First Encounter with Bone Script

Time flew like a white colt slipping past a crack, and two years had already passed since Shi Jue arrived in Stone Village.

Almost every day, he went beneath the willow tree and, during Liu Shen's brief periods of wakefulness, had her examine his bone age. After all, he did not know how old he had been in that previous state. The result was three years old.

"Yiya, yiya, Shi Jue, Clan Chief Grandpa is going to teach us Bone Script! Hurry up and come!"

A childish voice rang out. Little Dot Shi Hao's two short little legs were remarkably nimble, and he darted right in front of Shi Jue in an instant. His tone was full of excitement; clearly, he was very interested in Bone Script.

"Little Dot, you should wipe the beast milk from the corner of your mouth first," Shi Jue said speechlessly.

There was no need to think about it. Little Dot must have sneaked some beast milk just now, since it was not mealtime yet.

"Tsk..." Little Dot licked it away with his tongue, not wasting a drop.

"Let's go. We're heading to Clan Chief Grandpa's place." Shi Jue rose from beneath the willow tree. He was equally excited about coming into contact with Bone Script. It was not only his body that had regressed into that of a child; even his mentality had become that of a child a few years old.

"Clan Chief Grandpa, we're here."

Shi Jue and Little Dot arrived at a nearby patch of grass. Besides the Old Clan Chief, a group of village children sat there, each staring miserably at the symbols on beast bones.

"Little Jue, Little Dot, you're here. Come over and listen together!"

The Old Clan Chief, Shi Yunfeng, smiled and waved them over. Shi Jue and Little Dot sat directly in the front, each curiously picking up a beast bone lying on the ground. Strange, ghostly-looking characters were engraved upon them.

"Clan Chief Grandpa, this is so hard to learn. Can we not learn it?"

"Exactly, exactly. We can't understand any of it."

"It is indeed a little difficult for you all. Little Dot, give them a demonstration and let these children see the power of Bone Script." Shi Yunfeng sighed softly. There were very few people in Stone Village who knew Bone Script. Without the necessary comprehension, these symbols were merely a dizzying mess to look at.

"Okay, okay!"

Little Dot was stacking beast bones into a tall pile. Hearing Shi Yunfeng, he obediently stretched out both little hands and exerted all his strength, his face turning red from the effort.

Before long, a strange character resembling cast metal appeared in each of Little Dot's palms, brimming with mystical power.

As expected of the future Desolate Heavenly Emperor.

Shi Jue thought enviously. Even without the Supreme Bone, Shi Hao's talent remained top-tier. After Shi Yunfeng and Liu Shen examined him, they confirmed that he did not have an extra bone, unusual eyes, or any other special physique. In the terminology of Shrouding the Heavens, he possessed nothing more than the most ordinary Mortal Body.

Still, it was much better than his former body. After becoming young again, all the impurities that had accumulated in his body vanished. Coupled with the abundant spiritual energy of heaven and earth here, he was at least very healthy.

But compared to a born Supreme Being like Shi Hao, he was utterly insignificant. Shi Hao had begun cultivating Bone Script at the age of two, and with his extraordinary innate talent, he could already make simple use of some Bone Script at the age of three.

Just like now, he directly lifted a boulder taller than himself, and the village children all applauded him.

"Little Jue, can you understand it?" Shi Yunfeng asked considerately.

Shi Jue's body was weaker than that of every child his age in Stone Village, and Shi Yunfeng had been troubled over whether he would be able to cultivate at all. The guidance he had received from Liu Shen was simply to let Shi Jue decide for himself.

"Is this the bone of a flying bird?"

Shi Jue picked up a white beast bone and asked doubtfully.

Through the runes on it, he seemed to see a primordial bird spreading its wings and battling through the sky. Its metallic claws could shatter boulders more than ten meters tall. It was Shi Jue's first time seeing such a spectacular sight, and he was deeply shaken.

"Little Jue, how did you know this bone was related to a flying bird?" Shi Yunfeng froze slightly and asked in surprise.

"Although the image flashed by in an instant, I really did see a flying bird. I don't think I was mistaken." Shi Jue did not hide anything and described what he had seen. In the palm of his clenched hand, a symbol emerged, identical to the one on the beast bone.

He could clearly feel that his strength had increased greatly. This should have only been the most basic introductory Bone Script. Then just how terrifying would Ten Fierce Divine Techniques be?

Shi Yunfeng had heard of such a situation for the first time. He brought Shi Jue to Liu Shen and told her about his circumstances.

"Sacrificial Spirit Lord, Little Jue, he..."

Liu Shen had been awake almost constantly lately. Several bulges had appeared on her body as well, and new willow branches could grow at any time.

"Your comprehension is very good. In ancient times, many heavenly geniuses could use the Treasure Bone runes of Primordial Remnant Species to comprehend the divine forms they possessed in life. Although you do not have a special physique, that does not mean you cannot discover a great path to the heavens that suits you." A gleaming green willow branch touched Shi Jue's little head in encouragement.

"Liu Shen, can I become strong?" Shi Jue asked, his excited little face flushed red.

He and Shi Hao had both grown up eating meals provided by the whole village. Shi Hao was still young, but he was already extremely strong. As for Shi Jue, he could be said to rank dead last in Stone Village; he could not even beat an auntie.

"Becoming stronger is easy, but how strong do you want to become? Do you have a goal?"

Instead of answering, Liu Shen asked a question. How should she put it? This little fellow had a mysterious origin, but ordinary aptitude. The only thing that had caught her attention so far was the comprehension he had just displayed. Taken as a whole, even in the era when spiritual energy was more abundant, he would not have ranked among the middle tier.

"How strong?" A confused expression appeared on Shi Jue's face. He had come to this world with mediocre aptitude and no Golden Finger. Originally, he had only wanted to loaf around in Stone Village, but now that he had a chance to become stronger, he naturally wanted to try.

"Liu Shen, do Immortals really exist? Are they eternal and undying?" Shi Jue asked, pretending not to know.

He did not use the realm of True Immortal in his question. The term Immortal was still widespread among ordinary people, making it less likely to arouse Liu Shen's suspicions.

"Heh!" Liu Shen let out a disdainful laugh and said calmly, "It does not hurt to tell you. Immortal is merely a realm. Longevity can be achieved, but deathlessness is nothing but a fantasy."

"Longevity is enough. As long as I can keep hiding and outlast everyone else until they die, wouldn't that make me the strongest?" Shi Jue muttered softly.

Liu Shen: "..."

The swaying willow branch froze in midair the moment Shi Jue finished speaking. It was clear just how speechless she was. How afraid of death were you, to say something like that?

"You should go back first!"

Liu Shen spoke slowly. She was afraid that if Shi Jue blurted out a few more infuriating remarks, she would be unable to resist hanging him up and whipping him, the kind that would make his little backside bloom.

Shi Jue's scalp suddenly tingled. His survival instincts sensed that danger was imminent. He gave an awkward smile, then turned and trotted away without hesitation, continuing to study the Bone Script.

[Ding!]

After watching the Perfect World animation, I suddenly felt inspired to write fanfiction. Time is limited, so for now there will be two chapters a day.