Goblin Dependency-Chapter 676 - 340: The Ceremony Is Over... Forever

Chapter 676: Chapter 340: The Ceremony Is Over... Forever

The orange flame flickered and rose in the mist behind him, carrying a slightly warm air with a hint of scorched scent.

Xia Nan walked alone in the canyon, his backpack behind him was filled with Fog Lamp Grass for completing the collection task.

The deaths of the Fog Lamp Monster and the Druid caused the mist within the canyon to dissipate somewhat; perhaps it was psychological, but he even felt that the oppressive feeling brought by this "Forbidden Land" that never saw sunlight all year round had lessened considerably.

He did not deliberately conceal his figure, but instead openly walked with assertive steps.

As the canyon’s dark oak door drew closer and gradually entered into view, Dong Shu and Lilia, following his previous instructions, waited quietly and carefully near the entrance, directing their gaze toward him.

Upon realizing the visitor was Xia Nan, both visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

"How is it, any danger nearby?"

Sweeping his gaze over the two, Xia Nan casually asked.

"No, no, it’s very safe here." Dong Shu shook his head repeatedly, his attitude grateful and respectful, "It’s just that I don’t understand why the surrounding mist has thinned a lot; however, you must have already noticed this."

With a slight nod, Xia Nan’s gaze shifted to Lilia, who was looking at him.

"And you, any adverse reactions in your body?"

Having seldom used the "Secondary Healing Technique" of the Tear of Spring Breath pendant, Xia Nan was unclear about the precise healing effects of this First Ring Spell.

Earlier, time was short, and he hadn’t had the chance to examine it closely; now, with the opportunity, he needed to confirm.

"No adverse reactions, Mr. Xia Nan." On hearing this, the girl turned and moved her previously injured arm, indicating it was completely healed, "Not even a scar remains; thank you so much for your treatment!"

Perhaps having noticed the light green plant liquid on Xia Nan, which had appeared since they had parted earlier, Dong Shu hesitated slightly, then lowered his voice, asking cautiously and hesitantly:

"Mr. Xia Nan, you..."

Detecting the gaze, Xia Nan roughly understood what he was pondering.

The simple-hearted young man in front of him was probably still entangled in the conflict with his beloved and the sacrificial ritual.

Without deliberately hiding anything, Xia Nan straightforwardly told him about the records he had found in the experiment journal and his subsequent encounters in the secret garden.

The sacrificial ritual might have had some purpose initially, when the Druid first entered his prolonged sleep.

After all, for the smooth progress of the experiment, the Druid truly helped the villagers drive away demons, ensuring a bountiful harvest.

But afterward, as the Druid’s intervals of wakefulness grew longer, those so-called "sacrifices" became mere tools for the village chief’s maintenance of his rule and authority.

"Village chief... But Aspen, my brother..."

Dong Shu widened his eyes, his face full of disbelief.

"No... This is impossible, how could it be..."

The knowledge instilled since childhood was overturned, causing him to reflexively mutter aloud in rebuttal.

And as Xia Nan narrated his discovery from the journal, even taking out the notebook left by the Druid from his backpack.

The young man’s body began to tremble.

It was not out of fear but from the boiling anger within.

"So, this sacrificial ritual... is unnecessary?"

"So Aspen’s daughter back then, she truly didn’t need to..."

"So choosing Lilia as a sacrifice was not about any village continuity, but purely for his own gain?"

"Is that right, Mr. Xia Nan?"

His tightly clenched fists made the skin surface of his knuckles pale, trembling and overly strained, the muscle and veins beneath his forearm skin visibly twitching and bulging.

Dong Shu gritted his molars, the anger in his eyes almost palpable.

Xia Nan had no doubt that if the elderly village chief were standing here, the young man in front of him would unleash his fury without reservation.

Meanwhile, Lilia’s reaction, standing on the other side, was entirely different from Dong Shu’s.

As the "sacrifice" of this sacrificial ritual, had Xia Nan not intervened, she likely would have already perished alongside her beloved under the Fog Lamp Monster’s attack.

She ought to feel anger and resentment.

Yet compared to Dong Shu’s intense emotions, the girl appeared particularly silent.

It’s difficult to describe the expression on her face.

Bearing the heavy burden of allowing the village to continue, prepared to sacrifice herself.

Ultimately discovering it was a thorough and absolute lie.

Including herself, countless young lives have died for it ahead of her, all in vain.

Without uttering a word, her eyes, frozen and hollow, conveyed an ineffable sadness and loneliness.

Xia Nan stood quietly beside them, closely observing their reactions.

He naturally understood Dong Shu’s fiery response and saw the intense internal fluctuation beneath Lilia’s seemingly silent demeanor.

Even thinking both were very restrained.

If he truly switched places with them... The village chief’s head might already have a ticket booked, ready to take flight.

But no matter what, his mere presence here signifies the lie deceiving the villagers has been exposed, and any potential threat within the canyon has been cleared away.

From now on, the sacrifice filled with blood and tears would no longer exist.

Not saying much more, he offered the two ample time to digest the truth, intending to explain the intricate backstory once the wrap-up work was fully complete.