Chapter 35: Bewildered

A group of people stood stunned, speechless, utterly astonished.

“Ah!”

Jiaopeng’s arm trembled lightly, feeling as if he had collided with a powerful beast, the pain akin to a broken bone. He never expected that a child with milk still lingering at the corners of his mouth could have nearly knocked him down.

Everyone was shocked. Was this really just a remote village, or was it more likely a hidden family from ancient times?

Many grew apprehensive. If it was indeed a hidden family, it was extremely frightening. Such families lived in seclusion in deep mountains and wilderness, and while their numbers were few, each member was a terrifyingly powerful individual.

Two girls, resembling little sprites, stepped forward with sparkling eyes and smiling faces. Their foreheads gleamed with a hint of wisdom. One of them asked, “Little brother, how old are you?”

“Almost four,” replied the little boy with bright, clear eyes, quickly wiping the milk stain from the corner of his mouth in an attempt to hide it.

What? A child barely over three years old? This was astonishing, causing everyone to gasp in amazement.

Jiaopeng’s eyes flashed with a wild, beastly light, his expression extremely unfriendly. He almost wanted to immediately use his clan’s most powerful techniques to smash the little boy into the ground.

“Again,” he demanded, refraining from using the Jiaolong clan's secret techniques. Instead, he relied on his physical strength, charging forward with furious speed. The wind from his punches whipped through the nearby trees, causing their leaves to fall in a flurry.

It was as if a giant beast from the vast mountains was rampaging, bringing a fierce wind with it as Jiaopeng lunged towards the little boy.

“Big brother, why are you bullying me?” The little boy, with clear, innocent eyes, looked up at Jiaopeng, extending his arm to strike forward.

“Boom!”

This time, everyone clearly saw that the seemingly adorable child was indeed using pure physical strength without any secret techniques. Yet, the force was so immense and fierce that Jiaopeng was pushed back with a thunderous impact.

The genius from the Luo Fu Marsh staggered backward, his feet causing deep cracks to open in the ground. His arm convulsed in pain, and he let out a muffled groan.

“So strong,” Jiaopeng gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with disbelief. It was incredibly humiliating to be subdued by a child who still drank milk, and his face burned with embarrassment.

“Haha,” Lei Mingyuan, who was over six years old, laughed gleefully, almost falling over in amusement.

But apart from him, no one else was smiling. If Jiaopeng was a genius, then what was this child who was still drinking milk?

“This child’s potential is extraordinary. If he were on the battlefield of various races, who knows what he could achieve,” someone whispered.

The group of children were stunned, staring intently at the little boy. Their talent seemed destined for that terrifying battlefield, and sooner or later, they would have to face it.

“Ahem,” Zi Shanhou’s clan uncle, Zi Shan Shou, cleared his throat. Holding a high position and possessing great power, he now spoke with a kind and gentle demeanor, “Child, what’s the name of this village?”

“Stone Village,” the little boy replied in a clear, crisp voice.

“Can you let us in to rest and have a drink?” Zi Shan Shou asked kindly.

At this moment, Jiaopeng was held back by a middle-aged man from the Luo Fu Marsh, preventing him from acting impulsively. Other powerful figures from various clans also stepped forward, wanting to explore this peculiar village thoroughly.

“So cute.” The two sprite-like girls had already gathered around the little boy, adoring him and pinching his cheeks.

“Big sisters, what are you doing?” Little Shi Hao dodged away.

“Can you take us into the village to have a look?” the two girls asked.

“What’s wrong with the little boy?” Adults from the village appeared and walked toward the forest.

Eventually, the powerful figures from the Zi Shan clan and the Luo Fu Marsh entered Stone Village, inspecting it closely, with particular focus on the old willow tree.

However, the scorched willow wood showed no sign of disturbance, even when someone tried to convey thoughts secretly. It remained unresponsive.

Walking through the village, these powerful figures were puzzled. The stone houses and the bluestone streets looked very ordinary, with no remarkable features. They resembled a typical remote village.

“Hmm, these tripods are quite ancient. They must have undergone a long period of time,” Zi Shan Shou observed. As a high-ranking member from a royal clan, he had seen many such things.

The tripods in the village had an ancient charm, engraved with patterns of birds, beasts, and insects, and were quite striking.

“These tripods seem unusual. What do you usually use them for?” asked Jiaocang, a middle-aged man from the Luo Fu Marsh.

“Oh, they’re used for strength training,” Er Meng replied, lifting a thousand-pound bronze tripod effortlessly above his head.

Everyone’s hearts skipped a beat. A child was easily lifting a thousand-pound bronze tripod. While this might not be extraordinary in a large clan, it was remarkable for a small mountain village.

Moreover, it seemed that these children were all exceptional.

The powerful figures began to doubt once more: was this really a hidden family with mysterious origins?

Er Meng had been able to lift the thousand-pound bronze tripod almost effortlessly even before, but after being baptized by the blood of the Suan Ni (a mythical beast), his strength had increased significantly, making it even easier.

However, these powerful figures didn’t know that they assumed every child was like this. In their clans, geniuses were rare, and not everyone was like Jiaopeng or Zi Shan Kun.

Most children were not as strong as Er Meng. At this age, having such strength was quite outstanding.

“Uncle, are you keeping that flying Jiaolong for eating or for refining true blood?” Er Meng asked naively.

“You ignorant child, don’t speak nonsense,” Er Meng’s father said with a smack on his head. “Such fierce Jiaolong are rare. They must be tamed and kept to breed more Jiaolong. Whether for consumption or refining true blood, that’s the long-term plan.”

The people from Luo Fu Marsh were dismayed. Initially thinking this rough man would offer some insightful explanation, they were instead met with such crude talk. Did everyone in this village have strange ideas?

This wasn’t a tree pig or mud ox, but a truly powerful beast. Who would want to waste it?

Everyone’s eyes were fiery, staring at Er Meng’s father, trying to see clearly. Yet, they did not detect any hidden power. Was he concealing his abilities?

“These tripods have a strong, fierce aura. They must have been stained with the blood of an ancient beast not long ago,” remarked Lei Hou’s fourth son, Lei Yunkun, a tall, strong young man with black lightning flickering in his eyes. He stood in front of the tripods with a look of astonishment.

The crowd followed, closing their eyes to sense more carefully. When they opened their eyes, they were shocked. It was clear that a terrifying beast king had bled here.

“Did you refine an ancient beast here?” Jiaopeng, who had been humiliated and was fuming, couldn’t help but ask.

“Scared, huh?” The little snot-nosed boy, displeased with Jiaopeng, taunted him childishly.

“What beast?” asked the talented Zi Shan Kun, showing a strange expression.

“A Suan Ni, extremely powerful,” the little snot-nosed boy replied casually.

“You ignorant child,” his father scolded lightly, but it was too late; the truth had been revealed.

The snot-nosed boy then recalled his clan’s admonitions that the matter of ancient beasts should not be discussed carelessly, or it might lead to great trouble. Feeling a bit dazed, he whispered, “I forgot. The clan leader said to keep a low profile.”

However, to the ears of the powerful figures, these words were laden with meaning. This was definitely a terrifying hidden family, one that preferred to remain discreet rather than boast.

Otherwise, who would eat a Suan Ni? Such creatures, with even slightly pure blood, exude a formidable aura. To say nothing of an ancient beast like that, it would create immense pressure and unease even among a large clan.

“Are you sure you consumed a Suan Ni?” Jiaopeng asked with widened eyes, his arrogance replaced by the astonishment and curiosity typical of a child.

The Luo Fu Marsh usually avoided meddling with powerful ancient beasts like the Suan Ni. Although Jiaopeng had bathed in similar blood, it didn’t mean he had access to such meat regularly.

In large clans, the rarer the ancient beast, the more meticulously it was processed. Every bit of its blood and flesh, even bones, would be refined into medicine, unlike simply devouring it.

The group of strong figures was left speechless. How profound must their foundation be to dare consume the body of such a precious Suan Ni?

At this moment, even though these strong figures came from large clans and had extensive knowledge, they became highly suspicious. They had already concluded that this was a fearsome hidden family, and it was not to be trifled with.

“Where is your clan leader? The old man wishes to pay his respects,” Zi Shan Shou, clad in feathered robes and a golden crown, with purple aura swirling around him, spoke with a powerful yet restrained presence, careful not to act too casually.

“The clan leader is in seclusion and won’t be coming out for a while,” Er Meng replied honestly.

“You noisy child,” his father said, reaching out with a large hand to give him another smack.

Er Meng felt wronged, arguing that it was the truth. He had not been instructed not to speak, and since the clan leader drank the Suan Ni’s precious blood, he felt his internal ailments had improved and thus went into seclusion for focused cultivation.

Zi Shan Shou and Jiaocang exchanged glances, understanding that the clan leader must be an extraordinary figure. The more powerful the individual, the longer their seclusion.

In the end, the group turned their attention back to the old willow tree. Given the village's mystery, this willow tree, rooted here, must be quite extraordinary as well.

“Is this a spirit sacrifice? What is it called?” Lei Yunkun asked carefully.

“Oh, it’s called a spirit sacrifice, or you can refer to it as the Willow Deity,” Pi Hou replied. The words of a child are often more believable.

“What? The Willow Deity?” The group of strong figures almost jumped. Even Zi Shan Shou, a powerful and influential prince, was caught off guard.

A mysterious village and a fearsome spirit sacrifice title left everyone bewildered.

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