Chapter 17: The Winged Clan

An interlude.

This was Liang Yuan’s impression just now.

He merely found the journey of Quanxi and that little swallow somewhat amusing, and took the opportunity to grant Quanxi a reward for being the first merfolk to set foot on land.

His descent to the mortal world this time had another purpose.

The scenery of the Northern Continent was enchanting, filled with towering trees whose average height far surpassed those of the Eastern Continent.

Yet, the Eastern Continent boasted a divine tree, the Jianmu, that dwarfed all others, a marvel unmatched by any tree in the North.

Liang Yuan arrived at a valley near the northernmost edge of the continent.

Within the gorge, lush trees flourished with branches thick and leaves abundant. As the wind swept through, it rustled the foliage, stirring an irresistible sense of comfort. The air carried the natural fragrance of wild grass and mint, mingling with the blue sky and white clouds, painting a scene so beautiful it needed no embellishment.

Occasionally, figures would soar overhead, winged and disheveled, their chins protruding slightly, their legs ending not in feet, but in talons.

This was the site where the ancestral bird fell; everything here, trees and otherwise, grew with astonishing vigor.

Nearly five centuries ago, a great bird in the Eastern Continent, having received the essence of life bestowed by the First God, soared high into the sky. The First God had high hopes for it, wishing it to become the progenitor of the feathered race. Yet, unexpectedly, it fell in this northern valley, transforming into a “whale-fall, all things thrive” phenomenon, spurring the evolution of not just one kind of bird, but countless species.

Thus, this valley naturally became the sacred ground of the feathered tribes, with many birds now settling here to reproduce.

At a glance, Liang Yuan saw seven or eight distinct bird species, all of considerable size, who had already taken human form and begun forming the most primitive, rudimentary bird tribes.

It was somewhat surprising.

Only five hundred years had passed, and already they had begun to band together for communal development.

But thinking further, it made sense.

After all, most birds are inherently social creatures; now that they had transformed into humanoid forms, it was only natural they would continue living in groups.

Their evolution was rapid, likely due to their consumption of the essence of life, with each generation more refined than the last.

Liang Yuan followed the valley deeper.

With the cliffs growing steeper on both sides, more and more caves appeared, serving as nests for the great birds. The skies above the valley swarmed with birds flying to and fro.

Should he foster a feathered king?

No, Liang Yuan had already supported a merfolk king once; to do so for the feathered folk would be tedious and dull.

Moreover, his support of the merfolk king, Quanxi, was primarily to facilitate his own exploration of the underwater world.

He had already traversed the terrestrial world while searching for the Jianmu; another journey would serve little purpose.

Now, what Liang Yuan sought was not a single ruler, but the rise of an entire race.

With this thought, he ventured deeper into the valley, and suddenly noticed, atop a cliff, a flower yet to bear fruit.

Seeing this flower, Liang Yuan’s mind flashed with inspiration. In an instant, he appeared before it.

A jade-green gleam emanated from his fingertip and merged into the flower.

Moments later, the blossoms bloomed swiftly, yielding several crystal-clear fruits that gleamed invitingly, stirring the appetite just by their appearance.

The fruit quickly caught the attention of several nearby feathered folk, who eagerly plucked them, swallowing them whole until not a trace remained.

During their feast, the seeds fell to the ground, immediately burrowing into the earth like ginseng fruit, as if awaiting their next cycle of ripening.

Witnessing this, Liang Yuan smiled, utterly satisfied.

This fruit could be called “Spirit Awakener,” or “Shape-Changer.”

It enabled the feathered tribes to swiftly gain intelligence and shed their beastly forms, retaining only certain features.

Though such rapid advancement defied the laws of nature, it was exceedingly effective.

Besides, what are the laws of nature?

I am the Creator; my word is the law of nature!

However, the fruit’s energy was limited; after three or four cycles, its power would be exhausted.

Even so, once depleted, the fruit would still be crisper and more delicious than ordinary fruits, and possess some supernatural qualities.

Liang Yuan departed, content.

But as he left, the feathered folk who first consumed the fruit suddenly raised his head, his bright eyes fixed on the departing figure bathed in sunlight.

His lips trembled, but something seemed lodged in his throat, rendering him mute.

Finally, he flushed red with effort and raised his hands, wings unfurled behind him, and, using every ounce of strength, uttered the first cry of his people:

“God!”

The other feathered folk who had eaten the fruit paused their rough actions, clumsily imitating their peer, raising their hands and earnestly calling out:

“Feather…God…”

“Feathered God!”

…

After leaving the Northern Continent, Liang Yuan continued southeast.

The Merfolk King’s court lay near the southern coast of the Northern Continent, in the coastal and mid-sea regions, while the feathered tribes would now inhabit the surrounding north.

Thus, across the entire Nine Continents, only the Northern Continent showed signs of thriving life—a solitude that felt almost too lonely.

Yet, to populate all Nine Continents with intelligent races would be a vast undertaking, a truly difficult feat.

Moreover, Liang Yuan had other aspirations.

He wished to create a true mythical creature.

The Merfolk and Feathered Folk, though legendary, fell short of what Liang Yuan desired.

He sought true mythic beings: true dragons, golden ravens, qilin.

Life, when tedious, always needs a touch of spice.

The current geography of the Nine Continents was somewhat arbitrary: East, South, West, and North stood at their respective cardinal points, while three central continents clustered closely together.

These three were the smallest of the Nine, and were where Liang Yuan had stood when he split the lands.

Because the center was most significant, it fractured into three smaller landmasses.

Additionally, between North and East lay a northeastern continent; between South and West, a southwestern one.

These two were neither large nor small, rather suitable in size.

Such was the full expanse of the Nine Continents.

Liang Yuan was now flying south from the Northern Continent.

Soon, in one of the central three continents, he spotted a majestic bird.

Radiant and spirited, it resembled a fairy dancing in flowing sleeves, graceful and upright, its red feathers dazzling to behold.

At first glance, it had the bearing of a red-crowned crane.

Liang Yuan realized it matched the image of a divine beast from his memory.

“It shall be you.”