Chapter 26: Rise of the Clan

Watching the waves, several meters high, surge like enraged beasts toward the searing, dark-red lava flowing down from the mountains, Lalong thought of how the tribal shaman had sent their group out to mine and recover every bit of the moonstone they had identified. Yet, just as they had finally begun to harvest the vein they had worked so hard to find, a volcanic eruption had struck, turning all their efforts into nothingness and rendering everything wasted.

He could not help but sigh, his heart heavy with regret.

Feeling the stifling heat as the water and fire clashed violently, sending billowing smoke and a pungent, suffocating scent of sulfur into the air—as if the entire world were trapped in an endless catastrophe—Waza also realized that the geological shifts in this land were far too volatile for his wishes to be fulfilled. His anxiety deepened.

Seeing Waza so disheartened, Lalong felt even worse. He quickly comforted him, "Child, do not lose heart. We shall search elsewhere. I am certain we will find moonstone as high-quality as that of the Eight-Direction Valley."

Waza carefully unfolded an ancient star map. It had been given to him by the Shimo tribal shaman before their departure, originally left behind by the elder shaman Nisegu, and it served as the key coordinate guide for navigating the vine-ship.

The entire map was crafted from rare ancient hide, its surface texture resembling the veins and contours of the earth—winding, twisting, and intersecting. Despite being worn by the passage of countless ages, it still emitted a primal, dignified glow, as if silently recounting tales sealed away by time. Each fiber carried the ancient memories and mysterious heritage of the Dragon Mountain people.

On the map, complex star clusters and patterns were meticulously etched using a branding technique. Every burn mark looked like an imprint carved into the river of history—delicate and profound, as if recording the mysteries of the cosmos and the hidden forces of heaven and earth. The stars, some bright and others dim, were arranged in perfect harmony, interlacing with the mysterious patterns to form a breathtaking, enigmatic image.

Waza knew well that for a long time, the elder chieftain Nuka had relied on this mysterious star map to lead the Dragon Mountain people, piloting the vine-ship freely across the vast, boundless expanse. Yet, he knew little of most of the lines and dots on the map. He had only heard Elder Nuka say that they were inextricably linked to the stars in the heavens, acting like a secret code between heaven and earth, waiting for one destined to decipher it.

While lost in thought, another volcano suddenly appeared ahead. It resembled a sleeping giant, its peak wreathed in thick smoke, appearing ready to awaken and roar at any moment. Seeing this, Waza decisively ordered the ship to slow down.

The Dragon Mountain people sprang into action, searching the mountains and ravines with intense focus, not letting a single corner that might hide moonstone escape their notice.

Suddenly, a clear blue lake in the distance caught Waza’s eye.

In an instant, the Dragon Mountain people on board were overcome with excitement, collectively shouting in the ancient Dragon Mountain tongue: "Dragon God Lake! Dragon God Lake..." Their voices were filled with irrepressible joy and anticipation, as if the lake held the very treasure they had long dreamed of and yearned for.

Viewed from high above, Dragon God Lake looked like a radiant pearl, peacefully and serenely embedded in the crimson-jade earth. The azure surface rippled, resembling a piece of polished green jade, sparkling with enchanting luster under the sunlight, exceptionally clear and inviting.

Along the shore, countless unknown creatures frolicked joyfully. Some played in the water, splashing crystal-clear droplets; others focused on catching fish, displaying agile forms; still others huddled together in pairs, nestled close as if whispering sweet nothings.

On the shallows by the lake, a group of tall sauropod dinosaurs chewed leisurely on the lake's algae. They were massive, their every step seeming to make the earth tremble. From time to time, these dinosaurs would lift their long necks, gaze toward the sky, and emit low roars, as if calling to friends above, enthusiastically inviting them: "Come down quickly, the food here is delicious!"

Watching this vibrant, free-spirited world, Waza’s heart softened, and he could not help but think of his beloved, Milu, who was still waiting expectantly for his return in the village.

His eyes filled with longing and concern, he turned to the craftsman Lalong and said, "Uncle Lalong, we have been searching for a long time. It is time to return..."

Lalong nodded in understanding and let out a resonant command. The crew acted swiftly, raising the sails—now fashioned from the skins of giant marine creatures—and steered the ship toward the direction of the Suoluo Mountain village.

But at that moment, a flock of pterosaurs suddenly appeared in the sky. With their incredibly keen eyes, they instantly locked onto the strangely shaped flying object in the air.

Seeing these aerial monsters unfold their wide, powerful wings and dive toward them like lightning, Waza, drawing on his extensive experience in previous skirmishes with pterosaurs, decisively ordered all his people to release the energy of the moonstones. At the same time, everyone worked together to hoist the sails, attempting to use the power to accelerate away from the danger zone.

Waza knew very well that these pterosaurs usually would not stray far from their nests. But once an unidentified object wandered near their territory, it would undoubtedly be viewed as a threat. They would either snatch the intruder away to devour or cast them into the sea; their methods were ruthless.

Fortunately, the Dragon Mountain people reacted quickly. As the vine-ship sped away, the pterosaurs, seeing their target retreating, gave up the chase and returned to their own skies, soaring freely and continuing to guard their territory.

Back with the expedition team, ever since Chen Miaomiao had received her best friend Bao Xiaotong’s "Super-Consciousness Bracelet," she felt as if she had found a glimmer of light in the darkness, finally discovering a stage where she could showcase her talents. Although she had only just begun to understand this magical bracelet, she was already deeply captivated and obsessed with it.

After some study, she discovered that the Super-Consciousness Bracelet primarily possessed two unique notification functions. One was "Empirical Conclusion," which relied on the synthesis and precise calculation of all past human knowledge—like a vast treasury of wisdom accumulated throughout the long river of human history. The other was the "Precognitive Future Preset," derived from artificial intelligence’s bold inferences and precise predictions of future trends, as if opening a mysterious window into the future.

Chen Miaomiao devoted herself entirely to exploring the bracelet, discovering that activating the "Super-Consciousness" required the power of one's divine sense. She calmed her mind, held her breath, and focused her energy. Although the bracelet had clear authorization restrictions, for someone as technically proficient as her, bypassing these was a piece of cake.

Miaomiao found that the former function covered nearly all of humanity's big data, though various security levels prevented a full, unfettered exploration of all content. The latter function, however, appeared even more mysterious.

To enter this futuristic realm required not only a higher level of authorization but also the integration of a unique individual's divine sense. It seemed only by meeting these stringent conditions could the immense secrets hidden within be truly unlocked.

Within the intelligent database, Chen Miaomiao’s operations were fluid and seamless, quickly retrieving a massive volume of data regarding "wildmen." In an instant, a three-dimensional image projected by lasers popped up before everyone.

Lifelike 3D figures of wildmen flashed before them—walking, standing, in various poses—with labels clearly marking their locations, physical characteristics, and names.

This novel sight left everyone present wide-eyed with amazement and curiosity, their gazes glued to the holographic projections as if they had been transported into a mysterious world of wildmen.

Gesturing in the air, Miaomiao lectured eloquently: "Look, wildmen are widely distributed in our country. In the Hunan and Sichuan regions, they are known as 'man-bears,' while in the high mountain regions of Xinjiang and Tibet, they are called 'wildmen'..."

Her voice was filled with excitement and pride, like a professional science communicator sharing these little-known facts with everyone.

Bao Xiaotong gazed at the magical scene before her, filled with awe and surprise. For days, she had worn the wrist-mounted device, thinking it was merely a watch and compass, completely unaware of the immense mysteries hidden within. Now, Chen Miaomiao’s operation made her truly feel the wonder of the instrument.

Her eyes were filled with admiration and yearning, and she resolved to learn well from Miaomiao, never again missing out on this marvelous tool for exploring the world.

At this time, the frozen experimental station on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, though operating low-key as a secret antimatter research center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, could not escape the monitoring of precise instruments around the world due to the super-magnetic vortex phenomenon occurring on the plateau.

Soon, several developed nations called to inquire.

Upon learning that China was constructing a neutrino laboratory on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, they voiced their opposition, much like they had opposed China's construction of the world's largest "Sky Eye" telescope in Guizhou years prior.

However, their opposition was not based on scientific rationality, but rather on a fear of China’s rapid progress. In their eyes, China’s growing spirit of scientific exploration and innovation had already become a threat to their own status.