Chapter 1, full of vitality

"Hoo... I'm tired," the little one sighed, plopping down on the ground, watching the older children exercise. However, it wasn't long before his attention was diverted. He stood up, swaying unsteadily, and dashed toward a nearby colorful bird that was hopping about. As a result, he stumbled and fell several times but did not cry. Instead, he got up in a huff, grumbling, and continued to chase after it.

Over the years, no one has ever been able to enter and exit alive. Various formidable species roam the mountains, and even if all the people from Shicun were to charge in together, not even a ripple would be stirred.

"Yiya, hu... I can't run anymore." He had been tirelessly chasing that multicolored bird, and was already out of breath; at this moment, he sat down on the ground.

Could it be that the mountain treasure has emerged?" An old man suddenly widened his eyes, his beard and hair standing on end, revealing a look of astonishment

Heng heng ha hei! The little one made sounds from his mouth, his tender little arms waving vigorously, imitating the actions of the older children. However, he was too young, his movements were awkward and unsteady, and he stumbled as he walked, swaying back and forth. Coupled with the white milk residue lingering at the corner of his mouth, it was quite amusing

Before long, the old man called out: "Little one, come over and eat."

Understood! A group of children responded energetically and loudly

Recently, something seems off; large creatures pass by in the dead of night, making an enormous racket. Something must be happening deep within these mountains

I believe that something extraordinary may have emerged from the depths of this vast wilderness, attracting the attention of some ancient species in the surrounding regions, which have all rushed over to investigate said the old chief, Shi Yunfeng, after pondering for a moment

A group of older children looked at him, all making faces, which eased the originally serious atmosphere of the morning exercise considerably

Recently, things have been somewhat unsettled. The old patriarch, Shi Yunfeng, frowned

Little Dot lost his parents at the age of six months and was raised on the milk of various beasts. Now, he is over one year old. If he were an ordinary child, he would have been weaned by now, yet he still enjoys his milk very much and refuses to stop, often being teased by older children.

This is a very small child, seemingly only one or two years old, who has just learned to walk a few months ago and is also exercising to build strength. Clearly, he has come over on his own, mingling among the older children, and he clearly should not be present in this group.

The little one is nursing! A group of older children is making a fuss.

I was awakened several times last night, feeling a chill in my bones. There must be some ancient ferocious beast or giant creature passing through here

After breakfast, several elderly villagers gathered in the courtyard of the clan leader, Shi Yunfeng. Although their hair and beards had turned completely white, they still exhibited considerable vitality and spirit

Alright, conclude the session

The little one is very fair-skinned, tender and beautiful, with large, sparkling eyes that move playfully. The entire person resembles a porcelain doll, very cute, with innocent movements, babbling in a sweet manner, exuding a charming clumsiness. This brings smiles to the elderly sitting on large stones in another area, who are engaged in deep contemplation.

The area surrounding the stone village is lush with vegetation and teeming with wild beasts, well-protected by the mountains. However, the villagers' food is relatively meager, consisting only of some coarse wheat cakes, wild fruits, and a small amount of meat for the children.

"Spirit of the ancestors, please bless our clan, allowing the children to hunt bountiful game and return safely. We shall, with sincere hearts, offer sacrifices and sustenance to you for generations to come"

As the sun rises, all things begin anew, and the vitality of life is at its peak. Although one cannot feast on the clouds and consume the essence as in legends, welcoming the dawn and refining the body still brings immense benefits, enriching the life force within. The plan for the day lies in the morning; rising early each day and putting in effort strengthens the muscles and bones, invigorates the blood, and refines the tendons, ensuring that one has the means to survive in these vast mountains in the future. A middle-aged man, standing in front and instructing a group of children, wore a serious expression as he earnestly advised them, then shouted, "Do you understand?" The plan for the day lies in the morning; rising early each day and putting in effort strengthens the muscles and bones, invigorates the blood, and refines the tendons, ensuring that one has the means to survive in these vast mountains in the future. A middle-aged man, standing in front and instructing a group of children, wore a serious expression as he earnestly advised them, then shouted, "Do you understand?"

A group of children, ranging from four or five years old to their teens, numbering in the dozens, are exercising vigorously in the open space in front of the village, facing the morning glow. Each youthful face is filled with seriousness; the older children exude energy, while the younger ones mimic their movements with impressive flair

"Elder, we have not ventured into the mountains for some time." At that moment, a robust adult man entered the courtyard; he was the leader of the hunting team and would also be the next chieftain of Stone Village

Finally, dozens of young men gathered at the village entrance, led by the clan leader Shi Yunfeng, and came to the lightning-struck tree beside hetushucom.com, where they earnestly prayed before the old willow tree

In the face of the teasing from the older children, the little one chuckled foolishly, his bright black eyes squinting into crescent shapes, completely unconcerned. He sat in front of the clay pot, using a wooden spoon to scoop up milk, enjoying it sweetly.

Several elderly individuals spoke in turn, some furrowing their brows while others pondered deeply, discussing recent ominous signs and expressing their belief that something unusual was occurring

A middle-aged man, robust as a tiger or leopard, clad in animal skin, with bronze-colored skin and flowing black hair, scans each child with his piercing gaze, earnestly instructing them.

In the mountains, numerous prehistoric creatures roam, occasionally casting their enormous wings across the sky, creating vast shadows on the ground. There are also wild beasts standing atop the peaks, howling as they swallow the moon, and one cannot overlook the various venomous insects lurking about, presenting an exceptionally terrifying sight

With a loud shout, all the children cheered, rubbed their sore hands and feet, and then scattered in a rush, dashing towards their respective homes to prepare for breakfast

I understand. A noticeably distracted little fellow called out in a childish voice, slightly lagging behind.

Food is extremely precious to them and cannot be wasted. Every child understands this from a young age; hunger, food, hunting, life, and blood are all interconnected

If given a choice, the villagers would prefer not to enter the mountains. This is because entering the mountains signifies the possibility of bloodshed and sacrifice

At the edge of the village stands a massive lightning-struck tree, with a diameter of over ten meters. At this moment, the only willow branch on the trunk has been obscured by the morning glow, losing its luster and becoming quite ordinary.

In the early morning, the rosy clouds are radiant, resembling scattered fragments of gold, bathing the people in a warm glow

"You bunch of little monkeys, weren't you all at this age once?" the old patriarch chided with a laugh

We certainly were not still breastfeeding at one and a half years old

The children need to grow, and they cannot be left hungry; we must think of some solutions, an elder spoke up

The elderly all laughed as they rose from the boulder. Meanwhile, the robust adults, strong as tigers, exchanged playful banter, scolding their children, and quickly made their way home, carrying clubs and broad swords.

It was those tall and robust adult men, bare-chested with glistening and bulging muscles, who turned to look, smiling. They were the strongest in the village, the most important force for hunting and protecting this settlement. They were also engaged in physical training, some wielding large white bone clubs made from the bones of unknown giant beasts, while others held broad swords forged from black metal, swinging them with force, the sound of the wind like thunder.

The living environment is extremely harsh, filled with ferocious beasts and venomous insects. In the struggle for food and survival, many young men perish prematurely in the wilderness before reaching adulthood. To survive, one must strengthen oneself. Every morning, regardless of whether they are adults, elderly, or children, this is a habit that everyone has cultivated since childhood

At the edge of the village stands the courtyard of the old clan leader, Shi Yunfeng, constructed from massive stones and adjacent to a charred and enormous willow tree. In the courtyard, before the stove, a white liquid is boiling in a ceramic pot, exuding a rich milky aroma as he is simmering beast's milk. Occasionally, he adds some herbs and other ingredients, stirring slowly with a wooden spoon.

"Focus!" shouted the middle-aged man responsible for supervising and guiding the children in their practice. A group of children quickly became serious and continued to train in the gentle and radiant morning glow

Shicun is not very large, with a total population of over 300 people, including men, women, and children. The houses are built from large stones, simple yet natural

These children are all lively and active, and even during mealtime, they are not very well-behaved. Many of them come out of their homes holding earthen bowls, gathering together.

Others also displayed unusual expressions, their eyes burning with fervor, but soon the flames in their gazes were extinguished. Such things were beyond their reach, located deep within the mountains, inaccessible to anyone.

In fact, the scarcity of food has always been a serious issue for Shicun. The mountains are extremely dangerous, and the ferocious beasts and terrifying birds are too powerful. Every hunting expedition carries the risk of losing lives.

Although the nights are restless, the days are quite normal. I will take some people out; as long as we are careful, there should be no problem said Shilin Hu

"However, there is really not much food left." Shilin Hudao, who was extremely tall, over two meters in height, carried a broad sword weighing more than three hundred pounds. He looked as robust as a human bear, with his bronze-colored muscles rippling like snakes.

Oh, there is actually earth dragon meat, give me a piece

Shicun, located in the Cangmang Mountain Range, is surrounded by towering peaks and deep ravines, with the vast mountains standing majestically.