The willow was too powerful, beyond anyone’s imagination. A green vortex reached up to the heavens, tearing through everything. That enormous violet giant was ground into nothingness, reduced directly to dust. From the master of Luo Fu Marsh meeting his demise, to Thunder Marquis being hung aloft, from the destruction of the golden wolf-skin treasure artifact, to Zi Shan Hou’s manifested giant crumbling—it all occurred within an instant.
“Aaaaaooowww…”
During this chaos, the divine wolf reacted quickly; as soon as the master of Luo Fu Marsh was killed, it sprang into action, leaping upward and fleeing in a flash, leaving behind only a streak of golden afterimage. This cunning creature sensed grave danger, its gilded body smashing through stone mountains and razing forests, reaching speeds at their peak as it charged toward the dense woods. In fact, the moment that golden wolf hide revealed its might and launched an attack, the wolf had already become a golden beam escaping into the ancient mountain ranges.
This beast, famed as the strongest spiritual guardian within five myriads of miles, possessed instincts and intuition beyond imagining. Yet now, it had shed its mighty aura, replaced with chilling fear—it dared not pause for even a breath.
Though the elders of the Golden Wolf Clan wielded vast power over sprawling lands, they ultimately lagged behind the spirit wolf in reaction speed. After coming to his senses, the old chief hurriedly retreated too.
“Release arrows!” He shouted, ordering his warriors to retaliate and cover his escape.
Instantly, a storm of thousands of arrows shot forth, piercing the skies in ceaseless whizzing sounds, thick streams of iron shafts hurtling towards Shi Village. But it was entirely useless—the expanding vortex of emerald engulfed them all, twisting each one, snapping off every tip, shattering them completely.
This sight froze all present—shock ran through every onlooker from head to toe. Such scenery was utterly terrifying. The Willow was simply staggering in strength; how could they possibly counter him?
“Wuuuuuu…”
The tornado shrieked like some ancient savage beast roaring, vibrating the mountains. The chieftain of the Golden Wolf Clan screamed out instinctively as he was sent flying backward, straight into the heart of the swirling winds.
“No!” He cried desperately. If he were pulled inside, certain death awaited—even his great skill would be powerless against the Willow’s assault.
“Shuaaa!”
A ray of golden brilliance burst forth, rippling like tidal waves—an astonishing spectacle—and glowing so brilliantly it shook hearts. Like a strand of exploding sunlight, it cleaved through the air straight at the whirlwind.
“The Ancestral Artifact!”
“Our clan leader has brought our ancestral weapon!”
The warriors of the Golden Wolf Tribe called out in astonishment, filled suddenly with hope. They anticipated breaking open the tempest and slicing into that evil Willow.
However, just as they began to stir with excitement, things abruptly changed. When that golden light encountered the green whirlpool, it slipped free from the clan master’s control, dimmed, and then fled away.
“Aaaaaaaaaaah!”
The leader howled pitifully as his own body shattered inch by inch, spraying crimson mist. Within that hurricane wind, his form disintegrated into a muddy blood slurry before vanishing entirely. Those watching felt horror chill them to the bone.
“Paaaak!”
The fleeing ancestral artifact dropped before the people of the Golden Wolf Tribe’s eyes.
It was a dagger, a foot long in total length, covered across its surface with radiant golden shimmer. Although its inscriptions appeared dulled after clashing with the vortex, its glow remained intact enough to manage its flight to safety. Closer inspection revealed it was fashioned from the fang of some mythical beast—exuding mysterious, awe-inspiring energy.
Elite members of the tribe trembled in place. An elder finally reached forward shakily and lifted the blade with bleeding-heart sorrow. It defied belief that even this couldn’t stand against the Willow.
This tooth was not naturally cast by their tribal guardian spirit but gifted generations earlier from an ancient empire.
Back then, prior to the migration, year upon year the Golden Wolf offered tribute to that realm. Their ancestor once earned immortal merits there, resulting in bestowal of a prized weapon known as Wolf Fang Dagger.
In those days, the Golden Wolf thrived in glory unimaginable.
Over time, though, power waned until a branch eventually migrated, establishing the present clan lineage where they were now.
Wolf Fang Dagger had belonged originally to a high ritual guardian of that ancient empire, having been stripped of its inner sacred essence beforehand—but still, transformed into a treasured artifact, its formidable might defied description. Now even this couldn’t resist Willow’s force, retreating back, its radiance faded.
“It’s escaped!” Only then did observers realize—Zi Mountain Lord, reputed first might within a five myriad-mile radius, had transformed into a massive purple sun skimming ground level and vanished into those distant mountains alongside the divine wolf simultaneously. He left an offering artifact behind, which coalesced into human form to sacrifice itself instead of him. The Willow branch, though singular, swept broadly across battle zones before circling back late. All it managed was piercing this decoy construct, absorbing its ethereal quintessence, without further chasing down this top-ranked powerhouse.
Then, the sky-scraping cyclone diminished rapidly and disappeared altogether. Silence fell again. These four great leaders’ assaults all neutralized, deep dread sinking into every champion watching.
Four Clans stood stunned in silence, marching together confidently here only for outcome to deliver three dead or captured, leaving only one escaped—so heavy was the slap. They’d fancied themselves lords of this earth unbeaten, heralded arrival to lesser tribes proudly boasting plans to destroy Stone Village altogether—only for events to mockingly twist otherwise.
Looking back, now—what seemed overwhelming dominance became bitter joke beside that dreadful Willows’ presence.
Now, four factions wrestled confusion, panic, fury—an emotional whirlwind. Chiefs slain—humiliation mingled pain with rage, hands curling tight fists.
“My father cannot die in vain! We must have reckoning!” roared a robust young warrior of the Golden Wolf Clan, his eyes gleaming fierce and merciless like wild canines.
“Young Chief, please restrain your anger! Against this Demon Willow—we’re doomed. How many go will perish? Our very chief was annihilated!” others advised anxiously.
“This Wolf-Fang Dagger falls here, untouched—likely Willow cannot extend beyond mile or more.”
Clenching thoughts darkly in cold analysis, the youth schemed anew.
His explanation struck everyone speechless.
Suddenly—”Puunghhh!”
Above in Willow branches hung Thunder Marquis—at last drained life essence exhausted; unable longer maintain thunder radiance. Dried husklike, cracked open mid-fall like brittle kettle striking ground below in pieces.
“Aaargh!” Cries of grief exploded amongst Thunder Clan folk, rage flashing red-eyed from Thunder Sovereign’s kin as preparations began in full for final bloody confrontation.
“Luo Fu Marsh won’t retreat either! Since it cannot strike far, we shall roast the village alive at long-range bombardment!” One Jade Clan bellowed loudly. Their Chief had perished here—heavy vengeance demanded.
Only the Purple Mountain faction kept silent—for Zi Mountain Lord himself escaped.
“Fall Back! Try Tactical Harassments!” Three factions—Luo Fu Marsh, Golden Wolf Clan, Thunder Sect withdrew five li (Chinese miles) back, leaving partial personnel behind handling large bows, loosing flaming bolts aiming directly at Stone Village. These marksmen boasted superhuman strength, accurate and coordinated precisely at annihilating target area.
True enough, distance allowed immunity as willow limbs made no retaliation. Instead—glowing protective haze covered village perimeter, arrow after arrow splintering instantly against shield. Flames roared around dwellings but wouldn’t spread inward.
“It’s useless!” Sighed many, trembling in fear.
“We’ll starve them out if arrows don’t work. Beset the place—no villager may leave or hunt, inevitable famine crushes them soon!” Snarled Golden Wolf junior prince bitterly.
“Young Chief… better flee,” pleaded someone wisely.
Fact was nearly every expert feared greatly; most longing desperately abandoning this accursed battlefield immediately. But scions of slain Chiefs—the Princes, uncles etc.—mad with rage, determined revengeers regardless consequences.
“Luo Fu Marsh stands unflinching—to the bitter end I’ll avenge brother—starve villagers to agonizing deaths!” Roared vengeful younger brother furiously.
Jade Clan members flinched fearful, openly voicing objections.
“We refuse blind suicide. You might pursue vengeance for your blood—We will not die pointlessly.”
“What did you say!?” Brother raged. “Clan Leader barely fallen yet you suggest fleeing—is any man worthy of Luo Fu’s honor!?”
Moments later—nearly erupted internal revolt threatened Luo Fu ranks turning chaotic from within.
Similar turmoil plagued both Thunder Clan and Golden Wolf. No desire remained for pointless self-destruction facing that monstrous willow specter.
Ultimately—some fled, others obeyed commands surrounding and blockading Stone Village intending starvation campaign.
“RRRrrooooAAARRRH!”
Golden Divine Wolf returned charging directly toward the junior heir smacking him flying. Then seizing ancestral treasure, biting hold of that Wolf-Fang Dagger, it turned running once more—transforming into radiant auric beam vanishing immediately.
All stunned dumbfounded briefly before erupting into frantic screams.
“Junior heir withdraw—we receive ill omens indeed—guardian spirit abandons us carrying off clan treasure artifact!” One tribal Elder yelled horrified.
Their clan wasn’t alone frightened. Luo Fu Marsh and Thunder Clan too chilled by developments considering retreat. Meanwhile Purple Mountain Clan already scattered—receiving secret orders from Zi Mountain Lord—abandoning conflict swiftly none remaining.
“Hssshhkkk!!”
Suddenly, the willow branch stirred once more blazing brighter than ever. Shooting instantly outward to stretch two or three miles. Rotated fiercely slicing mountains tops clean off; crashing detonation echoed as leveled forest groaned in falling ruin.
Young heir screamed—his head severed in an arc followed swiftly by numerous stubborn commanders nearby—all cut cleanly in half corpses piling thick crimson sprays drenching soil.
Soon following similarly, Luo Fu Marsh, and the Dragon Clan also suffered decapitations under the sweeping limb.
Each leader realized too late in ultimate terror—they died regretting everything: the Willow always had such reach and previously ignored them mercifully.
“Thump!” … “Splortch!!!”
After key assassinations completed, rather than indulge wholesale massacre further, the branch redirected focus solely against mounts and unusual beasts. Successively piercing saddle horses—crystal-clear branches skewered dozens upon dozens—a whole string impaled tightly.
Finally hundreds including horned horses, unicorns, moon rhinos—were speared, collected onto Willow boughs hauled back into the village. But unlike past, this time it didn’t absorb life-force but simply tossed them carelessly aside amidst dusty street alleys.
“RUNNN!!”
Panicked cries rang among these four tribes. None hesitated longer—escaping frenetically desperate.
Villagers stared wide-eyed. So overpowering was this mighty tree…
Eventually—Shi Lin Hu and others recovered sanity exclaiming grief-struck:
“This is a Unicorn! Capable of traversing ten-thousand li daily—precious mount unparalleled in rarity!”
“Even some Feather Tigers included here rarest of treasures!” An elder voiced shocked.
All held absolute reverence worshipping wholeheartedly recognizing protector deity responsible. Every mouth referred respectfully now—Worshipful Willow Deity—with sincere prayers pouring out collectively.
Suddenly, a celestial consciousness voice rang:
“These are foods—prepare well for greater calamity approaching.”
“Who said that!?”
Everyone started alarmed.
“It is the spiritual guardian! Our protecting Willow Spirit has spoken!” Little One’s eyes flashed brightly, awestruck, fixated intensely upon the charred Willow.
Observant calculations measuring “Five Myriad Miles Radius” suggested mere hundred-and thirty kilometer square, prompting sweat-drenched disbelief—mistaken definitions galore!
Such estimates remain approximations. True meaning refers rather clearly defined sphere spanning fifty thousand miles radius or boundary—its magnitude overshadowed Earth itself—a landmass unfathomably colossal enveloping entire civilizations.
That was no ordinary territory anymore—it had become legendary terrain, destined forever entwined with destiny of the enigmatic Willow Guardian who ruled it.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage