Stone Village

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Stone Village (石村)
Type	Human village / ancestral settlement
Location	Originally within the Vast Mountain Range; later relocated beside a lake and river by the Willow Deity 1 18
Population	Slightly over 300 residents of all ages 2
Leadership	Chief: Shi Yunfeng; hunting-party leader and future chief: Shi Linhu 2
Sacrificial Spirit	The Willow Deity, a charred yet living willow tree 1 3
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Background / History

Stone Village began as a small settlement of massive stone houses in the Vast Mountain Range, surrounded by towering peaks, ravines, and the dangers of the Great Wilderness. Its residents lived under the protection of a charred willow tree whose remaining jade-like branch emitted a soft radiance over the village at night. 1

Before the Willow Deity arrived, the village worshipped a strange stone as its Sacrificial Spirit. During a catastrophic storm, a colossal willow tree descended amid lightning and fought an unknown enemy with countless branches like divine chains. It fell into Stone Village as a charred trunk, causing the former stone spirit to depart. The tree remained lifeless for decades before growing a single green branch ten years before the story begins. 3

The settlement initially endured constant shortages and danger. Its hunters entered the mountains for food despite the risk of death from fierce beasts, while the elders preserved Bone Text knowledge and used beast materials to strengthen the children. 2 4

When four supreme creatures fought over a holy object in the Vast Mountain Range, the Willow Deity enveloped Stone Village in green light and removed it from danger. The village spent two months in a pocket dimension before reappearing in a new region near a lake rich in spiritual creatures. 18

Settlement and Community

Layout and Population

Stone Village is built entirely from large boulders. It has an open training ground, a sacrificial altar beside the Willow Deity, and a communal ancestral cauldron used for refining medicine. 1 3 26

• The village holds slightly over 300 people. 2
• Stone houses are described as simple, natural, and clustered beneath the Willow Deity's protection. 1 2
• A stone altar receives beast offerings after successful hunts. 3
• After its relocation, the village gains access to a clear lake containing Dragon-Whisker Fish, whose essence blood improves physical strength. 26

Leadership and Defense

Shi Yunfeng serves as chief, educator, and keeper of the village's Bone Text knowledge. Shi Linhu leads the hunting party and is regarded as the future chief. 2

The village's adult defenders train with enormous bows, black-metal broadswords, bone clubs, and iron-tipped arrows. Hunting parties are essential for food and protection. 1 2 8

• Shi Yunfeng — Chief who directs sacrifices, teaches Bone Text, and guides the village through crises. 2 3
• Shi Linhu — Hunting-party leader, village defender, and Shi Lin's father. 2 10
• Shi Feijiao — Senior warrior who helps wield the village's Ancestral Artifacts. 8
• Willow Deity — Sacrificial Spirit and the village's greatest protector. 3 18

Sacrificial Spirit

The Willow Deity is the spiritual center and principal guardian of Stone Village. In its weakened state, it appears as a massive, blackened trunk with only one living branch; nevertheless, its presence shields the settlement from many threats. 1 17

The villagers perform sacrifices after hunts, offering beast carcasses at the altar and praying for protection. Although the Willow Deity does not consume the offerings, the villagers maintain the custom out of reverence. 3

• It protected Stone Village during the battle over the Mountain Treasure, allowing the villagers to remain calmer than outsiders facing the catastrophe. 17
• It transported the entire village away from the Vast Mountain Range when the supreme creatures' battle threatened to annihilate the area. 18
• It healed the injured Vermilion Bird, which later left a red feather as a protective token for the village. 19
• It resumed enveloping Stone Village in protective light after awakening from a prolonged slumber. 21 42
• It guides Shi Hao's cultivation and enables access to the Void God Realm. 21 25 42

Resources and Training

Stone Village relies on hunting, beast materials, medicinal recipes, and physical training to survive in the Great Wilderness.

Hunting and Food

Food scarcity is a persistent problem in the village's early years. Ordinary meals consist largely of coarse wheat cakes, wild fruit, and limited meat, making successful hunts vital to the community. 2

The villagers make extensive use of their prey:

• Beast meat is shared in communal feasts. 3
• Blood essence, tendons, bones, horns, and other parts are retained for medicine and cultivation. 3 4
• Precious beast meat, including that of a hostile Pangolin Sacrificial Spirit, can greatly improve the villagers' constitutions when consumed carefully. 41 42
• Dragon-Whisker Fish from the new lake provide valuable essence blood for the children. 26

Medicinal Baths

The elders refine true blood, beast bones, tendons, and herbs into medicinal baths for the village children. The baths are painful but strengthen their bodies and help them endure the dangers of the wilderness. 3 4

Children are also tested after treatment by lifting millstones and bronze cauldrons. Shi Lin demonstrates the effectiveness of this regimen by lifting a thousand-jin boulder. 4

Bone Text Education

Shi Yunfeng teaches the children Bone Text, having returned years earlier from a dangerous journey that cost the lives of nearly all his companions. He considers the village's inherited knowledge only an entry point compared with legendary Heavenly Bone Text. 2 6

The children train their blood energy and Bone Text diligently, with Shi Hao and Shi Lin becoming the settlement's most exceptional young combatants. 5 20

Ancestral Artifacts and Treasures

• Two Ancestral Artifacts — Ancient relics shed by terrifying Primordial Remnants and refined over time; they can intimidate powerful beasts. 8 9
• Ancient beast skin — One Ancestral Artifact, fused with Shi Feijiao's chest; it manifests a powerful primitive rune and the image of a ferocious beast. 8
• Ancestral Black Cauldron — A priceless cauldron that refines extraordinary medicine and can produce a “Medicine Root.” 26
• Suanni Treasure Bone — Recovered after the struggle over the Suanni's remains; Shi Yunfeng uses it to teach Shi Hao and Shi Lin about cultivation and primordial runes. 14
• Vermilion Bird feather — A red feather left behind as a token of protection after the Willow Deity healed the injured Vermilion Bird. 19
• Black gold — Rare metal recovered from defeated bandits; it can forge weapons and suppress magic arrays. 42

Major Events

Green-Scaled Eagle Incident

A group of village children, led by Shi Lin and including Shi Hao, stole three Green-Scaled Eagle eggs in hopes of raising a powerful war bird for Stone Village. The enraged eagle pursued them to the village, forcing the adults to invoke the Ancestral Artifacts. 6 7 8

Rather than continue the conflict, the villagers attempted to return the eggs. The Willow Deity then touched one egg, and the Green-Scaled Eagle ultimately entrusted all three fledglings to the village's care. 8 9

Conflict with Bei Village

Bei Village injured Stone Village hunter Shi Shoushan and attempted to seize prey from Stone Village territory. Shi Linhu and the hunters confronted them, while Shi Hao and Shi Lin intervened to protect their people. 10

The conflict escalated after Stone Village recovered the Suanni's body and other treasures. Bei Village attacked again with its Sacrificial Spirit, the Ferocious Bei, but Shi Lin killed it. Stone Village then eliminated the remaining Bei Village forces, ending the threat. 12 13

Relocation from the Vast Mountain Range

The battle between four supreme creatures over a snow-white holy object devastated the Vast Mountain Range. The Willow Deity transported Stone Village away moments before its former location was destroyed. 18

After two months in a pocket dimension, the village emerged in a new lake region filled with spiritual wildlife and rare resources. 18 26

Bandit Assault

Bandits accompanied by a malicious Pangolin Sacrificial Spirit approached Stone Village while the Willow Deity was asleep. The villagers prepared to defend themselves, but Shi Lin returned and fought the invaders. 38 39

Shi Lin defeated the Pangolin Sacrificial Spirit and brought its body back to the village. The villagers celebrated, though the creature destroyed its own Treasure Bone and scales before death. 41 42

Departure of Shi Hao, Shi Lin, and Qingfeng

After experiencing the Void God Realm and learning of the wider world, Shi Hao chose to leave Stone Village with Shi Lin and Qingfeng. The villagers supported the decision but grieved at their departure, recognizing that the village could no longer contain Shi Hao's potential. 49 50

Trivia

• Stone Village's residents believe their ancestors once produced ancient gods capable of battling true ancient fierce beasts. 20
• The village's elders claim that a glorious ancient kingdom originated from Stone Village. 26
• The children initially suffer from eating too much Pangolin Sacrificial Spirit meat, becoming overheated and jumping into the lake to cool themselves. 42
• The village gradually gains the trust of a herd of Unicorns, which begin allowing the children to ride them. 37