Chapter 57: Agony

“Mother…” Little Rascal murmured weakly in his unconscious state, for only a mother was the kindest and would never harm him. His own mother had left when he was merely a few months old, leaving behind only the faintest of impressions. Yet now, that memory had become the warmth he yearned for most—to sleep soundly in her embrace. Tears streamed down his pale little face as he curled into a trembling ball, shivering and retreating into the cold corner of the bed in his stupor.

From the other jade bed came muffled groans. Though Shi Yi was young, fear was absent from his eyes. His dual pupils shimmered with hidden radiance as he clenched a piece of soft wood between his teeth, sweat drenching his brow as he endured the excruciating pain.

“Good child, you must hold on. After today, nothing will hinder your rise. You will become the most dazzling prodigy this land has ever seen,” the young woman whispered, gripping the child’s hand to offer warmth against the agony. Though tense, her eyes burned with fervor.

The light source before them was dense with countless runes, swirling with the mysteries of the heavens—complex, unfathomable, and awe-inspiring, evoking an urge to prostrate before it. The woman’s gaze turned manic. She was certain—this was worth it. Even if discovered, even if punished, as long as it was implanted into Yi’er, it was justified.

This Supreme Bone had only just begun to grow, yet its power was already overwhelming. If nurtured to maturity, what heights could it reach? The Golden-Winged Great Peng and the True Hou of antiquity were beings capable of slaying gods, supreme and unrivaled. Yet, a born Supreme could stand against them. Who would dare challenge him in the future?

“Almost there, just a little longer, Yi’er, hold on!” she encouraged, her voice tender, helping Shi Yi relax and endure the ordeal.

The light blazed brilliantly, as though a celestial deity slumbered within, radiating divine halos that bathed the entire chamber in resplendent glory, as if they had stepped into the realm of gods. Shi Yi’s chest filled with dazzling radiance as he writhed violently, roaring like a beast in unbearable pain, drenched in sweat.

“Be careful! Don’t harm my Yi’er!” the woman snapped at the shadowy figure, her face twisting with anxiety and fear of failure.

“The records may be detailed, but this is a Supreme Bone. The transplantation is perilous. One misstep, and if it erupts, we may both perish here,” the ghostly shadow murmured darkly.

“I don’t care. I demand success. If the Bone Texts record precedents, then there’s no reason we can’t succeed,” she hissed, her beautiful face contorted. Gripping Shi Yi’s hand, she added, “You share the same bloodline, the same origin. The success rate should be higher. Yi’er, endure!”

The shadow roared, and the chamber erupted. Dazzling divine light bloomed, saturating every inch of space. Blazing auroras erupted, thunder mountains descended, lightning danced, and divine hymns rumbled as surreal visions manifested.

Finally, the auspicious light condensed, the runes coalescing into a singular Supreme Source Bone that vanished into Shi Yi’s chest. The shadow moved swiftly, sealing the wound with runes to staunch the bleeding and regenerate flesh.

“Done!” A low growl signaled the chamber’s return to silence, the bizarre phenomena dissipating.

“My good child, you are your mother’s pride. From now on, no one will hinder your path. This land will tremble beneath your feet!” The woman trembled with excitement, clutching Shi Yi’s arm, her eyes blazing with fervent joy. She tenderly draped a soft blanket over the unconscious boy before standing, her laughter bordering on hysteria.

“Eldest Aunt… I’m cold.” The weak voice came from the shivering Little Rascal, curled up on the icy bed, jolted awake by the laughter. His chest ached, his face ghostly pale.

The woman whirled around, her gaze icy as she studied him without pity. To the shadow, she commanded, “Drain the remaining true blood from his body to nourish the Supreme Bone in Yi’er.”

The Supreme Bone’s growth required corresponding true blood to nurture its unparalleled divine nature.

“If extracted, this child likely won’t live past two,” the shadow warned.

“Two? A year or so is enough. Many things can happen in that time,” she replied coldly.

The shadow said no more, producing a jade vessel. With an arcane technique, runes flickered as he began extracting blood, filling the chamber with a sacred glow once more.

“Act quickly. Use this treasure blood to nourish Yi’er’s body, ensuring it merges seamlessly with the Supreme Bone,” the woman urged impatiently.

“Best to proceed gradually,” the shadow cautioned.

“No need. Yi’er possesses dual pupils—he’s no ordinary child. The sooner they merge, the sooner I’ll rest easy. At the very least, even if discovered within half a year, the bone can’t be transplanted again without withering.”

“So cold…” Little Rascal slipped back into unconsciousness, his lips blanched, tiny body curled tightly in the corner, trembling ceaselessly.

When all was done, the chamber fell silent. The shadow departed, leaving the vast underground palace eerily desolate. The woman paced, frowning as she pondered how to explain. The clan shouldn’t know about the Supreme Bone in Little Rascal—unless someone held him daily with profound cultivation.

Only his parents fit that condition, and he was already eight or nine months old, no longer needing to be carried.

“Yi’er’s dual pupils can pierce through origins. Others lack such ability—they won’t discover it!” Her brow smoothed as she plotted the future.

“If that couple perishes under the claws of a Pixiu or meets some other demise outside, everything will be flawless,” she murmured, a cold smirk playing on her lips.

**BOOM!**

A deafening explosion shattered the silence as the palace’s entrance was obliterated by brute force. A towering old man with snow-white hair and a majestic aura stormed in, his body ablaze with golden divine flames.

The woman paled. The entrance wasn’t something just anyone could breach—only the clan’s mightiest could achieve this.

A second elder followed, wreathed in crimson radiance like an ancient fire phoenix, his eyes blazing like golden lanterns.

“Vile woman! You poisonous viper!” the golden-maned elder bellowed, his roar shaking the heavens.

This was one of the clan’s two presiding elders, a figure of supreme seniority and strength who rarely appeared, usually secluded in ancient caves meditating on profound truths.

Shi Hao’s parents had entrusted their child to him and another elder—only they knew of the Supreme Bone within, a top-secret matter.

Originally, they had overseen Shi Hao’s safety, but given their age and gender, they’d allowed younger clan members to assist in care. The clan had always been harmonious, with the younger wives diligently tending to Little Shi Hao, raising him plump and healthy over the months, easing the elders’ worries.

Never had they imagined such a tragedy would unfold today.

The elder had been vigilant, dispatching experts to follow Little Rascal. When the woman took the children to see the descendants of ancient divine birds and lingered too long, the dispatched expert had rushed back in panic, reporting their entry into the underground palace and the sealed door.

Horrified, the elder had raced here.

“I’ll kill you!” The golden elder lunged, seizing the woman by the throat like a chick and lifting her effortlessly.

Though the woman was powerful, she was nothing before this elder. Her face drained of color as her runes threatened to shatter.

“Fourth Elder, don’t kill my mother!” Shi Yi, awakened by the commotion, grabbed a silver knife from the bedside and pressed it to his throat, drawing blood.

“You—little beast!” the elder roared.

“Fourth Brother, release her for now,” the crimson elder interjected.

“Fifth Brother, is this your kin? Will you shield her?” the golden elder demanded.

“Fourth Elder, I beg you, spare my mother!” Shi Yi pleaded again, the knife drawing fresh blood.

“See? We’ve lost one Supreme. Must we watch another dual-pupiled child—a potential sage or deity of antiquity—perish as well? Release her. We’ll settle this later,” the crimson elder reasoned.

With a furious growl, the golden elder hurled the woman against the wall, the impact shaking loose rubble. She slumped, struggling to rise.

“Zi Ling, I’ve failed you and your wife! I didn’t protect Hao’er, letting him suffer such torment!” The elder howled at the sky.

“Fourth Elder… I’m cold. It hurts,” Little Rascal whimpered from the corner.

“My child, this is all my fault!” The elder scooped him into his arms, tears welling as he channeled healing runes to envelop the boy in soothing light.

“Where is the Supreme Bone?” the crimson elder demanded.

The woman, pale and silent, rose unsteadily.

“Elder, it’s within me,” Shi Yi stated calmly, dropping the knife.

The crimson elder’s eyes gleamed strangely, but he said nothing.

The golden elder’s fury reignited. “Our Shi Clan’s ancestral decree forbids kinslaying! We stand united against outsiders. How else did we rise from a humble village to conquer this vast domain, ruling millions, seating a human emperor, with countless princes and marquises? You vicious woman—the clan’s laws won’t tolerate you!”

“This matter involves the Supreme Bone—a top clan secret. This isn’t the place to discuss it. We’ll return first,” the crimson elder said.

“Fifth Brother, are you shielding her?!” the golden elder thundered.

“Regardless, a born Supreme cannot be lost. We’ll settle this at the estate,” the crimson elder insisted.

“Even if I don’t act now, Zi Ling won’t let this slide. Knowing his temper, he’ll slaughter most of your line unless justice is served!” the golden elder warned.

The crimson elder exhaled. “Let’s go.”

With that, the group departed the ruined underground palace, leaving behind only the echoes of treachery and the faint, fading whimpers of a forsaken child.