Original True Interpretation

"With the four ancestors here, nothing will go wrong. I believe Yi'er's bones breaking earlier was merely a way for Ziling to vent his frustration," another Clan Elder said calmly. Shi Ziling brandished his Golden War Spear, sweeping across the sky like a flying God and Devil. With a long roar, a colossal Primordial Beast manifested within his body, charging into the fray alongside him.

"Shu!"

Shi Yi looked up, his eyes deep and profound, filled with the terrifying imagery of suns and moons rotating and galaxies falling. He shot out two brilliant beams of light, composed of dense, intricate runes, piercing toward the sky.

He once again threw the world into chaos, disrupting Shi Ziling's spellcasting, but this time it was in vain. The Golden War Spear swept out, causing the heavens and earth to resonate; ten thousand layers of golden waves surged, suppressing all directions.

With a "pfft" sound, several Clan Elders vomited blood and were sent flying. Shi Li stumbled upon landing, spitting blood with every step. He nearly threw Shi Yi off, his body trembling violently as he almost collapsed.

"Roar..." Beside Shi Ziling, that Primordial Beast also unleashed its might, shaking the heavens and earth. A sea of fierce Sha Qi expanded in all directions.

The four Clan Elders were struck again, vomiting blood once more.

"Fight again!"

The four rushed forward, surrounding him in a joint assault.

As they clashed, their Treasure Bones unleashed techniques that pierced the clouds, causing the surroundings to tremble. The area was filled with intense radiance, and Shi Ziling, like a golden deity, charged through the encirclement of the four experts, actually gaining the upper hand!

The battle reached a fever pitch. All four Clan Elders were stained with blood, yet Shi Ziling fought with increasing ferocity, his divine radiance so overwhelming that it made them feel as if they were suffocating.

Suddenly, a terrifying fluctuation emanated from Shi Li, as if an ancient divine monarch had descended, shaking the vast world. His chest was glowing.

"Hmm?" Shi Ziling was startled.

It was too sudden. This terrifying power suppressed everything, freezing the Golden War Spear in place and obliterating the Primordial Beast beside Shi Ziling.

Divine light surged in Shi Ziling's eyes like two golden bolts of lightning, shattering that dreadful fluctuation. The spear in his hand glowed once more, wreathed in vast swaths of flying runes, intimidating all directions.

"Boom!"

The Golden War Spear thrust forward, piercing the heavens. The chanting of gods rang out—so real, so sacred—as radiance spilled forth. This was an attack used as a defense!

Shi Li's attack was truly terrifying. He and Shi Yi seemed to have fused together; his chest glowed, and his entire body was covered in complex patterns, flowing with the mysteries of the heavens.

That aura was so dreadful that the other three Clan Elders vomited blood and stumbled backward, horrified. Even though it wasn't aimed at them, the impact was still devastating.

In the distance, the spectators felt as if they had been struck by hammers. Their bodies shook violently, forcing them to retreat involuntarily. Those closer to the fray had blood spilling from their lips, their breathing nearly stopping, unable to resist the urge to kneel.

"It is Hao's Supreme Bone!" Shi Ziling's gaze turned cold to the extreme, his hair standing on end with rage.

Shi Li carried Shi Yi on his back, the two of them fused together, forcibly driving that bone to unleash such divine might, shocking everyone present.

However, it was only this one strike. Shi Li's essence, energy, and spirit were completely drained. Unable to withstand the strain, he coughed up blood incessantly, his body convulsing as cracks appeared across his skin.

As for Shi Yi on his back, a cracking sound came from his chest. The bone that had been grafted into him was shaken loose again. He suffered heavy injuries and backlash; the Supreme Bone had not yet truly grown into him and should not have been used in such a manner.

Shi Ziling's entire body burned with golden light like fire, filling the firmament. His strength made the others tremble. He remained unscathed, having endured the attack of the Treasure Bone, and pressed forward.

"Dong!"

With one step, the world shook. Like a god of slaughter breaking his shackles, he dispelled the auspicious aura, his body radiating bone-chilling killing intent as he swept his spear forward.

The three Clan Elders were knocked away, covered in blood, falling into the crowd and never rising again. They didn't know how many bones had shattered, and they could no longer even condense their runes.

As for Shi Li, he faced Shi Ziling's most powerful strike. The spear tip shone like a golden dragon flying from beyond the heavens, piercing through his protective treasure and drawing a massive spray of blood.

With a "pfft," half of his body exploded. The excruciating pain made him tremble, and his runes were instantly obliterated, rendering them useless. His eyes were filled with terror.

Shi Ziling, like an ancient God King bathed in radiance, took a step forward. The golden spear tip pointed ahead, intending to pierce through both Shi Li and Shi Yi, pinning them to the ground.

"Ziling, it is time to stop." At this moment, the ancestor in the far west moved. Still sitting cross-legged, he moved with the speed of lightning, arriving in an instant. His entire body radiated mist, his figure blurred, and he extended a hand to block the terrifying spear tip, shielding the two. In truth, they had been there all along; ever since Shi Ziling and his wife stepped into the mansion, they had been moving, sealing off the area.

When Shi Ziling first entered the clan, he had felt the strange atmosphere and sensed the presence of the four ancestors. He had already sensed that something was wrong.

The four possessed profound cultivation, their limits impossible to fathom. With them present, seeking justice through force was nearly impossible. No one knew how many years they had been cultivating.

"Ancestor, is this how you uphold justice?" Shi Ziling shouted.

"I know you feel aggrieved, and the clan has failed Hao, but please believe that we will certainly compensate you," the ancestor said.

Just then, mist swirled as the other three ancestors manifested, trapping him in the center, all of them remaining silent.

"I do not accept this!" Shi Ziling roared. His body glowed, his Golden War Spear pointed diagonally toward the southern sky, and runes erupted from his body. He unleashed his strongest Treasure Technique, determined to fight.

Everyone was moved. To dare challenge the ancestors was a first in the clan for many years. To see him act this way made them tremble at Shi Ziling's strength!

"Ziling, you have gone too far. If you insist on fighting, do not blame us for suppressing you!" one ancestor spoke.

"Then let us fight!" Shi Ziling swung his spear, his body brilliant, runes intertwining. The Primordial Beast surged forth, his Treasure Technique shocking the world as he launched his most powerful assault.

The sky seemed to be torn asunder, a vast expanse of dazzling holy light that made it impossible to look directly at the scene. Everyone was trembling, wanting to kneel under such divine might.

"Suppress!" The ancestors struck.

The most terrifying battle erupted in this place, earth-shattering and soul-stirring. Every person felt their soul shivering, gripped by waves of fear.

"I cannot see..." In Stone Village, before the great willow tree, Little One was covered in tears. He could not see the battle.

"Because you are still too young to perceive a battle of that level." The willow tree transmitted its voice, chaos energy swirling. The area remained blurred and hazy.

"I want to keep watching. I must know the outcome." Little One clenched his fists. Even though he knew this was something that had already happened, his heart remained incredibly tense.

In the Shi Mansion, the radiance was blinding. All sorts of holy light danced, obscuring the sun and sky, covering the entire mansion until nothing could be seen.

"A meeting of minds!" Finally, Little One's mother joined the battle. Holding him, she charged into the fray, joining forces with Shi Ziling to unleash their Treasure Technique, shaking the Imperial Capital.

Unfortunately, Little One could see nothing. All that met his eyes was light and Treasure Techniques, so brilliant it made one's heart tremble. The entire world had been dyed a pale gold by the sacred radiance.

In the end, likely due to extreme weakness, he collapsed into his mother's arms and lost consciousness. Before his large eyes closed, he caught a glimpse of the older boy outside the battlefield.

Although Shi Yi had suffered broken bones throughout his body, his spirit and vitality remained undiminished. His Double Pupil was deep and piercing as he stared at Shi Ziling with a chilling coldness. He then turned his head to look at Little One, the corners of his mouth curling upward. His eyes held a brilliance that seemed to look down upon the world, dazzling and bright. He only glanced at Little One once before losing interest.

Because Little One was on the verge of death and had lost his Supreme Bone, he was considered a waste for this life, not worth any further attention.

For a long time afterward, Little One remained in a daze, hovering between life and death. He was so frail that his life force seemed ready to wither away at any moment, and he remained unaware of what had transpired.

When he finally awoke, he had already arrived in a desolate, bitter land, far removed from the vast ancient kingdom and the bustling imperial capital. The contrast between the two scenes was like heaven and earth.

They had come to a sprawling but dilapidated manor. This was the place where the ancestor who revitalized the Shi Clan had grown up, and it was considered the Second Ancestral Land.

"Ziling, you truly are remarkable!" An old man with white hair and beard slapped the ancient table, looking both agitated and furious. "If I were fifty years younger and possessed your strength, I would have gone to the imperial capital to wreak havoc! Do they think our branch has no one left to stand up for us?!"

Shi Ziling shook his head, his face somewhat pale.

An elderly man of great age spoke up: "To think they would exile you to this bitter, desolate place—they have gone too far! And you are still so young!"

"Indeed. They call it the Second Ancestral Land, but what is it really? It is desolate and freezing, not a blessed land for cultivation or long-term residence at all!"

The dilapidated Second Ancestral Land was situated on the desolate frontier; only clansmen who had committed grave errors or caused great disasters were exiled here.

"This was the agreement I made with them. Hao will recover from his injuries here," Shi Ziling said.

"That is no different from being exiled!" an old man said indignantly, then asked in confusion, "What exactly did they give you in return?" "If Hao can recover his vigorous vitality, they will return the Supreme Bone immediately," Shi Ziling replied.

"Child, how can you believe them? This is just a stalling tactic! Even if Hao survives this illness, it is impossible for him to nourish the Supreme Bone again!" an old man lamented, beating his chest.

Aside from the servants, there were four special elders here. All of them had been renowned figures in their day and held high seniority, but they had been exiled to this desolate land after committing grave mistakes.

If not for the fear of implicating their descendants, they would have fled long ago. Their cultivation bases were terrifying, but as years passed, they had all entered their twilight years, with little life left.

"The Fourth Ancestor bypassed everyone and privately gave me a fragmented map. He said that if I could find the true ancestral land of our clan, perhaps I could restore Hao there," Shi Ziling whispered.

On the other side, his wife looked on with sorrow, holding the frail Little One. Her beautiful face had not worn a smile for a long time.

"What? The true ancestral land of our clan?" The elders' eyes widened. That was no ordinary place; it was shrouded in mystery and legend. The ancestors of the Shi Clan had emerged from there, creating endless glory and establishing an ancient kingdom.

They were all stirred. That ancestral land tugged at the hearts of many in the Shi Clan, filled with too many mysteries. It was rumored that it could give birth to gods! However, hindered by ancestral teachings, they had severed ties with it, and eventually, it became impossible to find.

"Is this true? Are they not just deceiving you?" one elder asked, skeptical.

"Regardless, I must try. I will do my utmost to restore Hao!" Shi Ziling's expression was resolute.

"And what if you cannot find it?" an elder reminded him.

"Then I will seek out the Primordial Divine Mountain. I will traverse the wilderness to harvest a holy medicine. I will never let Hao fall into ruin like this!" Shi Ziling declared.

Beside him, his wife nodded, her beautiful eyes filled with determination as she held Little One tighter.

The elders were startled and spoke up, warning him solemnly.

"Ziling, do not act recklessly. The Primordial Divine Mountain is not a place to be trifled with. It may be inhabited by supreme creatures like the True Hou or the Golden-Winged Dapeng. You will lose your life!"

Shi Ziling continued to study the fragmented map. Unless it was an absolute last resort, he would naturally not enter the Primordial Divine Mountain, pinning his hopes on finding the ancestral land instead.

"If Hao dies, I will surely fight them to the death, even if it means tearing the heavens and earth apart!" Shi Ziling's gaze was piercing, revealing a terrifying aura.

"According to the agreement, Hao is supposed to stay here to recover. They do not trust you; they want to keep track of your movements, fearing you might strike back directly," an elder said.

"I will not leave Hao here!" Shi Ziling was naturally not a rigid man.

"How about this: do not give them an excuse. Perhaps you really can heal Hao. I will find a child to take his place. We must retrieve the Supreme Bone in the future!"

Later, Shi Ziling and his wife endured countless hardships until they found Stone Village. Upon seeing the charred willow tree, they were truly shocked; they were powerful enough to recognize the extraordinary nature of the tree.

However, they were deeply disappointed by everything else in the ancestral land of Stone Village.

A gust of wind blew, and the mist gradually dispersed. Under the willow tree, Little One stood all alone, his face covered in tears.

After a long time, the willow tree transmitted its voice: "How do you feel?"

"I feel so much pain. Father, Mother, where are you now?" Little One wept continuously.

"You are indeed a kind child, not driven to lose your reason by hatred or clamoring for revenge." The willow tree transmitted, then spoke again: "You have lost your Supreme Bone; do you not hate? Shi Yi is surely shining with world-shocking brilliance now, shrouded in endless divine rings, beyond the reach of ordinary people."

Little One naturally knew that Shi Yi's future was destined to far exceed the mundane, with a radiance that would illuminate the earth—that much was imaginable.

He spoke calmly: "Is it not just a piece of bone? A supreme being is not granted by a title, nor is it decided by a piece of bone; it is something one carves out for oneself, step by step."

"Since you can say such things, I will tell you a secret." The willow tree sounded gratified.

"What secret?" Little One was startled.

"Have you ever seen plants wither and then flourish again?" the willow tree asked.

"I have, of course." Little One nodded softly. "The autumn wind cuts the yellow leaves, the wildfire burns the withered grass, the cold wind howls, and in spring, the branches sprout anew," the willow tree transmitted.

Plants withering and flourishing again was the most natural thing in the world, but at this moment, it touched Little One deeply. He understood what the willow tree meant.

"Willow Deity, are you saying that the Supreme Bone in my body still has a day of rebirth?" Little One's large eyes were bright, glistening with tears, his youthful face filled with burgeoning vitality.

"Nothing in this world is absolute. I am merely speaking of a possibility." The willow tree did not deny it.

Little One immediately clenched his small fists, his large eyes flashing with a brilliant light. There was a longing, a sense of anticipation.

Although he was cheerful and did not believe that a single Supreme Bone could define his life, the thought that it had been his birthright—something that could have allowed him to rival the True Hou and the Golden-Winged Dapeng—only to be cruelly ripped away and bloodily implanted into another, still left him feeling a profound sense of loss.

It was as if a ray of dawn had shone into his heart, brightening it significantly and stoking his fighting spirit to a new, vigorous height.

"Willow Deity, could you explain in more detail? Please, guide me through this confusion." The Little One's large eyes were bright and clear, black and white distinct; he looked both childish and radiant.

"In truth, there is little to say. The simplest and most plain truths are contained within ordinary things. An ancient tree snaps and may die because its vitality has long been exhausted. Yet, like chives, which are yellow and thin when first planted, they grow ever greener and thicker after being harvested again and again. Or like a silkworm; if it remains trapped in its cocoon, it will surely suffocate and perish, but if it breaks through, it transforms into a butterfly, vibrant and beautiful. This is a nirvana, a transcendence of the past."

The Willow Deity spoke calmly, its voice unruffled, describing matters that could not be more ordinary.

The Little One's large eyes grew even brighter as he looked at its charred trunk and the single, tender green branch that remained. "It is the same for you, Willow Deity. You are renewing your vitality amidst destruction and will be even stronger in the future. This is a form of tempering, a unique path of cultivation. After this nirvana, you will surely far surpass what you once were."

"Your comprehension is excellent, but as for my situation... you should not let your imagination run wild." The willow tree transmitted its voice, carrying a faint hint of a smile—a rare display of emotional fluctuation.

"Willow Deity, was it you who saved me?" The Little One seemed to recall something; back then, he had been so weak, his body suffering from severe regression, nearly to the point of death.

A mountain breeze blew, and the verdant branch swayed. The willow tree transmitted, "Had I provided you with vitality, you would have merely survived to live a mediocre life. At first, I simply watched in silence."

"I survived on my own?" The Little One was astonished.

"Yes. When you were on the verge of exhaustion, your vitality reappeared, growing bit by bit until you finally pulled through on your own. I did not need to intervene," the willow tree stated truthfully.

"Plants wither and then flourish; so, I persisted through it myself." The Little One seemed to grasp something, his black-gem-like eyes shining even brighter.

The willow tree had been moved back then, watching the Little One spark life from the brink of exhaustion. Its own situation was similar, and it had felt a sense of shared fate.

"I must warn you, nothing is absolute. Although you survived on your own and birthed vibrant vitality, whether you can truly regenerate the Supreme Bone remains to be seen."

"I understand!" The Little One nodded earnestly, not blindly optimistic, for he had yet to feel the Treasure Bone emerge within his body.

The Willow Deity continued, "But once it regenerates, it is destined to shake the past and present. By achieving nirvana on your original foundation, the runes will become even more profound, containing the secrets of the heavens, transcending the past—it will be entirely different!"

The chaotic mist dissipated, and the village entrance returned to tranquility. A streak of golden light darted over; the round, golden-fist-sized Furball landed on the Little One's shoulder, squeaking incessantly.

The village chief and a large group of people gathered around. Seeing the tears on the Little One's face, Aunt Hu and the others offered words of comfort, helping him wipe them away, showing him great affection.

"Little One, this is your home. Regardless of whether you know your origins, we are all your kin," a group of middle-aged women said.

A group of burly men reached out with rough hands to ruffle his hair, grinning broadly. "It's nothing to worry about. Our Stone Village has even birthed gods. In the future, you will surely be a powerhouse capable of battling the ancient ferocious beast—the Golden-Winged Dapeng. You must know, that is a creature capable of slaughtering gods."

"Don't cry, Little One. You still have us. We are brothers who grew up together; whatever happens, we will face it together!" a group of children also shouted.

"Mm!" The Little One wiped away his tears and nodded firmly. His clansmen treated him well, allowing him to grow up happy and joyful; his childhood had not been filled with hatred.

Of course, he would eventually have to visit that ancient kingdom to demand an explanation!

"Grandpa, I want to become stronger!" The Little One had never craved power as he did today, yet his cultivation in Stone Village had reached its peak; there was nothing left for him to learn.

That ancient kingdom ruled over vast mountains and rivers, spanning hundreds of millions of miles with an unimaginable population. It was surely a place where geniuses emerged in droves, with heroes appearing in every generation.

His "older brother" was an even more dazzling sun within that kingdom, his brilliance destined to illuminate the entire land. As a possessor of the Double Pupil, his aptitude was equal to that of ancient sages and gods, and with the addition of his stolen Supreme Bone, he would be like a heavenly deity once he matured!

Shi Yi was nearly ten years old now and must already be famous throughout the Imperial Capital.

Facing such an "older brother" who was the focus of all eyes, destined to vie with the heavens and contend with the ancient Heaven-Tier Primordial Ferocious Beast—the True Hou—the Little One felt immense pressure.

"Becoming stronger... It is a pity that our clan's heritage has been lost. This is the ancestral land; it should have passed down the most terrifying bone runes and treasure techniques, yet they have all vanished in the passage of time," the chief sighed, filled with regret.

But immediately after, his heart pounded violently as he touched the bone hidden in his robes, unable to calm down.

When the crowd dispersed, leaving only Shi Yunfeng, the Little One, and the golden Zhu Yan, the chief became incredibly solemn. He pulled the Little One under the willow tree and said, "Child, I can no longer teach you; you are a true heaven-sent prodigy. But I have a bone here. The symbols upon it are so profound that a single glance is enough to make one vomit blood. I have never dared to let you see it for fear of you suffering grave injury, but now that I have nothing left to teach you, this is all that remains. If you look at it, you must be careful!" The old chief took out a bone with extreme caution. It was lustrous and white, like a piece of mutton-fat jade the size of a palm, indescribably crystalline, pure, and translucent.

Though small, it was densely packed with countless symbols. Vaguely, it seemed as if the chanting of gods and devils echoed from it, causing one's blood to churn.

It was shocking; it was clearly just a bone, yet it was this astonishing the moment it was revealed.

"Do not stare at it constantly. Look for a moment, then gaze into the distance for a while, or you will hurt yourself," the old chief warned sternly.

"Mm, Grandpa Chief, I understand." The Little One took it into his hands and gently stroked it. It felt incredibly smooth and cool, a chill seeping into his bones; it was very comfortable to hold.

Without needing to be told, this bone clearly had an astonishing origin. One look revealed it was no ordinary object; it seemed to record the supreme truth of the path of bone runes.

"Squeak..." The fist-sized golden Zhu Yan hopped about, very restless. Its pair of lively eyes were wide open, emitting sharp cries. It seemed desperate to snatch it away, clearly agitated and anxious upon seeing the bone.

"Grandpa, how did you obtain this? This Treasure Bone does not seem simple." The Little One asked.

"Of course!" The chief's voice trembled as he mentioned the bone. He looked up at the massive, charred willow tree, his heart unable to stop fluttering.

"Is it related to the Willow Deity?" Little Shi Hao asked in surprise.

The chief nodded. Decades ago, on that night, thunder roared and lightning flashed. The storm was violent to the extreme, with many mountains split apart by lightning. Mountain floods surged like the sea, and beast tides stampeded—it was terrifying enough to make one tremble.

The willow tree bathed in a sea of lightning, wreathed in massive bolts as thick as mountains. Thousands of willow branches transformed into scorching divine chains that pierced the entire firmament. Finally, it snapped, charred from head to toe, and descended from the sky. Along with it, a ball of light, wrapping this lustrous white bone, fell into Stone Village.

"Ah, it fell from beyond the heavens along with the Willow Deity?" The Little One was shocked.

"Yes!" The chief nodded firmly. He was still young at the time and had witnessed it all; the shock in his heart could be imagined.

For decades, Shi Yunfeng had knelt before the willow tree many times, holding the bone in worship, but he had never received a response, not even knowing it could communicate via divine sense.

In the chief's view, perhaps the Willow Deity was only interested in the Little One, as the few times it had spoken within Stone Village were mostly related to him.

"Willow Deity, what exactly is this?" The Little One asked, unable to hold back.

The willow tree remained silent, still and soundless, offering no response. Its massive, charred trunk stood like a black monolith.

"Squeak..." The fist-sized golden Furball grew increasingly desperate, as if trying hard to recall something. Its lively eyes rolled around as it lunged at the lustrous white bone, wanting to hold it in its arms.

It was unknown how much time had passed before the willow tree finally made a sound, uttering only four words: "Original True Interpretation."

"Original True Interpretation?" The Little One was amazed. The name sounded incredibly extraordinary. Having been wrapped in a ball of light and falling to Stone Village with the Willow Deity, its origin must be heaven-shaking. The fist-sized Furball squeaked incessantly, scratching its head and ears, pouncing onto the Little One's hand. It hugged the lustrous white bone like a golden koala, refusing to let go, as if to say, This is mine, no one can take it from me!

"Please, Willow Deity, guide us. How should one cultivate the Original True Interpretation?" The chief asked on behalf of the Little One, as this concerned his future.

"To comprehend the Original True Interpretation, one must lay the most solid foundation. In one's youth, at the Blood-Moving Realm, one must be like the cub of a Heaven-Tier Primordial Ferocious Beast, using the strength of the flesh to lift a hundred thousand catties of divine iron, and one must temper their mental will until it is harder than iron. Only then will it be possible!" The willow tree spoke, uttering words that made the old chief's heart tremble.