Shi Hao turned his gaze inward and was startled awake, deducing the origin of the tiny figure—it was formed from the runes on his Supreme Bone, now condensed into human form. This alone would astonish other beings, proving worthy of the bone of a human supreme being. Once awakened, it manifested such a world-shaking display, taking human shape and harmonizing with the Dao. The difference between this and other divine abilities was vast. Ordinary treasure techniques, even when manifested, would transform into fierce birds or savage beasts—never a human form.
In the ancient annals of cultivation, humanity had always been at a disadvantage, struggling and imitating in the beginning, then gradually evolving and innovating over countless years. The root cause was that humans lacked their own innate runes; everything was first inherited, then later created. Yet there were exceptions—rare individuals who cultivated arduously, step by step, until they comprehended the mysteries of creation, becoming invincible under heaven and earth, ultimately forging their own unique runes, a treasure technique belonging solely to them.
But even rarer were those like Shi Hao, born with Supreme Runes within them, capable of commanding the world and dominating all realms. The condensation of such runes, manifesting as a human figure, embodied the profound mysteries of humanity—a phenomenon exceedingly rare among the countless paths of cultivation and treasure techniques. Such techniques undoubtedly contained supreme truths, and each time they emerged, they would stir cataclysmic waves, their might shaking the ages.
Yet the current situation was bizarre—what kind of Dao Bone had a radiant little figure seated upon it, chanting scriptures? If word spread, it would shake the world. At this moment, Shi Hao felt all his essence being drained. Despite his robust physique, renowned as indestructible, his body trembled as the radiance within his flesh surged toward his chest.
Time passed, and the liquid in the Nirvana Pool dwindled until it nearly dried up. It was hard to imagine how powerful that bone was, devouring everything as if it sought to drain the essence of heaven and earth. After two days, Shi Hao’s appearance had drastically changed—his skin and flesh withered, his organs dulled, his bones losing their luster, appearing utterly exhausted.
This transformation was shocking, making even the Divine Striking Stone tremble and retreat. Had it been any closer, it might have been sucked dry—that bone was a bottomless abyss. Yet, Shi Hao’s spirit grew increasingly vibrant. Though his flesh withered, his heart was full, watching the Supreme Bone take form with joy.
But the bone was terrifying in its demands for growth, requiring resources beyond imagination. The essence within the pool came from the nirvana of an ancient Vermilion Bird—if revealed to the outside world, it would incite a bloodbath among even the most powerful beings. Though the pool was mostly magma, not all of it was divine, it was still astonishing, accumulated over more than a decade.
A mere finger-sized Supreme Bone had consumed all the liquid, yet it did not grow further—only its luster intensified. Most crucially, intricate and unfathomable symbols flickered upon it, embodying the mysteries of the cosmos!
Shi Hao felt a headache coming on. He had been observing the bone—small, crystalline white, its runes so profound he couldn’t decipher them. The symbols vanished as quickly as they appeared, never fully manifesting, and their complexity was staggering, like the stars of the heavens aligning to construct the firmament.
Days later, the Nirvana Pool dried up. The bone in Shi Hao’s body remained unchanged in size, but the tiny figure wreathed in immortal mist continued chanting scriptures atop it. Finally, as the divine essence from the ancient Vermilion Bird’s nirvana grew too thin to nourish the bone, everything gradually quieted.
The bone fell silent, the radiant little figure vanishing into a rune hidden within. Shi Hao sat silently, the pool now nothing but bare rock. Frowning, he attempted to activate the Supreme Bone, to unveil its mysteries.
Yet, he felt a sharp pain in his chest, his body glowing unnaturally. The bone, though small, exuded an oppressive aura, as if capable of splitting the heavens. Forcing its activation now risked tearing him apart.
Control was the issue—the bone was incomplete, not yet fully reborn. But Shi Hao was tenacious, unafraid, persisting in his attempts. Finally, an excruciating pain struck, his soul feeling as if it were being torn, his spirit waning, his chest cracking—a terrifying ordeal caused by forcibly awakening the bone.
He endured, refusing to yield, even as his body neared collapse, his chest bleeding, his brow splitting.
**BOOM!**
A terrifying beam of light erupted from his chest, piercing the grand palace, shaking the earth, and sending magma surging!
“Hmm? What happened? Did something change in the Sacred Emperor’s Palace?” Above ground, amidst a volcanic range, a crimson bird perched on an ancient tree, its expression puzzled.
It took an unknown length of time before Shi Hao felt his soul return to his body. That earlier moment had been perilous—the rune’s light was beyond his comprehension, transcending all, nearly blasting his spirit from his flesh.
That beam was unimaginably powerful, shattering the palace above, its might awe-inspiring. Shi Hao couldn’t gauge its strength—his soul had been forcibly ejected, leaving him dazed.
But such power was uncontrollable. Forcing it nearly killed him first!
“My body, as strong as it is, was damaged?” Shi Hao was unsettled. Upon regaining his senses, he felt excruciating pain—his chest seemed ruined, his flesh mangled, some bones shattered. It was horrifying.
He nearly killed himself.
Assessing his condition, he realized using the bone was perilous—though perhaps for defense, it wouldn’t be as dire.
“It’s just not fully grown yet, hence the lack of control.”
Yet, after a brief moment of shock, Shi Hao’s eyes burned with excitement. If the bone was this powerful while incomplete, how terrifying would it be once fully formed?
This was his destined treasure technique, born with him, unique in this world, surpassing all he had obtained before. Even if Shi Yi had taken his bone, it wouldn’t be the same—his had withered, lain dormant, then been reborn through nirvana, fundamentally different.
“I await its true growth!” Shi Hao murmured.
Then he winced—not just from the backlash of forcibly using the bone, but because his body was already in poor condition. The bone’s formation had drained him nearly dry. His flesh was withered, his organs dull, his bones lacking luster—he looked like a fallen immortal.
Had others seen him, they’d have been shocked, wondering what calamity could reduce this youth, once rivaling an indestructible Vajra Body, to such a state.
Fortunately, his foundation remained intact—only his exterior was damaged, recoverable with rest.
He took out Monkey Wine, gulping down over a pound. His body glowed, regaining vitality, no longer ashen like a corpse.
Where was the Divine Striking Stone? Sensing it, he looked up—it hovered in the air like a thief, silently catching droplets of divine liquid.
The essence from the ancient Vermilion Bird’s nirvana seeped into the Fire Emperor’s Palace periodically, forming the two Nirvana Pools over time. Now, the stone blocked the ethereal spring, having drunk several drops over days.
“This isn’t earth or stone—why are you here?” Shi Hao said.
“Nonsense! The essence mixes with magma—it counts as stone! I can refine it!” The stone was as defensive as a guard dog.
“Ah, there’s a piece of Chaos Stone!” Shi Hao feigned surprise.
“Where?!” The stone turned—then howled, “You tricked me!”
In that instant, Shi Hao swapped places with it, catching the crimson-gold droplet before landing.
The stone fumed—after waiting a full day, its prize was stolen.
“I’m injured—I need this to heal!” Shi Hao said, sitting down to absorb it.
The Nirvana essence was miraculous. His shattered bones reconnected instantly, vitality surging. For a body as strong as his, bone fractures were grave—yet they healed in moments.
Over the next few days, Shi Hao and the stone fought over several more droplets until he fully recovered, his body replenished.
Back at his peak, he no longer contested with the stone, enjoying peace at last.
Fire Spirit had yet to emerge from her cocoon, enveloped in crimson-gold light, undergoing her most critical transformation.
Shi Hao walked forward, stopping before a grand wall lined with massive stone gates, each carved with fierce beasts and divine birds, their auras palpable, as if primordial creatures might leap forth.
Touching a door engraved with a Pixiu, he heard a roar, startling him into releasing it.
Moving to another gate, this one bearing a Golden-Winged Roc, its domineering, god-slaying presence was overwhelming.
“What lies beyond?” he wondered, wary yet intrigued.
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