Zhang Chu quickly gathered the Old Village Chief and Tong Qingshan, then informed the Old Village Chief about Little Grapes discovering the secret manual.
Tong Qingshan was overjoyed upon hearing this.
"Sir, we must acquire the human cultivation methods. I want to see how they differ from the Demon Race's!" Tong Qingshan said eagerly.
The Old Village Chief remained silent, quietly puffing on his old pipe.
Zhang Chu then turned to the Old Village Chief and said, "Old Village Chief, I know you're worried about the safety of the journey, but fortune favors the bold. This might be Zaoye Village's only chance to transform."
Tong Qingshan quickly added, "Exactly, if we miss this opportunity and someone else finds the manual, we might never get another chance."
Finally, the Old Village Chief spoke, "It's not that I don't want the manual, it's just that the journey is too far."
"Five hundred miles of mountain roads, with all the twists and turns, could easily become four or five times longer," the Old Village Chief said.
He sighed, "Over the years, people from Zaoye Village have ventured out, but none have ever returned."
"The Yaoxu is too dangerous for humans..."
Zhang Chu knew what the Old Village Chief was worried about.
He had heard that the Old Village Chief's own son disappeared during such a journey and never returned.
However, Zhang Chu said, "With careful planning, it's not impossible to travel far."
Tong Qingshan nodded, "That's right. With my current strength, I should be able to avoid danger, and we can seek shelter in other villages at night."
The Old Village Chief took a few more puffs before making up his mind, "Alright, since we've discovered it, it's Zaoye Village's opportunity, and we should seize it!"
"But if you can avoid staying in other villages, do so," the Old Village Chief advised.
Zhang Chu was slightly taken aback, "Hmm? Why?"
The Old Village Chief explained, "In the Yaoxu, not all mountain villages are hospitable. In fact, most are not."
Zhang Chu frowned slightly. In his understanding, most of the surrounding villages were quite friendly.
Even those that were corrupted treated outsiders well.
The Old Village Chief took a drag from his pipe and said to Zhang Chu and Tong Qingshan, "Since you're going on a journey, I'll tell you some things so you won't be harmed unknowingly."
"Do you know why we live in the Yaoxu?" the Old Village Chief suddenly asked.
Zhang Chu and Tong Qingshan shook their heads.
Zhang Chu wanted to say, wasn't Zaoye Village always here?
But on second thought, he realized that might not be the case.
According to The Great Wilderness Scripture, the Great Wilderness was vast and fertile, with countless places suitable for human habitation.
Yet the Yaoxu was clearly not a good place; even a single night there was tormenting.
The Old Village Chief continued, "According to the elders, the villages in the Yaoxu mainly come from two sources." Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
"The first kind offended someone outside and couldn't survive, so they led their entire clan into the Yaoxu. Zaoye Village is such a case."
"Our ancestors offended someone, and after overcoming countless hardships, they settled here, trying to be as friendly as possible."
"The second kind committed heinous crimes and fled into the Yaoxu to escape the law. These are the villains. If outsiders enter their village, who knows what might happen."
Zhang Chu suddenly understood the origins of the villages in the Yaoxu.
The Old Village Chief sighed, "So, not all villages are as friendly as those near us."
"I've heard that some domineering villages will shoot you if you step into their hunting grounds."
"If you seek shelter in their village, they might seem friendly, but could kill you at night."
Zhang Chu and Tong Qingshan were shocked by this.
Tong Qingshan couldn't help but say, "If that's the case, isn't it dangerous not to seek shelter in other villages at night?"
Zhang Chu pondered, "If that's the case, we shouldn't bring too many people. Just the two of us should travel."
The Old Village Chief nodded, "The sir is right. This time, we shouldn't bring too many people. The fewer people camping in the wild, the safer it is."
Though the nights in the Yaoxu were dangerous, there were ways to camp in the wild.
The simplest method was to take over some animal's habitat.
In the Yaoxu, humans lived in villages with Guardian Deities.
Animals, too, had their survival strategies and ways to protect themselves overnight.
Even ants had protective grass growing near their nests, so taking over the habitat of larger animals could work for a night.
Ultimately, the Old Village Chief and Zhang Chu decided that Zhang Chu, Tong Qingshan, and Little Grapes would set out together to find the Ascending Dragon Scripture.
Little Grapes was included because only she could sense the exact location of the book.
The next morning, the Old Village Chief led Zhang Chu and the others to the Old Jujube Tree, praying for its blessing on their journey.
The villagers prepared dried meat and provisions, filling the trio's packs.
"Be careful!" the villagers urged with concern.
"Qingshan, make sure to protect the sir and Little Grapes. No matter what, they must not come to harm!"
Tong Qingshan nodded, "Don't worry, I will."
Tong Qingshan had now opened twelve Life Wells, and his spear skills were unmatched. Ordinary hunters and even common demons were no match for him.
As for Great Demons, they would just avoid them.
Just then, the Old Jujube Tree began to glow faintly, its light forming a hand.
The hand gently picked a jujube leaf and presented it to Zhang Chu.
Zhang Chu was delighted, "Jujube Tree God, are you asking me to take this leaf on our journey?"
The Old Village Chief was overjoyed, "Sir, quickly take this leaf. It's a gift from the Jujube Tree God!"
Zhang Chu hurriedly accepted the leaf, bowing to the Jujube Tree God, "Thank you, Jujube Tree God!"
Zhang Chu was amazed; the Jujube Tree God never shed leaves.
In fact, the Old Jujube Tree's branches were robust, but its leaves were sparse. This was the first time Zhang Chu had seen the Jujube Tree God drop a leaf.
He carefully placed the leaf against his chest, then bid farewell to the Old Jujube Tree and the villagers, setting off together.
Little Grapes rode on Tong Qingshan's shoulders, constantly pointing the way as Zhang Chu and Tong Qingshan swiftly traversed the mountains.
Little Grapes was excited; it was her first time traveling far from the village, and she chattered non-stop.
"Wow, that bird is so beautiful, it has four legs!"
"Why is that fish climbing a tree? Oh, it lives in a tree hole!"
"A pack of wolves is following us, surrounding us. Do they want to eat us?"
Little Grapes' words were full of childlike innocence but provided Zhang Chu and Tong Qingshan with valuable information.
The trio moved quickly, avoiding many powerful creatures and passing through village after village.
Gradually, the sun began to set, and night was approaching.
They arrived at an unnamed valley, where a large river flowed through, the sunset casting shimmering light on the water.
"Qingshan, let's camp here tonight and find a place to hide," Zhang Chu suggested.
Tong Qingshan nodded immediately.
Little Grapes pointed to a cave halfway up the mountain, "Father, there's a black bear watching us!"
Zhang Chu and Tong Qingshan followed her finger and indeed saw a black bear hidden among the foliage, eyeing them greedily, drooling.
"Haha, this guy thinks we're food," Tong Qingshan said.
Zhang Chu's eyes lit up, "Perfect, the black bear's hideout must have a guardian spirit. Tonight, we'll feast on bear paws and stay in the bear's den!"
With that, Zhang Chu hoisted Little Grapes, and Tong Qingshan brandished his spear, charging up the mountainside.