The Bloodstone Tribe

"The heavens crumble, the earth shatters, Yet man endures, clinging to life. To life or death, never betray kin, When the soul departs, it finds its way home..."

A distant call echoed in the void.

As the first ray of sunlight pierced through his eyelids, Xiao Yi froze. His gaze swept across his surroundings—gray stone walls, a gray stone table, a greenish stone jar, and dried, unidentifiable meat hanging from the wall. Beneath him was a stone bed covered with a tattered fur pelt, emanating a strong animal musk. Yet, it was warm. He looked up at the small stone window nearby, where golden sunlight streamed in, dazzling his eyes.

At that moment, memories surged back into his mind.

He was not dead.

This was not the underworld.

A hint of surprise flickered in Xiao Yi's eyes, for there was no such radiant sunlight in the land of the dead. Perhaps, having danced on the edge of life and death, his momentary bewilderment was only natural. But he quickly steadied himself—since he was alive, he would continue living.

However, when he tried to sit up, an unbearable pain erupted through his entire body, as if a million tiny needles were piercing every inch of his flesh, bones, and marrow. It was an excruciating agony, like being devoured by an army of ants from the inside out. Through the pain, he could vaguely see faint golden streams of energy flowing beneath his skin.

Sweat dripped in large beads from his forehead. He forced himself to sit up, but the effort drained every ounce of his strength, leaving him incapable of making another move.

The stone door creaked open, and a hunched old man walked in. Despite his bent posture, he was still remarkably tall—nearly seven feet. He wore a gray fur vest over his broad shoulders and tattered straw sandals on his feet. In one hand, he clutched a dead rabbit, while a black stone bow and a quiver filled with seven or eight dark-feathered arrows were slung across his back.

What immense strength!

Even in his weakened state, Xiao Yi could vaguely estimate the weight of the stone door—no less than a hundred pounds. Yet, this elderly man had pushed it open effortlessly. Was this the true nature of the ancient people?

Xiao Yi was certain that this man was no extraordinary figure. His features bore a striking resemblance to the mountain dwellers of remote regions in later eras—honest and unpretentious.

On that deeply lined face, Xiao Yi saw tranquility, the marks of time, and perhaps a once-glorious past now long buried. A wave of exhaustion overwhelmed him, and the world before him blurred once more.

...

The Bloodstone Tribe

A small human settlement in the western reaches of the Northern Wilderness, surrounded by rocky fortifications. The deep green-black stone walls glistened like metal under the setting sun.

The Bloodstone Tribe was not large, spanning only a dozen miles. Yet, outside its walls, warriors gathered in formation, their metallic weapons clashing in the crisp air. Two thousand strong, they roared in unison, wielding spears, iron-tipped pikes, and war blades. Their synchronized footsteps echoed like the growl of a great beast, shaking the sky itself.

Behind the tribe, atop a low mountain no more than a few dozen feet high, a slender figure sat at the cliff's edge. His long black hair cascaded past his shoulders, and the black fur vest he wore fluttered in the wind.

Xiao Yi gazed upon the scene before him.

So this was what the ancients meant by wrapping one's body in horsehide and charging into battle.

A wry smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He had no idea what kind of world he had stumbled into, but after half a month of observation, he had gathered some clues. This was the Bloodstone Tribe, one of the smallest and weakest settlements in the Northern Wilderness. It was classified as a lower-tier Blood Tribe, possessing only two legions of a thousand warriors each. Beyond this level, there were mid-tier Blood Tribes, high-tier Blood Tribes, followed by the Military Tribes, General Tribes, Master Tribes, and ultimately, the Supreme King Tribes.

Here, the land stretched infinitely. The human warriors roamed the realm, battling the invading forces of the Hundred Races. In this world, humans did not seek immortality, did not worship gods, and did not revere Buddha—for all of these entities were their enemies.

Terms like "Blood Refining," "Bone Tempering," and "Soul Fusion" were frequently spoken among the tribe's people. They spent their days training and hunting in the wilderness, all for the sake of reaching higher realms of power, unlocking the body's latent potential, and resisting the wandering warriors of the Hundred Races.

Blood Refining—the first step—required absorbing blood essence to strengthen one's physical body and vitality, allowing the practitioner to open all 108 Heavenly Meridians and form a complete cycle of energy. It was said that those who succeeded could nurture celestial weapons within their bodies. Beyond this, there existed an even more profound stage known as Great Perfection, understood only by the tribe's most revered figures.

Bone Tempering—the next realm—was something only the tribe leader had achieved. The ordinary tribesmen viewed this stage with both awe and yearning, yet it remained an unattainable dream for most.

Soul Fusion—an even more mythical level—was rumored to exist only among the warriors of the upper-tier Blood Tribes.

Beyond the Bloodstone Tribe, the land stretched vast and unclaimed, covered in dense, ancient forests with no other known human settlements for a thousand miles.

This world was immense.

Xiao Yi even questioned whether he was still on Earth. The Human Realm consisted of five great territories: the Western Heavens, Eastern Continent, Northern Wilderness, Southern Inferno, and Central Plains. Even just the Northern Wilderness alone was boundless, impossible for anyone to fully traverse.

For half a month, he had been piecing together these fragmented truths. He could not help but wonder—what had truly happened in Earth's distant past? Did the technological age's theories of ancient civilizations hold some truth? Or had a cataclysm, like the extinction of the dinosaurs, reshaped the world beyond recognition?

He had no answer.

If the scholars of future generations ever discovered this era, it would shake the very foundation of human history. But right now, none of that mattered. This was not called Earth anymore. This was the Human Realm—humanity's last stronghold.

Beyond this realm, in the vast, connected dimensions, the Hundred Races lurked. There was an Immortal Realm, a Divine Realm, a Buddhist Realm, a Demon Realm—each seeking to invade, to subjugate. This was why every human tribe trained warriors—to fight, to survive.

The ancient people astounded Xiao Yi beyond measure. Even untrained children, barely ten years old, could easily lift weights of two to three hundred pounds. Adults were naturally capable of lifting over five hundred. Compared to them, his own feeble strength of barely a hundred pounds was laughable—equivalent to that of a six or seven-year-old child. And with his body still recovering, even four-year-olds could knock him over with ease.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Xiao Yi steadied himself and began walking toward the tribe. Though his steps were firm, his body trembled slightly. He knew something within him had changed after his encounter with that dragon egg. Even now, threads of scorching energy coursed beneath his skin, stabbing at his nerves like needles. It had taken him five days just to stand, and even after half a month, he could barely walk without issue.

One step at a time, he made his way down the mountain.

"Brother Xiao!" A somewhat youthful voice called out.

Xiao Yi looked up and saw a tall young man approaching from a distance. Though the youth appeared to be only fifteen or sixteen years old, he was already strong and well-built, standing at an impressive height of nearly seven feet. He wore a suit of gray leather armor, and a nine-foot-long green iron spear was strapped to his back.

His jet-black hair shone like ink, and despite the youthful features of his face, his presence was extraordinary. He walked with the stride of a dragon and the power of a tiger, covering nearly half a zhang with each step. In less than ten breaths, he arrived before Xiao Yi, his face lighting up with a knowing expression. "I knew you would be here, Brother Xiao. Elder Shi has prepared some herbs for you—he wants you to return and apply the medicine."

"Alright, let's go."

Xiao Yi nodded and walked alongside the youth. In truth, this young man was someone he had met by chance in the Bloodstone Tribe. Though their bond was not particularly deep, the boy enjoyed listening to Xiao Yi recount various tales of strange and wondrous events. Every day, he would come find Xiao Yi for a chat.

In the Bloodstone Tribe, all youths had to undergo a trial upon turning sixteen. If they passed, they would join the ranks of the human warriors, becoming battle-hardened soldiers of the tribe. To become a strong warrior, to slay foreign enemies, and to defend the tribe—this was the ultimate aspiration in the heart of every young member of the Bloodstone Tribe.

"Shi Lei, you're hanging around with that sickly weakling again? Don't you need to train?"

Before the two had taken more than a few steps, a cold voice rang out from ahead. Two youths stood there, each carrying a large green bow on their backs. A faint, bloody aura emanated from their bodies—something that made Xiao Yi slightly uncomfortable. However, he understood that these ancient tribesmen survived by battling the wilds. Whether it was training or daily survival, they had to hunt for fresh blood. Even children as young as ten had to practice archery alongside their daily training, and by the time they reached twelve or thirteen, they would enter the untamed forests under the guidance of their elders to hunt beasts. The blood scent on these two boys was natural—it was a mark of strength.

The two were of similar age to Shi Lei and were clearly preparing to go hunting. Xiao Yi had heard from Shi Lei before that many of the tribe's youths preferred to enter the mountains at night. Some powerful beasts, rich in blood essence, were more active after dark, and those who were fortunate might return with substantial rewards.

A few breaths later, the two boys drew closer.

"Sickly weakling, don't hold Shi Lei back from training. If you're weak, at least have some self-respect. Even Elder Shi has said that with your frail body, you're only fit to tend fires for the rest of your life. As long as our Bloodstone Tribe stands, you'll have meat to eat. But if one day it falls, then you…"

"Shi Qian!" Shi Lei shouted, his voice sharp with urgency, cutting off the boy's words.

"Forget it, it's none of my business." The youth named Shi Qian scoffed, then brushed past Xiao Yi without even sparing him a glance. His companion followed, both of them acting as if Xiao Yi were invisible.

"Brother Xiao…"

After the two left, Shi Lei shot a careful glance at Xiao Yi, but Xiao Yi's expression remained calm. He seemed entirely unfazed as he continued walking toward the tribe.

"Sickly weakling! No meat for you! No one will marry you!" A group of three- or four-year-old children shouted as they ran past.

"Xiao Yi, don't run around aimlessly. If you get hurt again, we'll have to waste more medicine on you." An elderly tribesman grumbled as he walked by.

Xiao Yi let out a quiet chuckle. After entering the tribe, Shi Lei quickly took his leave. Someone had called for him, saying that his father, a warrior of the tribe, was looking for him. Whether it was true or not, Xiao Yi could tell at a glance. After experiencing the complexities of human nature across countless ages, he found the people here still far too simple.

Raising his head, he gazed into the distance. The lingering glow of the setting sun painted the horizon in shades of red and gold. A cold glint flickered in his eyes.

No matter how disheartened he might become, he, Xiao Yi, would never live off the charity of others, nor would he bow his head in submission.

In this different time and space, his pride remained unchanged."