Deceiving the Heavens to Cross the Sea

The bronze gong rang, and calamity arrived!

From white-haired elders to toddlers just learning to walk, everyone in Chen Family Village knew that once the bronze gong sounded, it meant someone had met an unnatural death.

When they also heard that someone had run into a ghostly horror, many people rushed out of their homes with their hearts pounding.

It was mainly the village's able-bodied men and elders; the women and children mostly cowered inside their homes.

"Seventh Uncle, what happened?"

Someone nervously stopped the old farmer who was beating the gong and asked.

The old farmer said in a panic, "Everyone, hurry to the Mountain Path Entrance and take a look. I don't know whose two people ran into a ghostly horror."

Two people?

Everyone's faces changed as they hurried toward the Mountain Path Entrance.

"Mother, I'm going out to take a look."

Hearing the commotion outside, Zhang Yuan told his mother, "I'll be back soon."

Zhang's Mother worried, "Be careful."

"Mm."

Zhang Yuan nodded, then went out and joined the crowd of onlookers.

The many villagers jogged all the way to the Mountain Path Entrance and immediately saw the desiccated corpses on the ground.

Night had already fallen. The two corpses looked especially terrifying, and an eerie aura silently spread through the surroundings.

There really was a ghostly horror causing trouble!

Everyone's hair stood on end. They looked at one another, seeing fear and panic in each other's eyes.

"Make way, all of you, make way!"

More people arrived, carrying torches for light.

Chen Yuanwai's household servants had come. The Weasel-faced Advisor had come as well, and even the Village Chief of Chen Family Village was there!

The Weasel-faced Advisor's expression was incomparably grim. He swept a glance over the desiccated corpses and said, "Inspect them."

The several household servants he had brought looked at one another, none daring to step forward.

When it came to strange and uncanny matters, there was no ordinary person who was not afraid!

Seeing that no one obeyed him, the Weasel-faced Advisor flew into a rage from humiliation and pointed at one of the servants, barking, "You, go!"

The man had no choice but to steel himself and step forward to investigate.

But the moment his hand touched one of the desiccated corpses, its dried-up body split directly into several large pieces.

It nearly scared the servant to death.

Yet some items hidden in the corpse's bosom also fell out.

One servant cried out, "Sun Bodyguard?"

He recognized one of the Bronze Tokens. It was precisely the token Sun Bodyguard carried as proof of identity!

Chen Yuanwai's household had only two bodyguards, both martial artists who had entered the force realm. The other was currently at the old residence in the village.

Therefore, this desiccated corpse could only be Sun Bodyguard!

"This is Chen San?"

At this moment, a sharp-eyed villager also recognized the other desiccated corpse. "Three fingers on the left hand—it's definitely him!"

As one of the few ruffians and idlers in the village, Chen San was known to every villager present.

Everyone knew that a few years ago, he had cheated at gambling and had two fingers chopped off by the other party.

From his left hand!

The identities of the two desiccated corpses were now basically confirmed.

But the question was, how had a Chen Family bodyguard and a village idler both run into a ghostly horror and died at the Mountain Path Entrance?

No one knew the answer!

The night wind blew down from the distant Mountain Range, making the torch flames sway unsteadily and casting twisted shadows.

Quite a few people shuddered in unison.

The old Village Chief said gravely, "It's already dark. This place isn't safe. Bring them back to the village first, then we'll talk."

This Village Chief held considerable prestige in Chen Family Village, and the Weasel-faced Advisor also spoke up. Thus, several villagers forced down their fear and nausea, wrapped up the remains on the ground, and carried them away.

When everyone returned to the village and gathered before the ancestral hall, they finally felt somewhat reassured.

Ghostly horrors lurked deep within the mountains. For thousands of years, villagers in remote mountain villages like Chen Family Village had depended upon the ancestral hall's protection to live and survive in peace.

Ordinary ghostly horrors would not approach a village sheltered by an ancestral hall.

But once villagers left the bounds of the village, they could no longer receive that protection. That was why incidents of running into ghostly horrors occurred.

Under normal circumstances, the area around the village was relatively safe as well.

Yet the place where Sun Bodyguard and Chen San had met their deaths was not very far from the village, which made everyone afraid.

Had some terrifying ghostly horror appeared near Chen Family Village?

"Ancestors, bless us!"

Everyone lit incense before the ancestral tablets enshrined in the ancestral hall, praying devoutly for their ancestors' protection.

Meanwhile, the Weasel-faced Advisor and the household servants examined Sun Bodyguard's remains again, but could not make heads or tails of them.

So, at the old Village Chief's suggestion, his remains, together with his clothes and belongings, were placed in the fire pit and burned into ash.

That way, even if there was anything evil about them, it would be consigned to the flames!

Chen San was burned clean as well.

Zhang Yuan stood squeezed into the crowd of onlookers and witnessed the entire process.

The facts proved that Zhang Yuan's decision to use sacrifice to fabricate an incident of running into a ghostly horror had been correct.

First, absolutely no one would suspect him or think that he had killed Sun Bodyguard and Chen San.

Second, this undoubtedly gave Chen Yuanwai, who had only recently moved to Chen Family Village, a great deal of trouble, leaving him suspicious, restless, and unable to sleep or eat in peace.

This would also temporarily ease the pressure on Zhang Yuan, an outsider to the clan, within the village.

Deceiving the Heavens to Cross the Sea, accomplishing many gains in one stroke!

As for frightening the other innocent villagers, Zhang Yuan could only apologize to them in his heart.

Earlier, he had heard villagers discussing how Chen San had also been placed on the list for corvée labor.

Clearly, the fellow had taken a desperate risk to evade the service, only to be killed by Zhang Yuan instead!

As for why Sun Bodyguard had also appeared at the Mountain Path Entrance, perhaps he had been watching Chen San, or perhaps Zhang Yuan himself. There was no way to know.

Late at night, the villagers before the ancestral hall dispersed and returned home.

Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.

Zhang Yuan also returned home and briefly told his mother what had happened.

This prompted Zhang's Mother to take out faith incense and offer three sticks before Zhang's Father's memorial tablet.

She prayed that her late husband's spirit in heaven would bless Zhang Yuan with safety and peace!

Zhang Yuan listened at her side, silently moved in his heart.

After Zhang's Mother fell asleep, he opened the Divine Nest Panel in his room.

Host: Zhang Yuan

Divine Nest: Level 1 (15%)

Host Body: Level 1 Black Giant Ant (12%) / 2x Strength

Vitality and Blood: 23/75

Source Essence: 3.7

The evolution progress of the Divine Nest's first host body—the Black Giant Ant—had risen from 1% to 12%. The speed was not slow.

But Zhang Yuan was far from satisfied. Without hesitation, he invested all his Source Essence into the nest chamber once more.

The greater the amount of Source Essence invested, the faster the host body would naturally grow.

Moreover, investing Source Essence would not cause any waste. After leveling up, it could still continue helping the evolution.

Zhang Yuan urgently needed to increase his strength now—the stronger, the better!

Although Zhang Yuan had fortunately won today's sudden battle,

his luck could not possibly be this good every time.

Therefore, his own strength was what mattered most!

Closing the panel, Zhang Yuan pulled out an Animal Hide bag from beneath his bedboard.

Then he took out the booklet inside.

Boulder Foundation Skill!

On the small table beside the bed, an oil lamp gave off a dim yellow glow, reflecting in Zhang Yuan's brightly gleaming eyes.

Like a ravenous glutton catching sight of a feast!