Stone Village, Early Morning
At dawn, the simple folk of Stone Village stirred to life, their daily routine ingrained. Women busied themselves preparing meals, while strong, courageous men ventured out to hunt. In the courtyard, elders guided the children in cultivation, tempering their muscles and bones.
Few in the village wielded runes. Besides the old village chief, Shi Yunfeng, only Little Dot had grasped their use. Most villagers hadn't even touched the threshold of cultivation.
"Grandpa Village Chief, when can we be like Little Dot and wield the power of runes?" a few children asked, their eyes gleaming with envy.
"No rush. Once you reach the Blood Transformation Realm and refine the divine radiance within your body, it'll come naturally," Shi Yunfeng reassured, stroking his white beard.
Suddenly, Little Dot shouted, pointing to Lin Fan atop a nearby mountain peak. "Grandpa Village Chief, that big brother's amazing! He's swallowing and exhaling radiant mist, bathed in surging energy, with shadows of a true dragon and phoenix in the divine disc behind him!"
The villagers turned, gasping in awe. Lin Fan sat cross-legged, radiating a divine aura, as if he were a deity descended to earth, sacred and untouchable.
"Incredible! That young man must have reached the Spirit Transformation Realm!" Shi Yunfeng marveled. Though only at the Heavenly Passage Realm himself, he'd heard of the mysteries of the next stage.
The Spirit Transformation Realm was a holistic forging of body and spirit, a sublimation that recreated the true self. At its peak, one could nurture a spiritual body within their Heavenly Passages, with combat strength rivaling the physical form. Those who reached the extreme of this realm unlocked wondrous benefits, their runes gaining a life of their own, nourishing both flesh and soul.
What shocked Shi Yunfeng most was Lin Fan's age. Nine years old and already in the Spirit Transformation Realm? Even in my youth, I never heard of such a prodigy.
"No wonder these two dare to cross the Great Wilderness without adult escorts," he murmured.
Lin Fan opened his eyes, and the visions faded. "The higher the realm, the slower progress becomes," he muttered, noting how his cultivation had decelerated since entering the Spirit Transformation Realm.
Some realms required not just insight but time to refine. Haste was futile.
Of course, external aids—precious treasures, beast blood, unique environments, or elixirs—could speed things up, but that boiled down to resources.
Leaping down, Lin Fan landed gracefully in the village, greeting everyone warmly.
Unlike Yue Chan, who slept in, Lin Fan rose early to cultivate, no matter how grueling the previous day had been. The sky was still dim when he'd begun.
"Big Brother, you're so strong! Can you teach us to cultivate too?" A gaggle of children swarmed him, buzzing with excitement, their spirits high.
"Don't pester him! This young man has important things to do—how could he have time to teach you?" Shi Yunfeng scolded, worried they'd disrupt Lin Fan's plans or cultivation.
To everyone's surprise, Lin Fan agreed, ruffling a child's hair with a kind smile. "Sure, I'll be staying a few days. I can teach you."
"Yay, awesome!" The children cheered, leaping with joy. Even Little Dot's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.
Shi Yunfeng's teachings were limited, his own skills half-baked. Little Dot, especially, had mostly fumbled through cultivation on his own.
"Won't this interfere with your plans, young friend?" Shi Yunfeng asked, concern creasing his face.
"I should be the one apologizing for imposing," Lin Fan replied with a smile. He'd been searching for a reason to linger, and this was perfect.
But he kept his intentions subtle, wary of raising suspicions.
"Grandpa Village Chief, recently, tens of thousands of li of the wilderness turned to scorched earth, not a single creature left. Do you know what happened?" Lin Fan asked, feigning ignorance.
Shi Yunfeng sighed, recounting the tale. "Two months ago, a supreme treasure emerged in the wilderness, drawing four mighty beings into battle…"
"So that's what happened… Do you know where those four creatures went?" Lin Fan pressed.
Shi Yunfeng shook his head, offering a warning. "You're strong, young friend, but compared to those beings, you're still far behind. Best not to chase the Mountain Treasure."
Lin Fan nodded, stroking his chin thoughtfully. Suddenly, a crimson bolt streaked across the sky, dyeing the heavens red as it hurtled toward them.
Hearts raced, fearing a celestial disaster or falling meteor.
Even Yue Chan, startled awake, dashed out of the stone house, her voice sharp. "What's happening?"
But the crimson streak, as if alive, tempered its aura and flames as it neared Stone Village. It resolved into a small, fiery red bird, no bigger than a palm, its scarlet feathers gleaming like crystal. It crashed before the charred willow tree at the village's edge.
"Vermilion Bird!" Lin Fan and Yue Chan gasped, instantly recognizing the auspicious creature, a legendary being said to rival the Archaic Vicious Ten.
In ancient times, it had been renowned, its Vermilion Bird Ten Strikes technique a near-invincible art, comparable to the True Phoenix Technique.
They quickly realized this couldn't be a pure-blood Vermilion Bird—those had vanished in antiquity, their descendants bearing diluted bloodlines and diminished might.
"Yay, it's Little Red!" Little Dot squealed, rushing over, clearly familiar with the bird.
Approaching cautiously, he studied it. Though the bird had restrained its aura, its terrifying heat still scorched the ground beneath it.
The sparrow was in dire shape, a gaping wound piercing its chest and claw marks marring its head. Flickering runes sapped its vitality, its injuries severe.
"Little Red, you're hurt?" Little Dot asked softly, his curiosity childlike.
The Vermilion Bird shot him a withering glance, its eyes brimming with human-like resentment and indignation, its spirit vibrant.
Little Dot scratched his head, flustered under its stare. After a long pause, he managed, "Does it hurt, Little Red?"
"Pfft! I can't—Milk Hao's too funny!" Lin Fan and Yue Chan burst into laughter, doubling over.
The scarlet bird's eyes widened, glaring as if it could devour them. It was furious!
Chirp!
It spat a faint red ray that struck a boulder, instantly melting it into a wisp of smoke, the heat stinging their faces—a clear expression of its displeasure.
"Little Dot, be careful! Come back!" Shi Yunfeng called, fearing the fiery bird might harm him.
The villagers had witnessed this creature's power—it had once scorched half the sky, a sight too terrifying to forget.
"Grandpa Village Chief, it's fine. Little Red doesn't mean me harm—I can feel it," Little Dot said, blinking innocently, resuming his maddening chatter.
The Vermilion Bird's feathers bristled, its indignation palpable. It fixed Little Dot with a strange, relentless stare, then flapped its wings, struggling to stand.
"Let me help. It's likely here to seek healing from your sacrificial spirit, but I'm skilled at healing too," Lin Fan said, stepping forward with a smile. He formed a seal, and shimmering runes blazed, radiant and dazzling.
"Chirp?" The bird's eyes narrowed skeptically, as if saying, You, a kid, can heal me? I don't buy it.
But the moment it was bathed in the divine glow, its doubts vanished. The warmth was soothing, and its wounds began to mend.
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