After resting for half a day, the soldiers' spirits recovered.
"Moving forward, we should reach the territory of the Yuan Wu Department. We don't know the situation inside yet, so be cautious," warned Yu Su.
Yu Meng nodded, following Yu Su and Lu Yan, riding towards the canyon.
Upon entering the canyon, it was quiet around.
Yu Su's spiritual awareness scanned the surroundings. After the team had walked a few hundred meters, he raised his hand, signaling everyone to stop.
At this moment, there was movement ahead.
More than twenty people with dark skin and wearing animal skin skirts emerged from the woods.
Each had incomprehensible patterns on their faces and bodies, holding bows and arrows. The leader, after saying something unintelligible, shot arrows toward Yu Su and the others.
Yu Meng: "Damn! What's with these people? They shoot arrows without warning!"
The arrows from the other side were swift and accompanied by the sound of bursting air.
Yu Su squinted his eyes, raised his hand to create a barrier, instantly blocking the incoming arrows.
"Friends of the Yuan Wu Department, we mean no harm. Please lower your arrows," Yu Su's voice penetrated the woods.
The more than twenty people on the other side changed their expressions upon seeing Yu Su blocking the arrows. The leader of the Yuan Wu Department stared sharply at Yu Su, then instructed his people to lower their bows and arrows. In a language Yu Su could understand, he said, "Who are you, and why come to our Yuan Wu Department?"
"I am Yu Su, the witch doctor of Yu Village, and these are my brave warriors. We heard that the demonic beasts from the east broke through the canyon barrier, destroyed many villages, and came to check on the situation," Yu Su explained.
Even after hearing that Yu Su came to help, the leader of the Yuan Wu Department showed no signs of softening. He said sternly, "We don't need the help of outsiders. Please leave."
Yu Su's voice turned solemn, "We killed hundreds of demonic beasts on the way from Sanhe Village. Those beasts destroyed countless villages along the way, and this is not just a matter for your Yuan Wu Department."
After Yu Su finished speaking, he gestured with one hand, swirling the arrows suspended in the air into a bundle. With a clenching fist, the bundle of arrows turned into powder.
Yu Su stared coldly at the people on the other side.
The Yuan Wu Department people, including their leader, looked shocked. The leader asked, "Who are you, and how do you control witch power?"
"This is not witch power; it's spiritual power. I am not only the witch doctor of Yu Village but also a cultivator," Yu Su explained, suspecting that the Yuan Wu Department might have knowledge about cultivators different from the people on the plains.
As expected, after Yu Su mentioned being a cultivator, the leader of the Yuan Wu Department showed a puzzled expression.
"Wait here; I will report to the Great Witch," the leader said, instructing someone behind him before running into the inner gorge.
The confrontation with the people who faced Yu Su and the others did not open a path, and they still stood with bows and arrows.
After more than an hour, the person who had left finally returned.
While conversing with the leader of the Yuan Wu Department, he looked toward Yu Su's group.
Eventually, the leader spoke to Yu Su's group, "The Great Witch has allowed your entry into the gorge. Follow me."
Yu Meng and the others wanted to accompany Yu Su and Lu Yan, but the leader did not permit it.
The leader said to Yu Su, "Your warriors must stay outside."
Yu Meng protested, "We are Lord Yu Su's guards and must follow him!"
The leader said, "If you insist on entering, it will be considered a provocation against our Yuan Wu Department."
Yu Meng grumbled, and Yu Su raised his hand to stop the argument, telling Yu Meng, "Take your warriors nearby and wait for my orders."
Only then did Yu Meng give a cold snort to the leader and led the warriors back to where they had rested, awaiting orders.
The leader then looked at Lu Yan.
Lu Yan coldly stared back.
The powerful aura emanating from Lu Yan made the Yuan Wu Department people turn pale.
Yu Su said, "He is the leader of my warriors from Yu Village and also a cultivator. He must accompany me."
Only then did the leader not say anything more, leading Yu Su's group into the inner gorge.
The gorge was a large triangular canyon, and its deepest point bordered the world of demonic beasts. It also served as the barrier of the canyon. The plain inside was the territory of the Yuan Wu Department.
There were cultivation areas and streams inside. Tens of thousands of Yuan Wu Department members lived here, self-sufficient and able to sustain themselves. The vastness of this plain explained why it took the person more than an hour to return.
As Yu Su's group followed the leader into the gorge, they encountered many Yuan Wu Department patrols. When these patrols saw outsiders, they stopped and observed.
Yu Su noticed that the living area of the Yuan Wu Department was somewhat chaotic, showing signs of recent conflict. There were many traces of battle, and dried bloodstains were scattered around.
It seemed that the Yuan Wu Department had experienced a fierce battle, possibly after the demonic beasts broke through.
Currently, the immediate threat seemed to have been pushed back to the other end of the canyon.
However, the atmosphere in the Yuan Wu Department remained tense, with everyone appearing burdened by something on their minds.
"Why did the demonic beasts on the other side of the canyon break the barrier? Did something happen before?" Yu Su asked the leading leader.
After hesitating, he answered, "There was a demonic beast tide."
"A demonic beast tide? How could this happen?" Yu Su frowned.
The leader looked towards the east of the canyon and said solemnly, "No one knows. Those demonic beasts suddenly gathered into a large group and rushed towards the canyon barrier. Our Yuan Wu Department suffered heavy losses, as you can see the chaos here."
After he finished, he turned to Yu Su and Lu Yan with a sharp look, "Since you are cultivators living on the plains, why have we never heard of you before?"
There was a hint of questioning and perhaps some unspoken complaints in his tone.
Yu Su explained, "We live behind the mountain range to the west. We haven't been to the eastern plains before. Recently, we opened a mountain pass connecting the western mountains and the east, learning about the situation here."
The leader paused, and the doubt and complaints in his eyes gradually faded. He sounded surprised, "You come from behind the western mountains?"
"Yes, we are the people blessed by the mountain god of Deer God Mountain," Yu Su said.
The Yuan Wu Department members who came in with Yu Su looked a bit confused. They didn't know what Deer God Mountain was.
However, the leader showed a somewhat enlightened expression, apparently having heard of Deer God Mountain.
The losses of the Yuan Wu Department were indeed severe. As Yu Su's group walked in, they saw many damaged areas, and the people of the Yuan Wu Department were busy rebuilding.
The Yuan Wu Department people lived in wooden houses, raised several steps above the ground to prevent water, moisture, and insects. The construction was more advanced than the
tribes on the outer plains. The people also wore hemp clothes, with some dyed in a single color, though the color was monotonous, and the weaving was relatively crude, not as delicate as the linen in Yu Village.
Yu Su and Lu Yan wore exquisite linen clothes, drawing the attention of the Yuan Wu Department people. Many eyes lingered on Yu Su's face and the gemstones on his collar.
In the eyes of these people, Yu Su seemed to embody the essence of sophistication.
This also implied that the identity of Yu Su's group was not simple. Despite the surprise of outsiders entering, the Yuan Wu Department people did not show hostility.
"The Great Witch is inside the temple ahead. You must show respect when entering," the little leader who brought Yu Su in said.
Yu Su nodded and also saw the temple. Similarly constructed with wood, it was much larger than the surrounding houses, with more exquisite craftsmanship. Intricate totems were carved on sturdy wooden pillars, and above the temple gate, a totem symbolizing the witch god was carved and vividly painted with bright colors, making it very eye-catching.
As Yu Su and Lu Yan ascended the temple steps, someone walked out from inside.
To Yu Su's surprise, it was a female Great Witch, and she was elderly, with a full head of white hair. Despite being somewhat thin, her back was still straight, and her eyes were sharp.
Like the leader of the Yuan Wu Department, the Great Witch wore a gemstone on her chest, adorned with a feather headdress on her head, and held a wooden staff. This staff was much more luxurious than many witch doctors' staffs, with a luminous gem embedded at the top. Yu Su even sensed rich spiritual energy from this gem, a valuable treasure."
After climbing the steps, Yu Su bowed slightly and greeted, "Great Witch, I am Yu Su, the witch doctor from Yu Village. I come from beyond the western mountains, the people blessed by the mountain god of Deer God Mountain."
The Great Witch of the Yuan Wu Department, initially sharp-eyed, softened her gaze visibly upon learning about Yu Su's connection to the mountain god. She inquired, "Are you the witch doctor chosen by Lord Qingze?"
Yu Su raised an eyebrow, surprised that the Great Witch knew Qingze. He nodded, "Yes, I am the new witch doctor chosen by Lord Mountain God. It has been a few years since I took office."
The Yuan Wu Department's Great Witch asked, "Do you have the mark of Lord Qingze?"
Yu Su inwardly marveled that even the mark of Qingze was known to her. He raised his hand, and the mark on the back of his hand emitted a radiant light.
Wide-eyed, the Yuan Wu Department's Great Witch muttered something in their language, visibly excited. After a while, she said to Yu Su, "Please come in. You are the witch doctor chosen by Lord Qingze, and naturally, a guest of our Yuan Wu Department."
The tone of the Great Witch softened further, courteously ushering Yu Su and Lu Yan into the temple hall. Refreshments, including fruits, were offered to them.
The leader who had brought them here showed more respect now, standing behind the Great Witch and observing Yu Su and Lu Yan with curiosity.
Seated, Yu Su went straight to the point, "Great Witch, you should be aware of my purpose here."
The Yuan Wu Department's Great Witch nodded, "I have heard. You have good intentions, and currently, the demonic beast tide has receded, and there is no immediate danger beyond the barrier."
With Qingze acting as a bridge, the attitude of the Yuan Wu Department's Great Witch toward Yu Su and Lu Yan became amiable, contrary to the fearful rumors. She truthfully answered Yu Su's questions.
Yu Su inquired, "Great Witch, do you know why there was a sudden demonic beast tide?"
The Great Witch of the Yuan Wu Department shook her head, "No one knows. Even our witch warriors of the Yuan Wu Department, though powerful, are not daring enough to venture easily into the demonic beast forest."
"The demonic beast forest? Is it truly a world of demonic beasts?" Yu Su asked.
The Great Witch of the Yuan Wu Department nodded gravely, "Indeed, it has always been a world of demonic beasts. We, the Yuan Wu Department, established a barrier here in the canyon, preventing those demonic beasts from crossing. For hundreds of years, everything has been stable, and we could live here peacefully."
This sudden demonic beast tide was unexpected for the Yuan Wu Department, nearly resulting in a devastating blow.
The Great Witch asked Yu Su, "Did Lord Qingze instruct you to come here?"
Not exactly, but Yu Su didn't disclose this. He replied, "We heard about the demonic beasts breaking through the canyon barrier from the east. After consulting Lord Mountain God, we hurriedly rode our wild horses here."
The Yuan Wu Department's Great Witch said, "I see. Thank Lord Qingze on my behalf for the consideration."
Yu Su nodded, "I will, Great Witch. I would like to go to the barrier and take a look."
The Great Witch hesitated, showing some concern.
Yu Su reassured, "My warriors and I are cultivators. We can help and explore the demonic beast forest."
Surprised, the Great Witch asked, "You want to enter the demonic beast forest? What cultivation level do you possess?"
"We are all at the Foundation Establishment level," Yu Su replied.
This time, the Yuan Wu Department's Great Witch widened her eyes, struggling to maintain composure. "Foundation Establishment level?!"
Seeing her reaction, Yu Su understood that she was aware of the significance of Foundation Establishment cultivation.
"Great Witch, you seem quite knowledgeable about cultivators," Yu Su remarked.
The Great Witch of the Yuan Wu Department composed herself, saying, "We are descendants of witch gods, naturally more informed than those foolish mortals. Our Yuan Wu Department, with witch blood flowing through us, can practice the arts of witches. However, many witch clan secrets have been lost. If not for that, we Yuan Wu Department wouldn't be confined to this canyon."
Understanding, Yu Su realized that the Yuan Wu Department also had a cultivation heritage. Eager for more information, he intended to inquire further, but at present, the most crucial matter was the barrier.