Eternal Principles Unfolded

"From the distant Supreme, at mankind's beginning. The imperial order was first established, and eternal principles spread far and wide." The clan chief's voice was low as he gazed over the boundless Great Wilderness, his thoughts drifting to that vanished archaic age. "Grandpa Clan Chief, what does that mean? I don't understand." Little Dot was eager to learn. His obsidian eyes blinked, filled with yearning light.

Shi Yunfeng stroked his head and said, "In that distant archaic era, mankind was still in its infancy. The path of great balance had only begun to take root, while eternal principles had already been set forth."

The old clan chief explained slowly, clearing away Little Dot's doubts from their very source. He told him everything he knew, allowing a longing to arise within the boy's heart. This was, in effect, "planting the Dao."

Shi Yunfeng was not especially powerful, but because of his nature, he had done this instinctively. He had been like this ever since Shi Hao was very young. It truly was no different from "planting the Dao."

"The order and truths of nature are laid out within heaven and earth. All things possess spirit, and certain intelligent races favored by heaven are even more representative of this. The true meaning of the Dao finds tangible expression in them."

"Grandpa Clan Chief, do you mean those primitive runes? The marks branded upon the precious bones of archaic descendants?" Little Dot's eyes were exceptionally lively.

"You're very clever." The clan chief smiled and praised him.

"The ancient forebears of mankind noticed these things long ago. In their life-and-death struggles against primordial beasts, they gradually explored certain laws of heaven and earth. Through the remains of the most powerful creatures, they slowly came to understand some simple divine abilities."

Bone Script had gradually developed because of this. Humanity borrowed the methods of other races, exploring the order of heaven and earth, and finally rose step by step from weakness into prosperity.

"Unfortunately, there are pitifully few true supreme beings among mankind, while the archaic ferocious beasts are simply too powerful. So long as one appeared, it could wipe out several of humanity's great super-clans with a mere lift of its hand."

Compared to them, humanity was still very weak. Many races stood high above them, as though they were gods!

In truth, the ancient forebears had beliefs and often worshipped deities. Yet what they truly worshipped was some incomparably powerful creature.

"Grandpa Clan Chief, tell me more." Little Dot longed to learn more about the past and about those ferocious beasts as powerful as deities.

"What I know is limited too. Your grandpa only traveled eighty thousand li beyond here. It may sound astonishing, but who knows how many stretches of eighty thousand li lie within our region alone? Conservatively speaking, one would have to travel at least several million li before possibly reaching its end."

Shi Yunfeng spoke softly. The places he had visited seemed vast, but compared with this great region, they were merely one corner. As for the mysterious world beyond the end of the land, or those other great regions, they were simply beyond comprehension.

"Studying a hundred thousand scrolls of teachings is not as good as traveling a hundred thousand li. One day, if you become strong enough, go and see the world beyond for yourself. Grandpa is old. I no longer have such an opportunity, nor do I have that ability." Shi Yunfeng sighed softly.

"Grandpa, I know you have an old hidden injury. One day, I'll definitely gather the legendary heavenly treasure medicine, heal your body, and take you with me to see the world outside," Little Dot said.

Shi Yunfeng felt a trace of bitterness, but he was also happy. The wrinkles on his face spread apart as he smiled. "So long as you grow up safely and all goes well for you, Grandpa will have no more worries."

He had suffered a strange hidden injury years ago and needed a particular treasure medicine. Even great clans numbering in the millions might not be able to produce it. How could it be easy to cure him completely?

"Awwooo, Grandpa Clan Chief is teaching again! Hurry over and listen!" A group of children howled. Things were no longer as they had been in the past. The children no longer resisted; instead, they yearned ever more deeply for strength. Whenever Shi Yunfeng explained Bone Script, they all came running over to listen carefully.

By now, several children had already cultivated radiant runes upon their bodies. Without question, they would be able to walk this path in the future, and they were destined to become far stronger than their fathers.

"You little monkeys, sit down already." The clan chief laughed as he scolded them.

A breeze drifted over. Upon the thick, charred Willow Tree, a crystalline tender branch swayed in the wind.

A group of children sat around an old man beneath the tree, listening as he expounded the Dao. "Mastering Bone Script is like taking up a greatsword or wielding a bow and crossbow. But what if you put down those weapons? The foundation of cultivation is still to strengthen yourselves."

Some of the children looked confused, while others suddenly understood and fell into thought.

"Bone Script is merely a form, a means. The proper path is to truly turn it into your own strength. Otherwise, it is all duckweed without roots. Only your own body being strong truly matters."

"How do we do that?"

"Turn Bone Script into a part of yourselves. Make your flesh and bones, like those races favored by heaven, merge with heaven, earth, and nature as one. Otherwise, imitation will always remain imitation, and it will be difficult to unleash true power."

The clan chief explained that, in his view, Bone Script had to be like flesh and hair, mingling with one's body as completely as water and milk, becoming a part of the body before it could be considered one's own power.

"Clan Chief, teach us quickly."

"Don't rush. Take it slowly," Shi Yunfeng said.

In truth, using runes consumed one's vital essence. Just like when Little Dot used precious techniques, the expenditure was tremendous. Continuous great battles could injure the body and weaken one's blood and vitality.

Strictly speaking, when learning Bone Script, failure was one thing. But if one succeeded and was at a particular stage, using it constantly would cause serious harm to the body.

After hearing the clan chief's detailed explanation, the children's faces all turned pale.

"There's no need to be afraid. Just pay a little attention. So long as you don't cast primitive precious techniques again and again without regard for life or death, it will be fine. You haven't grasped the profound meaning of precious techniques as Little Dot has. Besides, even if some vital essence is lost, it can be replenished."

This was not only true of Bone Script in Stone Village. The great clans outside were the same. To achieve anything, everyone had to go through this during the initial stages. Even entering the path required enduring this trial.

"Little Dot's attainments in Bone Script are already profound. He can learn the method for changing this situation now."

Once one truly entered the path and reached a certain level of attainment, cultivation took another form. The clan chief brought over several bone books and taught Little Dot all the remaining runes.

In the days that followed, the clan chief lectured every day, teaching the children and giving different instruction according to each person.

Clearly, Little Dot was far ahead of everyone else. Even if placed among the great super-clans outside, his talent would leave people dumbstruck.

These days, Little Dot was utterly absorbed. Every day, he listened to lectures and studied bone books, a delighted smile hanging on his little face, his large eyes nearly curving into crescents.

In the early stages, Bone Script had to be nurtured with one's own essence and blood, allowing it to grow stronger. But once it truly took shape and one's understanding deepened, the process could be reversed.

"Let the runes merge into your body, becoming rosy light, becoming divine radiance. Each rune will be like an eternal divine furnace, dwelling within every inch of flesh and blood, tempering the creations of heaven and earth, drawing divine essence into the body, and from then on thoroughly transforming both flesh and spirit."

This was the path Little Dot would take next. He had already laid his foundation, and it was astonishingly solid. His runes had long since taken shape, so making this transformation did not take much effort.

In only a few days, Little Dot achieved extraordinary results.

When he used precious techniques again, every inch of his flesh glowed. Runes flickered in and out of view, like precious furnaces continuously supplying essence, energy, and spirit, making him feel full of vigor and comfortable from head to toe.

The sight left Shi Yunfeng dumbfounded. It was not that he did not know the little fellow's talent was astonishing, but he was shaken once more.

How many days had it been? Little Shi Hao had already achieved earth-shaking results. An ordinary person would need at least several years, while even a genius would require several months.

"I estimated that you would need more than two months, but at your current pace, one month should be enough. Perhaps even twenty days."

Little Shi Hao's performance was too dazzling. A group of clan elders laughed as joyfully as children, while Shi Linhu, Fei Jiao, and the other young men grinned broadly, showing their snow-white teeth as they laughed without end.

"He rivals the cubs of archaic ferocious beasts. Perhaps one day, Stone Village will produce a supreme being capable of battling an archaic True Hou or a pure-blooded Pixiu in a bloody fight."

"This child was bestowed upon Stone Village by heaven itself. Naturally, he surpasses the ordinary."

Everyone was delighted. That day, the evening feast in Stone Village was lavish. All sorts of beast meat were steamed, boiled, or roasted until golden and glistening with oil. Their fragrance filled the entire village, making mouths water.

"Don't become too carried away. At the distant ends of the earth, there are unimaginable great super-clans. Within those flourishing and prosperous lands, there must be peerless geniuses as well," the clan chief cautioned.

Of course, whether they were praising or warning him, the adults did not speak in front of the children, afraid that Little Dot and the others might be affected by it.

Over the following days, Shi Hao progressed by leaps and bounds. Every inch of flesh within his body became crystalline and luminous, as though one ancient deity after another sat within him. The runes were transforming and reorganizing, thoroughly changing the state of his body.

Shi Yunfeng was extremely excited and happy. At this rate, Little Dot might not even need twenty days. Half a month would be enough for him to succeed, and then he could undergo baptism.

"Grandpa Clan Chief, how should I walk the road ahead?"

"The road is long. You are currently in the Blood Moving realm, still far from the time when you need to continue forging your own path. Among humanity's true supreme experts, some eventually give birth to sacred bones, manifest their own primitive marks, and possess primitive precious techniques unique to themselves!"

"That truly makes one yearn for it!" Little Dot clenched his small fists, his large eyes shining.

Shi Yunfeng said, "The road walked by the ancient forebears is already very long, yet the road ahead remains long as well. Once you are strong enough, you may leave this Great Wilderness and take a look. There are some things I cannot teach you. They are all out in the world beyond."

As he spoke, Clan Chief Shi Yunfeng's expression shifted. He touched a lustrous white bone tucked inside his robes, and his body trembled.

"From the distant Supreme, at mankind's beginning. The imperial order was first established, and eternal principles spread far and wide..." Little Dot chanted softly as he gazed toward the boundless Great Wilderness. His eyes seemed to pierce through the endless mountain ranges and behold another vast world.