Who Brought Him into the Cultivation World?

Chapter 308: Chapter 252: When the Forest Deepens, the Deer Appears

The small village has existed in isolation from the dynasty for millennia.

This village has endured the changes of many dynasties, yet it remains unknown to outsiders.

Partly, this is due to its location, being surrounded by mountains, the village sits nestled between valleys, naturally shielding it from external prying eyes.

More so, it’s because the villagers have always adhered to the ancestral rules, rarely interacting with the outside, except for some necessary living supplies and trading mountain resources, they seldom have any other dealings with outsiders.

The so-called ancestral rule is a millennia-old legend embedded deeply in the hearts of the villagers.

It is said that a thousand years ago, wars raged continuously, leaving ten rooms empty out of nine, and natural and man-made disasters scattered corpses across the fields, forcing their ancestors to leave their homes in search of a place to survive.

They migrated from the Northern Border, enduring hunger and disease along the way, until reaching the Eastern Territory, with barely a hundred left.

At that time, although there were fewer wars in the Eastern Territory, resources were scarce, and the land was barren.

Their ancestors faced extinction, eating whatever was edible, including roots, tree bark, and even...

By the time they found this place, they were starving and at the end of their rope.

At their moment of despair, a white mystical deer appeared, wandering through the mountains bringing wild fruits, helping them cling to life.

Under the guidance of the mystical deer, they eventually settled in what is now the village.

Grateful for the deer’s benevolence, the ancestors worshipped it as the Mountain Spirit, vowing to protect this place for generations.

This is the origin of the Mountain Spirit. Even a thousand years later, the villagers remain true to their original vow, living reclusively here in honor, further maintaining a rule against excessive external contact to prevent disturbing the Mountain Spirit.

The reason Qing Wan could serve the Mountain Spirit this generation lies in herself.

It’s said that on the day she was born, the mystical deer, unseen for a millennium, appeared momentarily at her doorstep.

When she was ten, lost in the mountains while playing, she encountered the mystical deer again.

This time, the deer took her on its back to play in the woods until the villagers found her and she was returned home.

Having witnessed the mystical deer twice, Qing Wan naturally became the most qualified person of her generation to serve the Mountain Spirit.

By the pool in the cave, Qing Wan now sits softly humming.

A blue light flickers with her song, seemingly keeping time.

The upbeat melody, in the girl’s crisp voice, rises and falls gracefully, as a gentle light coalesces and drifts from the cave with the song.

In the early morning, the forest reverberates faintly with the song.

The whole world seems to brighten; leaves shimmer with dew, flowers lift their buds, grass seeds spout tender shoots...

The blue light dances joyously through the forest.

”Do you think I was seeing things?”

Han Yu’s face shows bewilderment, for if it wasn’t an illusion, something seemed to have flown past him just now.

He emerged from the Sea Domain of Sea Stone City and somehow returned here.

Upon arriving, a faint song intrigued him to enter the mountain, shortly after, a flash of light zipped past his view.

”Couldn’t we both be mistaken?”

The Artifact Spirit in his Sea of Consciousness, wide-eyed and bewildered.

Han Yu might be mistaken, but how could it be wrong?

”Let’s chase after it and see.”

Glass hurriedly urged.

At these words, Han Yu swiftly unfurled his wings, soared into the air, and pursued, but after just a moment, the light vanished into the forest.

Just when he felt regret, another glimmer of light darted from afar in the forest and flew toward him.

”It’s back, it’s coming this way.”

The Artifact Spirit exclaimed in the Sea of Consciousness.

Seeing the approaching light, Han Yu was filled with curiosity.

As the blue light stopped a few meters from him, and as he wondered what it would do, it suddenly dispersed like a blue galaxy.

Within the galaxy, movement began, akin to the stars shifting, constellations changing.

Before long, a luminous white deer appeared before Han Yu.

The little deer tilted its head, seemingly examining Han Yu, then an unusual human expression appeared on its face.

Seeming... disdainful?

While Han Yu was still in a daze, the little deer suddenly ran through the air toward him, before he could react, it sharply spun and kicked toward Han Yu’s face with its hooves.

Bam!

Han Yu felt a strange, inexplicable force hit his face; aside from the numbness and pain, he was slammed to the ground like a punching bag.

Bam!

With another loud bang, a human-shaped crater formed on the ground.

Han Yu, pulling himself up from the ground, finally realized.

I’ve been kicked by a donkey... no, a deer!

”Catch it quickly!”

The Artifact Spirit shouted excitedly in the Sea of Consciousness.

The deer’s mystique proved its extraordinariness; this creature was certainly no ordinary being.

But by the time Han Yu ascended again, the deer was nowhere to be seen; both human and spirit lingering in the air for half an two-hour, to no avail.

”What on earth was that thing, that could even launch a sneak attack!”

Clearly, Han Yu held a grudge over being ambushed by the animal.

In the Sea of Consciousness, the Artifact Spirit pondered, then speculated.

”If I’m not mistaken, that should be a Spirit Body.”

Spirit Body?

In Han Yu’s mind appeared Young Master Lin’s face, for he had encountered a Spirit Body once before — the Female Qilin residing within Young Master Lin.

The female Qilin survives in the form of a Spirit Body.

”It’s not that kind of Spirit Body. Generally, Spirit Bodies that reside in a host can’t leave, unless it’s a matter of life and death; otherwise, once they leave, they’ll become unbearably weak.”

Glass directly rejected Han Yu’s speculation.

Spirit Bodies are not exclusive to such Auspicious Beasts.

As long as the most powerful creatures have enough Sea of Consciousness strength when their physical bodies perish, it is possible for them to continue surviving as Spirit Bodies.

Wouldn’t that be a boon for Divine Power Cultivators?

”If your Sea of Consciousness strength reaches the pinnacle, even if one day you’re killed by the Corpse Refining Lineage, you could still survive as a Spirit Body, though it might be miserable.”

Either hide inside some ring, waiting for some lucky person to find you, then happily play the role of a guiding father, tirelessly helping them reach the peak of life without seeking anything in return,

or get captured and tortured when you’re killed.

Or...

”Stop, your examples are vivid, but I don’t like them.”

Han Yu’s face darkened as he hastily interrupted.

”There’s another kind, like me, the Artifact Spirit!”

Glass’s tone was solemn when mentioning this.

A Magical Artifact is something an ordinary cultivator can have, and a top-tier Magical Artifact might, after long years of nurturing, develop a slight hint of spirituality, at which point it becomes a Magical Treasure.

The most powerful Magical Treasures might be able to let this hint of spirituality grow even more animated.

Once it can take form, it’s considered an Artifact Spirit, a category beyond what a Magical Treasure can claim.

”Do you think I’m alive or dead?”

It suddenly asked Han Yu a question.

Han Yu rolled his eyes. Obviously a rhetorical question, since they argue frequently, it couldn’t possibly be dead.

”Do you consider me a life form?”

Glass continued to ask.

Probably, yes?

Han Yu thought uncertainly. If Glass had a physical body, it would possess thoughts, emotions, and desires, which might qualify it as a life form.

”Would you consider something that could nurture an Artifact Spirit life form a treasure?”

The corner of the Artifact Spirit’s mouth curled up, indicating it had some guess about the true body of the deer.

This is beyond a treasure, it’s worthy of being called a divine object.

”Do you think that deer is an Artifact Spirit of something?”

Han Yu naturally thought of it too.

”Eighty percent sure!”

Although that’s what she said, Glass’s expression was extremely confident.

Han Yu’s curiosity was instantly piqued; what could create such a life form, with its apparent intelligence?

No wonder the deer’s expression was so odd just now.

But why is it hostile towards me?

Han Yu couldn’t figure it out. This creature kicked him in the face the first time they met.

Meanwhile!

When Qing Wan stopped singing, the blue light from outside the cave slowly drifted back in, illuminating the entire cave again. After swirling around, it finally settled into the pond.

Although she hadn’t seen the Mountain Spirit again, she was absolutely certain that the Mountain Spirit they worshiped had always been with them.

After tidying up carefully, she slowly walked towards the Buddha’s Hand.

Above hung irregularly sized white fruits, some as large as half a palm, others smaller than a fingertip.

Generations ago, the ancestors found this sacred spot inside the mountain spirit’s last abode.

Near this pond, which symbolizes the Mountain Spirit’s blessing, all plants could grow exceptionally fast.

And this wasn’t caused by any deliberate force, such as her Divine Techniques.

Instead, it seemed there’s some sort of mysterious power here that supports life to grow robustly.

These Buddha’s Hands are the strongest proof. Normally cherished Spirit Plants, here, grow freely like ordinary crops.

Interestingly, according to legend, these Buddha’s Hands grew here on their own one day several hundred years ago.

The ancestors determined that the Mountain Spirit brought and planted them, so each year when people come to offer sacrifices, they also tend to these Buddha’s Hands.

The effect of the Buddha’s Hands came from foreign sources. Thus, Buddha’s Hand Fruits became well known in the East Sea Realm.

Qing Wan, wearing her green lotus blouse, carefully walked among the spaces between the Buddha’s Hands, picking up fallen fruits until she had filled half a basket.

When she emerged with the small basket, morning light already shone brightly outside.

She descended the mountain basking in the morning sunlight, stopping occasionally to greet village elders.

”Still up early, Qing Wan girl!”

An energetic old man carrying a hoe greeted her, heading up the mountain.

”Uncle Niu, these fruits were gathered today. Take them to barter for some provisions when you have time to support everyone.”

Qing Wan smiled gently, handing over the small basket. Few villagers knew the outside world; typically, only a handful would venture out.

Villagers who returned said these fruits, which they thought worthless, sold well outside.

In the beginning, they could exchange for rice and salt, then for cloth, and eventually, they traded for increasingly valuable items.

At their peak, people even offered cultivation manuals in exchange.

Initially, they thought outsiders were deceitful, but later learned it was because their fruit’s efficacy improved over time.

”No more trading for manuals. I read that truly valuable cultivation manuals aren’t sold.”

Qing Wan thought over it and couldn’t help reminding him. Over the years, outsiders often deceived them, trading worthless manuals for their fruits.