C7 Chen Village

Dragon Tiger Mountain is revered as the Taoism Ancestral Court. Following a dramatic shift on Earth, a new sect emerged here, known as the Celestial Master Dao Sect.

Previously unheard of, this sect was rumored to be a behemoth that had safeguarded Dragon Tiger Mountain for nearly a millennium. Its contemporary Grandmaster is acclaimed as one of the mightiest Evolvers on the planet.

As time marches on, it is expected that Earth will see the rise of increasingly formidable beings, making survival for the average person ever more challenging. This is precisely why the pursuit to become an Evolver has reached frenzied levels.

Nestled at the base of Dragon Tiger Mountain lies Chen Village. Home to roughly eight hundred households, the village derives its name from the common surname of its residents—Chen.

Legend has it that Chen Village has stood the test of time.

At the village entrance, clusters of children, seemingly around ten years old, exhibit astonishing strength. They are currently encircling a mutated lion.

The lion, stretching over five meters in length and standing two meters tall, resembles a small hill.

With a menacing face, it lets out a thunderous roar, baring its lethal fangs.

Yet, the children show no sign of fear.

"Little Ke, make it quick. Our dinner tonight relies on this beast; don't let it escape," a boy, casually holding a straw between his lips, urged the girl beside him.

"Oh, but it looks so pitiful," Little Ke, with her ponytail, round face, and large eyes, responded, her cheeks blushing a deep tomato red, possibly out of fear.

"Forget it!" cried a boy with a slightly older look, his voice still carrying a youthful lilt. He wound up his fist and charged at the mutated lion.

To the astonishment of onlookers, this young boy, merely eleven or twelve, moved with incredible speed. His body seemed to transform into a whirlwind, reaching the mutated lion in an instant.

Caught off guard, the lion was still mid-roar when a small, chubby fist struck the corner of its mouth.

To everyone's surprise, the punch packed an immense force, sending the five-meter-long colossal lion tumbling to the ground, several of its fangs shattering on impact.

"Quick! Strike while it's weak! Go for it!" A group of four or five kids swarmed in, throwing punches and kicks. The mutated lion was quickly covered in wounds, barely clinging to life.

"Haha, we're having lion meat tonight!" The oldest kid was thrilled, standing triumphantly on the fallen lion and looking quite pleased with himself.

The other children joined in the celebration, viewing the mutated lion, which could feed dozens of ordinary people, as nothing more than a meal.

As they were preparing to tie up the lion and carry it back to Chen Village, the sound of an engine roaring in the distance was followed by terrifying roars.

A battered jeep raced towards Chen Village, pursued by three bizarre creatures about five meters tall, pink, and resembling gorillas with disproportionately small heads. Their eyes glowed with a faint red light as they chased the jeep relentlessly.

"Ah! Should we try to stop that car? It looks like it's going to crash..." Xiao Ke, a girl with wide, sparkling eyes, hugged her chest, torn with indecision.

"Let it be, it's not like it can kill us," another child declared boldly.

Bang!

The jeep ultimately crashed into a large tree at the entrance of the village, the front end crumpled and the engine spewing thick smoke.

The occupants were bloodied and motionless.

The three vicious creatures closed in rapidly, their small heads sporting grotesquely large mouths without lips, their fangs fully exposed, drooling profusely.

Oddly enough, when the creatures came within three meters of Chen Village, they suddenly clutched their heads, howling madly, then turned and fled without a backward glance, abandoning the people in the jeep.

...

Upon opening his eyes, Yang Huang found himself lying on a single bed. As he surveyed the room, he was taken aback.

The room was modest, roughly ten square meters, but everything was pink—the walls, the curtains, the bed sheets, even the furniture. It was unmistakably a girl's room.

"You're awake?" A girl holding a bowl entered the room.

Yang Huang was captivated at first sight.

Standing at around 5'7", she was dressed in a white T-shirt and denim shorts that left her long, pale legs fully exposed. The girl's legs were lengthy, her skin fair, and her hips shapely and firm.

Her physique was complemented by a face that was breathtaking when taken in as a whole. While her individual features might not stand out on their own, together they formed an extraordinary beauty. Her long hair fell straight and smooth, framing her ethereal eyes, delicate brows, and petite mouth.

Yang Huang's immediate impression of the girl was one of purity—an untainted, pristine purity.

Yet, there was another reason he was taken aback.

It was the girl's level of cultivation.

She appeared to be only seventeen or eighteen, but through Yang Huang's eyes, she was a cultivator who had already achieved Essence Refining Qi Transforming.

"There truly are cultivators on Earth; I was simply too shortsighted before to notice," Yang Huang realized. He could discern her cultivation level because cultivators are able to sense each other's Genuine Qi. However, she would not be able to detect his cultivation because the Grand Upper Essence Returning Divine One Qi he possessed was unique. To anyone else, Yang Huang appeared as an ordinary person devoid of any cultivation or Energy Fluctuation.

Feigning difficulty, Yang Huang sat up in bed, though he was uninjured. Prior to his arrival, he had successfully advanced to Essence Refining Qi Transforming and had forged a Brain Sea Courtyard within his mind.

The eighty-one strands of Innate Qi he had cultivated were now fully activated, consolidated into a single force residing within the Brain Sea Courtyard.

"You're still injured; don't get up yet," the girl cautioned as she saw Yang Huang attempting to rise. She quickly set the bowl aside and supported his arm, worried he might fall out of bed due to weakness.

"What is your name?" Yang Huang asked, his gaze fixed on the girl, feeling an inexplicable connection to her.

"I'm Chen Min. You might be staying with me for the next few days," she replied, her voice melodious and pure as a mountain spring.

Yang Huang repeated her name silently to himself, memorizing it as if he feared forgetting it.

He then conversed with Chen Min, gaining an understanding of the situation in Chen Village and the perils of the region following Earth's transformation.

The vicinity of Dragon Tiger Mountain was notoriously dangerous due to the abundance of powerful beings, making it a hotspot for the gathering of Remnant Devils, some of which had even developed spiritual wisdom.

Thankfully, the mountain was home to numerous Taoists who exerted absolute suppression over these man-eating creatures. However, the safety here paled in comparison to that of Hanjing City, with slim chances for ordinary people to survive.

In recent days, the rumor of a Strange Treasure soon to emerge on Dragon Tiger Mountain had attracted a multitude of experts to Jiangxi, all hoping to strike it lucky.

"So, what brings you to Dragon Tiger Mountain?" Chen Min asked Yang Huang, their conversation flowing more naturally after a lengthy chat.

"I'm here to claim the treasure! Haven't you heard? Whoever secures this Strange Treasure could potentially conquer the world and rule over humanity," Yang Huang openly shared his intention.

Chen Min couldn't help but chuckle, her hand covering her mouth. "You, an ordinary person, nearly lost your life to a few Remnant Devils, and yet you dream of claiming the treasure. Hehe." She flipped her hair, her laughter as enchanting as her beauty.

"I will claim it," Yang Huang stated, gazing at Chen Min, seeing nothing but her beauty, devoid of any ulterior motives.

Chen Min's laughter subsided, and for some reason, she began to believe that maybe, just maybe, this man could actually succeed.