The entire village stood frozen, struck with disbelief though many had already heard stories about the young child Little Rascal’s prodigal strength. None, however, expected his body to be so terrifyingly powerful.
“Could it possibly be the secret force from the Bone Glyph?” someone questioned suspiciously.
“No. I saw it clearly,” said Shi Lin Hu, leader of the hunting crew. “It was sheer physical power.”
“Boom!” Young Shi Hao cast the cauldron heavily onto the ground, sending a plume of dust flying into the air, leaping back with swift grace and avoiding the rising debris altogether.
This startling display again tightened the villagers’ hearts. What an incredible little monster! It seemed nearly impossible: a mere three-year-old lifting a weight of a thousand catties! Not only was such strength unfound in the regions encircling these mountains; it was unheard of even at its remote extremities. Everyone was utterly astounded—including the clan chief Shi Yun Feng, who was himself deeply surprised. He once thought Shi Hao, at this stage, incapable of such a feat, only to now find that he accomplished it before its proper time.
“Could this be real? Who would’ve thought little Shi Hao possessed such immense might?”
“It’s absolutely unbelievable! Perhaps even thinking that he’s not born human but, instead, perhaps the baby of some fabled and ancient Beasts, like one of the True Hu younglings?”
The stunned villagers finally snapped out of it, murmuring animatedly among themselves. The young prodigy’s act cracked through their hearts like lightning striking overhead repeatedly: heart thumping, deeply shaken.
“Chief, you’ve seen many flourishing domains. Have you ever encountered children of such power?”
“Certainly—Yun Feng must have met some prodiguous anomalies among the great warring tribes,” other elders, unable to suppress their excitement any longer, joined in inquisitively. They gazed on the young prodigy’s incredible feat in open shock.
“Once, I did indeed run into an outstanding few at a grand settlement numbering over millions. Gifted since infancy! Their brilliance left people flabbergasted. But now—comparatively, I’d say this child surpasses them a little,” Shi Yun Feng stated.
Gasps ran through the masses before bursting into unrestrained laughter! This is a rare blessing from the Heavens bestowed directly upon Stone Village! The emergence of a toddler who can rival the juvenile of an ancient ferocious beast—how unfathomably formidable could he become upon full growth? Shi Cun’s future glowed brighter than ever from that single revelation.
One elder analyzed with sagacious observation: “Such enormous powers displayed by those powerful clans are naturally due to their elite hunting forces who successfully bring down formidable ancient Beasts—and they might’ve acquired rare Ancient Offshoot True Blood for refining these gifted children’s very bodies. Those special children wouldn’t have shown a disparity against Little Rascal this great had those refinements otherwise been in effect.”
“And the world is indeed too vast, for there surely must be even more terrifyingly formidable toddlers amongst those super-clans and exalted kingdoms hidden deep in myth. After everything said and done by us, such regions still only form a fraction,” Shi Yun Feng calmly elaborated.
This performance stirred jubilation among the village’s youths and brought great pride through a sense of rising young potentials—most unexpectedly embodied by none other than Shi Hao, whose startling power had a staggering presence that none predicted.
Though dispersing after their discussions with one another upon exiting, several village matrons remained behind after others had gone—with Shi Lin Hu amongst those still debating the previous matter with keen attentiveness in continued dialogue.
“Now that we saw it ourselves—with his strength in future, one may wonder, could it mean even beasts such as True Hu or blood-sire fully grown Juvenile Hu Nao would fall under his bare-handed strength alone?”
The thought itself sent shockwaves; such were beasts of legends, ancient monstrosities capable of annihilating a colossal tribe effortlessly should a mere adult specimen step forth.
The cautious village elder dowsed everyone’s excitement before it burned too brightly. “Prominent potential displayed early does not assuredly mean that one can ascend and sustain such lofty paths as world-renowned champions,” he interjected. “Many promising youth falter along the treacherous ascent into manhood and their full potential.”
A sombre realization settled across. Then solemn nods followed.
Elders’ leader Shi Yun Feng furrowed his brows before continuing, “To mention, Shi Hao hails from our small hamlet—with limited means and resources compared even with these massive powerful tribes.”
“Providing him True Beasts’ ancient blood and divine mountain treasures remains unfeasibly, not as we could if living with those grand tribes,” sigh weighed heavily.
“I agree,” sighed Shi Lin Hu. “While young, his path remains manageable; prolonging without such resources however, we may witness how distant such a path might place him far, far beneath them,” adding concern further.
Shi Yun Feng mused on their predicament with a frown. “I recall: usually the children who show talent in those remote great tribes are treated around the ages of five—beginning the crucial ‘first rites’—sealed within copper furnaces for a ritual bathed in sacred medicinal herbs and ancient beasting essences, for further strengthening their core physical capabilities,” he shared knowledge gained through past arduous travel among greater societies.
A quiet sigh of helplessness followed, echoing across those present; indeed the village is but a humble village—unable compared to those formidable giants to procure those mythical healing ingredients or the ancient rare beast’s blood of legend.
“Achieving something similar—though limited—rests simply upon giving our utmost effort. Hunting great creatures, extracting their potent bloods—stockpiling steadily, gathering what resources slowly can prepare little Little Rascal’s upcoming 5-year rite,” concluded an elder, heavy-laden but resolute.
Shi Lin Hu’s gaze remained pensive before posing yet another problem: “While powerful flesh lays the base—achieving greatness alongside rival elites also necessitates worthy teachings and lineages.”
Understanding, leader Shi YunFeng gravely nodded, solemn promise on his lips: “I’ll make certain we address what’s needed in that regard.”
At this answer, all stood surprised. For they understood—the chieftain years back led an expedition, once ventured far past mountains alongside many brethren seeking teachings to return home carrying ancient Bone scrolls written across bones—written by blood and earned through life and death… Could it truly stand comparison beside those super-clans?
The memory bore an emotional price. Among those loyal fifteen steadfast friends journeyed together, only two staggered back covered in wounds and blood, ultimately, only one remained alive though left grievously scarred—haunted still with silent inner torment ever since that journey—cloaked secrets left undelved by others of late.
What exactly occurred back then was known alone to Shi YunFeng, and buried deeper within, was there even yet darker truths?
As the following days came, chieftain Shi remained constantly immersed—dawn till deep night within boiling steaming cauldrons filled with countless simmered plants and herbal brews—his courtyard filled with scent never dissipating from continual preparation, all in preparation for what would come soon.
“Young Shi Hao,” the elder smiled lovingly though tired eyes to the child’s concerned pleadings: “Don’t toil too harshly, grandfather. Take a rest for yourself.”
“Nonsense. I am just managing,” waved an assuring dismissiveness in kind warmth.
The clan’s elder matrons and Shi Lin Hu didn’t say anything to the small lad who remained unaware Shi Yun Feng’s efforts now built toward that critical rite at five years of age—the preparation, the plan—sealing the fate-shatteringly pivotal ceremony waiting.
By the sunset glow approached the hunting team returning. Each man, bearing beasts upon their exhausted shoulders—they bore injuries, but their spirits stayed bright, laughter filled the path behind them.
At the village entry lay Shi’s clan residence courtyard, standing beside its gateway was Shi Hao himself. Seeing the approaching ones joy filled again:
“You have returned, uncle!”
Looking upwards with innocent charm upon soft, clean visage—shimmering clear, black, deep gaze eyes—delighted yet respectfully greeting the returning party.
“Here—this is your most favored, my boy—the berries especially picked by your uncle!” Offering from beast-skin bundle unfurled, revealing plump, glossy crimson fruits, radiating fragrance that filled the air, shimmering almost like polished Rubies.
With twinkling wonder upon widening orbs: “Thank you uncle.”
As dusk settled in, ceremonial rites began by slaying beast offerings before great Willow God. With rites fulfilled, a few more spiritually attuned creatures were brought before the chief’s estate.
In no time thereafter from the chamber blood’s pungent aroma wafted outwardly beyond the courtyard’s confines. Several slain wildbeasts’ remains laid strewn within. Their corpses gradually desiccated and dried—coated with blood and inscribed with glimmers of mysterious Glyph marks—an array of ancient Bone Writ glowing in the dim—like delicate lightning coursing through streams of lifeblood.
Shi Yun Feng had commenced the rite—applying his arcane methods to extract and concentrate essential potency from their flowing blood, gathering it as precious ‘blood-herb.’ Over continuous refining and processing down to final potency—each sacrificed animal’s blood diminished—dripping slowly until a single radiant droplet emerged, crystallized and pure within a jade jar—a droplet glittering akin to ruby gems newly polished.
Murmuring gently while continuing work: “According to Bone Scrolls anciently recorded—five years is a significant moment. If rites succeed rich with rare essence and potent True Beast Blood… Such beginning foundations resonate throughout all ensuing years; shaping greatness beyond even distant expectations.”
Clan Chieftain spoke from heart-wish. He intended to cherish this rare gift of talent Shi Hao displayed—determined not falling behind these rival prodigies born of mighty great tribes of grand repute. In this, his every effort remained fixed—on the upcoming preparations: a grand ritual waiting.
“Better none if it’s inferior,” pondered he with regret etched softly. “Only the highest caliber of True Beasts Blood proves useful to our little man! Yet rarer beasts dwelled few and difficult to confront…”
So weighed his murmure, heart heavy with dreams.
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