Chapter 528: Chapter 336: The Forest King’s Message
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Everyone was busy, and no one noticed the white-haired young man leaning against the cold wall in the shadow of a village house. He observed everyone with a smile on his face.
Although Yan Xiaobao was eager to gather information about the Forest King, he had no intention of interrupting them as they busily prepared a celebration for him. It had been a long time since his last interaction with anyone else, and the kindness he encountered here was enough to touch his heart.
Even though the bustling villagers didn’t immediately notice Yan Xiaobao, it didn’t take long before he caught their attention. As he prepared to stop and step aside, they all bowed deeply to the young man; fear and reverence mingled in their eyes.
Seeing the fear, the white-haired young man couldn’t help but let out a sigh. After he was discovered, he straightened himself and moved toward the village chief who had greeted him earlier. He pointed toward the chief’s house, and as he led the way, the chief immediately understood; his hand trembled slightly, and his throat suddenly felt dry.
Knowing he had scared the chief, Xu Yue quickly decided to clear up any misunderstandings. He wasted no time entering the house, where he brought a few wooden chairs into the living room.
Sitting down, Yan Xiaobao gestured for the chief to do the same. As he complied, the two were now seated face to face.
"Master, please have mercy," the chief said immediately in a trembling voice, "Whatever we have done to offend you, Master, I beg your wrath upon this humble servant!"
Hearing his words, Yan Xiaobao wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry, and he quickly placed a calm hand on the chief’s trembling shoulder.
"Don’t worry, I’m not upset," he said swiftly. As the chief raised his head in surprise, the trembling in the men subsided somewhat. When they met Yan Xiaobao’s sincere gaze, their eyes widened in disbelief, as though encountering an otherworldly truth.
"You’re not upset?" the soft voice asked again. Yan Xiaobao nodded with a gentle smile on his face.
"I believe there’s been a significant misunderstanding," Yan Xiaobao sighed and said, "I’m not one of these lords you speak of. I’m new to this entire region," he continued, "I was born in the Sun Kingdom, where I grew up and lived until recently. Something happened which brought me here to the Divine Domain, but I’m unfamiliar with this realm."
"You’re not the Forest King?" The chief was now thoroughly shocked. His eyes couldn’t possibly grow wider; disbelief etched itself upon his face.
"That’s correct," Yan Xiaobao confirmed politely, "But perhaps you can tell me more about them?" He posed the question as the stunned and bewildered chief nodded hesitantly.
Although Yan Xiaobao wasn’t the Forest King as they had initially assumed, he was still a Holy Name Expert. A Saint Level beast capable of maintaining a complete human form meant he was exceedingly powerful. The chief harbored no hope of angering this man.
"The Divine Domain is divided into sixty-four counties, each controlled by a Forest King. The entire Divine Domain is a vast jungle, with occasional clearings, gorges, and valleys scattered throughout. The lord of this Qianfang Valley is Lord Yan Zhiquan. He is a Black Breath Razor, one of the strongest beasts in our forest. It’s said he even defeated a Divine Beast once, I’ve heard of it!"
Once the topic began, it seemed impossible to stop the chief from talking. When he mentioned the lord of this county, his eyes brimmed with pride. The elderly man, breathing fast, continued explaining the place Yan Xiaobao had found himself in.
"The Forest Kings are the mightiest Holy Beasts within the Divine Domain. Anyone confident enough may challenge these lords, yet it’s rare for a Forest King to lose such duels. Most of these lords have sat upon their thrones for a very long time."
"Although the regions are divided by counties, there is one individual whom even the lords must respect. In the deepest parts of the jungle lies a region controlled by a woman revered by everyone. She’s known as the strongest. She is a Single-Horned Jasmine Hawk, devouring countless beings, both men and beasts, over the years. Her name is Wan Qiao."
At the mention of this name, Yan Xiaobao felt the soul of Lan Feng undergo a pronounced shift; his emotions transformed into a mix of panic and fear. These unexpected feelings left Yan Xiaobao affected, causing the young man’s face to darken visibly in front of the chief.
"Explain it to me later," Yan Xiaobao told Lan Feng, before muttering to himself with a faint smile upon his lips.
"I’ve been traveling along this valley, what you call Qianfang Valley, for quite some time now. How might I escape Chenyuan and return to the Sun Kingdom, back to my own home?"
Upon hearing his query, the man fell silent for a time, finally responding: "It’s difficult to enter the Divine Domain," he began, "But while entering is hard, leaving is even harder. Only the Forest Kings are permitted to leave the borders of the Divine Domain, and only if Lady Wan Qiao is in a good mood. Normally, anyone who enters the Divine Domain spends their lifetime here."
Pausing briefly, the man reflected before continuing, "I suppose if Wan Qiao allowed it, you might leave and receive her assistance—even if you’re not the Forest King. But who holds any connection with a transcendent being like Lady Wan Qiao?"
After hearing these words, Yan Xiaobao responded swiftly to the chief before returning to the house lent to him. Once there, children came to see him again; however, this time Yan Xiaobao had no time to play with them. He quickly passed them by and entered the house. Sitting cross-legged, he allowed his consciousness to slowly descend into the Dantian Cave, where a shocked and terrified Lan Feng was seated.