C8 The Old Man at the Door

In times of peace, people led lives of quiet simplicity, content with modest wages and a sense of satisfaction. During periods of unrest, they found solace in food and stability, turning their thoughts away from the turmoil around them. After the earth underwent dramatic changes, ordinary individuals were prepared to sacrifice their dignity for the assurance of a secure environment.

The essence of what people sought remained constant through every era.

Yang Huang sat silently at the entrance to Chen Village, watching the children play with unbridled joy, as if they could live happily every day. Having resided in the village for two days, his wounds had largely healed, and he had become well-acquainted with his neighbors, particularly Chen Min.

The villagers recognized him as a harmless, ordinary man and welcomed him to stay. They were aware of his daily musings about raiding the treasures of Dragon Tiger Mountain, but few took his claims seriously.

He frequently joined the elderly gatekeeper for a chat and a smoke at the village entrance, where they could spend entire mornings and afternoons in conversation. Time seemed to fly by.

"Yang Huang, it's time to eat," Chen Min called out from a distance.

Chen Min was an orphan, left in Chen Village at birth with her parents' whereabouts unknown. An old Taoist priest from Dragon Tiger Mountain had taken her under his wing. Even after the priest departed, Chen Min, accustomed to village life, chose to make it her permanent home.

Life in Chen Village was tranquil and uneventful, devoid of conflict or governance—exactly the lifestyle Yang Huang cherished. His ultimate aspiration was to lead an unremarkable life.

Rising from his spot at the village entrance, Yang Huang waved to Chen Min, and they walked back to their dwelling together.

Chen Min's home was modest, a two-bedroom layout with one room for herself and a spare guest room that Yang Huang could use.

The residents of Chen Village were far from ordinary, and their meals were anything but plain. Today's lunch was a hearty pot of wild boar meat.

This was no ordinary boar; it was a mutant beast, six meters long and three meters tall. It had inexplicably appeared at the entrance of the village, bellowing until the gatekeeper, with a single punch, felled the creature. The gatekeeper, who had always looked out for Chen Min and had recently grown fond of Yang Huang, generously shared an entire leg of the boar with her.

Yang Huang didn't hesitate as he used a large spoon to scoop up a generous portion of pig leg meat and popped it straight into his mouth. The pork was sweet and succulent, melting easily on the tongue. What's more, the meat from these mutated wild beasts was packed with nutrients. Having dined on these ingredients for the past couple of days, he could even sense a slight increase in his strength.

Within the pork was a sliver of an Energy Body, composed of Heaven Earth Spiritual Energy. Once ingested by Yang Huang, it swiftly navigated through his body, condensing into a nearly imperceptible thread of Genuine Qi before merging with the Brain Sea Courtyard.

Having surpassed the Essence Refining Qi Transforming stage, the Innate Qi underwent a complete metamorphosis, evolving into a distinct form of energy known as Genuine Qi.

The practice of Essence Refining Qi Transforming involved the body's relentless absorption of Heaven Earth Spiritual Energy, its transformation into Innate Qi, and the subsequent refining of this energy by the body into Genuine Qi, which would then integrate with the Brain Sea Courtyard. When the accumulation of Genuine Qi reached a tipping point, it would begin to influence the soul, prompting a profound change that would give rise to a new Energy Body called the Primordial Spirit.

Since the mutation of this world, the Heaven Earth Spiritual Energy had grown exceptionally rich. Despite the pervasive sense of danger in this altered world, it presented an ideal environment for cultivators to hone their skills.

After his meal, Yang Huang contentedly patted his belly. He had come to realize the immense potential of the mutated beasts and resolved to thoroughly investigate them whenever the opportunity arose.

Boom!

Out of nowhere, a thunderous explosion echoed, seemingly originating from the vicinity of Chen Village.

The blast startled many villagers, interrupting their lunch. They rushed outside, some with traces of grease still on their lips. Despite a few muttered complaints, they soon returned to their homes, seemingly unfazed by the disturbance.

At the village's edge, a ten-meter-tall behemoth hovered in the air. It was a Mecha, encased in a metallic shell and bathed in a fiery red hue. Clutched in the Mecha's hand was a long sword, its blade gleaming with an icy radiance, razor-sharp and formidable.

The Mecha resembled a human figure, except for the addition of a pair of mechanical wings on its back. The wings' feathers were akin to numerous sharp blades, exuding a fierce and deadly aura.

The Mecha's shoulder was dented, spewing thick smoke and surrounded by sparks. Behind it, a small fighter jet, eight meters in length, hovered in midair, seemingly confronting the Mecha.

On the ground below, a bald, muscular man and a young girl stood together, clearly allies. Opposite them were three sword-wielding youths, around sixteen or seventeen years old, dressed in white with long hair, reminiscent of ancient figures.

"Yang Xiaoyan, the elders of Shu Mountain will soon arrive. If you don't leave Dragon Tiger Mountain now, disaster will befall you!" declared one of the taller sword-wielding youths, his fierce demeanor unmistakable.

"Haha, the Shu Mountain Sword Sect is far too overbearing! Everyone knows a divine object has emerged on Dragon Tiger Mountain, and it's destined for whoever is fated to find it. Why should you from Shu Mountain have the right to it, and not us?" laughed the young girl, smoke swirling around her arms.

"Hmph, the treasure that has appeared on Dragon Tiger Mountain is a Taoist magical artifact. You mere mortals have no right to contest it," interjected another sword-wielding youth, his voice dripping with an air of untouchable authority.

"What a joke. In this world, the strong are revered. Who says that Taoists are inherently superior?" retorted Yang Xiaoyan, the sister of Yang Huang. Her anger turned to laughter as she spoke. Then, she paused, reflecting on a similar sentiment her brother had expressed before.

Back before the Earth mutated, when their father had berated Yang Huang for his lack of ambition and willingness to be subservient, Yang Huang had responded with a bitter laugh, "In this world, everyone is born equal. Who says that an Evolver is naturally superior?"

"Yang Xiaoyan, since the world changed, everyone has believed that Evolvers are the pinnacle of strength. But let me enlighten you: we cultivators pursue the Heavenly Dao to achieve immortality. You, who value brute strength, cannot begin to compare with us!" The tall sword-wielding youth spoke with conviction, then ceased his taunts, silently reciting an incantation. His long sword burst into a brilliant golden glow.

They were on the brink of a confrontation.

"Just a bunch of sword practitioners! I'll rip you to shreds!" The previously silent bald man could no longer contain himself.

He charged at the three sword-wielding youths, overtaking Yang Xiaoyan, and quickly closed the distance to a mere meter away from them.

Whoosh!

Just as the two parties were about to clash, an elderly man materialized out of thin air, standing between the bald man and the sword-wielding youths. His presence was ethereal, with not a hint of energy fluctuation, yet his actions were incredibly swift.

With a palm strike to the bald man's chest, he sent the overly muscular figure flying back five or six meters. Simultaneously, his other hand seized the sword from the tall youth, effortlessly taking the long sword that shimmered with golden light.

He grasped the sword body, and although the blade was sharp, it failed to slice through his skin. Instead, its glow dimmed, and its edge was lost.

The three sword-wielding youths were taken aback, particularly the tall one who had been disarmed. It is well-known that they are Sword Cultivators, for whom the sword is not only a tool but their very essence. Their existence is bound to their swords, and to lose one's sword is to risk one's life.

To have one's personal sword so easily wrested away implied that their very lives were just as easily dominated by another's hand.

Yet before them stood an old man, seemingly in his seventies, devoid of any energy fluctuation!

"Old man, I'd advise you to stay out of this. The elders from Shu Mountain will soon arrive. If you have any sense, you'll clear out of here quickly!" Despite having his sword taken, the tall youth didn't believe the old man was more skilled. He remained defiant and insolent.

"Young man, being passionate and courageous is fine, but Chen Village is a place of tranquility. If you're looking to stir up trouble, take it elsewhere!" The old man discarded the long sword like a piece of junk and spoke calmly, hands clasped behind his back.

"Have your ears failed you? Can't you comprehend what I'm saying? Fine, I'll repeat myself. A Strange Treasure has emerged here, and the elders of Shu Mountain are intent on claiming it. They will be arriving soon! Your so-called Chen Village will no longer be the tranquil haven it once was starting today." The tall teenager cast a dismissive glance toward the entrance of Chen Village and spoke with scorn.

To him, it was nothing more than a dilapidated hamlet, likely inhabited by ordinary folks barely clinging to life. In a world fraught with peril, the notion that someone could still speak of a peaceful land was utterly laughable.

The elderly man listened to the youth's words without objection or confrontation, merely shaking his head. Approaching seventy, he had lived a long life and encountered all manner of people. Even if a young boy pointed at him and called him a dog, it wouldn't cause the slightest ripple in his calm demeanor.

"My stance remains unchanged. If you're looking to make trouble... take it elsewhere!"