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Seeing Qin Hao's incredulous gaze, Shi Hao didn't say anything, but directly ripped open the blood-stained collar of his own clothes.

"—Buzz!!!"

A soft buzzing sound rang out.

In the very center of Shi Hao's chest, a crystal-clear bone, radiating a soft light, was slowly manifesting.

This bone was carved from the finest celestial jade, with mysterious runes flowing naturally within it. Each flash drew in the surrounding天地精气 (heaven and earth essence) to fluctuate slightly, emanating a supreme aura originating from the very source of life.

That aura was ancient and pure, as if it were born to be the darling of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.

Qin Hao's eyes widened instantly as he stared intently at the bone, holding his breath.

As people who also possess the "Supreme Bone," no matter how well the Qin Clan concealed his bone using secret methods, the difference in their abilities was immediately apparent upon close proximity!

The Daoist aura emanating from the Supreme Bone within Shi Hao's body was perfectly natural, a part of the very essence of life.

Although the bone inside him was also very strong, it was transplanted into him by an elder of the Qin clan using a secret technique.

There is a fundamental difference between the two.

"This...this is the real..."

Qin Hao's voice was dry, and the rest of his words stuck in his throat.

Although he was shocked by Shi Hao's strength when he was defeated, deep down he couldn't help but feel a bit of luck and resentment.

Because at that time he had not yet used the true power of the Supreme Bone!
That was his biggest trump card and reliance.

But now, that sliver of hope has finally been completely crushed.

Shi Hao not only completely overwhelmed him in strength, but even his most prized "talent" was something the other had already mastered...

If Shi Hao had used the power of that bone just now... he would definitely be dead.

After the initial shock, an indescribable sense of humiliation and anger surged into Qin Hao's heart.

He suddenly raised his head, his eyes red-rimmed as he glared at Shi Hao, clenching his fists as he said, "Why didn't you use this Supreme Bone just now? Don't I even have the right to let you use this bone?"

Qin Hao's pride was shattered at this moment.

Shi Hao slowly pulled up his shirt.

Looking at his younger brother, who was trembling with excitement, he couldn't help but shake his head: "It's not that I look down on you, it's just that I know better than anyone that relying on this thing will never make you a true strongman. To tell you the truth, this bone in my body was once taken away, and it was only reconstructed by chance. However, I have never used this bone since it was reconstructed."

"What did you say? Your supreme bone was once dug up?"

Qin Hao cried out in shock, and even Shi Ziling and Qin Yining, who were standing nearby, couldn't help but cover their mouths, their eyes filled with heartache.

Although they already knew that Shi Hao's Supreme Bone had been taken away, hearing their son calmly recount the matter still broke their hearts.

"Yes, they were poached."

Shi Hao smiled, a smile that held little resentment but rather a kind of magnanimity born of hardship: "Without this bone, I almost died, but it was precisely without it that I came to understand a truth."

He looked intently at Qin Hao and said, word by word, "Even if you are born with a supreme bone, in the end, it is still an 'external thing.' It gives you power, but it may also make you dependent on it, making you think that all the power lies in it."

"I have seen too many people who are obsessed with precious bones and divine artifacts, but forget to temper themselves and understand their own hearts!"

"You were made and you will be ruined by the Supreme Bone. What will you do if one day it leaves you, or if you encounter someone who can restrain it?"

Qin Hao was stunned. Shi Hao's words were like ice water poured over his head, instantly cooling his boiling blood.

He subconsciously touched his chest.

There, the transplanted "supreme bone" was faintly warming up.

Shi Hao looked at Qin Hao and continued, "My current strength comes from countless life-and-death battles. This Supreme Bone may be an aid to me, but it must never become my reliance. True powerhouses never despise such external things!"

"Qin Hao, you are very talented and hardworking, but if you only focus on this 'bone' and only think about using it to surpass someone or prove something, then your path will be narrow and you are destined not to go far."

"If you want to reach the summit and look down upon this vast world, you must first learn to break free from dependence on external things, even if those external things are inside your own body..."

In order to properly guide his younger brother, Shi Hao shared many of his insights into cultivation.

Qin Hao stood there, stunned, momentarily at a loss for what to do.

Shi Hao's words kept echoing in his mind, making him recall the evaluation and expectations of his clan elders for his "Supreme Bone" when he was cultivating in the Immortal Mountain!
Mount Immortal poured all its resources into him, hoping that he could unleash the full power of that Supreme Bone.

He himself had long been accustomed to the existence of this bone and regarded it as the source of his strength.

But now, this older brother who suddenly appeared, this person who truly possesses the innate supreme bone, is telling him not to rely too much on the power of this supreme bone.

This is ridiculous!
Qin Hao was unwilling to believe everything Shi Hao was saying, but looking into Shi Hao's calm eyes, he had a vague feeling that what the other party said might be true.

A person's strength comes from within, not just from the shining bone in their chest.

Unbeknownst to him, Qin Hao's clenched fist had already loosened.

His stubbornness and refusal to admit defeat were still there, but the direction he was pointing seemed to have subtly changed, slowly shifting from "I will defeat you with my bones" to "I want to be as strong as you, without relying on this bone."

Shi Ziling and Qin Yining looked at their two sons with expressions of great satisfaction.

Their two sons, one who had returned from hardship and was as steady as a mountain, and the other who was proud and arrogant, were now deep in thought.

The two brothers, who were completely different, had their first real conversation because of the topic of the "Supreme Bone".

Shi Hao looked at the silent Qin Hao and knew that he had taken some of what he said to heart, and that was enough.

Ultimately, you have to walk your own path.

He can only provide guidance from the sidelines and cannot intervene too much in the cause and effect.

Otherwise, his younger brother would never have been able to grow up.

Shi Hao withdrew his gaze from Qin Hao, then turned around and looked back at Shi Ziling and his wife.

At this moment, the first smile since their reunion finally appeared on his face.

"Dad, Mom, let's...go home."

Come back home?

These two words brought tears to the eyes of Mr. and Mrs. Shi Ziling.

They had waited far too long for this day.

...(End of chapter)