Chapter 60

The magnificent mansion, with its vast halls, exuded a grand and imposing aura, resembling a celestial palace standing on earth. Under the setting sun, it was bathed in a golden glow, solemn and awe-inspiring, evoking a sense of reverence and the desire to worship.

However, beneath the auspicious atmosphere and the grandeur of the buildings, dark currents surged, harboring deadly threats. In a massive hall, the atmosphere was tense, with over a dozen elders seated, surrounded by shimmering runes, ready to erupt at any moment.

Little Budi was on the brink of death, his Supreme Bone having been extracted. This incident had shaken the upper echelons, and these elders, all of the highest rank, had been summoned. They usually remained in seclusion, detached from worldly affairs, and some had not been seen by their clansmen for decades. Yet, they were still disturbed and brought out of their retreats.

"An innate Supreme, actually harmed within the clan? Has the sky fallen? There's no need for discussion; the wicked woman should be executed immediately!" one elder raged.

"Her grandfather and clan members are not simple figures; they have always been powerful. Executing her without a word will cause much trouble, with rumors spreading throughout the imperial capital. If we explain, the secret of the Supreme Bone will inevitably be revealed to the world," another elder said calmly.

"Even if the Human Emperor did this, he would have to give an account to the people. How much more so for her family? Are you trying to shield her, placing personal feelings above justice, and acting out of favoritism?" the elder opposite asked coldly, his eyes reflecting the sun, moon, and stars, his aura powerful enough to shatter the table.

In the hall, runes were densely packed, lightning interwoven, creating a terrifying atmosphere, the tension as thick as gunpowder.

Little Budi, on the verge of death, was also present, cradled in someone's arms, protected by a sea of divine light to nourish his life force and prevent him from dying due to his weakened state.

"Of course, she will be dealt with, but that can be discussed later. The priority now is the Supreme Bone. It must not be lost; it belongs to our Shi clan and must not disappear," the elder, enveloped in red light as if bathed in heavenly fire, said, his gaze piercing and composed.

"Old Five, what do you mean?" the elder resembling a golden lion demanded, standing up abruptly. "Of course, it must be extracted and reconnected to Hao's body. It belongs to him, and no one else should possess it!"

"Once extracted, it will be difficult to reconnect immediately."

"Are you protecting her just because she's from your lineage? The Supreme Bone belongs to whom it belongs to!"

Divine light flickered between the two, the hall roaring like a mountain and sea, the entire sacred hall trembling.

"Fourth Brother, I am not acting out of favoritism," the elder resembling a blood phoenix stood up, pointing to Little Budi. "Look at this child, so weak. Even if he takes precious medicines daily, he cannot recover. How can he nurture the Supreme Bone?"

Upon hearing this, the arguments subsided, and many fell silent. It was a fact that Little Budi's survival was uncertain.

"In my opinion, we should uphold clan rules and execute both the mother and son, even if it means losing the Supreme Bone!" the most fiery-tempered elder declared.

Everyone was shocked. Was the clan willing to let a Heavy Pupil fall as well as losing a Supreme?

"Second Brother, calm down. Yi is still an innocent child; this matter is not his fault. He has the potential of ancient sages and deities; he should not be implicated," someone advised.

"Innocent child? Look at him! After returning, he was on the verge of death, threatening to kill himself if his mother was killed. Such a heinous act, and you want to let the wicked woman go, to indulge her?" the elder said coldly, his body radiating a brilliant light, emitting terrifying energy.

"How to deal with the wicked woman, let's set that aside for now. First, we need to discuss the Supreme Bone."

Many in the hall remained silent. They could not allow both children to be ruined; the strongest bloodline must continue.

"The Supreme Bone has been implanted in Yi's body. What is the result?" At this moment, the most ancient elder, who had not left his retreat for thirty years, suddenly opened his eyes, like two golden suns, emitting a blazing light and a thunderous roar, extremely intimidating.

Everyone fell silent, no longer arguing.

"It has fused with Yi, nourished by his blood and flesh, becoming one with him. The result is astonishing, as if it had always been part of him," Old Five said.

Everyone was shaken, their expressions changing. The success was remarkable. If the Heavy Pupil, with the Supreme Bone, could achieve what heights? Such accomplishments were unimaginable!

"Let's discuss this in a few days. For now, let's end here," another ancient elder said, who had also not been seen for decades.

Everyone nodded. The fourth elder, resembling a golden lion, and the most fiery-tempered elder, looked at each other in silence. They knew the clan would not allow the Supreme to disappear or the Heavy Pupil to perish.

A few days later, news came that the Supreme Bone was safe in Shi Yi's body, wrapped in a powerful life force, almost completely fused.

"Damn!" the fourth elder growled. He knew it was too late, and the implications were clear. Holding the weak Little Budi, he felt a deep sense of unease.

Little Budi's breath was faint, his eyes dull. Despite being nourished by the clan's powerful figures, he could not recover, and everyone sighed.

The clan gathered many spiritual medicines, but they were ineffective. His small face grew paler, and he coughed frequently, shivering and cold.

Half a month later, his condition worsened. His large eyes lost all their luster, and he looked as if he could die at any moment.

Moreover, every midnight, his bones would crackle, and his small body would shrink, losing its vitality and strength, undergoing severe degeneration.

At eight or nine months old, his body had changed drastically, as if he had regressed by several months. His condition worsened day by day.

"Are you... my Fourth Great-Grandfather?" Little Budi, lying in bed, opened his dull eyes and asked weakly.

He was regressing, as if there was a bottomless pit inside him, consuming his blood and essence, and his bones were deteriorating. He looked like a few months old and had lost his former wisdom, barely recognizing those around him.

The elder was heartbroken, gently patting him to sleep.

"Why can't I remember the people around me? They're becoming more and more blurry..." Little Budi tried to recall, but his eyes grew even more confused.

Once a bright and lively child, he was now in this state, making many servants feel heartache and unable to bear to watch.

A few days later, he could hardly speak, his large eyes devoid of any light. Looking at the little girl standing by the bed, tears streaming down her face, he asked, puzzled, "Big sister, who are you?"

The pretty little girl wiped away her tears and said softly, "I'm Ah Man. Little Master, why don't you remember me?"

"Ah Man, so familiar, but why can't I remember?" Little Budi tried to recall, his large eyes dull, looking at the ceiling, having lost their former sparkle.

The little girl cried, afraid of being heard, covering her mouth, tears streaming down her face. Finally, she whispered, "I heard Fourth Ancestor say that you are a Supreme, unmatched by anyone, but you were harmed."

"I am a Supreme..." Little Budi murmured.

"Yes, you are a Supreme, a born Supreme. Little Budi, you must get better!" the little girl cried.

"I will, I am a Supreme, I will get better," Little Budi said softly.

"Ah, I remember, you're Ah Man, who told me many stories and said you would take me to see the red-feathered crane. You were so kind to me," Little Budi suddenly remembered who the little girl was.

"Yes, Little Master, you must remember. You are a Supreme, and don't forget, I am Ah Man. Everything will be fine," the little girl cried, urging him.

"Um!" Little Budi nodded forcefully, then seemed to remember something else. "I think I have some memory back. There were other little brothers and sisters, why aren't they here?"

"The children of other servants can't come here. Young Master Shi Bin... they have all gone to practice," the little girl managed to smile.

In recent days, other children from the clan had gradually stopped coming, and the former uncles and aunts were rarely seen, no longer coming to look after him.

Little Budi grew weaker, no longer the bright, shining child destined to rise and become a supreme figure.

No one in the clan said anything, but they visited less, showing more indifference. However, such a young child did not understand these things.

Finally, Little Budi grew weaker, regressing to a severe state, not even recognizing Ah Man and his Fourth Great-Grandfather.

"Little Master, you must remember. You are a Supreme, and don't forget me, I am Ah Man," the pretty little girl stood by the bed, crying, her eyes red and swollen.

But Little Budi could no longer speak, unable to form words.

A month later, Shi Ziling returned, having not found the Thirteenth Elder. Upon entering the mansion, he immediately sensed something was wrong, the atmosphere strange.

"Where is Hao?!" he demanded.

When the couple saw Little Budi, they were shocked to the point of trembling. Was this still a child of about ten months? Why was he so weak and frail? His eyes had no luster, where was the former brightness and wisdom?

The weak Little Budi, upon seeing the couple, instinctively reached out his small hands, smiling without a care, as if sensing a sense of family and warmth, wanting them to hold him.

"Hao!" Shi Ziling roared, his eyes almost bleeding. His father was missing, and his young son had been harmed; he was filled with hatred.

"My child, what has happened to you?" Little Budi's mother almost fainted, picking him up and hugging him tightly.

"Ziling, I am to blame. I did not take good care of Hao. I should not have let others feed him. Come and punish this old man!" the elder, resembling a golden lion, said in pain.

"What exactly happened?!"

When Shi Ziling learned the truth, he was filled with rage, his black hair standing on end. He wielded a golden war spear, his body surrounded by runes, his battle aura boiling. With a roar, he shattered a palace with one thrust, heading straight for the residence of Shi Yi's lineage.

"Eleventh Elder, calm down, we can talk. We will give you an explanation!" a group of people rushed over upon hearing the commotion.

The so-called Eleventh Elder was not the eleventh among his brothers but the eleventh in the current generation of the clan, a ranking to show closeness and unity.

"Get out of my way!" Shi Ziling's eyes blazed, his golden divine spear sweeping, runes filling the sky like a surging sea, striking the heavens.

With a thunderous boom, the group was thrown back, spitting blood, unable to withstand the attack. The protective runes on their bodies exploded.

Shi Ziling, like a golden war god, bathed in golden divine flames, held his war spear and strode forward, his eyes emitting divine light, his voice cold. "Whoever dares to block my path, I will kill, no matter who they are or what their background is!"

"Eleventh Elder, don't be impulsive!" a young man stepped forward.

"Impulsive? Ha ha ha..." Shi Ziling laughed maniacally, his eyes cold. "You are Yi's uncle, bullying our lineage for being weak? Get out of my way!"

He thrust his golden war spear forward, divine light radiating, countless runes forming light spears, emitting a torrent of light, flying forward.

"Thud!"

The young man attacked, but could not resist. His weapon broke, his treasures shattered, and he was pierced through the chest by a golden divine spear, flying far away. He landed on the gate of a grand palace, coughing blood, his eyes filled with terror. The gap between them was too great.

"Ziling, don't act rashly. The wicked woman can be dealt with by you, but Yi is still a child; you cannot kill him," a group of elders appeared.

"Get out of my way. Where were you when my son was suffering? She broke one of my son's bones; I will break a hundred of hers!" Shi Ziling roared, tears in his eyes.

Returning to the clan and seeing his once adorable and wise son in such a state, his heart ached and bled.

"Boom!"

Shi Ziling's golden war spear sliced through the air, divine techniques shocking the heavens, like the gods chanting, the sound deafening.

The few elders blocking his path were thrown back, spitting blood, terrified.

Thinking of his son, Shi Ziling's heart was torn. Little Budi was too pitiful, a Supreme who had his bone taken. He wept as he prepared to unleash a massacre.