A group of people dashed hurriedly into the mountains. The legendary longevity beast, Lion-Dragon, had exhausted its lifespan and finally perished, implying that its divine blood and precious bones would now serve as ownerless treasures. Such a thought excited and stirred all present. “Quicken the pace—we are moving too slow!” Urgency filled the voices of warriors like Shi Lin Hu, afraid they would be too late to claim the treasure.
Lofty peaks emerged, mountains endless, while enormous primitive trees towered overhead their heads, rising hundreds of meters skyward, surpassing even some hills. Twisted, massive vines wrapped around the mountains, some so vast multiple grown persons could barely encompass them, ancient trunks twisting like serpents of bygone eras.
The clan members sprinted forward, nearing the place of the beast’s departure. A terrible energy permeated the area, an overwhelming and suffocating pressure—residue left behind by the King that passed. “So quiet.” They detected something unusual—utter stillness hung upon the lands with deathly silence replacing lively chattering of living beings.
This realm contained neither bird nor beast, with not even insects daring to emerge from earthy tunnels, hiding deeply from unseen forces—an abiding silence enveloped nature like a death-robe had fallen around.
“Before his end, the Lion-Dragon slew countless ferocious animals, startling this vast and wild land, sending creatures aflight,” commented Shi Lin Hu as the quiet deepened around them, “The entire jungle emptied in terror.”
“This feels unsettling,” their Elder, Shi Yun Feng suddenly broke the tension nervously. He raised his voice in warning: “Lin Hu, proceed carefully! Such rare remains cannot remain hidden too long—they must draw attention in more ways than one, and beast-folk might covet them as fiercely as we. Retreat immediately until such opportunity permits action.” A wave of danger pressed his senses like unseen beasts approaching from an unfathomable distance. Cold sweat beaded as icy eyes bore down upon the area—an ominous premonition that sent the old leader commanding his warriors to withdrawal. Youngling “Little Blessing”—sensitive in this same foreboding force with raised hairs at the chill wind in his bones. Stone Child, too, shared a heavy feeling—sharing his perception aloud.
Thus their group retreated without delay from the collapsed stony peak.
“It grates the soul, retreating now,” muttered Shi Fei Jiao, slamming his fists into his chest with impatience.
“This is vital. Let us await the right moment—human lives precede even the rarest blood, the most valuable techniques!” Shi Yun Feng’s voice held firm.
They moved quickly, retreating to observe from another highland afar.
In moments, figures emerged—three waves from three different directions across the wilderness came, eyes gleaming toward the ruins where Lion-Dragon lay beneath the wreckage. The race, fierce with expectation and ambition, was on for each one—the clans were soon entangled in a conflict, clashing violently over space for their quest.
Then, in response to the conflict—an ear-splitting roar! Without delay appeared five savage beasts—each larger than homes, teeth gleaming like bone-blades. Simultaneously above—a chorus of shrieks erupted alongside galeforce wind, heralding predatory aerial beasts—wingspans spanning over a dozen meters, descending to tear six victims instantly.
At witnessing such horror—the stone villagers watching, even at great distance—their insides twisted as carnage unfolded. Savage beasts and flying hunters were descending—bringing chaos upon all land, heralding true calamity! The mountain’s once empty tranquility transformed into roaring bedlam, beast voices rising like tides, all answering the death-song of a lost King who reigned once over land.
Within but moments—hundred upon beasts—some monstrous at several scores of meters or lesser dimensions joined their kin’s charge, surging as overwhelming hordes across forest floors, wings blotting out sunlight overhead like tempest of teeth and claw.
Those from foreign villages screamed, fleeing wildly into nearby waters, abandoning forty corpses in their wake—their flight their only salvation in a bloodied battleground. But salvation eluded many. A shriek from below as colossal serpents erupted—a dozen or more devoured whole amidst thrashings and muffled cries.
Then—an emergence of leviathans, glistening golden crocodiles, jaws spanning distances like baskets, dragging and devouring entire clusters in a crimson flood beneath the water’s once tranquil surface.
“Thank the spirits, we retreated on time—or else met the same fate…” Shi Lin Hu’s hand brushed cold sweat as fear traced down, recognizing a narrow escape narrowly avoided. “This Lion-Dragon… even in death is so revered.” Shi Fei Jiao’s tone held reverence for a body drawing so fiercely the fanged hosts toward singular purpose. Beasts clashed, blood staining soil like an endless storm. Roars and growls pierced ears.
Their observer Elder spoke gravely. Just on cue: The forest stirred again. A pair of titanic figures, each spanning seven meters long, fur thick, bear likeness of tigers and bearing broad wings. Terribly monstrous beasts emerged unbidden. These were Beis—ravenous, orphaned from maternal den, cast into deadly existence.
Suddenly, gusting forward was one such winged predator. In its wake—howling winds; the creature descended like fateful fury. Snapping its mouth shut upon two men—one split instantly—blood spewing as half-limbs crashed like fountains. Grief shattered among watching kin—cries of loss, bows drawn to fire in retaliation.
“They take flight, swift! Beware their charge.” Stone Child, alongside elder warriors, charged at the wingless beast with steel and rage. These beasts harbored no glyph upon them to match divine arts, but brute force matched terror itself—an unrelenting nightmare upon land.
From other quarter came second roar—the other ferocious Bei surged. Its claw cleaved the wind with metallic ringing. Smash upon weapons sent swords flying from many. Men too—caught slow—spilled forth entrails, crimson painting earth as survivors dragged fallen away. “Avengers will rise for blood stolen.” Stone Child raged, eyes ablaze as symbols flared in hands like stars kindling to cosmic power, a brilliant silvery moon erupting forthwards as if descending from high Heaven’s gates, radiant and merciless.
The great beast countered, swiping with monstrous appendage—an unnatural clang rang forth upon silver glow. Shiverings echoed through mountain as beast met mystical force directly, breaking only with violent explosion of shattered extremity, blood pouring to coat ground, before the same crescent moon struck its head—cleaving deep, bleeding fissure through bone. Wounded monster bellowed in pain with final defiance dying along with fury as its mighty body finally hit pool below, silencing its howl permanently.
“This is the Azure-Scaled Eagle’s treasure spell… unfathomably potent!” roared Shi Lin Hu in delight, while warriors cried out, “Another!”
Undeterred, Stone Child lunged at remaining rival—shooting forward, second radiant arc carving a final foe’s severed heads to rolling impact upon earth as crimson fountains spurted. “He has done it.” Warriors gazed in awe before falling still in realization of his first true kill.
But a great hand soon fell comfortingly upon shoulder as Shi Lin Hu spoke softly, “Son—fear not death. True sons of the Wastes live drenched red.”
Silent for now—the youth absorbed words while understanding bloomed—protecting kin often meant staining hands crimson. “A mighty spell… a gift for battle and salvation. Would it weren’t enough still to claim a true Lion-Dragon treasure.”
From horizon—roared Azure-Scaled Eagle with majestic appearance, gusting wind with her dive down. With great leap and uplifted hands waved Stone Child urgently below, exclaiming, “Great Madam Eagle—fly us hence toward the sacred site—Master of the outer wilds you are by blood, and I can aid—perhaps together shall we claim Lion-Dragon’s last gift.”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage