Barely born, Shi Hao has his Supreme Bone, an innate mark of genius, torn out by members of his own family, who graft it onto his cousin. Taken in by Stone Village, a hamlet lost in the Great Wilderness, he grows up under the protection of a mysterious old willow and becomes, against all odds, one of the most powerful beings in the universe.
Personality
Mischievous, cheeky and remarkably resourceful, young Shi Hao is the terror of the mountain's wild beasts. As he grows up he keeps this mix of insolence and good heart, total loyalty to his village and a stubborn grudge against those who betrayed him.
Powers & abilities
Deprived of his Supreme Bone, he proves he can do without it by developing his own path through the runes of ancient beasts and an extraordinary capacity to learn. He absorbs the techniques of legendary creatures and forges a body and will able to defy geniuses born with every advantage.
History
A child of Stone Village, he makes his name hunting beasts far larger than himself, then sets out for the human kingdoms. There he finds traces of his family, faces his cousin Shi Yi, bearer of his stolen bone, and joins ever more prestigious institutions. His path leads him to the great wars that threaten the whole world.
Relationships
The Stone Village chief and villagers are his first family. The Willow, the village's guardian spirit, watches over him like an ancestor. Huo Ling'er, princess of the Fire Country, is his childhood love, and his cousin Shi Yi is his designated rival.
Key moments
- His childhood hunts in Stone Village, bringing home giant beasts to feed the villagers.
- The revelation that his Supreme Bone was stolen.
- His clash with Shi Yi, which must prove who the true genius is.
In the adaptations
Tencent Video's donghua, launched in 2021, is one of the most-watched long-running weekly series. It adapts Chen Dong's novel while taking time over Shi Hao's childhood.
Did you know?
- Perfect World shares its universe with Shrouding the Heavens, another Chen Dong novel, where Shi Hao is mentioned under the name Huang.
- His childhood adventures in Stone Village are among Chinese readers' favourite passages.
Our take
Shi Hao has the rare charm of a hero you really watch grow up, from mischievous kid to legendary warrior. His childhood in Stone Village alone makes Perfect World endearing.
— Spidermas, for Donghua Fan