Chapter 1680: Encountering a Fellow Countryman
Chapter 1680: Chapter 1680: Encountering a Fellow Countryman
An ancient shrine was situated at the very back of the village, its aged and dilapidated appearance somewhat out of place with the village, yet it also appeared solemn and dignified.
"Lord Sacrificial Officer, the person has been brought over." At the doorway, Mu Chenglin said respectfully.
"Let her in." A low, hoarse voice replied from inside.
Mu Chenglin gently pushed open the door and bowed aside.
Adopting the mindset of making the best out of her situation, Han Yan stepped into the room, and the door behind her creaked shut together.
In front of her, everything became dim. After a few moments, Han Yan adjusted to the dim light. This shrine was much like those on the Holy Court Continent, with rows of spirit tablets at the deepest point, and an oil lamp at the front emitting an amber light. A slight breeze from an unknown source caused the flame to flicker wildly as if it could extinguish at any moment.
An old man sat beside the oil lamp, the light casting shadows on his deeply wrinkled face, making him appear even older than Mu Chenglin. Han Yan could sense that his vitality was exceedingly weak, the term "a flickering candle" seemed most fitting for him.
"After waiting for so many years, I’ve finally awaited your arrival." The old man smiled, his low, raspy voice creating an eerie sensation under the dim candlelight, rendering his wrinkled face exceptionally strange. And his words, even more mysterious.
What did he mean by waiting for so many years to finally await her arrival? Han Yan was bewildered.
The old man straightened up, suddenly forming a series of hand gestures.
Han Yan instinctively felt alert. She had previously heard from others that this old Tributor was also a Temple Priest. Could he have discerned her background, intending her harm?
Han Yan instinctively held her sword hilt but quickly released it, an expression of surprise on her face.
The old priest’s hand gestures bore a seventy percent resemblance to those on the Holy Court Continent; however, the aura they revealed was utterly different. How did this Temple Priest come to know the Holy Court Continent’s hand gestures? What was his intent; was he friend or foe?
Without clear understanding, Han Yan would certainly not act hastily.
Soon, the old priest finished his gestures, and the surrounding suddenly became tranquil; previously, the villagers’ envious discussions outside could still be heard, but now nothing was audible.
Han Yan then realized that the old priest had cast a sound isolation spell.
"What exactly does he wish to tell me, and why must he avoid others hearing?" Han Yan felt even more baffled, silently speculating, when an even more surprising event occurred.
"Subordinate Steward of Sacred Pill Peak, Ye Yi’an, pays respects to Holy Saint!" The old priest suddenly knelt on the ground, earnestly addressing Han Yan.
"You are a member of the Holy Court!" Han Yan felt as though a shocking thunder had struck her head; in her shock, she even forgot to help him up.
"Yes, over a thousand years ago, I came to the Divine Continent, waiting for over a thousand years, finally awaiting you, Holy Saint." At this, the old priest was tearfully emotional.
"Over a thousand years?" Han Yan inwardly clicked her tongue, having initially guessed he was quite old, but never imagined he was of such age.
"Yes, over a thousand years ago, the war between the Holy Court and the temple concluded in our Holy Court’s defeat, yet inexplicably, the Divine Lord refrained from pursuing victory, instead retreating to the temple. At that time, heavily wounded and unconscious, I inadvertently got swept into the Void Gate, ending up in the Divine Continent." Ye Yi’an elucidated.
"How did you survive all those years and become a Temple Priest?" Han Yan inquired curiously.
With her current power, returning to the Holy Court Continent was temporarily impossible; establishing herself in the Divine Continent without provoking fatal hostility from the temple was most crucial.
"Fortune was on my side; upon arriving at the Divine Continent, I fell into the mountainous terrain, rescued by the then Mu Family ancestor venturing into the mountains for herbs. At that time, severely injured with no cultivation, I didn’t raise suspicion.
From what I know, the temple’s vigilance against Holy Court members sneaking onto the Holy Court Continent is exceedingly strict—if only one or two Temple Priests survive arriving at the Holy Court Continent. While if a Holy Court expert arrives at the temple, they barely survive.
Upon realizing this, how could I dare act recklessly? Thus I settled in Mu Family Village, attempting both to cultivate and recover my power, while seeking Holy Court comrades. In a flash, a thousand years passed without finding a single Holy Court companion. Incidentally, I learned the Priest Divine Technique, becoming a Temple Priest.
Mu Family Village also, due to me, obtained land granted by the temple, leading to a thousand years of prosperity and tranquility. My life has been unremarkable; the greatest accomplishment was repaying the old Clan Leader’s life-saving kindness back then." Ye Yi’an concluded with a self-deprecating bitter smile.
Han Yan inhaled sharply. It turned out the temple’s precautions against the Holy Court were this stringent. Fortunately, she met Ye Yi’an upon arriving at the Divine Continent; otherwise, recklessly running amok would indeed lead to a dead end. After all, she possessed the cultivation of a Fifth Rank Swordsman, running into a skilled Temple Priest could easily reveal her background.
"I invited the Holy Saint here solely to tell you this, lest you inadvertently fall prey to the temple’s schemes." Ye Yi’an continued.
"How did you know I am the Holy Saint?" Han Yan inquired enigmatically. Previously being mistaken for a priest had left her utterly puzzled; now, being directly recognized as a Holy Saint was even more perplexing.
"Who but the Holy Saint can immediately manifest Priest Divine Technique upon arriving at the Divine Continent!" Ye Yi’an affirmed, seeing Han Yan’s lingering doubts, he continued to explain, "The Divine Continent and Holy Court Continent have different laws. Even the strongest Holy Court expert’s cultivation is greatly suppressed here; more crucially, unless cultivating the Divine Hall Secret Technique, wielding some sword techniques can’t harness the Divine Continent’s Heaven and Earth Power.
Based on your recent arrival at the Divine Continent and law suppression, maintaining the equivalent of a Fifth Rank Swordsman’s cultivation proves significant Holy Court Continent power, even if not a Sword Saint, not far off. Moreover, you can directly Condense and harness the Divine Continent’s Heaven and Earth Power, manifesting the Ice Cold Qi, besides the Xuanhuang Stone—this chaos treasure formed during the world’s inception—it’s extremely difficult to achieve.
Such cultivation at your age, possessing the Xuanhuang Stone, other possibilities aside from the Holy Saint are unimaginable." Ye Yi’an chuckled.
Han Yan realized this was all due to the Xuanhuang Stone. She also understood why the villagers mistook her for a priest—it was indeed the Ice Cold Qi.