12: With enough skill, no corner is too hard to dig up.

In the imperial capital of the Stone Kingdom, tonight was destined to be a sleepless one.

The vast Shi Family estate was decorated with lanterns and streamers, radiating auspicious energy. Hundreds of ever-burning lamps fueled by merman oil lit the entire estate as bright as day; even the two jade Qilins in front of the gate were polished to a shine, as if cheering for the birth of that "Natural Saint."

Guests filled the halls, clinking glasses and exchanging toasts.

Those princes and ministers who were usually high and mighty now wore fawning smiles, competing to congratulate the Shi Family Head.

“Congratulations, Shi Family Head! The Qilin child was born with Double Pupils and now has the help of the Supreme Bone; this is the aptitude of a Saint!”

“Two Supremes in one body, the Shi Family shall flourish! In the future, this Eastern Wasteland might just be named Shi!”

But outside this scene of bustling noise...

A tattered wooden sword silently hovered in the air above the Shi Family's main gate.

Li Daoxuan looked down at the dazzling prosperity below, then at the trembling little Shi Tian beside him, who was wrapped in a blood-stained white robe.

What an ironic scene.

On one side was a carnival built on the bones of others, and on the other was the desolation of being stripped of bone and discarded like a corpse.

“Are you ready?”

Li Daoxuan gently pressed Shi Tian's thin shoulder, the warmth from his palm steadily transferring over.

Shi Tian stared fixedly at the familiar yet strange gate below. Once, this was his home; now, it was his nightmare.

He took a deep breath, and in those deathly still eyes, a fire finally ignited.

“Mm.”

Li Daoxuan smiled slightly and snapped his fingers.

The wooden sword dissipated.

Three figures landed lightly in front of the Shi Family gate, directly blocking the path of several guests who were about to enter.

The Shi Family steward responsible for welcoming guests frowned. Before even seeing who it was, he habitually waved his hand as if shooing a fly:

“Where did these beggars come from? Don't you see what day it is! Get lost, don't block the path of the distinguished guests!”

Xiao Chen and Leng Yanran stood behind Li Daoxuan, their eyes cold and hands already on their weapons.

As long as their Revered Master gave the order, they could twist this watchdog's head off.

But Li Daoxuan did not move.

He simply straightened his collar, a warm smile on his face. His voice wasn't loud, but with the enhancement of spiritual power, it instantly drowned out all the music from within the estate.

“Li Daoxuan of the Hidden God Sect, bringing Disciple Shi Tian, has come to the Shi Family specifically to...”

“Seek justice.”

That shout was like a ladle of cold water poured into a boiling pot of oil.

The originally bustling Shi Family estate instantly fell silent.

Countless gazes snapped toward the main gate.

There stood a young man in snow-white robes, leading a child covered in blood, standing there with such casualness. That posture didn't look like someone coming for revenge, but rather like someone dropping by for a visit.

“Shi Tian?”

Someone recognized the child and instantly gasped.

“Isn't that... the abandoned child whose bone was dug out? He's actually not dead?”

“Shh! Keep it down! The Shi Family claimed he died suddenly; now there's going to be a good show!”

After a brief silence, a burst of piercing laughter erupted.

The Shi Family Head walked out holding a wine cup, his face flushed and his eyes bleary with drink. He glanced at the nephew he once regarded as the Family's disgrace, and a flash of disgust and killing intent crossed his eyes.

“I wondered who it was; so it's that little bastard who didn't die thoroughly.”

“And you.”

He pointed at Li Daoxuan as if he had heard the world's biggest joke.

“Hidden God Sect? Never heard of such a pheasant Sect. Just with the three of you, you dare come to my Shi Family to seek justice?”

“Justice? In this world, fists are justice! My son Shi Yi has the aptitude of a Great Emperor; digging out one of his bones is his honor! Not only is he not grateful, he dares to bring people back to cause trouble?”

As the Family Head's words fell, a group of Shi Family guards instantly surrounded them, each looking fierce and malicious.

Just then...

The crowd automatically parted, and a boy wearing a golden brocade robe slowly walked out.

He looked to be only seven or eight years old, but his expression was frighteningly mature. In those eyes, there were two overlapping pupils in each; as they opened and closed, divine light flowed, exuding a heart-palpitating pressure.

Shi Yi.

The one born with Double Pupils.

He walked to the door and looked down at Shi Tian below the steps, the corner of his mouth curling into a contemptuous arc.

Then, he performed an action that shocked everyone present.

He slowly pulled open his collar, revealing his chest.

There, a crystal-clear bone was emitting a soft divine light, densely engraved with Daoist runes. That light complemented his Double Pupils, making him look like a young deity.

“My dear younger brother, you're not dead yet?”

Shi Yi stroked the bone in his chest, his tone so gentle it was hair-raising.

“Do you see? This bone is a thousand, ten thousand times more dazzling in my body than in your trash physique.”

“It was born to belong to me.”

“Since you're not dead, you should have found a place to linger on your last breath. Why come back to seek death? Could it be... you still want to take it back?”

Killing the heart after the body.

He was flaunting, he was showing off his spoils of war, he was trampling on Shi Tian's last bit of dignity.

Shi Tian trembled all over, biting his lip so hard that blood dripped down his chin.

The pain of being betrayed by his closest kin and stripped of everything made him almost lose his mind.

“That's mine... That's mine!”

A beast-like low growl came from Shi Tian's throat. He wanted to rush forward, but Li Daoxuan reached out and stopped him.

Li Daoxuan looked at the arrogant Double-Pupiled youth and shook his head.

“Not very old, but quite a big mouth.”

“To steal someone else's things and still be so self-righteous, your Shi Family's upbringing truly opens my eyes.”

He turned around and looked at the tearful Shi Tian, saying nothing to comfort him.

Because he knew that some wounds can only be washed away with blood.

Some hurdles can only be crossed by oneself.

“Disciple.”

Li Daoxuan's voice was calm and powerful.

“There are no paths in this world originally; but if you dig enough corners, it becomes a path.”

“Since they say this is a world of fists, then let's change our way of reasoning.”

As he spoke, Li Daoxuan flipped his wrist.

A flash of light appeared.

A simple-looking hoe, still stained with a bit of soil... appeared in his hand.

That's right.

It was a hoe.

This was the reward the System had just refreshed—the [Hoe of the Earth]. Although the name was a bit rustic and the design a bit crude, it was a genuine Divine Artifact containing the Law of Thick Earth, claimed to be able to dig even a corner of the Heavenly Dao off.

The entire crowd erupted in an uproar.

Even on Shi Yi's indifferent face, a hint of bewilderment appeared.

A hoe?

Is this person here to farm?

“Hahahaha! I'm dying of laughter! This is your trump card?”

The Shi Family Head laughed until tears almost came out, “A hoe? Do you want to help loosen the soil for our Shi Family?”

Li Daoxuan ignored the surrounding ridicule and solemnly stuffed the hoe into Shi Tian's cold little hands.

“Hold it.”

“Go, that is your thing.”

“Use this hoe to dig back what belongs to you, along with their dignity, all of it!”

“Remember, as long as the hoe is swung well, no corner is un-diggable!”

Shi Tian blankly held the hoe that was taller than he was.

Heavy.

Very heavy.

But the moment he gripped the handle, a warm and thick power surged through his arm into his entire body. The earth seemed to become his heart at this moment, every pulse resonating with him.

He looked up and wiped away his tears.

In those deathly eyes, only one emotion remained—

Dig!

“Get... out of my way!!”

Shi Tian roared, dragging the giant hoe and taking heavy steps as he charged toward Shi Yi.

“Seeking death!”

Seeing this, several guards sneered and drew their blades to charge forward.

“A mere cripple dares to act wild in the Shi Estate! Take him down!”

However.

The next second.

Shi Tian raised the hoe high with both hands and smashed it fiercely against the ground!

“BOOM—!!!”

A loud explosion occurred, as if an earth dragon was turning over.

An earthy-yellow terrifying shockwave erupted instantly from the point where the hoe landed!

The ground cracked, and crushed stones flew through the air.

Those few Foundation Establishment Stage guards didn't even have time to scream before they were directly sent flying by this massive force containing the Law of the Earth!

While in mid-air, they sprayed blood wildly, smashing into the distant banquet like kites with broken strings, shattering the tables into pieces.

Amidst the swirling dust...

That thin and small figure, dragging the hoe, walked out step by step from the ruins.

He stared at Shi Yi on the steps, whose face had changed drastically, and spoke in a raspy voice like a demon's whisper:

“Cousin.”

“I've come to take back... my bone.”