In ancient times, they secretly became gods in the deep mountains.

Chapter 125 They arrived at the place where the immortals lived.

Several women whose homes were now empty volunteered to go up the mountain with Old Man Liu and his companions to seek immortality.

“I’ll go too! My son and daughter have both been eaten by the mountain monster. There’s no point in me living anymore. If I can really find a way for everyone to survive, it would be worth dying for!”

Old Liu led a few people up the mountain, and the villagers behind them watched them leave, wiping away tears.

[Host, this is Kaoshan Village in Ping'an Town. It is a remote village where the villagers used to live ordinary lives. However, one day a mountain monster suddenly came down from the mountain to eat people. Since then, every day before Shenshi (3-5 PM), the villagers would return home and lock their doors tightly to prevent being eaten by the mountain monster.]

Gu Yuexi asked in confusion, "Now that the mountains are full of plants and the animals have no shortage of food and water, and the mountain monsters don't usually like to interact with people, they usually eat rabbits and pheasants, so why would they come down the mountain to eat people?"

We'll only know the specifics after we've seen those mountain monsters.

[Someone from down the mountain has already come to see the host.]

Old Liu and his companions were terrified.

The mountains are full of strange monsters and wild beasts. Although they are people living at the foot of the mountain and usually eat wild vegetables, none of their ancestors dared to set foot in the deep mountains, except during droughts when they would risk their lives to go up the mountain for a bite to eat.

During droughts, vegetation withers and there are no edible wild vegetables or prey in the deep mountains. But now it's different. Wild animals in the mountains have revived, and there are man-eating mountain monsters. Although the group acted indifferent in front of the villagers, they were actually timid and fearful.

"Uncle Liu, this mountain road is too difficult to walk on."

There are no ready-made paths in the mountains. The vegetation is lush, and you sink deep or shallow underfoot with every step. You also encounter terrifying insects from time to time.

"Watch your step, lest snakes or insects appear." Old Liu used a branch to strike the grass and trees under his feet, his steps faltering.

An hour or two later, they still hadn't reached the halfway point. Exhausted and covered in sweat, they sat down to rest, took out the vegetable dumplings they had brought from home, and absentmindedly ate them.

The sun was blazing hot, and knowing they needed to reach the village before dark, the group started walking again.

Fortunately, the journey was uneventful.

Upon reaching the mountaintop, we saw towering palaces that seemed to reach into the clouds.

Several people took a breath.

"Uncle Liu, this is definitely not a monster's cave. It looks like a fairy palace where immortals live!"

Amidst swirling clouds and mist, a magnificent palace stands suspended in mid-air, surrounded by soaring cranes. Golden light and nine-colored divine light shimmer and shine, making the surrounding vegetation glow softly in the light of this splendid divine palace.

They've arrived at the place where immortals live!

Everyone was excited.

Saved!
If the gods inside were willing to help, the villagers wouldn't be eaten by the mountain monster.

Old Liu's cloudy, yellowish eyes welled up with tears.

"thump!"

Several people knelt down and shouted, "Please, immortal, have mercy and save the villagers at the foot of the mountain. We are willing to exchange our lives for this!"

"Bang bang bang!" Several people kowtowed.

"You are villagers from the foot of the mountain!"

Almost as soon as they raised their heads, a melodious and ethereal voice came from inside the temple. The voice was gentle and calm, and did not make people feel fearful or uneasy.

"I am Liu, the village chief of Kaoshan Village at the foot of the mountain. Please, gods, save the people in our village. The mountain monster comes down from the mountain every day to eat people. More than ten people in the village have already been eaten by the mountain monster. We are just ordinary people and can do nothing against the mountain monster."

Old Liu burst into tears, and the others also cried out, a truly heartbreaking scene.

Old Liu told the high and mighty gods about the situation in the village.

They desperately wanted a deity to save them. Otherwise, everyone in their village would be eaten by the mountain monster.

"Although Kaoshan Village, where Xiaomin lives, is remote and poor, the villagers live a peaceful life. We all know that there are wild beasts and mountain monsters in the mountains, so the villagers do not go up the mountain. Eight days ago, a mountain monster entered the village and dragged away a woman from the village. After that, it came down the mountain every day to catch people."

“The villagers lived in fear, and at night they would hear ghostly wails and howls. We haven’t had a good night’s sleep since then.”

"Please, gods, have mercy and save the suffering villagers. We are willing to give our lives to ensure the safety of the villagers."

Old Liu wiped away his tears and said with a bitter expression.

“The mountain monster eats people, which is against the way of heaven. I, the goddess, am passing through this place and seeing the suffering of the people. I will not sit idly by.”

Niangniang?

The group looked at each other, thinking of the torrential rain a few days ago. The Golden Saintess also called herself "this Empress". How come there is another Empress?
Old Liu mustered his courage and asked, "May I ask your honorable title, Goddess? From now on, all the descendants of Kaoshan Village will worship your tablet for generations to come, and will never forget your great kindness and virtue. You are the second parent of our entire Kaoshan Village!"

"I am the Golden Saint Goddess, the spirit of the Golden Saint Mountain Range!" Gu Yuexi introduced herself.

Everyone stared wide-eyed, their mouths agape in astonishment. They looked at each other, all certain they hadn't misheard.

"what!"

Someone exclaimed in surprise, then immediately covered their mouth, realizing they might disturb the goddess.

"You are the Golden Saint Goddess, the spirit of the Golden Saint Mountain Range! The Golden Saint Goddess who sent down sweet rain to save people from suffering!" The reverence and respect of the crowd seemed to materialize, their cloudy eyes brightened, and a faint blush rose on their faces.

Gu Yuexi replied, "It is indeed this Empress!"

"We, the humble people, have come to pay our respects to the Golden Saintess!"

Several people wept with joy, laughing and crying at the same time.

I never expected this! I really never expected it!
Their beloved Golden Saintess had actually come to Kaoshan Village! Their hearts pounded wildly, and they kowtowed repeatedly.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for saving us from dire straits! We will surely teach our descendants to never forget Your Majesty's kindness, to regard Your Majesty as our second parents, and to worship Your Majesty as we would our ancestors!"

They shouted excitedly.

The group descended the mountain in high spirits.

"Great! We're saved! The Golden Saintess saves all beings from suffering and delivers all beings from affliction. She said she would save us, and she definitely will!" Old Liu was anxious when he came, but his face was beaming on the way back.

The group quickened their pace, intending to share the good news with the villagers down the mountain and make them happy too!
Down the mountain, chaos reigned.

"Ah! Help!"

A terrible thing happened today; before 3 PM, several mountain monsters came down the mountain to eat people.

The villagers were originally standing at the village entrance, waiting for Old Man Liu and the others who had gone up the mountain to seek immortality to come down.

Suddenly, several strong young men came down from the mountain.

They said they were hunters in the mountains, living with their families in seclusion, which was how they escaped the imperial conscription.

The reason we're coming down the mountain now is because there's no more proper food left on the mountain, and we plan to trade our prey for some coarse flour and brown rice with the villagers.

The most hospitable villagers took the person back to their home. As a result, the others saw several strange people coming out of the villager's house. While everyone was wondering about this, they suddenly saw the villager who was entertaining the guests. Half of his body was being carried under the arm of a strong young man. There was a one-finger-wide gash on his head, and blood was gushing out.

Everyone was in a panic!

Suddenly realizing that the mountain monster could disguise itself as a human to deceive them, a chill ran down their spines.

The villagers scattered and fled!
The cries for help echoed through the sky.