconsider my previous offer,” Yu Feihuang’s laughter came from behind.

“What’s so bad about becoming a subordinate race of our Feather Race? By then, we’d all be one family. To bully you would be to bully us. Why must it come to the destruction of your race?”

Hearing his words, Shi Shaoshuo’s expression grew terrifyingly dark.

Just like his clansmen said, according to his temperament, he had long wanted a decisive battle.

Even if they all died in the end, it would be better than living in such humiliation.

But he could not, because he was responsible for an entire race.

If the race were to perish in his hands, then Shi Shaoshuo would be a sinner.

A sinner for all eternity.

Even in death, he would have no face to meet the ancestors in the underworld.

…

The people of the Stone Race walked back toward Sacred Stone Mountain in dejection.

Xu Zimo and the others originally planned to return to Stone Heart Pavilion, but halfway there, they were stopped by Shi Yuyan and Rock Solid.

“Everyone, our Patriarch wishes to see you,” Rock Solid said.

“What’s the matter?” Lu Ze asked.

“Not sure yet, but you’ll know when you get there,” Shi Yuyan replied with a smile.

Following the two, the group arrived at the council hall halfway up the mountain.

At this moment, all of the Stone Race elders, great and small, were gathered there.

Shi Shaoshuo sat at the very front, and the atmosphere felt heavy.

When Xu Zimo and the others arrived, Shi Shaoshuo’s tightly furrowed brow finally relaxed into a faint smile.

“You’ve come,” he said.

“Patriarch, whatever it is, just say it. We’ll do our best,” Li Ze nodded and replied.

“Honored young talents, don’t misunderstand. I didn’t call you here because I have something for you to do,” Shi Shaoshuo sighed. “It’s just that I wanted to tell you about the situation. We won’t be able to hold Sacred Stone Mountain for much longer. That you came to help the Stone Race at such a time, I’ll remember this kindness. But in the end, manpower is limited. I think it would be best to escort you down the mountain to leave.”

“Patriarch, what are you saying? We are not the sort to cling to life and fear death,” Lu Ze snorted coldly.

“Young Master Lu, don’t misunderstand. I just don’t want you to die in vain,” Shi Shaoshuo replied.

“I wonder if Young Master Lu could introduce us to an elder of Mortal Immortal Sacred Ground. Perhaps there’s still a chance to turn things around.”

Hearing Shi Shaoshuo’s words, Lu Ze let out a small sigh.

“To be honest, it’s not that I don’t want to make the introduction. Before coming to the Stone Race, I asked my grandfather about it. According to him, the lineage does not wish to get involved in this matter.”

“I see,” Shi Shaoshuo sighed slightly. “I’ve made up my mind. In tomorrow’s battle, I’ll go up personally. If I die, you should leave Sacred Stone Mountain as quickly as possible.”

“Patriarch, that cannot be!” an elder in the audience immediately objected upon hearing this.

“You are our backbone. If you die, where will the Stone Race go from there?”

“If I don’t go, then who will?” Shi Shaoshuo asked.

“The Grand Elders are almost all dead. As the Patriarch, I must stand up. If I die, you can choose your own path. Those who want to fight to the death can fight; those who want to flee should flee quickly; and if anyone wants to surrender to the Feather Race, I won’t blame them.”

Hearing his determination, everyone fell silent.

They knew that the way things had developed, this was a dead end.

An outright dead end.

“Patriarch, against Yu Shaoqing, how much chance do you have?” At this moment, an old man stood up and asked.

“Elder Shi Yan,” Shi Shaoshuo looked at him and replied.

“Fifty percent.”

“So low?” someone frowned slightly.

“You have already stepped into the Immortal path, while Yu Shaoqing is only God Meridian. What gives him the ability?”

“Though I’ve stepped into the Arcane Immortal realm, my aptitude is mediocre. This life of mine will probably be just like this. My strength has nothing remarkable about it.”

Shi Shaoshuo said self-mockingly, “He may be God Meridian, but his foundation is so strong that even I must admit inferiority. Fifty percent is already the most I can claim. Perhaps this is the difference between a prodigy and mediocrity.”

Back when Shi Shaoshuo was chosen as Patriarch, it wasn’t because of his strength.

It was because he could understand the needs of the race and lead them on the right path.

“How about I give it a try tomorrow?”

While everyone was heavy with worry, a calm and indifferent voice suddenly came from the side.

The deathly still hall immediately turned to look.

They saw Xu Zimo smiling faintly at them.

“How about I cut down Yu Shaoqing for you?”

“This young master, it would be better not to joke,” Shi Shaoshuo was stunned for a moment, then replied.

“Whether you believe me or not, I can’t be bothered to explain,” Xu Zimo waved his hand and left the hall.

“I have only one condition, which Rock Solid knows. If you decide, let Rock Solid tell me.”

Watching Xu Zimo’s departing figure, the people in the hall each had their own thoughts.

Some glanced sideways, some were lost in thought.

“That’s enough for today,” Shi Shaoshuo tapped the table a few times.

Then he stood and said, “The rest of you can leave. Rock Solid, you stay.”

After everyone with differing thoughts had left, Shi Shaoshuo looked at Rock Solid and asked, “Tell me about this junior of yours.”

Rock Solid thought for a moment, then briefly recounted how they had met in the Heavenly Dao Tower and resurrected the Vermilion Bird.

“You’re saying he came to our Stone Race for the Supreme God Hammer?” Shi Shaoshuo asked.

“Yes, just to borrow it,” Rock Solid nodded.

“I don’t know how strong he is, but he’s unfathomable.”

Shi Shaoshuo pondered for a long time, then suddenly turned and said, “Tell him that if he cuts down Yu Shaoqing, I’ll give him the Supreme God Hammer.”