Kicking the Bucket Right There

That night, the bonfire crackled and popped.

"You're pretty good, kid, but you're still not as good as me, hahaha!"

"Hmph, you just have a few more years of cultivation than me, what's there to be proud of? If you've got the guts, let's settle this like men!"

"Like men? Come on, follow me to the small woods over there!"

"Wait, what are you doing unbuckling your belt? I meant a drinking contest!"

"This atmosphere… I haven't felt it in a long time!" Shen Ye sighed softly as he strolled through the woods, then turned to Hua Yue, whose small face was flushed red by the firelight. He asked, "How do you feel?"

Hua Yue was silent for a moment, then said with emotion, "The smiles on their faces are something I've never seen in the City of Flowing Moon! I truly hope everyone in the City of Flowing Moon can be like this too!"

Shen Ye looked up at the bright moon in the night sky. "That day will come!"

"City of Flowing Moon?" Xu Si peeked out from the side, asking curiously, "So that's where you and Young Master Shen Ye are from?"

Zhang Chulan, already a bit tipsy, leaned over, wrapped an arm around Shen Ye's shoulder, and held a bottle of baijiu to his mouth. "Heh heh, want a sip?"

Xu San pressed a hand to his forehead, clearly annoyed. "Are you an idiot? Minors can't drink!"

Then, he looked at Shen Ye. "Sorry, this kid's had too much to drink."

"It's fine." Shen Ye shook his head slightly, then said softly, "However, I genuinely dislike drinking. It dulls the senses and leads to carelessness, only putting oneself in danger without realizing it!"

A strange glint flashed in Xu San's eyes. Not liking alcohol was one thing, but the latter part of his statement was quite striking; it gave off a feeling of the law of the jungle.

In modern society, is there still such a place? It can't be that he's from Shennongjia, can it?

Xu Si seized the opportunity to ask, "I wanted to ask earlier, Young Master Shen Ye, is your hometown in some mountainous region? It sounds like life there is quite difficult!"

Xu San added, "If the environment is harsh, we could find a way to help you relocate."

"There's no need for that," Shen Ye shook his head. "My Lieshan Tribe has resided in the City of Flowing Moon since ancient times. The Turbid Qi outside is too heavy; it's not suitable for us."

"Lieshan Tribe?" Suddenly, Zhuge Qing's curious voice came from the side.

Diviners were always intensely curious, and he, in particular, loved gossip, so he had been eavesdropping nearby for a while.

"Do you know them?" Xu Si tilted his head and asked.

"Sorry, I 'accidentally' overheard your conversation." Zhuge Qing took the opportunity to openly approach, using the apology as an excuse, and stated his guess, "The Shennong Clan is also known as the Yan Emperor, and also the Lieshan Clan. Could this Lieshan Tribe be the tribe where Shennong resided?"

"Shennong!" Another exclamation came from the side. Everyone turned to look and saw it was none other than the Deng Youfu brothers from the Northeastern Shaman lineage.

Xu San's mouth twitched. What's wrong with these young people? Why do they all love to eavesdrop?

Deng Youcai had already learned the full story of the daytime battle from his older brother. He looked at Shen Ye with excited, worshipful eyes, asking questions like a machine gun. "Boss, what's it like to have Great God Shennong possess you? Did Great God Shennong ascend? Can you communicate with Great God Shennong…?"

Hearing Deng Youcai's words, everyone was startled. That phantom from earlier was actually the legendary Shennong?

If that's true, it makes perfect sense that the big snake was so intimidated by the aura that it didn't dare to act!

Shen Ye didn't mind and honestly replied, "The Lieshan Tribe has worshipped Venerable God Shennong since ancient times. However, Venerable God Shennong hasn't displayed any divine miracles for hundreds of thousands of years since the mending of the sky!"

"Hundreds of thousands of years?" Everyone's faces crumpled. Do you think you're a Peking Man from Zhoukoudian?

Zhuge Qing, however, analyzed it seriously. "Nüwa mending the sky? Could it refer to the Great Flood in ancient times? Did you hide in a secret realm similar to the Peach Blossom Spring during the Great Flood, which is why your perception of time differs significantly from the outside world?"

After hearing Zhuge Qing's imaginative explanation, everyone suddenly understood. That makes sense.

Shen Ye didn't argue, but merely looked at Zhuge Qing with surprise. This squinty-eyed guy really is a talent!

Just as everyone was surprised by this information, Zhang Chulan's frantic laughter suddenly erupted from beside the bonfire. "Ahahaha, do you really want to see it? Then I'll give you an eye-opener!"

"Come on, let us see!"

"Off! Off! Off!"

Seeing that everyone at the party was "pilgrimaging" toward Zhang Chulan, Shen Ye, knowing what was about to happen, shook his head slightly. He wasn't interested in "birdwatching under the moon." He turned to Hua Yue. "Yue'er, you should go back to your room and rest first. I still have something to take care of."

Hua Yue naturally wouldn't defy Shen Ye's wishes, nor did she ask any questions. She nodded slightly and said, "Yes!"

Only after Hua Yue left did Shen Ye open the note in his hand. It read: "If you don't want that little girl to die tragically, come to the center of the back mountain."

"Caught a fish so quickly? The harvest season is always pleasant!" Shen Ye's lips curved into a slight smile. A flicker of firelight appeared in his palm, consuming the paper, and he walked calmly into the depths of the forest.

Half an hour later, Shen Ye arrived at the location specified on the paper.

Tree shadows dappled the ground, and the hoarse cries of crows occasionally echoed through the air.

A slightly short figure emerged from the shadows. "Little friend, out for a walk so late? Are you lost?"

Shen Ye chuckled softly. "Old man, you're truly cautious. Are you worried I called for backup?"

"Haha, it's just a habit, a habit… Although I'm old and frail, I can still sense if there are any ambushes around." The old man squinted. "But you, little friend, you're young, yet your courage is quite remarkable."

"Let me introduce myself first. I am Wang Ai, humbly one of the Ten Elders. I came tonight, actually, to ask for your pity, young friend, for an old grandfather's painstaking efforts for his grandson!"

Shen Ye's gaze was calm as still water. "Mm, continue."

Wang Ai stared into Shen Ye's eyes, confirming he wasn't just feigning composure. He couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, "If my grandson had your temperament, I wouldn't have to worry about my descendants' future! However, precisely because he's not yet accomplished enough, I wish to borrow your spirit, young friend!"

"As expected, it's the rat drawn out by that battle during the day!" Shen Ye sighed, then said in a deep voice, "What if I say no?"

Hearing this, Wang Ai's "kind" face suddenly turned sinister. "That's not up to you!"

Before he could finish speaking, Shen Ye instantly drew the wooden sword from his waist and slashed out like a bolt of lightning.

"A sneak attack? Heh, I've been waiting for you!" Wang Ai sneered. He wouldn't underestimate his opponent just because he was a child. His withered body moved with surprising agility, easily dodging the long sword. He clenched his right hand into a claw, striking Shen Ye's left shoulder first, only to find the shoulder as hard as refined iron.

Is that Hard Qi Gong? Wang Ai was slightly surprised, but he didn't hesitate. Instead, he channeled all the Qi in his body, intending to crush it with one claw!

However, the scene of blood splattering that he imagined didn't occur. What appeared before him was an empty space. Through the opening, he could even see the precise operation of various mechanisms within the opponent's body.

"This, this is?"

The moment Wang Ai was shocked and distracted, a powerful palm strike landed squarely on his back.

The Qi within Wang Ai instantly became chaotic. Before he could regulate it, it was locked down by a seal!

"How is this possible? There was clearly no one around!" Wang Ai turned his head in shock, only to see another Shen Ye standing behind him.

"The material is still a bit subpar!" Shen Ye frowned slightly, not entirely satisfied with the result.

"This is... a puppet?" Wang Ai scanned back and forth between the two "Shen Ye's," finally understanding. "You and this puppet have the same aura, confusing my perception?"

"More accurately, an Automaton!" Shen Ye walked in front of him, saying playfully, "If one of the Ten Elders were to die, this world would surely be in for quite a shock, wouldn't it?"

This kid really wants to kill me! Wang Ai's heart went cold. Although tonight's events were somewhat unexpected, he had, after all, come through turbulent times to reach his current position. A hundred years of cultivation of his disposition weren't for nothing. Even upon hearing Shen Ye say he wanted to kill him, he quickly calmed down.

"Such a young hero! I admit defeat this time! However, young man, you might have some misunderstandings about the Ten Elders. Aside from a few reckless individuals, the Ten Elders mostly represent the strongest forces in the anomalous world. If you kill me..."

"Too much talk!" With Shen Ye's cold words, the Automaton, which had been standing quietly by his side, suddenly stepped forward two paces and pierced through the opponent's chest with its sword.

"You..." Wang Ai's eyes widened, unable to believe he would die in such a way. This bastard wouldn't even let him finish his sentence?

Shen Ye lightly tapped his index finger, and a stream of water enveloped the Automaton, washing away the blood.

"While I don't care about any retaliation from the Ten Elders, for this Grand Heavenly Offering Ritual to proceed normally, I'll wait until I've taken first place before revealing anything!"

Thinking this, Shen Ye casually set up a concealment array, temporarily hiding Wang Ai's body. Then, he began to repair the damaged parts of the Automaton.