Bloodbath

No one in the clan said anything. They were not so shallow, but they visited less often, growing colder toward him. Still, a child so young could not understand any of it.

At last, Little One grew weaker and weaker, regressing to a dreadful degree. He could no longer recognize even Aman or Fourth Granduncle.

"Young Master, you must remember—you are the Supreme. And don't forget me, either. I'm Aman." The pretty little girl stood beside his bed, crying, her big eyes red and swollen.

But Little One could no longer speak. He didn't know how to form words.

A month later, Shi Ziling returned. He had not found Thirteenth Master, and the moment he entered the residence, he sensed that something was wrong. The atmosphere was strange.

"Where is Hao?!" he demanded.

When the couple saw Little One, they were so shocked they trembled. Was this really a child of about ten months? Why was he so weak and tiny? There was no light in his eyes. Where had his former liveliness and keen intelligence gone?

When the weakened Little One saw them, he instinctively opened his little arms and smiled, carefree and guileless. He seemed to sense the warmth of family and wanted them to hold him.

"Hao!" Shi Ziling roared, his eyes nearly bursting with blood. His elderly father was missing, and his youngest son had suffered a calamity. His hatred drove him nearly mad.

"My child, what happened to you?" Little One's mother nearly fainted. She scooped him up and held him tightly against her chest.

"Ziling, I've let you and your wife down. I failed to look after Hao. I shouldn't have let someone else nurse him. Punish this old man!" The golden lion-like elder spoke through his pain.

"What exactly happened?!"

When Shi Ziling learned the truth, hatred drove him mad. His black hair stood on end as he carried a Golden War Spear, his body wreathed in runes and his battle intent surging. With a thunderous crash, one sweep of his spear sent a whole stretch of palaces flying, and he charged straight for the residence of Shi Yi's branch.

"Eleventh, calm down! Let's talk this out. We'll give you an explanation!" A group of people heard the commotion and rushed over.

The eleventh in rank did not mean he had ten older brothers. It meant he ranked eleventh among his generation in the clan. They had arranged the order that way simply to make the family seem closer and more united.

"Get lost!" Shi Ziling's eyes blazed. He swept his Golden War Spear, and runes filled the sky, surging like a vast sea as they struck at the heavens.

With a thunderous boom, the whole group was sent flying. They all spat blood; none could stop him. The patterns protecting their bodies burst apart.

Shi Ziling strode forward like a golden war god, bathed in towering golden flames, his spear in hand. Divine light shot from his eyes, and his voice was icy as he said, "Anyone who dares block my way, I'll kill—whoever they are, whatever their background!"

"Eleventh, don't act rashly!" A young man stepped forward to block his path.

"Rashly? Hahaha..." Shi Ziling laughed wildly, his gaze cold. "You're Yi'er's biological uncle, aren't you? You think our branch has no one to stand up for it? Get out of my way!"

He thrust the Golden War Spear forward. Layer upon layer of divine light surged forth as countless runes formed spear after spear of light, radiating a boundless mist of brilliance as they flew ahead.

"Pfft!"

The young man across from him struck back, but he could not withstand the attack. His weapon snapped, his treasure shattered, and a golden divine spear pierced through his chest, sending him flying. With a thud, it pinned him to the gate tower of a massive palace. He coughed up blood, his eyes full of horror. The gap between them was simply too great.

"Ziling, don't act recklessly. You may deal with that vile woman as you see fit, but Yi'er is still a child. You can't kill him." A group of elders appeared.

"Get out of my way, all of you! Where were you when my son suffered? She broke one of my son's bones. I'll break a hundred of hers!" Shi Ziling roared, tears in his eyes.

Seeing that the son who had once been so clever and adorable had become like this made his heart cramp and bleed.

"Boom!"

Shi Ziling swept the Golden War Spear in his hand. His art shook the heavens, as if all the gods were chanting together. Rolling incantations rang out on their own, deafening everyone.

The few elders blocking the way were all sent flying. They spewed blood, utterly horrified.

Thinking of his son, Shi Ziling's heart was cut like a knife. Little One was so pitiful. He had been born supreme, only to have his bone stolen. As he wept, he prepared to slaughter everyone in his path.

Blazing radiance flared. An elder offered up a string of Bone Beads, each as large as a goose egg and shining with a crystalline glow. They seemed like a field of stars flying in from beyond the heavens, their energy fluctuations frightening. They formed a star map, its patterns spreading like a river of stars descending from the sky. Its vast aura immediately enveloped Shi Ziling.

"Open!"

Shi Ziling roared, his black hair whipping wildly. He swept his spear, and golden light surged into the heavens, shaking the firmament. The corners of his eyes split open, and bloody tears streamed down. His infant son had suffered such a calamity, and his heart bled. Now, he would kill anyone who stood in his way!

His art shook the heavens. Rolling incantations rang out, as if the gods were chanting, casting down boundless sacred light to envelop the area. The star map hanging in the sky exploded on the spot.

"Shatter!"

Shi Ziling roared and lifted his spear. Swathes of primordial runes surged forward, golden light swallowing everything ahead.

Amid a series of cracking sounds, the string of snow-white Bone Beads shattered one by one. Their powerful runic energy dissipated, turning into a vast ocean of divine light that spread in every direction.

Palace after palace was lifted into the air like fallen leaves, insignificant amid the raging force. Then they shattered high above and crumbled into dust.

That string of Bone Beads had been a rare and powerful treasure, yet the spear shattered it and turned it into spiritual essence that dispersed between heaven and earth. The clan elders watched with aching hearts.

The Shi Clan, as imperial relatives, had been granted noble titles. Though powerful, they could not afford to squander rare treasures so carelessly. Blood trickled from the old man's mouth. His body shook violently, several bones broken, as he flew sideways and crashed into a massive palace, reducing it to rubble amid a cloud of dust.

"Ziling, stop! We're family. Don't make a scene and hurt our relationship!"

A group of elders emerged from the dust, grimy and bloodstained. Their faces held both anger and shock. This nephew was far too powerful, rivaling his father.

"Hurt our relationship? My son's Supreme Bone was stolen, and he's near death, while the villainous woman's branch is still thriving. You call that no harm to our relationship?!" Shi Ziling's hair blazed with fury. Golden light surged brighter from his whole body, illuminating the land as if divine fire were burning. His voice was cold as he shouted, "You may be my uncles, but none of you is my match. Everyone except that woman's branch, stand aside. Otherwise, don't blame me for showing no mercy and slaughtering you all!"

"You..." Someone's face darkened with anger.

"Ziling, let's talk this out. Why not sit down and discuss it?" an elder urged.

"What is there left to discuss? You've already made your decision. You protect the evildoers while the victims are left to lick their wounds alone? No one even knows whether my son will survive. And you want me to sit down? Fine. Then chop up that vile woman and Shi Yi for me!"

"Outrageous! This was the decision of more than a dozen Clan Elders. Are you going to rebel against the clan?" an elder shouted. He held a feather fan wreathed in wind and thunder. With a powerful sweep, he seemed like the God of Thunder descending, and boundless violet light rushed forth.

"You're Shi Yi's granduncle?" Shi Ziling's footsteps never stopped; he charged forward without pause. Then he let out a long howl. Blazing arcs of electricity surged from his eyes, forming a storm of golden thunder.

"Crack!"

Thunder roared, filling the world with lightning as a violent explosion erupted.

The feather fan in the elder's hand burst apart. When the thunder faded, he stood charred black, smoke rising from his head, his life or death uncertain. Then a blazing golden ray shot from Shi Ziling's eyes and struck him, hurling him into a palace. He never got back up.

Everyone drew in a sharp breath. Shi Ziling was far too powerful, a true prodigy of his generation. His methods and his battle-god bearing made even the older generation seem dim by comparison. None could match him.

"Fifteenth Master really did have a fine son," someone murmured. The Fifteenth Master was famous throughout the imperial capital for his strength. Who else could kill a Primordial Remnant—a Luan Bird—with two arrows? His cultivation shook the heavens and earth!

That was precisely why he had dared to kill a pure-blooded young Pixiu on the Hundred Clans Battlefield. Many elders had guessed his intentions: he wanted to use the Pixiu's true blood to temper his grandson's body.

Now his son was just as peerless and overbearing, his strength shaking the imperial capital. Not even the older generation could defeat him. He was like a golden war god. How could anyone not tremble?

If another branch had not produced Shi Yi, born with Double Pupils and gifted with the potential of an ancient sage or divine being, Shi Ziling would undoubtedly have become the clan's standard-bearer.

In truth, even with Shi Yi's birth, Shi Ziling's branch was bound to rise. No one could conceal its brilliance, for his youngest son had been born with the Supreme Bone.

Alas, things had ended this way. Everyone could only sigh in regret.

Boom!

Shi Ziling strode forward. Each time his foot landed, huge fissures split the ground, as if a golden giant were on the move, unstoppable.

"Bind him!" an elder shouted, holding a vine. It was a treasure formed from a powerful plant spirit. Its whole length was dark brown, but now it glimmered with light.

With a boom, the ground between the palaces was pierced. One spiritual vine after another shot up, glowing like treasures and resembling dragons as they rushed madly toward Shi Ziling, trying to bind him.

"Pathetic tricks! Anyone from your branch who stands in my way will die!" Shi Ziling roared.

He strode forward like a dragon, his might soaring to the heavens. In an instant, his hair lengthened, each strand crystalline and glowing gold. Like a sun god, he shone so brilliantly that his entire body blazed.

"Boom!"

His dense golden hair cascaded like a waterfall, surging toward them and sweeping all before it. It pulverized every glowing spiritual vine, then struck the treasure in the elder's hand.

With a puff, the precious vine burst apart and burned to ash. His forceful methods left the crowd staring dumbfounded, their bodies going cold.

"Get out of the way!"

Shi Ziling shouted and swept his spear. Blood sprayed as he sent the elder flying, smashing through a rockery in a gush of blood.

"Ziling, you've fallen into madness! Stop at once!" a group of elders cried.

"If seeking justice for my youngest son makes me mad, then today I may as well descend into hell and become a demon!" Shi Ziling roared. His hair whipped wildly as he bathed in blazing golden light and strode forward. No one could stand against him.

The Golden War Spear swept through the air, sending blood spurting a dozen feet high. Anyone who dared block him was killed outright. Everyone involuntarily backed away, their faces pale.

"Set up the runes! Seal off this place and suppress him!"

By now, they had entered the residence of Shi Yi's branch. Its members were frantic, laying down a killing formation with Treasure Bones and other materials to suppress Shi Ziling.

"I'd like to see who can stop me!" Shi Ziling was like an unrivaled demon king. His murderous aura soared into the sky, and the light in his eyes made the older generation tremble. They all retreated. None dared meet his gaze. Holding his spear, Shi Ziling covered dozens of yards with every step as he charged forward and battered whole rows of the opposing branch's palaces to pieces.

"Suppress him!"

Treasure Bones shone as runes intertwined across the ground and filled the sky, forming a Heavenly Net that was about to trap and suppress Shi Ziling.

"Roar..."

Shi Ziling went berserk, his disheveled hair surging toward the sky like burning divine flames. Boundless light burst from his body. He seemed cast from gold, towering between heaven and earth as he swung his spear with all his strength.

At once, the gods' chanting rang out again. Boundless power surged forth, and his art shook the heavens. Like a golden Heavenly God, he swept across the land.

"Boom!"

A violent explosion tore through the area. Broken rocks shot into the clouds, and divine light spread outward like a vast sea. Shi Ziling's battle intent soared as he swung his divine spear, smashing the entire place apart and shattering every Treasure Bone.

"Die, all of you!"

He swept his Golden War Spear. Those who had helped lay the formation flew up like scarecrows, then fell in heaps as blood sprayed everywhere. No one could stop his advance. He pressed on without hesitation.

Shi Ziling's wife carried their infant in her arms, crystalline light flowing around her as she followed close behind.

Little One was bewildered. He gazed at the figure ahead, who seemed like a god, and kept reaching out with his little hands, feeling close to him. He babbled, but could not form a single word.

His mother's nose stung, and tears shimmered in her beautiful eyes. Her once precocious child had been so lively. Now he had regressed to this state, and the pain made her heart bleed.

"Stop him!" many people cried in terror.

Shi Ziling had gone mad, utterly berserk, and they were frightened. He meant to slaughter them all!

"Kill him! Kill him!"

As a royal clan, they naturally had many servants, as well as countless death warriors. Shi Yi's branch feared that Shi Ziling would return and settle accounts with them, so they had made preparations. A dense mass of people charged over. Every one was an expert, and none feared death. They meant to bring down an elephant with a swarm of ants, hoping to exhaust Shi Ziling before killing him.

"A pack of worthless curs!"

Shi Ziling was fearless. He planted his spear in the ground and unleashed his most powerful art. At that moment, he seemed like a god being worshipped, his aura sacred and terrifying.

A world-shaking boom rang out, and boundless divine light burst forth. He seemed to stand at the world's center, with the sun, moon, and stars revolving around him. A gigantic ferocious beast appeared and swept across every direction.

"Roar..."

Its deafening roar shook the heavens. This was a peerless art. The indistinct Primordial Ferocious Beast rampaged wildly, unstoppable. Every time it brought down a claw, dozens of people died in pools of blood.

The whole place became a slaughterhouse. The massive beast was invincible. As it leaped through the air, more than a hundred experts were swiftly killed, while the rest trembled in fear.

The terrifying sight made everyone's hair stand on end. One man was facing so many powerful fighters from an opposing branch. It was almost beyond belief.

"Boom!"

At last, Shi Ziling struck as well. His whole body blazed with golden light that reached the heavens and shook the earth as he swept forward. Everyone else was sent flying, blood spraying everywhere.

In an instant, the ground ahead was empty. Not a single person remained to block his way; they had all been dealt with.

"Ziling, have you killed enough? Has some of your anger been vented?" A group of people appeared ahead. The speaker was "Fifth." Scarlet radiance surged around him like a blood phoenix undergoing nirvana, and his eyes were golden, like two lamps.

Beside him stood a child with a prominent brow and Double Pupils. Though he was young, his bearing, composure, and calmness put adults to shame.

After obtaining the Supreme Bone, Shi Yi had become even more extraordinary. As his eyes opened and closed, divine light flowed through them. His every gesture carried a hint of terrifying majesty.

Though he was still young, he already possessed a frightening aura, as if destined to rise above the teeming masses and look down on all living things, like a god descended into the world.

"Not enough!" Shi Ziling replied coldly. He glanced back at Little One, whose eyes were dull and whose life seemed to be fading. His heart ached. Pointing his spear at those ahead, he said, "Unless my son recovers, blood must pay for blood! What you've done is so vile that even heaven cannot tolerate it. You broke one of my son's bones. I'll make you repay it with a hundred!"

"Ziling, no one wanted this to happen. Name your price for compensation, but you can't cripple our clan." The elder spoke calmly. "Fifth Master, what are you saying?!" Shi Ziling's eyes blazed as he stood with the Golden War Spear in hand, glaring at the group of experts opposite him. "They stole my son's Supreme Bone, leaving him to regress until he's near death, while the calamity at the heart of it has become a pillar of the clan. How can you say such a thing with a straight face?!"

"Fifth" ranked fifth in their generation. His name was Shi Yuan, he was a generation above Shi Ziling's father, and he was a Clan Elder with unfathomably profound cultivation.

"Ziling, let's set aside the rights and wrongs for now. Don't lose your temper. Sit down and talk it through. We'll give you an answer you'll be satisfied with." Shi Yuan's eyes opened and closed, divine light flowing within them. His aura was intimidating.

"Don't give me that!" How could Shi Ziling not know the clan had already made its decision? How could anything be changed now? He said coldly, "Put everything else aside. Hand over Hao's Supreme Bone."

The faces of the group opposite him changed. They were all powerful members of Shi Yuan's branch, dozens of them. There was no way they would agree to this demand. They would never hand over the Supreme Bone.

"Ziling, the Supreme Bone has already been removed. It can no longer be joined to him. We'll compensate you with something else," Shi Yuan said evenly.

"Whether it can be joined to him is none of your concern. What belongs to Hao is no one else's to take!" Shi Ziling shouted. A knot of rage swelled in his chest. The bone had belonged to an infant, yet others had snatched it away.

"No!" Shi Yuan shook his head firmly. "For the prosperity of our clan, we can't do that. A Heaven-born Supreme cannot be allowed to vanish."

"You say no?" Shi Ziling stood like a towering wave, his eyes glinting with lightning as he strode forward with his spear, glaring at them. "Then I'll take it myself!"

His gaze locked onto Shi Yi. The Golden War Spear in his hand pointed toward the boy's chest, radiating brilliance as runes rumbled like thunder. He was truly about to attack.

On either side of Shi Yuan, numerous experts gripped their weapons, fury in their eyes, ready to fight. They would not let the Heaven-born Double Pupil genius die young. They would fight here and now.

"Good! Good! Good!" Shi Ziling repeated, his anger surging as the golden light in his eyes intensified.

"Ziling, you can make any other demand, but you must not harm Yi'er." Shi Yuan stepped forward, his gait steady. Scarlet light surged around him, his power astonishing, like a river rising into a sea. He was a peerless expert, famous not only throughout the clan but across the entire imperial capital.

Shi Ziling raised his spear. What else was there to say? Only battle. One divine rune after another appeared around the Golden War Spear, seemingly cast from metal, their cold texture radiating peerless might.

"Kill!"

Shi Ziling charged forward. His spear quivered, shaking the entire sky, and the symbols seemed alive as they shone with divine light and pressed down.

With a thunderous boom, dozens of experts across from him were forced to retreat. It was as though a hundred thousand mountains had come crashing down, making every one of them shudder and nearly fall to their knees.

That was the difference between them. Shi Ziling was hailed as the imperial capital's prodigy, famous in every direction. They could not hope to stand against him. Only the clan's Clan Elders could fight him.

Only Shi Yuan remained in the field. The rest stumbled backward, unable even to stand. Otherwise, the pressure would have crushed their bodies to pieces.

A rumble sounded as Shi Yuan's arms shook. Like a blood phoenix striking at the heavens, scarlet light surged around him and shot skyward. His aura instantly increased tenfold, holding back the Golden War Spear's might.

Boom!

The spear shot forth like a rainbow, carrying an unstoppable force and a sky full of golden symbols. Even heaven and earth trembled.

Runes covered Shi Yuan's right hand as he struck forward. It became a divine wing wreathed in scarlet phoenix feathers, dazzlingly brilliant, and a phoenix's cry rang out, shaking the world.

The divine phoenix wing collided with the Golden War Spear. The impact was like two active volcanoes crashing together, lava surging into the sky and flames blotting out the heavens. The area became blinding, and nothing else could be seen.

The two clashed fiercely, trading dozens of blows in the blink of an eye. One was wreathed in golden light like a war god; the other bathed in scarlet radiance like a Primordial Ferocious Blood Phoenix. They moved at tremendous speed, crashing into one another again and again, each collision unleashing a torrent of dazzling light.

The spectators were all horrified. Shi Ziling was so powerful that he had forced a Clan Elder into such a desperate fight. It was almost unimaginable, given how much longer the elder had cultivated! A phoenix's cry rang out, sharp enough to crack metal and stone. Palace after palace collapsed. The experts were so startled that they all channeled their runes to protect themselves, or they would surely have been injured.

Shi Yuan's hair and beard stood on end, lightning flashing in his eyes as his whole body glowed. A Primordial Ferocious Bird burst from within him, its body scarlet and its feathers brilliantly bright. It spread its wings to strike the heavens and swooped at Shi Ziling.

He had unleashed his most powerful art, his killing intent surging. The sight left the crowd horrified. The Clan Elder had actually been forced this far.

"Roar..."

A low, muffled growl sounded from Shi Ziling. Golden light burst from his whole body, and a gigantic ferocious beast appeared, filling the heavens and earth. It raised its head and roared, making all living things submit, like a king looking down upon the vast land.

The beast's shape was indistinct, but everyone knew it had to be one of the mightiest ferocious beasts. Otherwise, it could not possess such overwhelming might, enough to dominate heaven and earth.

With a thunderous boom, the enormous beast brought down a claw, covering whole stretches of palaces beneath it. Its vicious might shook every direction, leaving everyone trembling and nearly prostrate.

The Primordial Ferocious Bird cried out. Its brilliant wings swept across the sky and slashed at the beast's claw. The two clashed fiercely.

This was a contest of arts, the peak battle between two men. Neither would yield; both fought as if their lives depended on it. Vast divine light swept in every direction, shaking everyone to the core.

"Granduncle, strike his left ribs!" Just then, Shi Yi spoke. Divine light flowed in his Double Pupils, and though he was very young, he had a terrifying presence. His eyes could see through the origins of many things in the world. He spotted an opening in Shi Ziling and called it out at once, reminding his granduncle to attack his weakness.

Boom!

Lightning shot from Shi Yuan's eyes as he urged his art onward. The Primordial Ferocious Bird immediately swooped down and struck at Shi Ziling's left ribs, aiming to exploit the opening.

"Roar..."

But the massive Primordial Ferocious Beast let out a roar that shook the mountains and rivers, instantly blocking the terrifying bird, which was like a phoenix. It brought down a claw, and heaven and earth trembled.

"Granduncle, attack beneath the beast's left armpit!" Shi Yi spoke again. His eyes were unfathomably deep, threads of divine light shooting from them as a mysterious, terrifying power flowed.

With a rumble, the Primordial Ferocious Bird attacked once more. Its wings spread, its beak opened, and it spewed forth boundless radiance. Even a single ray bursting outward could destroy a group of experts.

Thump!

The ferocious beast raised its giant claw and struck the bird's beak directly, blocking all the radiance and preventing it from breaking through.

"Hit its chest!" Shi Yi barked again, his eyes blazing brighter, like two divine lamps flaring to life. The aura rolling off him made many people's hearts pound with fear.

With a rumble, the primordial vicious bird swept its feathers out, swift and ferocious, striking at the beast's chest. It missed again and nearly got hit by the enormous beast claw before darting away.

"No good! He's too fast!" Sweat beaded on Shi Yi's forehead as he kept pointing out weaknesses, but Shi Ziling remained utterly indifferent, striking like lightning. His mastery of the Treasure Bone technique was as elusive as a celestial antelope's horns—leaving no trace to follow.

Shi Yi possessed Double Pupils and could see the origins of many things, finding their flaws. But even with his guidance, he couldn't keep up with Shi Ziling's speed.

"Fifth Master, you're no match for me!" Shi Ziling said. Light burst from his body, brighter than before. The enormous beastly apparition surged in size at Extreme Speed, then exploded into primordial vicious beast runes that rushed into his body and fused with him.

Radiant and dazzling, he strode forward with the war spear in hand. Each step shook the earth. He thrust the spear out at Extreme Speed, and its golden light pierced through the primordial vicious bird, killing it with a single blow.

Boom!

The golden spearhead swept around and surged forward. Fear showed on Shi Yuan's face as he dodged at Extreme Speed, but it was already too late. Runes wrapped around the spear's keen edge and pierced his shoulder.

Shi Yuan roared and poured all his strength into concentrating every rune on his shoulder. Dazzling light enveloped him as he was sent flying. Mysterious symbols wove together to stop the wound from spreading, but a bloody hole pierced right through his shoulder.

Anyone else would have been left cracked all over, then blown apart. Even a master of great skill would probably have lost the entire arm. But Shi Yuan's Treasure Bone technique was astounding: it sealed the wound. His arm was nearly useless, but at least it hadn't been shattered.

Even so, he had lost the strength to fight. He looked ten years older as he fell into the crowd, unable to battle any longer.

The Clan Elder had been defeated. No one from Shi Yuan's branch could stand against Shi Ziling. The sight was staggering. How old was he, really? He was barely in his twenties, yet he had already overpowered the strongest members of the clan!

The courtyard fell silent. The people of Shi Yuan's branch were terrified.

Shi Ziling walked forward, step by step, the Golden War Spear in his hand pointed ahead. He fixed his gaze on Shi Yi and said, "My dear nephew, were you the one who told your mother Hao had a Supreme Bone in his body? Such a deep, calculating mind."

Shi Yi said nothing. He stood where he was, divine light flickering in his eyes.

"When the clan wanted to punish your mother, did you threaten to kill yourself so they wouldn't take her life? I wonder if you'll really slit your own throat with a blade when I kill her here today." Shi Ziling spoke calmly.

"Clan Elders, are you not going to act?" someone cried.

Shi Ziling did not turn around. He had known from the moment he attacked that the Clan Elders had already set out. Using the Treasure Bone of a Primordial Remnant, they had sealed off the entire mansion to keep the sounds of battle and shouts from reaching the outside.

"Ziling, whatever the wrongs, they were all our fault. This wicked woman is right here; kill her or punish her as you please. But you must not touch Yi'er." At that moment, several Clan Elders appeared together.

Each of them was astonishingly powerful, venerable experts who had lived in seclusion for many years and were several generations older than Shi Ziling. Their eyes shone like little suns. They were the true powerhouses of the clan.

A bound woman was brought before them.

"Sister-in-law, is your heart red or black?" Shi Ziling gritted his teeth, then shouted, "You're truly a heartless ingrate!"

Not far away, Shi Yi's face was cold. His Double Pupils shone, and the aura he gave off was astonishingly fierce, so chilling that everyone shuddered.

Shi Ziling continued, "I told you: if you break one of my son's bones, I'll break a hundred of yours. Today, even the King of Heaven himself couldn't stop me!"

The young woman raised her head, her expression cold. She said nothing, but inside she was terrified and filled with regret. Her family had already sent their strongest experts to intercept and kill this couple. How had they still managed to return alive?

"I'll make you watch!" Shi Ziling shouted. He spun around and faced Shi Yi, then raised the Golden War Spear and swung it like an iron staff.

"How dare you!" a Clan Elder roared.

"Ziling, stop! You mustn't hurt Yi'er. We can discuss everything else!" another Clan Elder shouted.

"Shi Ziling, are you rebelling?" A Clan Elder who favored Shi Yuan's branch berated him even louder.

They all moved to stop him at once, unleashing their Treasure Bone techniques together. The heavens blazed with light.

"So what if I am? I said no one could stop me!" Shi Ziling roared. The Golden War Spear in his hand kept swinging down, its course unchanged as it crashed toward Shi Yi.

But a group of clan elders stood in his way, unleashing every kind of Treasure Bone technique. Runes sealed off the path as the spear descended.

Shi Ziling shook his arm. Runes wove together in intricate patterns along the golden war spear, releasing a strange power.

"Not good!" All the Clan Elders were shocked.

They sensed a secret force passing through their Treasure Bone techniques and traveling onward, striking at Shi Yi. Though it weakened as it passed through them, it was still terrifying.

"What kind of Treasure Bone technique is this?" they wondered in alarm. It had never been recorded in the clan. It was bizarre, passing through their bodies and their techniques to strike beyond them. They were too late to stop it.

"Ah..."

Shi Yi cried out as his body flew sideways and smashed into an ornamental rockery. Blood covered him, and the bones in his body crackled as more than a hundred snapped in an instant!

"Yi'er!" The young woman screamed in terror. Then she abruptly raised her head, her face twisted with fury as she glared at Shi Ziling. "My father and the others won't let you get away with this!"

A flash of golden light streaked by. Shi Ziling coldly hurled the Golden War Spear in his hand. With a whoosh, it pierced through her body and carried her dozens of yards away before pinning her to the ground.

Silence fell. Everyone trembled! What kind of power was this? Several Clan Elders had joined forces, yet still failed to stop Shi Ziling. He stood between heaven and earth like a war god, bathed in dazzling light, utterly unstoppable.

The young woman bled beneath the spear, its golden shaft still trembling. His killing stroke was terrifying.

More than a hundred bones in Shi Yi's body were broken, and cold sweat drenched him. When he looked up and saw the young woman, two astonishing beams of light shot from his pupils. A low growl rumbled from his throat.

It sounded nothing like the voice of a child. There was a chill in it, anger, and a savage edge that made everyone feel cold.

Shi Ziling was astonished. Even though several Clan Elders had blocked his strongest strike, cutting off more than nine-tenths of its power, it was still not something an ordinary person could withstand.

He was only a child, not yet four, yet he was this astonishing. Though a hundred bones were broken, his spirit and vital energy had not diminished; if anything, he had grown fiercer, like a divine furnace ablaze. Shi Ziling had never seen anything like it.

"Yi'er!"

Several Clan Elders shouted and turned into streaks of lightning, reaching him in an instant. They gathered around him and shielded him. They were all horrified. This was a Double Pupil bearer, endowed with the qualities of ancient saints and divine beings, and he had also fused with a Supreme Bone. He was destined to rise and rule the ancient kingdom. How could they let anything happen to him?!

"Ziling, how could you do this?" a Clan Elder demanded.

"Shi Ziling, you've gone too far! How could you bring yourself to hurt Yi'er? You're truly made of stone. Do you mean to cripple our clan?" A Clan Elder who favored Shi Yuan's branch rebuked him, voice and expression severe.

Everyone grew frantic. The Double Pupil bearer could not die, nor could a born supreme be lost. The cost would be too great. They were the hope that would let their clan look down on the world.

"Who ever pitied my son?" Shi Ziling said calmly. Yet the cold in his voice and expression made everyone tremble. His fury had clearly reached its limit.

Little One had been clever and adorable. The Supreme Bone had been his from birth, and he should have been able to look down on all beneath heaven. But someone had stolen his Treasure Bone. His body had severely regressed; he could no longer recognize even those closest to him, had forgotten how to speak, and lay at death's door, barely clinging to life.

How could Shi Ziling accept it? How could he not rage? His grief and fury drove him almost mad. Hearing them scold him, he looked at them with terrifyingly cold eyes. Who had ever pitied Little One? Why had they never shown him this much concern?

Two golden beams shot from Shi Ziling's eyes like lightning streaking across the sky. The crowd was so startled that they stumbled backward, unable to speak. Some of the Clan Elders felt ashamed and fell silent.

"Little One is so pitiful..." At last, someone sighed and said.

Born with a Supreme Bone, he should have welcomed a glorious future, yet instead he had been secretly harmed. That innocent, kind child had met such a heartbreaking fate.

"Ziling, whatever happened, stop now," an old man urged.

The other Clan Elders crouched down to examine Shi Yi's condition. So long as he was alive, they would heal his injuries, whatever the cost.

Strands of rosy light flowed from Shi Yi's eyes. The sight was strange. Slowly, they wrapped around him as if forming a cocoon, nourishing his body. His bones crackled and the broken pieces returned to place.

They could not be rejoined immediately, but he was no longer limp. He could sit up now. His eyes were deep as a sea of stars, and his Double Pupils radiated mysterious power as rosy light continued to flow from them.

The sight shocked everyone. Many stared, dumbfounded.

"What a Double Pupil bearer—more powerful than the legends say!" a Clan Elder exclaimed in amazement.

A hum rang out as holy light spread across his chest. His bleeding wounds all sealed, and the bones throughout his body shifted with a sound like divine music, as if they were about to mend completely. This was the power of the Supreme Bone. Everyone stared in disbelief. It had been implanted less than two months ago, yet it was already this terrifying. Truly worthy of its name!

Shi Ziling's heart ached. That was Hao's bone, yet it was showing such astonishing power in someone else's body. How heaven-defying would it be once it had fully grown?

"Ziling, stop," a Clan Elder urged.

"Shi Ziling, stop now, or we'll suppress you today!" The Clan Elder who favored Shi Yuan's branch was less accommodating, coldness in his eyes.

Shi Ziling beckoned. The spear that had pinned the young woman to the ground tore free, blazing with golden light. With a whoosh, it brought a spray of blood as it flew back.

"Mother!" Shi Yi shouted. He broke free of the Clan Elder's embrace and lunged toward her, his eyes shining with awe-inspiring radiance as he tried to heal her body.

But before he could reach her, the young woman screamed. Half her body exploded.

At the same time, Shi Ziling strode forward, the war spear pointed ahead, his killing intent chilling.

A Clan Elder immediately picked Shi Yi up and retreated. Shi Ziling was like a demon king now, killing any god or Buddha that stood in his way. They had to avoid his edge.

"Several Ancestors, you arrived long ago. Why stay hidden?" Shi Ziling suddenly asked.

The entire mansion had long been shrouded in hazy light. It came from the Treasure Bone of a Primordial Remnant, sealing off the area and preventing the sounds of battle and shouts from escaping.

Four old men appeared, seated cross-legged atop the palace buildings, one in each direction. Clouds and mist swirled around them, shrouding their figures. They resembled primordial deities from before the creation of the world, terrifying enough to make anyone tremble.

They did not make a move, yet they suppressed the four directions.

"You sealed off the area the moment I entered the mansion, before I even made a move. Since things have come to this, why haven't you acted?" Shi Ziling asked.

Anger burned in his eyes. The moment he had returned to the mansion, he had sensed that something was off and uncanny. Before he had even lost control, the clan's strongest experts had already set their plans in motion.

"Ziling, put all this aside for now. In ten years, you'll take over the Shi Mansion," one Ancestor said.

"Do you want me to clear the way for Yi'er, then hand it over to him twenty years later?" Shi Ziling's voice was cold. He glanced back at his wife and children. His youngest son had been born with a Supreme Bone, yet had ended up like this. Everything else meant nothing now.

"Ziling, you've already killed so many people. You must have vented your anger by now. Stop," another Ancestor said.

"Fine. Give my son back his Supreme Bone!" Shi Ziling roared.

The four Ancestors fell silent. Seated cross-legged, they were wreathed in mist, their forms indistinct like chaos itself. Yet their faint, terrible majesty made the world tremble.

"Shi Ziling, you've gone too far! Do you even know who you're speaking to? Those are the Ancestors of our clan. Have you no reverence at all?" a clan elder shouted.

"Get lost!" Shi Ziling roared. Even the Clan Elders had fallen to him. How dare a mere elder from a collateral branch throw his weight around? He thrust out his spear, sending out countless rays of divine light and auspicious colors. Golden runes crashed over like a sea. With a splat, the man burst apart, leaving only a cloud of blood mist!

"Shi Ziling, the clan has treated you well. The Ancestor has already promised you can take charge of the family in ten years. What more could you possibly want?" a Clan Elder said gravely.

"Try saying that after someone takes a sword to your child!" Shi Ziling shot back without the slightest courtesy.

"Then there's no choice. We'll suppress you and banish you to the desolate wilds!" someone shouted.

A towering old man stepped forward, giving it his all as he fought Shi Ziling and tried to capture him. Divine Radiance filled the place, illuminating heaven and earth beneath a blaze of light.

But in the end, the towering old man was sent flying, coughing up blood. He nearly fell to pieces and was gravely wounded.

The clan's experts had all arrived. Seeing this, they trembled. Shi Ziling was truly too strong. It would be a pity to lose such an outstanding man to another side!

The Clan Elders were all shaken, yet some still stepped forward. Three of them came out at once, unleashing their Treasure Bone techniques as they attacked.

In an instant, the place rang with thunder and wind. Divine light shot into the sky; lightning surged like a sea, and killing intent rolled in countless waves. The area became a land of ruin, holy light flying everywhere as the most powerful Treasure Bone techniques ran rampant.

"Shi Ziling, how dare you defy your elders and ancestors?" the Clan Elder who favored Shi Yuan's branch shouted as he strode forward, preparing to join the fight.

"Ninth Grandfather, carry me on your back!" Shi Yi suddenly called out, asking the Clan Elder to take him into the battle.

"You..." Shi Li exclaimed in surprise.

"I'm a Double Pupil bearer. I can channel my mysterious power into you. It'll give you a divine advantage in battle!" Shi Yi whispered into his ear.

Shi Li carried him on his back and released runes to envelop him. The two seemed to connect as one. Shi Li felt his eyes sting, then found he could see through illusions. Before his eyes, the workings and attacks of every Treasure Bone technique seemed to slow down.

Even as a Clan Elder of high status and standing, Shi Li was startled. This child truly was extraordinary. He was so young, yet already had such a technique and divine ability.

With a swish, Shi Li charged into the battle and attacked. His eyes blazed like the sun, letting him see through countless flaws as he struck with wild, domineering force.

A Treasure Bone technique soared through the air. Gorgeous runes gathered and formed a Flood Dragon Blade, its scales ominous and its claws fierce. It shot straight through, its sharp edge gleaming. It passed along the edge of Shi Ziling's hair and cut off a strand. It had been a close call.

"Good!" Shi Li's first strike had landed, and he was delighted. He secretly sent a message to the others, telling them to coordinate their attacks. With Shi Yi on his back, he unleashed a devastating flurry of powerful strikes.

Shi Yi's Double Pupils shone. Perched on the Clan Elder's back, he watched the golden war god in the battlefield with a cold gaze. Though he was very young, his eyes made everyone's hearts tremble.

Four Clan Elders fought Shi Ziling in a fierce battle, leaving the watching clanspeople on tenterhooks.

Hum.

Shi Yi sent a message, and the Clan Elder cooperated with him, drawing on his boundless vital energy to nourish himself. His Double Pupils gleamed as runes shot out and imprinted themselves densely in the air. They actually affected every Treasure Bone technique in the world around them, greatly disrupting Shi Ziling's attacks.

"So powerful!" many people exclaimed.

"This child may still be young, but he's truly extraordinary!" Even an Ancestor seated in the mist in the distance abruptly opened his eyes.

Boom!

Brilliant rosy light flashed. The four Clan Elders' attacks came down like a storm, their Treasure Bone techniques shaking the heavens. Shi Ziling's body swayed as his technique was interrupted. He nearly met with disaster. His eyes turned icy as he fixed his gaze on the others.

"Protect Yi'er!" a Clan Elder shouted, his heart gripped by fear.