Chapter 196 - 164: Two Years l
“Even if it’s a deity, isn’t this too oppressive? They said it was a test, yet they didn’t inform us about the content or the method of the test before casting us out…
We came with sincere hearts, wanting to be accepted under the deity’s instruction, yet this is what we’ve been reduced to. Doesn’t Liu Village fear to discourage those who will come after us?”
Outside Liu Village, within a valley not far off where a brook babbled and the grass was lush with croaking frogs, the peace was suddenly shattered by a commotion.
The expelled folks gathered in small groups at this place, each with a face of embarrassment. They dared not openly counter the situation, fearing the disturbance of Liu Village’s revered deity, so they could only vent their grievances here.
In the crowd, an old man dressed in black was particularly dour.
He was here under the orders of the Human Emperor, tasked to bring a kind of bastard prince under false allegiance to Liu Village.
The prince possessed the Seven Apertures Delicate Heart as narrated in legends; he was born wise and articulate, it was said that he could glimpse the Ten Thousand Laws.
The Human Emperor sent them here, coveting the deity’s Method of the Great Taoist to be deciphered by the Seven Apertures Delicate Heart and reveal the path to ignite the Divine Flame and ascend to a Divine Position.
But the plan hadn’t been implemented yet when he was expelled.
“Could the deity have already seen through my scheme?”
The old man in black was gravely subdued, with a hint of lingering fear.
If that was true, he would be in great danger.
The majesty of the deity is not something that mortals can touch lightly.
Many others thought the same; though they all openly voiced their grievances, in reality, they were all slightly uneasy.
But when these people prepared to turn around and search for Liu Village again, they realized the path they had come by had completely changed.
The obscurity of the path leading here had disappeared, replaced by endless mountains whose peaks stretched towards the skies, extending far beyond sight.
Moreover, thick fog rose between the peaks, emitting primitive, desolate ambience, as if it could isolate everything.
“This is bad; we’ve probably disturbed the deity of Liu Village. The deity is going to punish us!”
The abrupt, silent transformation completely shattered the courage of this group, sending them into a panicked babble as they scrambled to flee in every direction.
They knew well that their reason for coming to Liu Village was merely due to fulfilling a duty. They had never truly considered abandoning everything to sincerely join it.
Most importantly, they felt an extremely terrifying force from the dense fog, causing their blood to seemingly freeze in fear.
Jiang Hui naturally saw every single move made by this group.
They had worried too much. With the group’s strength, they were not worth Jiang Hui’s personal intervention. He wouldn’t make a move personally.
As for the unusual scenes just now, they were simply caused by the operation of Paradise.
Yet if the group did not leave the cover of Paradise in time, it’s hard to say what their fate would be.
The chirping of cicadas outside the village persisted, while the croaking of frogs inside the village echoed incessantly.
That day, the sunrise dyed the sky red.
In the back mountains, the Three Reincarnation Grass that was planted there had unknowingly begun to mature, sprouting buds as big as thumbs.
The tiny buds emitted a mystical Taoist rhyme and released a dazzling light. The spectacular light converged into a vast ocean-like mirage, which was very peculiar.
This particular spectacle scared the villagers, who were usually responsible for the upkeep, causing them to promptly fetch Old Man Lin.
“Village headman, take a look at this. What is happening? These weeds were normal before, but they all suddenly bloomed!”
The villagers responsible for taking care of the plants were shocked and worried, fearing that this change had occurred due to their errors.
If that were true, then his guilt would be immense.
“This is a treasure bestowed by the Willow God, not some ordinary weed. It’s called the Three Reincarnation Grass. Now that it shows this sign, it is expected to mature…”
Old Man Lin smiled faintly, bending down and taking a whiff of the thumb-sized buds.
There was nothing extraordinary about the fragrance, and it was even less fragrant than flowers.
But, Old Man Lin remembered it very clearly. When the Willow God gave him this treasure, he said that although it was grass, it could bloom into a flower. It was a peculiar and precious existence.
Jiang Hui was naturally the first to notice the unusual activity of the Three Reincarnation Grass. He sent out his divine sense, sparing no detail of any part of the Reincarnation Grass, magnified infinitely in his eyes.
Even the nearly invisible veins were crystal clear.
Although the Reincarnation Grass had now sprouted buds, it was not actually mature and required some more time.
Based on Jiang Hui’s estimation, at most two to three days should suffice.
Soon, three days passed.
The thumbsized buds on the Reincarnation Grass had now fully bloomed to the size of a palm. Additionally, the Sea of Netherworld, formed by the light dispersion, had also become more solid, concentrated and substantial!
“It’s about time to give this hope to the broad-sword man!”
With a sway, Jiang Hui extended a fine willow branch, sharp as a blade, and plucked a fully bloomed blossom.
After everything was done, he promptly informed the broad-sword man.
Upon receiving the message, the broad-sword man rushed towards the back mountains without any delay.