Wang Yuan somersaulted in mid-air as he burst through the main gate, landing agilely on the ground.
He rolled a couple of times to dispel the momentum, then sprang to his feet and dashed down Bird Beak Slope, glancing back over his shoulder as he ran.
Screech—!
A black and red mist churned incessantly above the Royal Mausoleum, faintly taking the shape of spectral giant vultures that only he could see.
Countless pairs of crimson, malevolent bird eyes stared fixedly at Wang Yuan as if there was some deep, unresolved hatred.
But it was bound in rust-covered copper bells, struggling in vain as it tried to fly beyond the confines of the Royal Mausoleum.
For a moment, only the grating sound of bells and the resentful cries of the birds filled Wang Yuan's mind, spurring him to run even faster.
"Has this 'Weird' gone mad? Clearly, you were the one abducting the village girls and committing all sorts of evil.
Why does it seem like you're acting as if I've stolen your wife? Is there really such a huge grudge, such deep resentment towards me? Do I even qualify?"
He was still puzzled by it all.
"Why did the Owl God Tomb suddenly go berserk? Didn't Wang Cheng and the others say it would only awaken on its own at midnight?
Those two bastards couldn't do their jobs properly, and now they've probably lost their own lives because of it, huh?"
As he left the area of the Royal Mausoleum, the name "Biography · Book Master A" in the Small Book of Life and Death once again faded from view, returning to its original state.
From beginning to end, Wang Yuan failed to notice any anomaly.
In the end, he could only temporarily conclude that 'Weird' beings were all lunatics; going crazy didn't seem to be too unusual for them.
"Beyond the ordinary is called 'Weird'; chaotic and shapeless is termed 'Abnormal'.
This world is simply full of traps everywhere, and the schemes of 'Weird' are even deeper. Without the Small Book of Life and Death, I probably wouldn't have survived a single night."
After the heart-stopping experience, he also felt some relief that although the Yili King had transformed into the 'Weird · Owl God Tomb,' it had also become like an earth-bound spirit.
Even though it could eat people from afar by radiating abnormal power, its body couldn't actually leave the Royal Mausoleum.
Of course, dangerous as the night was, his gains were not small.
Firstly, he confirmed that Clan Leader Wang Yunhu and others were plotting with the Owl God Tomb. The monk might run, but the temple couldn't, and the most likely time for their plans was the two-hundred-year grand ritual for Yili King in a month.
Secondly, he finally understood why they repeatedly targeted him in such an excessive manner.
The thousand mu of fertile land registered under his name was just a front; the deeper reason was the special connection he had established with the Yili King and the Owl God Tomb on the day he was born fifteen years ago.
This also made him the best candidate for their plan's "medicine bait".
Medicine bait, medicine bait, just from the name, it's either for poisoning or for use as bait—certainly not something as simple as a mere ritual sacrifice.
"Right, there's one more thing!"
At that moment, a flash of inspiration struck Wang Yuan's mind, and he recalled the seven hundred units of Yin Morality mysteriously accumulated in the Biography before he had even killed the 'Weird.'
There was also the Small Book of Life and Death of unknown origin, his parents who had both passed away years ago, and... his grandfather's sealed lips, only repeatedly stressing the condition that he must live in Daling Village for a full fifteen years.
In Wang Yuan's mind, there seemed to be an elusive thread called "Owl God Tomb" tying all these mysteries together.
The fact that he was born exactly on the day of Yili King's 185th grand ritual might not be a mere coincidence.
Wang Yuan couldn't help but suspect whether his current predicament might be a continuation of some unknown event from fifteen years ago.
Despite his confusion, he believed that the lead to this thread likely lay with the conniving Wang Yunhu and Master Ge. Following them should lead to the truth.
"Next, I need to find an opportunity to figure out what exactly they want to gain from the man-eating Owl God Tomb, and then decide how to respond based on the situation.
The Owl God Tomb is right here and can't go anywhere; if I quietly follow them and something seems off, I'll just frown and retreat behind the crowd. It shouldn't be a problem."
Wang Yuan reached the base of Bird Beak Slope in one breath.
When he looked back, the doors of the Royal Mausoleum had returned to silence, not even a single blade of grass disturbed on the ground.
If it weren't for the complete absence of Wang Cheng and the others, he would have almost believed it was all an illusion.
"Ah, these two poor kids, although you had ill intentions, your thirteenth uncle had intended to leave you with whole bodies.
It's a pity you were carelessly devoured by the Owl God Tomb, dying without even leaving remains."
He insincerely mourned them for a moment, then immediately put them out of his mind.
He reached into his clothes and took out an incense bag as red as blood, with six leaves of the Dragon Claw Locust tree inside, examining it closely before tucking it away again.
In fact, as his consciousness fully awoke, he intended to seek refuge in Beimang Mountain temporarily, without any coercion.
To him, this "Wangren Town," filled with mountain spirits and wild ghosts, was far safer than the Daling Village beneath his feet where his own kin resided.
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Even if he had to return to Daling Village to stay for one night every three days, it was still much better than before.
Because in these mountains... lived his maternal relatives.
It should be said that, as a Yin Gate family that had cultivated the land locally for two hundred years without interruption, it would be truly abnormal not to have any secrets or trump cards of their own.
Especially in such a crisis-ridden Divine Deceit World, one needn't wait for others to make a move; they might quietly perish on their own.
Before leaving, Grandpa had specifically instructed that once he entered Beimang Mountain, he must not forget to move around.
However, the thought of these relatives made Wang Yuan's legs subconsciously weaken a bit.
'Still, it's a good thing that I, who have mastered Bone and Flesh Outer Appearance to the limits of mortals, am no longer who I used to be.
It's just visiting relatives, after all.'
Whoosh—!
Inserting the Tiger Head Saber into his waist, like a monkey, he suddenly leaped up to the top of a century-old tree and rapidly disappeared into the dense canopy of ancient trees.
After mastering "Integrated Force", his mobility had significantly increased, and the ability to run up walls and leap over roofs was now within easy reach.
Yet, as the towering Royal Mausoleum at Bird Beak Slope was just covered by the dense forest behind him,
"Help, is anybody there? Please save me..."
A heartbreaking female voice with a sobbing tone abruptly rose to his ear from the darkness.
Far from being afraid, the thought that instinctively rose in Wang Yuan's heart was... someone is delivering "Yin Morality"!
He was really terrified of poverty.
The Fate Book of Life and Death, summoning generals, commanding Yama.
The Small Book of Life and Death, although against the natural order, seemed truly capable of utilizing Yin Morality to manipulate Lord Yama, achieving summoning spirits, commanding generals, transcendence, altering destiny, life extension... and so on.
But without enough Yin Morality, it is no different than a gun without bullets – at best, it wouldn't be more useful than a brick.
Wang Yuan only hated that this thing didn't have a recharge port like other people's systems.
If it could be recharged.
Even if it meant burglary, he would fill up his "Qi Fortune" to "Purple Qi Comes from the East," where fortune would fall from the sky the moment he stepped out, bringing money, Immortal Law, treasures, beauties... that kind.
When it comes to Qi Fortune:
Black Clouds Overhead (less than -5), Sky Light (-5 to -3), White Smoke Surrounding the Beam (-2 to 0), Red Light Shielding Life (1 to 3), Green Cloud Ascending (4 to 6), Purple Qi Comes from the East (7 to 9).
Each level consists of three points, with the price increasing incrementally.
It cost him a thousand Yin Morality to rise from "Black Clouds Overhead" to "Sky Light," and it would take another four thousand five hundred Yin Morality to pass "Sky Light" and rise to -2 "White Smoke Surrounding the Beam", putting him on par with the unluckier among ordinary folks.
Now, his most direct way to obtain Yin Morality was through—doing good deeds.
Some may think that being too utilitarian in doing good for the sake of accumulating merit is futile.
Wang Yuan once thought so too.
Because he had read a storyline from the storybook "City God Examination" where a scholar passes the exam to become a City God based on the values of "Purposeful good deeds go unrewarded, unintentional wrongs go unpunished."
But after obtaining the Small Book of Life and Death, he realized that this view had some flaws.
Doing good should be based on "considering both intent and action," not "considering intent without action."
A merchant donates a large amount of food and medicine to the disaster-stricken people, even if he does it with self-promotion in mind, the Yin Morality will still land on him undiminished.
After all, countless victims in the disaster area had survived thanks to his genuine good deeds, which had nothing to do with what he actually thought inside.
Performing good deeds results in good karma!
Otherwise, the value system of Yin Morality itself would collapse.
If he could save a life and conveniently accumulate Yin Morality along the way, Wang Yuan naturally wouldn't mind doing it.
Due to his experiences of living from day to day, he could appreciate the value of life even more—except, of course, for that of his enemies.
And so,
Having made up his mind, Wang Yuan ceased his bounding movements and stood on the treetop, straining his ears towards the direction of the voice.
But his brows suddenly furrowed.
"Something's not right! That voice has been... following me!"
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