Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 165 The Mountain God Summons Him, His True Form is a Great Demon

Chen Ye frowned slightly. Was this summons issued by the mountain god?
Although he had stayed in this Kawa Village for more than two years, his only interaction with this mountain god was when he offered incense to him in the ancestral hall.

However, Chen Ye could sense that although the summoning feeling appeared very abruptly, it was not malicious and was more like an invitation.

After a moment's hesitation, Chen Ye pushed open the door and headed straight for the back mountain.

This back mountain is a forbidden area for the entire Kawa Village. Unless it is a major sacrificial ceremony, no villagers dare to approach it.

This is because the mountain people firmly believe that anyone who trespasses into the back of the mountain will anger the mountain god, thus bringing disaster to the entire village.

Of course, Chen Ye was not among them at the moment, so he quickly arrived at the foot of the back mountain.

Looking up, a thin layer of mist shrouded the mountains and forests in front, making everything hazy and indistinct.

These mists are strange; although they appear very thin, they effectively block sight and divine sense.

Chen Ye tried to spread his divine sense, but found that it could only extend less than ten feet before being blocked by a gentle yet powerful force.

What an amazing natural magic circle!

Chen Ye was secretly alarmed.

This is no longer just mist, but a restriction containing the power of heaven and earth.

It seems that this mountain god truly does not want anyone to disturb His peace.

However, when Chen Ye stepped into the fog, the force that blocked his divine sense had no effect on him.

The mist seemed to have a life of its own, automatically parting to create a path in front of him.

Chen Ye understood that the mountain god was inviting him in, so he no longer hesitated and stepped onto the path.

Upon entering, the scene before one's eyes suddenly opens up, with exotic flowers and rare herbs growing everywhere. Many of these are rare medicinal herbs that have long been extinct in the outside world, yet they are now as common as weeds.

Several snow-white fawns with single antlers on their heads were drinking water by a stream not far away. When they saw Chen Ye, they just blinked curiously, showing no fear whatsoever.

What a paradise on earth!
Chen Ye secretly praised it, and then followed the path upwards. After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he arrived at the mountainside.

There is a huge cave here, and thick, impenetrable clouds are constantly pouring out of it.

This must be the sacred place the mountain people talk about, the Fairy Cave on the back mountain.

Chen Ye stood at the cave entrance and felt the summoning invitation reach its peak, so he stepped inside.

As soon as Chen Ye stepped into the Immortal Cave, he felt as if he had entered another world.

The light outside the cave was instantly swallowed up, but the inside of the cave was not completely dark.

The clouds and mist emanating from the cave emitted a soft glow, illuminating the entire interior of the cave in minute detail.

The space inside was much larger than what Chen Ye had seen from the outside; it was as if the entire mountain had been hollowed out.

The cave ceiling is so high that you can't see the top, and countless huge stalactites hang down, covered with crystal-clear water droplets that drip into a huge pool below, making a tinkling sound.

The entire cave was filled with rich spiritual energy from heaven and earth.

Good heavens, this place is practically a treasure trove for cultivation!

Chen Ye was amazed and slowly walked deeper into the cave.

At this moment, the entire cave was unusually quiet, with only the sound of dripping water echoing in the empty space, sounding exceptionally clear.

Just then, Chen Ye suddenly stopped in his tracks.

His newly acquired talent, the Eye of Calamity, activated automatically at this moment, and the world before him instantly changed.

In the swirling clouds ahead, countless threads of energy, some bright and some dim, were converging wildly, forming an extremely complex energy structure.

There wasn't a single thread of malice among these threads; there was only a pure, boundless, and immense power.

Chen Ye's heart skipped a beat, knowing that the main character was about to appear.

Although he didn't sense any malice, Chen Ye still subconsciously tightened his grip on the hilt of the Jingzhe Blade.

Just then, the clouds in front of them churned more and more violently, and then gradually coalesced into a tall figure.

This was an extremely handsome man with sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, a high nose bridge, and an exceptionally tall stature, estimated to be at least three meters. He wore a simple black robe, was barefoot, and floated quietly in mid-air.

Most striking are the two prominent horns on his forehead, gleaming with a metallic sheen, adding to his inhuman majesty.

He simply stood there quietly, and an aura of terror, as deep and boundless as the ocean, swept over him, making it almost impossible for Chen Ye to breathe.

Chen Ye was deeply shocked. Was this the mountain god worshipped by the people of Kawazhai? He was indeed unfathomable!

Just then, a calm yet authoritative voice rang out directly in Chen Ye's mind.

"Don't be nervous, young man. If I wanted to harm you, you wouldn't even have the chance to set foot on this mountain."

Chen Ye felt a little relieved upon hearing this, knowing that what the other party said was true.

Given his current strength, crushing me would probably be easier than crushing an ant.

So Chen Ye cupped his hands in greeting to the figure and asked in a deep voice, "Are you the mountain god of this Southern Wilderness Mountain? What brings you here so late at night?"

The tall figure slowly descended, landing not far in front of Chen Ye, and then scrutinized Chen Ye with his deep eyes, as if trying to see through him from the inside out.

"You can call me Yuanlan. As for the Mountain God, that's just what the mountain people call me."

Before Chen Ye could speak, Yuan Lan continued, "Actually, I've been observing you all along. I even noticed you the moment you stepped into these mountains."

"I have no ill intentions in inviting you here today. Do you know that your cultivation has been so smooth these past two years? In addition to the abundant spiritual energy here and your own extraordinary talent, it is also because I have been secretly helping you."

Chen Ye was stunned when he heard this.

Secretly helping him? How come he didn't sense anything at all?

However, after careful reflection, Chen Ye realized that his cultivation path over the past two years had indeed been smooth sailing, with almost no bottlenecks encountered, and his efficiency in absorbing the power of stars was astonishingly high.

He originally thought it was because the cultivation method suited him well, coupled with the unique environment of the Southern Wilderness Mountains.

I never expected that the mountain god would have played a part in this.
Chen Ye's face showed a look of doubt. "Forgive my ignorance, senior. I don't understand what you mean by that. We are complete strangers. Why would you help me?"

There's no such thing as a free lunch; Chen Ye understands this better than anyone.

He would never believe that a mountain god of unfathomable power would help a mere Sea Condensation Realm cultivator like himself for no reason.

Yuanlan seemed to see through Chen Ye's thoughts, and a faint smile appeared on her face.

"You're very vigilant, that's a good thing! You need this kind of mindset to survive long in this world."

“And you’re right, there’s a reason I’m helping you.” Yuan Lan’s tone became serious. “I need your help.”

Sure enough, it came.

But Chen Ye looked at the unfathomable being before him, his heart filled with confusion.

"Senior is too kind. Your supernatural powers are so great that turning rivers and seas upside down is nothing to you. I am just a mere Condensation Sea Realm cultivator. I can barely protect myself in this Qingzhou region. How could I possibly be of any help to you?"

Upon hearing this, Yuanlan shook his head, "That's not right. You don't need to belittle yourself."

"This is something only you can do, or rather, only your knife can do."

"Only my knife can do that?"

Chen Ye was completely confused.

Although his Jingzhe Blade had been nurtured by the art of blade cultivation and had become sentient through his battles, it was ultimately just a weapon made of ordinary iron, not even a magical artifact.

The matter this person is talking about must be of great importance. Why would he need his knife for something so important?

Yuanlan seemed to sense his confusion and instead of answering directly, asked in return, "Do you know what my true form is?"

Chen Ye shook his head.

Yuanlan raised his hand and waved it gently.

In an instant, the surrounding scenery suddenly changed.

The original cave had vanished, replaced by a colossal creature. It was a giant, jet-black dragon!
Its body is larger than a mountain, and the exposed part alone is thousands of feet long.

The black scales shimmered with a cold, eerie light in the dim light, each scale as large as a room.

It had grown majestic dragon horns on its head, and on its ferocious head, a pair of huge eyes, like blood-red lanterns, were indifferently gazing at the world.

A terrifying aura swept over him, making Chen Ye's soul tremble.

Before this giant dragon, he felt so insignificant that he was less than a speck of dust.

"This...this is..." Chen Ye felt his voice trembling.

"This is me." Yuanlan's voice echoed between heaven and earth. "I am an ancient and exotic species, the Xuan Shui Black Dragon, who has been cultivating here for nearly a thousand years."

The illusion slowly dissipated, and I returned to the Immortal Cave.

Yuan Lan still looked like a handsome man, but when Chen Ye looked at him again, his eyes were completely different.

He never imagined that the true form of this mountain god was actually such a terrifying thousand-year-old black dragon!

"I have cultivated for a thousand years, long ago passed the tribulation of lightning, condensed the demon core, and all my demonic power has been transformed into true essence." Yuan Lan's tone was tinged with pride. "Now all my beastly features have faded, and my dragon form has emerged. I am only one step away from becoming a true dragon."

Transform into a true dragon!

Chen Ye's heart pounded wildly again.

The transformation of a jiao into a true dragon is a legendary event, but once successful, one can shed their demonic form and become a true dragon lord, roaming the nine heavens and living as long as heaven and earth!

What a wonderful stroke of luck!

“But…” Yuan Lan’s tone shifted, a hint of helplessness in his voice, “I’ve encountered a huge obstacle in this final step.”

"My entire body has been refined into a dragon's form, but this dragon tail is the only thing I cannot completely remove, no matter what method I use. It is like a shackle, locking me tightly within this demonic body, preventing me from taking that final step."

"So what you mean, senior, is...."

"Five years from now, the seven stars will be aligned in the sky." Yuan Lan's eyes gleamed with a burning light. "That will be a once-in-a-century opportunity to transform into a dragon. At that time, I will draw upon the power of heaven and earth to break through the final barrier, transform into a dragon and ascend to the heavens."

"At the crucial moment of my transformation into a dragon, someone needs to use the sharpest blade to sever my unrefinable dragon tail! This will break the last shackle on my body, help me shed my mortal form, and ascend to the throne of the Dragon King!"

Yuan Lan raised her head, her gaze fixed intently on Chen Ye, "And you are the one I chose to cut off my tail!"

Although Chen Ye was shocked, he was not confused, so after hesitating for a moment, he asked, "Why me?"

"You should know that there are countless swordsmen and experts in the world, many of whom are stronger than me. As a senior, you should be able to call upon countless experts at the Inner Realm or even the Core Formation stage to serve you. Why did you choose an unknown nobody like me?"

“Because they’re all no good.” Yuan Lan shook his head, his tone resolute.

"This is not a simple severing. You must know that my transformation into a dragon and ascension to the heavens is a heaven-defying act, and cutting off my tail is also severing the cause and effect between me and this world, and between me and my thousand-year-old demon body. Therefore, this strike requires not only power, but also a will and fortune that can sever cause and effect."

“And I see that possibility in you.”

“My innate supernatural power allows me to glimpse the cause and effect of the future. Therefore, I saw a knife that helped me sever my shackles on the day I transformed into a dragon, and the person who held that knife was you.”

Chen Ye remained silent.

Because what Yuanlan said might actually be true.

The core talent of his main class, Hundred Tribulations Blade, is Tribulation Eye, which aims to sever and detonate the lines of tribulation. Yuanlan's Dragon Transformation Tribulation may be the tribulation that he is destined to sever.

This sounds mysterious, but for cultivators, the concept of cause and effect and destiny is not illusory, but real.

Although the risks are high, this is also a tremendous opportunity.

If what Yuanlan said is true, then if he succeeds, it will be equivalent to forming a good relationship with a future dragon king.

Putting everything else aside, the value of this favor alone is immeasurable.

"So, are you willing to help me?" Yuanlan asked.

“Senior, I have another question.” Chen Ye raised his head and looked directly into Yuan Lan’s eyes. “What makes you so sure that I will succeed? You should know that I am only at the Condensation Sea Realm, not even at the Inner Realm yet. Moreover, the future is unpredictable. If I fail, wouldn’t it cause you to die as well?”

This wasn't Chen Ye being cowardly, but rather him confirming the final risks.

He had to figure out where Yuanlan's confidence came from.

“I saw it.” Yuanlan’s answer was simple and direct. “In the corner of the future I glimpsed, you succeeded. Although the sword that severed my dragon tail was blurry, I could feel that it was your Awakening of Insects.”

“Of course.” Yuanlan changed the subject. “The future is not static. What I see is only the most likely one, but you are the only one who will succeed out of all possibilities.”

"As for your own strength..." Yuan Lan's lips curled into a confident smile, "You are now at the Sea Condensation Realm, not far from the Inner Realm, but without the right opportunity, it is normal to be stuck for decades."

"However, with my help, none of this will be a problem." Yuanlan's voice was filled with powerful confidence.

"I promise you that within these five years, I will help you realize the inner vision!"

The inner vision of enlightenment within five years!

Even with his extensive experience, Chen Ye was still shocked at this moment.

Because this promise is just too heavy!

Even looking at the whole world, there are few people who would dare to make such a bold claim.

After all, the Inner Realm is a huge watershed on the path of cultivation. Once you step into it, you can look inward at yourself, travel in spirit to the heavens, and greatly increase your lifespan. It is a realm that countless cultivators dream of.

Chen Ye estimated that even with professional support and this unique environment, it would take him at least ten or eight years, or even longer, to break through to the Inner Realm on his own.

Now, Yuanlan has directly halved this timeframe, and it's a promise that's set in stone.

Chen Ye couldn't resist this temptation.

He is an extremely pragmatic person. Since the risks and rewards are already laid out before him, there is nothing to hesitate about.

Fortune and honor are sought in danger. The path of cultivation is inherently against the will of Heaven, so how can one avoid taking risks?

"Alright!" Chen Ye took a deep breath, his eyes gleaming with unprecedented brilliance. "I agree!"

"Five years from now, on the day when the seven stars align, I, Chen Ye, am willing to break your shackles and help you transform into a dragon and ascend to heaven!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it was resolute and echoed in the empty cave.

Upon hearing Chen Ye's answer, Yuan Lan also showed a genuine smile.

"Hahaha, very good! You certainly didn't disappoint me!"

As Yuanlan laughed, the entire Immortal Cave began to shake violently. Stalactites on the cave ceiling fell down in a flurry, and a terrifying shockwave spread out from him. If he hadn't intentionally controlled it, it probably would have instantly sent Chen Ye flying.

After the laughter subsided, Yuanlan's gaze towards Chen Ye softened considerably.

"From this day forward, we are allies. You no longer need to call me senior; just call me Yuanlan."

With a wave of his hand, a cloth bag the size of a palm flew to Chen Ye's front.

"This is a Qiankun bag, containing ten zhang of space. Consider it a gift from me to you."

Chen Ye took the Qiankun bag and probed it with a wisp of true essence. Sure enough, he found a spacious space in his perception. In the corner, there were some bottles and jars and several herbs that exuded rich spiritual energy.

“Take these pills and herbs and use them first. They can help you consolidate your current cultivation and refine your true essence to be more condensed and pure,” Yuanlan said.

"Once you've absorbed all of this, I'll prepare the next set of resources for you."

Chen Ye was overjoyed and, without any hesitation, tied the Qiankun bag to his waist.

"Thank you."

“There’s no need for thanks between us.” Yuan Lan waved his hand. “From now on, you can come to this back mountain anytime. I will set up a special meditation room for you here.”

Chen Ye was overjoyed. With Yuan Lan's words, he could now cultivate here in peace.

"Alright, you can go back now. You will officially begin your cultivation starting tomorrow," Yuanlan said.

"Yes." Chen Ye nodded, and the next moment he felt the surrounding clouds and mist envelop him. When he opened his eyes again, he was back in his residence in Kawa Village.

Chen Ye was shocked. Was this the divine power of a Core Formation Realm demon? He hadn't even sensed the slightest fluctuation of spiritual energy before returning to the village from the back mountain. It was truly amazing.

(End of this chapter)