Conceptual Ability, Omniscience

"Uncle Shan Hu, it's not dark yet. Going up the mountain for a bit should be fine!"

"Yeah, Brother Shan Hu. If we go up now, we should be able to return before dark!"

Shan Hu led the others away. The moment they left the small courtyard, some villagers could no longer hold their tongues.

People only ever cared about themselves, never others—especially when survival was so difficult. In their eyes, since the sky had not yet fully darkened, Chen Xuan could still go up the mountain.

"Shut up!"

"Going up the mountain now? Do you want Er Gou to die up there?"

Shan Hu snorted coldly, his eyes instantly sweeping toward the few people who had spoken.

The people who had spoken were so frightened that they did not dare make another sound.

Shan Hu looked at everyone and could not help but sigh.

After hesitating for a moment, he still spoke.

"The mountain is dangerous now—more dangerous than before."

"It's already good enough that he's willing to help you take a look!"

As Shan Hu spoke, the others nodded. As for whether they had truly accepted his words, that was beyond his knowing.

Shan Hu shook his head and left.

Meanwhile, after watching everyone depart,

Chen Xuan also returned to the small courtyard.

His thoughts turned toward his Conceptual Ability.

The reason he had agreed was not because his kindness had gotten the better of him. To him, this was no problem at all.

After all, his ability could generate a path as long as he set a goal. The system's ability was all-powerful depending on how one used it, but its omniscience was set in stone.

Others had to search before they could determine someone's situation. He did not.

He only needed to use his Conceptual Ability.

Just like now.

His thoughts shifted, and words immediately began to flicker into view.

Goal: Bring back the fourteen living hunters, including Zhang Shan, who went up the mountain (Pending Confirmation)

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"Path One: Within the Ten Thousand Mountains lies a mountain named Sunset Glow Mountain. Upon Sunset Glow Mountain grows a strange flower named the Other Shore Flower. Three thousand meters into the Endless Sea Region is an azure lotus named the Creation Azure Lotus. Reach Sunset Glow Mountain and the Endless Sea Region within three days, and obtain fourteen Other Shore Flowers and the azure lotus. Within seven days, reach the location three thousand steps to the right of the Big Locust Tree behind the mountain, find the remains of the fourteen people, gather their lingering spirits with the Other Shore Flowers, and reshape their bodies with the azure lotus. They can be brought back!"

The words appeared.

The system's ability had not disappointed him.

But the instant those words appeared, Chen Xuan's mouth could not help twitching.

Good heavens—Ten Thousand Mountains, Other Shore Flowers, an azure lotus from the Endless Sea Region. Good heavens, every one of these sounded like an outrageously high-level item. Going by the usual tropes, these were not even things someone at his current stage should know about.

Of course, none of that mattered right now. Though the two items sounded terrifyingly impressive, Chen Xuan only glanced at them before quickly focusing on the words that followed. To him, those were what mattered.

"So they really are gone."

Murmuring softly, Chen Xuan could not help sighing.

Though he had long expected it—after all, three days had passed, and the odds of Zhang Shan and the others still being alive were very, very low—the confirmation of their deaths still shook him deeply.

Especially Zhang Shan. He had at least practiced archery under him for several days.

For him to be gone just like that left Chen Xuan with profound feelings.

It also made him understand even more clearly just how broken his Conceptual Ability was.

Without it, after going up the mountain again and again, he would probably have become several months older by now.

With a sigh, Chen Xuan returned to the small courtyard.

Though the news had affected his state of mind somewhat, his training continued.

It was not until night fell and his mother, Zhang Chunhua, returned that Chen Xuan sent Chen Er Zhuang away.

"Er Gou, Zhang Shan and the others?"

Zhang Chunhua spoke hesitantly. Clearly, she had also received the news.

"Mm. Uncle Shan Hu and the others came over today to ask me to take a look tomorrow."

"I agreed to go have a look tomorrow."

Chen Xuan nodded lightly.

"Then be careful. Don't go too deep."

Zhang Chunhua hesitated, but in the end she sighed and spoke.

She knew that her second son had a mind of his own. Since he had agreed, there was no point in trying to stop him. She could only remind him softly.

"I know, Mother."

"I'm very familiar with the mountain. Look, I even hunted a wild boar. Of course, I won't go too far. I'll just take a look around the back mountain!"

Chen Xuan smiled as he spoke, comforting his mother.

Zhang Chunhua nodded.

The night passed without incident.

Morning sunlight spilled down.

Chen Xuan began preparing to enter the mountain again.

Though he had confirmed that Zhang Shan and the others were dead, he had already planned to go hunting today. On one hand, he needed to replenish their food. On the other, if hunting Tiger and Leopard proved too difficult, Wild Boars were still his best source of income. Naturally, he could not give that up.

Since he was going up the mountain anyway, he could see whether there was a chance to collect Zhang Shan and the others' remains. They were villagers from the same village, after all.

So long as it did not cause him any trouble, Chen Xuan was still willing to do this small act of humanity while he was at it.

His gaze turned toward his Conceptual Ability.

Goal: Safely hunt a wild boar and return today (Pending Confirmation)

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"Path One: Go up the mountain from the left side of the back mountain and travel straight for two thousand meters. In two hours, a herd of Wild Boars will pass by. You must leave within fifteen minutes and return by the original route."

"Path Two: From the Big Locust Tree behind the mountain, travel forward one thousand meters, then turn right for another one thousand meters. There is a valley. In two hours, there will be three Wild Boars in the valley. Wound all three with arrows, wait for the three to flee, wound one of them again, then return by the original route in two hours."

"Path Three: Four thousand steps to the right of the Big Locust Tree, there are two Wild Boars. Hunt one, then return by the original route within one hour."

As the options appeared, after solidifying the goal as hunting a wild boar, there were undoubtedly many more choices.

Chen Xuan looked through the three options one by one and quickly noticed the third.

"Four thousand steps to the right of the Big Locust Tree!"

Muttering to himself, Chen Xuan recalled the earlier path given by his Conceptual Ability. Zhang Shan and the others' remains seemed to be located around three thousand steps to the right of the Big Locust Tree. This was only one thousand steps farther—probably around five hundred meters.

Perfect. He could do it on the way.

With that thought, he no longer hesitated.

He slung his bow and arrow over his back, brought along his crude cart, gave Xiao Shitou his instructions, and headed toward the back mountain.

The back mountain was as quiet as ever.

As his footsteps entered it, only the sound of weeds brushing against his legs echoed through the forest.

Chen Xuan made his way, familiar as an old hand, to the Big Locust Tree.

Then he set off toward his destination.

Three thousand steps was nearly two thousand meters. Traveling through the forest was not fast.

It took Chen Xuan roughly more than two hours to reach the destination.