Chapter 385: Native Distinguished Guest

Although Ye Liuyun and his party had turned disaster into blessing this time, soul-related battles are always extremely dangerous; a slight mistake can scatter one's soul and spirit.

As the flower sea and castle's fire shot up to the heavens, several giants three times the height of ordinary people emerged from the woods. Seeing Ye Liuyun setting the fire, they were all astonished.

These locals wore simple clothing woven from grass leaves, covering only their private parts. Their weapons were the leg bones of giant beasts and stone tools, as if from ancient times.

A leading man called out from afar to Ye Liuyun: "Are you an outsider human? Did you burn this castle and flower sea?"

"Yes! I'm afraid these things will harm others again," Ye Liuyun replied frankly.

In fact, they had already seen Ye Liuyun setting the fire, but they weren't entirely sure, so they asked again.

"Aren't outsiders unable to use True Essence?" the man asked again.

"My situation is somewhat special," Ye Liuyun said without elaborating further.

The man didn't bring it up again. They first introduced themselves. Ye Liuyun learned his name was Ha Qiong. It turned out to be quite strange.

Likewise, the man also thought his name was strange, but he didn't mind much and urgently asked: "What about the Purifying Soul Water in the castle? Have you obtained it?" He assumed Ye Liuyun and his group had come for the Purifying Soul Water as well.

"I have! I've stored them all," Ye Liuyun replied.

Several locals immediately gathered around happily. The man excitedly asked: "Friend, can you give us some of that Purifying Soul Water? We want to use it to save people!"

Ye Liuyun was considering whether to mention some conditions, but the man voluntarily said: "It's not for nothing—come back to our stronghold with us, take whatever you like, and even women you fancy can be given to you. How about that?"

"Um… let's forget about the women!" Ye Liuyun, who appeared as small as a child before these locals, certainly didn't have such inclinations.

"However, we've just arrived and happen to need a place to stay, and we also want to exchange resources with you. We'll go back with you." Ye Liuyun readily agreed.

The journey went fairly smoothly; they encountered several fierce beasts here and also killed them incidentally. The locals rely on these fierce beasts for food and often go out hunting.

Ye Liuyun observed their fighting and saw no technique. From conversation he learned they do not cultivate; they merely increase their realm by breathing the profound qi here and eating the flesh of fierce beasts. The more profound qi one refines within, the greater their strength.

He assessed the profound qi within their bodies, finding they were roughly at the late Body Refining stage to the Primordial Origin Early Stage.

These locals also did not know Ye Liuyun's exact strength, only that this outsider's True Essence was unrestricted. They had previously contacted outsiders and learned some outside information, but they had no sense of how high his realm actually was.

Only when they encountered a fire fox did they witness Ye Liuyun's true strength.

This fire fox was originally the tyrant of this Mi Lin. By realm, it was almost at the Sea Transformation Realm, a fierce beast. It too had been drawn by the firelight of the flower sea. Happening upon these humans, it intended to eat them first, then go have a look.

Several locals, upon encountering the fire fox, were terrified. "Ye friend, this fire fox is too powerful; we're terribly unlucky. You should run quickly; we'll try to hold it off."

They seemed to know they couldn't escape, and each grabbed their weapons, preparing to fight the fire fox to the death.

Ye Liuyun knew that if they went, they'd just be sending themselves to death. Moreover, his nearby monster beasts, without True Essence, were no match for it. So he decisively struck out.

One blade. A slash of True Essence split the fire fox directly in half.

"Ye friend! You actually killed the fire fox!" The people who had been preparing to die, seeing the fire fox they feared being easily slain by Ye Liuyun with a single blade, couldn't help but become happy again.

Ha Qiong had Ye Liuyun store the fire fox, since it was his quarry. Ye Liuyun instead gave it to him directly. However, they usually carry game on their shoulders, so Ye Liuyun first placed the fire fox into his own Storage Ring, intending to give him upon reaching the stronghold.

Ha Qiong and the locals, hearing this, laughed until they couldn't close their mouths, repeatedly thanking him. The fire fox's size was even greater than that of the Shi Yuan, enough to feed them for a long time, so they wouldn't need to venture out hunting for a while.

Not long after, Ye Liuyun followed Ha Qiong and his group back to their stronghold. The entire stronghold was built from large blocks of iron ore, its walls looking tall and sturdy. At the stronghold's entrance, they were stopped by the people on the wall.

"Ha Qiong, why are you bringing outsiders back to the stronghold again? Haven't the lessons from before been deep enough?" the man blocking Ha Qiong shouted.

"Sang Tan, this Ye friend helped us kill the fire fox and brought back the Purifying Soul Water, which can save the clan chief—let us in quickly!" Ha Qiong also shouted at the top of his voice.

Upon hearing this, Sang Tan glanced at Ye Liuyun and the others. The monster beasts had long since taken human form, and he could discern nothing unusual.

"What about the fire fox?" he asked doubtfully.

"It's in Ye friend's ring!" Ha Qiong pointed to the Storage Ring on Ye Liuyun's hand.

Sang Tan hesitated a moment, then finally allowed Ye Liuyun and the others to enter the stronghold.

"Ye friend, don't take it to heart. We've been deceived by outsiders before, so everyone holds a poor impression of outsiders." Ha Qiong, fearing Ye Liuyun might be angry, gave him an explanation.

"It's fine; I can understand!" After this journey's interaction, Ye Liuyun found the locals to be simple and honest. Surely they had no scheming, which is also understandable.

After entering the stronghold, he first took out the fire fox's corpse, immediately drawing a crowd of onlookers. Ha Qiong and the others vividly described how Ye Liuyun had slain the fire fox with a single blade, and they gave the corpse to them. This instantly changed the impression many tribespeople had of Ye Liuyun.

They revered the strong. In their eyes, anyone who could defeat the fire fox was an absolute strongman—especially since Ye Liuyun also gave them the spoils.

Thus, everyone brought out food to entertain Ye Liuyun, for a time treating him as an honored guest. Ye Liuyun also chatted with Ha Qiong, learning about their resources and needs.

Immediately, Ye Liuyun had Ha Qiong fetch a container to pour the Purifying Soul Water for him. Upon hearing this, everyone became excited, gazing eagerly at Ye Liuyun. The Purifying Soul Water greatly aids them in enhancing soul ability and sensing the surroundings, making their hunts much safer.

Ha Qiong, however, only had them bring a single bowl, worrying Ye Liuyun might think it too much and telling him half would suffice. In the end, Ye Liuyun had him fetch ten stone jars and filled them all. This left the entire tribe astonished, mouths agape.

Even Sang Tan, who had initially blocked Ye Liuyun, now became respectful, repeatedly apologizing to Ye Liuyun.

After eating, Ha Qiong immediately led Ye Liuyun and the others to the rear mountain of their settlement. A cave in the rear mountain emitted thick profound qi.

"Ye friend, you're so righteous; we can't be stingy. You and your friends may cultivate freely here, and you may take whatever crystal stones you like." Ha Qiong also spoke generously.

"Alright, thank you then!"

Ye Liuyun also gave thanks, then led his companions into the cave.