As Yu Daohhen stepped off the bus, his phone rang. He took it out and saw it was the old man calling. He pressed the answer button. "Xiao Yu, have you arrived?"
"Just got off the bus," Yu Daohhen replied.
A chuckle came from the other end of the line. "I've already sent someone to pick you up. Just come over."
Yu Daohhen scanned his surroundings and finally settled his gaze on a young man in a suit. He hung up the phone and walked towards the young man.
The middle-aged man's face lit up with a smile as Yu Daohhen approached. "You must be Master Yu. I didn't expect you to be so young."
Yu Daohhen sized up the man. Although he looked no older than twenty-five, his aura was no less imposing than that of a middle-aged man.
The young man glanced at Yu Daohhen's left eye and his brow furrowed slightly, but he quickly masked it. "My name is Yang Jingyi. You can just call me Xiao Yang, Master."
Yu Daohhen nodded and got into the car with Yang Jingyi. The journey to Canshou Village was at least three hours long, and the road was entirely dirt.
They chatted idly on the way, and Yu Daohhen learned why Yang Jingyi was going to Canshou Village.
Six months prior, the patriarch of the Yang Group, Yang Mengsheng, had contracted a strange illness. His entire body was covered in green grass, and when it was pulled, blood would flow out from the roots.
Yang Mengsheng's son, Yang Tianshun, sought medical help everywhere. He visited the best hospitals in China, but all efforts failed. Later, he heard that there was a highly skilled divine doctor in Canshou Village. Yang Tianshun went to great lengths to invite Elder Hua to treat his father.
Yu Daohhen glanced at his left eye in the rearview mirror. It was still covered by a semi-transparent film, and he couldn't see anything clearly.
In his current state, his strength was limited to using only three drops of Samsara Blood Tears. Each battle relied on surprise and a single decisive blow.
When the car was still a mile away from the village, Yu Daohhen leaned out to look at it, his brow furrowing.
Although it was midday, the area around the village was deathly still. Not a single bird flew overhead, and the sunlight cast the entire village in its glow.
Golden light shone upon the earth, while miasma mixed in all directions. Yin and yang clashed, a place of great inauspiciousness.
The car soon arrived at the village entrance. As Yu Daohhen stepped out, a tiger statue, over two meters tall, stood before him.
Before Yu Daohhen could speak, a voice came from the side. "Mr. Yu, the old man has been waiting for a long time."
Yu Daohhen was startled. He turned to find a woman in her mid-forties standing beside him.
The woman wore no expensive jewelry and had the typical appearance of a rural woman, yet Yu Daohhen was inwardly astonished.
Since he began cultivating, his strength, speed, reflexes, and perception of his surroundings had far surpassed those of ordinary people.
Anyone who could silently appear beside Yu Daohhen was at least a master of the Heavenly Ranking.
At this moment, Yang Jingyi, who had parked the car, walked over. "Aunt Hua."
Aunt Hua's face broke into a smile upon seeing Yang Jingyi. "Xiao Yang, you're here."
Saying this, she took a small bottle of red pills from her basket and handed it to Yang Jingyi.
Yang Jingyi accepted the bottle of pills, his voice filled with emotion. "Thank you for your trouble, Aunt Hua."
"It's nothing, it's nothing. Then I won't keep Xiao Yang for dinner," Aunt Hua said, waving her hand.
Yang Jingyi nodded without saying more and turned to walk back to the car. Yu Daohhen, however, was led into the village by Aunt Hua.
Along the way, Yu Daohhen glanced at the surrounding houses. Despite it being broad daylight, the doors were tightly shut.
Seeing Yu Daohhen's curiosity, Aunt Hua explained. "This village was originally called Chang'an Village. But because of one strange incident after another, everyone moved to a small village ten miles away to settle. Now, only some elderly people remain in the village."
Yu Daohhen nodded. Settling in a place of great inauspiciousness inevitably leads to bloodshed. It was fortunate they moved early, otherwise, the entire village might have paid the price.
They arrived at an open space in the village, where five figures were already waiting in the center.
Elder Hua, seeing Yu Daohhen arrive, glanced at the people around him. "Everyone, this is the young fellow."
One of the elders stroked his greying beard, his cloudy eyes appraising Yu Daohhen. "When striving, above all; when hidden, a lifetime of ordinariness."
With that, he turned and walked down a small path.
Hearing the elder's words, an old woman also glanced at Yu Daohhen and chuckled. "Since Elder Zhou has spoken, then we shall all proceed as we see fit."
The remaining three said nothing. After sizing up Yu Daohhen for a few moments, they each departed.
One elder snorted. "If he dares to do evil in the future, I will be the first to eliminate him."
He then turned and left.
Yu Daohhen watched as the five figures departed, confusion in his voice. "Old man, what is this?"
"Xiao Yu, please don't mind. This is the village rule. Anyone who wishes to live in the village must have everyone's consent," Elder Hua said, shaking his head.
Yu Daohhen nodded and looked at Elder Hua. Although he was over a hundred years old, his hair was black, and his face was full of vitality.
Elder Hua glanced at Yu Daohhen's left eye, his brow furrowing slightly. "Xiao Yu, your eye..."
Yu Daohhen sighed. Aunt Hua, saying she had other matters to attend to, left.
Elder Hua nodded and led Yu Daohhen towards his residence.
Yu Daohhen looked at the surrounding abandoned houses, feeling an indescribable sense of oppression.
Elder Hua sighed. "Do you remember the first time we met?"
Yu Daohhen nodded. Six months ago, Elder Hua had visited his shop to ask for three drops of blood from that esteemed individual, promising to repay him with three favors.
Elder Hua continued, "Xiao Yu, do you know what I wanted those three drops of blood for?"
Yu Daohhen nodded. "Elder Hua, is it for refining elixirs?"
Elder Hua nodded, his face showing reluctance and helplessness. "Yes, it was indeed for refining elixirs, but it was useless. My time is drawing near."
Yu Daohhen was shocked. "Elder Hua, has your lifespan reached its end?"
Elder Hua nodded without speaking.
Yu Daohhen looked at Elder Hua, unable to believe his ears. "The world is filled with countless rare treasures. Perhaps there are other things that can extend life."
Elder Hua looked up, his cloudy eyes gazing at the vast sky, and said with resignation, "Even the blood of that esteemed individual was useless. It is beyond saving."
Looking at Elder Hua, everything seemed so insignificant in the face of life and death. Perhaps in the next moment, they would be separated by the netherworld.
"Xiao Yu, do you want to learn the Longevity Art?" Elder Hua turned to look at Yu Daohhen.
The Longevity Art was a secret technique passed down through generations of the Hua family, using rare treasures to refine elixirs to achieve longevity.
Yu Daohhen shook his head. "Elder Hua, if I'm not mistaken, the Longevity Art is passed down to only one person per generation, and that person must be a member of the Hua family, right?"
Elder Hua laughed heartily. "Once people taste the sweetness of longevity, they are reluctant to let it go. This Longevity Art is both a blessing and a curse."
"I still prefer a simple life. Living for so long would only become tiresome," Yu Daohhen shook his head.
Author's Note:
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