In ancient times, demons stole the fire seed, plunging the Hani region into darkness. Crops failed, and the people suffered. Young Mingzha’s father had left home fifteen years earlier to retrieve the fire seed, but there had been no word from him since. Determined to fulfill his father’s mission, Mingzha received a divine bow from the village elder, Ruma, who told him that the ferocious demon lived in the distant Stone Gate Mountain. Mingzha bid farewell to his family and journeyed through the scorching Red Water Valley. There, he saved a dying old tree root, which in return showed him the way. Upon reaching Stone Gate Mountain, he did not find his father but instead witnessed the demon’s mountain-guarding tiger chasing a small antelope. Mingzha rescued the antelope and used water from his homeland to break a spell, transforming the antelope into a maiden. She was the daughter of a heavenly deity, cursed by the demon. Guided by the maiden, Mingzha ventured deep into the cave and found the demon. While the demon slept, Mingzha seized the fire seed, but was captured. He immediately swallowed the fire seed, and his body swiftly transformed into a ball of fire. The demon was destroyed, but Mingzha could never return to human form. The fireball returned to the Hani village, bringing light back to the people forevermore. This film received the Best Animated Film Award at the 5th Golden Rooster Awards in 1985, the Outstanding Film Award from the Ministry of Culture in 1984, and first prize at the inaugural Hiroshima International Animation Festival.