Xiu Qi was a clever child, more diligent and eager to learn than most. He was also hardworking and kind, always proactively helping others who were injured. As Shen Nong's disciple, Xiu Qi appropriately earned the respect of others.
Jiang Wen took him around to treat people while recording the changes in the settlement. He also taught him the basic cultivation methods of the later generations and simplified his own talisman techniques to pass on to him.
These were things that even Princess Jiang Wenji couldn't learn, making her extremely envious of Xiu Qi.
Jiang Wen smiled and remained silent about this, only saying that when Xiu Qi had achieved something in the future, he could protect others in the city. When he entered the Lighting Lamp Realm, he would be able to fight even ordinary cultivators. Jiang Wenji was overjoyed to hear this, as having more combat power was always a good thing.
The construction of the settlement accelerated with the influx of tribesmen. On the flat land behind the city, the tribesmen cultivated boundless planting fields. The crops planted were similar to those of the Tuoba clan, the tall wheat crop that reached a person's height.
Jiang Wen felt that this was not enough, so he personally went to the forest to find hemp that could provide shelter and warmth as a planting crop. He also personally taught others how to use hemp to make clothes and sacks for storing items. For a time, hemp clothing became a popular fashion in the settlement.
Putting away the animal skin scroll, Jiang Wen looked at the bright sun outside, listening to the sounds of birds and animals, a smile appearing on his face.
Walking out of the stone house and onto the city tower, the view was a vibrant, verdant panorama of the primeval forest. Towering trees stretched endlessly, one after another. Clouds and mist drifted around them, with birds occasionally flying through the sea of clouds. A nearby river surged, its turquoise waves shimmering with golden light. He took a deep breath, feeling the most intense season of spring.
More than half a year had passed since arriving here. Winter had gone and spring had come, unknowingly the passage of time.
"Master!"
Waving at him was a slender girl wrapped in animal skins on top and wearing a hemp skirt below. Her face was smiling like a newly blooming flower, radiating a beautiful aura.
Her name was Xue, and Jiang Wen had picked her up from the snowy ground. Finding her was an accident, but he didn't expect this child to actually have spiritual roots. Moreover, her spiritual roots were very unique. Jiang Wen knew very little about spiritual roots and had no means to test what kind of spiritual roots they were, so he took her and Xiu Qi to cultivate.
Unfortunately, Xue seemed to have no talent for the Dao of Talismans, but she was extremely interested in swordsmanship. Jiang Wen took this opportunity to teach her swordsmanship and some basic sword techniques, which Xue was naturally very happy about.
Having spent more than half a year with these Taicang tribesmen who lived close to a primitive lifestyle, from the initial unsuitability to the current integration, one couldn't help but marvel at the adaptability of humans. Integrating into this group, Jiang Wen discovered that they were not as foolish and unbearable as he had imagined.
Initially, he thought that these tribesmen would be inferior to later generations in all aspects, but as his understanding deepened, these simple and courageous tribesmen made him feel that his ideas were completely wrong. They were very beautiful beings, united and helping each other, without personal selfish thoughts, living authentically and freely. They had no hypocritical masks on their faces, would not quarrel over disagreements in the distribution of benefits, and would not easily kill each other.
They hunted together, jointly shouldering the survival of a tribal community. Perhaps it was precisely because of this that so many people were willing to die as fuel to dispel the fog when the great fog descended.
Walking slowly to Xue's side, behind her was a blazing bonfire, with two huge prey skewered on wooden sticks over the fire. Animal fat sizzled in the fire, and a fragrant smell wafted through the settlement.
Several children ran around, arguing with each other. The adults carefully avoided them, shouting unintelligible words, seemingly reminding the children not to fall.
"Here! Master."
The girl handed him a meat leg. Seeing her mischievous winking eyes, Jiang Wen knew that this leg must have been secretly taken from Xiu Qi's food. Xiu Qi doted on this junior sister extremely, always indulging her.
He took a bite and then handed it to the girl.
"You eat it," Jiang Wen said with a smile.
Without hesitation, the girl named Xue tore off a piece from where he had bitten. She finished the meat leg in one bite, and the remaining bones were thrown into the fire.
Xue led him to the corner of the stone pile, pointing mysteriously at the pile of stones.
Jiang Wen looked at it several times, but couldn't see anything special about this pile of stones. He glanced at Xue suspiciously, telling her that he didn't understand.
Xue squatted down, lifted the stones, and revealed a small nest built with branches. The small nest was padded with dry grass, and a very cute little thing was lying on it.
It was round and chubby, with light yellow fluff and small wings. It looked extremely cute. It was sleeping at the moment, its eyes tightly closed and its belly rising and falling weakly. Xue couldn't help but poke its belly, and saw it open its eyes in a daze, looking curiously at the two of them.
"Chirp, chirp." A bird-like cry sounded.
Xue held it in her palm and lifted it up, handing it to Jiang Wen. She was offering him the thing she liked. Jiang Wen took the little thing. When he looked at it, he found that it was also looking at him, waving its little wings happily, without the slightest awareness of being a captive. It seemed like it was very happy.
This little thing definitely couldn't be seen by those bear children, otherwise it might only have half a life left tomorrow. Putting it in this pile of stones was not a safe thing, so it was better to keep it with him.
He put it on his shoulder, and the human and bird looked at each other.
"Roar!"
A commotion sounded in the distance, and Jiang Wen turned his head to look. He saw not far away, a tall giant walking towards him. They were as tall as three zhang, and their lower bodies were covered with woven branches.
Everyone's face showed fatigue, and most people were scarred and covered in mud. Some children sat on the shoulders of adults, appearing timid when looking at this unfamiliar place.
It seemed that Jiang Wenji had already discussed things with their patriarch. In the future, these giants would be members of the settlement.
The crowd gradually gathered, and many people put down their work and looked at the tribe that was coming. They had also heard that someone was going to join the tribe, and every time this happened, it was a time of great celebration. This proved that the settlement was becoming stronger and stronger, and their lives would become more stable.
Jiang Wenji stood in front of the tribesmen, and noticed Jiang Wen in the crowd, smiling and waving at him.
The tribesmen stepped aside, making way for Jiang Wen who was blocked behind. The little thing on his shoulder chirped, and Jiang Wen walked to her side, looking at the tribe.
The giant walked over and stood in front of Jiang Wen. Jiang Wen looked at the giant's body and realized what was meant by a tiger's back and a bear's waist, and what was meant by a burly and extraordinary figure. This giant, who was ten meters tall, had a single finger that was as tall as an ordinary person. His huge hands and feet were like monsters from a land of giants, and every step made a loud noise.
"This is our high priest—Shen Nong," Jiang Wenji said.
The strong man looked down at Jiang Wen, his huge body half-squatting, lowering his head, acknowledging his identity as the high priest.
Although Jiang Wen was a little surprised by the other party's size, he was not afraid. Size sometimes does not represent his combat power, just like the seemingly weak him has unimaginable power.
