My 1995 Small Farm.

Since the day he first comprehended the bone inscriptions, Chen Ling's cultivation officially entered the right track.

He can now skillfully recognize the dozen or so basic bone script characters taught to him by the old clan chief.

With the help of the Sun and Moon Grotto, he gained a deeper understanding of three of the bone inscriptions.

The black tortoise shell script representing "protection".

Ancient wooden bone inscriptions symbolizing "vitality".

And the Jin Ge bone script, which implies "sharpness".

During the day, he would sit cross-legged in front of the altar, studying the bone inscriptions and guiding the essence of heaven and earth into his body.

The Great Wilderness where Stone Village is located possesses an abundance of spiritual energy that the depleted Earth cannot match.

But cultivation is not easy either.

It takes ordinary people several years of hard work to refine a wisp of essence into divine light and integrate it into their blood.

Chen Ling discovered that when he activated the Xuan Turtle Bone Script that he had the deepest understanding of, the illusory image of the small jade tree in his body would tremble slightly.

The leaves of the black tortoise emit a soft halo, which can actively attract the surrounding vital energy to gather!

Although the effect wasn't exaggerated, his cultivation speed was several times faster than that of the others in Stone Village.

At night, he would enter the Sun and Moon Cave to cultivate.

Late that night, Chen Ling sat cross-legged under a small jade tree in the cave and took out a drop of seven-colored immortal dew and swallowed it.

The gentle energy flows through the meridians like a stream.

At the same time, he activated the Xuan Turtle Bone Script, and faint phantom images of tortoise shells appeared on his body. The energy was guided in an orderly manner and seeped into his limbs and bones.

"Om-"

The bones emitted a faint hum, and the blood surged like a river.

Chen Ling could clearly sense that his physical condition was steadily improving.

Back on Earth, he could lift up to 400 pounds, but now, with a single swing of his arm, he could probably lift a thousand pounds.

This is only physical strength, without the enhancement of the Bone Script Divine Light.

"According to the old patriarch, the Blood Transformation Realm is divided into four stages: early stage, middle stage, late stage, and perfect stage. In the early stage, one needs to refine a wisp of divine light into the blood; in the middle stage, the divine light is like a stream; in the late stage, the divine light is like a river; and at the perfect stage, one's blood and qi soar to the sky, and one can lift a boulder weighing ten thousand jin."

"I should now be considered to be at the peak of the early stage of Blood Regeneration, close to the middle stage."

Chen Ling was thrilled to have made such progress in just over a month of cultivation.

But he also knew that this was mostly due to the advantages of the Sun and Moon Grotto.

Even the adult hunters in Stone Village, such as Lin Hu and others, who had trained hard for twenty or thirty years, were only at the mid-stage of Blood Moving, and could lift boulders weighing two or three thousand catties.

"Don't be arrogant. There are many strong people in this world. The Blood Transformation Realm is just the beginning."

After finishing his practice, Chen Ling's gaze fell on the small jade tree.

The dozens of leaves were in various shapes: dragon, phoenix, tortoise, tiger, bell, cauldron, pagoda, mirror...

Each piece shimmers with a unique and captivating light.

After these days of probing, Chen Ling has roughly figured out the pattern.

Leaves depicting the forms of living beings are often related to corresponding bone inscriptions or bloodline supernatural powers.

Leaves in the form of artifacts may contain auxiliary methods such as weapon crafting, formations, and elixirs.

"The Black Tortoise Leaf helped me comprehend the defensive bone inscriptions, but what about the True Dragon Leaf and the Divine Phoenix Leaf?"

Chen Ling reached out, wanting to pluck a True Dragon Leaf, but as soon as his fingertips touched the leaf, a vast dragon's might swept over him, shaking his soul so much that he quickly withdrew his hand.

"It seems that with my current strength, I am not yet able to withstand the energy of these top-tier divine leaves."

He then looked at the shallow pool of seven-colored water at the base of the tree.

More than ten drops of the fairy dew have been used, and the pool water has become shallower, with a layer that is barely visible to the naked eye.

Chen Ling dared not use too much, knowing full well that every drop of this divine substance used was one less available.

He tried scooping some water into a stone bowl and pouring it onto the roots of the jade sapling.

A strange thing happened...

After the tree roots absorbed the celestial dew, the luster of the black tortoise leaf brightened noticeably, and the faint glow of the other leaves on the tree also became slightly more active.

"The dew can nourish saplings!"

Chen Ling's eyes lit up.

If the sapling can grow, it may sprout new leaves or enhance the effectiveness of its existing leaves.

This is a virtuous cycle.

"It's just that the celestial dew is produced too slowly, only two or three drops condense per month, so we can't waste it."

He pondered this in his mind, his gaze falling on the spiritual spring within the cave.

The milky-white spiritual spring, formed from celestial mist, irrigates the exotic flowers and fruits within the grotto.

Chen Ling had taken a sip and found that its energy was much milder than the Seven-Colored Fairy Dew, but its advantage was that it was inexhaustible.

"Perhaps we could try using the spiritual spring to aid our cultivation?"

……

The next morning, Chen Ling had just finished his cultivation when he heard familiar footsteps outside the door.

Little Shihao, carrying a bowl of animal milk, carefully pushed open the door and said in a childish voice, "Uncle, drink milk!"

Chen Ling accepted it with a smile.

These days, Xiao Shihao comes to see him almost every day, sometimes bringing food, sometimes just to play.

The other children in the village still held Chen Ling in awe, but this little one grew closer and closer to him because of Chen Ling's gentle attitude.

"Little one, how's your cultivation going lately? Does the medicinal bath still hurt?" Chen Ling asked casually.

"It hurts! But I can bear it!"

Little Shihao clenched his little fists, his big eyes sparkling, "Uncle, I lifted a 60-pound stone lock yesterday!"

"That's amazing." Chen Ling rubbed his head.

Looking at Xiao Shihao's innocent and carefree face, and thinking about the hardships this child would have to endure in the future, his heart always softened.

These days, he secretly observed and found that although Xiao Shihao was lively, he would sometimes clutch his chest and stare blankly, his eyes glazed over, as if he were recalling something.

"Is this a side effect of having the Supreme Bone removed?" Chen Ling sighed inwardly.

In the original novel, Shi Hao almost lost his life when his cousin dug out his supreme bone when he was young.

Although he was rescued, he lost his memory, and his Supreme Bone was broken and silent.

It wasn't until later, after many hardships, that the Supreme Bone began to regrow.

"If I could use the treasures of this celestial realm to help him..."

Once this thought arises, it is difficult to suppress.

Chen Ling is not a saint, but as a time traveler who knows the plot and has seen this living, breathing child who can whine and ask for milk, he simply cannot sit idly by.

Moreover, since Shi Hao will become the Heavenly Emperor in the future, it would be beneficial for him to establish good relationships when he is still in a humble position.

There are, of course, risks.

If the Supreme Bone shows signs of recovery too early, it may attract the attention of old enemies or arouse suspicion within the village.

But then Chen Ling thought again: With the Willow God in charge of Shi Village, it's safe for now as long as we don't leave the Great Wilderness.

And Liu Shen...

They should have noticed their own "visitor from outer space" and have not taken any action so far, which suggests that they have at least no malicious intent.

"Be cautious, try the gentlest method first."

That afternoon, Chen Ling, using the excuse of wanting to familiarize himself with the surroundings, asked Xiao Shihao to take him to gather wild fruits outside the village. The two arrived at a small valley about three miles from the village, a secluded place where few villagers came.

"Little one, Uncle found a delicious fruit a few days ago, why don't you try it?"

Chen Ling took out a jade box from his bosom.

This is a small item he casually put in his pocket when he was on Earth, and now it is used to hold the things in the cave.

Inside the jade box was a jade leaf the size of a fingernail, a "leaf from an ancient tree" picked from a small jade tree, shaped like a banyan tree, full of vitality.

Chen Ling dared not use top-grade leaves such as True Dragon or Divine Phoenix, so he chose this leaf that represented "vitality" and "nourishment," and then soaked it in spiritual spring water for three days to dilute its energy.

"What is this? It looks like a leaf made of jade."

Xiao Shihao curiously took it, feeling its smooth texture against his skin.

"It's a medicinal leaf that can strengthen the body. Hold it under your tongue, don't swallow it, and let it dissolve on its own," Chen Ling instructed.

Xiao Shihao trusted Chen Ling completely and put the leaf in his mouth as instructed.

The leaves melt in your mouth, transforming into a cool and gentle warm current that flows down your throat and into your entire body.

Xiao Shihao let out a soft "Eh," feeling a warm sensation all over his body, as if the persistent, faint chill in his chest had been dispelled.

"Uncle, it feels so good!" Little Shi Hao's eyes curved into crescents.

Chen Ling nervously observed his reaction.

Little Shi Hao's face was rosy, his breathing was steady, and there was nothing unusual about him.

After about fifteen minutes, the warm current gradually dissipated. Xiao Shihao stretched his limbs and exclaimed in surprise, "I feel like I'm a little stronger!"

"That's good." Chen Ling breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that the diluted ancient wood leaves had a mild energy that was suitable for children to absorb.

Every seven days thereafter, Chen Ling would find an opportunity to give Xiao Shihao a diluted piece of ancient wood leaf.

He was extremely careful each time, taking only the smallest fragments and diluting them with the spiritual spring.

Xiao Shihao's changes are becoming increasingly apparent.

Although he was lively, his physique was not outstanding compared to other children of the same age in Shicun, and was even slightly weaker.

This is a hidden injury left from the removal of the Supreme Bone.

After taking Gu Mu Ye for over a month, his complexion is rosy, his blood and energy are significantly stronger, he can lift an 80-pound stone lock, and he runs as nimbly as a deer.

The old patriarch was the first to notice, assuming it was the result of Xiao Shihao's hard work in cultivation. Overjoyed, he increased the strength of the medicinal bath formula.

Chen Ling was secretly delighted, but dared not be careless.

The incident occurred on the night of the second full moon.

That night, Chen Ling was cultivating in the cave when he suddenly felt uneasy, as if he were being called.

When he regained consciousness, he heard suppressed sobbing coming from the stone house next door.

Xiao Shihao shared a room with several other children, right next to Chen Ling's.

Chen Ling quickly got up and pushed the door open to enter.

Moonlight streamed in through the stone window, illuminating Xiao Shihao's bed.

The little one curled up, trembling all over, his forehead covered in cold sweat, his little hands tightly clutching his chest, mumbling in his sleep, "It hurts...it hurts so much...Mommy...don't dig..."

Chen Ling's heart sank. He quickly stepped forward and gently patted Xiao Shihao awake: "Little one, wake up!"

Xiao Shihao suddenly opened his eyes, his pupils still filled with fear.

He saw Chen Ling, paused for a moment, then burst into tears and threw himself into Chen Ling's arms: "Uncle... I had a dream... a terrible dream... someone... someone wanted to dig out my bones..."

Chen Ling held him and felt that the child's body was cold, but his heart was faintly burning.

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, dreams are all fake."

Chen Ling gently comforted him, placing his palm on Xiao Shihao's back and circulating the Xuan Turtle Bone Script to infuse him with a wisp of gentle divine light, calming his blood and qi.

Xiao Shihao cried for a while, then gradually calmed down, but his face was still pale.

He sobbed, “I dreamt of a huge house, and lots of people were crying… Someone was holding a knife and was about to cut open my chest… There was also a woman who was shouting, ‘Don’t hurt my child…’ Was that my mother? I can’t remember…”

Chen Ling's heart clenched as he listened.

These are fragments of memories from the Supreme Bone that were extracted, and they are beginning to revive under the nourishment of the ancient tree's life force!

"It's just a dream."

Chen Ling wiped away his tears and said gently, "Look, your chest is fine, there are no wounds."

Little Shi Hao looked down and touched his chest with his little hand; it was indeed intact.

He frowned in confusion: "But...the dream felt so real...and it's been so hot here lately."

"That's because you're growing."

Chen Ling forced a smile and said, "Would you like some water?"

After comforting Xiao Shihao and watching him fall asleep again, Chen Ling returned to his room, his heart heavy.

"The ancient leaves stimulated the remnants of the Supreme Bone's essence, and memories began to return. This is both a good thing and a bad thing."

The good thing is that if Xiao Shihao can recover his Supreme Bone ahead of time, his future path will be much easier.

The bad thing is that this process is bound to be painful, and if it becomes known to the outside world, it may bring trouble.

"We must be more careful."

The next day, Chen Ling found the old clan chief and subtly inquired about Xiao Shihao's background.

The old clan chief didn't tell the truth, but sighed and said, "Little one... I found him on the edge of the Great Wilderness many years ago. At that time, he was still an infant, with a wound on his chest, and was on the verge of death. I brought him back to the village and saved him with an ancestral prescription, but he lost his memory and only remembered that his name was Shi Hao."

“He has had nightmares occasionally over the years, but this is the first time he has woken up crying like he did last night.”

The old patriarch looked at Chen Ling: "Chen Ling, you seem to care a lot about Little One."

Chen Ling frankly said, "The little one is innocent and adorable, which makes people feel sorry for him. I couldn't bear to see him so weak."

The old clan chief nodded, not delving into the matter, and simply said, "You've put your heart into it. Although Little One isn't of Stone Village blood, we all treat him like our own child. If he's fortunate enough, he might be able to leave the Great Wilderness and find his roots in the future."

Chen Ling thought to himself: The old clan chief is not telling the truth. It seems he is wary of me, but the villagers of Shi Village are simple and honest and do not care about such things.

Since the nightmare incident involving Xiao Shihao, Chen Ling stopped giving him Ancient Wood Leaf and instead thought about how to provide more reliable support.

"The restoration of the Supreme Bone requires immense vitality. While the Ancient Wood Leaf is good, its energy is gentle and its effects are slow. Although the Seven-Colored Immortal Dew has the effect of reviving the dead and healing bones, its energy is too strong for the child to withstand."

Chen Ling's gaze fell on the spiritual spring at the core of the cave.

This spiritual spring is formed from celestial mist and flows day and night. The spring water contains the pure essence of the sun and moon. Although it is not as domineering as celestial dew, it is gentle and mild, making it most suitable for nourishing one's foundation.

"Perhaps...we could try using the spiritual spring water?"

He took a stone jar, filled it halfway with spiritual spring water, and then picked a small piece of ancient tree leaf to soak in it.

The leaves slowly unfurled in the spring water, infusing the water with vitality, and the entire jar of water shimmered with a faint green light, full of life.

Chen Ling took a small sip and felt a gentle warmth spread through him, making him feel comfortable all over and without any discomfort.

"It's done! This diluted spiritual spring medicine should be suitable for Little One."

He was about to go find Xiao Shihao when a thought suddenly struck him, and he looked toward the entrance to the cave.

He was connected to the Sun and Moon Grotto Heaven by his soul, and he vaguely sensed that a wisp of extremely faint, yet vast as the starry sky, divine thought had swept across the outer perimeter of the grotto heaven.

The divine thought was not malicious; it was like a gentle breeze, but Chen Ling's back instantly broke out in a cold sweat.

"Willow Goddess..."

In the entire Stone Village, only the Sacrificial Willow God possesses such divine power.

"Did she notice me? Or did she notice the fluctuations in the cave?"

Chen Ling took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

If Liu Shen truly harbored ill intentions, she could have acted long ago. Since she's only observing, it means she's safe for now. (End of Chapter)