Chapter 223

These past few days, after the dozen-plus children's physical strength had greatly increased, they had nowhere to vent their energy, so they decided to go into the Great Wastes to steal bird eggs.

Things went smoothly; the dozen-plus children snagged three eggs and were walking happily back toward the village when a fierce raptor flew into a rage, letting out an angry cry in the sky.

That bird was seven or eight meters long, with a wingspan of fifteen meters when spread; its whole body was densely covered in blue-green scales that shimmered with a cold metallic sheen, and a murderous aura filled the air.

It looked like a giant eagle, but not a single feather covered its body; the scales were dense and menacing, as if cast from steel, brimming with a stunning, overwhelming force.

Its hooked eagle beak was black, gleaming, and razor-sharp, over half a meter long, and its talons were even more terrifying—cold with a chilling gleam, extremely sharp, more than capable of easily tearing apart a giant elephant.

This was the Blue-Scaled Eagle of the Great Wastes, its body covered in cold blue-green scales and brimming with boundless power; it dove down to snatch the Stone Village children who had stolen its eggs.

The children broke into a wild sprint, relying on their familiarity with the mountains and forests to flee frantically.

In the end, everyone made it back safely, but that Blue-Scaled Eagle lingered outside the village, refusing to leave.

Yet it did not dare enter, as if something in the village gave it pause.

"You little rascals, why did you go steal her eggs? This fierce bird holds grudges like no other—how are we supposed to hunt from now on?"

When the village's young and able-bodied men learned of it, each and every one was furious.

The children heard this and finally realized they had brought great trouble upon themselves.

"Ee-yah, let's just give the eggs back to her. The Blue-Scaled Eagle must be sad too, having lost her little ones."

Little Dummy now knew he was in the wrong too, and said softly.

Earlier they hadn't thought about it at all, but now thinking it over carefully, it really was their fault.

That was very wrong of them.

"First send the eggs out; if that doesn't work, we'll think of something else."

The villagers decided to try sending the eggs out—three jade-green eggs as big as a washbasin, crystalline and translucent, dotted with markings, a mysterious power of runes suffusing them, glowing with divine radiance.

Just as everyone was carrying the three eggs out, that willow tree—its entire body scorched black—suddenly moved; its single remaining willow branch, like a gleaming divine chain, drooped down and gently brushed past one of the eggs, instantly causing it to blaze with brilliant light.

Fang Yu's divine sense immediately focused over.

"The Willow Deity has awakened."