When Long Aotian's chest began to glow, every strong figure present felt a sharp ache in their bones.
A supreme, invincible aura suppressed everyone, and in the presence of that aura, it made people feel oppressed and terrified.
"The strongest among spiritual bones, the Supreme Bone."
Someone cried out in alarm. Long Aotian activated his spiritual bone, and immediately someone recognized the legendary aura.
Heaven has three treasures: sun, moon, and stars; humans have three treasures: essence, energy, and spirit, corresponding to a person's spiritual blood, spiritual root, and spiritual bone.
Almost everyone has spiritual roots, just of different grades. Most cultivators have spiritual blood, but only a few with certain aptitude can activate it.
Moreover, even when activated, spiritual blood comes in two types: innate and postnatal. The former is inherited from ancestors, while the latter is cultivated through one's own cultivation.
But spiritual bones are something that even billions of cultivators might not even produce; those who possess spiritual bones are the true geniuses among geniuses.
Spiritual bones are generally born innately. Although they can also awaken after birth, the cost is enormous. Just like the divine bones Long Chen obtained in the Ten Thousand Dragon Nest, which can awaken spiritual bones later in life.
But this thing is so precious that there's an old saying in the cultivation world: 'Spiritual bones are something you have at birth, and if you don't have them, basically they're gone.'
This means that this cannot be obtained through hard work alone. Even some powerful clan or peerless sect, with billions in fortune and endless manpower and resources, cannot obtain it, let alone disciples without background or talent.
The spiritual bone is the hub connecting qi and spirit. When all three are present, it becomes a product of talent, evolving all paths, and aligns with the principle that the Dao gives birth to One, One gives birth to Two, Two gives birth to Three, and Three gives birth to all things.
Spiritual bones bear a person's Dao foundation, called the Immortal Seed in ancient times, and are the key to becoming a god. Those who possess spiritual bones, as long as they do not fall, will inevitably become immortals or gods.
Within the spiritual bone, there are many attributes: metal, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, thunder, light, darkness, annihilation, devouring, and so on. However, one type of spirit bone only has one ability and does not simultaneously absorb other powers.
However, there is a type of spiritual bone that breaks free from all constraints, encompassing all forms and controlling all the power in the world. This type of spirit bone is called the Supreme Bone, the supreme among spiritual bones, standing at the very top.
Spiritual bones are usually only activated and used when advancing to the Fusion Heaven Realm. Logically, at the time of tribulation, if a person has not yet stepped into the Fusion Heaven Realm, recklessly using a spirit bone could lead to loss of control and the risk of body explosion and death.
Figures like Jiang Wuchen and Ye Liangchen both possess spiritual bones, but they dare not use them because if they fail to master them properly, it could be fatal. They don't dare to take the risk.
When Jiang Wuchen first met Long Chen, Long Chen slapped him. In his rage, he nearly used his spiritual bone. If Feng Fei hadn't stopped him, after using the spirit bone, he would have been destroyed even if he didn't die.
But Ye Liangchen was different. With the Nine-Dragon Swallowing Heaven Diagram behind him, he possessed terrifying control power. His spiritual bones glowed, and a divine light slashed toward Emperor Hanwei.
"Boom!"
The guqin collided with the divine light, causing heaven and earth to tremble violently. Countless powerful figures felt their bodies twisted violently, spurting out mouthfuls of blood, their faces pale and filled with terror.
That strike contained supreme willpower—not only a clash of laws, but also a battle of wills. Everyone's souls were damaged, their heads splitting with pain.
"Creak creak"
Veins bulged on Long Chen's forehead, murderous intent surged in his eyes, and his body trembled involuntarily.
That aura was so familiar; the Supreme Bone belonged to him, a pair of vicious hands ripping it out from Long Chen's body.
With that strike, Long Chen not only felt the Supreme Bone, but also saw the colorful divine light within it.
That wasn't divine light, but blood energy—colorful blood energy, activating myriad paths and forming a phenomenon—that was Supreme Blood.
"Hahaha, the dragon roars across the nine heavens, looking down on the mortal world. My son Long Chen, with a strange spiritual root, divine spirit bone, and supreme blood, will surely look down upon the eight wildernesses, standing tall above the heavens, overlooking the eternal heavens. Hahaha!"
Long Chen seemed to hear that hearty and domineering laughter echoing in his ears again—a brief scene he had witnessed in the future lake of Eastern Wilderness.
Back then, Long Chen's cultivation was low, so he could rewind time and see fragments of history. But later, as his cultivation increased, he could no longer see such things.
What Long Chen didn't know was that the Divine Spirit Bone was born with the Divine Spirit Bone, but by Long Aotian's side, the innate divine energy of the Divine Spirit Bone had already been depleted and had degenerated into the Supreme Bone, so it was no longer called by the same voice.
But whether it was the Divine Spirit Bone or the Supreme Bone, it was all his—Long Aotian had taken everything from him.
"Long Chen, control yourself. The reason Emperor Hanwei did this is to help you solve the mystery.
Now you know him, but he doesn't know you. This benefits you. If you can't resist, Emperor Hanwei's efforts will be wasted.
Besides, you're still undergoing tribulation. Every bit of strength is your trump card for survival. You must conserve your strength. "Dragon Bone Evil Moon cursed to himself, 'This is bad.' Long Chen was about to go berserk, and hurriedly shouted a warning.
Emperor Hanwei was targeting Long Aotian like this, most likely for Long Chen's sake, deliberately forcing him to reveal his trump card. But Long Chen's rage at this moment was far too much of a shame.
"Xieyue, you're not me. You don't understand. If I could tolerate this, then I wouldn't be Long Chen."
Long Chen suddenly stepped forward and disappeared from where he stood.
Amidst the roar and explosion in the void, Emperor Hanwei's guqin shattered together with the divine light emitted by Long Aotian, sending Emperor Hanwei flying backward.
"What?" Even the Great Emperor has been defeated? "
Is Long Aotian even stronger than the Great Emperor?"
People were shocked—Long Aotian was terrifying. A strike from the Supreme Bone was earth-shattering.
"Long Aotian is indeed terrifying, but to say he's stronger than the Great Emperor might not be so." Someone shook their head.
"What do you mean?"
"Long Aotian is flesh and blood, while the Great Emperor is merely a shadow created by heaven and earth, without flesh and blood.
The Great Emperor also possessed spiritual bones, but not one of the Great Emperors copied by the Heavenly Tribulation, yet he could not unleash the power formed by condensing essence, energy, and spirit.
Even so, it must be admitted that Long Aotian is probably the strongest existence below the Great Emperor. The man sighed.
"What about Long Chen?"
"I'm afraid," the man shook his head, clearly not optimistic about Long Chen. Long Aotian was too strong, with a Supreme Bone appearing. Apart from emperors of the same era, no one could compare.
"Boom!"
At that moment, the void exploded, and colorful divine light burst forth. People looked into the void and saw that the Nine Dragons Swallowing the Sky Diagram behind Long Aotian had turned colorful. Nine dragons in nine colors, endless blood energy erupted, and the nine giant dragons seemed to come alive.
"Today I declare that I, Long Aotian, am the sixth generation Emperor. From now on, those who follow me will prosper, those who oppose me will perish." Long Aotian howled to the sky, his long hair flying, fully displaying his arrogance.
At this moment, Long Aotian activated the Nine-Dragon Devouring Heaven Diagram with his spiritual blood. His blood energy surged to the sky, overwhelming the heavens and earth, intimidating all ages, and making allPeople feel fear.
"You won't become an emperor; you'll only become the soul of my own blade."
Amidst the endless roar of dragons, a cold voice rang out, as if it came from the Nine Nether Hells.
Under the shocked gazes of the crowd, Long Chen, dressed in black robes, exuding murderous intent that made the heavens tremble, stood before Long Aotian.