Chapter 126: A Sudden Visit from the Man in Green

The village chief gathered his thoughts for a moment before beginning to recount a secret kept hidden for many long years.

In the ancient past, when the Human Emperor Fuxi lived in seclusion by the banks of the Luo River to cultivate his craft, an ancient turtle—thousands of years old—emerged from the water, bearing the River Map and the Luo Script as offerings. It also presented Fuxi with an object the size of a wolf’s fang, instructing him to safeguard it well, for it would surely serve a great purpose in the future.

Later, Fuxi divined the Innate Eight Trigrams from the River Map and the Luo Script, and established the study of the Zhou Yi. Because of his immense contributions in quelling wars, the people of the wilderness realms revered him as the Ancestor of Human Emperors. Upon his ascension to godhood, he left behind that wolf-fang-sized object, entrusting it to the guardians of Fuxi Village, warning them that this "Fuxi Fang" would one day alter the fate of the heavens.

The family tasked with guarding the Fuxi Fang bore the surname Gu. Since the ancient era, they had been diligent and faithful in their duty, never once faltering. However, decades ago, a sudden change befell the Gu family. The entire clan packed up and left Fuxi Village, vanishing from the lands of the wilderness realms forever.

The village chief paused here, a wry, helpless smile appearing on his face.

"As the village chief of Fuxi Village, did you not send anyone to track down the descendants of the Gu family?" Bai Mu, sitting on a stool, asked with a look of confusion.

The chief’s expression turned solemn. "We searched, of course we searched."

"But the members of the Gu family seemed to have vanished into thin air. We spent nearly ten years tracking them, wasting countless resources and manpower, yet we never found a single trace."

"Eventually, I came to realize that no news is actually good news."

"It must mean that the Fuxi Fang is safe in the hands of the Gu family. Our mission in Fuxi Village is to ensure the safety of the relic; as long as it remains secure, does it really matter who holds it?"

"So, in the end, I recalled all the disciples who were out searching and stopped asking after the matter."

"Decades have passed in the blink of an eye. Just as I was beginning to forget about it, two members of the Evil Clan suddenly appeared to seize the Fuxi Fang, causing the deaths of so many villagers. It is truly a tragedy."

"Village Chief, you need not worry too much. Those two from the Evil Clan will not trouble you again. From now on, everyone can live in peace!" Bai Mu offered a strained smile, though his heart was filled with disappointment. He had hoped his journey to the Southern Wilderness would reveal the whereabouts of the Fuxi Fang and the Demon-Transforming Bottle, but the village chief knew nothing, and the cryptic half-truths from Ghost Song that night had left him feeling restless and deeply frustrated.

***

After a hasty breakfast, escorted by the villagers of Fuxi, Bai Mu departed with reluctance. He flew off toward the barren lands of the Southern Wilderness, accompanied by the waiting Bi Fang.

The Southern Wilderness, Ancient Cave of Red Flame.

Legend has it that this cave was formed by the eruption of volcanic fire. It is known as the Ancient Cave of Red Flame because of the "Karma Fire" that burns eternally within its pools of liquid flame. Furthermore, the cave houses a sacred treasure known as the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Lotus.

When the Heavenly Emperor forged the Demon-Transforming Bottle, he used this lotus as the catalyst. Thus, throughout the wilderness realms, it is considered a spiritual treasure of the highest order. It is said that this cave was once the cultivation ground for the Ancestor God, and it is guarded by fire-birds, filled with flowing flames and treacherous hidden mechanisms, making it a place where one has a slim chance of survival.

Since the creation of the world, only the Ancestor God and the Heavenly Emperor have ever entered the cave. As for other demons and evildoers who coveted the Fire Lotus, all were wiped out by the fire-birds before they could even reach the entrance.

The next day, the usually silent foot of Red Flame Mountain became uncharacteristically noisy.

"Your Highness Nalan, Princess Qingluo has been gone for nearly an hour. Why has she not returned yet?"

"Then send someone to look for her! Do you expect me to go myself?" The man in golden armor standing in the forest roared at the guard kneeling on the ground.

"Yes, yes! We shall go at once, my lord."

The guard scrambled to his feet and led several attendants into the mountain forest to search.

"A bunch of useless trash. They can’t even look after a single person. If I had known, I would have come to collect the Fire Lotus by myself!" Nalan muttered, leaning against an ancient tree, clearly displeased. The remaining six attendants stood by in trembling silence.

"Heh heh."

Suddenly, a cold, mocking laugh echoed from the forest ahead. The sound carried an icy chill and a touch of disdain. Though it was not loud, when it reached the ears of those present, it felt like an invisible blade piercing their eardrums.

***

Except for the golden-clad Prince Nalan, the attendants with lower cultivation all collapsed, clutching their ears and screaming in agony.

"What divine being is hiding in the forest? Come out and show yourself!" Nalan turned sharply, his gaze fixed on the woods, shouting with a burst of internal energy that shook the surrounding leaves into a rustling frenzy.

"For someone so young, your cultivation is quite impressive. Your future is boundless!"

As the voice faded, a figure appeared. A short, sturdy middle-aged man drifted out from the woods like a falling leaf. He was dressed in simple, coarse cyan linen robes and black-and-white cloth shoes. His appearance was understated, yet despite his short stature, his features were striking; even standing opposite the tall and handsome Prince Nalan, he did not appear inferior in the slightest.

"Who are you?" Nalan stared at the man in cyan, his expression one of extreme vigilance.

"I am Chi Yan. And which prince are you, to be making such a grand display?" As he spoke, the man in cyan gestured toward the remaining attendants, who were all looking at him with grave expressions.

"Audacious!"

"You don't even recognize Prince Nalan? Have you grown tired of living?" one of the bolder attendants shouted.

"I think it is you who have grown tired of living!"

The man called Chi Yan flicked his hand. Two tree trunks suddenly erupted from the ground where the attendant stood, piercing through his body and dragging him into the soil before vanishing instantly.

*Whoosh...*

The remaining five attendants, having never witnessed such a bizarre method of killing, retreated in terror. Even Nalan, who had been composed just moments ago, felt his expression tighten, a clear flicker of fear passing through his eyes. This ability to control the very trees of the forest to kill and dispose of a body in the blink of an eye was simply inconceivable.

After disposing of the rude attendant, Chi Yan smiled as if nothing had happened and said to Nalan, "Now, can you answer my question?"