Chapter 1803: The Feeling of a Windfall from Heaven

Chapter 1803: Chapter 1803: The Feeling of a Windfall from Heaven

"I am Gu Yizhang, Clan Leader of the Gu Family of Guning Village. This old man pays his respects to all you honored Priests." The old clan leader shuffled forward, trembling as he bowed.

"Clan Leader, there’s no need for so much ceremony." Han Yan helped the old man up and casually handed him a Healing Pill.

Relying on the few low-level medicinal herbs she had saved up in Huayu City, plus the friendly contributions from Long Wudang and Ou Mingzhi, she had actually tried refining some low-level elixir.

"Many thanks for your reward, my lord. On behalf of the seven hundred and twenty-three people of Guning Village, I thank you for saving our lives." The old clan leader said, his eyes brimming with hot tears.

Although this elixir was so low-level that Han Yan felt it couldn’t get any lower, for ordinary folk, to receive a Divine Pill bestowed by the Master Priest—that was the kind of blessing you only get after burning incense for several lifetimes.

"Clan Leader, you flatter me. As Temple Priests, protecting our people’s Ping An and spreading God’s blessing is our rightful duty." Han Yan said uprightly, righteous aura brimming.

She was the Master Priest, after all; at a time like this she obviously had to maintain the proper bearing of someone in a divine position. It was just that even as she spoke, Han Yan herself felt a bit weird—why did she sound more and more like some God-man swindler?

"My lord is benevolent. Our Gu Family of Guning Village will forever remember your grace. May I ask, my lord, from which temple you hail?" The old clan leader asked reverently.

"My lord is the Main Priest of Huayu Temple." Sikong Qinglan said, his face full of pride.

"So you are the Master Priest... This lowly commoner pays respects to the Master Priest." The villagers of Guning Village were inexperienced and far less sharp-eyed than Chen Xuefeng; they hadn’t noticed the Master Priest insignia on Han Yan’s priest robe before. Now, Hearing this, they were shocked, and once more dropped to their knees in a wave.

"No need for such ceremony, all of you get up, get up." Han Yan could only help the old clan leader up again.

Although she didn’t really agree with the somewhat fanatical, even foolish worship of God on the Divine Continent, Han Yan also knew this was the best way for the temples to maintain their rule. On such a vast Continent, governed by not even a hundred temples, with the commoners living such harsh lives—without this kind of faith, the place would have fallen into chaos long ago.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do; she was gradually getting used to the common folk’s reverent kowtowing.

"It’s getting late. If the Master Priest doesn’t mind the humble state of our Guning Village, would you be willing to spend the night here?" The old clan leader looked at Han Yan with hopeful eyes.

To villagers who had lived in this remote wilderness for generations, this Master Priest before them was practically a god. If she could stay one night in their village, it would be the glory of the entire Gu Family; their descendants would boast of it for generations.

"I accept your kindness in my heart, but we still have urgent matters to attend to. If there’s a chance in the future, we’ll come and trouble you again." Han Yan understood what the old clan leader was hoping for, but could only refuse.

The cave Chen Xuefeng mentioned contained that strange Martial Arts manual, and who knew what else might be inside. Faced with an opportunity to perhaps stumble into some "unexpected windfall," Lady Mu had no intention of missing it—and was worried that if they delayed, something might go wrong. She really had no choice; she was just too poor.

"Very well, since you still have urgent business, I won’t press you to stay." The old clan leader said regretfully.

"Your village is a bit too far from the temple main city; in the end it’s not very safe. If you’re willing, you can migrate to Huayu City." Han Yan had originally planned to leave immediately, but after glancing at the dilapidated village, she sighed inwardly and spoke again to the old clan leader.

Judging by the village’s condition, their days were really not going well. Even if they hadn’t run into the Blood Wind Thieves today, sooner or later some other bandits would come and slaughter them. Since Huayu City was currently recruiting people to move in, she might as well help them out. Compared to those refugees used to living unruly lives, these honest villagers would be much easier to manage.

"My lord, do you really mean it?" The old clan leader looked at Han Yan in delight. Of course they knew the huge difference between becoming citizens of the temple main city and staying stuck in this village far from the Main City.

"Take my letter and go see Priest Zuo of Huayu Temple; she’ll make arrangements for you." Han Yan didn’t explain too much. She wrote a short letter and handed it to him.

"Thank you, Master Priest, for your great kindness." The old clan leader was so moved that tears streamed down his wrinkled face, and he led his clansmen to kneel and bow once more.

Han Yan felt somewhat helpless and could only help him up yet again.

"I don’t know how to repay the Master Priest’s grace. Our ancestors left behind a treasure, and I would like to offer it to you. I hope you won’t refuse." The old clan leader took out a cloth-wrapped object from the inner pocket of his tunic, carefully opening it as he spoke nervously.

Although this treasure had been passed down through generation after generation, and he considered it incomparably precious, he also understood that the Master Priest’s status was far above his. What he saw as an extraordinary treasure might be worthless in her eyes, and he was afraid of being laughed at.

In truth, Han Yan really hadn’t taken this so-called treasure to heart. It was just that seeing him so reverent and fearful, she didn’t want to hurt his pride, so she hadn’t rejected it outright.

However, as the old clan leader unfolded the cloth layer by layer, Han Yan suddenly froze. Beside her, Ling Baobao’s eyes went round. Then, little stars flashed simultaneously in both their eyes.

A Heavenly Stone—this was actually another Heavenly Stone.

Last time, on her way back from Feng City Temple, Han Yan had kindly helped a group of refugees and received a Heavenly Stone from the burly man leading them. It was thanks to that Heavenly Stone that Han Yan broke through the Law Prohibition and temporarily restored her cultivation to Great Sword Master Peak, allowing her to kill Kang Qingyuan, who had been trailing them.

On the way back, she and Ling Baobao had carefully searched through the pile of useless stone they’d bought from that big man, but failed to find a second Heavenly Stone. They’d regretted it for quite a while, and never expected to discover another one here in Guning Village.

"I know this kind of Meteorite Gold is probably beneath your notice, my lord, but Guning Village really has nothing decent to offer. This is only a small token of respect. I hope you won’t despise it." Seeing Han Yan dazed, the old clan leader thought the thing he’d presented was just too shabby—so shabby that it had stunned the Master Priest. His old face flushed scarlet with embarrassment.

"Clan Leader, you are too modest. This Meteorite Gold happens to be of some use to me. Since it is the goodwill of the Gu Family, I will accept it." Han Yan forcibly suppressed the excitement in her heart and took the Meteorite Gold from the old clan leader’s hands.

What a joke—if I were to despise a treasure like this, my brain would have to be full of water.

Still, worried that the old clan leader might get suspicious and guess the Heavenly Stone’s true value, Han Yan kept her expression calm. It wasn’t that she feared him harboring any evil intent; in fact, even if he did, he couldn’t threaten her. She was worried that if he figured out the Heavenly Stone’s worth and started searching around for more, it might bring extermination upon his entire clan.

Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures are not things just anyone is qualified to possess.

Besides, she still didn’t know whether anyone on the Divine Continent was aware of the Heavenly Stone’s special function, or whether someone might deduce her origins because of it. Better to be cautious.