Living as a Mortal: Grinding Experience Starting from the Underworld

After a cordial and friendly conversation, Zhang Feng finally gained some understanding of the situation in Huangtu Village.

Huangtu Village is a village where cultivators and mortals live together, and it is jointly governed by the village chief and three elders.

All four were cultivators, but when Zhang Feng asked the elders for their names, Huang Tianhe remained silent, saying only that they would know once they entered the village.

As for Huang Tianhe himself, Zhang Feng thought he was at least twenty years old based on his physique and appearance, but he was only fifteen.

No wonder they speak and act so immaturely and recklessly.

"Brother Zhang, you're the second cultivator who's been willing to talk to me this much!"

Huang Tianhe stood beside Zhang Feng, his expression joyful and enthusiastic, showing no trace of his previous rudeness and arrogance.

"Oh! Don't the cultivators in Huangtu Village communicate with you?"

Zhang Feng noticed that the situation in Huangtu Village was somewhat different from what Huang Tianhe had described.

"Hmm~ The village chief and elders don't allow us to communicate with cultivators. They even gather the cultivators together and separate them from the ordinary villagers, making them live separately in the village."

Huang Tianhe spoke with a lowered posture, looking somewhat dejected.

"!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Feng suddenly became wary. In his past life's memories, the Netherworld had a tradition of feeding cultivators to Netherworld beasts. Could it be...?

Whoosh!

Before Zhang Feng could ask any more questions, footsteps suddenly came from the exit.

Huang Tianhe reacted quickly, preparing to draw his bow and shoot an arrow, while Zhang Feng also held a flying arrow and stared at the exit.

"Tianhe, Tianhe!"

"The group of fire-scaled beasts led by that ferocious beast was lured away by some powerful figure from a village."

"We picked up the fish that had fallen along the way."

"A bumper harvest! A bumper harvest!"

A group of dozens of people hurried along, laughing as they ran to the exit of the Stone Forest.

Upon hearing this, Huang Tianhe relaxed, released the bowstring, took the arrow, and stepped forward to meet him.

"Really? Second Uncle!"

"Of course it's true!"

A middle-aged man approached Huang Tianhe and patted him hard on the shoulder.

Huang Tianhe grimaced in pain, but a smile still appeared on his face:

"Hehe! Second Uncle, does that mean I can bring food to Xiao Cui now?"

"Of course, this harvest is plentiful, and we also have the Nether Fish that the village chief is looking for, so it's definitely enough."

"Oh, by the way, you're a cultivator, aren't you?"

The middle-aged man first patted Huang Tianhe's head, then turned to ask Zhang Feng, who was standing next to him.

"Yes, Second Uncle, his name is Zhang Feng, and he's a cultivator. I've already checked, don't worry!"

Zhang Feng was about to bow when Huang Tianhe answered first.

"And so are Brother Zhang and Xiao Cui!"

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man's attitude suddenly became more enthusiastic.

"I am Huang Qing, the hunting captain of Huangtu Village. Since you have come here, Immortal Master, you must have many questions."

This is not the place to talk. Please come back to Huangtu Village with us, Master, and I will explain everything to you in detail.

Huang Qing's words reminded Zhang Feng of the mortals on Suihan Island and their experiences facing cultivators.

It seems this person knows or has even witnessed the power of cultivators, hence their humble attitude.

"Okay, I'll have to trouble Captain Huang to lead the way."

Zhang Feng bowed in response, showing no disrespect simply because the man was a mortal.

He always treated people with the same attitude.

"Alright, everyone stay close to me. There might be more Netherworld Beasts on the way, so be extremely careful."

At Huang Qing's command, he led the way, with the others following behind.

Taking advantage of the dim light, Zhang Feng observed the group of people and pondered to himself.

There were fifteen people in total. Ten of them carried their catch of fish in baskets without any weapons, while the other five carried various bone weapons and were on guard.

Their steps were steady and their pace measured, clearly indicating that they had undergone a long period of training and practice.

To survive in the underworld with only a mortal body, one must possess extraordinary abilities.

As for Huang Tianhe, he was clearly skilled in archery, while Huang Qing was proficient in martial arts.

It is possible to reliably enter the lair of the Fire-Scaled Beast to hunt and bring the animals back safely. There are also cultivators in the village.

This loess village could serve as his first safe haven.

Zhang Feng followed the others across a plain and arrived at a village surrounded by high platforms.

"Alright, we've arrived. Master Zhang, I'll take you to see the village chief. You two take your harvest to the elders."

Huang Qing gave the order and led Zhang Feng into the village.

"Immortal Master, I cannot disclose the specific details of the village. You may inquire with the village chief."

However, if the immortal master intends to stay, please be extremely careful.

Just as they were about to reach a stone house, Huang Qing suddenly uttered a sentence.

Before Zhang Feng could respond, a deep, aged voice came from inside the house:

"Ha~ Is this a new fellow Daoist? Qing'er, quickly bring him in!"

"Immortal Master, please go inside quickly. I have other matters to attend to, so I will not accompany you!"

Huang Qing cupped his hands in greeting, turned, and left.

Zhang Feng became wary, but only one person could enter.

Upon entering the house, Zhang Feng immediately sensed the scrutinizing gazes of the four people.

"I am Huang Tiangu, the unworthy village chief of Huangtu Village. May I ask your name, and where you cultivate immortality?"

There were five wooden chairs in the room, with four people sitting on them. All four were frail, elderly people with white hair and beards.

The person speaking to Zhang Feng was an elderly man sitting in the middle.

"My name is Zhang Feng, a rogue cultivator from the Chaotic Star Sea."

Zhang Feng responded cautiously.

Upon hearing this, Huang Tiangu frowned slightly and sighed softly, as if somewhat disappointed.

The other four appeared calm and composed, though their joy was evident in their eyes.

"Oh, it seems you are full of doubts since you first arrived here."

Let this old man explain it to you in detail, fellow Daoist…”

"Sigh... Village Chief, why say so much? There have been quite a few fellow Daoists who have come to our village. If we talk to each one face to face, wouldn't that be a waste of everyone's time?"

Besides, he's just a rogue cultivator from that small place called Chaotic Star Sea. What's there to say? Let him go see for himself at the ancestral hall!

Huang Tiangu wanted to explain the Yinming Land to Zhang Feng, but was interrupted by the elder beside him.

Zhang Feng was displeased. How could there be regional discrimination in the Underworld?

"Alas, Elder Li is right. I suppose Elder Qin and Elder Liu think so too."

In that case, Fellow Daoist Zhang, please go and check the ancestral hall yourself.

As for the location, just go straight to the end of the road after you leave. Fellow Daoist Zhang, please check carefully and don't be careless.

If you need anything else, just contact Huang Qing.

Huang Tiangu sat down and said no more.

Zhang Feng was a little confused. Huangtu Village was strange, from the village chief to the villagers.

Especially these four white-haired leading cultivators, there was a subtle disharmony between them.

However, Zhang Feng didn't dwell on it. His immediate priority was to ascertain the situation in Huangtu Village as soon as possible and then find the secret room to experiment with his experience panel.

Following Huang Tiangu's directions, Zhang Feng quickly found the ancestral hall.

Upon entering, Zhang Feng immediately saw the stone tablet directly opposite the gate.

After careful examination, he discovered that the record contained the experiences and speculations of a Core Formation cultivator in the Netherworld, which were exactly the same as what Zhang Feng himself knew.

Further down, you'll find this cultivator's cultivation insights and techniques.

Looking at the other stone tablets, most of them were the same. These cultivation techniques and experiences, which were extremely valuable in the outside world, were useless in this desolate and gloomy place.

This includes various storage bags, as well as magical artifacts and implements.

Zhang Feng continued searching carefully. He realized that Village Chief Huang's words had been loaded with meaning, and he must have left something important behind.

Finally, Zhang Feng discovered the anomaly in a stone tablet left by a cultivator also named Huang Tiangu.

At the very bottom of the stone tablet, there is a line of small characters.

"Let's talk here at midnight!"