How could one understand the cycle of reincarnation without experiencing life and death? When the villagers of Stone Village heard these words, they all trembled, especially the old clan leader, who quivered, opening and closing his mouth repeatedly, unable to speak.
“Y… you… what are you saying? Is it true?” Shi Lin Hu’s chest heaved, his eyes widened, revealing an expression of disbelief.
Although Xiao Hong’s words were short, they struck deeply, causing all the villagers to clench their fists, their hearts surging with emotions, as they all turned their gazes toward it.
“I’m merely speculating,” Xiao Hong replied. It was nearly restored already, with wings regrowing, its entire body gleaming vividly red, like a ruby sculpture, palm-sized, dazzling and brilliant.
The earthen mound radiated a soft, inner glow, undulating with a unique vibrational energy.
“Come and see!” the Fur Ball gestured, its Heavy Eyed Gaze shining brightly, illuminating into the grave, revealing its true scene unaffected by soil layers.
“Oh! What kind of grass is this?” Xiao Hong exclaimed, sensing the power of reincarnation but never expecting a hidden world beneath the earth, filled with profound mysteries. The roots of these plants resembled dragon whiskers, long and entwined, spreading deep into the grave, wrapping the coffin in a radiant glow.
The roots were as white as jade, resembling cords entwining the wooden casket like a massive cocoon, layers radiating a luminous aura that exuded mystery.
“Don’t probe with your spiritual senses!” Xiao Hong warned.
They found villagers unable to resist the urge to explore the subterranean realm with their spirit senses—an act likely problematic given their cultivation levels.
Indeed, Er Meng suddenly screamed, instantly appearing dazed and possessed, unable to control himself, his soul seemingly departing his body.
“Er Meng! What’s wrong with you?”
“Hey!” The Fur Ball sharply commanded, its thunder-like voice restoring Er Meng’s eyes with brightness, sending shivers through his body as he abruptly returned to his senses.
“I… I felt like I was reincarnating! Only a moment, yet it felt like countless lifetimes… so hazy, so terrifying. Now I… I’ve forgotten!” Er Meng murmured like one entranced, finally awakening in fear, clutching his head, trembling slightly, eventually breaking free.
Everyone was alarmed, moving all the children to the back to avoid proximity to the grave, where mishaps could occur easily.
Most villagers practiced cultivation, and many had attained formidable prowess, yet none dared to act recklessly. All observed cautiously, hearts filled with excitement.
“Child, I know… you won’t leave us. You must be missing us, still here!” the old clan leader quivered, tears streaming down.
He, who had raised Shi Hao, never married or had offspring, had placed all his hopes upon Shi Hao.
“Xiao Hao, are you still there? Please wake up!” Da Zhuang shouted emotionally, eyes red. Indeed, no one throughout the village could accept the reality of Shi Hao’s passing within the last year.
The mound radiated, with the internal vibrations intensifying slightly. Both the Fur Ball and Xiao Hong urged the crowd to retreat, warning against approaching too closely.
“It’s no ordinary grave; even the Heavy Eye cannot pierce entirely,” Xiao Hong marveled.
Hundreds and thousands of silver roots, thick and elongated, wound around the coffin like a flowing river of stars, shimmering points illuminating the strange sight, defying penetration even with the Heavy Eye, as the roots and enigmatic reincarnation waves blocked all attempts.
What transformation was occurring within that coffin? They dared not interfere, fearing disruption of the delicate balance, potentially leading to disaster.
“This grass bears similarities to the Soul-Returning Grass described in the Bone Book, yet differs,” Xiao Hong observed, studying the strange plants.
Although appearing ordinary above ground—green foliage lacking distinctive fragrance or brilliance—it was only the root entwining the coffin that proved extraordinary, glowing vibrantly at present.
The Fur Ball plucked a leaf, placing it in its mouth, slowly chewing, tasting, puzzled, remarked, “It induces a trance-like state, as though one is about to fall into reincarnation.”
A legendary herb, known as the Soul-Returner, hailed as an extremely rare divine plant, with only one ever discovered since ancient times throughout the Lower Realm.
It was said to have been carried into the Upper Realm, possessing miraculous powers capable of raising the dead and restoring flesh to bones—an unimaginable, mysterious power.
When this herb matured, it exuded emerald waves like a boundless ocean, despite being merely a single plant, revealing its strangeness and might.
Moreover, another herb, named Reincarnation, existed within the world—ingesting which allowed one to experience reincarnation, an effect most mysterious.
This plant grew only in the Netherworld, appearing only several times throughout history. Once, one of the Ten Fears carried it forth. Holding it granted infinite experiences.
Nonetheless, it was perilous; carelessness could trap the wielder eternally in reincarnation, leading to scattered consciousness.
“This is neither Reincarnation Grass nor Soul-Returning Grass. Its effects are far inferior, yet it exhibits traces of their properties,” concluded the Fur Ball and Xiao Hong.
The villagers were astonished yet immensely delighted, seeing hope. Such a peculiar plant—perhaps it was gradually altering the grave’s conditions?
“I just remembered—it might be the Immortal Root!” The Fur Ball gasped.
“This… could indeed be it!” Xiao Hong nodded, equally surprised.
Legend told of two supreme ancient cultivators who jointly cultivated a legendary divine herb hailed as Immortal, its name signifying immortality upon consumption.
Naturally, this was merely a legend of the Upper Realm.
However, the Fur Ball and Xiao Hong descended from illustrious lineages, privy to such secrets, passed down through generations.
One cultivator possessed the Soul-Returning Grass, while the other owned the Reincarnation Grass. Using these, they attempted to cultivate the Immortal Herb but ultimately failed.
The Immortal Grass was too powerful, remaining unmanifested in the world.
Eventually, they cultivated a herb possessing partial properties of both—the Immortal-Root.
If someone sustained severe injuries, this herb could preserve their body from decay, keeping their spirit intact in a stable state, preventing deterioration.
However, it couldn’t heal completely, only maintaining the state of “Immortal.”
Though sounding similar, Immortal and Immortal-Root vastly differed in effects and potency compared to the original herbs. Thus, these two Supreme cultivators felt ashamed and never revealed it, only mentioned by their descendants.
“Unbelievable! This herb, unrecorded and lost to time, appears in the Lower Realm. Who brought it here?” Xiao Hong whispered.
“That’s strange! This herb is hard to grow, isn’t it supposed to thrive only in special ancient sites, like Dragon Caves or Phoenix Nests?” The Fur Ball frowned, recalling the legend.
Generally, only in mystical, powerful lands could spiritual flora survive, and Immortal-Root was no exception.
On the small hill, lush greenery flourished, with this herb multiplying vibrantly to form an expanse, surrounding the grave, astonishing observers.
Both the Soul-Returning and Reincarnation Herbs were nearly impossible to find a second time, leading many to speculate they might be singular in nature, as their seeds, even sprouted, yielded vastly diminished effects.
Comparatively, the abundance of Immortal-Root clearly showed its inferiority to the legendary herbs.
Nonetheless, when not compared against those two, it remained a unique plant!
“You see, the soil is somewhat unique here, divided into black and white, unnoticeable at first glance,” the Fur Ball knelt, closely examining the soil beneath the grass.
“No wonder, it must be the Five-Colored Bird’s soil,” Xiao Hong nodded.
“Could it possibly know a Dragon Cave or Phoenix Nest-like location?!” The Fur Ball grew excited.
The Immortal-Root couldn’t grow anywhere ordinary; its cultivation required special soil. For the bird to have brought such earth suggested knowledge of an extraordinary ancient site.
“That Five-Colored Bird could locate this herb; it must hold great secrets!” Xiao Hong commented.
They truly were astonished. What was the bird’s origin to appear never once but always elusive, always avoiding them.
Mainly, it had seldom appeared in the past year or two, leaving nobody certain of its current whereabouts.
The villagers’ spirits soared. From their conversation, it became clear Shi Hao might return to life, with this herb preserving his vitality, preventing decay.
“Ultimately, it’s still up to himself. The herb merely maintains him in the state he was a year ago,” Xiao Hong gravely stated.
That day, Stone Village erupted in excitement. Every man, woman, and child gathered, joyously swarming the small hill.
After more than a year, such news seemed unbelievable!
“Could Uncle Xiao Hao really come back to life?” the children joyed, particularly the few who had first discovered the Five-Colored Bird ‘planting’ the herb, jumping up and down, elated, feeling like heroes.
Shi Hao’s body had contained Reincarnation Glyphs, and now, these vibrations reignited everyone’s hopes and joy, as they perceived it as a sign of revival!
“Keep this secret, don’t let outsiders know!” Shi Fei Jiao cautioned, fearing disruptions.
“I will personally guard this place!” Clan Leader Shi Yun Feng’s wrinkled face softened momentarily, wiping away tears, laughing heartily, dispelling the previous gloom, infecting many others.
From that day on, Stone Village severed contact with the outside world, the altar sealed, no one dared tampering with it, abandoning trips to the Stone Kingdom.
The small hill was constantly guarded, with villagers anxiously watching for updates.
Still, after careful consideration, the Fur Ball and Xiao Hong remained at Stone Village without approaching the site, fearing to disturb the Five-Colored Bird.
No one knew if the bird had further techniques; should it refuse to appear due to their presence, it would be devastating.
However, villagers were unrestricted, as the bird never seemed to mind.
Indeed, the Five-Colored Bird reappeared several times, unassumingly, perching atop the grave, as though sensing something, before flying off again.
“Thank you, Divine Bird!”
The villagers bowed, recognizing clearly now that the Five-Colored Bird had saved Shi Hao!
Two months swiftly passed, Stone Village isolated, all focused intently on the small hill, growing increasingly tense.
“Hey, the grave has cracked!” Er Meng shouted.
The earthen tomb split open, auspicious lights ascending from the fissures, the previous peaceful glow now radiant and intense, thick with unyielding spiritual energy.
The old clan leader sprang forward, more agile than strong youths, pushing aside Shi Lin Hu, Shi Fei Jiao, and others, quickly retrieving the Heavy Eye for careful observation.
“The cocoon below is fracturing into pieces!” he gasped.
The Immortal-Root, with thick, glistening silver roots that previously shrouded the coffin in a gentle glow, began to break, revealing the coffin.
Shi Yun Feng observed closely—now, the coffin too had cracked, allowing him to glimpse the body within.
Shi Fei Jiao and others, excited, jointly activated the Heavy Eye, revealing clearer images within the tomb.
There, mist swirled, radiant vapors filling the space, Shi Hao lying inside, cheeks rosy, lifelike!
“Glyphs are flickering across his body!”
Little Rascal cried out, noting mysterious symbols occasionally flowing across Shi Hao’s form, while occasional divine auras erupted from various parts of his body, dazzling.
“Wow, his arm turned golden!”
“Wait, why is his hand now purple?”
All were tense yet excited, anticipating the miracle.
“Ah! He’s breathing! Xiao Hao is alive—I see white vapor from his nose and mouth!”
The villagers rejoiced, many shouting, the scene erupting into jubilation.
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