In a perfect world, you start by relying on your own strength.

The elder in the lead nodded repeatedly and said with emotion, "Only the First Ancestral Land could have saved that child from that desperate situation."

The group of people wore solemn expressions. Since they could remember, the legend of the first ancestral land had been passed down through generations in their clan. That place was the original origin of the entire Stone Clan. The first Emperor of the Stone Kingdom led his people out of the first ancestral land, expanded their territory, and eventually established the vast Stone Kingdom, forging the supreme glory of the Stone Clan.

After a while, the elders calmed down. The eldest elder looked at Shi Geng and said in a deep voice, "Young friend, you come from the First Ancestral Land. What brings you to my Second Ancestral Land?"

The elders sighed inwardly. The Second Ancestral Land was no longer as glorious as it once was. Within the vast ancestral land, only they, an old man nearing the end of his lifespan, and a few servants remained to guard it. They were gradually fading away and were almost completely forgotten by the outside world.

Everyone couldn't help but wonder what this child from the First Ancestral Land had come to visit so suddenly.

Shi Geng glanced at the child peeking out of the courtyard, then turned to the group of elders, his tone frank: "I have come here for two reasons, firstly for this child, and secondly for all of you seniors."

The group was taken aback for a moment, then quickly understood Shi Geng's meaning. The elder in the lead asked, "You want to take this child away?"

He paused, then slowly shook his head, his tone full of melancholy: "It's a way out for this child to leave with you, but there's no need for the rest of us. Our lifespans are already running out, and our bodies are deteriorating day by day. We're practically on our last legs, and even the most miraculous medicine can't prolong our lives. Let us old bones stay here and live out our days in this ancestral land."

Upon hearing this, the children in the courtyard immediately ran out and hugged the old man's leg tightly, their little faces full of stubbornness: "Grandpa, I'm not going anywhere, I want to stay with you forever!"

The old man stiffened slightly, his rough hands gently stroking the child's head, a hint of guilt rising in his cloudy eyes.

He sighed deeply, filled with helplessness and guilt, yet he still gently advised, "Silly child, staying here will only make your future more difficult. Only by leaving with this young man can you see a wider world."

The elder in the lead was filled with mixed emotions. This child was a direct descendant of his lineage, and how could he bear to leave him to suffer in this dilapidated ancestral land?

They can still hold on now and protect the little guy, but once their lifespans run out and they pass away, those with evil intentions will definitely come knocking on their door immediately.

Upon hearing this, the little guy tightened his arms, shook his head vigorously, and his eyes gradually reddened: "I don't want to, I just want to stay with all my great-grandfathers."

The old man raised his hand to wipe the corner of his eye and coaxed softly, "Be good, listen to me. Your great-grandfather will be here waiting for you. When you have completed your studies, you can come back to see me anytime you want."

The child pouted, tears welling in his eyes, his little hands still clutching the old man's clothes tightly, refusing to let go.

Seeing this, the old man felt helpless and gently stroked the child's head. The little boy's body went limp, his eyes closed, and he fainted.

The old man carefully held the child steady, looked up at Shi Geng, and said with a solemn and earnest expression, "This child has suffered a lot and endured many hardships that were not his own. I would be grateful if you could take good care of him in the future."

Shi Geng stepped forward, reached out and gently took the sleeping child into his arms, his movements careful not to disturb him.

"Rest assured, seniors. Since I have come here specifically for this purpose, I will certainly protect him." His tone was calm, and his gaze swept over the desolate courtyard. "Are you all truly not leaving?"

The elderly men looked at each other, let out a long sigh, and shook their heads.

The elderly man at the head of the group raised his hands in a cupped-hand salute, his voice full of vicissitudes: "These old bones of ours can no longer walk. Young friend, please take him away quickly, or things may change."

Many of the servants in the manor had already been bribed by outsiders, and the commotion in the courtyard just now must have been heard by their spies. If they delayed any longer, they might not be able to leave even if they wanted to.

Shi Geng understood immediately. Without further hesitation, he bowed slightly in return, picked up the child from his arms, and without saying another word, turned and strode out of the courtyard.

Several aged gazes followed silently behind them until the two figures disappeared from sight. Only then did the old people slowly withdraw their gazes, staring at the empty courtyard gate, standing silently in the wind.

As soon as he stepped out of the village, Shi Geng gently placed the sleeping child on the broad back of the unicorn, then leaped onto its back with a light tap of his toes.

With a long neigh, Little White leaped forward, its four hooves swirling, and it raced into the depths of the Great Wilderness, its figure transforming into a white blur in an instant before gradually disappearing into the world.

After a long while, the experts from the Rain Clan finally arrived. Looking at the dilapidated manor before them, their faces were ashen, and the atmosphere around them was frighteningly oppressive.

The leader scanned the empty village entrance, his eyes filled with hostility, and gritted his teeth as he coldly shouted, "Still too late!"

His men searched the area and returned to report that there was no trace of them. The vast wilderness was too boundless to be traced.

The crowd stood rooted to the spot, their anger surging but unable to find an outlet. They stared intently at the desolate village, none daring to venture inside.

Although this place has long since declined, it is still the ancestral land of the Stone Clan. If a major disturbance is caused here, and the Stone Clan kings and nobles investigate, the consequences will be far beyond what they can bear.

The leading Rain Clan expert's face was grim, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked. After a long silence, he finally suppressed his murderous intent: "Withdraw. Later, arrange for more people to guard this place."

The group of Rain Clan members soon disappeared into the mountains and forests.

At this moment, Shi Geng had already taken "Shi Hao" and traveled thousands of miles away.

The unicorn galloped swiftly on all fours, steadily making its way home, leaving only a fleeting white afterimage across the wilderness.

The child in his arms was still fast asleep, and Shi Geng's gaze remained steady as he continued without stopping for a moment.

After traveling for an unknown amount of time, "Shi Hao" on his back slowly opened his eyes and blinked in confusion.

He looked around, but the familiar courtyard and his great-grandfather were nowhere to be seen. Beneath him lay the broad back of a strange beast, and all around him was a rapidly receding forest and wilderness. Panic gripped him. He struggled to sit up, his voice hoarse from just waking up: "Where am I? I need to go back to find my great-grandfather!"

Shi Hao tried to jump down using both hands and feet, his eyes instantly reddening, and he cried out repeatedly that he wanted to turn back.

Shi Geng reached out and gently pressed his shoulder: "If you go back now, not only will you be in danger, but the elderly will also be implicated."

Shi Hao stopped struggling, sobbing as he looked back in the direction he had come from. His little face was full of reluctance, but he also vaguely understood the danger in the words. He could only bite his lip and silently shed tears.

Shi Geng shook his head helplessly. He was just a child himself, and he didn't know how to comfort a crying child. So he simply stopped talking and let the little guy be sad on his own, focusing on urging the unicorn to continue on its way.

Shi Hao wiped away his tears, gazing at the road he had come from, which was receding into the distance. His little mouth was pursed tightly, his heart filled with longing for his great-grandfather and ancestral land. He stopped shouting to turn back and just lay silently on the beast's back.

Suddenly, a powerful roar that shook the mountains and forests exploded out, causing the surrounding leaves to fall in a rustling sound.

The unicorn paused, its ears perked up warily, and its hooves tensed slightly.