On both sides stood towering cliffs and precipices. Nestled against the mountains and beside the water, the area was vast, yet no other roads led through it.
The village lay amid such terrain. To pass through here, the only way was to cross the entire village.
Yet just before entering the village, Pan Shi stopped and did not continue forward.
Yang An was exhausted as well. They had traveled all day, resting only twice along the way and barely stopping otherwise. Having to keep up an air of effortless calm was truly no easy task.
Seeing Pan Shi suddenly stop, Yang An finally had a chance to catch his breath and looked at him in confusion.
"Senior Brother, what is it?"
Pan Yu asked, equally puzzled.
"We need to be more careful from here on."
Pan Shi's expression turned grave as he pointed at the village ahead.
"Over the years, quite a few of our Three Pine Mountain fellow disciples have gone to Xi Yue River to attend the Communal Feast Convention. Occasionally, some never returned. The problem lies here."
"This is an unnamed village, a necessary passage to Xi Yue River. If one detours around it, one must travel a great distance before returning to the proper road. Thus, this place has become a gathering point for most cultivators coming from the north, who usually stop here briefly to rest."
"That is also why we set out earlier this year. We need to reach Xi Yue River as quickly as possible. If we can avoid crossing paths with those people first, that would naturally be best."
The village in the darkness had not a single light. Every corner exuded an eerie stillness, utterly devoid of life.
Only after Pan Shi explained the reason did Yang An and Pan Yu understand the danger lurking here.
But other than passing through the village, there was simply no other route.
"Then there probably aren't any ordinary people left in the village, right?"
Yang An said.
Though night had fallen, they could still make out the outlines of the surrounding terrain. This place was practically a textbook narrow pass between cliffs.
Since it was a necessary route to Xi Yue River, those passing through might not merely be cultivators. There could even be demons and fiends.
And if it was dangerous even for cultivators to enter, ordinary people would have no chance of surviving here.
Hearing Yang An's words, Pan Shi nodded.
"Fellow Daoist has seen it as well. As a necessary passage to Xi Yue River, this place is actually very complicated. No matter who it is, they must pass through here to head south. Thus, this is in truth a land of death."
"What should we do, then?"
Pan Yu asked worriedly.
Although they had arrived early enough, if other cultivators or demons and fiends were still hidden in the village, they would inevitably run into them.
"It is no matter. We can skirt around the edge of the village. As long as we are careful, there should not be much trouble."
Pan Shi considered it for a moment. At present, this was the only method he could think of.
Yang An and Pan Yu both agreed.
"However... Fellow Daoist Yang, I have an unreasonable request. I wonder if you might agree to it?"
Pan Shi seemed to want to say something, then turned to Yang An.
"Go ahead."
Yang An appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly he was nervous beyond measure.
Don't tell me he wants me to lead the way?
In this pitch-black night, he could not see the road ahead at all. Even walking normally was difficult, much less leading the way.
If there were a large rock ahead, he might walk straight into it without even being able to tell.
At the thought of that possibility, Yang An felt that things were about to go badly.
Having received Yang An's answer, Pan Shi looked toward his junior sister, Pan Yu.
"As Fellow Daoist knows, my junior sister is still only at the Resonance Stage. She has a mortal body and cannot see in the night as you and I can. So I will clear the way ahead later, but I hope Fellow Daoist can look after my junior sister a little."
Pan Shi voiced his request.
After hearing it, Yang An heaved an invisible sigh of relief.
So he merely wanted him to look after Pan Yu. He had nearly thought some huge problem was about to arise.
Good. If that was all, it was only a minor matter.
"I can."
Yang An replied flatly, accepting Pan Shi's request.
He happened to need such an opportunity too. He was also merely flesh and blood, practically blind at night. Why not take advantage of it?
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist!"
Pan Shi immediately said gratefully.
With an "Origin Feeder Realm" cultivator like Yang An at his side, Pan Shi indeed felt far more assured. That was why he had always wanted to take the initiative to befriend Yang An. Now, it was finally proving useful.
Still, Pan Shi was quite curious about how Yang An would help them.
He knew that Yang An had not yet fully recovered. He had traveled on foot the entire way, and even the art of flying through the air, which an Origin Feeder Realm cultivator should have been capable of, could not be used for the time being. This made him even more curious about what method this disciple of a reclusive great sect would employ.
Just as Pan Shi finished speaking, a faint white light suddenly appeared before his eyes, instantly illuminating an area two meters around them and revealing the figures of all three.
Looking at the halo that had abruptly appeared behind Yang An's head and was giving off white light, Pan Shi froze for a moment.
He had originally thought Yang An would use some simpler method—for instance, temporarily sending a little Mana into Pan Yu and helping her temporarily open True Sight, allowing her to see at night like them.
But he had not expected Yang An to directly summon Buddhist light.
Was that... really so extravagant?
This was Buddhist light, Buddhist light that only those deeply versed in Buddhist teachings could condense. Its consumption of Mana was terrifyingly great.
Even those accomplished senior monks would not use it lightly unless necessary, much less employ it as an offensive method.
For beyond its damaging power, its more important use was to strengthen the cultivator themselves. Under the illumination of Buddhist light, one who had condensed it could comprehend Buddhist teachings on a deeper level and hasten their cultivation.
Moreover, this was different from when they had first encountered Yang An. The Buddhist light radiating from the halo was now gentler, its range reduced to only the area around the three of them, with not the slightest aggression revealed.
Thus, beneath this Buddhist light, Pan Shi and Pan Yu felt no discomfort at all. Instead, they felt immensely reassured, even as though their thoughts had suddenly become clear and unblocked.
What did that mean?
It meant Yang An's control over Buddhist light had reached an extraordinarily effortless level. He could wield it as easily as an arm or finger, and could even affect others.
All Pan Shi could say was that Fellow Daoist Yang truly lived up to expectation!
Pan Shi could only sigh inwardly in envy.
This was the foundation of a disciple from a great sect!
At this moment, Yang An naturally had no idea what Pan Shi was thinking. He simply felt that this thing was perfectly suited to the situation, so he used it.
Since he could not see at night, he merely had to create a source of light.
Besides, the source of this Buddhist light was the bone relic he had already fused with. It would not consume anything from him, so there was no reason not to use it.
Still, this thing was truly quite useful. Not only did it possess a certain offensive capability, it could also serve as a searchlight at night.
It perfectly solved the problem he currently faced.
Simply marvelous!
With that thought, Yang An's mind stirred. The halo floating behind his head instantly drifted away, drawing an arc through the air before landing precisely in his hand.
Mm, now it really felt like a searchlight.
A faint smile could not help appearing on Yang An's face.
Seeing this, Pan Shi's mouth twitched.
Another method of using it that he had never even heard of.
This thing could be removed and held in one's hand?!
Before you continue