"Worship stems from people's fear of the world."Gong Kong grew up in a modest household on the outskirts of the outer city, under the care of a single woman. Their abode, a simple treehouse tucked away from the bustle, whispered tales of humble beginnings.

　　From the day he was born, his mother adorned him with a precious jade pendant, a talisman believed to bring fortune—a delicate semi-circle etched with intricate lines resembling the sinuous form of a Qinglong dragon, resting gently around his neck. And there was the yellow headscarf, carefully wrapped around his head, a constant companion throughout his formative years.

　　As he grew more adventurous, Gong Kong one day ventured out to play, his head adorned with the familiar yellow headscarf. But outside, he was met with curious stares and hushed murmurs. Returning home, frustration boiled over as he lashed out at his mother, vowing never to wear the yellow headscarf again. Yet fate had other plans; the very next day, Windwood Citadel was awash with a sea of yellow.

　　Whispers spread like wildfire, attributing this sudden decree to the chief, seeking to impose uniformity within the GongYou Clan. Every member, regardless of age or gender, was now obligated to don the yellow headscarf as a symbol of allegiance.

　　But the decree didn't stop there; it carried dire consequences for those who dared to defy it. Anyone caught without the yellow headscarf within the citadel's walls risked being branded a spy and facing a public execution without mercy. The hunters of the GongYou Clan, once revered, now found themselves the target of mockery from neighboring tribes, mockingly dubbed the "Yellow Scarf Army.Gong Kong grew up in a modest household on the outskirts of the outer city, under the care of a single woman. Their abode, a simple treehouse tucked away from the bustle, whispered tales of humble beginnings.

　　From the day he was born, his mother adorned him with a precious jade pendant, a talisman believed to bring fortune—a delicate semi-circle etched with intricate lines resembling the sinuous form of a Qinglong dragon, resting gently around his neck. And there was the yellow headscarf, carefully wrapped around his head, a constant companion throughout his formative years.

　　As he grew more adventurous, Gong Kong one day ventured out to play, his head adorned with the familiar yellow headscarf. But outside, he was met with curious stares and hushed murmurs. Returning home, frustration boiled over as he lashed out at his mother, vowing never to wear the yellow headscarf again. Yet fate had other plans; the very next day, Windwood Citadel was awash with a sea of yellow.

　　Whispers spread like wildfire, attributing this sudden decree to the chief, seeking to impose uniformity within the GongYou Clan. Every member, regardless of age or gender, was now obligated to don the yellow headscarf as a symbol of allegiance.

　　But the decree didn't stop there; it carried dire consequences for those who dared to defy it. Anyone caught without the yellow headscarf within the citadel's walls risked being branded a spy and facing a public execution without mercy. The hunters of the GongYou Clan, once revered, now found themselves the target of mockery from neighboring tribes, mockingly dubbed the "Yellow Scarf Army."Childhood flowed by carefree until the abrupt arrival of a pivotal day that irrevocably altered the course of everything.

　　He reminisced about it with crystal clarity—the day Windwood Citadel's sky bore witness to the imposing silhouette of an enormous triangular bird. A voice cried out, "Vimana is here!" and the denizens of the streets scurried to find refuge in their treehouses, hastily locking doors and windows.

　　Later, he came to understand that this day marked the hunters' annual ordeal in Windwood Citadel—a day shrouded in the haunting specter of subjugation and oppression.

　　As households bustled about, frantically securing their homes, he stood atop a stool, propped against the window sill, casting curious glances outside.

　　"Child, close the window at once!" his mother's voice echoed with urgency.At that moment, his mother joined him at the window. As she gazed through the glass and caught sight of the triangular bird soaring above, she too gasped in astonishment, frozen in place.

　　The grotesque bird, reminiscent of a menacing beast, now loomed overhead with its gaping maw, sucking up children from the ground and swallowing them whole.

　　Pointing at the children suspended in mid-air by the bird, he fired off a barrage of questions, "Mom, are Xiao Kui and Xiao Tian inside there? I want to know, are there celestial gods inside that big bird? Are Xiao Kui and Xiao Tian going to be eaten by the celestial gods? Why do they want to eat us humans?"

　　His mother looked at him, at a loss for words for a moment, before murmuring, "Child, even I have never seen celestial gods, but Xiao Kui and Xiao Tian are offering sacrifices to them. It's because we lost the competition. Thankfully, my draw didn't select them, or else..."

　　"The Baihuo Clan are our enemies. If we hadn't lost to them in the competition, Xiao Kui and Xiao Tian wouldn't have been taken. I hate them!"

　　"Child, the Baihuo Clan are just like us, humble and weak humans. It's our fate to offer sacrifices to the celestial gods; it's our duty and calling."

　　"The celestial gods, I hate them too! Were we really created by them? Is their purpose in creating us simply to consume us?"Mom paused for a moment, her voice hesitant as she spoke, "Child, you mustn't say such things. You can't harbor hatred towards the celestial gods of the Yellow Clan who brought us into existence. Without them, there would be no GongYou Clan."

　　Gently touching his head, she continued, "I've heard tales of a time when the Yellow Clan celestial gods didn't demand sacrifices from our people. But now, it's different. This all stems from our Huang Clan celestial gods losing a war, and it's the punishment handed down by the Green Clan celestial gods."

　　"Child, this is our fate. The sacrifice made by Xiao Kui and Xiao Tian secured the safety of our entire human race. It's a sacrifice worth making."

　　"Mom, it's not fair for Xiao Kui and Xiao Tian to die while we remain alive. I don't want them to die."

　　Mom fell silent, her heart heavy with conflicting emotions. She felt a sense of relief knowing her child could grasp such complex concepts at such a young age. Yet, she was also overwhelmed by the daunting task of explaining the complexities of the world to her child.

　　In that moment, the colossal bird in the sky unleashed blinding bursts of white light, targeting unsuspecting pedestrians below, its presence a stark reminder of the danger lurking outside. The piercing screams pierced through the air, echoing endlessly.

　　Quickly closing the window, Mom pulled her child close, feeling his trembling form against hers. Despite the chaos outside, there was a fleeting sense of relief knowing her child had safely navigated through another year.Gong Kong fondly recalled his childhood as Xiao Kong, living in a quaint treehouse with his mother, not far from the homes of his dear childhood companions, Jia Kui and Lei Tian.

　　Jia Kui, Lei Tian, and Xiao Kong shared an inseparable bond from their earliest years. Yet, amidst their innocent play, Xiao Kong often grappled with a deep-seated curiosity about his peculiar surname "Xiao" and the absence of a father figure in his life, growing up under his mother's care.

　　Filled with a sense of longing and insecurity, Xiao Kong frequently turned to his mother, questioning the reason behind his father's absence. Each time he posed this poignant query, his mother tenderly reassured him with a bittersweet tale—that his father had ascended to the heavens and would one day return to whisk him away on a celestial journey through the skies. Hearing this heartening tale, Xiao Kong's spirit would soar, finally understanding the significance of his name "Xiao Kong." From then on, he found solace in the dream of soaring among the clouds, a daily reverie that uplifted his young heart with hope and wonder.During his childhood, he often overheard adults discussing the yearly ritual combat tournament, yet as a young boy, its true significance eluded him.

　　One particular year stands out vividly in his memory, marked by the GongYou Clan's defeat in the spring tournament. At the tender age of three, he found himself amidst the aftermath, alongside Lei Tian, aged four, and Jia Kui, five.

　　In the days that followed this pivotal event, their home was invaded by a group of masked figures clad in black and red attire. They barged in, demanding his mother's presence at a designated location for a lottery drawing.Mother guided him to the front of the treehouse, where they observed parents queuing up one by one. Amongst the crowd, he noticed Jia Kui and Lei Tian's father in line as well.

　　His mother went inside to draw lots first and emerged joyfully shortly after. Then he witnessed Jia Kui and Lei Tian's father enter to draw lots. When they reappeared, their faces were pale, particularly Lei Tian's father, who collapsed just a few steps outside the treehouse.

　　Later, he discovered that Lei Tian's older brother had been chosen as a human sacrifice two years prior, and Lei Tian's father never imagined his luck would be so unfortunate as to have his younger son selected this year. Lei Tian's father couldn't help but faint in anger right then and there.

　　The day Jia Kui and Lei Tian were taken away remains vivid in his memory.

　　On that morning, the two children, dressed in new clothes, were escorted onto the streets by adults. When they spotted Little Kong standing by the roadside bidding them farewell, they approached him.

　　Jia Kui grasped his hand. "Xiao Kong, we're going to serve the celestial gods. I heard we can have meat there every day. We will go first to scout the way. Will you come next year, okay?""Is that true? We get to eat meat every day! I want to go right now."

　　"Well, your mom needs to draw the lot first."

　　The parents of the two children accompanied them to the street, where, upon the tribal chief's command, the High Priest led the priests to various intersections to welcome the sacrificial children. Jia Kui and Lei Tian eagerly trailed behind.

　　As Jia Kui and Lei Tian's parents watched their children walk away, they struggled to hold back their tears, eventually succumbing to sobs. They couldn't bring themselves to tell the harsh truth to their children, instead fabricating tales of serving the celestial gods and the promise of daily feasts.

　　Onlookers along the roadside witnessed the scene and began to converse.

　　"Bringing children into this world seems cruel. It's almost as if it's better not to have them if they're destined to be consumed by the celestial gods.""Yeah, I don't plan on having kids anymore. Bringing children into this cruel world, deceiving them into being happily consumed by the celestial gods, it's just unfathomable cruelty!"Upon hearing the hushed conversations of the adults nearby, Xiao Kong finally grasped the gravity of the sacrificial ritual. His desperate cries to find Jia Kui and Lei Tian were met with the firm grip of his mother, pulling him back home against his will.

　　The harrowing sight of Jia Kui and Lei Tian being whisked away by the monstrous triangular figure in the sky etched itself as a permanent nightmare in Xiao Kong's young mind.

　　It was in that moment of fear and realization that he comprehended the true purpose behind the annual spring tournament held by the GongYou Clan and Baihuo Clan, as well as the dire consequences of defeat.

　　The celestial gods' insatiable demand was clear—they sought children between the tender ages of 3 and 6. Each year, on this solemn day, the gods would descend in their awe-inspiring triangular vessel, Vimana, to claim the young souls gathered in the open fields of the vanquished clan.

　　The fate of these children, once taken, remained shrouded in mystery, but it was a fate from which none ever returned.

　　With each passing spring, families with children aged 3 to 6 endured a heart-wrenching ordeal, their prayers fervently directed towards the celestial deities of the Yellow Clan, desperately hoping for victory in the impending tournament.

　　For those who faced defeat, the agonizing cycle of prayers continued unabated, a daily ritual of pleading that their own family would be spared in the drawing of lots.Defeating the Baihuo Clan in the ritual combat tournament became his childhood aspiration, a fervent desire to rid the skies of the menacing triangular bird forever.

　　In the ensuing three years, both the GongYou Clan and the Baihuo Clan actively sought skilled warriors, honing their skills tirelessly for the impending tournaments. The outcomes oscillated between triumphs and setbacks.

　　Thankfully, during that period, the GongYou Clan suffered only one defeat. With all eligible families of the Long Tribe participating in the lottery, fortune once again smiled upon Little Kong's mother, sparing him from the harrowing fate of sacrifice.

　　Surviving the ordeal unscathed, Xiao Kong navigated through those tumultuous years, a feat not easily accomplished by most children.

　　As he matured, tales of the third eye adorning the foreheads of the Green Tribe's Celestial gods intrigued him. Often, he would steal solitary moments in his room, clandestinely lifting his yellow headscarf to scrutinize the faint seam on his own forehead.

　　One day, unable to contain his curiosity any longer, he confronted his mother, demanding to understand why he bore a third eye while she did not.

　　His mother was at a loss for words. The following day, a man named Gong Dian arrived and divulged the truth to him.It turned out that the woman who raised him wasn't his birth mother but rather his wet nurse. He bore divine lineage, being a half-god born of the celestial leader of the Yellow Tribe and a mortal woman.

　　Gong Dian revealed to him, "Your mortal mother, from the people tribe, is my sister, Gong Shui. That makes me your uncle."

　　After the conclusion of the War of the Gods, Gong Dian took measures to safeguard his well-being. He appointed a reliable servant as his wet nurse and brought him up in a discreet location beyond the city walls.

　　Furthermore, Gong Dian arranged for a trusted aide named Yao Gang to secretly watch over them nearby, ensuring their daily needs were met and providing protection.

　　Before departing, Gong Dian extracted a promise from him never to disclose the existence of his third eye. The revelation of possessing such a trait, akin to the creature that took away his childhood friend, plunged him into self-loathing and prolonged isolation.

　　Upon reaching the age of 13, Gong Dian relocated him to the inner city, where he resided in the Chief's Mansion as Gong Dian's officially adopted son. He was thereafter known as Gong Kong.

　　By this time, the War of the Gods had concluded, and the GongYou Clan had submitted to the celestial gods of the Green Tribe, ushering in an era of peace.

　　Gong Dian's treatment of him stood in stark contrast to his biological sons, Gong Kang, and Gong Yi, who faced strict discipline and dared not defy Gong Dian's authority. Gong Kong, on the other hand, received special attention from Gong Dian, leading to rumors of his illegitimate lineage.Having relocated to the inner city, Lady Yu Jiao, noticing Gong Dian's favoritism towards him, never spared him a kind glance and constantly found fault in his actions.

　　Being astute, he discerned Lady Yu Jiao's envy of Gong Dian's special treatment towards him, contrasting it with the treatment given to Gong Dian's two biological sons. Concerned that Gong Dian might eventually pass on the chieftainship to him, he deliberately indulged in reckless behavior. Soon, he became proficient in every vice - drinking, gambling, and revelry. He adopted the guise of a rogue, stirring up trouble wherever he went and tarnishing his own reputation.

　　On one occasion, he ventured to gamble in the outer city and ended up squandering all his money, unable to settle his debts. He was pursued by the gambling house owner through several streets, almost being chased into the inner city. It was only with Gong Dian's intervention that the situation was resolved.

　　Interestingly, Gong Dian not only refrained from punishing Gong Kong afterward but also didn't utter a word of reprimand. This led Lady Yu Jiao to realize that Gong Dian had not intended to groom Gong Kong as his successor, easing her concerns.

　　Thankfully, there was no estrangement between Gong Kong and Gong Dian's other biological children, particularly his close bond with Gong Jie.After settling into the inner city, he found himself often pondering the fate of the wet nurse who had nurtured him. In a moment of privacy, he sought out Gong Dian to inquire about her whereabouts.

　　Gong Dian revealed that, in order to safeguard his well-being and maintain the secrecy of his lineage, the wet nurse had tragically taken her own life by drowning in the river shortly after his relocation to the inner city. This revelation left him stricken with sorrow for many days.

　　Yao Gang, the steadfast guardian who had protected both him and his wet nurse, now assumed the role of Captain of the Guards at the outer city gate. Recognizing Yao Gang's unwavering dedication to his safety over the years, he greeted him with warmth and affection, often addressing him fondly as "Pops" whenever they crossed paths, a smile gracing his lips.

　　On another occasion, he sought answers from Gong Dian regarding the whereabouts of his biological parents. Gong Dian proceeded to recount the tumultuous events of the War of the Gods.

　　Despite the passage of numerous years, Gong Dian's demeanor visibly shifted whenever he revisited the harrowing memories of the intense battles from the past, his countenance clouded with melancholy and sorrow.

　　According to Gong Dian's narrative, he and his father, Gong Chang, had actively participated in the pivotal clash that unfolded on the Deer Grasslands within the Baihuo Clan's territory.

　　During this tumultuous battle, chaos reigned supreme as the celestial gods of the Yellow and Black Tribes clashed ferociously in the skies against their counterparts from the Green Tribe and their loyal adherents, the Eagle Tribe. Meanwhile, on the ground, the human tribe engaged in brutal combat against the Minotaur Tribe and the Giant Tribe, resulting in a gruesome spectacle of carnage, with blood staining the land like rivers.

　　The human tribe endured significant losses, with Gong Chang, the esteemed leader of the GongYou Clan, meeting his demise amidst the brutal conflict. Nonetheless, fueled by unwavering devotion to the celestial deities of the Yellow Clan, the hunters of the GongYou Clan defiantly cried out "From Death, Comes Life," refusing to yield and fighting valiantly until the bitter end, inflicting heavy casualties upon the Minotaur Tribe and the Giant Tribe.As the standoff between the two factions on the ground persisted, the leader of the Green Clan's celestial gods descended from the heavens, clutching the severed heads of the leaders of the Yellow and Black Clan's celestial gods.

　　Seeing the demise of the leaders of the Yellow and Black Tribes' celestial gods, the GongYou Clan and the Baihuo Clan found themselves compelled to lower their heads in submission to the leader of the Green Clan's celestial gods.

　　With tears welling in his eyes, Gong Dian finally addressed Gong Kong, "In those days, the leader of the Yellow Clan's celestial gods was together with your mother, Gong Shui. I personally witnessed the downfall of the leader of the Yellow Clan's celestial gods, and I can only assume that Gong Shui met the same fate at the hands of the Green Clan during the war. Our human tribe's strength is so feeble, incapable of safeguarding the biological parents of the young master. I implore the young master for forgiveness."

　　In the aftermath of this monumental battle, Gong Chang, the chieftain of the GongYou Clan, perished, and the clan's most skilled warriors were nearly decimated. What more could Gong Kong hold against them?

　　His childhood comrade was seized as a sacrificial offering by the Green Clan, and now he discovered that his biological parents had also fallen to the Green Clan. Henceforth, a seed of vengeance against the Green Clan was firmly planted within his heart.