NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 23 Strange Village
Qingqiu Mountain is not too far from Tianli City. In less than half a day, they arrived ahead, and the peaks aren't very high, lacking the grandeur of famous mountains and rivers, but the vegetation is extremely lush. From a distance, the trees interweave, flowers and grasses flourish, presenting a unique spectacle.
Controlling the Aerial Origin Beast to land on the ground, Hu Sheng parted a patch of grass, revealing a somewhat hidden trail. Following the mountain path for a short hour, a village hidden deep in the mountains came into view.
"Your... Qingqiu lineage, lives here?"
Zhang Xuan was slightly stunned.
"The ancestor who comprehended the Fox Charm Destiny was a fox that took on human form. She explained that the strongest destiny 『Charming Intent』 must be sought in nature. So... our Qingqiu lineage has always lived in villages and led a very original life..."
Hu Sheng explained, "This is also why I don't want to stay here."
Zhang Xuan looked around, and the village before him consisted of the most primitive stone houses and thatched huts, with curling smoke drifting in the sky and the occasional aroma of meat wafting by.
"Lord Hu Sheng is back..."
As the two approached, someone came to greet them. Dressed simply, they were extremely handsome, especially the young women, whose graceful figures and stunning looks could not be hidden by their coarse linen clothing.
"To become a Lord of Tianli City, Hu Sheng has really made something of himself... Come in quickly; tomorrow we'll go to the Ancestor Mountain to choose a new inheritor of the destiny!"
A woman in her fifties approached. Though older, her eyebrows and eyes still retained the charm of her youth; she must have been a beauty.
Indeed, as inheritors of the Fox Charm Destiny, many of them are truly beautiful.
"Village Chief, this is my friend Zhang Yan, who came specifically to observe after hearing I'll be hosting the selection..."
Hu Sheng quickly explained, "Brother Zhang, this is Chief Hu Ran, who has taken care of me since I was young!"
"Greetings, Village Chief!"
Zhang Xuan clasped his fists.
Chief Hu Ran nodded, glanced at Zhang Xuan, and her expression immediately turned solemn: "Who are you? What's your purpose in coming to Qingqiu Mountain?"
Hu Zheng: "Chief, what do you mean? He's my friend..."
Hu Ran appeared very cautious: "His strength is much higher than yours, how can he be your friend?"
"Oh? You can see my strength?" Zhang Xuan was slightly curious.
Before coming, he had concealed his cultivation to the Galaxy Realm, appearing to others only as a Star River Five or Six. Though talented, it wasn't overly strong.
Yet this Hu Ran saw at once that his strength wasn't as seemed; her discernment was remarkably keen.
Previously he thought his strength had advanced greatly, overlooking the Qingqiu lineage. Now it seemed more complex than he'd imagined.
"A Life Sea 6-dan pinnacle expert isn't considered especially strong, but at your age, you should be quite famous throughout the Source World. Why haven't I heard of you?"
Hu Ran said.
"Indeed, you've seen through my cultivation, interesting!"
Zhang Xuan's corporeal and spiritual strengths are such that unless he actively unleashes power in battle, even Emperor Fusheng couldn't discern his level. His real cultivation, however, truly is Life Sea 6-dan pinnacle.
Such cultivation practitioners are numerous in the Source World, but coupled with being only in his twenties, he's definitely considered a super genius.
Feeling marvel and extending his soul energy to survey the other, she too was at Life Sea 6-dan pinnacle!
"Chief, to be honest, I feared danger on my return and specially invited Brother Zhang to help me. He means no harm..."
Hu Sheng hastily explained.
"Yes, I'm here to help Hu Sheng!" Zhang Xuan held his hands behind his back, his face calm.
With absolute power, being seen through didn't bother him or make him nervous.
"Mom, now that Brother Hu Sheng is a lord, having protection is normal, right? Is it necessary to be so suspicious?"
At that moment, a girl with straight bangs rushed over, looking displeased.
In her twenties, somewhat plump, in this village full of beauties, she was nowhere near pretty, even quite average.
After speaking, the girl with straight bangs smiled at Hu Sheng: "Brother Hu Sheng, you haven't visited me in a long time; you must take me to Tianli City this time, no leaving me behind!"
"Alright, alright, I'll take you!"
Hu Sheng quickly nodded.
"Xiao Fei is right, Hu Sheng's status is different now, having some experts to guard him is normal, my suspicions were unnecessary..."
Hu Ran breathed a sigh of relief, promptly turning around to announce: "Prepare good food and wine quickly; tonight no one leaves sober."
"Alright, no one leaves sober!"
The crowd cheered excitedly.
Zhang Xuan seemed incriminated by the atmosphere, smiling and following along.
After walking a few steps, he immediately sensed something was amiss.
His soul had ignited six Life Lamps, meaning the Eternal Divine Soul had reached Minor Accomplishment. At this level, the soul should be untainted and immaculate, unaffected by others' emotions. Yet now, he was influenced by their merry atmosphere.
Peculiar!
Full of doubt, his Soul Power extended outward and indeed detected anomalies.
The entire village was suffused with dense Fox Charm Heavenly Destiny Essence Power, and moving within it seemed to affect one's every move.
"This is... the Fox Charm Heaven Mandate Domain!"
Zhang Xuan couldn't believe it.
Gathering such abundant Heavenly Mandate Vitality without dispersing, there had to be a domain enveloping the area, implying he unknowingly entered a Heaven Mandate Domain.
"No, if it's a Heaven Mandate Domain, there must be different rules... but here, there seems to be no rule power!"
Given it's a Heaven Mandate Domain, there naturally are various constraints and rules, which are fundamental and unchangeable.
However, aside from the rich Heavenly Mandate Vitality, this place had hardly any rules, so much so that one could freely enter and leave, which didn't meet the domain's characteristics.
"It could be a domain similar to the Palm Buddha Country!"
The Frost Demon Lord guessed his thoughts and transmitted a message.
"Yes, indeed..." Zhang Xuan nodded.
The Buddha's Palm Buddha Country also belongs to a kind of domain, allowing free entry and exit, where the Heavenly Mandate Vitality is also denser than outside.
This sort of domain is somewhat akin to a world, condensed only when cultivation reaches an extremely high realm.
The Buddha could do it, the Demon Lord could do it, it's understandable, but could the founder of Qingqiu Mountain also achieve it?
If so, Hu Sheng's ancestor's final cultivation might not be lower than some Bodhisattvas, definitely reaching the ranks of the strongest of their time.
Since it's a world, there's a controller with absolute means and power.
No wonder the Qingqiu lineage would rather reside in this remote mountain hollow than go to Tianli City; this place truly is a sacred land for their cultivation.