Chapter 5

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

“Where’s my nephew?” Ye Yan entered the pigpen and looked around.

Chen Geng was also eight years old this year, born in the same year as Ye Yan. His family spanned generations such that Chen Geng’s elder brother was already twenty years old, and his son Chen Deng was about five or six years old.

Chen Deng was the nephew that Ye Yan was talking about. Originally, the two were only a few years apart, but because of some sad reason, Chen Deng had to call Ye Yan “uncle” every time he saw him, and the latter thus inexplicably became an uncle. Being called uncle by a kid who was only four or five years younger was quite a new experience for Ye Yan.

“Him?” Chen Geng raised his head and thought for a moment, “Probably out running an errand on grandpa’s orders, I think?”

After saying that, he couldn’t help but speed up his movements and asked in a low voice, “Brother Yan, are you saying how we can cultivate and become celestials?”

Ye Yan didn’t keep him in suspense, saying directly, “Naturally. The celestial sect has been established and is extending an offer to you. Quickly finish your work and follow me up the mountain! It’s a great opportunity!”

Hearing this, Chen Geng’s curiosity was piqued. He felt his heart itch and he exerted more force in his hands, making the pigpen, which was not solid enough, on the verge of breaking.

“Is it really an opportunity? Brother Yan, you can’t lie to me. I want to become a celestial or a God like that Supreme you mentioned!” Chen Geng raised his dirty face, looking at Ye Yan longingly. Images appeared in his mind again. Half a year ago, when Chen Geng was doing farm work, Brother Yan had come over, trembling while wearing an excited expression.

Brother Yan told him that when he went up the mountain, he met the manifestation of a Supreme who gave him the fate of becoming a celestial. Once one cultivated it, one would become a true God. The innocent Chen Geng believed it immediately. He believed that Ye Yan wouldn’t lie to him.

Back to reality, Chen Geng’s interest was once again piqued by the so-called celestial method. He was already fantasizing about how cool it would be to walk in the wind at the village entrance after he had cultivated the celestial method. Young dreams were thus planted in his young brain.

“Of course, the gods would never lie to us. Besides, don’t you even believe me?” Ye Yan chuckled, showing a “don’t worry” expression.

At that moment, Ye Yan and Chen Geng were full of energy, tidying up the pigpen in a few moments. After tidying it up, the two rushed out of the village and ran up the mountain without looking back.

“Gengzi! Come back soon!” In the room, Chen Geng’s grandfather slowly stuck his head out.

The two boys ran very fast and reached the mountainside in a short while. Chen Geng was still doubtful at first, but when he saw the scene before him, he was immediately stunned. A willow tree! It was a huge willow tree!

“Brother Yan, why is there a willow tree here?” In Chen Geng’s memory, willow trees were always planted beside the river. They had never been planted on the mountain.

Two days ago, he had just passed through this area and had not discovered this willow tree either. Also, this tree seemed to be different from the other willow trees he had seen before. Its trunk and leaves were thicker and taller, almost half his height. The crown of the tree was covered with dense branches.

“Wow…” Chen Geng was observing the willow tree when he suddenly shivered. He felt that this willow tree had a special aura. It was definitely not an ordinary tree!

“Well…” Seeing Chen Geng’s surprised look, Ye Yan couldn’t help but nod proudly, “This is a miracle! It’s the great opportunity that the old Supreme gave me back then!”

Another miracle! Chen Geng was secretly amazed. As expected of Brother Yan. He really didn’t lie to him. No wonder he felt that this tree was invisibly pressuring at first glance.

Ye Yan urged him not to stop there and told him that there was more fun in front. As such, the two continued to move forward and soon came to the stone tablet.

“Brother Yan, is this also a miracle?” Chen Geng asked, pointing at the words above.

Shit! Ye Yan’s heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly thought of a very serious problem. In the entire Dumen Village, there had not been a teacher for three generations. Almost everyone had not received any education. Other than Old Liu’s eldest grandson, who had been taught by a private tutor, the other villagers were all illiterate.

Well, he himself didn’t count. After all, he had advanced knowledge of the new era. The problem was that the disciples he could potentially recruit were all illiterate. If they could not even understand the technique, how could they cultivate?!

“No, this is the stone tablet of our sect. Look carefully, these words are pronounced as the God-slaying Sect! That’s the name of our sect! You must remember this!”

Hearing that, Chen Geng’s eyes opened wide, looking at Ye Yan with some admiration, “Brother Yan, you can actually read these words? Did you secretly hire a teacher?”

“No. When the Supreme showed his divinity, I was at the side and thus gained the knowledge,” Ye Yan rubbed his temples, making up a story helplessly, but his face showed a troubled look from time to time. It was difficult to be a sect master!

Since everyone in the village was illiterate, it would be terrible if he took in disciples who couldn’t even understand the techniques. Should he try to teach them how to read?

“No, no…” This thought was immediately suppressed by Ye Yan.

He was the sect master, and taking care of the sect was an important matter. How could he have the time to enlighten the people of Dumen Village? He could consider bringing a teacher to the village to assist in eliminating the illiterate characteristics of the villagers.

“Alright, alright, Geng, stop thinking about those two words. When you can read in the future, you will naturally understand its meaning,” Ye Yan walked to the front of the room and lifted the curtain, indicating Chen Geng to go in.

Chen Geng obediently stepped forward and was about to step in, but in the next second, an unforeseen event occurred!

“Buzz! Bang!”

A sudden disturbance seemed to have occurred between heaven and earth, and Chen Geng felt a wave of pressure coming from the front. In the next moment, he felt a sharp pain in his body and was sent flying!

“Ah!” Chen Geng fell to the ground and howled in pain.

Ye Yan was stunned for a moment, then the system panel appeared in front of him, and he understood what was going on.

[Warning! Discovered that an unknown person is attempting to break into the base. The defense system has been automatically activated. Non-members of the sect are not allowed to enter the encampment. The system will retaliate immediately. The host can set the authority of non-members.]

[Note: the current defense level is 1 with a radius of 10 meters from the center of the encampment. The defense level can be increased with the level of the sect.]

As such, Ye Yan understood the whole story. Chen Geng was only a nominal disciple and had not yet officially joined the God-slaying Sect.

“Brother Yan, what’s going on?” Chen Geng clutched his abdomen and endured the pain.

“Chen Geng!” Ye Yan suddenly lifted his voice, “Are you willing to join me, join the God-slaying Sect, and become a member of my sect?”

Invisibly, Ye Yan’s aura spread out. Chen Geng felt something strange when the aura came over. Something wasn’t right. What was wrong with Brother Yan? Why did he suddenly become so serious? He didn’t think he did anything wrong either, right?

Just as he was about to open his mouth to express his confusion, a feeling of enlightenment poured into his body, and Chen Geng suddenly felt holy.

“I’m willing to join the God-slaying Sect!” Similarly, Chen Geng also answered Ye Yan with a roar.

At this moment, the system’s notification sounded.

[Ding! The mission to recruit a companion has been completed. The reward has been sent to the internal storage. Host, please check it yourself.]

“Not bad!” Ye Yan was in high spirits, his eyes shining, “Welcome to the sect.”

Chen Geng nodded and strode in. This time, the defense system was not triggered.

“Brother Yan, when do we start cultivating?” After looking around the room, Chen Geng couldn’t wait to cast a longing look at Ye Yan.

Ye Yan didn’t say anything, but his face stiffened as if he was hesitating. Before Chen Geng could understand why the former had such a strange expression, Ye Yan slowly took out a book and handed it to him.

“Take a look,” Ye Yan said, “This is the sect’s Dharmic technique. If you cultivate according to it, you can walk on the celestial path.”

The celestial path! Chen Geng was so excited that he trembled. He quickly took it and opened the book. After flipping through it a few times, he withered. He didn’t understand. Only then did Chen Geng remember that he was illiterate.

“Brother Yan… I… ” He felt like crying.

Ye Yan sighed, opening the system store. There should be a lot of new things in the store, including skills and other items. Ye Yan hoped to find a solution from there. Fortunately, he did.

[Dharmic Technique Simplification Record: Transforms Dharmic techniques into images and simplified texts, or other forms. Can be used by any group of people to achieve the purpose of simplification.]

Ye Yan was happy to find something that seemed to work, but he hesitated when he saw the price.