“Master, can I go with you?”
Yan Hua couldn’t help but ask.
Bai Yue waited until Hei Ya had already walked away before finally opening her mouth to explain.
“A Divine Fruit that can increase cultivation speed and talent.”
“That does sound tempting, but I feel like something isn’t right.”
Bai Yue frowned.
“But Hei Ya was too hasty. She didn’t even ask if we wanted it before rushing off. Her purpose is too obvious.”
Mu Chenxi spoke up as well.
“That’s right. Master is right. There’s something strange about this village.”
“If all these people are cultivators, how can there not be a single mortal? That completely defies common sense.”
Su Qiuyue also floated out from Bai Yue’s body, her semi-transparent figure tinged with seriousness.
“Moreover, Hei Ya’s soul seems incomplete.”
Her voice echoed directly in everyone’s Sea of Consciousness.
“Master, I can sense Hei Ya’s soul is damaged too.”
“But what’s strange is, who would target a little girl at the Foundation Establishment Stage?”
“We should just observe for now. In any case, everyone needs to stay vigilant.”
Bai Yue spoke in a low voice.
Now that they had already entered Liushen Village, it was too late for regrets.
Su Qiuyue nodded, her figure flashing as she hid back inside Bai Yue.
Not long after, about half a stick of incense later, Hei Ya returned.
Beside her stood an old man with an immortal air.
The old man was dressed simply, his manner refined.
When he saw Bai Yue and the others, he clasped his hands in salute.
“Thank you, young friends, for saving this foolish Hei Ya.”
“She ran out of the village for a long time looking for her parents, giving this old man quite a headache.”
“If she hadn’t returned, I wouldn’t know how to explain to her parents.”
“This old man is the Chief of Liushen Village.”
As the Chief spoke, he bowed deeply to Bai Yue and the others in gratitude.
Bai Yue hurriedly waved her hand.
“Chief, there’s no need to be so polite. It was a small thing for us.”
Mu Chenxi, on the other hand, was secretly shocked.
The Chief of Liushen Village before her was unfathomable; she couldn’t see through him at all.
Clearly, his cultivation was far above the Divine Transformation Stage.
“Chief Grandpa already agreed to give you all Divine Fruit, Bai Yue-jiejie.”
“He specially picked the three biggest ones.”
Hei Ya came over, carrying a fruit basket in her hand.
Inside the basket were three fist-sized, bright red fruits.
A strange fragrance wafted from them, making one want to take a bite just by looking.
“Chief, these fruits are too precious. We can’t accept them.”
Bai Yue declined.
She had no desire to eat something of unknown origin.
If she wanted to grow stronger, she believed more in herself.
“No need to be so reserved, young friend. You saved our village’s younger generation, so you deserve the finest Divine Fruit.”
“Divine Fruit has many benefits and will aid you greatly on the Path of Immortality.”
The Chief’s face wrinkled with a warm smile.
“Then…we’ll accept them.”
“But since they’re such precious fruits, we should also prepare before consuming them.”
Seeing that refusal was futile, Bai Yue could only agree for now, though she had no intention of actually eating them.
“Then young friends, you should consume them as soon as possible—the sooner, the stronger the effect.”
The Chief reminded, but did not force Bai Yue to eat in front of him.
“Alright, Chief.”
Bai Yue forced a smile and nodded to show she understood.
“Then this old man won’t disturb you further.”
“You must be tired from your journey, so rest well at Hei Ya’s home.”
“If you need anything, just ask Hei Ya to find me. I’m at home cultivating. If you encounter any questions in cultivation, you can come seek my guidance.”
The Chief said.
“Alright, goodbye, Chief. If we have any problems, we’ll trouble you again.”
Bai Yue responded with a smile.
The Chief bade them farewell, then turned and strode off.
With a single step, his body shifted far away, and in just a few breaths, he vanished from sight.
“This Chief is not ordinary.”
Su Qiuyue’s voice echoed again in everyone’s Sea of Consciousness.
“His cultivation has reached the Wen Dao Stage.”
Wen Dao Stage?
Bai Yue’s heart sank.
She hadn’t expected the Chief of this tiny village to possess such profound cultivation.
It made her regret coming to Liushen Village even more.
If some danger truly lurked behind this place, they might not be able to handle it.
Even with Yan Hua present, it would still be risky.
“Bai Yue-jiejie, are you going to eat these Divine Fruits now?”
Hei Ya asked, tilting her head.
“We should put them away for now. Our realms have advanced too quickly lately—taking more Divine Fruit might destabilize our cultivation.”
Bai Yue offered an excuse.
“I see.”
“But I think Divine Fruit doesn’t harm your foundation. In fact, it strengthens it.”
Hei Ya explained earnestly, as if in her eyes, Divine Fruit was an omnipotent sacred object.
“In any case, caution is best in cultivation.”
Bai Yue replied.
“Then, big sister, please keep the Divine Fruit safe for now.”
Hei Ya said, holding the fruit basket out to Bai Yue.
Bai Yue reached out and accepted it.
Beside her, Yan Hua’s eyes lingered on the red fruits, her throat moving as she fought the urge to taste one.
But since Master had said not to eat them yet, she could only suppress her craving.
To be honest, Yan Hua didn’t detect the strange fragrance that Bai Yue and Mu Chenxi mentioned. Instead, she faintly sensed a sour smell.
But on second thought, she wondered if it was like the stinky tofu Master once spoke of—smelling foul, but tasting delicious.
The more she thought, the more curious she became.
“By the way, Master, let’s eat that Wild Boar first! It’s still in my Great Stomach.”
Yan Hua finally remembered her spoils of war.
Opening her mouth wide, she spat out the mountain-sized corpse of the Wild Boar Demon Beast from her Great Stomach.
“You’re right, Wild Boar Demon Beast meat should taste great.”
“Let me handle the butchering.”
Mu Chenxi formed a Sword Technique seal and swiftly began skinning and deboning the Wild Boar.
In moments, piles of neatly cut Wild Boar meat were arranged on the stone table in the courtyard, forming a small mountain.
Hei Ya’s house happened to have a large pot, so Bai Yue got to work cooking braised pork for everyone.
Soon, the aroma of braised Wild Boar filled the air.
The meat was tender and flavorful, fatty yet not greasy, and melted in the mouth.
Everyone ate their fill, their lips slick with satisfaction.
Hei Ya, unreserved, ate just as much as Yan Hua.
Her digestion was incredible—she even sat cross-legged, using the Wild Boar’s spiritual energy to raise her cultivation, which visibly increased.
Watching the small Hei Ya cultivate so diligently, Bai Yue felt a little odd.
But glancing at Mu Chenxi, she realized it was normal.
Chenxi used to be a cultivation maniac too.
So maybe it wasn’t such a big deal?
However, Hei Ya, the Chief, and the others in the village all devoted themselves to cultivation so earnestly.
That was abnormal.
After all, people’s personalities vary; there should be both the diligent and the lazy.
Besides, with no external threats, there shouldn’t be such intense pressure in the village.