Supreme Bone

A magnificent complex of buildings stretched before them, filled with spiritual energy and glimmers of precious light. Palaces stood in clusters, like heavenly towers built in the mortal world. Auspicious beasts crouched outside the gates, roaring as they kept watch. "Father shot and killed the cub of a Pixiu with an exceptionally pure bloodline. This... is a disaster!" A young man of imposing bearing paced back and forth through the hall, deeply uneasy.

The Marquis's estate was veiled in flowing mists and glowing light. Rare birds sang overhead, streaking the sky with dazzling trails of color. The estate's clear lakes fed a network of streams, while rocky mountains rose among lush trees and sprawling gardens. The scenery was magnificent. It was a blessed land, overflowing with spiritual essence.

"I hope Father can leave the Hundred Clans Battlefield as soon as possible." A beautiful woman held a baby in her arms, her brows knitted with worry.

"It's too late to say that. The news has already reached the imperial capital. The Pixiu cub was probably killed many days ago, so what was bound to happen has most likely already happened." The young man clenched his fists. His swordlike brows shot up, lightning flickering in his eyes, and thunder rumbled through the room.

The sleeping baby opened his clear, innocent eyes, not understanding what was going on.

"Don't frighten the child," the beautiful woman said.

"These past few days have been so agonizing that I even neglected Hao. Why does he sleep so much? And why can I sense the aura of runes within him now?" The young man turned around.

"Oh! You noticed it too? I thought I was imagining things. He's so little—how could runes appear inside him?" the young woman asked, puzzled.

"Could it be..." The mighty-looking man suddenly opened his eyes wide. Two streaks of lightning shot out through the window, startling a flock of auspicious birds into a sudden clamor as they soared away.

"What did you think of?" the beautiful woman asked.

"Among the truly strongest members of the human race, some eventually give birth to sacred bones and manifest their own Primordial Imprints, along with a Primordial Treasure Art all their own!" The man's voice rang out like metal striking stone, then turned excited. "A very few are even born with a Primitive Treasure Bone, like the Golden-Winged Dapeng or the True Hou. It is theirs from birth, and the Treasure Art it gives rise to is enough to make them peerless. It would be no exaggeration to call it a Supreme Bone!"

The beautiful woman was stunned. An incredulous look appeared in her eyes as she gazed at the adorable baby in her arms, her hands trembling with nerves.

"Let me examine him carefully!" The young man acted at once and strode over.

The baby was curious, not knowing what they intended to do. He fluttered his big eyes and happily stretched out his little arms, wanting to be held.

After examining him, the man was shocked. His fingers trembled, and the usually calm, decisive man could barely get his words out. "A Supreme Bone... from birth!"

What did this mean? One day, this child could stand alongside Heaven-Tier Primordial Ferocious Beasts and battle Golden-Winged Dapengs and True Hous with pure, flawless bloodlines. His unique Primordial Treasure Art would shake the world and be inscribed in the history of the human race.

The woman took the baby and gently kissed his rosy little cheek. Brilliant light shone in her eyes as she said, "Whether or not he has a Supreme Bone, he's our child. We must let him grow up happy."

Several days later, news arrived from the Hundred Clans Battlefield. The adult Pixiu had swept through the vast battlefield like a hurricane, drenched in blood and gone berserk. No one could stand against it.

Though Fifteenth Master had many experts at his side, they could not stop the Pixiu. He was pursued for hundreds of thousands of miles, and one of his arms was torn off. Nearly every bone in his body was broken.

In the end, someone came to his aid. Using several Treasure Bones from Primordial Remnants, they set up a divine formation, and he finally escaped with his life. But his whereabouts remained unknown.

His injuries were so severe that it was hard to say whether he would survive. He had vanished without a trace, his fate unknown, and had not returned to the capital.

"No, I have to go find Father!" Upon hearing the news, the young man sprang to his feet and decided to head for the southern frontier.

"The clan has already sent out a large number of experts, and the Human Emperor has issued an imperial decree ordering the various lords to search for him and render aid. How much difference can you make by going there?" The young woman feared her husband would rush off recklessly to find the Pixiu.

"Father's fate is unknown. No matter what, I have to do everything I can to find him!" The man was resolute and insisted on going.

The beautiful woman knew her husband's temperament. Once he had made up his mind, he would not change it. But she was truly worried he would go looking for that terrifying Pixiu. "I'll go with you. There are two Treasure Arts that only reach their fullest potential when we use them together. Their power is unmatched."

"No. You still have to take care of Hao!" the man refused.

"How could I possibly feel at ease with you going alone?" The woman shook her head, her expression gentle. "There are so many people in the clan. Surely they can take care of Little Hao. Unless Primordial Ferocious Beasts breach the imperial capital, who would dare cause trouble at our marquis's estate?" The man thought it over and decided she had a point.

He had already secretly informed the clan's two leading elders that a Supreme Bone had formed inside Shi Hao. They would surely treasure him like a rare jewel, so nothing would happen to him.

The matter was classified as a top secret because it was of the utmost importance. Shi Yi alone was enough in the public eye: with his inborn Double Pupils, anyone could tell at a glance. Shi Hao, on the other hand, was not so easily discovered. Only those closest to him could sense it from nearby. There was no need to reveal the secret and risk someone coveting him and causing him to die young.

"Eleventh Brother, Sister-in-law, are you leaving on a long journey? You really don't need to. The clan's experts have all gone out. They'll surely bring Fifteenth Master back."

"That's right. There's no need to worry. Heaven helps the worthy. Fifteenth Master will be fine!"

The clansmen tried to persuade them, but the couple remained determined to set out.

"Eleventh Brother, don't worry. I'll look after Hao. Let him spend more time with Yi'er, and when they grow up, the brothers can pacify the Eight Desolations and subdue the ten thousand clans together," a young married woman said with a smile.

She was beautiful and poised, none other than Shi Yi's mother. When she smiled, the corners of her mouth curved gently, revealing pearly white teeth. She was very approachable, and as the mother of a young child with heaven-defying talent, she held a lofty position in the clan.

"Thank you, Sister-in-law. It'll be enough to have a few clan elders watch over him. We can't trouble you as well," the couple said gratefully.

"You two are too polite. We're family. There's no need to say such things," the young woman replied warmly.

In the end, the couple set out, leaving the ancient kingdom for the Hundred Clans Battlefield.

"Yi'er, you should spend more time with Little Hao from now on. He has extraordinary talent. When he grows up, he'll be your right-hand man." After returning to her palace complex, the young woman admonished her son, who had Double Pupils.

"Mm!" The three-year-old was composed, his behavior far beyond his age.

The clansmen helped look after Shi Hao, and there were plenty of servants, so naturally nothing went wrong. He had been a little fussy during the first few days, missing his parents, but after that he was easy to care for.

Several days later, the young woman brought Shi Hao to her residence. Seeing the divine light flicker in her son's eyes as he stared unwaveringly at the baby, she asked in confusion, "Yi'er, why are you always staring at your little brother?"

"He's not ordinary. There's a bone inside him, covered in intricate runes, its mysteries impossible to fathom," Shi Yi said calmly.

The young woman was startled. She knew her child was extraordinary. He possessed Double Pupils, a trait of ancient sages and deities, and could see through the origins of many things.

Suddenly, she shuddered as a thought struck her. She asked urgently, "You said there's a bone inside him, densely covered in Primordial Runes?"

"Yes," the child replied calmly.

"Born with a... Supreme Bone!" The young woman trembled. She had thought of that ancient legend, and her heart could not help but pound.

For a long time, her expression shifted between light and shadow as she stared at the innocent baby again and again. A trace of malice flashed in her eyes. Then she turned and instructed her son, "Don't tell anyone."

The child nodded without a word.

Several months passed in the blink of an eye. Little Shi Hao grew cuter by the day, and soon he was months old. He could already walk on his own and speak, his big eyes bright and spirited. Fair and lovely, he looked like a porcelain doll; anyone who saw him couldn't help pinching his little cheeks.

During this time, the young woman treated Little Shi Hao extremely well, as if he were her own. In the end, she simply brought him to her residence and cared for him alongside Shi Yi.

"Auntie, I want to go to the garden and see the Red-Feathered Cranes. Aman says they're beautiful, as red as fire from head to toe, and their cries are lovely to hear," Little One said, fluttering his big eyes. His long eyelashes quivered, and his words came out in a childish, babyish voice, sweet and tender.

Children this young usually couldn't speak so clearly, and even walking was difficult for them, but he had no trouble with either.

"Aman? That's just a servant's girl. Don't listen to her nonsense. I'll take you to see Luan Birds and the Five-Colored Peacock King another time," the young woman said.

"Aman is a good big sister. She's kind and pretty, and she often tells me stories. She's really nice," Little Shi Hao said innocently, blinking his big eyes.

"All right. After we eat, we'll go see the Red-Feathered Cranes. A little later, I'll take you to see the Luan Birds and the Five-Colored Peacock King," the young woman said with a smile.

"Auntie is the best!" Little One lifted his head, clasped his little hands together, and gazed up at her with eyes full of stars and hope.

Then he turned around and said, "Big Brother, let's go play in the back courtyard now. There are lots of children there."

"No!" Shi Yi refused. He sat cross-legged, steady as a boulder despite his young age, silently cultivating the Bone Text.

"Oh. Then I'll go play." Little One toddled off toward the distant "back courtyard" to play with the children of the servants. He laughed happily there.

Little One was adorable and kind, and he never bullied the servants' children. He often played with them, so everyone at the estate, from top to bottom, liked him.

Several days later, the young woman took Shi Yi and Little One away from the marquis's estate. They rode in a carriage to a manor to see the descendants of ancient divine birds, such as Luan Birds and Five-Colored Peacocks.

"Auntie, where are the Luan Birds?" Little One asked curiously. He was also a little puzzled, since after arriving at the manor they had gone straight into an underground palace.

"You'll see in a moment," the young woman said expressionlessly.

When they entered a secret chamber, a wisp of runes lit at the tip of the young woman's finger. She pressed it against Little One, but the Treasure Bone inside him glowed and dispelled it outright. He did not lose consciousness.

"As expected of a Supreme Bone!" The young woman's eyes burned even brighter. The bone had only just begun to grow!

She clapped her hands. A shadow appeared nearby, like a ghost, and soundlessly drew close. It picked up Little One and pressed him down onto the cold bed.

"Auntie, what are you doing?" He was only a baby of months. Other children his age were still ignorant of the world, but he was innocent and kind, and he asked in confusion.

A dazzling silver knife flashed, its surface rippling with a mesmerizing sheen. It cut open Little One's chest, and blood gushed out at once. At the same time, a hazy cluster of divine radiance appeared, swirling with the mysteries of the heavens. Countless runes shimmered there without pause.

"It hurts!" Little One cried out. His eyes filled with terror. He had never imagined he would be treated this way. He was only a baby of months—what could he possibly understand?

"Not being able to make him lose consciousness is such a nuisance," the young woman said coldly.

Beside them, another child—Shi Yi—watched silently, leaving people to wonder whether he really was still less than four years old.

Blood flowed as Little One's face turned pale. His big eyes grew vacant, and he cried out in pain again and again, wailing as tears and blood mingled.

"Nothing must go wrong. I studied an old Bone Scripture, and it said this kind of graft can succeed. My son has Double Pupils. He is destined to reign supreme beneath the heavens!" the young woman shouted, tense with worry.

"Auntie..." Little One raised his little face, tears streaming down it. He stretched out both hands in a plea, hoping to ease the terrible pain.

But the young woman was unmoved, her face icy. She merely urged the ghostlike figure to be careful and not let the Supreme Bone lose its vitality.

"Done!" At last, the shadow let out a low, beastlike growl and cut a glowing source from Little One's chest. It possessed an indescribable magic. Though it had only just begun to grow, it made one's soul tremble and radiated endless divine light, illuminating the entire secret chamber.

"Yi'er, it's your turn. You have to endure!" The young woman was terribly nervous as she urged the other child on.

The child nodded without saying anything.

He lay on a jade bed. The silver knife flashed, blood trickled down, and his chest was cut open.

"Be careful. Don't make even the slightest mistake!" The young woman glared fiercely at the shadow. She was aching for her own child.

On the cold bed beside them, Little One looked utterly haggard and wretched. Tears filled his big eyes. Each time his long eyelashes fluttered, sparkling teardrops rolled down one after another. He struggled to reach out with his little hands, as if trying to grasp a shred of warmth, and pleaded in a trembling voice, "Auntie..."

The young woman gave him a cold glance and then ignored him, turning instead to the other bed. Her face softened with affection, and her voice grew gentle as she spoke softly. "Yi'er, you must endure. This entire vast domain will belong to you one day, because... you are born supreme!"

Beside them, Little One, stripped of his Supreme Bone, lay alone on the cold bed. Tears covered his snowy-white face as he slowly lost consciousness, murmuring, "Mother..." At the moment of greatest pain, he called for his true family, a sight that wrenched the heart.