Chapter 1791: Strange Village

During the next few days of marching, they also met many of these cannibalistic starving people.

Some of the bold ones couldn't help but come up and attack them.

Ye Liuyun and the Martial Cultivators would eliminate them on sight, to prevent further harm.

Man Shu and Black Panther had also initially cultivated a poison source, and Ye Liuyun only then allowed them to go out again.

Suddenly, Ye Liuyun's Divine Sense detected a somewhat strange village.

There were quite a number of people here, numbering several hundred.

There were some Martial Cultivators inside who already had a realm.

So the reason it seemed strange was that Ye Liuyun discovered that those starving folk dared not approach this village.

It should be noted that some of those starving folk even dare to attack a large force like theirs; what could be in this village that makes those irrational starving people feel fear?

Xiao Yunfang also received a scouting Transmission Voice, causing the squad to halt.

"Shall we go scout the road first?"

Zhang Wencai proactively said to Xiao Yunfang.

He felt that by following Xiao Yunfang, they were always being looked after, and their own people couldn't get any training.

"Fine!"

Xiao Yunfang did not refuse either.

Just as Ye Liuyun and his group were about to leave, the female soldier who had previously challenged Ye Liuyun suddenly sent a Transmission Voice to him: "Don't trust anyone! Especially those who seem friendly and kind, the villagers!"

He didn't understand what she meant, but it seemed well‑meaning.

So he thanked her and then left together with the other Martial Cultivators.

Ye Liuyun's Divine Sense also detected.

After they left, Xiao Yunfang personally led a four‑hundred‑person squad, following them from a distance as if protecting them.

The earlier village made Ye Liuyun feel increasingly strange.

Although it also appeared poor, it was certainly not as dilapidated as the previous village; it seemed regularly inhabited.

Moreover, many people were planting a good amount of vegetables around their houses.

Compared with other villages, this place could be considered a paradise.

The Martial Cultivators here, the highest realm was only a mid‑Second Realm elder; most were still First Realm Martial Cultivators.

The villagers, upon seeing Ye Liuyun and his party, became nervous; the Martial Cultivators rushed out and blocked them outside the village.

The mid‑Second Realm elder, from a distance, asked them, "Who are you?"

"Are you here to rob us?"

"We are very poor here; we have nothing you would be interested in!"

"We are just passing through, only intending to rest briefly inside the village; we won't rob you."

One of Ye Liuyun's Martial Cultivators replied.

The mid‑Second Realm elder, seeing Ye Liuyun's group approach, did not act immediately and relaxed a bit.

"Something's odd!"

Ye Liuyun's Golden Pupil observed that these Martial Cultivators' core pills were blood‑red, darkening, and emitting a faint Demon Qi.

"Could it be that these people are all Demon Cultivators?"

Ye Liuyun speculated in his mind and warned Lei Ming and the others to be cautious.

Lei Ming also said, "I also sense Demon Qi on them!"

Black Panther told everyone that the blood‑killing aura on these people was heavy, similar to that of the starving folk, yet not exactly the same.

"As long as you're not robbers, that's fine! Esteemed experts, please enter the village to rest, sit down for a cup of tea! I am the Village Chief here…" The elder introduced himself and warmly invited them into the village.

The villagers also warmly welcomed them, and several women came out to receive Lei Ming and the other women.

And a little girl came over and grabbed Lei Ming's hand!

"That's a bit too enthusiastic!"

Ye Liuyun reminded everyone.

"Village Chief, why don't those cannibalistic folks outside dare to come near you?"

Ye Liuyun directly asked the Village Chief.

"They have been lurking outside for years, constantly attacking us.

We have many Martial Cultivators here; we can't defeat them, but after a while they stop daring to come."

The Village Chief explained.

Ye Liuyun, however, was not convinced.

Those starving folk even dare to attack an army, yet they would still fear these few Martial Cultivators.

They were taken to the Village Chief's residence, but his house was too small to accommodate so many.

Some villagers invited them to sit separately next door and have some tea.

The little girl also tugged Lei Ming's hand, inviting her to her home.

"No need, we'll just stand here for a while!"

Ye Liuyun, with a few companions, stood outside the courtyard waiting, while Zhang Wencai and Pei Yong followed the elder into the courtyard.

The little girl, seeing Lei Ming not follow her, played beside her without making a fuss.

She also attracted a few more children, who gathered around the women.

The village women also surrounded the women, praising their beauty and expressing curiosity about their uniforms.

All the villagers treated them with a friendly demeanor, showing no sign of trouble.

Yet Ye Liuyun still recalled the female soldier's warning and remained vigilant toward this strange village.

Zhang Wencai and Pei Yong also asked the elder about the situation here, as well as recent information about the nearby cities.

They also didn't want to keep following Xiao Yunfang.

The elder simultaneously brewed tea for them and answered truthfully, showing no sign of deceit.

But Ye Liuyun glanced at the tea, then used his Golden Pupil to examine the tea leaves in the teapot.

The tea was an unusually green color.

And after scanning the tea with his Golden Pupil, Ye Liuyun discovered that the tea leaves were a hallucinogenic herb called Mystifying Star Grass.

"Village Chief, what kind of tea is this?"

Ye Liuyun deliberately raised his voice to ask, alerting Zhang Wencai and Pei Yong.

The two had been about to drink, but upon hearing Ye Liuyun's question, they immediately set their cups down.

The Martial Cultivator drinking tea among the neighboring villagers also promptly and cautiously set his cup down.

"Ha ha, I think you've misunderstood! This isn't tea at all! We don't even have tea leaves here! These are all grown by our villagers, called Mystifying Star Grass.

After drinking it, it indeed has hallucinogenic effects.

But a small amount can keep a person energized for an entire day! All the villagers here drink this!"

The Village Chief said that, and then demonstrated himself by drinking a cup straight away.

Other villagers also demonstrated, and some Martial Cultivators only then felt comfortable trying it.

Seeing his candid admission, Ye Liuyun wondered if he had been overly suspicious.

But Zhang Wencai and Pei Yong never lifted their cups again, instead continuing to inquire about the border situation.

Ye Liuyun suddenly asked the Village Chief: "Village Chief, what resources do your village's Martial Cultivators use in their cultivation?"

The Village Chief frowned and said to Ye Liuyun, "How could you possibly lay eyes on our cultivation resources?"

Ye Liuyun, however, smiled and said,

"We're not trying to take yours, we're just curious!"

The other Martial Cultivators also wanted to know, and immediately looked at the Village Chief.

"Alright then, let me show you!"

Speaking so, the elder took a blood‑colored second‑grade pill out of his Storage Ring.

"Human blood!"

Before Ye Liuyun could examine it closely, Black Panther sniffed the scent and informed Ye Liuyun.

Ye Liuyun scanned it again with his Golden Pupil and also detected Demon Qi inside the pill.