Humankind Cultivation Origin

As the first rays of dawn touched the rooftops of the village, Duan Feng stepped out of his small hut. His mind was set on one goal—finding the village elder and ofcoure to fill his stomach.

He had arrived here only a day ago, unconscious and half-dead, after barely escaping the destruction of his former village. Someone had saved him, given him shelter, and provided food, but Duan Feng had no time to dwell on gratitude. He needed answers.

The beasts that had attacked his village… ''what were they? How did they exist? More importantly, how could he fight against them?''

The village was small, and it didn’t take him long to find a group of men working near a well. “Excuse me,” Duan Feng called out, his voice firm but polite. “I need to speak to your village elder.”

The men exchanged glances before one of them, a man with gray-streaked hair and a muscular build, stepped forward. “You mean Elder Wang?”

Duan Feng frowned slightly. He hadn’t known the elder’s name until now. “Yes. Where can I find him?”

The man pointed toward the far end of the village. “His hut is at the edge of the village, near the eastern fields. Just follow the path straight ahead.”

Duan Feng gave a short nod of thanks and followed the path as instructed. Along the way, he absorbed what little he could about the village. The houses were modest, built from wood and stone, yet they seemed well-maintained. People moved about their daily tasks, some carrying baskets of herbs, others tending to livestock. There was a quiet sense of order, as if the villagers had long adapted to the dangers of this world.

Soon, he arrived at a small hut that matched the description he had been given. It was sturdy but simple, with a wooden door slightly ajar.

Duan Feng stepped forward and knocked firmly.

“I am Duan Feng,” he announced. “I need to speak with you.”

A moment of silence passed before a calm voice responded. “Come in.”

Pushing the door open, Duan Feng entered. The inside was sparse yet orderly. A wooden table sat in the center, surrounded by two chairs. Shelves lined the walls, filled with a few books, dried herbs, and earthenware containers. A single window allowed the morning light to cast long shadows across the floor.

Behind the table sat an elderly man with sharp, perceptive eyes. His posture was straight, and his presence carried the weight of authority.
Elder Wang.

“You came early,” the elder noted, motioning for Duan Feng to take a seat. “That means you have questions.”

Duan Feng nodded, but before he could speak, his stomach growled loudly, betraying his hunger. Elder Wang chuckled, his expression softening.

“Eat first,” he said, standing up and retrieving a small clay bowl. He ladled out a portion of steaming vegetable soup and placed a small piece of cooked meat into it. “It’s easier to think on a full stomach.”

Duan Feng hesitated for only a moment before accepting the bowl. The moment he took a bite of the meat, a strange warmth spread through his body, invigorating his limbs and clearing his mind. He looked up in surprise, but Elder Wang simply nodded, as if expecting this reaction.

“Wild ginseng and fresh meat from the mountain beasts,” Elder Wang explained. “It nourishes the body and spirit. You’ll need your strength for the days ahead.”

Duan Feng finished quickly, feeling a noticeable difference in his energy. He set the bowl aside and leaned forward. “Elder Wang, I need to know about the beasts that attacked my village.”

The elder’s face darkened, and he sighed. “We call them ‘strange beasts’ because they are unlike any ordinary creature. Some breathe fire, some can cut through metal like soft clay, and their bodies are as strong as steel.”

Duan Feng clenched his fists. He had seen their destruction firsthand. “Then how do we resist them? How do we survive?”

Elder Wang shook his head. “That… I do not know.”

After a brief pause, he reached beneath the table and pulled out a small green stone, no larger than a fist. “But this… this is what has kept Orchid Hill Village safe for years.”

Duan Feng studied the stone. It emitted a faint glow, its surface rough yet smooth to the touch. “What is it?”

“This stone gives off a scent that only the beasts can detect. It repels them. Every ten days, its power refreshes, keeping the village safe.”

Duan Feng’s eyes flickered with hope. “Then as long as the village has this stone, it will be safe.”

Elder Wang’s expression turned solemn. “That would be true… if the stone were not nearing its end.” He held it up, revealing its faded green hue. “When I first received it, it was a deep, vibrant green. Now, it is barely holding on. I fear we have only six to eight months before its power is completely exhausted.”

A heavy silence filled the room.

“Heaven is cruel to humans,” Elder Wang murmured. “We are weak. We have no great strength, no natural weapons. And now, even the one thing that kept us safe is slipping away.”

Duan Feng narrowed his eyes. “And his death? Do you know what happened to him?”

Elder Wang’s voice was quiet, almost resigned. “No one survives outside the village.”

Duan Feng furrowed his brows. “Since there are other villages, doesn’t that mean they must have stones or something else to protect them?”

Elder Wang exhaled slowly. “That might be true. But since those villages were destroyed, they do not have the correct answer. If they had a way to resist the beasts, they wouldn’t have fallen.”

Duan Feng fell into silence, contemplating his next question. Then, he asked, “What is your plan to save the village?”

Elder Wang studied him for a moment before replying, “Attend the village meeting tonight.”

With that, the conversation seemed to be over. Duan Feng gave a small nod and stood up. “I’ll be there.”

Leaving Elder Wang’s hut, he walked back toward his own temporary dwelling. The dirt path beneath his feet was uneven, but his mind was elsewhere.

''Even if the village was destroyed, what did it have to do with him? In this life, he had nothing left to lose.''

Since Mingyue died, there was nothing left for him in this world.