Chapter 8, The Beginning of the Dream
If Shan was also aware that Panhu could not understand very well, he grabbed the dog's ear and took it outside, pointing at the roofs that it had damaged and scolding it for a while. Panhu finally understood to some extent, so it shrank its neck and lowered its head even further. Meanwhile, a group of tribesmen watched the commotion, occasionally bursting into laughter.
Ruo Shui once said that this meat is highly nourishing, of course, referring to something else. The meat of this demonic bird can replenish vital energy and strengthen bones, but its medicinal properties are too potent for the clan members to consume directly. Yesterday, she secretly cast a spell to process it, making it suitable for digestion and absorption when eaten today
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If Shan took the wing bone and rubbed it for a while, then pulled out a small knife and gently scratched it a few times, leaving no trace at all. He squinted and said: "During the day, we were still discussing whether Panhu could become a spiritual beast. It seems that it is indeed not an ordinary dog; it already possesses innate abilities and is on the verge of awakening its intelligence."
The strange bird that appeared yesterday has already made him feel the unknown danger. Not only Tiger Boy and Pan Hu, but all the tribesmen are hiding well in the concealed corners. Perhaps yesterday's luck was too good, as no raptor swooped down in the early hours of today, and everyone ended up waiting in vain for half the day
The age at which people begin to form memories varies, typically around three to four years old, and earlier experiences are generally not recalled by most individuals after reaching adulthood. For instance, when Ruo Shan reflects on his life, the earliest scene in his memory is of following the previous clan leader in worship at the altar of the mountain god in the center of the village
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The remaining flesh of those demonic birds is also the most refined part, having been refined by Ruoshan's magical powers, resulting in a milder and purer medicinal quality. After approximately half an hour, a surge of heat slowly rose within Panhu's body, and that restless power and emotion reemerged. Although it was not as sudden and fierce as during the day, it was even more powerful and abundant
If Shan looked at the wing bone in his hand and smiled: "Perhaps training is not quite appropriate; it would be better to teach it like the other tribesmen do. It doesn't see itself as a dog at all. It deliberately tries to learn what the tribesmen are doing, but it must be properly taught not to cause trouble outside."
Pan Hu understood the meaning of this sentence from the tone, wagging his tail as he trotted into the mountain elder's house behind Huwa. The mountain elder then instructed: "I am currently cooking meat and need to step out for a while. Please keep an eye on it for me, and do not steal any!"
What exactly is the beginning of life? It can be said to start at two points: either at the moment of a person's birth or at the earliest time when a person retains memories. When an adult reflects on the past, what is the earliest memory they can recall? This marks the beginning of their life experiences
Ruo Shui replied: "Its teeth are perfectly fine, it is just that its shoulder has been scratched, leaving a cut."
The next day at dawn, Panhu excitedly jumped up from the ground and rushed out of the house to see the commotion. It seemed to have forgotten that it still bore injuries, but its upright steps were somewhat unsteady, clearly indicating a lingering dizziness. Huwawa climbed up and called out: "Panhu, be careful, you must hide well today!"
However, in recent years, Ruoshan has indeed taken action. The weapons used by the clan, which are primarily made of fine steel for arrowheads and spear tips, have occasionally been damaged. As before, Ruoshan places them on the altar to worship the mountain deity and pray for blessings. These arrowheads and spear tips were indeed repaired, and the clan members still believe it to be the manifestation of the mountain deity's spirit, when in fact it is Ruoshan secretly casting spells.
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Ruo Shui said, "Some words I have already spoken in the past, as long as you can accomplish it! I have been waiting for the day when you can achieve it." After saying this, she walked out of the room and disappeared into the night, while Ruo Shan let out a long sigh in the darkness
Various metals and - illustrations - books are refined from the essence of minerals. Those highly accomplished practitioners can use their powerful magical abilities and incredible supernatural powers to extract the essence of materials from ores, thereby obtaining metals. Therefore, tools forged from metals are referred to as "instruments," which require the assistance of magical forces to come into existence
Certainly, the Qingshui clan has benefited the most, as various tribes primarily go to the Qingshui fortress to trade. All items that can be referred to as "utensils" are treasures in the eyes of the clan members, who carefully safeguard them and pass them down through generations. However, now that the mountain deity has fallen silent and the Qingshui clan has perished, this source of metal utensils has also been cut off
Today, when Panhu was "going crazy," it was actually quite clear-headed. It did not harm anyone, but there was a restless force and emotion that needed to be released, and as a dog, it naturally acted wild. When it jumped around on the rooftops, its movements appeared light, yet the force of its legs was considerable. Most rooftops in the village are made of wooden boards, covered with woven grass mats and weighed down with stones. Several households had their rooftops damaged by its antics. Most rooftops in the village are made of wooden boards, covered with woven grass mats and weighed down with stones. Several households had their rooftops damaged by its antics.
In fact, with the abilities of Ruo Shan and Ruo Shui, they are already cultivators of the Fifth Realm. Their divine powers and magical abilities certainly allow them to refine different metals from various ores. However, the spells they practice are not particularly adept in this area, and doing so would require an enormous amount of energy, often resulting in diminished returns. Therefore, they rarely engage in such activities.
The current state of Panhu is akin to having just stepped into the initial realm of experience. However, this experience is not a result of its conscious cultivation, but rather a passive and spontaneous entry under very special circumstances. It will need to learn in the future to consciously seek and enter this state in order to truly step into the initial realm.
The tiger cub and Panhu are enjoying their meal so comfortably, it is an unprecedented immense satisfaction. This dog-like creature, Panhu, seems to have a poor memory for punishment; it appears to have forgotten the trouble it caused earlier in the day after eating this kind of meat. It was already quite remarkable that it could resist the temptation of the meat soup just now. By the time they finished eating, night had fallen, and a half-moon rose in the sky, with the scenery of the village surrounded by mountains still faintly visible.
The tiger cub hurried over to take a look and discovered that Panhu was not knocked out, but had inexplicably fallen asleep again, even snoring. However, its wound had split open again.
Although Huwa felt somewhat disappointed, he had to admit that what Mountain Master said was entirely correct. The paths leading in and out of the village were deep in the mountains, steep, rugged, and exceptionally perilous, far beyond his ability to climb, let alone talk about hunting. A child of three or four years is still in early childhood, while a dog of the same age has already fully grown. However, the size of Panhu is not large; even when standing upright on its two hind legs, it is only about as tall as a green vine.
Tiger Boy and Pan Hu knew that Mountain Master was cooking meat, and they were salivating, continuously swallowing. At that moment, they suddenly heard Mountain Master's voice: "Tiger Boy, Pan Hu, come over here."
The child and the dog both swallowed hard and nodded vigorously. Grandpa Shan smiled and said, "The reason I didn't let you eat earlier was that the meat wasn't cooked yet. Now it is ready, and this meat was specifically prepared for you. Take it back and share it among yourselves." The meat soup, which had just been simmering, had surprisingly cooled down in the meantime, becoming warm but not hot, just right for consumption.
Those rare metal artifacts are an important part bestowed by the Mountain God. The Mountain God once informed the various tribes in this area about the minerals found deep in the mountains. If they happen to discover any during their hunting or gathering journeys, they can bring some back to the village, where the priest will place them on the altar and perform a specific ritual to worship the Mountain God. When the Mountain God is in a good mood, He may use His divine powers to craft some metal artifacts and * diagrams *.
That night, Tiger Boy had another very strange dream. On a beautiful mountain, he saw a wonderful figure. Such a scene he had never encountered before, and it did not belong to this wild and desolate land, yet he saw it in his dream. The imagery in the dream was ethereal yet complete; whether it was the landscape or the figure of the person, everything felt so beautiful to Tiger Boy
The meat of this demon bird is equivalent to a powerful tonic. Panhu has external injuries, and the mountain elder originally did not want it to eat. However, this dog considers itself a member of the clan and is well aware of the rules regarding meat distribution—those who contribute the most labor can receive a larger share. Therefore, it stood at the front of the crowd, looking like a human, with its mouth open and tongue hanging out, eagerly watching, nearly drooling onto the ground.
At sunset on this day, Ruo Shan set up a clay pot in the house to cook meat. After the demon bird meat had been shared among the clan, only a small portion remained, which was now placed into the pot. However, there was no fire lit beneath the pot; Ruo Shan sat cross-legged beside it, using his magical power to gradually bring the water in the pot to a boil, while simultaneously refining the medicinal properties of the demon bird meat.
Such a small child may not yet understand what beauty is, but he naturally feels—this is the beauty he appreciates, accompanied by an indescribable longing and desire. Dreams are so ethereal, leaving only vague impressions upon waking, and the tiger cub cannot recall them clearly. However, during the dream, he inexplicably senses that he has had or will have a very special relationship with that person
However, Panhu did not "go mad"; having already learned a lesson during the day, he knew he could neither act nor dare to do so, and thus had to endure. Relying on his instincts, Shan certainly sensed the change in him. He brought the dog back to the village, made it sit in front of the altar, and instructed, "You just sit here and do not move, suppress the restlessness within your heart, and truly feel that tranquility. I hope you can find that state of mind."
If Shan saw these bite marks, he asked in surprise: "Did you treat Panhu's wounds today? Its canine teeth weren't broken, were they?"
The advantage of being a dog is that it does not question why the master behaves in a certain way, but obediently follows along. The master led Panhu to walk slowly, circling the village several times under the moonlight, yet his demeanor did not resemble that of walking a dog, for Panhu also walked upright on two legs. This was both a way to digest food and a wait for the effects of the medicine to take hold.
Ruo Shui pondered for a moment and then reminded, "I observed Pan Hu's actions clearly during the day. Although it is not a match for that third realm demon bird, and cannot even be said to have entered the initial realm, it has already unlocked its innate divine abilities. With proper training, ordinary beasts such as wolves, bears, tigers, and leopards will no longer be its opponents. When the clan members go out hunting, they can take it along; it is an excellent guardian beast."
Dreams are often chaotic and disjointed fragments, and they tend to be quite absurd. Then, Huwa dreamt of many stones resembling eggs; he felt as if he could reach out and grasp those stones from the air, much like the strange bird he had seen during the day. Although these were merely fragments of a dream, Huwa remembered them very clearly and did not forget a single detail upon waking up
At this moment, Panhu has calmed down and is aware of what it has done, but after all, it is just a dog. Although it is very intelligent and even shows signs of awakening wisdom, it remains in a state of confusion.
That night, the tiger cub had a dream, likely influenced by the words of the mountain elder. Although he could not fully understand them, the impression they left was profound. The child only vaguely grasped one point, which was the explanation of "metaphor"—for instance, some stones resemble eggs. Thus, he dreamed of a stone that looked very much like an egg, and then the stone cracked open like an egg, surprisingly giving birth to a chick, which then grew into a giant bird soaring in the sky
According to Ruoshans, in the distant lands beyond the mountains, in the vast plains densely populated with people, there are magnificent and prosperous nations where wise individuals teach the masses how to build furnaces and smelt metals, astonishingly without the need to rely on the supernatural powers of cultivators. However, this requires the gathering of immense human and material resources, as well as an even larger workforce to sustain these individuals. This is something that the tribes in the wilderness cannot even begin to imagine; even a once powerful clan like the Qingshui clan could not organize its members to mine and smelt metals.
If the mountain also quietly said: "Yes, the most difficult hurdle has been crossed. However, the initial stage of nine transformations, each transformation will likely take a long time for it."
However, this time, Granny Water did not put him to sleep. Pan Hu could sense that the restlessness within him was being suppressed or guided in some way. When he was able to sit still and awake, his emotions gradually returned to calm, and the impulses of his body slowly reverted to the source of that power. It was akin to a person feeling an inexhaustible energy within, yet being unable to do anything, which, of course, was quite uncomfortable.
If only we could see it, and it could wait for us
Its roar is astonishing, capable of causing a sharp pain in people's eardrums, frightening several children to tears. Tiger Boy ran over to pull its tail but failed to catch it, instead being thrown to the ground by the dog. The dog then embraced a tree as thick as a bowl, gnawing, rubbing, and shaking it wildly, nearly toppling the tree.
At this moment, the young Huwa is still unaware that the events he is experiencing today mark the beginning of his life's memories. Many years later, the earliest thing he will remember is the light he saw on this night, the words spoken by the mountain elder, and the dream he had that night. Particularly, that dream, which was so ethereal and vague at the time, recurred throughout his childhood and into his adolescence
For so many years, I have lit the lamp for the first time. You entered my room, yet did not stay until dawn
It can roughly determine the meaning based on people's tone and expressions, and it can barely understand some simple syllables, which is quite remarkable for a dog. However, it still cannot comprehend relatively complex descriptions of events; it only knows that it has done something wrong and that its owner is scolding it. It quickly stands up, drooping its head in a posture of guilt and submission.
However, Pan Hu had no awareness of what he was doing, gradually forgetting his actions, merely feeling the intangible force circulating within him, which brought about an unprecedented sense of clarity. He sensed his own breathing and heartbeat, and even faintly heard the sounds of his intestines moving and blood flowing throughout his body, with every bone and every muscle engaged in perception. Thus, an unknown amount of time passed, and he entered an extraordinary state unlike any he had experienced before. He sensed his own breathing and heartbeat, and even faintly heard the sounds of his intestines moving and blood flowing throughout his body, with every bone and every muscle engaged in perception. Thus, an unknown amount of time passed, and he entered an extraordinary state unlike any he had experienced before.
In front of the clan members, if Mount was helpless, it could only give the largest portion to Panhu. Panhu ate the meat and drank the soup, and generously shared a piece of meat with Huwawa, then burped and drowsily went back to sleep. However, just before noon, it suddenly woke up, as if it had been pricked by something, barking wildly and running around on its hind legs.
Beast tendons and bones are a very special material; they can serve both as tools and as weapons. Ordinary tendons and bones, when refined with supernatural powers, hold little significance. However, the tendons and bones of the white-feathered gu-diao, a third-tier demon bird hunted today, are somewhat naturally suited for crafting. Its tendons can be made into the finest bowstrings and bindings, while its bones can be processed into the sharpest weapons, exhibiting excellent toughness and resistance to damage. Slaying this demon bird represents a considerable gain for this tribe.
Not long after finishing the meat, almost everyone could feel a surge of warmth rising from their lower abdomen, their bodies enveloped in a cozy heat. There was a restless energy that invigorated them, as if they had boundless strength. Ruo Shan immediately ordered the tribe members to go out and work, engaging in the heaviest physical labor as a means to release this energy, which also served to dissipate the medicinal properties of the demon bird meat
The adults have once again begun their daily labor, leaving behind children who are running around chaotically and shouting in the village. Today, the children are particularly lively and energetic; if it weren't for the supervision of a few elders, some of them might have gotten hurt. On this day, an unexpected incident also occurred in the village—a dog went mad
Ruo Shui replied: "In any case, it has already experienced this state, entering the condition before the initial realm and its first transformation. To see desire and be able to stop, to seek tranquility amidst restlessness, to remain still amidst the flow, and to turn inward for introspection—these were my feelings when I first entered the initial realm. It sounds simple to say, but how can one guarantee the ability to guide others into such a state, let alone a dog? Today, you actually used meat to guide the dog, and succeeded. Yet upon reflection, it is truly ingenious!" It sounds simple to say, but how can one guarantee the ability to guide others into such a state, let alone a dog? Today, you actually used meat to guide the dog, and succeeded. Yet upon reflection, it is truly ingenious!
After Shan Ye finished speaking, he left, but the meat soup in the pot continued to bubble gently, releasing a rich aroma that lingered in the air. For this person and dog, it was an unprecedented experience of both enjoyment and torment. The fragrance of the meat was so enticing that it stirred a strong appetite! The feeling of longing and desire itself is a form of enjoyment; if someone finds no pleasure in food regardless of what they eat, they can truly understand this principle.
Ruoshui pondered: "The years for beasts to communicate with spirits are often very long. If they are fortunate enough, they may even step into the fourth realm and transform into human form. But with our lifespans, I wonder if we will see that day? Even more uncertain is whether this dog will have the fortune to wait for that day?"
This sentence is something that Panhu cannot fully understand, yet it is clear that Shanye's intention seems to be instructing it to do something, as it raises its head with curious dog eyes. At this moment, Huwawa approaches and says: "It doesn't have hands, how can it help fix the roof? Shanye, perhaps let it do something else."
The tiger cub clapped and said: "Great, this idea is good! Mountain Grandpa, I want to go too"
However, it is pleasing to note that today the tribe shared the meat of the strange bird. The bird was quite large, and the meat was meticulously sliced into many pieces, allowing each tribe member to receive one or two slices, which brought great joy to everyone. This bird meat had been offered to the mountain deity yesterday, as if it had undergone some form of divine refinement, remaining fresh throughout the entire day. After being cooked, both the soup and the meat were particularly delicious.
If Shan nodded and said: "Alright, let it follow the clan members to hunt, and compensate them with the game that should be shared"
Hard stones can be processed into various cutting and smashing tools, while pottery requires special clay to be fired using specific methods. As for metal objects, they are generally difficult for ordinary tribes to obtain, and common people are unable to process them at all
If Shan was again at the door of the cabin, he said: "Tiger Boy, you go to sleep first. Pan Hu, come out and walk with me."
Such delicious food is unattainable; they cannot eat it and do not dare to eat it, which is certainly a form of torment. Time has passed, but it feels like an eternity. The old man returned to the room, nodded in satisfaction, and asked, "Do you want to eat?"
At this moment, the section of grass stem that served as a wick had burned out, and the night had grown deep. Ruo Shui finally stood up to take his leave, and Ruo Shan quietly asked, "Ah Shui, are you really going to leave?"
The primary wing bone of the white-feathered gu-diao is equivalent to the humerus in humans, and it is the most resilient bone of this mythical bird, capable of being used as a weapon. With sufficient strength, swinging it can shatter boulders. Pan Hu has bitten down on the tip of the wing bone; although it did not break or penetrate it, four shallow bite marks were left behind, which is not a feat that an ordinary dog could achieve
When Panhu woke up, he found himself lying in the stone house of the clan leader, Ruoshan, and the wound on his shoulder had been re-dressed. As soon as he moved, he heard the voice of Elder Shan scolding him: "You dog, finally awake? The trouble you caused today is quite significant! You damaged the roofs of several households and scared so many children to tears. Now, what do you think should be done about it?"
The daily necessities of the primitive tribes were made from locally sourced materials, such as hemp and ramie fibers for thread and fabric, animal hides sewn into clothing and bedding, bamboo and wood felled to create tools, as well as stone, bone, pottery, and metal implements. In such places and times, the concepts of "tools" and "utensils" were distinct; not everything could be referred to as "utensils." "Utensils" represented something precious and rare, and even symbolized a certain mysterious power. In such places and times, the concepts of "tools" and "utensils" were distinct; not everything could be referred to as "utensils." "Utensils" represented something precious and rare, and even symbolized a certain mysterious power.
The meat has been cooked thoroughly, emanating a particularly enticing aroma that makes one’s appetite stir at the mere whiff. This sensation is not just a simple craving; it is as if the hunger within one’s belly has been completely aroused, making even those who have just eaten feel inexplicably hungry, with a strong desire to taste the food that is releasing such a fragrance. However, this aroma has not spread widely; it has only wafted into the adjacent small room where Huwa and Panhu are present.
If Ruo Shui has already mastered the magical arts, quietly gathering her breath, she said to Ruo Shan: "I never expected it to actually succeed! It seems that even if it cannot truly enter the initial realm today, given time, it will surely be able to communicate with the spirit and cultivate."
The metal artifacts among the tribes in the deep mountains primarily have two sources: one is brought by merchants who trek long distances into the Qing Shui clan's fortress, and the other is refined from ores by highly skilled practitioners using their supernatural powers. In this region, very few individuals among the various tribes possess the ability to refine metals using magical powers; in the past, they would exchange a small amount for other goods in the Qing Shui clan's fortress.
If Shan scolded again, saying: "You tell me, how will you compensate? Do you want to help them repair it?"
If the mountain shakes its head and says: "You are still too young, you can't even walk the mountain path. Let's talk about it when you grow up."
Then Panhu began to jump around wildly, as light as a large squirrel, leaping high from one rooftop to another, circling around the open space in the center of the village. When it jumped onto the roof of Granny Water's house, it suddenly heard a soft shout from inside. The seemingly crazed dog slipped and with a "thud" fell down, finally lying motionless on the ground
If Ruo Shui stood still in front of the stone house, all that was left for Ruo Shan was her graceful silhouette. She replied softly, "I have not left, I am still within the clan"
This statement has actually exceeded what Panhu can comprehend, but Shan did not expect it to fully understand. The dog has no other thoughts; as long as it can sit still in this state, that is sufficient. As for whether it can enter that profound state and gain the experience of reaching the initial stage in cultivation, it all depends on chance, and no one can force it.
Pan Hu indeed understood that the Mountain Lord wanted it to sit still, and although it felt quite uncomfortable, it complied. At that moment, Granny Water walked over from the moonlight, extending her hand to point at Pan Hu from a distance. Only Pan Hu knew that it had not accidentally fallen from the roof during the day, but had been struck down by Granny Water's invisible force. At this moment, it once again felt that magical power.