Chapter 46: In the Depths of the Mountains

The willow tree had long been broken for many years, leaving only a charred trunk with a diameter of over ten meters, and a single green willow branch that swayed in the wind.

For decades, it had never spoken, so the sudden utterance was a great surprise to everyone. Little Dot blinked its big eyes, filled with curiosity.

"Salute to the Willow God."

The villagers were terrified and full of reverence. The tree's behavior exceeded all expectations, and many people fell to their knees, praying for its protection over Stone Village.

Elderly villagers, trembling with age, took the lead in offering prayers with sincere hearts and earnest words of respect.

A mysterious force emerged, strange and wondrous, resembling the sacrificial power recorded in ancient texts used by the ancestors to worship the heavens. It spread out like ripples.

The village's ancestral bronze cauldron resonated, its depictions of the sun, moon, mountains, rivers, and ancient ancestors becoming clearer, radiating a mysterious light and exuding an ancient aura.

However, the willow tree remained silent again, just as it had for the past decades, remaining as silent as if it had never spoken.

"Follow the Willow God's advice and start stockpiling food," an elder instructed calmly.

The village quickly became busy. Hundreds of dead mounts lay across the streets, piled like small mountains. These would provide sustenance for a long time, but to prevent decay, they needed to be processed.

That day, the village was filled with the aroma of meat. Every household was busy making jerky and smoked meat, with even the children helping out. The villagers did not dare to ignore the tree's words and prepared earnestly for an impending disaster.

The four great tribes—Purple Mountain, Thunder Clan, Luofu Marsh, and Golden Wolf Tribe—had mobilized their forces but fled in a pitiful state. Xiao Gu Mountain Town was in uproar.

The tribes' members, covered in grime, had become like frightened prey, their pride utterly shattered. They rested in Xiao Gu Mountain Town, no longer displaying their previous arrogance. No one dared suggest attacking Stone Village or even mention its name.

"This is a disgrace. To think that the mighty four tribes, rulers of a vast land, cannot even conquer a single village," some elders fumed.

After a brief outburst of anger, many trembled in fear. The willow tree was too powerful to be defeated, and the losses were immense. They pounded their chests in regret, realizing it was too late.

Such a great event would inevitably stir up significant upheaval and might trigger many unfortunate events. The four tribes decided to leave the area as soon as possible.

To them, this was a blood-soaked cursed land. The fact that a single village could cause the fall of three supreme tribe leaders was beyond imagination.

At this moment, even the deepest parts of the primordial mountains were not at peace.

Mists rose, shrouding the mountain scenery in a haze, resembling chaos. The roars of ancient beasts suddenly ceased, leaving an eerie silence.

A colossal figure emerged, surrounded by dense mist, its true form obscured. Yet its terrifying aura shook the heavens and earth. The mountains and valleys quaked, and all creatures, both birds and beasts, lay flat on the ground, trembling and bowing in reverence.

It stood tall, its height unknown, piercing the clouds. Its eyes were as deep and green as two lakes embedded in the sky, each with a diameter of several miles. Such vast, terrifying eyes were awe-inspiring, radiating an overwhelming killing intent.

It was hard to imagine what kind of creature this was or how enormous and majestic its body might be. If word got out, it would surely shock the world.

"This sacred object is mine," it spoke in a deep, thunderous voice, shaking the mountains as if they might collapse. The beasts in the distant mountains trembled in fear.

A massive iron rod responded, as thick as a pillar supporting the heavens, sweeping across with a roaring wind, rolling stones, and churning clouds.

This strike was apocalyptic, tearing through the heavens and the earth.

A thunderous roar followed, and the enormous figure extended a gigantic claw, covering the sky and capable of crushing several mountain ranges. The claw glinted with cold light, sharp and deadly.

The giant claw clashed with the iron rod above the clouds, tearing the sky apart. The mist dispersed, and dazzling lights erupted, accompanied by the explosion of the most potent treasure techniques, engulfing the world.

Pieces of strange bones fell from the sky—some red as blood, others black as ink, and some crystal-clear white—all emitting treasure light. These were extraordinary treasure bones.

If the human experts from outside the mountains saw these, their eyes would turn red with envy. There were at least a dozen pieces, each a remarkable treasure.

These treasure bones, inscribed with primordial symbols, scattered throughout the vast mountain range, solidifying the mountains. Even when the gale from above the sky surged again, it couldn't destroy the mountains.

The enormous beast, towering above the clouds, with eyes as deep as two lakes, spoke coldly, "A woman's mercy."

It unleashed a terrifying beam of light, sweeping across the heavens and the earth. Had it not been for the treasure bones suppressing the vast mountains, this would have brought about immense suffering. The beast's light scattered the clouds, and its dazzling divine light slashed forward, unleashing a supreme treasure technique.

The response was an iron rod that struck the brilliant treasure technique, producing a series of resounding echoes of the Great Dao. Moreover, a supreme primordial symbol appeared, ringing with clangs and adding boundless light to the rod, surrounded by dense characters. After being empowered, the rod's divine power surged.

This was a grand battle between two unimaginable forces, each deploying primordial treasure symbols to stabilize the mountains, fighting fiercely.

"You and that little red bird are mutually wounded. Retreating is your only choice," the terrifying entity with lake-like eyes spoke coldly, its killing intent exposed.

The battle continued.

Suddenly, in another part of the deepest mountains, a massive fire erupted. A little red bird appeared, engaged in a world-shaking battle with another terrifying creature.

"I didn't expect you to still be alive."

"Roar!"

Four supreme beings were fighting, their terrifying levels beyond imagination. Even mighty ancient beasts like the Demon Ape and the Li Fire Bull Demon trembled, hiding far away, too afraid to move.

At Xiao Gu Mountain Town, the powerful were horrified. Even they could hear the sounds from deep within the mountains. Looking up, the area was shrouded in chaotic mist, and the dozen or so beast bones suppressing the endless mountains were impenetrable.

"What’s happening? Is the mountain treasure about to emerge? Are they in a final battle for the ultimate prize?"

As soon as these words were spoken, divine light shattered the sky, and the chaotic mist surged. Even with the dozen or so treasure bones suppressing the mountains, the range still shook violently.

It was the ultimate treasure technique in action, causing the heavens and earth to tremble. The onlookers were terrified, their souls quivering. Many even fell to their knees.

The crowd shivered uncontrollably, overwhelmed by an immense pressure that made them bow and worship involuntarily.

How terrifying must this being be? Everyone felt chills from head to toe. Some recalled that their tribes had once considered exploring the mountain treasure, realizing now how perilous it would have been. They were relieved they had retreated in time.

Everyone shared the same thought: in this wild and desolate land, staying even a moment longer increased the danger, and a slight misstep could lead to utter annihilation.

The people from the Thunder Clan, Luofu Marsh, Golden Wolf Tribe, and others were even more terrified. One demonic willow had already filled them with dread, and with the presence deep within the mountains, it was clear that this place was no place for humans to stay. Retreating quickly was the best choice.

The people of Xiao Gu Mountain Town were in a state of panic. The major tribes and powerful figures from various regions all began to flee, rushing towards the ends of the earth with the utmost speed, unwilling to stay even for a moment longer.

"Boom!"

Suddenly, from the center of the Vast Mountains came a deafening sound that shook the heavens. Rocks flew through the air as the very earth cracked open, and chaotic energy spread, engulfing the entire mountain range.

Celestial light shot into the sky, and auspicious aura surged, as if arriving at the dawn of creation. It was as though a primordial treasure was emerging, causing the entire wasteland to tremble.

"The mountain treasure has emerged!"

At this moment, no one needed to speak; everyone knew that the sacred object had once again seen the light of day.

With a deep rumbling sound, the depths of the mountains erupted into chaos. The battle intensified as four unimaginable and terrifying beings fought fiercely for the newly unearthed mountain treasure.