Glowing creatures were rare, and whenever they appeared, it often meant something fearful and deadly, a signal to stay away from the area.
In the vast wasteland, one could only imagine how many dangerous beings lay hidden.
To expose oneself in such a perilous environment and boldly emit a radiant glow was undoubtedly a sign of confidence, most likely a manifestation of extraordinary power.
Qin Ming silently descended to the ground, hiding in the shadows of the dense forest, his mind troubled.
This was no ordinary glowing creature. It illuminated the entire night sky.
In an era devoid of the sun, moon, and stars, such a phenomenon was an astonishing sight.
"The Moon Worm!" He had heard of it.
Elders often told tales of the ancient past, when there were once suns and moons. When they saw the confused looks on children's faces, they would use the Moon Worm as an example.
"If one day, you happen to catch a glimpse of the Moon Worm, you'll know what the moon looked like."
If the Moon Worm appeared, there was no need for further explanation. Everyone would know it, as it would be the only thing visible in the night sky.
At first, when the light slowly rose, it appeared softer, and Qin Ming wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he vaguely saw a blurred insect-like shape.
Now, it was far too brilliant. There was no trace of an insect's form. The light interwoven like a radiant disc, almost as if blessed by a divine crown, illuminated the entire sky.
The cicada is unaware of the passage of time, and normally, few insects could survive the winter to live into the next year.
According to the elders, the Moon Worm had migrated to this region over fifty years ago, dwelling deep in the vast mountains, rarely appearing in external areas.
According to local customs, it had been recorded as one of the "Famous Worms" that stood firm for fifty years in the mountains.
People had reason to believe that its true nature might not be inferior to that of ancient beasts or mountain lords that had existed for even longer.
Qin Ming was lost in thought. Was this how the moon appeared in the distant past?
In the night sky, it was as if a celestial lamp hung high, gleaming brilliantly, casting a pure light that fell on the dark mountains, spreading across the shadowy wilderness. In an instant, the region was bathed in a faint silver hue.
This was a scene unlike any he had seen before; the dense darkness of the mountains was completely dispersed.
The entire world had changed. Qin Ming gazed at the magnificent sight, lost in reverie, yearning for the ancient world with its sun and moon. What kind of world had it been?
He knew that the Moon Worm only illuminated the two nearby low hills, nowhere near as bright as the true full moon. After all, it was said that the moon's light spread across thousands of miles, creating a vast scene in the sky—true illumination.
At this moment, all was silent. Whether it was the Wild Boar King or the mysterious creature hunting it, or other birds and beasts, all were quietly lying in wait.
Suddenly, a streak of light cut across the sky. The Moon Worm disappeared, and the nearby region quickly lost its glow, the forest once again engulfed in boundless darkness.
Qin Ming felt empty inside, and then a strong vision filled his heart. When would he be able to come and go freely like the Moon Worm, with no night able to obscure his path?
He couldn't afford to think much longer. Seizing the moment when the wild beasts were still stunned and hesitant to roam freely, he sprang into action, dragging the Knife-Horned Deer and Donkey-Headed Wolf over the low hill and quickly moving away.
Deep in the mountains, a mournful howl echoed, then abruptly stopped. It seemed that a powerful creature had been killed where the Moon Worm had dived.
The forest remained silent. Whether it was the extraordinary beasts or the often-mutated "Famous Birds," none dared make a sound.
The village of Shuangshu was in sight. Qin Ming returned with his prey successfully.
As he neared the village entrance, he looked back. The wilderness stretched endlessly, dark and boundless.
The dazzling scene from moments ago still lingered in his mind. He felt a bit dazed. The ancient world with its bright moon—what had it been like?
"Gurgle!" His stomach growled, the intense hunger pulling him back to reality. He paused, realizing that he had been contemplating those vague things for too long. He now needed to solve his hunger.
In this cold weather, only a few children were running around near the village entrance, unwilling to stay indoors.
"Qin Ge, you went into the mountains... and hunted the Knife-Horned Deer alone?" A frail boy widened his eyes in astonishment.
The children's faces were red from the cold, and they gathered around. Upon seeing the black Donkey-Headed Wolf weighing several hundred pounds, they were all shocked.
They stared at the two beasts, unable to resist swallowing their saliva.
"Everyone come to my house and eat some meat later," Qin Ming said with a smile.
Like the wind, he dragged the two beasts back to his home.
Having endured his hunger all the way, he couldn't wait any longer. He quickly boiled some water and called for Lu Ze and Liang Wanqing to help.
"Little Qin, you're injured?" Liang Wanqing noticed the bloodstains on his shoulder at a glance.
"It's just a small wound, nothing serious." Qin Ming shook his head.
Lu Ze helped him check and saw that the wound wasn't deep and had already scabbed over. He felt relieved.
Soon, the small courtyard was filled with a rich aroma. Large chunks of meat were boiling in a cast iron pot, and a deer leg was roasting on the fire, dripping with fat.
Qin Ming's stomach growled loudly; he couldn't wait any longer. He used a small knife to cut a thin slice of the deer leg, not fearing the heat, and popped it into his mouth.
"It's cooked, and it tastes great! Wen Rui, did your uncle satisfy your wish today?"
Wen Rui took a bite and squinted in delight, nodding like a little chick pecking at rice. "It smells so good! I don't remember the last time I ate meat. Uncle, you're amazing!"
Qin Ming called for Lu Ze and Liang Wanqing to eat first, promising to deal with the remaining meat later.
Two-year-old Wen Hui couldn't bite into the roasted deer leg, so she had to settle for the boiled meat that was mashed up. She pouted in frustration, her eyes fixed longingly on the meat, making the others laugh.
The two-year-old Wen Hui couldn't bite into the roasted venison leg, so he could only eat the boiled and mashed meat paste, pouting in grievance as he looked on, causing the others to laugh.
Qin Ming was at a critical stage of his rebirth, his body sending strong signals of intense hunger for meat. Now, he devoured it greedily, finally feeling satisfied.
At this moment, a few children peeked through the courtyard gate. Their little faces were dirty, and they sniffed the smell of the meat in the yard. Their eyes sparkled with longing, but they were too shy to come in.
Qin Ming immediately waved and said, "Didn't I call you when I was at the village entrance? Come in and eat together."
"Thank you, Brother Qin." "You're so kind, Uncle..."
The children shouted various things, bashfully entering the yard. Soon, they began stuffing their cheeks like little hamsters, mumbling how delicious the food was.
"Slow down, there's plenty left." Liang Wanqing, worried the children might choke, served them some meat soup.
Qin Ming felt his flesh and blood celebrating, like the first rain after a long drought, with countless new sprouts emerging from the soil. Everything was reborn, filled with limitless vitality.
He clearly felt his tendons growing, his joints cracking occasionally, his hearing sharper, his sight clearer, and his spirit more vigorous.
This rebirth from the mother's womb felt real!
Lu Ze and Liang Wanqing had already put down their bowls and chopsticks, but Qin Ming was still eating ravenously, his appetite seemingly endless. This manner of eating was a bit frightening, and beads of sweat kept forming on his body, rising in a white mist.
"His body is being reborn and undergoing intense changes!" Lu Ze was astonished. He hadn't expected Qin Ming to still be at it since yesterday, and it was even accelerating. How far could this go?
Several children had eaten to their fill, their little bellies round and content, their faces full of satisfaction.
Qin Ming noticed they were still holding back a little and smiled, saying, "Are you all full? Then go play."
Soon, word spread that he had hunted a mutant donkey-headed wolf and a mountain hybrid.
The villagers were surprised. The wilderness was dangerous now, and many people avoided going into the mountains. Yet, Qin Ming had achieved such results.
Especially the mutant donkey-headed wolf, which had a notorious reputation. It was almost impossible for an ordinary person to survive an encounter with it.
Qin Ming was just a little over sixteen years old—how could he take on such a beast?
"Could it be that he's gone through a rebirth in his golden years?"
Soon, many villagers came to his courtyard, eager to inquire about the situation in the mountains.
If it was safe, they were also planning to go hunting.
"Mom, I'm hungry." A little girl with patched clothes whispered.
In this food-scarce winter, the roasted meat in the courtyard smelled particularly inviting. Some children hid behind their parents, staring longingly.
Qin Ming understood the pain of hunger. Looking at their small, frost-bitten faces, he quickly waved, saying, "Come over and eat together."
The children didn't sit down immediately but looked at their parents first, appearing humble and reserved.
Qin Ming continued, "Uncles and aunts, I won't ask you to eat here, but please take five pounds of meat home for each family."
"Little Qin, you can't do that..."
"That's how it's decided." Qin Ming said. There were only a few dozen households in the village, so there was enough to share.
"Little Qin is really kind. We should find him a nice wife soon. He's about the right age."
"That's not urgent," Qin Ming quickly waved his hand.
Laughter filled the courtyard, and the group of children was the happiest, sitting together, eating with faces covered in oil.
...
"Little Qin, tell Uncle honestly, did you go through a rebirth?" Yang Yongqing asked.
Before dusk, he had seen Qin Ming, and just a short while after, the boy had already killed a mutant donkey-headed wolf. It really shocked him.
Qin Ming smiled and nodded, saying, "Didn't Uncle Yang say that a noble lady is coming down? Told me to improve myself, show off well, and after I encountered danger in the mountains, I was stimulated. My body started heating up, and suddenly, I was reborn."
"You're not being humble enough," Yang Yongqing laughed, pointing at him.
Everyone present knew this was all because Qin Ming's physical condition was extraordinary, and he had accumulated a lot.
"Rebirth in the golden years—this is the first time in decades in our Shuangshu Village!" Old Liu, who lived at the village entrance, sighed.
Everyone knew what this meant. It was a rare phenomenon in the region, with limitless possibilities for the future.
In this frigid weather where one could see ice crystals forming with every breath, Qin Ming's body felt like a furnace, growing hotter and hotter. Sweat poured out, his body was damp, and he was nearly enveloped in a white mist.
"His blood and flesh vitality is so strong, far more intense than mine was at his age," Yang Yongqing said, his beard trembling in shock.
He knew that from head to toe, inside and out, Qin Ming was accelerating his rebirth. It was like autumn and winter, sweeping away the dead leaves, then spring and summer, with new branches sprouting.
The sticky feeling on his skin was like shedding old leaves, expelling impurities, while inside, vitality was blossoming. His blood was glowing, and his body seemed to be returning to the womb, nurturing new strength and unlocking new potential.
Qin Ming felt drowsy after eating his fill. It was as if he was about to fall into a special "winter sleep." He could barely keep his eyes open.
He asked Lu Ze to distribute the meat to the families while he followed his body's instinct and prepared to sleep in the house.
"Grandma Zhou is being buried today. Help me deliver more meat to the Zhou family." Qin Ming fought off his drowsiness, washing his body with cold water before lying on the kang.
Others saw this and were surprised, but they didn't feel it as deeply.
Yang Yongqing, however, had seen much in his time. He noticed that Qin Ming seemed to be surrounded by white mist, and his strong heartbeat was like the sound of drums, which startled him deeply.
The most crucial thing was that the rebirth was still ongoing and far from finished.
Could it be that after Qin Ming's rebirth, he might have a chance to approach some of the famous young people from the bright city far away?
Soon, Yang Yongqing shook his head. Even with exceptional root talent, how could it compare to the accumulation of three generations? Moreover, those people were already extraordinarily gifted.
As for the man and woman who had recently amazed the city, surpassing others in the golden years of rebirth, Yang Yongqing thought they were not even worth comparing.