Chapter 186 - 174: Opportunity

Chapter 186: Chapter 174: Opportunity

An illusion from a Smoke Illusion Stone only dissipates after it’s been broken.

Li Heng knew this, but what was the method for breaking it?

’Kill everyone in Xiaoshi Village?’

’Or complete some sort of quest?’

’Or just wait for time to pass, for the illusion to dispel on its own?’

’Or was there some other way?’

There were many possibilities, and Li Heng had no idea which was the right way to break the illusion.

But one thing was clear: they hadn’t run into any danger yet. So, Li Heng wasn’t about to start attacking. Even if it was just an illusion, he wasn’t that ruthless.

"Remember what Bao Yaoyao said? We don’t actually know what’s in this realm, and Meteor University never told us. But Meteor University has been here for years, and we’re still within a three hundred-li radius of it, so... it shouldn’t be too dangerous, right?"

"But since there’s a village here, and people in it, we could walk around and gather some information?"

Li Heng wasn’t sure if it was dangerous or not. He could only relay his best guesses to Bai Shasha.

’If there’s no danger, great. But if there is, I’ll fight if I can win. If I can’t, I’ll run. If I can’t even run, I’ll escape into a Dungeon!’

After all, he had nearly 40,000 Soul Points now. He’d even have a decent chance if he had to enter the Ancient Dust Continent Dungeon.

Bai Shasha heard Li Heng and nodded in agreement. After all, she couldn’t think of anything else to do.

"Let’s not eat this food or drink the water. We’ll eat our own supplies, rest for a bit, and then go take a look around the village."

Li Heng made his suggestion about the food and water that had been set out. Afterward, neither of them spared the items on the table a second glance.

Although Bao Yaoyao had most of the food, they each had some personal supplies. The two of them took a moment to rest and regroup.

Li Heng didn’t draw his sword, merely resting his left hand on his throwing knife.

Bai Shasha strapped one of her curved blades to her thigh and held the other in her hand.

After pushing open the wooden door, they saw that Xiaoshi Village, previously silent with all its doors shut, had suddenly become "lively."

Children around seven or eight years old were running out of their houses, chasing puppies and kittens down the road. One or two particularly mischievous brats were even chasing geese, with one clutching a goose by its neck as he trotted along.

Smoke now curled from the chimneys, thicker than what Li Heng and Bai Shasha had seen before.

Children ran along the gravel paths, while adults either swept their houses with brooms or gathered in small groups to chat.

"Li Heng... are we really... still near Meteor University?" Bai Shasha asked, her voice laced with doubt as she stared at the incredibly realistic scene before her.

But Li Heng had seen Li Liang City, a place dozens, even hundreds of times more real than this, and had experienced a grand event like the Hundred Flowers Assembly. A scene like this was nothing to him.

"I’m not sure, but we still need to be careful," Li Heng reminded her calmly, patting Bai Shasha’s shoulder.

When Bai Shasha saw how calm and completely unaffected Li Heng was, she couldn’t help but feel a surge of admiration. ’To have this kind of strength... it’s really not just about hard work. It’s just like Grandma said: your state of mind is just as important!’

"Esteemed Soul Masters! I am so sorry to disturb you! I was wondering, over these past three days, how have you found Xiaoshi Village?"

Just as Bai Shasha’s thoughts began to drift, Zhao San approached them, carrying a long blade. The cuff on his sleeve was torn, and there was a visible scrape on his wrist.

’Three days?’

’And... those injuries?’

The petite girl immediately grew alert, her body poised to attack. But she didn’t make a move, instead looking to Li Heng to see his reaction.

Li Heng was on alert as well. After all, they had been in Xiaoshi Village for half an hour at most, yet now he was hearing that "three days have passed."

Although surprised and curious himself, Li Heng remained relatively calm. He knew this was just an illusion, and since nothing had physically changed about him, there was no need to panic.

It was Zhao San’s condition, however, that made Li Heng’s gaze narrow.

"Xiaoshi Village is very nice. The villagers are warm and hospitable, and the scenery is pleasant. But your injuries..."

Hearing Li Heng, Zhao San’s expression darkened. "As long as you two esteemed guests enjoy Xiaoshi Village, that’s what matters. It’s just... for the next two days, you will have to temporarily leave."

"Why?" Li Heng pressed immediately.

"It’s time for Demon Sect Mountain to select Disciples from Xiaoshi Village for the year!" Zhao San’s voice was filled with worry.

’Demon Sect Mountain?!’

Bai Shasha still didn’t know what was going on, but she remained as vigilant as ever, ready for anything.

"Then why are you trying to make us leave?" Li Heng had heard the name Demon Sect Mountain before. From what he recalled, it was a fairly large and powerful sect.

Being chosen from the village to become a Disciple of Demon Sect Mountain should have been a joyous occasion. Yet Zhao San seemed listless, even sorrowful. That was why Li Heng had pressed him for an answer.

At Li Heng’s insistence, Zhao San sighed. He hesitated for a moment before replying, "It would be fine if it were any other Mountain Lord. But the one coming to our village to select Disciples this year is Mountain Lord An of the Cold-Blooded Lineage. The people of the Cold-Blooded Lineage are utterly unreasonable and ruthless! They don’t even show mercy to their own!"

As he said this, Zhao San glanced worriedly at the children chasing the livestock, then turned back with a soft sigh.

Hearing this, Li Heng began to understand the reason for Zhao San’s expression. "So you’re telling us to leave because you’re worried we might fall victim to the Cold-Blooded Lineage?" he asked.

Zhao San cupped his fists toward Li Heng and Bai Shasha. "I’m not trying to drive you away! Xiaoshi Village will always welcome you. But the people of the Cold-Blooded Lineage are completely unreasonable. There’s no need for you two to get caught up in their affairs. Once they’ve finished selecting their Disciples, you two..."

Li Heng returned the gesture, cupping his fist. "Thank you for your concern, brother. Let’s put Demon Sect Mountain aside for a moment. More than that... I’m curious about the injury on your shoulder. How did you get it?"

At Li Heng’s question, Zhao San’s expression changed, and he didn’t answer right away.

Just then, the smoke rising from the chimneys of Xiaoshi Village suddenly grew thicker. From one end of the village to the other, the scene remained lively—children playing, adults bustling about, a perfect picture of peace and harmony...