Dashing Student

The Moon Tower Dong Village had endured a sorrowful night, with more than a dozen tribe members killed.

They placed the bodies on wooden racks, burning them with flames.

Legend has it that this allows the deceased to meet the Gu God, serving by its side thereafter.

Chen Nan knew that when people die, they truly die; even if there is a soul, it quickly dissipates.

Even those with powerful cultivation possess only lingering spirits barely holding on.

As for reincarnation, Chen Nan could not be sure, but that did not mean it did not exist.

Ayin informed the tribe members about the relocation, which left them in disbelief.

Heading to Xiu Yun Village was at least five hundred li away, and along the way, there were countless demon beasts and poisonous creatures.

With families in tow and most being ordinary humans, the journey was bound to be fraught with peril.

In the end, it was the old priest who stepped forward.

"The black-robed men from last night will return, and staying here would be more dangerous, so we must all leave!"

Hearing that the black-robed men would return, the tribe members were all astonished.

"Priest, who exactly are they, and why do they want to kill us?"

Chang Qing sat uneasily on the side and finally stepped forward, bowing deeply to everyone.

"I’m sorry, they came looking for me, but I didn’t expect them to harm ordinary people. It’s all my fault, so if you want to scold or beat me, I won’t blame you."

The tribe members felt conflicted, knowing it was because of Chang Qing, but in the end, said nothing.

Finally, a tribe member stood up, questioning, "Since they’re after you, why don’t you just leave? Why do we all have to go?"

Chang Qing explained, "Even if I leave, they won’t spare you, because they want to exterminate every one of us."

"Even if you know nothing, they will root you out completely, so leaving with us is the best option."

The tribe members fell silent.

Considering their own lives, the tribe members ultimately decided to leave with Chang Qing.

They all started packing up their belongings, preparing to leave, their faces filled with deep reluctance.

Only the children appeared excited, as they rarely got to travel, let alone embark on such a long journey, eager and curious about everything.

Since the priests had storage magical artifacts, the tribe’s belongings could simply be packed inside, making the relocation easier.

Even the massive garnet from Huotang Village was carefully stored by the old priest.

"It’s a pity we can’t take Crescent Spring with us," Ayin sighed.

Though Crescent Spring’s effects were weak, it was nonetheless an excellent foundational resource for ordinary people and low-level cultivators.

Chen Nan smiled gently and said, "What’s so difficult about this?"

He directly jumped into Crescent Spring, diving to a depth of over a hundred meters, and picked the spiritual medicine from the bottom of the pool, placing it into a jade box.

"All the effects within Crescent Spring come from this spiritual medicine; we can simply replant it in another pool of water when the time comes."

Upon reaching the shore, Chen Nan handed the spiritual medicine to Ayin.

"Really? That’s great! Now, no matter where we go, we’ll have Crescent Spring with us!"

After taking care of all matters, they set off. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

They totaled around two hundred people, forming a line as they traversed through the forest.

Chang Qing and Chen Nan led the way, with Ayin in the middle of the group, and the old priest bringing up the rear.

The other cultivators in the tribe also took on the responsibility of protecting the tribe members, as the mountain forests were filled with deadly poisonous insects for ordinary people.

At the front of the group, Chang Qing grew increasingly curious about Chen Nan.

"Chen Nan, where did you get that King Gu? Can you give it to me?"

Chang Qing asked somewhat embarrassedly.

Chen Nan raised an eyebrow in surprise, not even glancing at Chang Qing.

"I want to be the Saint Heir of Heavenly Border."

"Impossible, you’re not from Heavenly Border, stop joking." Chang Qing refused without a second thought.

Chen Nan gave her a sidelong glance and said blandly, "You started joking first."

"Stingy!" Chang Qing gritted her teeth.

But she knew full well that Gu insects and their masters share a bond like family or friends, and of course, they couldn’t be given away.

"By the way, are those rumors true? Do they say that you kill recklessly and are viciously brutal?" Chang Qing asked again.

Chen Nan silently curled his lips, not wanting to answer such questions.

Chang Qing felt at a loss but seemed to have endless topics to discuss, chattering incessantly beside him.

After walking for a whole day, they had only covered seventy or eighty li.

For ordinary people, this speed wasn’t slow, especially in the jungle mountains where there were no roads.

But the ordinary people of Moon Tower Dong Village and Huotang Village were remarkably robust and hadn’t fallen behind even after a day’s journey.

At night, they found a place, cleared a space, and set up camp.

In this manner, they traveled for three days and had only covered half the distance.

Chang Qing couldn’t bear it any longer and said to Chen Nan, "Why don’t we go on ahead? This is too slow."

She feared her tribe couldn’t hold out until Chen Nan arrived.

"No way."

Chen Nan resolutely refused, unable to leave behind the people of Moon Tower Dong Village.

Since he took the tribe members out, he had the responsibility to protect them.

"Hmph, understood!"

Chang Qing said fiercely.

Just then, a Gu Master suddenly shouted.

"Something’s up!"

Chen Nan quickly walked over, noticing the Gu Master was holding a worm that kept wriggling.

"Elder, this is a Gu Insect!"

Gu Insects are cultivated by Gu Masters and aren’t found naturally.

Therefore, the presence of a Gu Insect indicated other Gu Masters were nearby.

The old priest stepped forward, looked at the Gu Insect, and cupped his hands toward the surrounding dense forest.

"I wonder which village’s friends are here; please come out and meet."

Not long after, several figures emerged from the woods.

Leading them was a young cultivator, yet the aura around him marked him as a cultivator at the sixth layer of the Foundation Establishment Stage.

And behind him was an elder, with an aura revealing nothing at all.

But Chen Nan knew that the more imperceptible the aura, the more vigilant one should be.

Because he was likely a Golden Core Stage Cultivator!

The young cultivator cupped his hands to the old priest and said, "Esteemed elder, we are from Moon Shadow Village, may I ask where you’re headed?"

Chang Qing approached Chen Nan and whispered, "Moon Shadow Village is also a mid-sized village, but it’s far inferior to our Xiu Yun Village, with only one Golden Core Stage priest."

Chen Nan remained noncommittal, his gaze landing on the elder behind the young man.

Similarly, the elder looked at Chen Nan, their eyes meeting in the air, then both withdrew their gaze.

"Be wary of that elder."

The elder likewise whispered in the young man’s ear.

"That masked one is very strong!"