Chapter 57: Pain

“Mother,” Little Shi Hao murmured weakly in his unconscious state, calling out for the one person he believed would never harm him, the one who was always gentle.

His mother had left when he was just a few months old, leaving him with only a vague impression of her. But now, that faint memory had become his deepest yearning, and he longed to sleep in her warm embrace.

Tears continuously streamed down his pale little face as he curled up, shivering in the cold, inching towards the corner of the frigid bed even in his unconscious state.

On the other side, on the jade bed, came groans of pain. Despite his young age, Shi Yi showed no fear. His double-pupil eyes gleamed faintly with divine light. Biting on a piece of soft wood, he endured the excruciating pain, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

“Good boy, you must endure this. After today, you will soar to the heavens, and no one will be able to stop your rise. You will be the most dazzling prodigy in this great domain.” The woman held the boy’s hand, letting him draw warmth to fight the pain. Though she was tense, her eyes flashed with an unending fervor.

The source of light emanated countless runes, densely packed, swirling with profound secrets of the heavens, so intricate and mysterious that they evoked a deep sense of awe, compelling one to bow in reverence.

The woman’s eyes blazed with madness, certain that this was worth it. Even if they were discovered and held accountable, as long as the supreme bone was implanted in her son, it would all be worth it. The bone had only just begun to grow but already possessed such might. What would it become once fully matured?

In the ancient times, the Golden Winged Peng and the true Hyena were beings that dared to slaughter gods, supreme and unparalleled. A natural supreme being could battle them, so who would dare challenge her son in the future?

“Almost done, hang in there, Yi'er!” She continuously encouraged him, her face full of gentle affection, helping Shi Yi relax and overcome this ordeal.

The light source sparkled brilliantly, like a slumbering deity inside, emanating divine halos that illuminated the entire secret chamber, bathing it in sacred light, making it feel like they had stepped into the divine realm.

Shi Yi’s chest was filled with dazzling light, his struggles growing more intense. He roared like a beast in agony, drenched in sweat.

“Be careful not to harm my Yi'er!” The woman’s face showed ferocity as she snapped at the shadowy figure, growing increasingly anxious and fearful of failure.

“The records are detailed, but this is a supreme bone. Transplanting it is extremely perilous. If it goes wrong and the bone erupts, we could both perish here,” the shadowy figure murmured.

“I don’t care, I just want success. The bone book documents it, and there are precedents. We have no reason to fail.” The woman’s delicate face twisted with determination. She grasped Shi Yi’s hand, saying, “They share the same blood, the same root, and source. The success rate should be higher. Yi'er, hold on!”

The shadowy figure growled, and then the entire secret chamber was engulfed in a tumultuous burst of divine light, filling every inch of space.

Radiant mists exploded, thunderous mountains descended, lightning danced, divine sounds echoed, and various strange phenomena appeared.

Finally, the radiant glow subsided, the runes coalesced into the single supreme source bone, and it merged into Shi Yi’s chest. The shadowy figure moved quickly, runes bursting forth to heal the wound and stop the bleeding, regenerating the flesh.

“It’s done.”

A low growl echoed as the secret chamber fell silent, the strange scenes vanishing.

“Good boy, you are mother’s pride. From now on, no one can stand in your way. This land will tremble beneath your feet.” The woman was ecstatic, clutching Shi Yi’s arm, her face alight with joy, her eyes blazing with fervor.

She took a soft blanket and carefully covered the unconscious Shi Yi. Then she stood up, unable to suppress her laughter, a bit crazed, a bit hysterical.

“Auntie, I’m cold.” Little Shi Hao, curled up on the cold bed and shivering, was awakened by the laughter. His chest hurt intensely, his face was pale, and he weakly called out.

The woman swiftly turned around, not to fetch a blanket but to stare at him, her eyes devoid of pity, cold. She instructed the shadowy figure, “Extract all the remaining true blood from him to nourish Yi'er’s supreme bone.”

The place where the supreme bone grew contained corresponding true blood, essential for nurturing the unique primal bone, rich in divine essence.

“If we do that, this child might not live past two years old,” the shadowy figure remarked.

“A year and a half, that’s enough. During that time, anything can happen,” the woman responded coldly.

The shadowy figure, hearing this, said no more. He took out a jade jar and used a secret method, runes flickering, to begin extracting blood. Immediately, a hazy glow illuminated the chamber, making it appear sacred.

“Cast the spell immediately and use this jar of precious blood to nourish Yi'er’s body, ensuring it merges with the supreme bone quickly, becoming one.”

“It’s best to do it gradually,” the shadowy figure advised.

“No need. Yi'er was born with double pupils, not an ordinary child. Besides, the sooner it merges, the more at ease I’ll be. At least within half a year, even if discovered, the supreme bone can’t be transplanted again. Doing it too often will cause it to wither.”

“So cold,” Little Shi Hao muttered, unconscious again, his lips turning white. His tiny body curled up in the corner, shivering non-stop.

When everything was finished, the chamber fell silent, the shadowy figure gone, leaving the vast underground palace feeling eerie.

The woman paced back and forth, frowning, pondering how to explain. No one in the clan should know Little Shi Hao had a supreme bone, unless someone held him daily and was profoundly skilled. The only ones meeting these criteria were his parents, but he was already a month old and no longer needed constant holding.

“Yi'er’s double pupils can see through many things. Others don’t have this ability, so they shouldn’t notice.” The woman relaxed, contemplating the future.

“If that couple dies at the hands of the Pixiu (a mythical creature), or falls for other reasons, everything will be flawless.” She muttered to herself, a cold smile on her lips.

“Boom!”

Suddenly, a terrifying sound echoed. The underground palace collapsed, the exit forcefully destroyed. An old man, with white hair but a towering figure, burst in, radiating brilliant light like burning golden divine flames.

The woman was startled. The entrance to the underground palace wasn’t something an ordinary person could break open; only the strongest in the clan could do it.

Divine light erupted, auspicious radiance filled the air, and an old man stormed into the secret chamber like an enraged lion. Seeing the scene before him, his eyes bulged with fury, and he roared, “Wretch, such a venomous woman!”

This was one of the two elder statesmen in the clan, highly respected and incredibly powerful, seldom seen, always meditating in an ancient cave, seeking enlightenment.

Shi Hao’s parents had entrusted their child to him and another elder. Only they knew about the supreme bone within him, keeping it an absolute secret.

They had been watching over Shi Hao to ensure his safety, but being elderly and male, they weren’t adept at caring for a child, thus allowing the younger generation to help.

The clan had always been harmonious, and the wives of the grandsons were all diligent, raising Little Shi Hao to be plump, fair, and adorable, putting their minds at ease. Never had they imagined today’s tragic event.

This elder had been meticulous, sending experts to follow Little Shi Hao. Today, when the woman took the two children to see the ancient divine birds’ descendants, the prolonged time and the return of the panicked experts, reporting that the group had entered an underground palace and couldn’t open the door, alarmed him, prompting him to rush over.

"You venomous woman, I will kill you!" The old man, his beard and hair glowing like a golden lion, lunged forward in an instant. Grabbing her by the neck as if she were a chick, he lifted her effortlessly.

Although the young woman was highly cultivated and very powerful, she was nothing compared to this old man. Her face turned pale immediately, and the runes on her body seemed on the verge of shattering.

"Fourth Grandfather, please don't kill my mother!" Shi Yi, awakened by the roar, grabbed the silver knife from his bedside and pressed it against his own neck, drawing a line of blood.

"You little beast!" The old man raged.

"Fourth Brother, let her go first," another old man walked in, radiating crimson light like an old fire phoenix. Though aged, he was still vigorous, with eyes shining like golden lamps.

"What do you mean, Fifth Brother? This is one of your descendants, so you want to pardon her?" the old man, like a golden lion, questioned angrily.

"Fourth Grandfather, please don't kill my mother," Shi Yi spoke again, the silver knife now bloody, scratching his neck further.

"Look at this. We've lost a supreme being. Do we have to watch another child with double pupils die too? This is a saint, a divine being... Let her go for now, and we can deal with this slowly," said the elder, radiant like a blood phoenix.

"Boom!"

The old man, like a golden lion, hurled the young woman against the opposite wall with great force, causing a loud crash and dislodging many stones. She lay there for a long time before struggling to her feet.

"Ziling, I have wronged you and your wife. I failed to protect Hao'er, allowing him to suffer immense hardship and torment." The old man roared in anguish towards the heavens.

"Fourth Grandfather, I'm cold... it hurts," Little Shi Hao, curled up in the cold corner of the bed, spoke weakly.

"Good child, it’s all my fault." The old man quickly embraced him, almost shedding tears. He used his secret rune powers, emitting auspicious light to wrap around him.

"Where is the supreme bone?" the elder, radiant like a blood phoenix, asked.

The young woman, her face pale, stood up without a word.

"Grandfather, it’s in my body," Shi Yi said calmly, dropping the silver knife.

The elder, radiant like a blood phoenix, showed a flash of wonder in his eyes but said nothing for a long time.

The old man holding Little Shi Hao grew even angrier upon hearing this. Coldly, he said, "The Shi Clan has ancestral rules: we must not kill each other but stand united against outsiders. Otherwise, how did we rise from a mere village to conquer vast lands, ruling over millions and holding the emperor’s throne, with countless nobles and kings? You, woman, are too vicious. The clan rules cannot tolerate you."

"This matter is complex and involves the supreme bone, the clan’s highest secret. It cannot be leaked. This is not the place to talk. Let's go back first and discuss," the elder beside him said.

"Fifth Brother, do you intend to shield her?" the old man, like a golden lion, asked angrily.

"No matter what, the natural supreme must not disappear. We'll discuss this at the mansion," said the elder, emitting crimson light.

"Even if I don't take action now, Ziling won't let this go when he returns. With his temperament, he won't rest until your entire branch is eradicated, or at least nine out of ten are killed. Without justice, he won't swallow this anger," the old man, as fierce as a golden lion, declared.