When they ascended the mountain, One-Eyed Man and his group were vigilant, their expressions far from cheerful.
But now… every one of them wore a broad smile. Their bodies and minds were liberated, light and joyful, their vision broadened. As far as the eye could see, the day was truly beautiful.
"Chicken Bro, are your legs broken? Can you walk a little faster?" Ginseng, perched atop the Demonic Rooster, slapped its head. The rooster's belly was bulging, so full it was nearly bursting.
The Demonic Rooster wanted to rebel. It wanted to curse Ginseng's ancestors for eighteen generations.
But it thought better of it.
Having chosen the path of an undercover agent, it shouldn't make enemies everywhere. Better to endure for now and wait for the day it could rise up and crush this guy under its foot.
"Cluck, cluck!"
It clucked habitually, as a response to Ginseng.
Soon, they reached the hillside.
The group of Starry Sky Clan disciples were resting there. Seeing Lin Fan and the others descending, they cast surprised glances.
"They're coming down."
"What did they encounter up there? Judging by their expressions, it seems they've all gained something."
"Damn them! How can they possess such oppressive power?"
Regret!
Anger!
Filled the hearts of the Starry Sky Clan disciples. They were all unconvinced.
But what good was being unconvinced?
Their strength was insufficient. They couldn't withstand the terrifying pressure. Even Saint Realm experts couldn't bear it, let alone them.
Lin Fan and his group were heading back to Yanhai City.
One-Eyed Man and the others were content. Their purpose in coming here was to seek opportunities. Changbai Mountain was vast, with numerous opportunities, definitely not something any single person could monopolize.
"Lin Fan, what's wrong?" One-Eyed Man noticed Lin Fan stop and look back intently, as if sensing something.
Lin Fan said, "Nothing, just feels a bit strange."
One-Eyed Man trusted Lin Fan's intuition.
Someone as powerful as Lin Fan had exceptionally keen senses. If even he felt something was strange, there must be a problem.
Therefore, he wouldn't foolishly ask if Lin Fan was being too sensitive. Only someone with a hole in their head would ask such a question.
"Let's go back."
Lin Fan didn't dwell on it. It had nothing to do with him for now. The previous battle, though a one-sided crushing victory, felt incredibly satisfying after unleashing his full power.
The Starry Sky Clans watched their departing figures.
Some wanted to approach and inquire about the situation inside.
But they didn't. Perhaps they sensed something was amiss, or perhaps they felt that even if they asked, the others wouldn't bother answering.
Everyone looked towards the distance.
What exactly was there?
They really wanted to go up.
In the starry sky…
The three Clan Ancestors gathered.
The Witch God Clan, Titan Clan, and Vajra Clan Ancestors were all beings who traversed the starry sky, commanding the sun, moon, and stars. With a single thought, they could shatter galaxies.
They were the foundations of their respective clans.
With them around, their clans wouldn't be destroyed. All resources within the clans served them. Therefore, it was extremely difficult for another Ancestor-level expert to emerge. Resources, luck, and talent were all indispensable.
They stood in the starry sky, their bodies like phantoms, reflecting the starlight. Anyone who witnessed this scene would kneel and worship.
"I advise you not to act rashly." Dragon God wanted to stop them from provoking Lin Fan. For them, there was no interaction with Lin Fan, only the desire for the opportunities there.
"Dragon God, why don't you join forces with us? Together, who in the heavens can stand against us?"
"Indeed. That planet is ancient, filled with countless unknown fruits."
"He injured our clan disciples, planting the cause. Now there should be an effect."
The three Ancestors were slightly surprised by Dragon God's appearance. Dragon God, who hadn't appeared for a long time, had been showing up frequently lately, giving them the impression of someone jumping around restlessly.
The same was true for Little Buddha.
Clearly, they were preparing to enter the Forbidden Zone.
At their level, their realms were the same, but there were still differences in strength. The Forbidden Zone was their ultimate destination, the source of chaos.
No one knew when it began.
The Forbidden Zone appeared.
Those who entered were all Ancestor-level experts. Some died inside, while others struggled out, barely alive. No one knew what was inside, but those who entered and returned underwent a qualitative change.
Even if asked, they remained silent.
Dragon God said gravely, "You think of that place too simply."
The Witch God Clan Ancestor said, "Dragon God, we know you've fought against him. Tell us, what was the outcome?"
"A draw." Dragon God was someone who valued face. He couldn't easily reveal the situation that day, so he could only claim it was a draw. It felt appropriate.
"A draw in a one-on-one fight. Then what do you think? If the three of us Ancestors join forces against him, who will win or lose?" the Witch God Clan Ancestor asked.
Dragon God sighed, rather helpless. This was a trick question. If he said they would lose, the three of them would think, "Dragon God could tie with him, meaning even the three of us together aren't your match. Might as well practice more."
Although they were in the same realm, Dragon God was confident in suppressing any one of the three.
But if the three of them joined forces, even he would find it difficult.
At their level, fighting was no longer simple.
Every move contained the Great Dao of the universe. The battle scene would be astonishing.
The Witch God Clan Ancestor smiled, "Your silence means you know it's impossible."
Dragon God's mentality was a little frayed.
I'm not speaking because I know you're likely headed for tragedy. You actually interpreted it this way.
Forget it.
Regardless of what they thought, let them do as they pleased.
Hopefully, they wouldn't regret it later.
Dragon God knew Lin Fan's strength was formidable. How could these guys not see it? Leaving aside other matters, just consider Lin Fan repelling the adult Planet Devouring Crocodile barehanded, from beginning to end, with ease.
There was no difficulty at all.
This was already beyond what Ancestors could achieve.
Even if the three of them joined forces, they might not be able to do anything to him. Was it necessary to be so greedy? If they desired those opportunities, they could seek them out themselves. The place was so vast, enough for them to explore.
They actually wanted to monopolize it.
To defeat him and take it all.
This kind of thinking was dangerous.
Dragon God didn't say more and left directly.
"What did he want with us?" the Vajra Clan Ancestor asked.
The Witch God Clan Ancestor said, "I heard he has a good relationship with that guy. He probably wanted to mediate."
"Hmph, wishful thinking," the Titan Clan Ancestor scoffed.
They were all Clan Ancestors, equal in status. Could decisions they made be changed just because someone wanted it?
Elsewhere in the starry sky…
Little Buddha, radiating golden light, was in the cosmos. The surrounding stars appeared dim in comparison.
"Have they all gone? If I were them, I'd rather join forces with us to challenge the Forbidden Zone," Little Buddha said calmly. He was thinking about something. The ten preachers he sent out hadn't yielded any results so far.
Of course, these were unimportant.
They were just minor matters.
There was no need to dwell on them.
Dragon God said, "They might suffer a setback there."
Little Buddha said, "It's their own choice. What does it have to do with us? These lost souls, no matter how high their realm, still can't see through the fog before their eyes. If they could join my sect, I could lead them on the right path."
"Amitabha."
"Recently, I've learned that planet has a Buddhist courtyard. I plan to visit and exchange ideas, to jointly promote the Dharma."
Little Buddha was very interested in the Buddhist courtyard.
Much more so than the ten preachers he dispatched.
Dragon God said, "I advise you not to court death. That's their own power. Outsiders cannot interfere."
He knew Little Buddha's thoughts.
Wasn't it just to spread the Dharma?
Dragon God wondered who had misled Little Buddha onto this path. Other Starry Sky Clans were of the same bloodline, but Little Buddha's clan was a mix of various races.
No foundation, no blood ties, yet it still existed. It was quite unbelievable.
Little Buddha smiled, "Dragon God, you're mistaken. This isn't interference, but cooperation. I think they'll like it. In this era, the Forbidden Zone is what I value most. When the Planet Devouring Crocodile was repelled, I followed and discovered he entered the Forbidden Zone. I believe there's a ruler within the Forbidden Zone, just not showing themselves."
A simple exchange, seemingly insignificant.
But Little Buddha's words weren't without reason.
Dragon God had also pondered this matter.
Why could the Planet Devouring Crocodile move freely within the Forbidden Zone? It must belong to some power.
Several days later!
November 22nd!
Yanhai City.
The wind was a bit boisterous, but it felt good blowing against everyone's faces.
One-Eyed Man was organizing his members, busy planting the plants they brought back from Changbai Mountain.
After planting them, he noticed the surrounding terrain had changed significantly.
A dramatic transformation had occurred.
This was all due to the plants. On Changbai Mountain, they seemed ordinary, but planted here, they brought about such a huge change. It seemed the special department was still too poor. Any insignificant thing from Changbai Mountain, when placed here, resulted in such a massive change.
Truly unexpected.
"What's Medical Sister been up to lately? Haven't seen her around," One-Eyed Man asked.
Master Yongxin said, "I saw her bring back a clay pot from Changbai Mountain. After returning, she's been keeping herself locked in her room. No one knows what she's doing."
One-Eyed Man pondered.
It seemed she had found something good on Changbai Mountain. He was curious about what it could be, to keep herself locked up for so long.
He couldn't figure it out.
He could only wait for her to come out to find out.
On the street…
Lin Fan and Old Zhang were patrolling. Their task was simple: to offer help to those in need.
Ginseng, cultivating the Divine Path, had his thoughts connected with his believers.
It was just that Ginseng didn't have the mindset for cultivation.
Any slightly intelligent, somewhat motivated individual would be overjoyed with such an opportunity.
The Divine Path might seem weak.
But its cultivation progress was like riding a rocket, soaring to incredibly high realms.
Unfortunately, Ginseng didn't seem interested in such matters.
He never took the cultivation of the Divine Path to heart.
Suddenly.
"Ginseng, what's wrong?" Lin Fan noticed Ginseng's solemn expression, as if something was troubling him.
Ginseng, perched atop the demonic rooster, wore a deeply serious look. Hearing his master's voice, he snapped back to attention.
"Nothing," Ginseng replied.
But a voice kept echoing in his mind.
It was a golden light that emerged from countless white lights. The white lights represented the faith power prayed by Ginseng's believers, their ultimate destination being Ginseng's divine golden body.
However, this golden light directly surged into Ginseng's mind.
What kind of faith could achieve this?
Ginseng pondered.
It seemed like a plea for help, from someone nearing death, their lifespan at its end, dying of old age. As far as Ginseng was concerned, this had nothing to do with him. There were many pitiful people in the world. If he responded to all of them, he'd be worked to death.
Ignore it.
Just ignore it.
Pretend nothing happened.
Ginseng hadn't reached Lin Fan's realm of caring for the world and helping everyone in need.
He ignored it completely and continued strolling with Lin Fan.
But not long after.
Another golden light of faith came, still a plea for help, pious and filled with cries.
"So annoying."
Ginseng was extremely annoyed. What kind of divine cultivation was this? It was a headache. If he had known it would be like this, he wouldn't have bothered cultivating the divine path.
Following his terrifyingly powerful master was such a joyful thing.
Where was the need for him to cultivate?
There was absolutely no need for it.
"King Ginseng, please save my grandpa…"
Hearing the plea contained within the golden faith, Ginseng just wanted to spit.
Save a grandpa.
Did they really think he, Ginseng, was a living Bodhisattva, granting every wish? He couldn't do that. Last time, he helped with the scalding and plucking, only because this faith thing seemed a bit interesting.
If he had known it would be this troublesome, he wouldn't have bothered with them.
Birth, old age, sickness, and death were the natural order.
Defying fate came at a great cost.
He couldn't afford it.
Truly couldn't afford it.
Ginseng complained inwardly, his expression unchanged.
In a city some distance from Yanhai City.
Inside an ordinary brick house.
A seven-year-old girl stood by the bed, watching her grandpa lying there, tears falling from her eyes.
The old man lying in bed was over eighty years old, his hair completely white, his face full of wrinkles like tree bark. He was very weak now, his life force almost extinguished, about to peacefully leave this world.
In any family, this would be considered a blessed death.
But the grandfather, holding the little girl's hand, looked pleadingly with silent eyes at the people standing in the room. These were his relatives and friends.
Several generations removed.
But the familial ties were real.
"After I leave, the one I worry about most is my granddaughter. Can you help me take care of her until she's an adult? She doesn't have to study, I just want her to safely reach adulthood," the old man said weakly.
The relatives in the room looked at each other.
No one spoke.
This little girl was not related to them. The old man had found her abandoned, with no one to claim her, and raised her himself. In their eyes, this was asking for trouble.
He didn't even consider his own age.
And he still wanted to adopt an abandoned child.
Now that he was dying, he wanted them to help raise her. Where was such a good deal? They came here to see if the old man had any assets after his death.
Otherwise, everyone was so busy.
Who had the leisure to come here?
Seeing no one speak, the old man felt a deep sadness in his heart. He slowly said, "Over the years, I've saved frugally, and I have forty thousand in savings. As long as she has food to eat, and is raised to adulthood, I can give you all the savings."
The crowd's ears perked up at the mention of savings.
Wasn't this the purpose of their visit?
But when they heard it was only forty thousand, they all wanted to leave. With only this little money, and having to raise this wild girl to adulthood, this wouldn't be profitable, but a loss.
Who would want to do such a thing?
A middle-aged man stepped forward, "Uncle, how about this, you give me the money, and I'll find an orphanage for the little girl. What do you think?"
Hearing these words, anger flared in the old man's cloudy eyes.
If he were healthy, he would definitely point at the man's nose and tell him to get out.
But now, nearing death, with a premonition of his end, he only wanted to settle the child before he was gone. He knew the relatives gathered here were not reliable, but if not them, then who?
The little girl kept praying to King Ginseng in her heart.
She had never been to Yanhai City and didn't know what King Ginseng looked like.
She had only heard others talk about King Ginseng.
They said there was a King Ginseng in Yanhai City, very divine, very spiritual. Praying to him brought good luck; he granted wishes, incredibly magical.
Believing these words, the little girl kept praying, hoping King Ginseng could help her grandpa.
In Yanhai City.
Ginseng was very annoyed, so annoyed. What did it matter to him how good her grandpa was? He, King Ginseng, was just a charlatan, giving them some hair growth tonic, curing some minor illnesses, which was already a great gift.
Now this request was a bit too much.
King Ginseng, please, my grandpa is really good. I don't want him to leave. He always used to take me everywhere to play. Although my grandpa is old, whenever I saw other children riding on their parents' shoulders, grandpa would painstakingly lift me up and let me ride on his neck. I feel so sorry for my grandpa.
Grandpa said he would send me to school in the future and has always been frugal. Since he picked me up, he hasn't bought himself a new piece of clothing or a new pair of shoes, but he buys me new things every year.
Ginseng's heart remained unmoved.
He didn't take these words to heart.
"Ginseng, you don't seem to be in a good state." Lin Fan genuinely noticed Ginseng's unusual state and asked with concern.
Ginseng said, "No, it's just something I encountered. It'll be fine if I don't think about it."
Lin Fan liked helping others.
Old Zhang didn't have much of his own opinion and always followed Lin Fan's thoughts. Whatever Lin Fan said, that was it. And Lin Fan also agreed with Old Zhang's thoughts. It was mutual trust.
This situation, to be honest, was quite awkward.
As for the demonic rooster…
Ginseng saw it very clearly and accurately. This was his most loyal chicken brother, always standing by his side.
After all, eating his droppings and saliva wasn't a one- or two-day affair.
The kindness of a single drop must be repaid by a gushing spring.
During this time, Ginseng was being harassed.
And Lin Fan had already helped several grandfathers and grandmothers cross the road and even helped an old woman move. The old woman invited Lin Fan upstairs to sit and have some water, which Lin Fan politely declined.
Ginseng found that these people who were helped were really enthusiastic.
Take the old woman, for example. The look in her eyes when she looked at Lin Fan was sparkling, as if she had further requests if he went upstairs.
Perhaps it was the dry weather, and she needed to add some water.
There was still faith transmitting to Ginseng's mind.
Originally, Ginseng could completely block it, but unexpectedly, this golden faith pierced through all defenses, directly hitting Ginseng's heart.
King Ginseng, as long as my grandpa can live, I am willing to give half of my lifespan to my grandpa.
Ginseng wasn't heartless.
During this time, waves of faith surged in, and he already knew the specific situation of the adopted little girl, who was still young and had pure faith in him, King Ginseng.
Ginseng was moved.
"Master, can we wait a moment?" Ginseng called out.
Lin Fan asked, "What's wrong?"
"Just wait for me a moment."
Ginseng didn't tell Lin Fan. To him, this was a very embarrassing matter. He, King Ginseng, was never known for being soft-hearted. Even when those guys wanted to take advantage of him, they only took some droppings and urine.
Wanting to hurt him to the core? Don't even dream, that was impossible.
Even the highest deity couldn't do it.
The benefit of cultivating the divine path was the ability to manifest before people from a great distance, something he couldn't do before cultivating the divine path.
Ginseng followed that faith and searched for its source.
Lin Fan was very surprised. He saw Ginseng's spirit enter the void and then disappear, a very magical scene. He didn't stop him but quietly guarded Ginseng.
In a distant place.
Sob…sob…
Only the little girl's cries could be heard in the brick house. The relatives had all gone outside. In the end, no one agreed. It was a losing proposition. If they really took her in and cared for her, she would only be a burden.
The old man had passed away.
He left with regret, and the one he was most worried about when he left was his granddaughter.
"So, what do we do now?"
"What else can we do? Arrange the funeral. Whoever handles it gets the money."
"I'm talking about the girl."
"Send her to an orphanage."
"Yeah, I agree with that. That's her only way out."
"Sigh, that old man was troublesome. He didn't even consider his age and dared to adopt an abandoned child. Now look, he kicks the bucket and leaves this girl behind, wanting us to raise her. He really thought he had a good plan."
"You can't say that. He's your uncle. I remember when you got married and didn't have the betrothal gifts, your uncle gave you some money."
"Why bring that up? Didn't I pay him back?"
"You said that, but you paid him back after more than ten years."
"What do you mean? If you're so good, you adopt her."
"What are you arguing about? We're all relatives."
The group fell silent, standing outside smoking, puffing away. As for the situation inside, they didn't care at all, letting it be. Let the girl cry first, and when she was tired from crying, they would go in and clean up the mess.
Inside the house.
The little girl lay on her grandpa, crying heartbrokenly.
Suddenly.
Golden light shone in the cold room, illuminating the little girl, and a warmth arose out of nowhere.
The little girl wiped her eyes and looked behind her in confusion.
When she saw a brilliant golden light phantom floating in front of her, a shocked expression appeared in her red, swollen eyes.
Thump!
"King Ginseng, please, save my grandpa." The little girl knelt on the ground, kowtowing. Despite her young age, she didn't seem to feel the pain, knocking her head loudly until her forehead was red and swollen.
Ginseng looked at the scene before him, feeling helpless. What was all this? Birth, old age, sickness, and death were normal. He really didn't want to interfere, and it wasn't that easy to interfere, but…
He wanted to slap himself a few times.
How could he be touched by this?
If Chicken Brother knew, he would definitely be laughed at.
"I am King Ginseng. Believers receive blessings. Your filial piety has moved heaven and earth, but birth, old age, sickness, and death are the natural order. Do you understand?"
"I understand."
"But your filial piety has moved me. Your wish shall be granted."
King Ginseng complained in his heart, but when faced with this kind of situation, he was very serious, speaking in a high-sounding and dignified manner, his bluffing extremely effective.
But what was the use of saying these things to a little girl?
What was the use of scaring her?
"Thank you, King Ginseng."
"Remember, you must not tell anyone about today's events. Keep it forever in your heart."
"I bestow twenty years of life!"
King Ginseng looked at the old man lying on the bed, already lifeless. To bring him back to life would truly damage his foundation. There was no way around it. Since he had been coaxed here, he could only accept it.
Damn it.
He would definitely not do this kind of thing again.
Thankless task. He, Ginseng, just wanted to honestly follow his master, wielding power and influence. Doing good deeds and such should be left to others.
At this moment, Ginseng severed his own arm, transforming it into a golden light that struck the old man's body.
"Alright."
As soon as he finished speaking, King Ginseng turned into golden light and left.
The little girl hurriedly looked at her grandpa… and found that her grandpa, whose face had been pale, gradually regained color and even began to breathe. This was completely snatching a person from the hands of the King of Hell.
The effect was powerful enough to be frightening.
This was King Ginseng's true nourishment.
Even a dead person could be revived.
In Yanhai City.
Ginseng's spirit returned to his body. He had been full of energy, but suddenly, he seemed very listless, swaying precariously on the demonic rooster, as if he could fall at any moment.
"Ginseng, you…" Lin Fan noticed Ginseng's strange condition, not knowing what had happened, why he had suddenly become so weak.
Just as Ginseng was about to speak, a mysterious light descended from the sky and surged into Ginseng's body.
Ginseng, riding on the demonic rooster, suddenly floated up, his body emitting golden light, as if his body was cast from gold, completely achieving his divine golden body.
His listlessness disappeared without a trace.
His spirit and energy were completely replenished.
"This works too?"
Ginseng exclaimed in his heart, never imagining this could happen.
He even found it hard to believe.
The little girl's faith in him had actually reached this level.
And the light that had just surged into his body seemed to be…merit.
Lin Fan smiled.
He could feel it.
Ginseng must have secretly gone to do good deeds just now.
He just didn't say it.
But the light descending from the sky, he could see it and sense it. It was a reward for Ginseng.
The divine path was truly profound.
If Ginseng pondered and researched more, he would understand what had happened.