**”What an anticipation! The Sky Mending Pavilion actually cultivates a Sacred Herb, truly awe-inspiring. I can’t wait to see what that herb looks like!”**
A crowd gasped in astonishment, showering praises without restraint. What exactly is a Sacred Herb? It revives the dead, regrows flesh from bones—a treasure impossible to find even after scouring a million miles of wilderness! Even if one exists, it would likely be atop the ancient divine mountains, where true *Hou* beasts lurk and pure-blooded Golden-Winged Great Pengs nest. None dare approach, lest they meet certain death.
In this world, especially among humans, genuine Sacred Herbs are exceedingly rare. Yet the Sky Mending Pavilion might have cultivated one—how could this not astound everyone? Their excitement was palpable; they felt their journey had not been in vain.
**”Come, let us first observe these young talents and admire their extraordinary brilliance. The future belongs to them—these are the heroes of tomorrow!”** Elder Xiong Fei declared passionately.
**”Agreed!”** The crowd nodded and strode forward.
The lake lay tranquil, its surface vast and serene. A silver-robed youth stood with his back to the shore, gazing across the endless expanse of blue waves. His black hair danced in the wind, his posture tall and unyielding, exuding an indescribable aura. Though he did not unleash his might, fierce beasts retreated, savage birds kept their distance, and all fell silent—he became the sole existence between heaven and earth.
At that moment, he seemed to merge with nature itself, his towering figure standing apart, transcendent, like a silver-robed immortal descended to the mortal realm.
When the crowd arrived and beheld this extraordinary figure, they couldn’t help but nod in admiration—**”What a heroic youth!”**
**”Young man, how many Sky Mending Stones have you gathered?”** Elder Xiong Fei approached with a kindly expression.
Xiao Tian snapped out of his inexplicable sorrow and rage, whirling around. Two terrifying bolts of lightning seemed to shoot from his eyes, startling everyone.
**”Truly a heroic youth—black hair flowing, eyes like cold lightning, and that… uh…”** Elder Zhuo Yun began to praise, but his words faltered mid-sentence. His jaw dropped.
What was wrong with this child? Why was there such a massive lump on his head?!
The crowd was stunned. The silver-robed youth’s forehead bore an enormous swelling—almost like a horn! It was downright frightening.
Many elders and renowned figures had prepared lavish compliments, but now they hesitated. How could they, in good conscience, praise this grotesque lump as “majestic” or “extraordinary”?
**”Ahem… were you injured?”** a Sky Mending Pavilion elder asked cautiously.
Xiao Tian remained silent, giving a slight nod.
**”Uh…”** The crowd exchanged bewildered glances. Had he failed? Yet his earlier roar had been like a dragon’s cry, a tiger’s roar—undeniably the mark of an extraordinary talent.
**”How many Sky Mending Stones did you collect?”** Elder Xiong Fei hardened his expression, adopting an authoritative tone.
Given the youth’s silence, everyone assumed he had failed.
Without a word, the silver-robed youth tossed a beast-skin bundle onto the ground with a resounding *clang*.
The crowd was taken aback. This youth was stubborn and proud, his personality unyielding.
Unfazed, an elder stepped forward and opened the bundle—then gasped in shock.
**”Twenty-eight Sky Mending Stones! This is astonishing! Such a feat undoubtedly places him at the pinnacle!”**
The crowd stirred, peering into the bundle. Indeed, over twenty stones shimmered with crystalline radiance.
**”Truly a heroic youth!”** Now, the praises flowed freely.
**”Unprecedented in recent years! Such an achievement towers above all other geniuses—worthy of the title ‘Prodigy’!”** Elder Xiong Fei clapped in admiration.
**”But what about that huge lump on his forehead?”** Among the gathered forces, over three thousand children who had passed the trials whispered among themselves.
**”What do you brats know? That’s not a lump—it’s a ‘divine mark,'”** an elder scolded.
**”But it looks like a lump to me…”** a child muttered, aggrieved.
**”Nonsense! That’s the true mark of greatness—an extraordinary sign of innate talent! Think of it as… a horn. A natural ‘celestial mark’—something ordinary folk could never possess!”** A tribal elder patiently explained.
Some of the younger children blinked skeptically, staring intently.
One elder quietly admonished his grandson, **”Ahem, this youth is destined to become a mighty overlord of the Sky Mending Pavilion. Whether it’s a lump or a divine mark, forge a good relationship with him!”**
**”Oh, understood,”** the child nodded.
By the lakeside, the silver-robed youth felt as if ten thousand mud-splattered wild horses were stampeding through his heart. He nearly roared:
**”Divine mark my foot! What celestial nonsense is this?!”**
He seethed inwardly, furious at the unseen culprit who had humiliated him. But what could he say now?
All he could do was tilt his head skyward, fighting back tears.
Yet to the onlookers, this gesture carried profound meaning. **”Such depth! Such poise! Truly extraordinary!”**
The elders didn’t see arrogance—only the privilege of genius. If only they knew the truth, Xiao Tian would have wept.
**”I know him—he’s from the Xiao Clan, thirty thousand miles from here,”** someone remarked.
**”Ah, the Xiao Clan! Ruling vast territories with a population exceeding a hundred million—no wonder they produce such prodigies.”**
**”To witness such a young hero is an honor for our Sky Mending Pavilion. Let us proceed—there are other talents awaiting our admiration,”** Elder Xiong Fei declared, satisfied.
His heart burned with excitement. This year’s geniuses were astounding. A rare talent like Xiao Tian was undoubtedly a “seed” worth nurturing.
But another, fiercer fire blazed within him—the desire to capture that damned brat, the “Milk Child.” **This time, you won’t escape!**
Elder Xiong Fei was fuming. The chaos of the eighth zone—thousands charging through—still haunted him. All because of that little terror!
Unsurprisingly, this incident had made the Sky Mending Pavilion the talk of the realm.
As they advanced, they encountered more young talents—some injured, some with handfuls of Sky Mending Stones. Though all were strong, none matched the silver-robed youth’s terrifying prowess.
**”Hmm, this child from the Wood Clan is impressive—nine Sky Mending Stones. Rumor has it he had seven or eight more, but Xiao Tian took them,”** Elder Zhuo Yun noted approvingly.
As the geniuses gathered, the elders frowned. The mountains were in disarray—shattered trees, collapsed peaks. What madness had occurred here?
**”It feels like a beast tide rampaged through… or perhaps the ‘Great Black One’ wreaked havoc,”** an elder muttered, questioning a young genius.
**”What? A beast tide? Flood Dragons, Ancient Crocodiles, Three-Headed Dragon Birds—all went berserk?!”** The elders were stunned.
**”You mean… someone deliberately provoked those beast overlords, triggering the rampage?”** Elder Xiong Fei’s eyebrow twitched.
A genius stepped forward, claiming to have seen a shadowy figure taunting the beasts, inciting the chaos.
The crowd erupted. **”How audacious! Even geniuses should avoid those beasts, yet this one provoked them?!”**
The elders’ expressions darkened. The devastation was immense.
**”You’re saying… this person leaped over mountain peaks in a single bound?”**
**”Exactly!”** a youth confirmed.
Everyone exchanged glances, their thoughts converging on one name:
**”The Milk Child!”**
Elder Xiong Fei bellowed furiously, equal parts enraged and exhilarated. **”Prepare to capture him!”**
Another elder, equally fired up, shouted, **”Let’s move!”**
**”Composure,”** Elder Zhuo Yun interjected calmly, though inwardly he was itching to act.
The elders exchanged knowing smiles. **”He’s here now. With Sky Mending Stones in hand, he’s our disciple. We’ll deal with him later.”**
**”Let us first admire the treasured herb, then meet this ‘child,'”** Elder Zhuo Yun said smoothly.
**”Excellent!”** The crowd agreed, eager with anticipation.
As they ventured deeper into the mountains, the elders’ brows furrowed further. The devastation was overwhelming.
Finally, they reached a vast, barren expanse—a massive cavern shrouded in black mist, exuding terror.
**”Incredible… a true Black Tiger Fiend!”**
**”Heavens! A Black Tiger of this size rivals even ancient direbeasts!”**
Two blood-red eyes, like twin crimson moons, gleamed from the darkness, chilling all who beheld them.
Elder Zhuo Yun, ever composed, raised his hand gracefully. **”Behold, everyone—”**
Suddenly, his finger froze. His benevolent smile stiffened, his gentle eyes bulging. He nearly fainted.
The pit was empty.
The Black Fiend Lotus—gone! Uprooted, stolen!
**”Damnation! Where is the herb?! WHERE IS THE TREASURED HERB?!”**
All composure vanished. Elder Zhuo Yun erupted like a primordial berserker, veins throbbing on his forehead as he howled in fury.
The tranquil sage had transformed into a raging beast.
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