All of Stone Village burst into life, with children racing wildly around the square.
The crops nearby had all ripened long ago. The vines were laden with all kinds of fruit and vegetables: cucumbers, eggplants, tomatoes, peppers, and watermelons.
Not far away, two Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceroses, one large and one small, were munching on ripe corn.
Row upon row of corn stood upright like mighty warriors, each bearing a "great big club!"
Shi Teng nodded in satisfaction. "We can use this corn to make some corn wine. We might even be able to trade it for other treasures!"
The old chief said meaningfully, "That truly was a divine rain. Every crop has ripened!"
Shi Teng picked a cucumber and tossed it to Little One, then picked another for himself and began crunching on it.
This was truly fresh, pollution-free produce, and it even carried a faint trace of spiritual energy.
Then he picked several tomatoes the size of fists, a faint smile touching his lips. "Tonight, I'll make everyone smashed cucumber salad and dragon eggs scrambled with tomatoes!"
Shi Teng stayed in Stone Village for more than ten days. During the day, he took the children out to raid birds' nests and catch ferocious beasts. They had the time of their lives while stockpiling plenty of food.
At night, he cultivated diligently beneath the Willow Deity.
With occasional guidance from the Willow Deity, his cultivation advanced swiftly. He could faintly sense that his second heavenly grotto was about to burst forth from his body.
Several days later,
The sky had only just turned the pale white of a fish's belly when everyone in Stone Village gathered in the square. Ox, sheep, and pig heads were laid out as offerings at the front.
Shi Hao stood alone at the very front, several strange runes painted on his face.
The old chief murmured incantations Shi Teng could not make out, waving his staff as he prayed to the heavens.
Then he raised his voice. "Shi Hao, today is your fifth birthday. I will help you awaken.
"From now on, you will no longer be a child. Like everyone else, you must complete your assigned tasks each day to earn your food!"
"Okay!"
Shi Hao answered in his childish voice.
The old chief walked over to the large cauldron, which was still steaming, took a black bottle from his robes, and poured a murky liquid into it.
A bloody stench immediately spread across the square.
"This is the ferocious beast blood essence I refined using the Stone Village Secret Art. It will help you awaken more effectively!"
Shi Hao scratched the back of his head and asked in confusion, "Grandpa Chief, what does awakening mean?"
"Every boy of Stone Village must undergo awakening at the age of five. It opens your meridians and tempers all your muscles and bones. Some even have a chance to awaken special abilities!"
"Oh!"
Shi Hao gave a soft reply.
They watched the sun slowly rise over the horizon, casting ten thousand rays of light.
The old chief said, "Shi Hao, hurry, get into the cauldron! This is the best moment to awaken, when yang energy first rises and mighty light shines in all directions!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Shi Hao leaped into the large cauldron.
The scalding medicinal liquid nearly peeled his skin away. His entire body turned so red it seemed about to drip blood.
But Shi Hao still gritted his teeth and endured.
Strange runes floated within the cauldron, radiating shafts of golden light before all merging into Shi Hao's body.
A roar escaped Shi Hao's lips as strength flooded his entire body.
With every breath, countless streams of pure spiritual energy converged on him.
Ding! Congratulations on checking in at the square, host. Obtained ancient desolate sacred body ×1. [Ancient desolate sacred body: the strongest human combat physique, unparalleled throughout the ages and invincible in the world. Easy to cultivate; once fully developed, it can challenge a Supreme.]
Excitement appeared on Shi Teng's face. This ancient desolate sacred body could not have come at a better time!
"Little One, your Supreme Bone was stolen when you were young, and it still hasn't grown back. As your big brother, I'll give you a chance at fortune!"
"System, grant Shi Hao the ancient desolate divine body!"
Boom!
A deafening rumble resounded through heaven and earth, as though the very skies had shattered. The sun that had just risen miraculously vanished.
Dark clouds blanketed the sky. Winds raced, lightning flashed, and thunder rolled!
Shock appeared on everyone's faces.
The old chief's eyes widened. Gripping his staff tightly in his right hand, he murmured, "Heaven blesses our Stone Village. Heaven blesses our Stone Village!"
Even the Willow Deity was startled awake from slumber.
Who could have imagined that this boy's simple awakening would summon such a phenomenon in heaven and earth?
A faint smile touched Shi Teng's lips. "Little One, this is all your big brother can do. You'll have to find your own way along the path to becoming the Desolate Heaven Emperor!"
A massive vortex formed high in the heavens. Thunder rolled within it as it swept toward Shi Hao.
Rumble!
Amid the thunderous roar, the entire cauldron shattered, and its medicinal liquid evaporated in an instant.
The tremendous force sent the nearby villagers flying.
Lightning wrapped around Shi Hao's body as he hovered in midair.
"Lightning Body Tempering!"
Shock appeared on the Willow Deity's face once more. "A heavenly phenomenon, thunder shaking all eight directions... could this be the ancient desolate sacred body that appears only once every hundred thousand years?
"When humanity had no great emperor, the nine sacred bodies battled the heavens!
"First came Shi Teng's primordial azure dragon body!
"And now, the ancient desolate sacred body!
"Such a tiny Stone Village, yet it holds so many opportunities.
"The future of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths is destined to be extraordinary!"
After a long while,
The lightning merged into Shi Hao's body, and he slowly opened his eyes.
His face filled with confusion. "Huh? What just happened? Why do I feel like I heard thunder?"
Once again, the old chief exclaimed excitedly, "Heaven blesses our Stone Village!"
Shi Teng walked over and gently patted Shi Hao's shoulder. "Little One, this is all your big brother can help you with. Your future path is up to you!"
Shi Hao nodded in confusion. "Oh. Big brother, where is that future path?"
"...The path lies beneath your feet, and far in the distance!"
Shi Hao was even more lost in the fog, but he still felt that his big brother's words made perfect sense.
The old chief approached with his staff in hand and asked excitedly, "Little One, do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"
Shi Hao shook his head slightly.
"Then have you awakened some special physique?"
A special physique?
Shi Hao shook his head again, utterly bewildered!
Shi Teng hurriedly spoke up. "Grandpa Chief, the Great Wilderness is boundless. There are countless special physiques we've never seen before, so how could we recognize them? Their special powers may only reveal themselves in future battles!"
The old chief nodded.
"Little Teng has a point. Our knowledge is far too limited!"
As the two spoke, Shi Hao took out the Green-Scaled Eagle Precious Art that Shi Teng had given him earlier from inside his clothing, then immediately sat cross-legged on the ground to absorb it.
An azure glow appeared around Shi Hao's body.
Streaks of purple lightning danced within the light.
Still somewhat puzzled, everyone wanted to step forward for a closer look.
A bird's cry pierced the sky. An enormous phantom Green-Scaled Eagle appeared around Shi Hao, and with a beat of its two wings, he took flight.
Excitement filled his face. "Hehe, I can fly! I can fly!"
Bang!
He had barely finished speaking when his entire body slammed into a nearby stone wall with a tremendous crash.
The other villagers still had no understanding of precious arts.
But the Willow Deity in the distance was utterly stunned. The ancient desolate sacred body appeared only once every hundred thousand years. It was said to yield a hundredfold result for half the effort in cultivation, advancing a thousand miles in a day. It truly was miraculous!
In just a few breaths, he had learned the Green-Scaled Eagle Precious Art.
Although it was only a simple precious art, that was already astonishing enough!
Before you continue