THUMP.
The heartbeat from Ryuzaki Haruto's chest grew louder, drowning out the roar of the descending dragon.
Beneath his skin, a crystal-clear bone formed, woven with Dao patterns older than the Empire itself.
The Supreme Bone.
In the hierarchy of the 3,000 Physiques, this was a monster ranked in the Top 30. It was on par with the Double Pupils and the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart. Even without the Ancient Sacred Body, possessing this bone alone would be enough to dominate an era.
"A Seven-Star Reward," Haruto smiled faintly, feeling the infinite power surging in his sternum. "Not bad."
BOOM!
A blinding white light erupted from his chest. It wasn't just light; it was judgment. Runes of destruction floated in the air, suppressing the laws of the world.
"What is that?!" "My soul is trembling... I want to kneel!"
The guests watched in horror as the divine light turned Haruto into a sun. Young prodigies fell to their knees, unable to withstand the pressure of a Supreme Being.
"Could it be..." The old Daoist from the Way of the Void widened his eyes. "The Supreme Bone?!"
"Impossible!" Ryuzaki Kenshin gasped. "He has the Sacred Body AND the Supreme Bone?! Two supreme physiques in one body?!"
This broke common sense. It was unfair. It was cheating.
In the sky, Ryuu Haotian felt the terror deep in his soul.
"Supreme Bone?!" Haotian screamed, his voice cracking. "Tachibana Ayaka never told me about this!"
He knew the difference. The Sacred Body was considered "outdated" by some ignorant fools. But the Supreme Bone? That was universally recognized as an invincible cheat code.
"So what?!" Haotian roared, his eyes bloodshot. "I am a Divine Bridge cultivator! I have the Dragon Pearl! Die!"
He poured every ounce of his life force into the [True Dragon Heaven-Trapping Technique]. The massive dragon phantom solidified, its claws tearing through the void to crush Haruto.
Haruto looked up. The boredom was gone from his eyes, replaced by curiosity.
"Let's test this new toy," he whispered.
He stopped using the Sacred Body. Instead, he channeled his golden Mana exclusively into his chest.
HUMMM.
The Supreme Bone vibrated.
A beam of pure, concentrated destruction shot out from his sternum. It looked like the wrath of God, a light that signaled the end of days.
Innate Divine Ability: [Heavenly Calamity Light]!
ZRRRRT!
The beam hit the massive dragon phantom. There was no explosion. There was no struggle.
The dragon simply... erased. It disintegrated into particles of light instantly.
"NO!" Haotian shrieked.
The beam didn't stop. It continued forward, aiming for the Dragon Prince.
Haotian tried to dodge, activating his Dragon Pearl to boost his speed. But how could a mudfish outrun the speed of light?
SLASH.
The beam grazed him.
"AHHHHHHH!"
Haotian screamed as the entire left side of his body—arm, shoulder, and ribs—was vaporized. Cauterized instantly. Dragon blood sprayed into the mist.
He crashed onto the floor of the Golden Palace, rolling in agony. Half of his body was gone. Even the Dragon Pearl couldn't heal this instantly.
"Pain... it hurts..." Haotian sobbed, clutching his melted torso.
The hall was silent. The power of the Supreme Bone was beyond comprehension.
FLAP.
Black demonic wings unfurled from Haruto's back. He descended from the sky, landing softly beside the writhing prince.
He looked down at Haotian like a chef inspecting a flawed ingredient.
"You still have one arm left," Haruto noted. "Imbalanced."
He reached down.
GRIP.
He grabbed Haotian's remaining right arm.
RIIIIP!
"ARGHHHH!"
Blood splattered across Haruto's white boots. He tore the arm off like he was plucking a chicken wing.
The guests were numb.
"He tore him apart..." "First his father, Ryuzaki Mumei, skinned a Dragon Elder. Now the son tears apart a Dragon Prince." "Is dragon-slaying a hereditary trait of the Ryuzaki Clan?"
"Like father, like son," an Elder sighed in admiration. "A Tiger Father does not beget a Dog Son."
Haruto tossed the second arm aside. He stepped onto Haotian's chest, pinning him down.
"Jun... Ryuzaki... Haruto..." Haotian wheezed, blood bubbling from his mouth. "How dare you..."
"What wouldn't I dare to do?" Haruto smiled, raising his hand. Golden Mana gathered in his palm, aiming for Haotian's heart.
"You... you're going to kill me?" Haotian's eyes widened in true terror. "I am the brother of Ryuu Tatsuya! If you kill me, the Ancestral Dragon Nest will go to war!"
"Let them come," Haruto said coldly. "I need more ingredients for my barbecue."
He thrust his hand down, intending to rip out the Dragon Pearl.
BOOM!
Suddenly, the sky darkened. A pressure far greater than the Divine Bridge Realm descended from the clouds.
A majestic, ancient voice rolled across the Ryuzaki Domain like thunder.
"You dare, Junior of the Ryuzaki Clan!"