The next morning.
The morning sun was brilliant, and the Celestial Light scattered like broken gold, bathing people in warmth.
Shi Yunfeng woke up early, holding a ceramic jar, and knocked on the door of a household.
"Chief, you haven't started sleepwalking again, have you?"
A Young Man, robust in build, opened the door and looked at his village chief with a strange expression. His aged face was flushed, and he wore a smile, as if he had encountered something wonderful.
"Do I look like I'm sleepwalking?" Shi Yunfeng asked back.
The Young Man looked serious, "You do! Very much so!"
Bang!
A crisp crack echoed as a ceramic jar smacked against his head. Faced with the village chief's sternness, this seven-foot-tall Young Man, capable of lifting a cauldron and unafraid of ferocious beasts, now cowered like a frightened cub. His pitiful gaze almost made Shi Yunfeng laugh.
"Get me a jar of Beast Milk," Shi Yunfeng said, glaring at him and handing over the ceramic jar.
The Young Man flinched, shrinking back and scurrying into the house.
Ten years ago, after returning to the clan, Shi Yunfeng had been studying the bone inscriptions he had brought back from the edge of a cave dwelling. He and a dozen of his fellow villagers had paid a heavy price to obtain them.
Normally, he frequently conducted special training for the young people in the clan, and the results were quite remarkable. This also instilled a sense of respect for him in their hearts.
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After a moment, the Young Man emerged from the house, carrying the ceramic jar. He approached Shi Yunfeng and, after handing over the jar filled with Beast Milk, gave him a worried look.
"What's wrong?" Shi Yunfeng asked with a chuckle, feeling quite pleased after receiving the Beast Milk. He observed the Young Man, who seemed hesitant to speak.
"The Beast Milk is for the children… but you're not a child anymore…" The Young Man hesitated before reminding him.
Shi Yunfeng, though old, wasn't lacking in understanding. He raised his foot and kicked out, "You're going too far, do you think I wouldn't know!"
The Young Man reacted quickly, immediately running into the house, dodging his clan leader's attack. In truth, he could sense that the clan leader was in a good mood today, otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to joke like that.
It wasn't until Shi Yunfeng was out of sight that the Young Man peeked out of the house. Gazing at the retreating back of the clan leader, he fell into thought, but no matter how he thought about it, he couldn't figure out what the old clan leader wanted Beast Milk for.
Shi Yunfeng didn't care what the Young Man thought. His mood was undoubtedly very good at the moment, even his usually heavy old body felt lighter.
He returned home, and upon taking a look, he was startled. Xiao Shi had already climbed out of bed and was raising his pink little face, gazing at the sky outside the roof, his big, twinkling eyes filled with curiosity.
"Xiao Shi, it's time to eat!"
Shi Yunfeng, smiling, sat down beside the bed and placed the Beast Milk in front of the little one. He guessed that although the little one was born extraordinary, he should still need to eat.
The little one, seeing this, shifted his gaze to the Beast Milk in front of him, sniffed it, pursed his lips, and turned his head away, leaving Shi Yunfeng with a cute little back of his head.
That look seemed to say, this young master is born extraordinary, how could I eat something like Beast Milk?
"This is Lightning Leopard's milk, not just anyone can drink it. Come on, try it and you'll see the benefits!" Shi Yunfeng dipped his finger into the edge of the ceramic jar and gently placed it near the little one's mouth. Who knew the little one would simply ignore him after sniffing it, making the old man feel helpless.
This little one was too extraordinary. Not to mention the many strange phenomena at birth, it even possessed high intelligence from birth. He felt this little one certainly had the IQ of a five-year-old.
"You're still young, how can you not eat…"
"Eh!"
Shi Yunfeng looked shocked. The little one was entirely white and tender, and its entire body seemed to have a crystal-clear luster. Upon closer inspection, he found that every pore of the little one seemed to be actively absorbing the Celestial Light falling from the sky, as if breathing.
"Feeding on the essence of heaven and earth?" Shi Yunfeng was deeply shocked. Although he had walked out of the wilderness and had heard of many talented infants within large tribes, he had never heard of anything so magical.
The little one was very quiet, not crying or making a fuss, unaware of the changes happening to its body, which was entirely running on its own.
After observing for a while, Shi Yunfeng held Xiao Shi in his arms and examined him carefully. He found nothing abnormal; the little one was just like any other child.
If there was anything strange, it was a very faint Three-Colored Lotus Mark on Xiao Shi's brow, almost the same color as his skin. If he hadn't looked closely, he might not have noticed it.
"Xiao Shi, come on, Grandpa will dress you. We'll go play in the village later." Shi Yunfeng picked up the clothes he had placed by the bed and began to dress Xiao Shi without hesitation.
He had prepared these clothes a long time ago, but he hadn't expected Xiao Shi to be born so late.
After dressing him, Shi Yunfeng kissed Xiao Shi's fair little cheek, which made the little one very unhappy. He reached out and rubbed the spot where he was kissed, whether he was disgusted by the saliva or the beard, he didn't know.
"Yo ho ho, you know how to be disgusted!" Shi Yunfeng laughed. From last night until now, besides curiosity, Xiao Shi hadn't shown any other expression. He hadn't expected such an amusing scene.
Xiao Shi was very peculiar. He looked to be about a year old, and his body was also very sturdy. He could walk and run, which made him stand out.
After some thought, Shi Yunfeng carried Xiao Shi and left the stone house, heading towards the Sacrificial Altar nearby. Xiao Shi was born last night, and he was now a member of Stone Village. He needed to be taken there to pray for the Sacrificial Spirit's protection.
The Sacrificial Altar was built of massive stones, quite open, and constructed right next to the broken Willow Tree. Currently, there was nothing on it. Originally, Shi Yunfeng had intended to prepare a beast sacrifice, but he couldn't bear for the little one to witness such a bloody scene, so he didn't.
In his youth, he had witnessed everything when the Willow Tree descended. Every time he thought about it, he trembled. The old Willow Tree hadn't been moved from other large tribes or mountains and great marshes; instead, it had fallen from the sky, suffering damage from endless thunder and lightning. Few people in the village knew this.
But he knew of its extraordinary nature; sometimes, sincerity was enough.
In front of the giant stone altar, Shi Yunfeng knelt on the ground, his expression serious, muttering prayers earnestly.
Beside him, Xiao Shi blinked its big eyes, gazing at a green branch swaying in the wind on the giant, dark Willow Tree stump, revealing a look of curiosity.
(End of Chapter)