Before long, Liu Hai reached the mountaintop with the others, surprised by how effortlessly they’d ascended. Once there, the group of elders appeared to be searching for something in particular. Curious, Liu Hai approached the old woman.
“Granny, what exactly are you all looking for?” he asked. “Would you like us to help?”
The old woman shook her head. “No need. This is a task for us elders. We can handle it.”
Liu Hai’s surprise only grew. Could the elders really manage this alone? Who exactly were they, that they could lead everyone safely to the top without any sign of the monsters he and Zhang Nu had encountered before? It was as if they were oblivious to the dangers usually present on this mountain. The villagers, especially the younger ones, generally avoided the mountain due to the rumors of monsters. Liu Hai himself wouldn’t have come here if it weren’t necessary for his training.
When the YaoGuai living in the mountain caves saw Liu Hai and the villagers approaching, they found it intriguing. Previously, these villagers, especially the younger ones, had rarely ventured up the mountain. Now, seeing that even villagers were starting to pursue cultivation, they felt their longstanding warnings had been ignored.
“I never expected the two to be from that village,” Illusion YaoGuai sneered. “And he’s even starting to cultivate. Such foolish ambition.”
Tree YaoGuai, however, shook his head, sensing more behind the scenes. Although Liu Hai possessed some cultivation abilities, they were far weaker than the companion who had been with him before. “This one may be cultivating, but his aptitude is pitifully low. Compared to the one who accompanied him last time, he’s practically worthless.”
Illusion Guai’s eyes gleamed greedily, as if he were contemplating possessing the bodies of both men. Observing this, Tree YaoGuai chuckled softly. In his view, mortal cultivators, regardless of their skill, would inevitably meet their end with age.
“Of course, only you would find such lowly vessels appealing. These are just frail mortals, their lives fleeting and fragile.” Tree Guai said with a hint of mockery. “If it’s bodies you’re after, there are plenty in this world who would willingly offer themselves.”
Unfazed, the Illusion YaoGuai cast him a scornful glance, recognizing the underlying meaning in his words. Instead of engaging further, the phantom’s attention shifted back to the group. “Have you noticed anything strange in that village recently? Why are all these humans coming up the mountain now?”
Tree YaoGuai shrugged, equally perplexed. Despite his watch over the area, he had not sensed anything particularly unusual in the village recently.
At that moment, the elder knelt at the mountain's peak, softly chanting a mantra. Watching this, Illusion and Tree Guai shook their heads—they sensed it was finally time to reveal themselves.
Liu Hai observed the elder intently, wondering what she was doing. Suddenly, a faint glow appeared in front of her, visible to everyone present. All the villagers immediately knelt down, chanting “immortal” with reverence. Liu Hai was taken aback, recognizing that this figure was no immortal but rather a YaoGuai.
He sensed the faint aura of YaoGuai energy surrounding the presence. Yet, he couldn’t share this realization with the villagers—they would never believe him. This YaoGuai had likely been revered as a deity by the village for ages, which is why its appearance seemed so natural to them.
The younger villagers, seeing what they believed to be a divine figure protecting them, broke into smiles of relief. They were convinced their village would remain safe and flourish for generations. At this point, Illusion YaoGuai materialized within the glowing aura, radiating an appearance of pure sanctity, as if he were untouchable and above all worldly disturbances.