The God-Shaded Land truly lived up to its name!
This peaceful, tranquil place bore no resemblance whatsoever to the sinister dread of the world outside.
Inside the Divine Dragon Wood and outside it seemed like two entirely different worlds.
In the Senhai Source Realm, one's mind stayed taut at every moment—danger could descend at any time, and no matter how calm the surroundings, one felt oppressed, tense, and haunted.
But here in the God-Shaded Land, one's whole being unconsciously relaxed; that peaceful, tranquil atmosphere instantly lifted one's spirits.
An old man lounged on a reclining chair beneath the tree, lazily fanning himself with a large leaf.
Children ran gleefully about, chasing and romping, letting loose long strings of clear, ringing laughter.
They all wore clothes of that peculiar material—neither hemp nor silk—and the styles were all quite simple.
Among them, a round-faced little girl with an upturned pigtail tilted her head, studying Jiang Chen, the stranger.
Jiang Chen smiled at her, and her face instantly flushed red; she ran off shyly.
Qing Qishu and Qing Jiuye were waiting before an enormous fruit house.
This Divine Dragon Wood bore only this single fruit, and as far as Jiang Chen could tell, it was the equivalent of a private, walled residence in the city of Linzi.
The person living here had to be one of the true powers of the "Holy Clan."
By this point, some of the vigilance in Jiang Chen's heart had eased. The reason was simple: if Qing Qishu and Qing Jiuye had any ill intent toward him, they would hardly let the clan's old folks and children loiter in front of him, exposed to danger.
Breathing in the fresh fragrance of soil mingled with grass, feeling the gentle ease of the breeze brushing his face.
Jiang Chen walked with an unhurried gait, his ever-taut state loosening just a little.
He drew near.
A vine ladder hung down from the doorway of the fruit house for climbing.
Qing Qishu and Qing Jiuye stood at the entrance and only turned to head inside after Jiang Chen leaped up.
Inside, the fruit house was spacious, and not dark at all; in places, strands crossed like a lattice, fitted neatly and orderly—natural windows.
Treading on the floor gave a marvelous sensation, soft yet solid.
The air inside was flowing. Jiang Chen could sense that this fruit house was alive. And yet there was a faint sense of oppression he could not place.
Qing Qishu led the way ahead; Qing Jiuye stayed behind to brief him.
"When you meet her in a moment, just speak the honest truth. Lady Priestess is very kind—even if you're not the Dragon God Envoy, she won't harm you. Of course, in that case you won't be allowed to stay in the God-Shaded Land."
Bam!
The words had barely faded when Qing Qishu came flying backward through the air.
Blood spraying from his mouth, limbs sprawled, he crashed heavily at Jiang Chen's feet.
"Right, I underst—... huh?"
Jiang Chen was halfway through his nod when he turned to look at Qing Jiuye, his face a giant question mark.
This was what "very kind" meant?
Qing Jiuye's expression was stiff as well.
"Aaargh!" Only then did Qing Qishu's pained cry ring out, teeth gritted, utterly aggrieved. "Couldn't you just have said it nicely?!"
Qing Jiuye gave Jiang Chen a look, telling him to wait outside the door. "Lady Priestess may be in a bad mood today. I'll go in and check first."
The doorways inside the fruit house were all arched, with sky-blue silk strands hanging down like bead curtains.
Qing Jiuye lifted the curtain and entered.
In just the time it took to exchange a greeting, Jiang Chen heard an aged voice, faintly seething with anger, ring out: "Explain first why, when you and Qishu went hunting together, two people ended up coming back to the God-Shaded Land. Do you really think I'd shrink from sending you to Soul-Nurturing?"
Judging by the voice, it was an old woman, but the crushing pressure in her aura was heavy enough to smother one's breath.
Perhaps because her anger could not be contained, those words carried out of the house—everything after was too indistinct to make out.
Jiang Chen reached down and pulled Qing Qishu, who had been groaning on the ground for ages, back to his feet, asking casually, "Why did Lady Priestess knock you out of there?"
It had to be said, this fellow's vitality was truly tenacious. The arrow wound at his chest had already healed; he'd just been beaten until he vomited blood, yet after all his own howling, he showed no weakness—his voice only grew stronger.
At Jiang Chen's question, he shot him a furious glare and flung his hand away, putting distance between them.
Just then, Qing Jiuye lifted the silk curtain. "Zhang Yuan, the Priestess summons you."
Without a word, Qing Qishu shot past Jiang Chen and dashed inside.
Jiang Chen followed right behind, and a furious roar met his ears: "Kneel!"
The pressure in that voice was almost tangible, and it startled even Jiang Chen.
Kneel? Naturally, out of the question.
Jiang Chen was weighing whether to turn tail and run, or first let loose an Eight-Tone Flame Sparrow and then turn tail and run...
—when he saw Qing Qishu drop to his knees with a plop.
His face twisted in misery, the man said, "Granny, isn't there some misunderstanding between us? Why are you glaring at me like everything about me is wrong?"
"You still have the nerve to whine! The Holy Clan's face has been utterly lost because of you!"
The old woman who had spoken sat cross-legged on a cushion, its material the same as Qing Qishu and the others' clothing—neither silk nor hemp.
The old woman's hair was entirely white and her wrinkles very deep. Scolding Qing Qishu, she had been full of vigor; the moment her eyes caught Jiang Chen coming in behind, most of the wrinkles on her face smoothed away at once, and her smile turned kindly. "Young man, where do you come from?"
"Uh..." Jiang Chen hadn't quite adjusted to her nimble change of style, but answered honestly, "I was summoned to this Senhai Source Realm by the guiding starlight, and crossed the Land of Hidden Serpents to reach here."
"Guiding starlight?" The white-haired old woman's withered hand clenched at once, gripping her own knee, but quickly relaxed again, her voice turning gentle. "Please, sit."
The Holy Clan's system of cultivation was different; without crossing hands with her, it was hard to judge her strength. But judging by her aura alone, this old woman revered as the Priestess undoubtedly possessed power formidable to the point of terror.
Jiang Chen dared not be careless. Only after expressing his thanks did he take his seat on the cushion across from her.
Aside from its material, nothing about the cushion seemed special. Yet the moment he sat down, Jiang Chen felt his Dao essence circulating more smoothly, his thoughts growing more nimble.
A true treasure—with such immediate effects, it was genuinely astonishing. Apparently the clothes Qing Qishu and the others wore were no ordinary things either.
Looking Jiang Chen up and down, the old woman's smile was warm and approachable. "What a fine young man. Jiuye was right—you must be the envoy summoned and chosen by the Dragon God, descended upon the Senhai Source Realm to save the fate of the Holy Clan."
Qing Qishu, kneeling to the side, protested indignantly: "I was the one who said it first! Why did you start pummeling me without so much as a wor—"
The old woman glanced at him, her smiling eyes unchanged; though his mouth kept moving, no sound came out.
Silenced by a single glance.
Jiang Chen felt a chill of alarm inside. He understood that although the old woman was disciplining Qing Qishu, it was probably all the more a display of power before him.
"I only came here chasing what I chase. I don't even know where my journey ends. The Senhai Source Realm may be just a waypoint, or perhaps I'm simply lost. I truly dare not take on the responsibility of saving anyone."
Jiang Chen said earnestly, "I beg that Lady Priestess not set her hopes too high."
After all he had been through, Jiang Chen would not let himself be bound so easily by a single sentence. Saving the fate of the entire Holy Clan—such a matter was too great, too heavy; such a proposition too grand, too distant.
The Holy Clan's warriors were not weak, and this priestess old woman was an indisputable powerhouse besides. A plight that even they could not resolve—with what, exactly, was he, Jiang Chen, supposed to "save" anyone?
On the strength of other people calling him "a fine young man"?
"No matter." The old woman was still beaming, seemingly unbothered. "Tomorrow I shall raise the altar. Whether you are the Dragon God Envoy will naturally be known then. If you are, the Dragon God will grant you guidance. If you are not, this old woman will see you out of this place herself."