Great Wilderness

Night had fallen deep, blackness swallowing all sight. Yet the mountains were far from peaceful. Ferocious beasts roared, shaking the rivers and hills; countless trees trembled, and leaves fluttered down in a chaotic rain.

Among the endless mountains and ravines, primordial beasts ran rampant and ancient surviving species appeared and vanished. All manner of terrifying cries rose and fell in the darkness, seeming ready to tear heaven and earth apart.

Deep in the mountain range, a soft glow flickered in the distance. Beneath the endless black canopy of night and amid the myriad peaks, it was like a single wavering candle flame, liable to be snuffed out at any moment.

As one drew nearer, one could see half of a gigantic dead tree. Its trunk was more than ten meters across and charred black from end to end. Apart from half its main trunk, only one frail branch remained, yet it radiated vitality. Its leaves were crystalline, as though carved from green jade, and soft motes of light spread outward, shrouding a village.

More precisely, it was a lightning-struck tree. Many years ago, it had been struck by a bolt of lightning that pierced the sky, destroying Old Willow Tree's enormous crown and vigorous life force. Now, only an eight- or nine-meter-high stump remained above ground, astonishingly thick. Yet that single willow branch was like a divine chain of green dawn clouds, its halo spreading out to envelop and protect the entire village. It cast a hazy veil over this dwelling place, making it seem like an immortal realm. In this Great Wilderness, it appeared exceedingly mysterious.

Every household in the village was a stone house. Deep in the stillness of night, this place was peaceful and tranquil, as though cut off from the darkness and beastly roars beyond.

"Wooo..."

A wild gust swept through, and a vast black cloud crossed the sky, blotting out the entire night and obscuring the only glimmer of starlight. The mountains became even darker.

A fierce bird cry descended from the high heavens, piercing gold and splitting stone. It came from that black cloud. Looking closely, it proved to be an unimaginably enormous bird, covering the sky and eclipsing the moon, its length unknown even in li.

As it passed Stone Village, it looked down. Its two eyes were like twin blood moons, its savage aura surging to the heavens. It stared at the old Willow Tree for a moment before finally flying toward the deepest reaches of the mountains.

Peace lasted for a long while. Then, in the latter half of the night, the earth began to tremble. A vague figure came walking from afar, as tall as the surrounding mountains!

An indescribable aura spread forth. The mountains and ravines fell into deathly silence, and all fierce birds and savage beasts lay low, not daring to make the slightest sound.

It drew near. This was a humanoid creature, walking upright, colossal beyond belief, its height rivaling mountain peaks. Its body was hairless, entirely covered in gleaming golden scales. Its face was flat, with only a single vertical eye. Whenever it opened and closed, it was like a streak of golden lightning flashing past—sharp and terrifying. Its blood energy was as vast as an ocean, like a God or Devil!

It passed through this place and glanced at the old Willow Tree. After pausing briefly, it seemed eager to continue on its way and swiftly departed. Its footsteps made many mountain peaks rumble, and the land shook violently.

At dawn, a centipede ten meters long and as thick as a water barrel wound through the mountains. It gleamed with silver light as though cast from molten silver, each segment bright and hideously ferocious. When it scraped across mountain rocks, sparks flew amid clangs of metal. Yet in the end, it skirted Stone Village without invading. Black mist churned in its wake, and all beasts fled before it.

A frail willow branch radiating a lustrous green glow swayed gently in the wind...