Absolute Destiny Game
Chapter 713 - 1: The Emergence of the Taoist Scripture in Gray Wolf Valley

Chapter 713: Chapter 1: The Emergence of the Taoist Scripture in Gray Wolf Valley

In the Nine Provinces world, where monsters frequently appear and corpse ghosts run rampant, human activity is almost entirely confined to large human towns.

However, occasionally, small villages can survive in the perilous wilderness for various reasons.

Taoyuan Village is one such place.

In the remote northwest mountainous area of Longhua State, there is a valley called Canglang Valley, known for the large number of wolves that roam its hundred-mile radius.

Taoyuan Village is located in a mountain hollow within Canglang Valley.

Originally named Fenghe Valley, it was a peaceful place with clear streams and mild weather, but it was not spared when catastrophe struck.

A group of wild wolves appeared out of nowhere, devouring livestock and hunting humans, turning the once bountiful Fenghe Valley into a desolate wasteland filled with bones in just over a decade.

Fortunately, the wolves here were just ordinary beasts. Although they became very large, no powerful demons emerged among them.

The villagers of Taoyuan Village huddled in the perilous mountain hollow, barely surviving with walls and a militia.

However, as times grew hard, Taoyuan Village inevitably declined.

The biggest problem was the loss of population.

One day, someone was bitten to death by a wolf; the next day, a tree spirit strangled another; and later, a rat demon dragged someone underground—the monsters in Canglang Valley, although mostly wolves, were not limited to just that.

The village seemed destined to become abandoned ruins, like other unprotected villages, but fate had other plans. One day, a hunter went on patrol and unexpectedly saved a traveling Taoist by the river.

This Taoist appeared to be in his thirties or forties, with a weathered look. It was unclear why he fell into the water, but the current washed him to the shore. When the hunter revived and questioned him, the Taoist only remembered his surname was Xie and forgot his name. The hunter called him Daoist Xie.

Feeling pity for him, the hunter brought him back to the village. From then on, Daoist Xie lived in Taoyuan Village.

Surprisingly, Daoist Xie indeed possessed some divine skills. One day, when wolves came to forage outside the village, the villagers hid behind the walls, trembling and using hunting bows and spears to fend off the wolves. To their astonishment, Daoist Xie, after staring at the wolves for a long time, suddenly unleashed a bolt of heavenly thunder, killing most wolves instantly and scattering the rest.

The villagers were both shocked and delighted, realizing they had encountered a formidable person, and unanimously regarded Daoist Xie as their village chief. Daoist Xie did not refuse and thus Taoyuan Village finally had the means to secure their existence in these troubled times.

Under Daoist Xie’s protection, Taoyuan Village no longer faced the threat of extinction. The population gradually grew, and in just three years, the village had two or three hundred households. They reclaimed farmland and domesticated livestock, becoming a paradise in these chaotic times.

Daoist Xie spent his days harvesting herbs, practicing alchemy, chanting scriptures, and painting talismans. When asked about his past, he would say he couldn’t remember. The villagers dared not ask further but secretly speculated that Daoist Xie might be an immortal descended from heaven or a high-ranking person from a famous Dao Palace, possibly betrayed by a peer and left here.

These rumors became so detailed that even storytellers in distant Longhua State occasionally mentioned them.

Most people dismissed Daoist Xie’s story as idle gossip, typical of legends about extraordinary people in troubled times, serving as a kind of hope and vision for the common folk.

However, to those with a keen interest, the story might hold some unusual information.

This time, Daoist Xie went out to gather herbs as usual, wandering in the mountains for half a day without any gain. Suddenly, he felt an ominous sensation and calculated it to be a sign of great danger, causing him to feel anxious.

But whether it’s a blessing or a curse, a curse cannot be avoided.

Being a carefree person, Daoist Xie returned to the village with his medicine basket.

Upon entering Taoyuan Village, he found no sign of abnormality. When he questioned the villagers, they reported nothing unusual, easing his mind a bit. Perhaps his skill in divination was still lacking, and the recent calculation was inaccurate.

As he walked through the village, villagers greeted him warmly.

"Greetings, Daoist."

"Hey, Xiao Mei has grown taller! How is your father’s illness?"

"Father’s illness has completely healed, thanks to your immortal pill."

"Haha, that’s not an immortal pill, just an ordinary healing pill. It’s getting late, don’t wander around and worry your parents."

"Ah, it’s Daoist Xie. Have you eaten? Here are some freshly steamed buns for you."

"No need to be so courteous, Uncle Wang..."

"Hey, take them, take them. No need for such formality with me."

By the time he reached his hut, his medicine basket held three steamed buns, a salted fish, and a pair of new straw sandals.

Daoist Xie pushed open the door and entered his hut, just placing the medicine basket down when his expression suddenly changed—someone had come.

Although everything seemed peaceful, Daoist Xie sensed a hint of killing intent. The arrangement and furnishings in the hut had subtly changed, especially the addition of unfamiliar furniture, like chairs and stools, causing his heart to tighten.