The villagers were all smiles, astonished by the unexpected gift. None of them had anticipated that the Azure-scaled Eagle would deliver such a formidable beast. The beast was indeed a majestic creature, demonstrating the incredible intelligence and sensitivity of the predator.
In the following days, the Azure-scaled Eagle periodically brought game, ranging from flying serpents to giant elephants, providing an ample supply of mountain beasts.
In just a month, the three little ones had ballooned in size, now approaching two meters in length, and their appetites were insatiable, growing larger each day.
“The eldest is named Dapeng, the second is Xiaoqing, and the third is Ziyun,” the children named the three fledglings.
It was undeniable that the three Azure-scaled Eagles were extraordinarily intelligent and mystical, displaying an understanding of human nature and comprehending everything said to them, though they could not speak human language.
Especially Ziyun, the third one, was the most intelligent and exceptionally powerful. Even when it was just over a meter long, it once flapped its wings and dashed out of the village, tearing apart several tigers and wolves, leaving the villagers in stunned amazement.
“Xiaozi, come here,” Shihou called, running ahead, with Ziyun scampering excitedly behind. The scene made the other children envious; this mystical fledgling was particularly affectionate towards the little one.
“Cheep cheep,” Ziyun approached, using its scaled wings to pat the little one’s back, a surprising sight for such a fierce Azure-scaled Eagle.
“Such a little sycophant! It’s only learning bones from the little one,” the children remarked in exasperation.
The little one had innovatively decided to teach the three Azure-scaled Eagles the human-developed techniques of bone manipulation. Ziyun, being the mutated one, learned with particular enthusiasm, showing intelligence surpassing even humans and growing increasingly affectionate.
“Whoosh!”
The little one raised his arm, causing a symbol to glow. The patterns on his arms were dense and radiant. With a single point, a red little sparrow shot out with a hiss, setting a large tree ablaze in the distance.
“Clap, clap!”
Ziyun flapped its wings in applause, making a rhythmic clapping sound. Its bright, sparkling eyes blinked continuously, chirping cheerfully in a display of admiration.
“Wow, this bird is incredible! It’s only a month old and already so knowledgeable, far surpassing a human baby at the same age,” the children exclaimed in awe.
The other two Azure-scaled Eagles, Dapeng and Xiaoqing, also ran over, rubbing their heads against the little one. Intelligent predators crave power, and the techniques taught to them could accelerate their growth.
During this time, the little one, Shihou, gained tremendous insight. As descendants of the ancient magical birds, the Azure-scaled Eagles naturally possessed precious bones and a powerful symbol with astonishing mystical energy, which Shihou had been observing closely.
These primal bone symbols were unique to their race, with the more powerful ancient breeds strictly guarding their secrets. It was fortunate that these three fledglings were raised by the villagers. Such primal symbols were rare and far superior to the typical human-studied techniques, considered treasure symbols.
These symbols were equivalent to an entire volume of powerful bone techniques, and any creature with naturally occurring symbols was extraordinary.
The two ancestral artifacts of Shicun (Stone Village) were originally shed by two terrifying ancient beasts, and through meticulous refinement and ritual, they became the formidable treasures they were now.
Recently, Shihou often played with the three fledglings, discovering many techniques, much to the delight of the village chief, Shiyunfeng.
Ziyun, in particular, had undergone a retrogressive transformation, inheriting only a portion of the ancient magical bird’s marks. Nevertheless, it was immensely formidable and astonishing, with its internal symbols truly worthy of the title “Secret Bone Treasure Book.”
If this were to spread, it would surely attract the attention of many tribes.
One morning, as the red sun rose through the mist, casting a gentle light that painted the heavy fog in the forest with colors, the air was fresh and dew rolled off the grass and vines. A group of young men from the village prepared to set out for hunting.
“Uncle, be careful in the mountains,” the little one, Shihou, led the three fledglings in playful antics, running over to bid farewell with a bright, eager face. He was up early, having already started his day.
The young men laughed heartily, pinching his rosy, apple-like cheeks before marching into the forest.
“Little Zi, let me see again what the symbol inside you is all about. I still don’t quite understand,” Shihou said after the playful antics, holding Ziyun’s neck affectionately to relax it and reveal the bone markings for his examination.
“Cheep cheep,” Dapeng and Xiaoqing nudged Shihou’s arm with their heads in dissatisfaction.
“Dapeng, don’t be a nuisance. I’ll study your symbol later. Xiaoqing, I’ll take you to catch some catfish later. Don’t disturb me now,” Shihou reassured them, embracing their necks.
In fact, the three fledglings were already more advanced than Shihou. Whether in the past or present, he was still the smallest in the village.
“Wow, so this is how it works. The changes are so complex, as intricate as the arrangement of many stars,” Shihou marveled at the dazzling patterns emerging from Ziyun’s bone, now visible on the surface. He finally understood a lot more.
“Cheep cheep.”
Dapeng and Xiaoqing were also curious, watching the symbols growing inside their sibling with wide, attentive eyes, trying to memorize and digest the information.
“Dapeng, Xiaoqing, let me see your treasure symbols,” Shihou turned his attention to the other two Azure-scaled Eagles.
He continued exploring, touching their precious bones. The luminous glow revealed mysterious symbols, with scales reflecting a translucent and splendid light.
Shihou thought deeply, refining his understanding over the past days. He then closed his eyes, murmuring to himself, “It should be like this: complex patterns connect and evolve, then glow, with mysterious powers emerging.”
“Whoosh!”
Shihou’s left hand glowed as a brilliant crescent moon shot out, swiftly flying towards the distance. With a sharp crack, it sliced through a towering tree, causing it to crash to the ground in a cloud of dust.
“Wow, the little one succeeded! He’s learned the Azure-scaled Eagle’s technique, a primal treasure symbol. It’s incredibly powerful,” a group of children nearby were stunned.
“Quiet!” The village chief appeared, disturbed by the commotion. He silenced the children to avoid disturbing Shihou, who was lost in thought and then contemplation.
“Little Zi, let me see again. From what I’ve learned from Dapeng and Xiaoqing, I think I understand now,” Shihou said, holding Ziyun’s neck with bright eyes, as if he had gained profound insights.
Ziyun let out a long cry, its entire body radiating divine light. Though still young, it exuded an aura of inviolable majesty that made the villagers’ hearts race.
A complex and ever-changing symbol appeared on its surface, making its purple scales appear clear and dazzling.
Shihou’s eyes glowed like gems, fixed on the treasure symbol without blinking. After a long time, his arm trembled slightly, with a scorching light moving towards his palm before breaking free.
The light, like a treasured weapon being unsheathed, emitted a metallic hum. A brilliant and sacred full moon soared into the air, slicing through a five or six-meter-tall solid boulder with a sharp "swoosh." The silver moon spun in place, and with a crack, the boulder was split cleanly in two.
The cut surface was smooth and even. With a thunderous crash, the upper half of the boulder, weighing several thousand pounds, fell to the ground, causing earth and rocks to scatter and dust to billow.
In the distance, a group of people were stunned into silence. The sheer power of the full moon that had effortlessly cleaved such a solid boulder was truly astonishing.
“This is an incredible symbol. The purple fledgling has indeed inherited some of the ancient magical bird's marks and has brought them to life,” the village chief, Shiyunfeng, said excitedly. “The little one is truly remarkable. In just a month, he has managed to uncover the secrets of this primal treasure symbol. His talent is extraordinary.”
Ziyun, Dapeng, and Xiaoqing also showed signs of amazement. Though still young and unable to fully harness the mysterious power within their symbols, they were thrilled by the results.
“Grandfather Chief, I think I understand,” the little one said, his eyes shining with excitement.
Shiyunfeng approached quickly and advised in a low voice, “The primal symbol you used earlier can certainly be called a Secret Bone Treasure Book. It is extremely rare and fearsome in its power. Do not use it lightly unless it is absolutely necessary.”
The little one blinked with wide eyes, scratching his head. “How powerful is it really? It doesn’t seem complete yet. I think the silver moon should also reveal a tree and a palace, but I can’t do that right now.”
“At the very least, it is already on par with your Uncle Linhu and Uncle Feijiao. The Secret Bone Treasure Book is something that any tribe would covet,” the village chief said solemnly.
The little one nodded seriously upon hearing this and then gave a silly, pure-hearted smile. That day, he continued practicing and refining his skills. Even the village chief was repeatedly astonished, finding himself unable to offer further assistance.
As the sun set and the evening sky turned red, a group of hunters returned. There weren’t many spoils, and some had to be carried back.
“What happened? What’s going on?” The villagers rushed out, their faces filled with concern.
“Don’t worry, no one died, but Pihou’s father is badly injured. He was struck by an arrow and has a lung injury,” Shilinhu reported with a grim expression.
“What happened?” Several elders of the tribe appeared, inquiring about the situation.
“It was the people from the nearby Beicun village, who rarely show themselves. For some unknown reason, they entered our hunting grounds, competing with us for game, and nearly killed Pihou’s father in the process.”
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