Martial King Manor
One day passed.
"The true blood baptism ended long ago, didn't it? Why is Yi'er still in meditation?"
"He must have grasped some precious technique. Don't disturb him."
Three days passed.
"This precious technique must be formidable. Even with Yi'er's talent and the aid of his Heavy Pupils, he hasn't fully comprehended it after three days."
"I recall the pure-blood ferocious beast's true blood left by our ancestor was Qilin true blood. Could Yi'er be comprehending the Qilin Precious Technique?"
Seven days passed.
"Yi'er truly lives up to his reputation as a reincarnated sage. At just six years old, he can meditate for such an extended period. It seems he's at least mastered a fragmented Qilin Precious Technique."
"Old Nine, Old Thirteen, take Yi'er to the First Ancestral Land now. If he wakes up, he'll likely resist going to endure hardship, and that'll be troublesome."
The elders of the Martial King Manor were all Venerable Realm powerhouses, supreme beings in the mortal world. Unless the Human Emperor wielded the Stone Kingdom's imperial dragon qi, they were virtually invincible. Among them, Shi Hao's grandfather, Shi Zhongtian, known as the Great Demon King, was particularly renowned. At his peak, he could even contend with the Human Emperor bolstered by imperial dragon qi.
This fearsome reputation gave Shi Zhongtian the courage to venture into the blood-soaked Hundred Clans Battlefield, seeking pure-blood ferocious beast true blood for his grandson, Shi Hao. Without such strength and backing, entering the battlefield would be tantamount to offering oneself as fodder for ancient remnant species and pure-blood creatures.
The Hundred Clans Battlefield was a perilous forbidden zone, dared only by supreme beings of the Venerable Realm. Without true capability or powerful support, even someone like Shi Zhongtian wouldn't risk stepping into that bloody crucible.
___
Half a Month Later
Great Wilderness, Stone Clan's First Ancestral Land, Stone Village
Stone Village nestled within the Cangmang Mountain Range, surrounded by towering peaks and endless ravines. The region teemed with ferocious primordial beasts and ancient remnant species, a pristine yet savage forbidden land for living creatures.
It was midnight, the darkness absolute, yet the Cangmang Mountains were far from silent. Roars of fierce beasts echoed, shaking the rivers and mountains. Trees swayed violently, their leaves falling in a rustling cascade. Countless grotesque shadows darted through the dark mountains, and bloodshed occurred at every moment.
From the highest peak of the Cangmang Mountains, looking east toward a slightly flatter area, one might notice a faint, flickering glow. This soft light, barely visible beneath the endless night and among the myriad peaks, resembled a fragile candle flame, teetering on the edge of extinction.
This was the radiance of a sacrificial spirit. In the perilous Great Wilderness, survival without a sacrificial spirit was impossible. Humans needed the spirit's protection, while the spirit required human offerings—a mutually beneficial arrangement.
A sacrificial spirit could be a plant, an animal, or even a stone, as long as it possessed the strength to shelter a community. But in the Great Wilderness, where primordial beasts and ancient remnant species roamed, only a rare few were qualified to become sacrificial spirits.
Yet, Stone Village had such a spirit, one that had safeguarded the village for many years. Time and again, when the village faced extinction, this spirit intervened to avert disaster.
Following the faint glow closer to Stone Village, one could see, at the village's center, a massive charred tree stump, its trunk five or six meters in diameter. The tree was blackened, reduced to half its original form, with only a single, delicate branch remaining. Yet, this branch pulsed with life, its crystalline leaves shimmering like carved green jade.
These verdant leaves emitted a gentle glow, spreading outward to envelop the entire village, forming a protective dome like an inverted bowl.
Clearly, this charred stump was a willow tree—a willow that had been struck by lightning.
Many years ago, a bolt of heaven-piercing lightning had shattered the willow's massive canopy and vibrant vitality. Now, only an eight- or nine-meter-tall stump remained above ground, its girth astonishing. The lone willow branch, like a chain of green mist, radiated a hazy light, shielding the village and lending it an ethereal, almost immortal aura, mysterious amidst the Great Wilderness.
Whoosh!
A fierce gust swept through, and a massive dark cloud rolled across the sky, blotting out the faint starlight. The Cangmang Mountains plunged into deeper darkness.
Shriek!
A ferocious cry pierced the night, sharp enough to rupture eardrums. High above, an unimaginably enormous bird soared, its wings eclipsing the moon. Its body stretched for countless miles. As it passed over Stone Village, it gazed downward, its eyes like twin blood moons, brimming with murderous intent. It fixed its stare on the willow tree for a moment, a flicker of wariness in its human-like gaze, before flying off toward the deepest reaches of the mountains.
After the giant bird's departure, Stone Village enjoyed a prolonged period of calm.
___
Later That Night
The earth trembled. A vague, towering figure approached from the distance, its height rivaling the mountains. An aura of terror radiated from it, silencing the myriad peaks and valleys. Fierce beasts and birds cowered, not daring to make a sound.
As it drew closer, the figure revealed itself: a humanoid creature of staggering size, standing as tall as the peaks. Its hairless body was covered in golden scales that gleamed like molten gold. It had no facial features, only a single blood-red vertical eye at its brow. When the eye opened and closed, it flashed like golden lightning, soul-searing in its intensity. Its blood qi surged like an ocean, evoking the presence of a god or demon.
Passing by Stone Village, it, like the giant bird, lowered its gaze to the willow at the village's center. Sensing two hidden auras that stirred its caution—those of the two Venerable Realm elders concealed nearby—it paused briefly before hastening away. Its footsteps sent tremors through the mountains, causing peaks to quake violently.
The night remained restless.
Fortunately, Stone Village's residents were accustomed to such disturbances. As long as they stayed within the village's boundaries, the chaos outside posed no threat.
___
Dawn
As the first rays of pale golden sunlight bathed the land, warming the villagers, Stone Village stirred to life. Old and young emerged from their homes, ready to greet the new day.
At the village's center, beside the willow tree, Shi Yi, who had been seated in the large bronze cauldron, slowly roused from his meditation. He had fully etched the fragmented Qilin Precious Technique—the Qilin Step—into his soul, gaining preliminary mastery over it.
Looking up, Shi Yi noticed a delicate willow branch, glowing with faint green mist, swaying gently in the breeze. Paying it little mind, he hopped out of the cauldron. Still groggy, he wandered to the base of the charred willow trunk, unfastened his trousers, and began to relieve himself.
Before he could finish, a shimmering green willow branch descended from above, swiftly binding the audacious, shameless Shi Yi.
This willow tree has become a spirit? Shi Yi thought, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.
Instinctively, he activated the Qilin Step he had just learned, aiming a kick at the willow that held him. But before the technique could unleash its earth-shaking power, the slender branch tightened, instantly neutralizing his Qilin Step.
"You believe I won't call for help?" Shi Yi started to shout.
The next moment, several more willow branches descended, whipping his backside with sharp, resounding cracks.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
Shi Yi finally quieted down.
"Senior, I was wrong!" he pleaded.