“Four ancestors are present, so nothing will happen. Before, when Yi’er’s bones were shattered, I think it was just to make Zi Ling vent his anger,” another elder said calmly.
Shi Ziling, wielding his war spear, came soaring through the air like a divine beast from the ancient times, letting out a long roar. A massive ancient beast materialized beside him, joining him in the battle.
“Whoosh”
Shi Yi looked up, his eyes deep and terrifying, filled with images of the sun and moon shifting and galaxies falling. Then, he shot out two dazzling beams of light composed of symbols, densely packed, piercing towards the sky.
He once again disturbed the balance of heaven and earth, interfering with Shi Ziling’s spellcasting, but this time it was futile. The golden spear swept across, resonating with the heavens and earth, creating towering waves of golden energy that suppressed all directions.
“Pfft,” the elders spat out blood, being swept away. Shi Li fell to the ground, staggering with every step, vomiting blood and almost throwing Shi Yi off. His body shook violently, nearly collapsing.
“Roar!” The ancient beast beside Shi Ziling also roared, shaking the heavens and earth, its fierce aura spreading like an ocean in all directions.
The four elders were shaken again, spitting blood once more.
“Continue the battle!”
The four charged forward, attacking together.
In the fierce combat, spells soared into the sky, and the entire area trembled. Shi Ziling, like a golden deity, surged forward under the siege of the four masters, gaining the upper hand.
The battle reached its peak. The four elders were all bloodied, while Shi Ziling grew stronger, his divine light towering, suffocating them with his pressure.
Suddenly, a terrifying wave of power emanated from Shi Li, like an ancient deity awakening, shaking the vast expanse of heaven and earth. His chest was glowing.
“Hm?” Shi Ziling was startled.
This was too sudden. The terrifying power suppressed everything, immobilizing the golden spear and erasing the ancient beast beside Shi Ziling.
Shi Ziling’s eyes blazed with divine light, like two bolts of golden lightning piercing through, dispersing the terrifying waves of power. His war spear shone again, surrounded by a mass of flying symbols, intimidating all directions.
“Boom!”
The golden spear thrust forward, piercing through the heavens and earth. The chant of the gods echoed, so real and sacred, as its light fell, representing an offensive in place of defense.
Shi Li’s attack was indeed terrifying. He and Shi Yi seemed to merge into one, his chest glowing, his body covered in complex patterns, channeling the mysteries of the heavens.
The aura was so fearsome that it caused the other three elders to spew blood and stagger backward, their hearts filled with dread. This was not aimed at them, yet it affected them as well.
From a distance, those watching the battle felt as though they were hit by a hammer, their bodies trembling uncontrollably and retreating. Some closer even had blood at their mouths, struggling to breathe, almost in worship.
“It’s Haor’s supreme bone,” Shi Ziling’s eyes turned cold with anger.
Shi Li carried Shi Yi, their fusion forcing out such divine might that the crowd was horrified.
However, this was only a single strike. Shi Li’s vital energy was quickly depleted, unable to withstand it. He continuously coughed up blood, his body swaying with cracks appearing.
As for Shi Yi on his back, the sound of cracking bones came from his chest. His realigned bones were shaken apart again, suffering heavy injuries and backlash. The supreme bone was not yet fully matured and should not have been used like this.
Shi Ziling’s body blazed with golden light, burning fiercely, dominating the sky. His strength made the others tremble, as he withstood the attack from the supreme bone and continued to press forward.
“Boom!”
With a single step, the heavens and earth shook. He was like a god of slaughter breaking free from shackles, dispelling peace, exuding a chilling murderous aura, and sweeping forward with his spear.
The three elders were flung away, covered in blood, falling among the crowd, unable to rise again. They were unsure how many bones were broken, and their spells were difficult to form.
As for Shi Li, he faced Shi Ziling’s powerful strike. The spear tip shone like a golden dragon coming from the sky, penetrating his protective treasures and causing a spurt of blood.
“Pfft,” one side of his body exploded, the intense pain causing him to shiver. His spells were immediately dispelled, unable to take effect, and his eyes were filled with terror.
Shi Ziling, like an ancient divine king bathed in light, took a step forward. His golden spear aimed to pierce both Shi Li and Shi Yi, nailing them to the ground.
“Zi Ling, it’s time to stop.” At this moment, an ancestor from the west moved. Still seated, but as fast as lightning, he appeared close by, his entire body shrouded in mist, his figure blurred. He reached out a hand to block the terrifying spear tip, protecting the two.
In fact, they had always been there. Since Shi Ziling and his wife entered the clan, they had acted and sealed the four directions.
From the beginning, when Shi Ziling entered the clan, he felt the eerie atmosphere and sensed the presence of the four ancestors. He had a premonition of disaster.
The four were of profound cultivation, their limits difficult to discern. With them present, seeking justice through force was too challenging. They had likely been practicing for many years.
“Ancestors, is this how you uphold justice?” Shi Ziling roared.
“I know you are aggrieved, and the clan has wronged Haor, but please believe that we will make amends,” the ancestor said.
At this moment, mist spread, and the other three ancestors also appeared, surrounding him in the center, all remaining silent.
“I refuse to accept this!” Shi Ziling roared, his entire body glowing. His golden spear pointed to the heavens, and he unleashed his strongest spells for one final battle.
Everyone was moved. To dare challenge the ancestors was unprecedented in the clan’s history. Shi Ziling’s power was terrifying.
“Zi Ling, you’ve gone too far. If you insist on fighting, don’t blame us for suppressing you,” one ancestor spoke.
“Then let’s fight,” Shi Ziling swung his spear, his body radiant. Spells intertwined, the ancient beast surged, and he unleashed the most powerful attack.
The sky seemed to tear apart, a vast expanse, the holy light dazzling, making it impossible to view directly. Everyone trembled, ready to kneel under the divine might.
“Suppress him!” The ancestors took action.
The most terrifying battle unfolded, shaking the heavens and earth, shocking and terrifying every soul, filling them with fear.
“I can’t see,” Little One in Shicun, before the big willow tree, cried with tears streaming down his face. He couldn’t see the battle.
“Because you are too young, you can’t comprehend such a level of battle,” the willow tree transmitted. The place remained a blur and haze.
“I want to see, to know the outcome,” Little One clenched his fists. Although he knew it was something that had already happened, he was still very anxious.
In the Shi residence, the brilliance was dazzling, various holy lights dancing, obscuring the sun, covering the entire residence. Nothing could be seen.
“Heartfelt communication,” finally, Little One’s mother joined the battle, holding him. She charged into the battlefield with Shi Ziling, unleashing spells that shook the imperial city.
Unfortunately, Little One saw nothing. His vision was filled with light and spells, so dazzling it made his heart tremble. The entire world was bathed in a pale golden divine radiance.
In the end, he was likely too weak, fainting in his mother’s arms. Before closing his eyes, he saw the little brother outside the battlefield.
Although Shi Yi's bones were shattered, his vitality remained undiminished. His deep-set eyes fixed on Shi Ziling with a cold, piercing gaze. Then he turned to glance at Little One, a faint smirk appearing at the corner of his mouth. His eyes held a gleam of disdainful brilliance, full of pride. He looked at Little One only briefly before shifting his focus away.
Little One, on the brink of death and having lost the supreme bone, was considered useless and not worth further attention.
For a long time afterward, Little One remained in a state of unconsciousness, teetering between life and death. He was in a pitifully weak condition, as if his life could drain away at any moment, and he was unaware of what was happening around him.
When he awoke again, he found himself in a desolate and harsh land, far from the vast ancient kingdom and the bustling imperial capital, in a place that was starkly different.
They had arrived at a large but extremely dilapidated estate, the place where the ancestors of the Shi family had grown up, now considered the second ancestral land.
"Zi Ling, you are truly remarkable," an elderly man with a full head of white hair said, slamming an old table with excitement and anger. "If I were young again with your strength, I would have caused a stir in the imperial capital, to show that no one from our branch can be bullied."
Shi Ziling shook his head, his face somewhat pale.
An elderly man, who appeared very old, spoke up. "They even thought of exiling you to this desolate place. They are going too far. And you're still so young."
"Yes, they call it the second ancestral land, but it's really just a desolate and harsh place, far from being a blessed land or a place suitable for cultivation and long-term residence."
The run-down second ancestral land was located in a remote and barren frontier. Only those who had committed serious offenses or caused great trouble were exiled there.
"This is the agreement I made with them. Haor will recover here," Shi Ziling said softly.
"Isn't it the same as being exiled here?" an elder said angrily, then asked in confusion, "What exactly did they offer you?"
"If Haor can restore his vitality, they will immediately return the supreme bone," Shi Ziling explained.
"Child, how can you believe this? It's just a delay tactic. Given Haor's severe condition, even if he survives, it’s impossible for him to restore the supreme bone," one elder said, pounding his chest in frustration.
Apart from the servants, there were four special elders present, all once highly esteemed figures who had committed grave offenses and were thus exiled to this desolate place.
Had it not been for their concern about implicating their descendants, they would have fled long ago. Their cultivation levels were extremely high, but after many years, they had all entered old age, with little time left.
"The four ancestors privately gave me a fragment of a map, saying that if I could find our clan's true ancestral land, it might restore Haor," Shi Ziling whispered.
On the other side, his wife, with a worried expression, held the weakened Little One. Her beautiful face had not shown a smile for a long time.
"What? Our clan's true ancestral land?" The elders’ eyes widened in shock. It was no ordinary place, shrouded in mystery and legend. The Shi clan's ancestors had emerged from there, founding an ancient kingdom with great glory.
The elders were excited. The ancestral land had captivated the hearts of many in the Shi clan. It was said to be the birthplace of gods, but due to ancestral decrees, contact had been cut off, making it nearly impossible to find.
"Is it true? Could they be deceiving you?" one elder was skeptical.
"No matter what, I must try. I will do my utmost to restore Haor," Shi Ziling said resolutely.
"What if you can't find it?" an elder warned.
"Then I will seek out the Ancient Divine Mountain, scour the wilderness, and find a divine medicine. I won’t let Haor sink into despair," Shi Ziling declared.
Beside him, his wife nodded, her eyes filled with determination as she held Little One tightly.
The elders were startled and solemnly advised him.
"Zi Ling, don't act recklessly. The Ancient Divine Mountain is not a place you can just enter at will. It might be inhabited by supreme beings like the True Hound or Golden-Winged Great Peng, which could cost you your life."
Shi Ziling had been studying the fragment of the map. He would not enter the Ancient Divine Mountain unless absolutely necessary, hoping to find the ancestral land instead.
"If Haor dies, I will make them pay dearly. I will bring about the destruction of heaven and earth," Shi Ziling’s eyes were fearsome, revealing a terrifying aura.
"According to the agreement, Haor should stay here to recover. They don't trust you and want to keep track of your movements, fearing you might return to seek revenge," one elder said.
"I won’t leave Haor here," Shi Ziling was not one to be rigid.
"Let’s do this instead. Don’t give them any excuses. Maybe you can really cure Haor. I’ll find a child to replace him, and we must retrieve the supreme bone in the future."
Later, Shi Ziling and his wife, after many hardships, reached Shi Village. They were deeply shocked when they saw the blackened willow tree. They were strong and could clearly see its extraordinary nature.
However, they were immensely disappointed with everything else in the ancestral land of Shi Village.
As a breeze blew, the mist began to clear. Under the willow tree, Little One stood alone, his face streaked with tears.
After a long time, the willow tree transmitted, "How do you feel?"
"I’m heartbroken, Father, Mother. Where are you now?" Little One cried continuously.
"You are indeed a kind child, not driven mad by hatred and seeking revenge," the willow tree transmitted, then continued, "You’ve lost the supreme bone, don’t you feel any anger? Shi Yi now shines with unparalleled brilliance, overshadowing everything, beyond what ordinary people can gaze upon."
Little One knew well that Shi Yi’s future was destined to surpass the ordinary, his brilliance illuminating the earth—this was imaginable.
He replied calmly, "It’s just a bone. The supreme isn’t sealed by it. It’s not a bone that determines greatness, but one’s own steps and efforts."
"Since you can say this, I’ll tell you a secret," the willow tree said with satisfaction.
"What secret?" Little One asked, surprised.
"Have you ever seen plants wither and then flourish again?" the willow tree asked.
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