Divine Root Bone

Deep within the heart of the Qingmang Mountains.

Surrounded by mountains and valleys, with ancient trees blocking out the sky, it is a place where outsiders are rarely seen, wild beasts roam freely, and miasma pervades the air. It is recognized as a deadly and dangerous place in the entire southern region.

Unknown to anyone, deep within this desolate land lies a natural ancient cave hidden in the mountainside.

The cave entrance is covered by thousand-year-old vines, which isolate it from wind and rain, from the roars of beasts, and from all the noise of the world.

I don't know how many years ago.

An infant was once left behind here.

The baby had clean features and fair skin, lying quietly on the cold stone platform, neither crying nor fussing, and was exceptionally well-behaved.

Around his neck hung a black jade pendant, pure black in color and smooth as water.

The jade pendant was dull and unblemished, untouched by dust, water, miasma, heat, or cold, and remained firmly attached to his heart.

No one delivers it, no one guards it.

It was as if from the moment he was born, this black jade pendant had been of the same origin as his life, accompanying him through eternity.

His name is Zhang Yang.

From the very first moment he became conscious, his world consisted only of this dark, ancient cave.

There was no sound, no figure, only the silence that lasted day after day.

The spiritual energy in the cave was so dense it was almost viscous, yet incredibly gentle, spontaneously nourishing his body, bones, and soul.

In the darkness, the black jade pendant was protecting him from all dangers, calming the miasma, and nourishing his bones.

……

Time passes silently, and there is no day or night in the cave.

Zhang Yang grew up alone, using the sky as his blanket and stones as his bed, absorbing the spiritual essence of the cave.

Unlike ordinary children, he does not need to be breastfed, need to be cared for, or suffer from illness or disaster.

I opened my eyes in a daze and saw the splendor of the cave.

He is quiet, serene, and naturally indifferent and detached, yet not cold.

Day after day, year after year.

Outside, seasons change and the world transforms, but inside the cave, time stands still.

Before we knew it, several years had passed quietly.

The infant in swaddling clothes has grown into a handsome young man with clear features and a clean-cut demeanor.

He didn't know his age, what a sect was, or what worldly affairs were.

All he knew was—

This cave is his only home.

Until one day.

A faint flutter stirred in the boy's heart for no apparent reason.

It was as if the constraints imposed from the depths of the universe were loosening, as if the time had come.

For the first time, he got up, pushed aside the layers of vines, and stepped out of the ancient cave that had given him birth.

The moment the sunlight fell.

A gentle breeze caresses the face, the grass and trees sway, and the vast landscape unfolds before the eyes.

This was the first time in his life that he had seen the outside world.

……

The mountains and forests are deep and secluded, filled with the chirping of insects.

Zhang Yang walked lightly and aimlessly through the dense forest.

He didn't understand cultivation, but his physical body was extraordinary. All beasts avoided him, and he was immune to miasma. Every move he made carried a tranquil Daoist charm that far surpassed that of ordinary people.

We walked to a clear stream halfway up the mountain.

He suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Deep in the grass, lay a blood-stained figure.

She was a nun.

His white robes were tattered, his body covered in blood, his meridians were damaged, and his spiritual energy was scattered. He had clearly suffered a severe injury and fled here, but was now exhausted.

She looked to be in her early twenties, with gentle features and an elegant demeanor, but at this moment her face was deathly pale and she was barely breathing.

The woman noticed footsteps, struggled to lift her eyes, and saw the boy in plain clothes in the woods.

The boy was clean, pure, and had clear eyes, untouched by any worldly malice.

What terrified her most was—

In this desolate and ancient mountain wilderness, there exists such a person with an extraordinary temperament, who has no trace of cultivation aura but exudes a Daoist charm.

"Who are you?"

The woman's voice was weak, filled with extreme exhaustion.

Zhang Yang, oblivious to social niceties, simply looked at her quietly and replied softly:

"I came out of the cave."

In short, it's simple and pure.

The woman paused, a thought stirring within her, and guessed that the boy had most likely lived alone in the deep mountains since childhood, isolated from the world.

She was severely injured, her path was blocked, and she had nowhere to go.

Looking at the boy's pure and innocent appearance, a glimmer of hope arose in her heart, and she softly pleaded:

"Young man... may I stay here for the time being? I will not harm you."

Zhang Yang was calm and composed, yet naturally gentle, and nodded slightly.

Since then.

Deep in the mountains and dense forests, a young boy and a girl depend on each other for survival.

……

The woman's name is Su Qingyue.

He was once an inner disciple of a small sect in the Southern Region, at the Foundation Establishment stage.

While on her journey of training, she was ambushed by evil cultivators. All her fellow disciples perished, and she was the only one who managed to escape with her life, but her foundation was destroyed and her lifespan was greatly shortened.

She could no longer return to her sect, nor dared to enter the mortal world.

In the years that followed, she became Zhang Yang's mentor and family member.

She taught Zhang Yang to read, to read, to understand worldly customs, and to distinguish between good and evil.

She told Zhang Yang what heaven and earth are, what cultivation is, what a sect is, and what one's innate qualities are.

She told Zhang Yang:

She knew everything about the Cangxuan Continent, and she also taught Zhang Yang the basic breathing techniques.

No matter how he was taught, Zhang Yang's spiritual energy would dissipate instantly upon entering his body, seemingly leaving him with no cultivation whatsoever.

Su Qingyue thought he was born with ordinary talent and had no chance of achieving the Great Dao. She felt sorry for him, but never looked down on him.

She accompanied him to see the mountains, the water, and the sunrise and sunset.

In the boy's lonely life, for the first time he heard human voices, felt warmth, and had someone to care about.

No one knows.

Whenever Zhang Yang was fast asleep late at night, the black jade pendant on his chest would glow faintly, quietly reversing his normal breathing patterns and cleansing his marrow and meridians.

Su Qingyue was gentle and kind, and gave all the knowledge and tenderness she had gained in her life to the lonely boy in the deep mountains.

Zhang Yang also relied on this sole source of warmth.

Several more years have passed.

……

Su Qingyue's injuries were too severe to recover from, and her lifespan was completely exhausted.

that day.

The evening glow filled the mountains, turning the forests a vibrant red.

She lay on the bluestone grass, her breath faint, with no further fluctuation of spiritual energy.

Zhang Yang sat quietly beside her, his eyes still calm, but for the first time, a feeling of emptiness and bitterness welled up in his heart.

He doesn't understand sadness, but he knows—

My only family member is leaving.

Su Qingyue looked at the grown-up boy in front of her, her eyes filled with tenderness and reluctance.

"Yang'er..."

"After I'm gone, you should go into the world."

"The world is full of wonders, and the path to enlightenment is long and arduous."

"Remember, a kind heart and a peaceful life are the best things."

She never hoped that he would conquer the world and reach the pinnacle.

I only hope that he will be safe and well, and live a carefree life.

At the last moment, her gaze fell on the black jade pendant around his neck, her brows furrowed slightly, and she whispered:

"This black jade... is truly extraordinary. Wear it close to your body and never let it out of your sight for the rest of your life... It may be your greatest opportunity."

The words had just finished.

A gentle evening breeze was blowing.

Su Qingyue slowly closed her eyes and fell silent.

The mountains are silent, and the leaves fall without a sound.

From now on.

There will never be another Su Qingyue in this world.

There was no one left to accompany him through the mountains and forests day and night.

……

The boy stood alone amidst the rosy sunset.

The mountain wind was bleak, blowing his plain white clothes.

The black jade pendant around her neck felt cool against her skin.

There was once a person who warmed his lonely childhood.

Now the people are gone, the mountains are empty, and all things are silent.

Zhang Yang looked up at the endless mountains in the distance, and for the first time, a faint, clear loneliness appeared in his eyes.

He gently raised his hand and touched the black jade pendant on his chest.

"Master."

"I have entered the world."

This day.

No one knows.

A young man with a unique and perfect divine-grade innate talent officially stepped out of the deep mountains and into the mortal world.

at the same time.

Inside the cave, Su Qingyue slowly opened her eyes, tilted her head, glanced at Zhang Yang's departing figure, and shouted loudly, "Yang'er, this is my WeChat contact number: 106384. Add me before you leave, come back first!"