Chapter 14: Struggle for Life

In the wild and untamed world, repeated flights had left the people of Longshan weary in body and spirit. Often, they could only hide in caves, barely sustaining themselves on wild vegetables and fruits.

At night, as the campfire flickered, someone could not help but complain, "When will this endless hardship ever end? Every day is filled with fear and anxiety."

Simoram stood up and declared loudly, "We people of Longshan must not be defeated by these hardships! Life and death may be fate’s design, but as long as we firmly believe in the protection of the Great Deities Xi and Nuwa, we will surely endure and ensure the survival of our tribe!"

At last, they found a great mountain. As they prepared to build their stronghold halfway up the slope, suddenly a fierce wind howled, and sand and dust filled the air. On the hillside, a colossal Cretaceous carnivorous dinosaur charged toward the Longshan people, baring its teeth and claws.

Each of its steps shook the earth, its sharp roars frightened the children into tears, and the women huddled together tightly.

The tension in the air was palpable, as if it could ignite.

Waza brandished his Longshan cleaver and shouted, "Don’t be afraid, everyone! Hide behind the spaceship!"

Simoram remained calm, directing with steady composure, "Waza, take some strong warriors and distract it. The rest prepare long spears and stones!"

Quickly, everyone moved into position, forming a defensive formation as instructed.

Waza, wielding the Longshan cleaver and a massive tortoise-shell shield, stood at the forefront. His gaze was resolute and fierce as he shouted, "Warriors of Longshan, fear not! This is our home, and we will protect it!"

His voice rang like a mighty bell, stirring courage among the tribespeople.

The dinosaur roared and charged, its powerful tail sweeping like a steel whip, snapping several large trees. Unflinching, Waza seized the moment and hurled the Longshan cleaver with all his might.

The cleaver, imbued with his strength and determination, struck the dinosaur’s leg sharply. The beast howled in pain and fury, its massive foot stomping toward Waza.

At this critical moment, several Longshan warriors rushed out from the side.

"All together now! Don’t let it succeed!" shouted the brave Xinran.

He swung his rope-stone—a weapon fashioned from rope and vines with a stone hammer resembling a meteor hammer—fiercely attacking the dinosaur’s flank to divert its attention.

Meanwhile, Simoram called out, "Use the poison-tipped spears!" The Longshan people, shielded behind their tortoise-shell shields, quietly approached the dinosaur with long spears coated with venom.

This toxin was a deadly gift the Longshan people had gained at great cost during their recent wanderings. To adapt to their harsh environment, they experimented with various plants, discovering edible delicacies alongside many poisonous species. From the leaves of a plant known as “Plant Essence,” they extracted a potent poison and applied it to their spears, designed to anesthetize and capture prey.

The warriors hurled their poisoned spears at the dinosaur. Enraged by the onslaught, the beast recklessly pursued Waza but soon the toxin took effect. Staggering as if intoxicated, it suddenly crashed into a massive pit with a thunderous rumble. Though it struggled to climb out, it was overwhelmed by the venom.

Xinran shouted, "Quick! Finish it off!"

The Longshan people threw their spears and stones into the pit. United in effort, they finally subdued the dinosaur, its enormous body collapsing into the trap, raising a cloud of dust.

"We have won!" Waza exclaimed excitedly, waving his arms. The tribe erupted in cheers, joy and pride filling the hillside.

This battle fortified the belief among the Longshan people that as long as they stood united, no hardship could defeat them. They finally built the Cycad Mountain stronghold, beginning a new life, though challenges persisted. Torrential rains sparked flash floods that destroyed many homes.

Waza hurried over, anxious. "Noxim, what can we do? Many have nowhere to live."

Simoram calmly considered for a moment and said, "Don’t panic. Let’s first take care of the elders and children, then work together to reinforce the houses with wood and stone from the mountain."

Under the leadership of the shaman and Waza, the Longshan people united to overcome one difficulty after another, and life gradually stabilized. One day, several young tribesmen returned excitedly, shouting, "We found the Moonlight Gem! We found the Moonlight Gem!"

The entire stronghold erupted with excitement.

As the tribe’s shaman, Simoram knew well the importance of the Moonlight Stone for their journey home. She exclaimed, "This is a gift from the heavens! Quickly, remove the Golden Gourd components from the spaceship’s celestial furnace. Follow the ancestral methods to build the Golden Gourd energy field!"

Everyone cheered and eagerly threw themselves into the new construction, believing a bright future lay ahead.

Simoram understood that flight required the power of the heavens. Whispering the incantation, “Heavenly thunder shakes the gate open, earthly fire rises from the abyss,” she led the Longshan people in establishing a ritual altar, observing the skies day and night, hoping for a thunderstorm to ignite the Golden Gourd’s power...

In April 2049, in Tibet, the roar of powerful engines shattered the tranquility beside Ranwu Lake.

A convoy of powerful off-road vehicles sped wildly across the floodplain, their wheels relentlessly crushing the earth, deafening roars echoing through the valleys and wilderness.

Tibetan antelopes drinking and foraging by the lake were startled by the sudden noise. Alert, they lifted their heads and quickly fled toward nearby forested mountains—the very destination of the convoy.

Independent adventurer Bao Tianxi and his brothers were active in the southern slope of the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains, in the Parlung Tsangpo river basin, searching for a legendary mysterious treasure.

Bao Tianxi, 31, was stout, his shiny scalp a testament to a life of plenty. Wearing a colorful shirt, a heavy gold necklace weighing over 200 grams hung around his neck, and his wrists adorned with various prayer beads. He looked every bit a mob boss.

Once a geologist, Bao Tianxi used years of survey experience to embark on treasure hunting expeditions. Later, he self-studied archaeology and antique appraisal, frequently visiting major auction houses at home and abroad, engaging in trading antiques. Today, he was a renowned gem appraiser and antique collector.

In the industry, Bao Tianxi was famously nicknamed “Never Wrong.” His style was unique, sometimes even eccentric. When purchasing prized items, he never hesitated to spend lavishly. If he desired something, no one else could compete with him.

Often, even if an item was won by someone else at auction, if Bao Tianxi wanted it, it would ultimately end up in his hands. Yet treasure hunting remained his lifelong passion.

This time, Bao Tianxi led his team to Tibet, aiming to find the legendary terma treasures hidden by the Vajrayana master Padmasambhava in the Tibetan region. He claimed to possess a treasure map left by Germans during World War II to find Tibetan tantric secrets. According to him, discovering the entrance to the underground palace was equivalent to unlocking the Tibetan code and its mysterious treasures.

Treasure hunting was always a secretive affair. For this trip, Bao Tianxi deliberately avoided Laigu Village southeast of Ranwu Town, heading straight toward Ranwu Lake to conceal their true intentions.

Late spring to early summer, when everything flourished, the once icy peaks and solemn snowscapes had given way to vibrant life.

At an altitude of 3,850 meters, Ranwu Lake is the largest freshwater lake in the Indian Ocean basin of Tibet. It is an ancient glacial dam lake formed over years by melting snow and atmospheric precipitation.

Now, with the snow melting, streams of meltwater flowed into the lake, providing abundant and continuous water sources.

Soft drizzles fell from the sky. The roar of the off-road engines exploded like thunder, the powerful sound waves triggering small landslides and mudflows on the mountainsides. Yet the adventurers paid no heed, each driving toward the same direction at breakneck speed.

More than a dozen vehicles raced hard, closely pursuing herds of Tibetan antelope. The occupants gripped various tools, shouting and clamoring, their excitement at a fever pitch. Strangely, despite their armed gestures, they made no real move to hunt the antelope.

Guo Zhenhu, a 26-year-old bodyguard, stood 1.8 meters tall and was a bona fide Northeasterner. With a square face, sharp lightning-like eyes, thick sideburns, and nearly straight, heavy eyebrows, he looked tough and resolute, exuding raw masculinity. Yet few knew beneath his rugged exterior lay a gentle and passionate heart.

Orphaned from childhood, Guo Zhenhu grew up at Wudang Mountain, becoming a favored disciple of Li Xuanqing, the Golden Peak Taoist Master of Wudang Taiji. He mastered formidable martial arts. But years ago, because of his junior sister Bao Xiaotong, he decisively left his master and fellow disciples, joining the military.

Guo Zhenhu still recalled when Bao Xiaotong and He Yunfei first ascended Wudang Mountain, a time riddled with misunderstandings between them. Later, Master Li Xuanqing accepted them as disciples. Once lonely and friendless, Guo Zhenhu suddenly had an elder brother and a little sister for company, bringing him immense joy. Especially when the little sister sweetly called him “Second Brother,” his heart warmed with delight.

Since then, Guo Zhenhu silently vowed to protect his little sister, never letting harm come to her.