“Perfect World” by Chen Dong
Synopsis: A grain of dust can fill the sea; a single blade of grass may sever sun, moon, and stars. With a mere flick of the finger, heaven and earth overturn. Heroes rise together, myriad races stand firm, all holy beings contend for supremacy, shaking the heavens and moving the earth. Who shall command the vast lands’ fate? A young boy steps out from the great wilderness. Here, everything begins…
Prologue – The night in the Great Wilderness is deep, pitch-black, the landscape invisible. But amidst the mountains, serenity finds no place. Fierce beasts roar furiously, trembling hills and rivers; ten-thousand trees shudder with tremors and dark leaves fall like drizzle. Amongst boundless hills, primordial beasts roam rampant; ancient remnants appear occasionally, and all manner of terrifying noises arise and subside ceaselessly within the dark, as if ready to tear apart the sky and land.
Beyond the mountain ranges, afar one could discern faintly visible soft glowing light shimmering amidst gloom, wavering like but a single candle against an endless black canopy—diminutive, fragile, likely to fade anytime.
As one approaches gradually, what seems there becomes clearer. There rests half of an enormous dried trunk, its diameter nearly dozens of meters throughout. Entire bark appears charred jet-black; beside this broken stump, only a frail branch survives, yet exudes vibrant energy—a leafy limb glittering like jade-green crystals emitting subtle beams which cover and protect a village entirely.
Indeed, it was struck by lightning long ago, hit by divine electric arcs from above—the ancient willow tree’s mighty crown obliterated, along with thriving vitality aboveground. Now barely standing eight or nine meters high lies just part of the stump, extraordinarily thick. That sole remaining willow branch emits halo-like glow like a godly golden chain hovering about, shielding the entire hamlet in radiant embrace. The village itself appears hazy, dreamlike—a sacred fairyland, mysteriously contrasting within the vast wilderness.
Dwellings here are stone-built cottages. Late at night silence reigns over the village peaceful and tranquil—an oasis untouched by external darkness or wild roars beyond their borders.
“Wu…” A furious gust passes, bringing forth an enormous ominous cloud across the skies, concealing the nocturnal star-lit heavens entirely. Darkness spreads deeper into the valley.
A piercing avian cry pierces down from celestial heights—so sharp it would cleave metal and rock alike. Emerging initially from that mass overhead, upon scrutiny turns out belonging to an impossibly gigantic bird. Vast enough to eclipse both sky and moonlight, unknown miles measure its elongated wingspan.
Passing over Stone Village, it peers downward—the two fiery blood moons for eyes filled the area with malevolence. Fixing briefly upon the old willow tree before veering deep into heart of wilderness it disappears.
For prolonged time stillness returns until past midnight when Earth’s very foundation quivers ever so slightly again. Silhouetted figures approach from distance far away—equally towering as surrounding peaks!
Unidentifiable aura permeates through valleys causing deathly silence among thousands mountains, while savage creatures suppress any hint of noise and hide in submission. As it draws closer one sees—a humanoid entity walks erect on limbs colossal beyond reckoning. Towering heights rival entire summits; devoid of fur, each inch of skin gleams with overlapping golden scales radiating luster. Flat features host singular vertical eye—an iridescent golden streak flashing open-shut fiercely like lightning bolts slashing skyward—chilling, dominating.
Its spiritual presence resembles boundless seas brimming full—akin to walking deity-demon hybrid! While pausing momentarily gazing upon the elder willow, lingering briefly as if hastened elsewhere, the being departs swiftly. Footfalls quake countless ridges echoing thunderous rumblings through violently trembling grounds shaking entire mountain systems awake.
Dawn arrives bringing forth an immense ten-meter-long centipede of dazzling silver radiance snaking silently between terrain. Its thickness matches large pails, constructed seemingly molten silver poured solid—one segment shining metallic bright after another trailing sparks while scraping jagged stone producing clanking resound. Yet ultimately avoiding Stone Hamlet entrance altogether while traversed path cloaked black mist rolling outward repelling all wildlife instinctively backward.
Solitary willow shoot glimmers gently with greenish brilliance dancing delicately amidst morning breeze…
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