Chapter 36: Changing Faces

The word "god" should not be used lightly. For ordinary tribes, it represents omnipotence and supremacy.

In ancient times, the ancestors had strong beliefs and took rituals very seriously, believing that gods existed and could be called upon in critical moments to protect them.

In reality, as later generations investigated more deeply, it was found that the beings worshipped by these tribes were actually extraordinarily powerful creatures, such as true Xie (a mythical beast), or the purest-blooded Pixiu (a mythical creature). These were supreme-level beings.

In those distant times, the ancient ancestors worshipped such supreme beings and honored them with rituals, and indeed, they received protection.

Any being that can be called a "god" would have the power to fight against ancient ferocious beasts, possessing overwhelming strength. They could wipe out several super clans with a mere gesture, their divine power unimaginable and unassailable.

It is said that even today, the ancient nations with vast territories still perform rituals and offer sacrifices to gods. Despite the passage of countless years, these ancient nations might still be under the shadow of ancient deities, which is both terrifying and mysterious.

The people of Shicun (Stone Village) refer to this willow tree as a god. No wonder it is shocking—this title should not be used casually.

"Are you sure, respecting this spirit as a god, that it does not object?" A teenage boy from the Zishan Clan (Purple Mountain Clan) asked cautiously.

"It doesn't object. The Willow God is very good and has always protected our clan," Er Meng (Second Brother) replied, somewhat foolishly.

The news that the spirit did not object to being called a god caused almost all the strong individuals to change color. They could not help but step back, feeling a tremendous fear towards the blackened, nearly decayed willow tree.

In human tribes, many spirits are related to gods, or even descendants of ancient deities. These beings are particularly sensitive to such titles, and they do not dare to elevate themselves without igniting the divine fire, maintaining a strict hierarchy.

The fact that this willow tree dares to accept such a title without objection suggests its terrifying power. It likely defies the heavens and does not care about such titles.

Many wondered if it might be an ancient deity, now in its twilight years, still clinging to life. This was a thought many harbored but did not dare to voice openly.

After this experience, the group of people felt a sense of awe and unease. They no longer dared to act too casually and walked carefully through the village.

However, they were still determined to uncover the truth. They wanted to understand the origins of this hidden family and the mysterious nature of the "Willow God" and whether it had ever bestowed any sacred artifacts.

It is known that items refined by ancient deities are exceptional and extremely powerful. The visitors hoped that by showing the utmost respect and offering the best sacrifices, they might receive assistance from the willow tree.

They politely requested to stay for a while. Although the villagers, including Stone Forest Tiger and others, were simple-hearted, they were not foolish and noticed something was off, stating that there were not enough stone houses for accommodation.

While Stone Fly Dragon and others hoped for the visitors to leave soon, the guests were not willing to depart. They insisted on staying outside the village, content with just getting some water.

Strong individuals from the Zishan Clan, Luofu Great Marsh, Lei Clan, Golden Wolf Tribe, and Yuntian Palace all set up camp. Originally, they intended to explore the mountains and uncover the secrets of the treasures.

"Brother, do you know anything about the mountain? I heard there’s an extraordinary treasure that even ancient ferocious beasts are going wild over. Haven't you gone to search for it?" The leader of the Golden Wolf Tribe asked Stone Fly Dragon, who was of a similar age.

"I've heard about it, but the clan leader forbade us from going. Such things require great fortune or a powerful beast to obtain, otherwise, it’s simply courting death."

Meanwhile, Lei Yun Kun took out a jar of spirit flowers, placed it in boiling water, and soon a fragrant aroma spread. He invited the younger villagers to drink together, engaging them in conversation.

Relatively speaking, children are more innocent.

Two young girls from the Yuntian Palace were chatting with the little one, giggling continuously. They occasionally pinched the little one’s tender face, finding him extremely adorable.

"We’ve had the milk of the Snow Lin Leopard; it was incredibly fragrant and sweet. When we were young, we would have a big cup every day," one of the girls said with a grin.

"Yes, beast milk is really fragrant and delicious," the little one nodded seriously, and they started discussing beast milk.

"What kind of beast milk do you like the most, Little One?" the two identical girls, delicate and beautiful, often ruffled his shiny black hair.

"Fire Tiger’s milk, Moon Rhino’s milk, and Dragon Horn Elephant juice mixed together make the best Beast Milk."

Zishan Kun, Lei Mingyuan, and others who passed by overheard this and all rolled their eyes in disbelief. What kind of discussion was this?

Especially for Jiaopeng, it was humiliating to be defeated by a child still drinking milk. But now, with the possibility of this being a hidden family with a god protecting them, he could only fume silently and dared not act recklessly.

Two hours later, the group of strong individuals began to suspect something was off. Shicun seemed strange. They repeatedly investigated, and many found that the signs did not match what one would expect from a hidden family.

"It doesn’t make sense. Could it be that everyone is hiding their true abilities? Why can’t we sense the aura of real strong individuals?"

"Yes, there might be a problem. Could it be that we’re just scaring ourselves?"

These people were highly perceptive, able to detect clues and loopholes. They had been misled by the strange occurrences.

Now, as they interacted more with the villagers, they started to notice anomalies and realized they might have been overly nervous, making a big blunder. Many felt embarrassed.

Jiaopeng was furious, and the talents like Zishan Kun and Lei Mingyuan were also frustrated. The young members of these powerful factions had dark expressions, feeling deceived.

If this were to spread, it would be a huge joke—several major clans nearly being fooled by a stone village would become a famous anecdote.

"Uncle Cang, I just learned that this willow tree struck by lightning appeared only a few decades ago. It’s not an ancient guardian deity from this lineage. Moreover, over the years, this willow tree has never spoken and never communicated with the village. I suspect it has lost many of its abilities as a spirit," Jiaopeng said with a grim face, gritting his teeth.

Jiaocang and others were also embarrassed, having been misled by their initial assumptions. Fortunately, they had not made a public display of worshiping the tree.

The people from the Zishan Clan were also whispering among themselves, sharing similar views. Zishan Shou (Purple Mountain Longevity), surrounded by swirling purple energy, resembled a great purple furnace, emanating a terrifying aura. However, he did not erupt and quickly reined in his emotions.

"Grandpa, will they be angry? What if it’s detrimental to the village?" the two young girls from Yuntian Palace worried.

"Most people won’t go that far," the elder holding a snow feather whispered.

As dusk approached, the group had more or less figured things out, realizing that they had been mistaken. This was not a hidden family but possibly an accidental acquisition of a Xie’s remains.

This revelation made even the Golden Wolf Tribe and others tremble. It meant that Shicun might be hiding an exceptionally powerful treasure.

Without a doubt, the primordial symbols of Xie are extremely valuable. Even major clans would be tempted and envious, as the treasures of ancient ferocious beasts are on par with the clan's sacred techniques.

Such things are never too many, and generally, a clan only possesses one extremely powerful treasure technique, with others being minor divine abilities that serve as support.

It is precisely because of their rarity that they are considered precious.

"Hey, you wild brat, you've really been boasting. Talking about chasing unicorns and slaughtering spirits—aren’t you afraid that you might end up with a big mouth from all this wind?" Jiaopeng's expression darkened as he stared at Er Meng and the snotty kid.

The villagers were startled, especially the children, who felt a chill as if a sudden change in mood was upon them.

As a genius with a wild nature, Jiaopeng had always been rebellious and unruly. He had been holding back his anger and was now ready to act.

Jiaocang did not intervene but wanted to observe how the people of Shicun would respond. Others stood by, watching the situation unfold.

"Big Brother, why are you being unreasonable?" The little one stepped forward, spreading his small arms to block the way. Having fought Jiaopeng before, he knew his strength and feared for the safety of Er Meng and the snotty kid.

Jiaopeng, though young, now appeared grim and said, "Reason? You really are just a milk-drinking child, aren’t you? You don’t understand that in this world, reason only exists within the range of a fist’s reach."

"Big Brother, we seek peace and have always lived quietly. We don’t wish to conflict with you. Please don’t be angry or upset. If we have done anything wrong, we will make amends," the little one said sincerely and earnestly, blinking his large eyes.

A child with milk stains at the corner of his mouth speaking this way made some of the strong individuals feel a bit embarrassed.

An elder from Yuntian Palace stepped forward and said, "Forget it. The people here are simple and honest. There’s no need to make things difficult for them." As he spoke, he glanced at Jiaocang from the Luofu Great Marsh. He did not feel the need to be overly polite with Jiaopeng.

However, the people of Shicun had consumed a Xie’s remains and obtained its sacred bones, which made these powerful individuals envious. Many wanted to get their hands on them, leading to an inevitable conflict.

"This village has played us for fools. There’s certainly something wrong," someone from the Golden Wolf Tribe said.

"Chirp chirp."

Suddenly, a few calls were heard as the three young birds—Dapeng (Giant Roc), Xiao Qing (Little Green), and Zi Yun (Purple Cloud)—flapped their wings and rushed towards the little one from behind the village. They were full of vitality and headed straight for him.

In recent days, they had been changing, having consumed the blood and flesh of the Xie. For these bloodline-strong ferocious birds, the benefits were unimaginable. Dapeng’s eyes had turned golden, Xiao Qing’s wings had several splendid patterns, and Zi Yun’s scales were now more radiant with a golden hue.

Just seeing these three young birds made it clear that they were rare exotic creatures, certainly inheriting the true blood of ancient ferocious birds and having undergone mutations, making them invaluable.

"This is my prey. None of you are allowed to compete with me for it," Jiaopeng declared arrogantly, drawing a precious bow from his back and pulling it to shoot an iron arrow.

Jiaocang from the Luofu Great Marsh did not stop him and watched calmly.

"Claiming something as yours doesn’t make it so," Zishan Kun and Lei Mingyuan also stepped forward, drawing their bows and preparing to capture the three young birds as their prey.

The group of strong individuals was astonished. These were three mutated young birds, quite extraordinary. If raised, they would definitely be incredibly formidable and serve as powerful guardian spirits.

"Do not harm Zi Yun and the others," the little one said, his first display of anger. His eyes narrowed as he stared at Jiaopeng and the others, holding out his snow-white hands to block them.

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