CHAPTER 166: CHAPTER 166: VILLAGE CHIEF

"Miss Xia, we can’t leave." Yan Fu said hesitantly, "This village has set up an Array targeting us permanent residents. Anyone who tries to leave will get lost in the Array, will never escape, growing old and dying within it."

Xia Mian narrowed her eyes slightly, deep in thought.

Yan Fu bit his lip, his face looked a bit embarrassed, and he slowly said, "Miss Xia, don’t worry, this Array only targets those of us who have signed the permanent resident contract."

Xia Mian didn’t ask further; she and Lu Zechuan had sensed something strange about this village from the moment they entered.

However, she didn’t expect this strangeness to be beyond her imagination.

"Miss Xia, let’s go! When dawn breaks, you might not be able to leave..." Yan Fu whispered as he started leading the way.

Xia Mian, holding hands with Lu Zechuan, followed behind Yan Fu and his wife.

Soon, the archway of Yan Village appeared in everyone’s sight.

Approaching dawn, the night was exceptionally dark, and as Yan Fu led the way ahead, he remained silent, creating a stifling and heavy atmosphere.

In early winter, it was quite cold, and a thin layer of mist hung in the morning air.

The four of them walked in the mist, as if they were walking... on Yellow Springs Road.

On both sides of the village entrance archway, lanterns emitted a dim yellow light through the mist, swaying, looking very much like they belonged to the Underworld.

Lu Zechuan felt that uncomfortable feeling growing stronger, lightly pressed his chest with his hand.

Xia Mian glanced at him, squinting slightly, then handed him a piece of Cat Claw Jade, "You take this."

Previously, Xia Mian was worried that this item might be harmful to Lu Zechuan, so she took it from him. But now, it seemed not only harmless but also very useful for absorbing nature’s spiritual energy.

Lu Zechuan received the Cat Claw Jade, feeling the strands of Spiritual Energy emanating from it, and the discomfort eased considerably.

The village entrance was in sight, and the four of them quickened their pace. About a hundred meters from the entrance, Yan Fu and his wife stopped, "Miss Xia, we can’t go any further. You two go ahead!"

Xia Mian nodded, holding Lu Zechuan’s hand, and walked towards the village entrance.

As the two of them were about to leave the village, a hunched figure suddenly appeared beneath the archway.

It was an old woman, withered in appearance, walking with difficulty, her face full of wrinkles, yet her eyes shone like two beams of light, piercing through the layers of mist before dawn.

Xia Mian and Lu Zechuan halted, simultaneously looking towards the old woman.

The old woman spoke hoarsely at this time, "Old Yan, we have distinguished guests at our home, how could you just send them away silently? That’s not how we in Yan Village treat guests!"

The old woman’s voice was like a sharp weapon scraping against iron, piercing and shrill, sending chills down one’s spine.

Yan Fu and his wife’s faces changed instantly, "Village Chief... you’re up so early today!"

The old woman did not respond to Yan Fu and his wife but narrowed her eyes, deeply gazing at Lu Zechuan, "Distinguished guest, don’t be in such a hurry to leave! Stay at my place for a couple of days?"

The old woman’s eyes were too sharp, carrying a sense of intrusion. Lu Zechuan let out a cold laugh, unceremoniously, "Step aside!"

The old woman was not angered, continuing to chuckle, "Stay for a couple of days! This old lady will certainly take good care of you!"

Lu Zechuan’s dark eyes narrowed tightly, the old woman’s attitude was very off-putting. He chuckled impatiently, "I don’t need it!!"

After saying this, Lu Zechuan pulled Xia Mian’s hand, preparing to leave.

As long as they crossed the archway at the village entrance, they could leave the village successfully.

But just as he took a step, the old woman lightly tapped her dragon-head cane.

As the dragon-head cane tapped the ground, the mist in front seemed to thicken.

Upon seeing this stance, Yan Fu quickly shouted, "Village Chief! They entered unintentionally! Please let them go!"

But the old woman turned a deaf ear, instead chuckling, "Let them leave? What a joke! Why should I let them leave when they’re right at my door and are a feast for the taking!"

Neither Lu Zechuan nor Xia Mian were ordinary, their auras were appetizing to her!

She had guarded this small plot of "Yan Village" for nearly a century, relying on the death aspirations of the people in the village to barely cultivate.

Now, if she could consume Lu Zechuan, absorb his bones and blood, inherit his destiny, why would she need to laboriously cultivate anymore?

"It’s a Dead Cultivator." The Little Tree Demon on Lu Zechuan’s wrist showed a look of shock in its eyes.

All things in the world can cultivate, just like it, the essence of plants and trees, absorbing the incense of the mortal world, can cultivate spirituality.

For instance, the old woman before them, in a place amassed with graves, filled with Death Qi, can also condense into spirit, which is Dead Cultivation.

Dead Cultivation, as the name suggests, relies on death aspirations and vagrant ghosts for nourishment, cultivating oneself.

"Oh, there’s a companion too!" The old woman smirked, glancing at the Little Tree Demon on Lu Zechuan’s wrist, "Buddy, how about joining me for a big score? Once it succeeds, you’ll not only immediately adapt a human form, but your Cultivation level will also skyrocket!"

The old woman bared her teeth, enticing the Little Tree Demon on Lu Zechuan’s wrist.

"What are you talking about!" The Little Tree Demon was furious!

Following Lu Zechuan is the only way its Cultivation can steadily rise, alright!

There’s a difference between one big meal and enough meals! It knows the difference!

With this statement, the Little Tree Demon leapt from Lu Zechuan’s wrist!

It needed to perform well to ensure its master didn’t think it was double-minded!

The Little Tree Demon transformed into a human form and immediately tussled with the old woman.

Watching the chaos unfold before her, Xia Mian lightly tugged at her lips. She had unintentionally contracted a Tree Demon for Lu Zechuan previously, never expecting the Tree Demon to have such high loyalty.

"I’ll teach you to sow discord!" The Little Tree Demon struck the old lady viciously with its branch.

As it struck, it cursed out, "You’re just a blob of miasma that became sentient, yet you dare fraternize with you Tree Master as an equal! Who’s your buddy?! Huh!?"

The Little Tree Demon roared with momentum, the old woman swaying back and forth from the Little Tree Demon’s branch strikes.

"You ungrateful thing!" The old woman cursed angrily, her dragon-head cane hitting the ground hard, a dense black Qi emanated from the ground, withered the tree branch the Little Tree Demon had just swung.

The Little Tree Demon realized the situation was dire, swiftly retracting its branch, retreating rapidly to Xia Mian’s side, swaying its head and tail at Xia Mian, "Auntie, she bullied me!"

The Little Tree Demon looked pitiful, its leaves shaking continuously, making Xia Mian feel a bit dizzy.

"Go ahead." Xia Mian motioned dismissively towards the Little Tree Demon.

Hearing this, the Little Tree Demon immediately returned to Lu Zechuan’s wrist.

The old woman gazed cautiously at Xia Mian.

She was the village chief here, knowing everything that happened in this village inside out.

Recently, this girl killed a highly skilled Taoist with her word spirit!

When that Taoist entered the village, even she didn’t dare to show up!