Strength and Weakness

Little Dot controlled his strength and did not take Jiao Peng's life. Otherwise, the people of Luofu Great Marsh would never let it rest; they might even massacre Stone Village and bring about a great calamity. This was reality. To survive in the Great Wilderness, one had to resist all kinds of primordial savage beasts—and sometimes, one had no choice but to bow one's head. Otherwise, disaster might befall the entire clan.

For the first time, little Shi Hao longed for strength so desperately!

"Together!"

Lei Mingyuan shouted low and launched his attack. Zi Shan Kun also struck again, charging forward.

Little Dot tossed Jiao Peng away as though he were a broken jar, then unleashed his Treasure Art to meet the other two. For a moment, blazing light flared, lightning crackled, purple vapor surged, and fierce birds cried out. The battle was incomparably intense.

Lei Mingyuan spread all ten fingers. Amid the dazzling lightning, a fierce bird flew forth, carrying black thunderbolts as it attacked Little Dot.

Unfortunately, it had no effect. Shi Hao unleashed his Treasure Art, and the ancient fierce bird opened its terrifying giant maw, swallowing the thunder bird in a single bite and directly destroying it at its root.

Everyone was shocked. What a powerful Treasure Art!

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a cold gleam shot over like lightning, striking toward the back of Little Dot's head!

Jiao Peng was ruthless and decisive. Rising from the ground, he showed no gratitude for Shi Hao sparing him. He immediately unleashed his Treasure Art again, transforming the fierce flood dragon into a "fierce arrow," setting it upon a bowstring, and shooting it out in a sneak attack. The beam of light was astonishing, its edge icy and sharp.

Many people from Stone Village cried out, their faces turning pale at once.

"Ah!" The pair of little girls from Cloud Heaven Palace also gasped.

Little Dot sensed it and spun around sharply. Clear radiance flickered in his pure eyes. With a shake of his arm, symbols blazed, and a second full moon appeared. Holding one in each hand, he forcefully brought them together. With a rumbling hum, the two moons fused into a pure white millstone.

The fierce flood dragon arrow shot over. He gently turned the silver-white, gleaming millstone, and immediately, crack, crack sounds rang out. It actually ground that baleful symbolic arrow to dust, leaving not a trace behind.

Everyone revealed looks of shock. The old man from Cloud Heaven Palace sighed. "Truly remarkable. At such a young age, he has already begun pondering how to evolve his Treasure Art. Heaven-bestowed talent!"

This was not the first time he had praised him, and the experts found it difficult to refute.

In truth, whether it was the Thunder Clan, Purple Mountain's lineage, or Luofu Great Marsh, their clan-defending Treasure Arts were all extremely famous. It was only because the three children had failed to wield them properly that they had suffered such crushing defeats.

Jiao Peng's face turned pale. From the beginning until now, after fighting this child from the mountain village several times, he had always been suppressed and had never once gained the upper hand. The blow to him was enormous, shattering his confidence.

"If you still don't know when to advance and when to retreat, bear the consequences yourself!" Shi Hao had only this one sentence for him.

Upon hearing this, Jiao Peng's face whitened. Yet immediately afterward, a terrifying light flashed in his eyes, and his expression turned vicious as he charged forward once more.

The three geniuses battled Little Dot together. Thunder rumbled across the area, accompanied by qilin roars and the howls of fierce flood dragons, deafening everyone.

The ancient demonic bird cried out, beating its wings and blotting out the entire sky, casting vast shadows. A terrifying aura spread through the air, making everyone's hearts pound with dread and oppression.

It crushed the Fire Qilin, thunder bird, and fierce flood dragon beneath its might, mercilessly slaughtering them. Its savage power was unstoppable!

The ancient demonic bird's killing intent soared to the heavens. It tore the gray flood dragon, as thick as a water vat, into three pieces; swallowed the thunder bird in one bite; and smashed the Fire Qilin to pieces with its wings!

Boom!

Jiao Peng, Zi Shan Kun, and Lei Mingyuan were blasted flying. All three coughed up blood in great mouthfuls and rolled around like gourds, covered in dust.

The experts were astonished. These were three geniuses, some of the most gifted children within fifty thousand li. Yet after joining forces, they had been beaten flat by a child from a mountain village.

This... was truly shocking and unbelievable.

At this moment, Jiao Peng, Zi Shan Kun, and Lei Mingyuan were both humiliated and enraged. They had always worn the halo of geniuses, receiving praise wherever they went. Yet now they were grimy and disheveled, rolling about like gourds. Such humiliation, such an enormous fall, made them hate to the point of madness, and they could not help wanting to howl at the sky.

Little Dot rushed forward and kicked Jiao Peng, who had just tried to rise, sending him flying through the air. Like a ball, he slammed into a huge boulder nearby. Jiao Peng screamed. Never in his life had he been so miserable as he was today.

Zi Shan Kun and Lei Mingyuan tried to flee, but they failed as well. Little Dot chased after them and gave each of them two kicks, stomping them until blood poured from their noses and mouths. Their entire bodies were wracked with pain as they rolled all over the ground.

Finally, little Shi Hao charged past and hauled all of them up, lining them side by side. Then he grabbed a stone grinding wheel once more and smashed it down on them.

"Ah..."

Zi Shan Kun and Lei Mingyuan screamed as they were struck. Though their bodies were powerful, they could not withstand Little Dot's even greater strength. They collapsed on the spot, pain piercing their hearts.

"How dare you! If you attack me again, I'll massacre your Stone Village!" Jiao Peng shouted furiously when he saw Shi Hao carrying a stone grinding wheel weighing several hundred jin and coming for him as well.

Bang!

Little Dot did not even blink before slamming the stone grinding wheel onto his face.

"Argh..." The sound Jiao Peng made was barely human. His mouth was crooked, his eyes skewed, and the bridge of his nose was broken. This time, every tooth in his mouth had shattered and fallen out, all smashed loose by that stone grinding wheel.

Even he himself was not the only one who felt the pain—everyone watching winced. Jiao Cang, the middle-aged man from Luofu Great Marsh, had his facial muscles twitch. With a sudden stride, he stepped forward, killing intent soaring to the heavens!

"Brother Jiao Cang, what are you trying to do? Didn't we agree earlier that this was merely some children throwing tantrums, and that a little contest would be enough? There is no need for adults to interfere," said the old man from Cloud Heaven Palace.

"Exactly. It's only a contest between children. Why get angry over it?" The leader of the Golden Wolf Tribe also spoke, trying to dissuade him.

This surprised everyone. Many people present wanted the Suanni Treasure Bone and intended to harm Stone Village, racking their brains for excuses. The Golden Wolf Tribe had always been especially active—why had they suddenly changed their tune?

"Child, your talent is exceedingly rare and truly astonishing. But you have always lived in this Great Wilderness, where you will be buried and wasted. My Golden Wolf Tribe wishes to take you as a disciple. Would you be willing to join us? We would teach you the strongest Bone Script, as well as a supreme Treasure Art for you to comprehend."

Many people froze, then secretly cursed. What cunning scheming! Not only would they gain an exceptional genius, they would also peacefully take Stone Village's Suanni Treasure Bone into their own hands.

"Little Dot, come to our Cloud Heaven Palace. We'll take you to see the Sea of Snow and let you drink the richest, most fragrant beast milk." The two little girls spoke, blinking their eyes at little Shi Hao.

"I like drinking beast milk the most." Little Dot blinked his large eyes as he spoke.

The people of the Golden Wolf Tribe frowned. Was this little fellow doing it on purpose? He wanted to borrow their influence to refuse them. He looked innocent enough, but the choice he made was not bad at all.

"Child, choosing a master is very important. You must choose the right lineage. Our branch commands lightning and can transform into the Thunder God. Would you be willing to join us?" Even the old servant of the Thunder Clan spoke. Though their genius had been beaten flat, he still tried to persuade him.

Everyone showed strange expressions. Taking in a genius as a disciple would allow them to bring away the descendant of the ancient demonic bird and obtain the Suanni Treasure Bone as well. This bargain was simply too worthwhile. Thus, several more factions spoke up.

"Little brother, you must leave this Great Wilderness. You cannot stay cooped up in the mountains for your whole life. The world outside is wondrous, and my clan possesses a supreme Treasure Art that can let you soar to the heavens in a single leap."

"My clan possesses the Lihuo Treasure Art. With but a thought, it can melt mountains and rivers into a sea of flames, burning all enemies beneath heaven to ash. Child, join my clan. Perhaps in the future, you may inherit the legacy of the ancient god—the Fire God..."

Not everyone acted this way. Some sneered in secret. "Everyone, you are being far too affected. We all want the Suanni Treasure Bone. Even if we take this child away, we will most likely kill him in the end to cut off future troubles."

Little Dot had long since stopped fighting. The three children were each helped up by their clansmen and taken back. Their faces were bruised and swollen, stained with blood. They were both ashamed and furious, humiliated beyond measure.

Jiao Cang, the expert from Luofu Great Marsh, sneered and said, "Why be so hypocritical? We of Luofu Great Marsh simply want the Suanni Treasure Bone. This village definitely cannot keep it."

"Yes, indeed. The Suanni Bone is not something a single village can protect. Leaving it with them will only bring a calamity that wipes out their clan. We can discuss how to dispose of it."

"Correct, it should be so. And the three young strange birds are not something a village can possess either. They should be handed over as well."

Quite a few experts agreed. They completely ignored the people of Stone Village and had no intention of asking whether they agreed. Those present would decide how to dispose of everything, not the owners.

By the end, all the people of Stone Village were furious. This was too much. Did the weak truly have no standing at all? Without even a greeting, without even asking a single question—this was naked contempt.

"Uncles, elders, the Suanni Treasure Bone is ours. We paid for it with lives and blood. And Roc, Little Green, and Purple Cloud are my companions." Little Dot's eyes were clear, and his voice crisp as he spoke earnestly. The entire area instantly fell silent.

The three young birds nestled beside him, wisdom gleaming in their large eyes. They rubbed their heads against his arm, expressing their affection.

"If you do not wish for your clan to be wiped out, hand them over. Neither these three young birds nor the Suanni Treasure Bone are things you can possess," said an expert from a great tribe.

"Yours? Once Stone Village no longer exists, they will become ownerless!" Jiao Peng said viciously after recovering somewhat and wiping away the blood.

"You... you're bullying us too much!" Snot-nosed Kid spoke with a sobbing voice. He understood the situation before them. Stone Village could not stop these people.

A baleful aura appeared around Jiao Peng. Looking at the flying flood dragon over twenty meters long circling in the air, he said, "Uncle Jiao, go swallow those little wild brats, especially that runt with milk stains at the corner of his mouth. Break his bones, leave him one breath, and bring him to me!"

Roar...

A deep roar sounded. The flying flood dragon lowered its enormous head from the sky and stared at the children by the village entrance. Its gaze was chilling, killing intent filling the air.

"You're bullying us too much!" Shi Big Strong trembled with rage.

"So what if we bully you? If you dare resist, we'll immediately massacre your village." Jiao Peng leapt up onto the flying flood dragon's back and looked down coldly, his gaze fixed on Little Dot.

Jiao Cang, the middle-aged expert from Luofu Great Marsh, did not stop him. His expression was indifferent as he said, "Hand over the Suanni Treasure Bone and offer up the three young birds. Otherwise, this village may be erased from existence."

This was a mountain village, and its people were simple and honest. Yet they did not lack courage and fierce spirit. Shi Linhu and the others roared, "Rather shatter jade than remain whole tile! If you truly force us, then we will fight to the end, until every last drop of our blood has run dry!"

They knew that even if they handed over the Suanni Treasure Bone, these experts would most likely silence them anyway. After all, this was a disgraceful affair, and no one wanted word of it to spread.

"Do you truly want your village to be massacred?" Jiao Cang of Luofu Great Marsh asked coldly.

"Uncle Jiao, act at once! Tear them apart for me!" Jiao Peng sat above, pointing toward Little Dot.

"Willow God, I know you can hear me. I also believe you can protect the village. Please guard this place." Little Dot's large eyes were pure as he softly spoke to the charred Willow Tree.

"You really want to pretend to be a god? Uncle Jiao, massacre this place for me! And break off the tender branches of Stone Village's sacrificial spirit for me as well!" Jiao Peng shouted loudly and without restraint.

Jiao Cang of Luofu Great Marsh said nothing. He watched all this with icy eyes, allowing matters to unfold.

Roar...

The flying flood dragon moved. Its enormous body dove down, whipping up a gale as it charged at the people of Stone Village.

"Grandpa, stop them quickly!" The two identical little girls cried out anxiously, asking their grandfather to help Stone Village.

"Don't panic!" the elder from Cloud Heaven Palace said in a low voice. At this moment, his heart trembled, and all the hairs on his body stood on end.

Swoosh!

Suddenly, a dazzling radiance shot upward. A jade-green willow branch, as if carved from divine jade, gleamed crystal-clear from end to end and gave off brilliant rosy light as it pierced the sky.

The flying flood dragon, which had opened its bloody maw and swooped down to massacre Stone Village, suddenly widened its eyes to the limit. Terror seized it, and it let out a fearful roar.

"Argh..."

Yet the sound abruptly cut off. A jade-green willow twig, like a divine chain of order, blazed with green radiance and pierced through its body with a pfft.