Chapter 67: Bewitched

Chapter 67: Bewitched

This piece of translucent white bone is a treasure, recording boundless mysteries. It delves into the essence of runes, depicts the battles between ancient fierce beasts and deities, and starts from the most primordial origins.

Little Dot is enraptured, utterly captivated. Holding the crystalline bone, he is constantly absorbed in understanding and pondering, as if bewitched. He becomes so engrossed that he walks into the lake, only realizing it when the water reaches his mouth and nose, much to the bemusement of the clan.

“I held a bowl of beast's milk right in front of him, but he didn’t even notice. This is unusual.”

“It’s over, Little Dot is bewitched. Will he become foolish?”

A group of children murmured, feeling that he had gone mad.

“Don’t strain yourself too much; be careful not to get hurt,” the old clan leader warned sternly. Little Dot had already coughed up blood multiple times, and even with a strong body, caution was still needed.

Little Dot was deeply engrossed, forgetting to eat and sleep. The shining bone never left his hands as he constantly turned it over and studied it, absorbed in contemplation, losing track of time and self.

He came across a battle case: a Golden-Winged Roc battling a deity. The bone was covered with runes, and the depiction, though small, was so vivid it felt as if it could pierce through the bone itself.

Little Dot’s focus intensified, his eyes not blinking, his spirit condensed. He nearly melded into the bone, and the illustrations he saw began to change.

The Golden-Winged Roc emitted a faint golden light, gradually becoming dazzlingly brilliant, as if forged from gold. It vividly appeared on the bone, almost as if it were about to fly out.

It battled fiercely with the deity, both sustaining injuries. The Roc was stained with divine blood and had its own golden blood, dominating the heavens. Its golden wings obscured the entire sky, fierce and overpowering.

The bone did not record any breathtaking divine techniques but explained the orthodox use of runes, sketching several key lines of the battle, which were truly profound and infinite in their mystery.

Upon viewing the first illustration, Little Dot fell into a deeper trance, immersed and oblivious to his surroundings. His energy drained to the point where he coughed up blood several times before slowly opening his eyes.

The clan members were heartbroken at the sight. Little Dot was so deeply absorbed that his obsession seemed potentially dangerous. They urged him to stop and be cautious.

“Yes, I understand. Those illustrations are too profound and not yet within my grasp. I will take it slowly,” Little Dot responded, taking the advice to heart.

Such battle records and illustrations, if they were to reach the outside world, would undoubtedly cause a stir. Even without the evolution of divine techniques, they would be considered a "Divine Warrior's Compendium."

The depiction of the Golden-Winged Roc battling a deity would astonish anyone. It was a precious treasure coveted by experts, not just humans but all major races.

This is the terrifying aspect of the Original Truth Scripture: it often uses such battle examples to explain the mysteries of runes, moving from simple to complex, touching upon an unfathomable realm.

A leaf boat drifted on the lake, the clear water rippling in the wind. Golden Dragon Whisker Fish leaped, sparkling and splashing large amounts of water.

Little Dot lay on the boat, calm and serene, glowing with divine light. Rays of divine dawn shone as he reconstructed the runes within his body, merging them with his flesh and blood.

Having read the Original Truth Scripture, he gained deep insights, surpassing previous understanding, and comprehended the most fundamental meanings of runes. He began to refine his blood realm anew, with tiny points of light appearing, as if divine beings were constantly chanting and guarding him, nurturing his spirit, allowing him to be reborn and grow stronger.

The effect was astounding. Little Dot seemed like a furnace, continuously glowing from within. His body surface developed lines, crystalline and brilliant.

The clan did not disturb him, allowing him to meditate and cultivate. Little Dot, half-asleep and half-awake, immersed his entire mind into the practice, wandering through a vibrant world.

Divine light pervaded, manifesting as divine feathers around him. Little Dot’s blood and qi roared, with each drop of blood giving birth to a rune, growing stronger.

Outside his body, the divine light covered him, pure and sacred. It seemed as though he was on the verge of transcending, casting down large amounts of light rain that illuminated the lake.

The clan members were all astonished, gathering at the shore to watch. Even the rare birds and beasts, such as the little phoenix and unicorn, were stunned, staring at the lake. Schools of Dragon Whisker Fish swam close, bathing in the light rain, their golden scales gleaming in unison.

Little Dot kept his eyes closed, with light flowing and rain falling, continually transforming.

The spiritual essence of the world surged into his body, nourishing his organs and flesh, making him appear translucent and crystalline. His blood flowed like a river, moving as if turning the heavens.

Eventually, he succeeded. He had fully refined his blood realm and reached its peak.

Little Dot opened his eyes, and all the divine light converged. His body was transparent, like finely carved jade, causing the school of large golden fish in the lake to panic and swiftly dive to the bottom.

“Splash!”

Little Dot jumped into the water, catching a Dragon Whisker Fish weighing over three hundred pounds, its body shimmering with gold, and its whiskers crystal-clear and fragrant.

“Catch this, snot-nosed kid,” Little Dot called out, tossing it onto the shore.

He then dove back into the water, quickly catching another golden giant fish weighing over two hundred pounds, emitting a pleasant aroma, and threw it onto the shore.

“Wow, a fish king! We used to think catching a fish weighing tens of pounds was big, but to think such a treasure fish could grow so large!”

“Little Dot, there are plenty of big fish. I saw over twenty of this size just now. Hurry and catch more!”

A group of children shouted excitedly. Such fish kings would definitely have exceptional medicinal value, significantly boosting their strength and vitality.

Little Dot did not continue catching more fish. Instead, he leaped onto the shore. The blue lake nurtured such rare fish, and it was important not to deplete them all but to let them breed.

“Grandpa, I want to travel far,” Little Dot suddenly announced during dinner.

The old clan leader’s rough hand trembled as he looked up and asked, “Child, you’re so young, and your cultivation isn’t yet enough to traverse the wasteland. Where are you going?”

“I’m not really leaving Stone Village. I just need to complete a trial assigned by the Willow Deity and take a short trip. I’ll return soon,” Little Dot said softly.

Although it was a trial, the destination was his choice.

He had tears in his eyes, missing his parents and family. It had been years since they had left, and Shi Ziling and the others had not returned. He was deeply worried.

“Child, you’re not planning to go to the Ancient Kingdom, are you?” the old clan leader asked with concern. A child like him could hardly contend with such a powerful royal family; it seemed unrealistic.

Little Dot shook his head and said, “I won’t be taking risks. I’m only going to the borderlands of the Ancient Kingdom. The Willow Deity told me to fight against the fierce beasts of the wilderness and to temper myself in dangerous places. That way, I can validate what I’ve learned and grow rapidly.”

He had recently perfected his blood realm and adhered to the Willow Deity’s advice. Instead of rushing to break through, he planned to stay in this realm for another month, gaining more understanding and insight, which would benefit his future cultivation.

Little Dot wanted to visit the Second Ancestral Land, a place of exile where some discontented old folks who had once talked with his parents might know where they had gone.

A child who has been separated from his parents for many years, upon learning that they had risked their lives to find a sacred medicine in an ancient divine mountain, could only imagine the depth of his longing and worry.

He might not be able to do much, but he wants to know any news of them. The feelings of longing and missing his loved ones are profound; even receiving a small piece of information would be a consolation.

Furthermore, there is another child there, sent to that harsh wasteland in his place. He wonders how that child has fared over the years and fears that they might have faced some dangers. Little Dot is a person who values emotions deeply and feels that the child should not have been subjected to such a fate.

"Child, it's too far. The journey is too dangerous," the old clan leader disagreed.

"Although it's far, it's not an insurmountable distance. According to my subconscious memories, the Willow Deity once estimated that it’s approximately three hundred thousand miles away," Little Dot said.

The Second Ancestral Land is located on the edge of the Ancient Kingdom, a wild and desolate place. It is not far from the true Ancestral Land, only about three hundred thousand miles. Clearly, the Stone Clan had been seeking their roots for years.

Three hundred thousand miles might seem insignificant compared to the vast territory of the Ancient Kingdom, but for Little Dot, who has never traveled far, it is indeed a monumental distance.

"You've never traveled far before. How can I be assured?" the clan leader said with concern.

Soon, the villagers learned of Little Dot’s plan and strongly opposed it. The long journey was fraught with dangers, and a misstep could result in death in the mountains.

"The Willow Deity said this is a very important trial that I need to undertake," Little Dot explained.

Upon hearing this, the villagers fell silent. The withered willow tree in their minds was like a deity, and its words were indeed hard to contradict.

"This kind of trial is optional; you don’t have to accept it. I’m just using the methods of ancient fierce beasts like the True Hound and Pixiu to train you. Three hundred thousand miles is indeed terrifying. The wilderness is full of strange beasts, and if you encounter them without preparation, it could be very dangerous," the Willow Deity said.

In ancient times, powerful creatures were extremely strict with their offspring. To ensure they grew up strong and unrivaled, they often subjected them to hellish trials.

Traveling alone through a wilderness filled with fierce beasts and dangers is a tremendous test. Although there may not be specific enemies, the risks could be even greater.

The trials set by the Willow Deity are not measured by current human standards but are aligned with the most powerful races in this world.

"I’ll give it a try. If it’s truly not feasible, I won’t take unnecessary risks and will turn back early," Little Dot said with determination.

His subconscious memories hold that his grandfather once shot a Pixiu cub on the battlefield of the Hundred Clans. The cub’s bloodline was incredibly pure, indicating that it was deliberately sent by a powerful fierce beast for a brutal trial.

"I can do it too," Little Dot clenched his small fist, encouraging himself as he set out toward the Ancient Kingdom.