“Auntie, before stewing it, stuff its belly with some old ginseng and blood mushrooms—it’ll taste even better,” Little Rascal suggested rather mischievously. Upon hearing this, Aunt Tiger immediately ordered, “Snot-nosed kid, hurry up! Go dig up some old herbs behind the village. We’ll stuff them into this fat bird’s belly and stew it all together.”
The fact that Two-Baldie could squawk left the aunties utterly astonished. They clicked their tongues in amazement, gripping its neck, pinching its thighs, and tugging at its wings for a closer inspection. Two-Baldie shrieked in terror, its legs going weak at the sight of several massive black cauldrons with water nearly boiling inside. It struggled desperately, terrified of being tossed in and cooked alive.
“The meat’s firm—definitely a treasure herb,” Aunt Leopard remarked as she sharpened her knife, sparks flying off the whetstone. The sight sent chills down Two-Baldie’s spine, and it thrashed wildly.
“Look, there’s another big red bird here, also brought back by the kids,” one of the aunties said, eyeing the brilliantly feathered scarlet bird. The red bird tucked in its neck, stretched its long legs, and bolted. These women were too fierce—they’d eat anything! And with that sacred ancient tree at the village entrance, it didn’t dare cause trouble.
Luckily, Qingfeng, kind-hearted as ever, rushed over upon hearing Two-Baldie’s cries. “Auntie, you can’t eat this one,” he pleaded.
“What kind of people are these?” muttered the red bird and Two-Baldie, still shaken as they wandered through Stone Village.
After two years away, Little Rascal and Qingfeng felt a deep warmth upon seeing their familiar village again. Surrounded by their clansmen, they had endless stories to share.
“Uncle Linhu, Uncle Feijiao—you broke through again?” Little Rascal asked in surprise. When they left, the two had already reached higher levels in the Blood Movement Realm, and now they had even opened their own Divine Caves.
“Hahaha!” The two men laughed heartily. After feasting on the flesh of the Lion-Dragon and later consuming a peculiar sacrificial spirit—a golden pangolin—their late start in cultivation was no longer an issue, allowing them to advance further.
“Big Brother Dazhuang, Ermeng, Pihou—you’ve entered the Blood Movement Realm too!” Qingfeng exclaimed. While this might not be remarkable in a training camp for prodigies, for a small village, it was extraordinary. These childhood friends had overcome great odds to step onto the path of cultivation.
The group of youths laughed, proud of their solid foundations. The clan chief had taught them bone inscriptions, and since childhood, they had tempered themselves in cauldrons, consumed Lion-Dragon flesh, and absorbed sacrificial spirit blood—laying an unshakable groundwork.
Moreover, the village’s great lake housed Dragon-Whisker Fish, and along its shores perched young luan birds—rare creatures that strengthened tendons, bones, and vitality. For Stone Village, this was a divine blessing.
Over the past two years, the villagers—young and old—had seen their physiques improve dramatically, making cultivation far smoother. The village buzzed with excitement as everyone gathered, laughter ringing out.
Just then, a toddler, barely a year old and still wobbly on his feet, stumbled over. “Uncle… uncle…” he babbled, looking up at Little Rascal and Qingfeng.
“Ah, who’s this?” Qingfeng asked, startled.
Little Rascal scratched his head. He was still a child himself—just a few years ago, he’d been just as small. How had he suddenly become an uncle? Whose child was this?
“Sister Leopard, is this yours?” Qingfeng asked in surprise.
“Yes,” a sixteen-year-old girl replied with a smile, unashamed as she playfully urged the child to call them “uncle.”
Little Rascal squinted. “He looks a bit like…” He turned to scan his old friends.
“Heh heh…” The group burst into laughter, one of them blushing furiously.
“Big Brother Dazhuang!” Little Rascal gasped. In just two years, his childhood playmate had not only married but also had a child—this was too fast!
“Daddy…” The one-year-old wobbled toward Dazhuang, arms outstretched.
“Big Brother Dazhuang, you work fast,” Little Rascal teased, then reached out to take the child. “Let uncle hold you.”
Still a child himself, he found it novel to see an even younger one in the village. He playfully bounced the baby in his arms.
Dazhuang, usually bold, now looked awkward. He glared at Ermeng and Pihou. “What are you laughing at? You’re married too!”
“Wha—?” Qingfeng gasped. In just two years, so much had changed—many of their friends had already wed.
Ermeng and Pihou blushed, while Sister Leopard and the other girls teased them for acting like shy maidens.
Little Rascal thought it over and realized it made sense. Dazhuang, Ermeng, and Pihou were five or six years older than him—around sixteen now. In the village, early marriages were common.
“Uncle, what’s outside?” the toddler asked, squirming.
“The outside world is vast—filled with fierce beasts, grand cities, and ancient kingdoms. When you’re older, I’ll take you to see it,” Little Rascal promised with a smile.
Then, he pulled a radiant spirit herb from his Qiankun Bag—a Snow Jade Ginseng, glowing with ethereal light and rich fragrance.
“This is mine and Qingfeng’s gift to you. Can’t let you call me ‘uncle’ for free,” he joked, placing it in the child’s tiny hands.
Gasps erupted. Everyone recognized its value—a rare spirit herb that could help cultivators break through barriers.
For Stone Village, where youths trained in the Blood Movement Realm and adults had reached the Divine Cave Realm, consuming such an herb would bring rapid advancement.
“It’s too precious—we can’t accept this,” Sister Leopard and Dazhuang protested.
“Big Brother Dazhuang, keep it. Little Brother has more,” Qingfeng urged.
“This isn’t for you—it’s for my nephew. I’ll help him refine it into his foundation later,” Little Rascal insisted, tucking it into the child’s chubby grip.
Then, he turned to Ermeng and Pihou. “Do you have kids too? Bring them over—I’ve got gifts.”
The two scratched their heads, suddenly shy. “Not yet,” they admitted.
“Little Rascal, you gave such a rare gift to your nephew—what about us?” Snot-nosed Kid piped up, grinning cheekily.
“Don’t worry, I brought plenty of treasures. You’ll all be happy,” Little Rascal assured.
The youths cheered, eyes gleaming. Even the adults, like Shi Linhu and Shi Feijiao, stared wide-eyed.
“Child, you may have found fortune outside, but don’t squander it. You need to cultivate too,” an elder cautioned.
“Don’t worry, Elders. I have more than enough to share,” Little Rascal replied warmly.
He then began measuring the village, selecting spots to plant spirit herbs and enhance the spiritual energy.
When he opened his Qiankun Bag, the villagers nearly fainted at the sight—dozens of glowing spirit herbs, each more dazzling than the last.
“Chief, Elders, rest assured. If these take root, they’ll transform Stone Village’s spiritual energy,” Little Rascal declared.
The villagers were speechless. Over thirty flawless spirit herbs—this was beyond imagination.
“Am I dreaming?” an elder whispered, touching a herb and feeling its vitality seep into his bones.
The village shimmered as the herbs radiated light, bathing everyone in a nourishing glow.
“Even without consuming them, cultivating in this dense spiritual energy will boost our progress immensely!” the youths exclaimed, itching to start training.
“Child, can these even survive here? I’ve heard one spirit mountain can only sustain one herb,” the old chief said, trembling with emotion.
“It’ll work. I brought divine soil to nourish them. They’ll thrive and draw in natural essences, creating a cycle,” Little Rascal explained.
Outside, he’d have been cautious, but here, he held nothing back. This was his home, his family.
With the help of Ermeng and Pihou, he dug pits across the village, then unveiled a large leather sack. Golden light erupted as he opened it—sacred sand bathed in the Fountain of Youth’s waters.
“What is this?” the villagers gasped.
“Sand blessed by the Fountain of Youth. A handful beneath each herb’s roots will sustain them,” Little Rascal explained.
“Where have you been, child, to obtain such wonders?” Chief Shi Yunfeng marveled.
“Chief, Elders, Big Brother Dazhuang—I have even greater treasures for you later,” Little Rascal promised.
Joy erupted. These gifts alone were overwhelming.
Little Rascal smiled, heart full. This was home—where he belonged. Seeing his clan happy filled him with warmth.
Together, they planted the herbs, burying them in golden soil. As the last one took root, the village glowed brighter than ever.
“It worked! The herbs are shining even more!”
Thirty-nine flawless spirit herbs now thrived in Stone Village, their radiance drawing in the essence of heaven and earth.
“In time, this land will become sacred!” the elders whispered in awe.
The youths danced through the village, breathing in the fragrant, luminous air.
“This child has truly grown, bringing such blessings to our home,” the aunties beamed.
“Your fortune is not small,” the ancient willow at the village entrance rustled, its voice carrying on the wind.
“Willow Deity, I have gifts for you too—rare treasures that may aid you,” Little Rascal said respectfully.
The village brimmed with hope, its future brighter than ever.
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