The two groups of men, carrying various weapons, marched towards the locals. Five or six hundred of them were eager to fight, and their advance was very rapid.
The old village chief led the way, holding an unidentified bone shield in one hand and a long fang in the other, displaying remarkable vigor despite his age. Those were the fangs of a "piercing beast," fangs said to originate from the same animal depicted on the statue hanging outside the old village chief's house—the fangs of the "piercing beast."
Zhang Guodong was also assigned two sets of equipment: a leather armor and a wooden-handled spear. He struggled to keep up with the crowd. Therefore, he could not be considered a major fighting force.
As they walked, Zhang Guodong marveled at how monstrous their physiques and strength were! Their speed was also incredibly abnormal.
However, at this moment, there was no time to worry about anything else.
Zhang Guodong was full of questions and wanted to ask about the holy site, but the villagers remained silent, and the atmosphere was very solemn, so he had to keep his questions to himself.
It involved nearly three months and more than ten hunting trips into the mountains. Zhang Guodong traversed hundreds of square kilometers, but he had never entered the sacred site, nor did he know where it was. Whenever the topic of the "sacred site" came up, the villagers would turn pale, warning Zhang Guodong that the gods were not something they could casually discuss.
Then, the villagers stopped mentioning it.
Zhang Guodong had no choice but to keep quiet about the matter.
But today is an opportunity!
Zhang Guodong wanted to figure out what kind of world this was, and whether gods truly existed. What exactly were the gods the villagers spoke of? And were they related to the secret of his escape?
After walking for only half a day, the group arrived at an incredibly deep canyon. Inside and outside the canyon, the trees were so dense that they blocked out the sun. Some of the trees were hundreds of meters long and tens of meters thick. When Zhang Guodong got closer, he was immediately dumbfounded.
Originally, this place could be seen from Zitai Village. But all we could see was a dark mass, which we mistook for mountain peaks, only to find out it was the shadow cast by these giant trees.
"So tall, so big, so thick!" Zhang Guodong was momentarily stunned, astonished by the sheer size of these numbers. But the villagers seemed oblivious, as if they were used to such sights.
"Brother Guodong, hurry up and keep up! There are many trees like this in the mountains, some even taller and thicker!" A young man from the village nudged Zhang Guodong and whispered. "In this sacred place, these trees are not allowed to be cut down and must be protected, otherwise the gods will be angry!"
The two fell behind, and Zhang Guodong quickly nodded and caught up with the group.
The villagers have protected this place for generations, so it's not surprising that these trees have grown so tall and large. In fact, even disregarding the enormous size of these trees, the heads of wild boar-like prey in the mountains are about the size of calves, yet they are among the smallest of all wild animals. Clearly, everything here defies common sense. "Are we going into the canyon? It's so dense, how do we get through?" Zhang Guodong asked in a low voice, a hint of nervousness in his voice as he watched the old village chief lead the villagers into the canyon with a reverent expression.
"Shh!" To everyone's surprise, Chan Bu Huo shushed him, his face serious, and covered his mouth to signal for silence.
Zhang Guodong suddenly realized from his actions: Could this canyon already be within the sacred grounds?! Once inside the sacred grounds, even a single step is no longer permitted, and one cannot make any noise at will. This was evident from the awe on everyone's faces.
Just then, a heart-stirring murmur echoed from the deep valley. It sounded like a Buddhist chant, very penetrating, but the murmur was very mysterious, and no one could understand it, as could be seen from the confusion and panic on everyone's faces.
The old village chief and the others did not notice that Zhang Guodong, who was at the very back, stopped in his tracks, his face showing an expression of disbelief, as if he had seen a ghost.
"That voice sounds so familiar, so intimate," Zhang Guodong exclaimed in surprise. The murmur from just now had instantly entered Zhang Guodong's mind. To his astonishment, the murmur sounded like a baby playing outside nestled in an adult's arms—intimate, playful, and conveying the same message.
"Guodong, what's wrong?"
Sensing someone's anxious tone and repeated nudging, Zhang Guodong immediately snapped out of his daze.
They discovered that they had fallen behind again.
"What happened just now? What was that sound?" Zhang Guodong asked hurriedly.
"That's the voice of the gods! It's never been heard before!" the young man exclaimed excitedly. "The gods are welcoming their people!"
"The people?" He looked so excited. Did he mean the villagers of Zitai Village?
“Every year, the village chief brings them here to worship the gods and offer ‘energy fruit.’ The gods will then bless their people!”
"No way? Energy Fruit? That's the crop I cultivated? Is this something that gods like to eat?"
Incredible! The "exquisite fruit" he found was actually used for offerings to deities? I'm flattered!
The energy fruit had a very hard shell; you had to crack it open to eat the kernel inside. The kernel was indeed delicious! Even Zhang Guodong felt his senses sharpen after eating it, as if a refreshing energy was rising within him—it was wonderful. Moreover, his strength had increased slightly!
Zhang Guodong found it unbelievable. The crop he had cultivated, originally intended to solve the villagers' food shortage, had now become food for the gods!
Upon reflection, it turned out that each family had taken a small portion home, and aside from tasting a few, most of it was hidden away. I had initially thought they were reluctant to eat it, but now I know it was prepared for the gods.
Zhang Guodong and the young man caught up with the group. He glanced at the villager's back and saw a small satchel, sewn from animal hide. It was bulging inside, seemingly containing energy fruits.
"We're almost at the center of the Holy Land. From now on, no talking!"
After walking for a while, a more welcoming atmosphere wafted over, which greatly excited Zhang Guodong.
Why did this place feel so familiar to him? Looking at the others, they seemed to have expressions of awe and reverence, muttering to themselves. Zhang Guodong couldn't understand what they were saying.
That might be an older language?
Will they also feel this warm and welcoming atmosphere?
"Boom!"
Just then, a violent explosion erupted from a great distance ahead, like thunder, shaking the entire valley and causing a tremendous roar. Zhang
Through the treetops, sure enough, two forces, one earthy yellow and one dark green, intertwined and soared upwards, reaching straight into the sky, like smoke rising from the ground.
"That yellowish-brown cloud of energy is a demonic energy, it's provoking the gods!" The old village chief, a master of demonic speech, spotted two tornado-like entities in the boundless open space ahead. Neither had a concrete form, both condensing into primal power, and each collision resulted in a violent impact of force and energy.
"Village chief, that demon is so powerful, what should we do?" The villagers immediately felt hatred for the yellowish-brown misty power, but even more so, they were terrified.
In their eyes, gods are incredibly powerful and sacred.
But this time, an equally powerful prodigy has appeared, fighting so fiercely with the gods. This is somewhat beyond their comprehension and imagination.
They knew that the gods were in trouble and needed help.
But with a collision of such intensity, they were completely unable to intervene.
Standing behind the crowd, Zhang Guodong's view was completely unobstructed. He stared blankly at the vast expanse of land in the distance, where two immense forces were entangled. The forces were so immense that they seemed to reach the heavens. From the midst of the entanglement, similar murmurs and roars could be heard continuously.
With every murmur and roar, the villagers below suffered. They were shaken and couldn't recover for a long time, their heads spinning.
Fortunately, they were far apart, at least twenty miles away, and the attacks from the gods and demons were not directed at them, so they were not in any danger.
However, what truly astonished and shocked Zhang Guodong was that the dark green mist was the very source that had previously felt so familiar. And the yellowish-brown mist beside it also felt familiar to him.
What exactly happened?
Zhang Guodong's mind was in turmoil.
The old village chief forced himself to remain calm, but in reality, he was at a loss as well, given how weak human strength was. If they were to get involved, they would probably be torn to pieces by this power before they even got close.
"Have faith in our god! He will surely slay the demon! Villagers, pray for our god! Offer up 'Energy Fruits'! With so many 'Energy Fruits,' the god will surely defeat the demon!"
Although the old village chief was helpless, his belief remained steadfast and unwavering. Moreover, he was very adept at organizing the villagers, instilling in them unconditional and unwavering worship!
Those piles of "Energy Fruits" were pulled out of their satchels, gathered little by little, and laid out on a piece of animal hide in front of everyone. Zhang Guodong smiled wryly; sure enough, they had all kept most of their Energy Fruits for this moment.
In the past, the entire village would contribute only about 100 jin (50 kg) of "Energy Fruit." But since Zhang Guodong cultivated the "Energy Fruit" in farmland, the yield has increased more than tenfold. The "Energy Fruit" we see now weighs a full 2,000 jin (1,000 kg)!
Zhang Guodong came in a hurry and didn't bring it with him, nor did he care about anything else.
At this moment, he was eager to know what those two powerful, misty forces were and what their relationship was with him. Leaving this place was a belief that Zhang Guodong had never forgotten.
Just as Zhang Guodong was about to ask, "This 'Energy Fruit,' is it even useful here? Can it help their gods?"
Suddenly, the murmurs rose in intensity, and the pile of "Energy Fruits" burst open with a series of crackling sounds. The crystal-clear fruit pieces flew into the air and miraculously merged into a crystalline ball of light, exuding a rich and exotic fragrance. Just one whiff of it made one feel as if they could live a long life.
"This is"
Zhang Guodong had never imagined that so many "energy fruits" could cause such a change when consumed together. The effect was far greater than when they were eaten directly.
Is it because this deity knows how to consume food?
Many questions lingered in Zhang Guodong's mind. Yet, he dared not miss even the slightest detail. The ball of light traversed twenty miles and crashed headlong into the dark green aura.
Zhang Guodong immediately sensed that the dark green spirit seemed to have received a powerful tonic, becoming much more invigorated than before. It momentarily overwhelmed the yellowish-brown mist.
"Whoosh!"
Just then, the yellowish-brown mist suddenly roared in fury. Its power was several times greater than before, and it was actually on par with the opponent's dark green mist.
"Click"
Countless mountain peaks and cliffs collapsed with a deafening roar from the collision. Many more towering trees were snapped in half or uprooted; where the struggle had taken place, a flat plain remained!
"Village chief, will the battle between the gods and that monster affect our village and that 'Energy Fruit' land?" someone in the crowd asked.
Today, the importance of "energy fruit" is self-evident.
It seemed their prediction had hit the mark; the movement of the fighting was indeed heading in their direction, and at a considerable speed, making a tremendous commotion.
"Quick, quick! The gods need space to fight, we must leave immediately!" The old village chief shouted, and the villagers immediately turned and ran back the way they came.
"Damn it!" Zhang Guodong was at the back, but the panicked crowd bumped into him, knocking him to the ground. Luckily, no one stepped on him. In the blink of an eye, he was at the back. How unfair! How unfair!
It would be a lie to say I'm not afraid.
What if these two invisible forces are some powerful being trying to possess my body? Or perhaps they simply enjoy devouring humans?
This place is too unsafe!
The villagers' physique and strength were so abnormal that they were also incredibly fast at escaping. In the blink of an eye, Zhang Guodong could no longer see them.
Zhang Guodong was so angry that he couldn't utter a single word for a long time. He then dusted himself off, sighed, and stood up.
As the force drew ever closer and its power intensified, Zhang Guodong felt a strange calm settle in his heart. Perhaps the secret to his impending departure from this world could be found here, so Zhang Guodong decided to stay. He couldn't let any possibility slip by!
The battle between the two energy clouds was happening incredibly fast!
With a whoosh, two waves of power, one dark green and one earthy yellow, hurtled towards him. Zhang Guodong was startled and tried to dodge, but his physical condition was far too weak; he simply couldn't escape.
"not good!"
"Rare!" Two streams of mist-like power, like two dragons and snakes of different sizes, instantly rushed into Zhang Guodong's body. The dark green dragon and snake was larger, while the earthy yellow one was several times smaller. But their power was comparable.
Zhang Guodong's body suddenly went out of control, and he froze in place.
Inside his body, however, the battleground became a struggle between two misty dragons and snakes of different thicknesses.
One yellow and one green collided, and something astonishing happened. Instead of a violent explosion, they merged together—and the merging was incredibly rapid.
In what seemed like an instant, all the dark green aura transformed into a yellowish-brown power mixed with green, only several times smaller. This newly formed yellowish-green power swirled and immediately headed towards Zhang Guodong's head.
Zhang Guodong was extremely anxious, but to no avail. Fortunately, the new energy quickly settled in a certain location in his brain, forming a vortex of energy. Zhang Guodong regained control of his body.
What just happened?
"Not good!" Before his eyes, the two enormous, misty tornadoes were incredibly close, and even more green and yellow gas clouds began to enter his body. The situation was completely out of control. He had once again lost control of his body.
Zhang Guodong stood stiffly, as more and more dark green and earthy yellow energy rushed into his body. Gradually, he was enveloped by this power, which grew thicker and thicker. Centered on him, the two enormous physical forces seemed to have found a better way to fight.
A murmur followed by a joyful roar, and that incredibly powerful breath rushed towards Zhang Guodong!
Outside the valley, the old village chief was counting heads. From here, one could see the figures of gods and demons battling overhead.
"Oh no, village chief! Brother Guodong isn't here. He's still in the valley!" a young man shouted.
"What do we do now that Zhang Guodong is missing?"
The old village chief panicked upon seeing this. In their haste to escape, they had completely forgotten that Zhang Guodong couldn't keep up with the others. He'd probably fallen behind then!
"Wait a little longer!" the old village chief said.
This wait lasted for an hour.
"Ah, the gods and demons have all vanished!"
"Huh, I really can't see it anymore!"
Panic gripped the crowd! In their eyes, the demon was incapable of defeating their god. But the battle figure that had emerged from the sky had vanished without a trace!
Who won and who lost?
After a long while, a figure stepped out of the valley. His feet never touched the ground; he hovered in the air. His entire demeanor had undergone a dramatic change. His eyes were incredibly deep; the old village chief and the others couldn't reconcile them with the Zhang Guodong they knew!
"Brother Guodong!"
Looking at the group of people outside, Zhang Guodong's eyes glazed over. "So, this was just a dream, yet it felt so real!"
Those individuals were merely weak, primordial units within his Purple Mansion. These realms, however, constituted his Purple Mansion.
He arrived at his Purple Palace.
That dark green was transformed from a demonic vine, while the smaller, earthy yellow aura was his magical power, which invaded his dantian and entered his dantian.
Now, the demonic vine has transformed into the source of life demonic power and has been converted and fused with higher energy magic power. From now on, there will be no more demonic vine, and he will no longer be a plant cultivator!
Suddenly, Zhang Guodong's eyes lit up.
"Although all of this is illusory, it is also real! The existence of this Zitai Village allows my magical power to continuously increase, even without cultivation! That 'Energy Fruit'—actually, it should be called 'Magic Power Fruit'—is cultivated and planted in my fields, causing its scale to expand continuously. Each year's offerings provide magical power!"
"Old village chief, everyone, I must leave! Your god has defeated the 'monster,' but he needs more 'Energy Fruits.' He also requests that this planting method be promoted so that all humans in this world can cultivate it. Each person can keep one-third and contribute two-thirds. Then, the god will continue to protect you!" Zhang Guodong said.
As soon as he finished speaking, a thunderclap resounded in the sky, and a crack opened up from above. An enormous golden humanoid sculpture descended from the sky, its immense pressure causing all living beings in this world to prostrate themselves on the ground.
The sculpture looks exactly like Zhang Guodong.
Only then did the old village chief believe Zhang Guodong's words, and he immediately kowtowed towards the golden sculpture. The others followed suit.
When everyone got up, they found that Zhang Guodong was not there.
Southwest Fang City, the small courtyard of Emperor Mu.
"Hey, brother, the life force inside the house has suddenly become much stronger!"
You Lanfu and her sworn brothers, Mu Di, Feng Huang, Duanmu Qingyun, and Chi Xiao, were discussing their cultivation experiences, and they always gained something from each discussion. This had been going on for the past three months.
For them, sometimes a sudden enlightenment is far more important than arduous cultivation. After all, at their level, it's not just about refining spiritual energy and transforming life force into demonic power; they need to go a step further and convert life force into a small amount of magical power, making comprehension even more crucial.
To break through one's current level, without the necessary comprehension and the corresponding level of understanding, one might never make progress in their entire life. However, magical power can be refined and absorbed over time.
But just as the five finished their conversation and were about to leave, a massive life force suddenly erupted from Emperor Mu's house.
It attracted the attention of the five people!
"This little guy is waking up!" Mu Di exclaimed in surprise. Then he smiled and said.
For the past three months, Zhang Guodong's physical condition has been neither good nor bad; he is neither dying nor getting better. Emperor Mu is also somewhat worried that Zhang Guodong might not make it through.
But now a vibrant life force is emerging, which means that Zhang Guodong has survived this ordeal!
The only concern is whether Zhang Guodong's cultivation level will regress.
Fang: Thank you again for all your blessings. Tiandao also thanks everyone for your good health, good mood, and career advancement!
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