Shi Hou and Shi Hao stood shoulder to shoulder beside the churning Black Pot, three pairs of eyes-two large and one small-nailed to the heavens.
Blood clouds roiled overhead, black mist and crimson flames tearing the night sky in two.
The earth trembled.
Shi Linhu had only just caught his breath when he looked up and saw the two figures, one large and one small. Every hair on his back stood on end.
He knew those looks all too well. Every time they hunted in the mountains and spotted the fattest prey, Skinny Monkey and Little One wore those exact expressions. Their eyes glowed green, and clear liquid hung from the corners of their mouths.
"Chief, something's wrong with these two little bastards." Shi Linhu tightened his one-handed grip on the Black Iron Great Axe, his teeth chattering.
Veins bulged on Shi Yunfeng's hand as he gripped his cane. His shriveled Adam's apple bobbed violently. He wanted to speak, but a wad of old cotton seemed to clog his throat.
These two living terrors-that was the Heaven-Swallowing Sparrow! A Supreme Being whose single plucked feather could crush a whole swath of primordial remnants to death.
Before the adults could stop them, the two boys moved.
Shi Hao drove his short legs against the ground, grabbed Kang from the edge of the Black Pot, and tucked the pig under his arm. His plump hands rapidly formed seals. The essence of the snake soup he had just digested erupted like a volcano, and a dazzling golden phantom of Suanni instantly rose from his small back.
Violent arcs of lightning exploded at the village entrance.
Kang's beady eyes filled with bloodshot veins.
"Oink!" A shrill squeal rang across the square.
Shi Feijiao closed his eyes in despair and crossed his arms over his