heaven money

Shi Ziling shook his head, his face somewhat pale.

An elderly man spoke up, saying, "They actually want to exile you all to this desolate place. They've gone too far! You're still so young!"

"Yes, it's called the second ancestral land, but what is it really? It's desolate and bitterly cold, not a blessed land at all, and not suitable for cultivation or long-term residence!"

The dilapidated second ancestral land is located in a desolate frontier, and only those clansmen who have committed serious mistakes or caused great trouble are exiled here.

“This is my agreement with them; Hao’er will recuperate here,” Shi Ziling said.

"It's all the same, I've just been exiled here!" an old man said angrily, then asked in confusion, "What exactly have they given you?"

"If Hao'er can regain his vitality, they will immediately return the Supreme Bone," Shi Ziling said.

“Child, how could you believe this? This is just stalling for time. Hao’er is so seriously ill, even if he survives, he will never be able to nourish the Supreme Bone!” An old man pounded his chest and stamped his feet.

Aside from the servants, there were four special old men here, all of whom were once renowned figures of great renown and of very high seniority. However, they had committed serious offenses and were exiled to this desolate and harsh land.

If they weren't worried about implicating their offspring, they would have fled long ago, as their cultivation levels were extremely terrifying. Many years have passed in the blink of an eye, and they have all entered their twilight years, with little time left to live.

"The Fourth Ancestor secretly gave me a fragment of a map, saying that if I could find the true ancestral land of my clan, Hao'er might be able to recover there," Shi Ziling whispered.

On the other side, his wife, her face filled with worry, held their frail baby in her arms; a smile had not graced her beautiful face for a long time.

"What? The true ancestral land of our clan?" Several elders stared wide-eyed. That was no ordinary place; it was filled with mystery and legends. The ancestors of the Stone Clan came from there, creating endless glory and establishing an ancient kingdom.

Everyone was very excited. That ancestral land had captured the hearts of many members of the Stone Clan. It held so many mysteries and was said to be a place where gods could be born! However, due to ancestral teachings, they had severed ties with that place and could no longer find it.

"Really? Is this some kind of scam?" an old man asked, somewhat skeptical.

"No matter what, I will try my best to help Hao'er recover!" Shi Ziling said resolutely.

"What if we can't find it?" an old man reminded him.

"Then I will go to the Ancient Divine Mountain and travel all over the wilderness to find a sacred herb. I must not let Hao'er fall into despair!" Shi Ziling said.

Beside him, his wife nodded, her beautiful eyes filled with determination, and hugged the little one tightly.

The elderly people were startled and spoke up, giving a solemn warning.

"Ziling, don't act recklessly. The Primordial Divine Mountain is not a place you can just wander into. It may be inhabited by supreme creatures like the True Hou or the Golden-Winged Roc. You could lose your life!"

Shi Ziling had been studying the incomplete map, and would not enter the ancient sacred mountain unless absolutely necessary, hoping to find his ancestral home.

"If Hao'er dies, I will fight them to the death, and we will fight until the heavens and the earth crumble!" Shi Ziling's eyes were piercing, revealing a terrifying aura.

"According to the agreement, Hao'er should stay here to recover from his injuries. They're worried about you and want to keep track of your movements, afraid that you'll just go back and fight them all," an old man said.

"I will not leave Hao'er here!" Shi Ziling was naturally not the kind of rigid person.

"How about this, don't give them excuses. Maybe you really can cure Hao'er. I'll find a child to take his place. We must retrieve the Supreme Bone in the future!"

……

Later, after going through many hardships, Shi Ziling and his wife found Shi Village. When they saw the charred willow tree, they were truly shocked. They were very powerful and naturally saw the extraordinary nature of this tree.

A gust of wind blew, and the mist gradually dissipated. Under the willow tree, the little one stood alone, his face covered in tears.

After a long time, the willow tree transmitted its voice, asking, "How are you feeling?"

"My heart aches for you, Father and Mother!"

The little one kept shedding tears.

If it weren't for him, my father and mother wouldn't have been hunted down.

"You are indeed a kind child. You have not lost your mind due to hatred and shouted for revenge." Willow Tree transmitted its voice, and then spoke again, saying, "You have lost the Supreme Bone, so you don't hate anymore? Now Shi Yi must be dazzling and shrouded in endless divine halo, which is difficult for ordinary people to look up to."

The little boy naturally knew that Shi Yi's future was destined to be far beyond the ordinary, and his glory would illuminate the earth—that was something to be imagined.

He spoke calmly, saying, "It's just a bone. The supreme status isn't bestowed, nor is it determined by a single bone. It's earned step by step through one's own efforts."

"Since you're willing to say this, then I'll tell you a secret." Willow Tree was very pleased.

"What secret?" The little one was taken aback.

"Have you ever seen plants wither and then flourish again?" the willow tree asked.

“Of course I’ve seen it,” the little one whispered, nodding.

"Autumn winds cut down yellow leaves, wildfires burn withered grass, cold winds howl, and spring brings forth new branches," the willow tree whispered.

The withering and flourishing of plants is the most natural thing, but it touched the little boy deeply at this moment, and he understood the meaning of the willow tree.

"Willow Goddess, are you saying that the Supreme Bone within me can be reborn?" The little one's big eyes were bright, with tears in them, exuding a youthful vigor amidst her innocence.

“Nothing is absolute, and your supreme bone has indeed begun to regenerate!” Willow Tree did not deny it.

Upon hearing this, Shi Hao suddenly realized:
"Is that Grandpa Yuntao?"

The little one clenched his fists, his big eyes sparkling with a bright light, filled with longing and anticipation.

Although he was cheerful and did not believe that a single supreme bone could determine his life, the thought that it was originally something he was born with, which allowed him to rival the True Hou and the Golden-Winged Roc, but was cruelly taken away and implanted into his body with blood still made him feel very lost.

Now it was as if a ray of dawn shone into his heart, brightening it considerably and making his fighting spirit even stronger.

"Willow God, could you elaborate? Please enlighten me." The little one's big eyes were bright and clear, with a childlike innocence and a radiant glow. "Actually, there's not much to say. The simplest and most fundamental truths are contained in ordinary things. An ancient tree, if broken, may die because its vitality has long since been exhausted. Like chives, when first planted, they are yellow and weak, but after being harvested again and again, they become greener and stronger. And like silkworms, if trapped in their cocoons, they will suffocate and perish, but if they break free, they will transform into butterflies, vibrant and beautiful. This is a rebirth, a transcendence of the past."

Liu Shen spoke calmly and without any ripples, recounting something utterly ordinary.

The little one's big eyes shone even brighter as he looked at the charred trunk and the last remaining tender green branch, and said, "Like the Willow God, it is reborn from destruction and will become stronger in the future. This is a kind of tempering, and also a unique kind of cultivation. After its rebirth, it will surely surpass the past."

"You have a good understanding, but regarding my situation... you shouldn't make wild assumptions." Willow Tree transmitted its voice, carrying a faint smile, a rare display of emotion.

“I must remind you that nothing is absolute. Although you survived on your own and have given birth to a vibrant life, whether you can regenerate the Supreme Bone is still uncertain.”

"I understand!" The little one nodded seriously, not blindly optimistic, because he had not yet felt the precious bone appear in his body.

Willow Goddess continued, "But once reborn, it is destined to be earth-shattering, undergoing a rebirth on the original foundation. The runes will be even more complex, containing the secrets of the heavens, surpassing the past, and will be completely different!"

As the chaotic mist dissipated, the village entrance returned to tranquility. A golden light darted in, and a round, furry ball, the size of a golden fist, landed on the little one's shoulder, squeaking incessantly.

Shi Ziling and Qin Yining then carried Shi Ankang to Shi Hao's side and picked him up as well. They didn't say anything, just stood there, feeling the presence of their parents and younger brother, which made Shi Hao feel very at ease.

The clan leader and a large group of people also gathered around. Seeing the tears on the little boy's face, Aunt Tiger and the others all comforted him, wiped them away, and showed him great affection.

“Little one, this is your home. Whether you know about your origins or not, we are all your family,” a group of middle-aged women said.

A group of burly men reached out their rough hands, rubbed his head, and grinned, saying, "It's nothing serious. Our Stone Village has even given birth to gods. In the future, you will definitely be a strongman who can fight against the ancient ferocious bird—the Golden-Winged Roc. You should know that it is a being that can slay gods."

"Don't cry, little one, we're here for you. We're brothers who grew up together, and we'll face anything together in the future!" a group of children shouted.

"Yes!" The little boy wiped away his tears and nodded vigorously. His people had treated him very well and had allowed him to grow up happily. He was very happy that his childhood was not filled with hatred.

Of course, he will definitely have to go to that ancient country in the future to demand an explanation!

"Grandpa Clan Chief, Grandpa Yuntao, Daddy, I want to become stronger!" Little Dot had never longed for power as much as he did today, but his cultivation in Stone Village had reached its peak, and there was nothing more to learn.

That ancient kingdom, ruling over hundreds of millions of miles of mountains and rivers, was incredibly vast, with a population of hundreds of millions, more than anyone could imagine. It must have produced countless geniuses, with outstanding figures emerging in every generation.

His "little brother" is the most brilliant sun among them, whose brilliance is destined to illuminate the entire earth. He is a person with double pupils, whose talent is equal to that of ancient saints and gods. In addition, he has obtained his supreme bone. If he grows up, he will be like a god!
Shi Yi is almost ten years old now, and he must have already become famous in the capital.

Facing such a highly anticipated "little brother" who is destined to rival the heavens and can compete with the ancient celestial beast, the True Hou, Little Dot still feels a lot of pressure.

"Becoming stronger... It's a pity about my clan's heritage. This is our ancestral land, destined to pass down the most terrifying bone inscriptions and precious techniques, but they have all vanished with the passage of time."

If it weren't for Shi Ziling and Yun Tao, our Shi Village really wouldn't have many traditions left!

The clan chief sighed, filled with deep regret.

But then his heart pounded violently again, and he touched the bone in his arms, unable to calm down.

After everyone had dispersed, leaving only Shi Yunfeng, Little Dot, and the golden Zhu Yan, the clan leader solemnly pulled Little Dot to the willow tree and said:
“Child, I have no more teachings for you; you are a true prodigy. But I have a bone here, its symbols so intricate that just one glance is enough to make one vomit blood. I have always dared not show it to you, fearing it would severely injure you, but now I have nothing left to teach you but this. If you look at it, you must be very careful!”

The old patriarch carefully took out a piece of bone from his bosom. It was white and lustrous, like a palm-sized piece of fine jade, indescribably crystal clear, pure white and translucent.

Although it is not large, it is densely covered with countless symbols, some hidden and some not, as if the chants of gods and demons are coming from it, making people's blood boil.

It's astonishing; it's just a bone, yet it's so amazing the moment it's revealed.

"Don't stare at it for too long. Take a look and then look into the distance for a while, or you'll hurt yourself. Even your father shouldn't stare at something for too long."

The old clan chief gave a stern reminder.

"Yes, Grandpa Chief, I know." The little one took it and gently rubbed it, feeling its incredibly smooth texture and cool sensation, making it very comfortable to hold.

Needless to say, this bone has an astonishing origin; it is clearly no ordinary object and seems to contain the supreme truth of the art of bone script.

"Squeak..." The fist-sized golden Zhu Yan jumped up and down, very uneasy. Its big, bright eyes were wide open, and it let out a sharp cry, wishing it could snatch the bone into its hands immediately. After seeing the bone, it was very uneasy and anxious.

"Grandpa, how did you get it? This precious bone seems to be extraordinary," the little one asked.

"Of course!" The clan chief's voice trembled as he mentioned the bone, looking up at the thick, charred willow tree, his heart pounding with emotion.

"It's related to Liu Shen?" Xiao Shihao asked in surprise.

The clan chief nodded. Decades ago, on that night, there was lightning and thunder, torrential rain, howling winds, and extreme violence. Many mountains were struck down by lightning, floods surged like the sea, and hordes of beasts rushed about, a scene so terrifying that it made people tremble.

The willow tree was bathed in a sea of ​​thunder, swirling with massive lightning bolts as thick as mountains. Thousands of willow branches transformed into blazing divine chains that pierced the entire sky. Finally, it snapped, its entire body charred black, and fell from the sky. Along with it, a ball of light enveloped the gleaming white bone, and together they fell to Stone Village.

"Oh, did it fall from the sky with the Willow Goddess?" the little one exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes!" The clan chief nodded vigorously. He was young at the time and witnessed all of this. The shock he felt was unimaginable.

For decades, Shi Yunfeng has repeatedly offered sacrifices to the willow tree by bowing with his bones, but he has never received a response from the willow tree, nor did he know that it could communicate with the divine.

In the clan chief's view, perhaps Liu Shen was only interested in the little one, and most of the times he spoke in Stone Village were related to him.

"Willow Goddess, what exactly is this?" the little one asked, unable to contain his curiosity.

The willow tree remained silent, offering no response; its thick, charred trunk resembled a black boulder.

"Squeak..." The fist-sized golden fur ball grew more and more eager, as if trying to recall something. Its bright eyes rolled around as it pounced on the white bone, wanting to hold it in its arms.

After an unknown amount of time, the willow tree finally spoke, uttering only four words: "Original True Explanation."

"The Original True Explanation?" Little Dot exclaimed in surprise. The name sounded extraordinary. He had been enveloped in a ball of light and fell into Stone Village with Willow God. His origins must be extraordinary.

The fist-sized fluffy ball squeaked incessantly, scratching its ears and cheeks, before pouncing onto the little one's hand and clinging to the translucent white bone like a golden koala, refusing to let go. It seemed to be saying, "This is mine, and nobody can take it from me!" (End of Chapter)