Chapter 001: The Demonic Sword Destroys the Grief

Not far away, the son of the lark tribe leader, Gu Tianming, stood with his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes tightly closed, and his expression calm, as if his soul had left his body and entered another world. No one knew why this ten-year-old child could be so tranquil and composed.

"Leave!" The demon shouted, "If you don't leave, I will kill you!" "Hurry up and go!" The crowd surged, and malicious, fierce words came one after another. Zhu Yun Cang was caught off guard; he held back his tears, standing still in place. He could not leave; taking a single step would be tantamount to compromise, and he would never compromise.

In an instant, Zhu Yun Cang found himself isolated and helpless, as if all the hatred around him had converged upon him.

At this very moment, when the sound still reverberates in the valley, a massive shadow suddenly appears in the sky

Among the seven boys, one named Zhu Yuncang kept his eyes wide open at all times. He was handsome, with distinct features that made him quite adorable, especially his pair of bright, dark eyes that sparkled with mischief. He looked around restlessly, completely unlike the other children who were obedient, and occasionally made faces at the boy next to him

Turning around, the patriarch said to Zhu Yuncang, "Yuncang, this matter concerns the safety of our clan. I will never sacrifice the lives of the entire clan out of pity for you"

The sword emitted a blackish-purple glow, pulsating between Zhu Yuncong's eyebrows

Above the nine heavens, the sound of swan calls echoes!

All of this was heard by Zhu Yuncong, who had already matured too early. His small fists quietly clenched, yet he still kept his head down, silently enduring the anguish within, saying nothing. He understood that with Tu Shu, even if he defended himself, it would be of little use.

At this moment, the startled shaman suddenly pointed at Zhu Yuncong and shouted loudly: "You are indeed a monster!"

The patriarch waved his hand and said: "There is no need to say more. Yun Cang, I will give you two days to pack your belongings. You may choose any weapon from the clan, but you cannot take the spiritual treasures or items from the Illusionary Spirit Cave. You may select anything else as you wish"

The sword unexpectedly fell right in front of Zhu Yuncong, just three inches away from his body

The shaman let out a cold laugh and said: "Do not try to argue; who in the Hundred Spirits Tribe does not know? Your mother died in childbirth, and you emerged from her corpse. You must be the culprit who drained her vital essence, cultivating your powers and transforming into human form, deceiving us all with the appearance of a child for a decade."

Zhu Yun Cang was so startled that he stood up, looking around to find that everyone was staring at him, and many people's eyes were filled with an unprecedented hatred. In the past, even when he had acted inappropriately, the expressions he encountered were not as filled with rage as those today

"His biological parents died too early; given his circumstances, this is to be expected," someone else remarked

The shaman knelt devoutly before the statue of the goddess Nüwa, reciting the incantations of prayer, prostrating on the ground, rising to call out, as if singing an ancient hymn.

Enough, no more words! We are still in mourning!

At this moment, beneath the statue of the goddess Nüwa, seven young boys are seated in a circle. These are all the boys from the Bai Ling tribe who have turned ten this year.

"How can you still claim otherwise? You have caused your mother’s death and brought disaster to the village; you are nothing but a thoroughly wicked person. What face do you have to remain in the village?" A roar from the crowd drew countless supporters.

The towering statue of Nüwa is carved from blue-white jade, lifelike in its representation. Her gently outstretched right hand seems to caress the child, and the hint of a loving smile at the corner of her mouth complements her gesture, as if all the creatures of the earth were birthed by her. The Bailing people, like other Miao ethnic groups, worship the Earth Empress Nüwa, and the legend of Nüwa creating humanity is widely circulated among the tribes.

Zhu Yun Cang certainly understood the other person's meaning and pleaded, "But I am not a monster! I truly am not..."

Here, every boy who reaches the age of ten must, during the autumn harvest of that year, sit in meditation beneath the statue of Nuwa and be prayed for by the priest. The clan believes that a ten-year-old boy has essentially developed a sound mind and must be examined by Nuwa, the creator of humanity. Only those who receive her approval may continue to reside in the valley, safeguarding the Hundred Spirits of the Primordial Valley. Conversely, if any abnormalities are detected, indicating that the child is a malevolent being, he must be swiftly expelled from the valley to fend for himself.

I am not a monster! My mother did not die because of me!" Zhu Yun Cang argued

Zhu Yuncong seemed to be taken aback, quickly regaining composure and silently lowering his head

I ... ... '' Zhu Yuncang still wanted to argue, but the crowd instinctively parted to create a pathway. A middle-aged man, holding a peach wood staff, dressed in a deep blue robe, and wearing a deep blue Miao headscarf, approached slowly.

Around the seven boys, within a distance of several zhang, the men and women of the Lark Division formed a circle to witness this grand event

The shaman nodded at www.hetushucom.com

This ominous son of the Central Plains, when he initially caused the death of his biological mother, I had already stated that he was certainly not a good person. Now, how is it? Has it been proven true? He dares to be so brazen even before the goddess Nuwa... Sigh... Demon!

"Dare to argue? The goddess Nüwa's discerning eyes are like torches, piercing through your tricks in an instant," the shaman shouted. "The fierce sword descends, surely to eliminate you, this demon, but unfortunately, it has missed by a fraction!"

In mid-air, a slender, entirely black sword descended through the wind, accompanied by a hoarse sound of friction

My defense increasingly appears powerless

Everyone present was stunned, and even Zhu Yuncong himself was so frightened that his face turned pale. He had only lived for ten years in the mortal realm, and during these ten years, not a single bird egg had fallen from above Hongmeng Valley, let alone this long and heavy ominous object—a sword

His expression turned somewhat doubtful and fearful, but he quickly composed himself and said solemnly to the shaman, "Inform everyone that this sword is malevolent; no one is to approach it. We must examine it carefully!"

Zhu Yuncong cast a grateful glance at Gu Tianming; however, the shaman was relentless and respectfully said to Gu Tianming: "Young Master, you may not be aware, but the goddess Nuwa is most effective and can discern the truth at a glance, whether one is human or demon. The unexpected incident that occurred during Zhu Yuncong's examination is a warning from the goddess Nuwa. If we do not heed this advice, we will surely face catastrophic consequences"

Wow! Someone screamed in fright.

There is only one passage in and out of the valley, where fierce beasts and demons roam freely, and the exiled children have little chance of survival.

The chieftain... the shaman bowed respectfully

I have already shown you all the kindness I can, now leave! the clan leader said

No! I am not!

"Master Shaman, it is perhaps not conclusive to determine that Zhu Yun Cang is a demon solely based on a strange and sinister sword. Although his actions over the past ten years have often been irregular, he has not committed any heinous acts. If he were a demon, what purpose would he have in residing here?" At this moment, all eyes filled with astonishment turned to the calm and composed Gu Tian Ming beside him, who, though only a few months younger than Zhu Yun Cang, appeared much more mature.

Ah, this child truly does not give one peace of mind

Do not drive me away! Zhu Yun Cang looked helplessly at the crowd. Originally, he thought that as long as he passed the inspection of the goddess Nuwa and officially became one of the male guardians of the Hongmeng Valley, everyone’s opinion of him would change. However, he never expected that this grand event would turn into a major calamity in his life

"Take your belongings, take your valuables, and leave Hongmeng Valley quickly; you are not welcome here!" The shaman said, with an extremely resolute tone

Father ... ... he ... ... '' Gu Tianming also seemed to have objections

"I beg you not to drive me away! Chief!" Zhu Yun Cang's final plea was met only with indifference.

A sound of metal striking

"Zhu Yun Cang, what are you doing? Behave yourself!" Suddenly, a stern shout came from the crowd

Why are you still not leaving! The shaman wanted to step forward to take the long sword embedded in the bluestone tiles, but was somewhat at a loss due to the sword's eerie glow. He could only bluff and shouted at Zhu Yun Cang.

What are you all looking at me for... I am not...

A grand ceremony of the Bai Ling tribe is being held in front of the Wa Huang altar beneath the sheer cliffs. The Bai Ling tribe is a group of Miao people who have lived for many years under the Hongmeng Cliff, relying on the dew of the valley and the natural resources for their survival, leading a life isolated from the outside world. This place may not be the legendary Peach Blossom Spring, but it can certainly be said that "once you enter the valley, you lose track of the present and the past."

Father, you see... Gu Tianming also approached.

I do not even know who his father is; perhaps he is also someone who has been... What has he not done in the department over these years? Engaging in petty theft and deceit... A whole array of underhanded activities.

What is that! A sudden exclamation erupted from the crowd, and immediately, everyone looked up at the sky

The middle-aged man gently pushed Gong Tianming aside and said, "Ming'er, you need not say much about this matter." After saying this, he stepped onto the altar where the memorial was held, his gaze fixed intently on the long sword embedded in the stone slab, which emanated a sinister and ominous light. After a long while, he let out a deep sigh and said, "Truly malevolent! Our Hongmeng Valley has never encountered such a thing; could it be..."

"Lady Nüwa, please take a look at these children!" The shaman, having finished the hymn, stood up and gazed up at the towering statue of Nüwa, saying, "These children are all healthy boys from the Lark Tribe. If you believe they are capable of shouldering the great responsibility of protecting the Lark Tribe, please bestow your blessings upon each one; if any among them is indeed a demon in disguise, please impose your punishment upon him!"

No more words, no more words... However... speaking of which, look at Gu Tianming, who is also ten years old; how understanding he is...