Chapter 554: The Old Village Chief’s Protection

The golden bell transformed into a streak of golden light and vanished into Ye Wushuang’s forehead.

Ye Wushuang landed beside the old village chief and hastily channeled a stream of Tai Chi Power into him.

Tai Chi Power possessed miraculous healing properties that could help with the old village chief’s injuries.

"There’s no need. These old bones don’t have much time left."

But the old village chief offered a wan smile, refusing Ye Wushuang’s treatment. He had already used his heart’s blood to activate the Scepter.

Heart’s blood was the very source of his life. Once lost, a person’s life was like an oil lamp with its flame extinguished.

"Grandpa Chief!"

Hearing this, Xiaoxiao threw herself into the old village chief’s arms and began to wail.

The other villagers’ eyes also grew red and bloodshot.

"Don’t cry. Death is nothing to be afraid of. Everyone must die someday."

The old village chief spoke serenely, having already seen through the veil of life and death.

He faced death without fear, able to let go, filled only with calm acceptance.

Ye Wushuang, too, fell silent.

The old village chief turned his head to look at Ye Wushuang.

"Young friend Ye, can this old man ask a favor of you?"

"Please ask, Village Chief!"

Ye Wushuang nodded.

"The only thing I cannot let go of is the people of Lost Village. Once I am gone, I hope you can find them a safe place, far from all conflict, and allow them to live in peace, forgetting all hatred," the old village chief explained.

What the people of Lost Village needed wasn’t hatred, but a life of peace and tranquility. After surviving this catastrophe, they would cherish life all the more.

The old village chief didn’t want the people of Lost Village to live steeped in hatred. What he longed for was the same warm and harmonious village they once were.

Upon hearing this, Ye Wushuang fell silent once more, a thousand emotions flashing through his heart.

After a long silence, he finally nodded.

’Perhaps this is the best outcome for Lost Village,’ he thought. ’In this world of Slaughter and gore, it is my responsibility to preserve this pocket of simplicity.’

Seeing this, the old village chief nodded. He then looked toward Xiaoxiao and took out a pendant—it was only half of a moon-shaped pendant.

The pendant glowed with a soft, lunar light, a perfect match for the other half that Xiaoxiao wore around her neck.

SWOOSH!

The pendant transformed into a beam of light, shot toward Xiaoxiao’s neck, and swiftly fused with the other half.

"The Time Pendant... it’s finally whole. I suppose my mission is complete."

The old village chief gazed at the pendant, now adorned with a silvery light. A smile of relief spread across his face.

"Xiaoxiao, take good care of the Time Pendant. You’ll understand everything in the future. Remember, no more tears. Just be happy from now on, alright?"

The old village chief gazed lingeringly at Xiaoxiao.

He had brought Xiaoxiao back when she was just a child, raising her himself. They had relied on each other, and she was his only remaining attachment in this world.

"Grandpa Chief, please don’t die! Waaaah, I don’t want you to die!"

Xiaoxiao collapsed into the old village chief’s arms, her wails growing louder, her heart breaking.

Ye Wushuang, the Xiaoo Yue Celestial Roc, and Nanbei watched, unable to say a word. ’How rare is it to find such sincere emotion in these bloody times?’

"After I’m gone, you will be the chief of Lost Village. Take care of our people. Protect them."

The old village chief grasped Uncle Zhong’s arm as he gave his final instructions.

"Village Chief!"

Uncle Zhong’s voice was hoarse. He had been burned by Tianyang’s scorching flames; parts of his body were charred, and his life force was fading.

But at that moment, a powerful stream of Life Force began pouring into his body, restoring his vitality.

This stream of Life Force was the old village chief’s final Life Power.

Uncle Zhong’s expression changed instantly. He opened his mouth to speak.

But the old village chief stopped him. "I have stood guard my entire life, yet in the end, I still let our people die. It is my failure. Please, let me do this one last thing for them. You are still young, and your responsibilities will be great. You are worthy of this gift."

The old village chief smiled faintly. He wasn’t just pouring his Life Force into Uncle Zhong’s body.

He was also transferring his entire Cultivation.

Immediately, Uncle Zhong’s Cultivation began to climb, growing stronger and stronger.

Ye Wushuang watched in silence, a lump forming in his throat. He didn’t intervene; to do so would be to disrespect the old village chief’s last wish.

At the entrance to Lost Village, the only sound was that of weeping.

An old man had used the last of his life to fulfill his final duty as a guardian.

...

「That evening.」

Everyone buried the old village chief and the other deceased at the entrance to Lost Village.

Ye Wushuang stood on a mountain peak, gazing at the setting sun and the crimson-stained sky. The old village chief’s last words to him echoed in his mind: "From now on, I’m entrusting Xiaoxiao to you."

’The meaning of the old chief’s life was to be a guardian. To protect Xiaoxiao, to protect the people of Lost Village, even if it cost him his own life.’

Such devotion deeply moved Ye Wushuang.

’Isn’t that why I started seeking strength in the first place? To protect my sister, my father, my friends, and the one I love?’

Now, more than ever, he realized that only strength could protect everything he held dear.

"A conviction? Yes. To protect everyone who has been good to me... That is my conviction!"

"The old village chief may be gone, but I am still alive. And as long as I live, I will grow stronger and continue to protect them."

Ye Wushuang murmured to himself, his gaze deep and his resolve hardening.

After standing there for a long time, lost in thought, Ye Wushuang finally departed.

「The next day.」

Ye Wushuang had originally planned to lead the people of Lost Village away from this place.

However, the people of Lost Village chose to stay. They were unwilling to accept any help from Ye Wushuang.

He offered them a great deal of Treasure Medicine, but they refused to take it.

"Rest assured," Uncle Zhong told Ye Wushuang at the village entrance. "After what has happened, we will cherish our lives all the more. We cannot accept these things. We make our living by hunting, and that is how we wish to continue. Power holds little meaning for us."

Ye Wushuang was silent for a moment before nodding.

"I entrust Xiaoxiao to you now," Uncle Zhong continued. "The old chief said she has ties to the Lost Clan. You may find some help when you enter the Moonfall Land."

"Uncle Zhong, Xiaoxiao will come back and visit you," Xiaoxiao said.

The redness and swelling around Xiaoxiao’s eyes still hadn’t completely faded. She glanced at Uncle Zhong, then at Dahu, Xiaohu, and the rest of the assembled villagers.

"We’ll always be here, keeping the old chief and the others company. Come back and visit when you can," Uncle Zhong replied.

"I will!"

Xiaoxiao nodded eagerly.

Then, she followed Ye Wushuang, leaving Lost Village behind.

As he left, Ye Wushuang drove a massive Holy Bone into the ground at the village entrance.

He had infused this Holy Bone with all of his power.

Furthermore, risking the complete depletion of his Divine Sense, Ye Wushuang activated the Ancient Battle Spear and forcibly injected its Holy Dao Killing Power into the bone.

Then, using the Talismanic Seal Carving technique the old chief had taught him, he sealed that power within.

His technique was crude, but if triggered, the bone would unleash an astonishing Power of Slaughter.

Not even a Nirvana Great Power could withstand it.

He had already told Uncle Zhong how to activate it before he left.

This was one gift Uncle Zhong did not refuse.