Bone Shifting

"Mother..." the Little One murmured, his weak voice calling out in his delirium. Only his mother was the best; she would never hurt him, she was the gentlest. When his mother left, he was only a few months old, possessing only the vaguest impression of her. Yet now, she had become the warmth he craved most, and he longed to lie in her embrace and fall fast asleep.

Tears streamed continuously down his pale little face. He curled into a ball, his body shivering violently as he huddled into the cold corner of the bed in his unconscious state.

On the jade bed across from him came a muffled groan. Though Shi Yi was young, he felt no fear. Divine light flickered within his Double Pupil, and he bit down on a piece of soft wood, his head drenched in cold sweat as he endured the excruciating pain.

"Good child, you must hold on. After today, you will soar into the sky. No one will be able to stop your rise; you will be the most dazzling prodigy in this vast domain." The young woman held the child's hand, letting him draw warmth to combat the agony. She was nervous, but her eyes flashed with an endless, burning intensity.

The mass of light was filled with infinite, dense runes, circulating the mysteries of the heavens. They were complex and unfathomable, causing one's heart to palpitate; facing it, one could not help but want to prostrate in worship.

Madness filled the young woman's eyes. She became even more certain that this was worth it. Even if she were discovered, even if she were brought to justice, it would be worth it as long as it was implanted in Yi'er's body. This Supreme Bone had only just begun to grow, yet it already possessed such might—if it were to grow fully in the future, how terrifying would it be!

The Golden-Winged Dapeng and the True Hou of the primordial era were beings who dared to slaughter gods, supreme and peerless. A natural-born supreme being could contend with them; who would dare to cross blades with him in the future?

"It's almost time, it will be done soon. Yi'er, hold on!" She constantly encouraged him, her face full of tenderness, urging Shi Yi to relax and weather this ordeal.

The light was brilliant, as if a god were sleeping within it. It radiated rings of divine light that illuminated the entire secret chamber, scattering sacred radiance as if they had arrived in the divine realm.

Shi Yi's chest was filled with the dazzling light. He struggled more and more violently, letting out beast-like roars, in immense pain, his entire body covered in sweat.

"Be careful, don't hurt my Yi'er!" A fierce look appeared on the young woman's face as she snapped at the dark shadow. She was becoming increasingly nervous and afraid, terrified of failure.

"Although the records are detailed, this is, after all, a Supreme Bone. The transplantation is far too dangerous. If something goes wrong and it erupts, both you and I could be buried here," the ghost-like shadow said in a low voice.

"I don't care, I only want success. Since the Bone Scripture has records and there are precedents, there is no reason we cannot succeed." The young woman spoke in a low, sharp tone, her beautiful face somewhat twisted. She gripped Shi Yi's hand and said, "They are both of the Shi family bloodline, sharing the same roots and origin; the success rate should be higher. Yi'er, hold on!"

The shadow let out a low growl, and then the entire secret chamber began to seethe. Brilliant divine light bloomed, permeating every inch of space.

Scorching clouds erupted, thunder mountains descended, lightning danced, and divine sounds rumbled as all manner of strange phenomena appeared.

In the end, the auspicious light retracted, and the runes condensed, transforming into the unique Supreme Origin Bone that sank into Shi Yi's chest cavity. The shadow moved quickly, sending out runes to seal the wound, stopping the bleeding and regenerating the flesh.

"It is done!"

With a low shout, the secret chamber fell completely silent, and the strange phenomena vanished.

"Good child, you are Mother's pride. From this day forward, no one can block your path. This entire land will tremble beneath your feet!" The young woman was incredibly excited, clutching one of Shi Yi's arms, her face filled with joy, the light in her eyes burning with intensity.

She took a soft quilt and carefully covered the unconscious Shi Yi. Finally, she stood up and couldn't help but laugh, a somewhat crazed, somewhat hysterical sound.

"Big Aunt... I'm cold." Curled up on the cold bed, the shivering Little One was startled awake by the laughter. His chest throbbed with agony, his face turned pale, and he called out weakly.

The young woman turned abruptly. Instead of reaching for a quilt, she stared at him again and again. There was no pity in her gaze, only a coldness. She spoke to the dark shadow, "Drain the remaining true blood from his body to nourish the Supreme Bone within Yi'er."

The area where the Supreme Bone grew contained corresponding true blood, used to nurture that one-of-a-kind primordial treasure bone; its divinity was astonishing.

"If it is extracted, this child will likely not live past the age of two," the shadow said.

"Two years old? A year or so is enough. Anything can happen in that time," the young woman said coldly.

Hearing this, the shadow said no more. It took out a jade jar and used a secret technique; runes flickered as it began to extract the blood. Suddenly, a hazy glow lit up once more, making the secret chamber look divine.

"Cast the spell immediately. Use this jar of precious blood to nourish Yi'er's body so it merges with the Supreme Bone as quickly as possible, becoming one," the young woman urged impatiently.

"It is best to proceed gradually, taking it slow," the shadow reminded her.

"It doesn't matter. Yi'er was born with a Double Pupil; how could he be compared to an ordinary child? Besides, I will feel at ease once they are merged early. At the very least, even if someone discovers it within half a year, they won't be able to transplant the Supreme Bone; doing it too frequently will surely lead to death."

"So cold..." The Little One lost consciousness again, his lips turning white. His tiny body curled up in the corner of the bed, shivering incessantly.

When everything was over, the secret chamber fell quiet. The dark shadow departed, and the vast, empty underground palace felt somewhat eerie.

The young woman paced back and forth, frowning as she pondered how to explain things. No one in the clan should have discovered the secret of the Supreme Bone in the Little One's body; unless someone held him every day and possessed a very deep cultivation base, they would have no way to sense it. The only people who fit that criteria were his parents, and now that he was months old, he no longer needed to be held.

"Yi'er was born with a Double Pupil and can see through many origins. Others do not have such ability and should not be able to detect it!" The young woman smoothed her brow, considering the future.

"If that couple dies under the claws of a Pixiu, or perishes outside for some other reason, everything will be flawless," she whispered to herself, a hint of coldness at the corners of her mouth.

"BOOM!"

Suddenly, a terrifying sound erupted. The underground palace collapsed, its exit destroyed by immense force. An old man with white hair and beard, yet incredibly robust, charged in. His entire body shone with boundless light, like burning golden divine fire.

The young woman was startled. The entrance to the underground palace could not be broken by just anyone; only the supreme experts of the clan could do so.

Divine clouds billowed and auspicious light flooded the room as the old man stormed into the secret chamber like an enraged lion. Upon seeing the scene before him, his eyes nearly split from rage, and he let out an earth-shattering roar: "You wretch, what a poisonous woman!"

This was one of the two elders in charge of the clan, of the highest seniority and supreme strength. He rarely appeared, usually spending his time in an ancient cave, cultivating his character and contemplating the profound truths.

Shi Hao's parents had entrusted the child to him and another elder; only they knew of the Supreme Bone within him, which had been classified as a top-secret matter.

Originally, he and the other elder were supposed to look after him to ensure Shi Hao was safe, but they were old and, being men, were not adept at caring for children, which was why they agreed to let the younger generation help.

The clan had always been harmonious, and the wives of the grandsons had been very diligent. Over the past few months, they had raised little Shi Hao to be plump, fair, and beautiful, putting the elders' minds at ease. They never imagined that such a tragedy would occur today.

The old man had always been very attentive, sending experts to follow the Little One. Today, when the young woman took the two children to see the descendants of the primordial divine birds, they were gone for too long. The experts he had sent were panicked and rushed back to report that the group had entered the underground palace and they could not open the door. Only then did he realize the shock and rush over at top speed. "You poisonous woman, I will kill you!" The old man's hair and beard glowed as he lunged forward like a golden lion, grabbing her by the neck and hoisting her up as if she were a chick.

Although the young woman had a high cultivation base and was very powerful, compared to this old man, she was nothing. Her face turned pale instantly, and the runes all over her body threatened to shatter.

"Great-Granduncle, don't kill my mother!" Shi Yi had been startled awake by the roar. He grabbed the silver knife from the bedside and pressed it against his own throat, instantly drawing a line of blood.

"You... you little beast!" The old man was furious.

"Fourth Brother, put her down first." Another elder walked in, his body radiating red clouds like an old fire phoenix. Though aged, he was full of vigor, his eyes like golden lanterns.

"Fifth, what is the meaning of this? Is this the descendant of your own branch, and you wish to show favoritism and grant mercy?" the elder, who resembled a golden lion, demanded sharply.

"Fourth Great-Granduncle, I beg you, do not kill my mother!" On the other side, the Double Pupil Shi Yi spoke again, his silver blade stained with blood as he pressed it against his own neck.

"You see? We have already lost one Supreme, are we to stand by and watch another child with the Double Pupil die as well? In the ancient times, these were the marks of saints and gods! Release her first, and we shall deliberate slowly," the elder who resembled a blood-red phoenix said.

BOOM

The elder who resembled a golden lion threw his arm out with great force, slamming the young woman against the opposite wall. A deafening crash echoed as stones tumbled down, leaving her unable to stand for a long time.

"Ziling, I have failed you and your wife. I did not take good care of Hao'er, allowing him to suffer such immense grievances and tribulations," the elder roared toward the heavens.

"Fourth Great-Granduncle... I am cold, it hurts," the Little One, curled up in the corner of the cold bed, spoke weakly.

"Good child, it is all my fault!" The elder pulled him into his arms, tears nearly falling, and channeled the secret power of a precious talisman, wrapping the boy in auspicious light.

"Where is the Supreme Bone?" asked the elder whose body was crimson and surging with divine radiance, like a blood-red phoenix.

The young woman's face turned pale as she stood up, remaining silent.

"Great-Granduncle, it is within my body," Shi Yi said, dropping the silver blade and speaking calmly.

Upon hearing this, the elder who resembled a blood-red phoenix revealed a strange light in his eyes and remained silent for a long time.

The elder holding the Little One grew even angrier at these words, his voice chilling: "Our Shi Clan has ancestral teachings: we must not kill one another, but remain united and face the outside world together. Otherwise, how could we have emerged from a mere village to conquer this vast territory, rule over billions of subjects, claim the Imperial throne, and produce countless princes and marquises? You woman, you are too vicious; the clan rules cannot tolerate you!"

"The matter is complex and involves the Supreme Bone, which is the highest secret of the clan and cannot be leaked. This is not the place to speak; let us return first and discuss it further," the elder beside him said.

"Fifth, are you trying to shield her?!" the elder who resembled a golden lion demanded.

"Regardless, a heaven-born Supreme must not be allowed to vanish. We shall discuss this back at the manor," the elder radiating crimson light said.

"Even if I do not act now, Ziling will not let this rest when he returns. Given his temper, if he does not wipe out your entire branch, he will at least slaughter nine-tenths of it. If he is not given justice, he will never swallow this grievance!" the fierce elder who resembled a golden lion declared.

The magnificent manor was filled with rows of palaces, its grandeur resembling a heavenly palace standing in the mortal world. Bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun, it was solemn and majestic, evoking a sense of pilgrimage. Yet, within this complex of auspicious, towering buildings, dark currents surged, and killing intent lay hidden. In a massive hall, the atmosphere was tense; over a dozen elders sat in silence, with layers of runes flickering, ready to erupt at any moment.

The Little One was in critical condition, his Supreme Bone excavated. This incident had shaken the upper echelons, and these elders—all figures of the highest seniority—had been summoned, as such a matter could not be kept from them.

Most of these dozen individuals usually remained in seclusion, ignoring the affairs of the mortal world. Some of the old ancestors had not appeared before the clan for twenty or thirty years, yet they had been disturbed and summoned from their caves.

"A heaven-born Supreme has been harmed within the clan. Has the world turned upside down? What is there to discuss? Execute the vicious woman by slow slicing immediately!" one elder thundered in rage.

"Her grandfather and her kin are not simple; they have always been powerful. To execute her without a word would cause many troubles. The Imperial Capital would be filled with gossip and rumors, and if we were to explain, the secret of the Supreme Bone would inevitably be leaked to the world," another elder said calmly.

"Even if the Human Emperor were to do such a thing, he would have to provide an explanation to the world, let alone her family. Are you trying to shield her? Is personal sentiment more important than reason? Do you wish to pervert the law for personal gain?" the elder opposite asked coldly, his eyes reflecting the sun, moon, and stars, the aura leaking from him grinding the table to dust.

The hall was dense with runes and crisscrossed with lightning, creating a terrifying atmosphere thick with the scent of gunpowder.

The Little One, on the brink of death, was also present, held in someone's arms and protected by their vast, sea-like divine essence, which nourished his vitality to prevent him from dying of weakness.

"Naturally, she will be dealt with; that can be discussed later. The priority now is the Supreme Bone. It must not be lost. It is the Supreme Bone of our Shi Clan and must not vanish because of this," the elder bathed in crimson light, as if drenched in heavenly fire, spoke with a compelling and calm gaze.

"Fifth, what do you mean?" the elder who resembled a golden lion demanded, standing up with a start. "Of course it must be excavated and reconnected to Hao'er's body! It belongs to him, and no one shall possess it!"

"It is difficult to reconnect it immediately once it has been removed."

"Are you protecting her just because Yi'er is from your branch? The Supreme Bone belongs to whom it belongs!"

Divine essence flickered between the two, the hall roaring like a surging sea, causing the entire sacred structure to tremble.

"Fourth Brother, I am not acting out of favoritism," the elder who resembled a blood-red phoenix stood up and pointed at the Little One. "Look, this child is so weak that even if he were fed precious medicine daily, he could hardly recover. How could he possibly nourish the Supreme Bone?"

Once these words were spoken, the arguing subsided. Many fell silent, for it was a fact: it was uncertain whether the Little One could even survive.

"In my opinion, I would rather lose the Supreme Bone than fail to uphold the clan rules. Execute both the mother and the son!" the most hot-tempered elder declared.

At these words, everyone was startled. The clan had already lost one Supreme; were they to let the Double Pupil perish as well?

"Second Brother, calm your anger. Yi'er is still an ignorant child, and this matter has nothing to do with him. He possesses the potential of an ancient saint or god and will surely look down upon all races in the future. He should not be implicated," someone advised.

"An ignorant child? Look at him—does he look like one? Upon returning, he acted as if he would die, pressing a blade to his neck and claiming that if his mother were killed, he would follow her. With such sins, do you still intend to let that wicked woman go? Do you intend to indulge him?" the elder said coldly, his body shining brilliantly like the stars in the sky, radiating terrifying energy.

"How to deal with the wicked woman—let us set that aside for now and decide later. For now, let us discuss the Supreme Bone."

Many in the hall fell silent. Things had reached this point; they could not tolerate both children being ruined. The most powerful bloodline had to be continued.

"The Supreme Bone has been implanted into Yi'er's body. What is the result?" At this moment, the oldest elder, who had not left his cave for thirty years, suddenly opened his eyes. They appeared like two golden suns, emitting scorching light and a deep, rumbling sound that was incredibly intimidating.

The crowd immediately fell silent, ceasing their arguments.

"It has merged with Yi'er, nourished by his flesh and blood. They are inseparable. The result is shocking; it is as if it had been born within him," the Fifth elder said. The crowd was shaken, all moved. It had actually succeeded! If the Double Pupil were to possess the Supreme Bone, what heights would he reach in the future? Such an achievement was beyond imagination!

"Let us discuss this again in a few days. That is all for today," another elder said, also of ancient seniority, who had not appeared for twenty or thirty years.

The others nodded. The Fourth elder, who resembled a golden lion, and the most hot-tempered elder looked at each other in silence. They knew the clan would not allow a Supreme to vanish or the Double Pupil to perish.

Several days later, news arrived: the Supreme Bone was safe within Shi Yi's body, wrapped in a powerful life force, essentially fused into one.

"Detestable!" the Fourth elder growled. He knew there was no turning back. The implications were self-evident. Holding the weak Little One in his arms, he felt a deep sense of anguish.

The Little One's breath was faint, his eyes dull and lifeless. Although nourished by the essence of the clan's experts, he could not recover, and everyone sighed in their hearts.

The clansmen sought many spiritual medicines, but they were useless. He could not recover; his small face grew paler by the day, and he coughed incessantly, often shivering and feeling cold throughout his body.

Half a month later, his condition worsened. His large eyes had lost all luster, and he was so sickly he seemed as though he might die at any moment.

Furthermore, every midnight, the Little One's bones would crackle, and his small body would shrink. He lost his vital essence and spirit, undergoing a severe regression.

Though he was months old, the severe damage caused his body to change drastically, as if he had regressed by several months. His condition deteriorated with each passing day.

"Are you... my Fourth Great-Grandfather?" Little One lay on the small bed, his dull, wide eyes opening as he asked in a weak voice.

He was constantly regressing, as if a bottomless pit existed within his body, devouring his blood essence and dissolving his bones; he seemed no more than a few months old, and having lost his former intelligence, he could barely recognize those around him.

The old man felt a pang of heartache, patting him gently to coax him into sleep.

"Why can I barely remember the people around me? Everything is becoming so blurry..." Little One struggled to recall, but his eyes grew increasingly lost.

To see such a bright and lively child reduced to this state made many of the servants feel heartbroken, unable to bear the sight.

Several days later, even speaking became an effort for him. With no light left in his large eyes, he looked at the little girl standing by the bedside, tears streaming down her face, and asked in confusion, "Big Sister, who are you?"

The pretty little girl wiped away her tears and whispered, "I am Aman. Little Young Master, how can you not remember me?"

"Aman... it sounds so familiar, why can't I remember?" Little One tried hard to think, his large, lifeless eyes staring at the ceiling, having lost their past spark.

The little girl wept, covering her mouth for fear of being heard, tears rolling down her face in strings. Finally, she whispered, "I heard the Fourth Ancestor talking to himself—you are a Supreme Being, unmatched by anyone, but you were harmed by others."

"I am a Supreme Being..." Little One murmured.

"Yes, you are a Supreme Being, a born Supreme Being. Little One, you must get better!" the little girl cried.

"I will. I am a Supreme Being, I will get better," Little One whispered.

"Ah, I remember now! You are Sister Aman. You told me so many stories and said you would take me to see the Red-Feathered Crane. You were always so good to me." Little One suddenly remembered who the little girl was.

"Yes, Little Young Master, you must remember: you are a Supreme Being, and don't forget that I am Aman. Everything will be alright," the little girl sobbed as she urged him.

"Mm!" Little One nodded forcefully, then, as if remembering something else, he said, "I seem to have a bit more memory now. What about the other big brothers and big sisters? Why haven't they come?"

"The other servants' children cannot come here, and Young Master Shi Bin... they have all gone to cultivate," the little girl said with a forced smile.

In recent days, the other children of the clan had come less and less, until they stopped appearing altogether. Even the uncles and aunts who used to visit were rarely seen, no longer coming to look after him.

Little One grew weaker by the day, no longer the intelligent, dazzling child destined to rise and become a supreme powerhouse.